1. Bently's Restaurant

   Citrus County : 11920 N Florida Ave., Dunnellon, 34434

2. Bijou Cafe

   Editor's pick

   Sarasota : 1287 First St., Sarasota, 34236

   The Bijou has been a local sparkling jewel since 1986, making everyone's Top 10 list and garnering lots of drippy adjectives from Zagat, Bon Appetit and Gourmet. It's what you'd call Continental-American fare, presided over by chef Jean-Pierre Knaggs and his wife, Shay. Located a couple of block …

3. Bon Appetit Restaurant

   Editor's pick

   Dunedin : 148 Marina Plz, Dunedin, 34698

   Tables with bay views and traditional indulgences such as rack of lamb, sweetbreads, escargot and Dover sole. The menu has been updated with pastas, grilled fish, fresh herbs and half-orders, but there are rich sauces and strudels as well. Brunch on Sundays.

4. Budapest Restaurant

   West Pasco : 7411 US Highway 19, New Port Richey, 34652

5. Cafe de France

   Winter Park : 526 S Park Ave., Winter Park, 32789

6. Cafe European

   South Tampa : 113 S Hyde Park Ave., Tampa, 33606

7. Cafe L'Europe

   Sarasota beaches : 431 St. Armand's Circle, Sarasota, 34236

   Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.

8. Cafe Vienna

   St. Petersburg : 5625 Fourth St. N # 6, St. Petersburg, 33703

   Look around the pretty, forest green dining room, flanked at the front by a bar lined with personalized beer mugs and wine glasses, and it's clear: This place has devoted regulars. They find their mug, have it filled with a Spaten pilsner or Franzikaner weissbier, and then consider — am I  …

9. Cassis American Brasserie

   Editor's pick

   Downtown St. Petersburg : 170 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, 33701

   Few restaurant openings have been as anticipated as Cassis American Brasserie, opened at the base of the Ovation tower on the downtown waterfront. Cementing Beach Drive as the "it" spot in St. Pete, its decor is stunning. Yellow walls, unimpeded sightlines across the generously portion …

10. Chouinard's Cuisine

    St. Petersburg : 9617 Bay Pines Blvd., St. Petersburg, 33708

    It isn't in a location that you would expect to find fantastic food, but if you make the effort to get there, that is what you'll find. Chef Joseph Chouinard's St. Petersburg dining roots go back to his days as the original chef of then-landmarks Redwoods and Pacific Wave downtown. Now he is goi …

11. Crystal Dining Room at the Floridan Palace Hotel

    Downtown Tampa : 905 N Florida Ave, Tampa, 33602

    Hours: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. daily.

12. Fetishes Dining & Wine Bar

    South Pinellas beaches : 6305 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, 33706

    With Wine Bar and tableside preparation of Caesar salad and bananas Foster.

13. Good Times Continental Restaurant

    South Pinellas beaches : 1136 Pinellas Bayway S, Tierra Verde, 33715

14. Harry's Continental Kitchen

    Manatee beaches : 525 Saint Judes Drive, Longboat Key, 34228

    Includes Harry's Corner Store with produce, hot lunches, pastries, bread, groceries, beer and wine, newspapers.

15. Holiday Family Restaurant

    West Pasco : 1128 Alternate Highway 19, Holiday, 34691

16. La Cote Basque French Restaurant

    Gulfport : 3104 Beach Blvd. S, Gulfport, 33701

17. Morel Restaurant

    Sarasota : 3809 S Tuttle Ave., Sarasota, 34239

    Chef Fredy Mayer's menu ranges from Chilean sea bass to duck breast.Open beginning at 4:30 p.m. for dinner Tues.-Sat.

18. Passports Restaurant

    Spring Hill / West Hernando : 1320 Commercial Way, Spring Hill, 34606

    Ever-changing menu of international cuisine, ethnic specialties, regional favorites, with different cuisine featured each week.

19. Riviera Supper Club

    South Pinellas beaches : 250 75th Ave., St. Pete Beach, 33706

    The owners gussied up a slightly tired space, adding white and burgundy linens, appealing dark wood and warm, amber light throughout. Nice, but still inviting and unfussy (with live music many nights), date-night-appropriate, but nothing with a corsage or a ring box. The menu is a bit of a hodge …

20. Skidders Restaurant

    South Pinellas beaches : 5799 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, 33706

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