1. A Matter of Taste Cafe & Tea

   East Pasco : 14121 Seventh St., Dade City, 33525

2. Acropol Family Restaurant

   Largo : 1170 Starkey Road, Largo, 33771

3. Acropol Inn Restaurant

   Countryside : 2552 Sunset Point Road, Clearwater, 33765

4. Acropolis Bar & Grill

   Tampa : 14947 Bruce B Downs Blvd. # 100, Tampa, 33613

   Sam and Costa Waez tweaked their Ybor City Acropolis formula for suburban sensibilities, opening at the site of the defunct Tampa Brickyard. The kitchen serves until 3 a.m. on the weekends, midnight during the week. The staff is young, attractive and prone to launching into fits of grapevine dan …

5. Acropolis Greek Taverna (Tampa)

   Ybor City : 1833 E Seventh Ave., Tampa, 33605

   Look for a frenetic bouzouki band and the stirring Greek song stylings of Babi Lavidas, plus belly dancers on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Then add in people leaping up to gyrate through a quick zeibekiko or sousta, punctuated by the occasional sound of breaking plates, and you have yourself  …

6. Adriano's Cafe

   Largo : 2130 E Bay Drive, Largo, 33771

7. Athen's Restaurant

   Safety Harbor : 226 Main St, Safety Harbor, 34695

8. Athenian Garden

   Tyrone : 6940 22nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg, 33710

   A neighborhood staple for Greek appetites, light and heavy. Greek salads come with everything from beets to potato salad, but the biggest attraction is the sweet spectrum of phyllo, nuts, honey and cream, from kataifi to pudding.

9. Athenian Gardens

   St. Petersburg : 9047 9th St N, St. Petersburg, 33702

10. Athenos Fresh & Delicious

    Carrollwood : 14453 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, 33618

11. Beirut Cafe

    St. Petersburg : 5281 Park St. N, St. Petersburg, 33709

    Hana Lakkis has been making Lebanese pastries for decades in Pennsylvania, and is now filling a bakery display case here with baklawa, maamoul and nammoura. But before dessert, her husband, Fisal Houssein, offers up shawarma, kabobs and falafel for lunch and dinner. Try the stuffed cabbage with  …

12. Bistro Atlantis

    Dunedin : 1140 Main St., Dunedin, 34698

13. Bread & Butter Gormet Deli

    Tarpon Springs : 1880 S Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs, 34689

    The most unusual touches here are from the Middle East ... hummus, tabbouleh, baklava ... but the menu covers traditional deli sandwiches and salads and all-American takeout entrees, too. All are fixed with freshness, spice and style.

14. Byblos Cafe

    Editor's pick

    South Tampa : 2832 S MacDill Ave., Tampa, 33629

    The local rebirth of Middle Eastern cuisine gets its most stylish display thanks to smart Lebanese entrepreneurs. Yogurt, grape leaves and kibbe are deliciously fresh. Stay late and finish with intoxicating bellydancing or a dreamy draw on the water pipe (hookah).

15. Chloe's Family Restaurant

    Tarpon Springs : 1722 S Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs, 34689

    The newest restaurant in Tarpon is a bit off the beaten path, near the Tarpon Springs Golf Course. After opening the place in May, owners Sophia and John Pappas recently received an award from City Hall, the city clearly pleased to have seasoned pros inhabit a space that has hosted a number of f …

16. Costas Restaurant

    Tarpon Springs : 521 Athens St., Tarpon Springs, 34689

    Not on the main drag, it's two stories with a few tables out front, boasting a clean and pretty interior. This is a good choice for the rookie, not because the food is training-wheels Greek, but because all the dishes get snapshots out front, so you can tell a moussaka from a pastitsio.Go grille …

17. Country Boy Restaurant

    Dunedin : 1353 Main St, Dunedin, 34698

18. Crystal Dining Room at the Floridan Palace Hotel

    Downtown Tampa : 905 N Florida Ave, Tampa, 33602

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

19. Davani's Cafe

    Tampa : 802 E Waters Ave., Tampa, 33604

20. Dimitri's on the Water

    Tarpon Springs : 690 Dodecanese Blvd., Tarpon Springs, 34689

    This may be the most gastronomically ambitious restaurant in all of Tarpon, a recent entry that has set up in the old Santorini location (one of only two restaurants downtown that are directly on the water). Right across the street from Mykonos, it is presided over by Andy Salivaras' son, Dimitr …

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