Beak's Old Florida

Editor's pick

Grand Central District : 2451 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 33713

It makes sense in a way. Jamie Farquharson was ready to be out from under his plastic pirates, birdcages imprisoning fake birds and mountains of kitschy Florida memorabilia. He was ready to sell Beak's, one of the stalwart Grand Central District good-time bar/restaurants. And who bought it? Dan  …

Cafe at Art Pool Gallery

Editor's pick

Grand Central District : 2030 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 33712

Central Avenue west of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street had a big year, welcoming a generous handful of independent restaurants. One of the most charming opened near the end of 2012 as an annex to the Art Pool Gallery, housing spillover merchandise, a collection of vinyl records and the small c …

Cappy's Pizza

Grand Central District : 2900 First Ave. N, St. Petersburg, 33713

China Pearl

Grand Central District : 3313 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 33713

Craftsman House

Grand Central District : 2955 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 33713

Garden party meets arts and crafts, so you'll want to sit a spell on the porch of this old bungalow. The lush pottery is home-thrown, the good spirits home grown, the woodworking and art are a delight and the rehabbing a pleasure. Cucumber salad, soups, muffins, coffee and beer will charm you.

Grand Central Perc

Grand Central District : 2444 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 33712

Locally roasted coffee, breakfast and lunch, with guest chef signature creation for Sunday brunch. Hours: 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Sun.

Hideaway Cafe and Recording Studio

Grand Central District : 1756 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 33712

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L Creperia Cafe

Grand Central District : 2901 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 33713

La Creperia Cafe's second location is in St. Petersburg's Grand Central district and features French crepes, from savory to sweet.

Nitally's Thai-Mex Cuisine

Grand Central District : 2462 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 33712

A Thai tamale, its homey corn masa filled with a spicy stir-fry kicked up with a hoisin salsa flavored with garlic, lime, peanut and Serrano. Or pad Thai con carnitas, traditional fish-sauced rice noodles getting a topper of chipotle stir-fried pork. Nit Jintaseranee is from Thailand; Ally Valde …

Original Bill's Doghouse

Grand Central District : 2623 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 33713

Queen & I Thai Restaurant

Grand Central District : 2410 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 33712

Thai dancers on weekend nights. Hours: Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5-10 p.m., Sun. 4-10 p.m.

Queens Head

Editor's pick

Grand Central District : 2501 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 33713

The work of Darren Conner and Paul Smith, Queens Head is an adorable, cheeky and emphatically stylish addition to St. Petersburg's Grand Central district. The small bar-restaurant is a delightful addition, a British pub with a little South Beach glamor and New York club smarts (it's hard not to  …

Semeraro's Italian Cafe & Piano Bar

Grand Central District : 1620 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 33712

Taco Bus (St. Petersburg)

Grand Central District : 2324 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 33712

Long a fixture in Seminole Heights in Tampa, this purveyor of authentic Mexican street food branched out and opened a location in a converted gas station in the Grand Central District.Customers can order from the wait staff for sit-down service or walk up to the bus to order food to go. There w …

The Burg Bar & Grill

Grand Central District : 1752 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 33712

Not for the faint of heart, the Double Grilled Cheese Bacon Burger consists of a cheeseburger with bacon between two grilled cheese sandwiches. There are lighter choices like salads, and many items have a Greek influence.

The Hideaway Cafe Listening Room

Grand Central District : 1756 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, 33712