1. Besa Grill

   Clearwater : 2542 N McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater, 33761

   In the spot that used to be Tuscano Grill, adjacent to the slick-Med Carmel Café and around the corner from the popular Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza, Besa Grill opened at the end of 2011. Sister restaurant to FlameStone in Oldsmar, it's Latin-inspired, not Mexican exactly, with stylish, nig …

2. Blue Martini

   International Plaza District : Bay Street at International Plaza, 2223 N West Shore Blvd., Tampa, 33607

   Blue Martini calls its fare heavy appetizers, but there's not a chicken wing or onion ring in sight. Instead, the short menu features contemporary Asian-Mediterranean fusion: sesame-seared tuna, sliced beef tenderloin, hummus, calamari salad. And don't miss the killer 6-inch-tall chocolate cake. …

3. Casa Tina's Pan Y Vino Wine Bar

   Dunedin : 369 Main St., Dunedin, 34698

   This little tapas and wine bar was born when Casa Tina moved to larger digs. Owned by the same folks though, it offers more than two dozen wines by the glass, tapas and small plates that use local or organic ingredients, plus desserts and coffees. It recently added a brick over for organic pizzas.

4. Ceviche (Tampa)

   Editor's pick

   South Tampa : 2500 W Azeele St, Tampa, 33609

   That cocktail of marinated fish is only one item on the biggest spread of hot and cold tapas laid out on both sides of the bay. The Tampa location is dark and cozy, St. Pete's open to the embarcadero. Crowds and food are fast and fun: olives, quail, sherried chicken livers and albondigas. The ba …

5. Ceviche St. Pete

   Editor's pick

   Downtown St. Petersburg : 95 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 33701

   That cocktail of marinated fish is only one item on the biggest spread of hot and cold tapas laid out on both sides of the bay. The Tampa location is dark and cozy, St. Pete's open to the embarcadero. Crowds and food are fast and fun: olives, quail, sherried chicken livers and albondigas. The ba …

6. Ceviche Tapas Bar & Restaurant Clearwater

   Clearwater : 2930 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater, 33759

   That cocktail of marinated fish is only one item on the biggest spread of hot and cold tapas laid out on both sides of the bay. This location, formerly Tio Pepe, also offers some menu items inspired by the former restaurant. The Tampa location is dark and cozy, St. Pete's open to the embarcadero …

7. Ceviche Tapas Bar & Restaurant Sarasota

   Sarasota : 1216 First St., Sarasota, 34236

8. Cheap

   South Tampa : 309 S Howard Ave., Tampa, 33606

   The industrial-chic, low-light, loud-music place has a high funk-factor provided by wonderful found-object murals and the use of minivan banquettes in the booths, complete with seat belts. Cheap boasts colorful mix-and-match china, gorgeous sangria pitchers and lovely swirled stemware. The conce …

9. Clear Sky Beachside Cafe

   Clearwater Beach : 490 Mandalay Ave., Clearwater, 33767

   Breakfast with mimosas or bloody Marys, array of flatbreads, pizzas, seafood, live music on the patio. Hours: 7 a.m.-midnight daily.

10. Hispania Tapas Bar & Grill

    Downtown Clearwater : 34 N. Ft. Harrison Avenue, Clearwater, 33755

    You can sit at the table and look over the menu, but what you really want to do is take a seat at the bar and start pointing at what looks good. Because it probably is. The montaditos are simple, little sandwiches of bread and meat and little else, as they should be. They take a minute to heat u …

11. King Corona Cigars Cafe & Bar

    Ybor City : 1523 E Seventh Ave., Tampa, 33605

    More about the cigar than the bar, this is a great place to buy gifts for out-of-town loved ones. They sell smokes, accessories and merchandise depicting Ybor history. Dark-wood paneling, burgundy flourishes and overstuffed chairs all lend to the relaxed atmosphere. It's like a good ol' boys --  …

12. Mattison's Forty-One

    Sarasota : 7275 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 34231

13. Pincho y Pincho

    Downtown St. Petersburg : 95 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 33701

    At the end of 2007, Ceviche made a major addition, opening Pincho y Pincho, which offers Spanish-style breakfast, lunch and dinner in a teeny, casual bistro within eyesight of its flagship dinner-only restaurant. It seems plucked right off the streets of Barcelona, an any-time-of-the-day hangout …

14. 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 …

15. Samba Room

    South Tampa : 1502 S Howard Ave., Tampa, 33606

16. Spain Restaurant & Tapas Bar

    Downtown Tampa : 513 N Tampa St, Tampa, 33602

    In a downtown that has tumbleweeds and buzzards (we're kidding about the first item but the second is oddly true) it's encouraging to know that there's a hot spot for swank mingling, great sangria and tasty tapas. Renovated in 2003 by Abell Garcia, the space features a dominant use of white, plu …

17. Tapas Garden and Wine Bar

    North Pinellas beaches : 321 Gulf Blvd., Indian Rocks Beach, 33785

    Start off by ordering a pan of the paella, because that's the star of the menu and you won't want to leave without trying it. It will be enough to feed a couple of people, but the made-to-order nature of it means it will take a half-hour. No problem, because a couple of choices of the tapas list …

18. Taps & Tequila

    St. Petersburg : 1235 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 33705

    A combination tequileria and craft beer garden with a unique upscale-rustic aestheticHours: 3 p.m.-3 a.m. Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Sat.-Sun..Read more here.

19. Terra Sur Cafe

    Carrollwood : 5358 W Village Drive, Tampa, 33624

20. The Living Room

    Editor's pick

    Dunedin : 487 Main St, Dunedin, 34698

    Sarah Johnson wants people to hang out in the Living Room, and Dunedin residents have responded favorably. The affordable small-plate menu has been embraced for its novelty and vegetarian friendliness. A plate of snappy haricots verts is perfectly paired with almonds and shallots in a classic br …

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