GROUPER IN PARADISE

GROUPER IN PARADISE 10 must try restaurants in the St.Pete/ Clearwater Area

By Nancy Foster

Seafood lovers know they’ve found paradise when they visit the St.Pete/ Clearwater area. This Florida west coast destination is well known as a perfect catching ground for grouper, considered by many to be Florida’s favorite fish.

Although there are more than 400 species of grouper, restaurants mostly serve the black, red or gag varieties. This mild-tasting fish with firm flesh can be found on the menus of almost any coastal restaurant, be it a casual beach shack, rooftop bar or fine-dining establishment. While a flavorful grouper sandwich is as iconic to the area as a juicy hamburger, area chefs put their personal stamp on this seafood item and serve it in many delicious forms. In Clearwater, Frenchy’s Restaurant Group put grouper sandwiches on the map. Frenchy’s has grown from one small off-beach eatery to six area restaurants, each serving up grouper in multiple ways. You’ll want to order their original grouper sandwich, although tasty variations include nuggets and cheeks, a Grouper Reuben or seasoned cajun-style.

At nearby Palm Pavilion Beachside Grill & Bar, dine on deck at sunset for spectacular views and delicious grouper tacos, nuggets or overstuffed sandwiches. The menu at

Photo of Grouper sandwich at Dockside Dave’s courtesy of Visit St. Pete/Clearwater; nuggets courtesy of Palm Pavilion Beachside Grill & Bar; Grouper sandwich at Frenchy’s Original Cafe Frenchy’s Restaurant Group; Grouper Sandwich at Flying Bridge Restaurant courtesy of TradeWinds Island Resorts; Parmesan crusted grouper courtesy of Sheraton Sand Key Resort; Black Grouper courtesy of Sandpiper Resort Grouper Sandwich at Frenchy’s Original Cafe

Crabby’s Dockside features grouper served in a basket with fries and slaw, a combo with shrimp or a grouper dinner. Choose which way you want it prepared — fried, grilled or blackened. Three restaurants to try for more upscale dining include Caretta on the Gulf, serving delicious black grouper; Columbia Restaurant, where fabulous Baked Stuffed Grouper is perfectly prepared; or Rusty’s Bistro inside Sheraton Sand Key Resort for a memorable Parmesan Crusted Grouper with charred broccolini.

On the county’s southern beaches, stop at Salt Rock Grill on Indian Shores for delectable Grouper Piccata or head further south to Madeira Beach for Dockside Dave’s, an ultracasual spot serving grouper bites, grouper pasta and traditional dinners. A few miles away on St. Pete Beach, a two-fisted grouper sandwich awaits at Flying Bridge Restaurant at TradeWinds Island Grand. At the barrier island’s end is the Hurricane Restaurant on Pass-a-Grille, a casual favorite for spectacular gulf views and delicious food, including the crowd-favorite grouper sandwich. visitstpeteclearwater.com

Grouper Sandwich at Flying Bridge Restaurant, Tradewinds Island Grand

Parmesan Crusted Grouper at Rusty’s Bistro

Black Grouper at Caretta on the Gulf