LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 28: Executive chef Mike Minor prepares Blue Oasis Pure Shrimp from the company's North Dakota research and development facility at the Border Grill Las Vegas restaurant at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino July 28, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Blue Oasis Pure Shrimp CEO, Scott McManus, said that Las Vegas consumes more shrimp per capita than anywhere else in the world, serving about 22 million pounds annually. To serve that market, McManus opened the new Aqua Ganix shrimp farm producing Blue Oasis Pure Shrimp in North Las Vegas. After pathogen-free Mexican white shrimp larvae arrive at the 36,000-square-foot facility from Florida, they are grown in 44 ponds made from recycled shipping containers that are filled with water treated with a special formula. After 120 days they will be harvested and shipped to local restaurants beginning in September 2011. The company expects to produce 450,000 pounds of shrimp per year in a sustainable way producing no wastewater and allowing the shrimp to be grown without the use of chemicals. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)(Photo By Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Seafood is an incredibly healthy part of your diet. It is packed with lean protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, vitamin B3 and other nutrients. And on top of all that, it’s delicious. Nowhere else can you find fresh seafood like you can in Florida, especially in Tampa Bay. Check out some of these restaurants serving up scrumptious seafood any way you like it.
Oystercatchers
Grand Hyatt Tampa
2900 Bayport Drive
Tampa, FL 33607
(813) 207-6815
www.hyatt.com/oystercatchers Oystercatchers is an experience for the eyes as well as the taste buds. It is situated in the natural landscape with a clear view of the Gulf and artfully decorated to complement the natural beauty of its surroundings. The dishes served up are fresh, creative and positively exquisite. Sauces and relishes are created in-house to enhance the natural flavors of the seafood, such as the stuffed snapper or grouper saltimbocca. There is a variety of Gulf-fresh fish, including as grouper, mahi-mahi and yellowfin tuna, that can be served blackened, grilled or sauteéd with your choice of sides.
Grand Hyatt Tampa
2900 Bayport Drive
Tampa, FL 33607
(813) 207-6815
www.hyatt.com/oystercatchers Oystercatchers is an experience for the eyes as well as the taste buds. It is situated in the natural landscape with a clear view of the Gulf and artfully decorated to complement the natural beauty of its surroundings. The dishes served up are fresh, creative and positively exquisite. Sauces and relishes are created in-house to enhance the natural flavors of the seafood, such as the stuffed snapper or grouper saltimbocca. There is a variety of Gulf-fresh fish, including as grouper, mahi-mahi and yellowfin tuna, that can be served blackened, grilled or sauteéd with your choice of sides.
Island Way Grill
20 Island Way
Clearwater Beach, FL 33767
(727) 461-6617
www.islandwaygrill.com Seafood doesn’t get any fresher than Island Way Grill. The restaurant sends its own boats to make daily trips out in the Gulf to bring back fresh local fish, including tuna, mahi-mahi and snapper. These juicy, flavorful fish are then artfully grilled at very high temperatures in the oak and citrus-fired open-pit grill, resulting in tender fish with a hint of smoky flavor. Only fresh herbs and high-quality seasonings are used, and each and every sauce is made in-house. If you want a truly unique experience, check out Island Way Grill on a Sunday for an amazing Brunch on the Beach.
20 Island Way
Clearwater Beach, FL 33767
(727) 461-6617
www.islandwaygrill.com Seafood doesn’t get any fresher than Island Way Grill. The restaurant sends its own boats to make daily trips out in the Gulf to bring back fresh local fish, including tuna, mahi-mahi and snapper. These juicy, flavorful fish are then artfully grilled at very high temperatures in the oak and citrus-fired open-pit grill, resulting in tender fish with a hint of smoky flavor. Only fresh herbs and high-quality seasonings are used, and each and every sauce is made in-house. If you want a truly unique experience, check out Island Way Grill on a Sunday for an amazing Brunch on the Beach.
The Wharf
2001 Pass-a-grille Way
St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
(727) 367-9469
www.wharfrestaurant.org The Wharf boasts “old-timey seafood done right.” This award-winning restaurant is extremely popular with locals for the dining experience as much as the food. Diners enjoy incredible views of the beach and nearby islands, 15 TVs that broadcast sports games and multiple happy hours. The menu offers everything from fried lobster bites and crab cakes to fish reubens and grilled tilapia. There is even a kids’ menu for the little guppies in the family.
2001 Pass-a-grille Way
St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
(727) 367-9469
www.wharfrestaurant.org The Wharf boasts “old-timey seafood done right.” This award-winning restaurant is extremely popular with locals for the dining experience as much as the food. Diners enjoy incredible views of the beach and nearby islands, 15 TVs that broadcast sports games and multiple happy hours. The menu offers everything from fried lobster bites and crab cakes to fish reubens and grilled tilapia. There is even a kids’ menu for the little guppies in the family.
Miguel’s Mexican Seafood & Grill
3035 W. Kennedy Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33609
(813) 876-2587
www.miguelscafe.com If you like your seafood with a little spice, Miguel’s has just what you need. Appetizers and entrees can be prepared with all kinds of fresh seafood, including shrimp, scallops, lobster and fish. Miguel’s uses only house-made sauces and authentic ingredients in its made-to-order dishes. If you’re feeling thirsty, you can indulge in the full liquor bar that includes top-shelf tequila and hand-crafted cocktails.
3035 W. Kennedy Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33609
(813) 876-2587
www.miguelscafe.com If you like your seafood with a little spice, Miguel’s has just what you need. Appetizers and entrees can be prepared with all kinds of fresh seafood, including shrimp, scallops, lobster and fish. Miguel’s uses only house-made sauces and authentic ingredients in its made-to-order dishes. If you’re feeling thirsty, you can indulge in the full liquor bar that includes top-shelf tequila and hand-crafted cocktails.
Whiskey Joe’s Restaurant
7720 W. Courtney Campbell Causeway
Tampa, FL 33607
(813) 281-0770
www.whiskeyjoestampa.com Whiskey Joe’s is the ideal place to go for a relaxing afternoon. You can literally kick off your shoes at the barefoot bar and enjoy live entertainment, a game of corn hole or a few drinks from the full bar. The seafood selections include blackened grouper, shrimp and crab mac and cheese and beer-battered fish and chips. If you’re out boating, you can even drive your boat right up to the sand to enjoy great service and a lazy afternoon.
7720 W. Courtney Campbell Causeway
Tampa, FL 33607
(813) 281-0770
www.whiskeyjoestampa.com Whiskey Joe’s is the ideal place to go for a relaxing afternoon. You can literally kick off your shoes at the barefoot bar and enjoy live entertainment, a game of corn hole or a few drinks from the full bar. The seafood selections include blackened grouper, shrimp and crab mac and cheese and beer-battered fish and chips. If you’re out boating, you can even drive your boat right up to the sand to enjoy great service and a lazy afternoon.
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Amanda Mole has been writing since she was old enough to hold a pencil and cooking since she was tall enough to reach the stove. She believes that food provides more than just vital nutrients: it is an irreplaceable part of countless cultural and social activities. As a Tampa Bay resident for the past 21 years, she is well acquainted with the incredibly diverse range of restaurants, bars, and food festivals that the area has to offer. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.