10 Places Where Locals Love to Eat in Clearwater

Columbia Restaurant has been owned back the same family for well over a century. One of Florida’s oldest restaurants, it was founded by Cuban immigrant, Casimiro Hernandez, Sr. in 1905. All locations are owned and operated by 4th- and 5th-generation members of the founding family.

A place that’s been referred to as a “once in a lifetime” experience, enjoy the garden-like setting, exceptional service and standout dishes like the “out-of-this-world” 1905 salad, the Cuban sandwich, and stuffed piquillo peppers with a chilled beer or mojito. Be sure to save room for the mango mousse cake.

Bait House is a locally owned restaurant at the end of Clearwater Marina on beautiful Clearwater Beach. This dockside eatery not only offers a picturesque view, but also some of the freshest fish and seafood around.

Enjoy a cold local beer or the Key Lime cider while watching the boats go by, paired with dishes, like the popular Drunken Shrimps or Fresh Catch of the Day. All are expertly prepared and enjoyed in a fun atmosphere with friendly service. As there are less than a dozen tables, you may have to wait, but it’s worth it.

Ristorante Acqua Alta specialises in authentic Venetian main courses as well as classic Italian sandwiches and snacks. The owners, Paolo Polo and Patrizia, come from Venice and do a great job of transporting you to the famous ‘Floating City’ by taste.

They use Italian cooking techniques with locally sourced ingredients served in a casual atmosphere. Some of the favourites include Venetian recipes like baccala (cod), homemade pasta, risotto, calamari and fried shrimp. The to-die-for burrato caprese Italiana uses Italian burrata imported from Puglia with Roma tomatoes topped with pesto.

A staple in Clearwater for around 20 years, Bascom’s Chop House offers fine dining in a traditional steakhouse. The menu focuses on fantastic steaks, chops and fresh seafood. Served in an elegant, yet unpretentious atmosphere, its focus is on American Mid-Western beef aged to specifications that ensure the most flavourful, tender steaks you’ll find anywhere in town.

The menu also includes hand-cut veal, lamb chops and pork, all prepared to perfection, along with fresh seafood delivered daily. Dishes can be complemented with a superbly hand-selected wine list. Bascom’s Chop House prides itself in serving hormone-free, organic meats and locally grown produce.

Big Storm Brewing Co. serves tasty comfort food and brews its own award-winning beer, named after the storms which frequent the Gulf Coast in the summer. Sample the Gold Medal Oktoberfest Marzen Lager or the Silver Medal Belgian Single alongside delicious eats with a full menu of casual entrees and inventive appetizers.

It goes way beyond your typical bar food. Things like beer-infused grass-fed beef sliders along with boneless wings, 4-cheese flatbread with wilted kale and the Perfect Storm nachos with house-made beer cheese.

Lenny’s Restaurant serves all-day breakfast and lunch with a fabulous New York dinner ambience. It’s always packed with locals, with the menu focus on mouth-watering comfort food in portions large enough for 2. A staple here since 1958, the service is in true Southern style form, as sweet as the delicious pies.

Many call Lenny’s the very best place for breakfast in Clearwater, with favourites including the western omelette, steak-and-egg special, waffles loaded with fruit and whip cream, and cinnamon rolls. The interior is eclectic, with fun mementoes and knickknacks to check out while you wait for your meal.

Clear Sky Beachside Café is a simple beachside café, but the menu is fantastic – in fact, it’s been voted 'Best Dining Any Time of Day' in Clearwater. Meals are served with an upscale twist and a seafood focus, including some of the freshest ingredients on the beach.

Enjoy a bloody Mary or mimosa with your breakfast, before coming back later in the day to enjoy its extensive and award-winning menu. It features everything, from Asian, Mexican and French to Italian and classic American fare. Must-tries include the signature paninis and burgers, lobster ravioli and seafood jambalaya.