Looking for restaurants on Clearwater Beach? Check out some of my suggestions for beachy places to grab some food while on Clearwater Beach.
To me, travel and food go hand in hand. One of my sources of travel inspiration was Anthony Bourdain. He said something once that stuck with me, “I think food, culture, people, and landscape are all absolutely inseparable.” I not only believe this to be true but I have learned a lot about people when experiencing their food.
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Why Finding a Good Restaurant when Traveling is Important:
Finding good restaurants, and good food is just as important to me when planning a vacation as what activities I want to do, and what to put on my packing list. Not only do you need food to sustain life but the food is also a great way to learn and understand the culture of a local community.
This is a bit harder when you are traveling to a primary tourist area like Clearwater Beach. Restaurants in the area tend to cater to the tourists vs showing the local culture. What they do offer however is a fun atmosphere.
Below are a few of the Clearwater Beach Restaurants we tried on our first trip to Clearwater. I have since found some other restaurants to try but you will have to check back again later to find out more.
Clearwater Beach Restaurant with a Late-night Menu – Brown Boxer Pub and Grille South Beach
Our flight from Minneapolis was delayed due to weather in Tampa, then we got into Tampa then sat on the tarmac for an hour because our gate was occupied. Once we were finally off the plane, we headed to the car rental area and found lines a mile long.
Needless to say, our arrival at our VRBO rental was supposed to be around 5:00 pm. It was however almost 9:45 pm when we got there and were starving. Since this was our first time in the area we had no idea where anything was located.
The joys of late-night arrivals
I quickly pulled out my phone and googled “Clearwater Beach Restaurants near me.” A few options came up but every one I clicked said the kitchen was closed or closing soon… desperate for some dinner, I called a place to see if Google was maybe wrong.
It wasn’t but I did ask if they knew of any places close by that had food late. They suggested The Brown Boxer. I called and sure enough, they had a limited late-night menu.
The Brown Boxer is split into two different areas. A live band was playing on the tiki bar side and it was PACKED with people. The tiki bar side was open to the street, partly covered by the roof, and partly on the curb. An open door and passthrough window allowed us to see from the front to the back.
It looked like a fun place to hang out but we opted for the less crowded side (we needed to relax and unwind not party) which had more of a sports bar feel.
We quickly ordered a beer and a shrimp basket. I don’t know if it was the exhaustion from a long day or traveling or hunger but it was the best shrimp and beer I’ve had in a long time. As we sat and enjoyed our first night in Clearwater, I noticed a lot of the people at the bar on our side, looked like servers from other restaurants.
I may be off base but it seemed to be a local hangout. Several blocks away from Clearwater Beach and closer to the marina side and the gulf side it’s not a place many tourists seemed to be hanging out. Exactly the kind of place I like to go to while traveling.
Clearwater Beach Restaurant Rooftop Dining – Jimmy’s on the Edge
There is not much better than being able to watch the sunset while eating at a rooftop restaurant. Jimmy’s on the Edge does not disappoint. Located at the south end of Clearwater Beach Island the restaurant has great views of the sunset over the city skyline.
We got there a little early for dinner but I wanted to make sure we got a table close to the railing for the best views.
They had some delicious cocktails! I had a pina colada. But as we watched the sunset I found myself not as impressed as I thought. Maybe it was the young couple who came and stood right next to our table to block our view or maybe I just didn’t realize what was coming… I by far, found the view after dark to be spectacular. As I stated in my post about why I fell in love with New York City, I LOVE city lights. Seeing the entirety of Clearwater Beach Island from a rooftop restaurant at night made me fall in love.
The food was really good, I had the grouper tacos, and my partner in crime had fish and chips. Both were seasoned perfectly and was more food than we could finish.
At Jimmy’s on the Edge, go for the food and cocktails but stay for the views after dark.
Clearwater Beach Restaurant Close to the Beach – Crabby’s Beachwalk Bar and Grille
After spending a few hours on the beach, soaking in the sun, we needed a break not only to get a bite to eat but also needed some hydration. And by hydration, I mean an ice-cold pina colada. (With a side of ice water of course. You need to be smart when you are from the Midwest and have not had this kind of exposure to sun and heat in several months.)
Crabby’s Beachwalk Bar and Grille was just the place we needed. Sitting across the street from the beach it was close to the cabana we rented for the day. The open-air concept makes it feel like you are outside even if you are technically under the roof. We picked a table outside under an umbrella mostly because I like to people-watch.
We ordered the fried calamari. It was DELICIOUS! Sometimes calamari gets rubbery but this was cooked well. A light breading and a fantastic lemon aioli dipping sauce were delicious. It was mixed in with fried banana peppers which made for a unique twist and one I would have again! For the main meal, I ordered the grilled wild red shrimp with cheesy grits and black beans.
Living in the Midwest, cheesy grits are just not something you see on very many menus. I don’t know why but grits is considered more of a southern dish and it’s just not offered around the home. So when I’m “down south” I order grits when it’s an option.
Clearwater Beach Restaurant Dive Bar – Frenchy’s South Beach Café
If you are looking for a dive tiki bar feel in a Clearwater Beach restaurant, Frenchy’s South Beach Cafe is your place. We sat at a small table near the kitchen. Normally NOT my top choice but it was the only option and we needed a place to sit and have a beer. Yes, beer this time. Another thing I can’t get living in the Midwest is Yuengling beer. Sure we have a ton of delicious options but for some reason, Yuengling has not made its way to my neighborhood.
If anyone from Yuengling Brewery is reading this, please start distributing in the Midwest!!
Back to Frenchy’s, the bar area is cozy. Normally people think cozy = small. It is small but I don’t want you to think it’s cramped. It’s not. Maybe it’s because it’s floor-to-ceiling open-air windows. There were a ton of seating options on the second floor, outside under umbrellas, or in the main floor. But since we were just going to have a beer, we decided to leave the big tables to those having a meal.
Last but not least – Salty’s Island Bar
After a long day of walking the boardwalk, we were getting hangry and it was getting late. We decided to find somewhere close to our VRBO rental on the south end of the island. We could not agree on a place to stop and Salty’s Island Bar and Grille was the last restaurant for a few blocks. I finally said, “Let’s just eat here!”
It looked like a traditional sports bar. Well-lit, TVs were placed around the room, and lots of people half-heartedly watched the game that was on. We asked if there was room on the second floor. There was so we headed up the stairs and found a table.
Unexpected Surprise
Like most of the Clearwater Beach restaurants, Salty’s is also an open-air restaurant. The second floor looked more like Craby’s with a beach feel. When I looked at the menu it seemed familiar. I looked at the top and realized Craby’s and Salty’s are owned by the same restaurant group.
At first, I was disappointed as I like to try different places but I was so tired and hungry that I stopped caring and decided to just order something different. We both decided to have a Blue Hawaiian drink. It was so good we each had two! The Shrimp 4-Way was tasty but what stays engrained in my memory was the coconut rice. I have tried many times before to re-create this side dish but it never comes out right. I don’t know how they make it but it was delicious!
Clearwater Beach Restaurants Summary
Once I realized that many of the Clearwater Beach restaurants were owned by the same company I wished I had done a little more research. Not because the food was bad but because I would have found something different to try. I would recommend any of these restaurants but I’m excited to go back and try a few different places too. Since a return trip is in the works, check back soon for more options.
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