Tryst Gastro Lounge - St Petersburg, FL

Tryst is worth a trip just to see the restaurant, which is a trendy new addition to Beach Drive in downtown St Pete. Outside, they have some cozy couches on the sidewalk, but we usually like to sit inside with the cool vibe going on in there. We have stopped by many evenings just to have a glass of wine and relax. Most recently, we tried the Sweet Corn Chowder topped with warm crab salad, which is absolutely delicious. Another winner is the Roasted Duck Breast with its delightful maple glaze that adds just the right touch of sweetness and is nicely complemented with sauteed spinach and wild rice. We also enjoyed the Filet Mignon Brochettes. To finish it all off was the fabulous peach cobbler cheesecake. In conclusion, great food, good setting, but sometimes the service can be hit and miss, depending who your server is. The only other comment I might make is the price point is probably fine for tourists who are vacationing on the spot and tend to congregate on Beach Drive, but a bit high compared to other restaurants in the area. That being said, I still love it.

Tryst Gastro Lounge

240 Beach Drive NE

St Petersburg, FL 33701

727-821-4567

C'est La Vie - Sarasota, FL

We stumbled upon C'est La Vie, while walking down Main Street in Sarasota. After a peek at the bakery case inside and a look at the menu, we decided to grab a sidewalk table because it was such a beautiful day outside. They had crepes on the menu, so that seemed like just the thing. Along with the crepes we ordered, I tried smoked salmon with fresh tomato served on a baguette. The crepes were served with fried potatoes and the portions turned out to be huge. The crepes were very good and I could only eat half of the salmon sandwich. The service was a bit slow, but nothing out of control and I like being able to linger. I don't live in the neighborhood, but if I did, I would be sure to drop by again.

C'est La Vie

1553 Main Street

Sarasota, FL 34236

941-906-9575

Sophie's French Bakery and Cafe - Hyde Park Village(Tampa), FL

I absolutely love Sophie's and I like to head over there on the weekend for a lazy brunch. Sophie's decor is an eclectic mesh of mismatched tables and chairs. Their is even a door that has been made into a table, how cool is that! To order, take a look at the bakery case filled with sumptuous treats such as cakes, tarts, croissants, chocolates, etc.. On the wall behind the cash register you can peruse the chalkboard menus for soups, sandwiches, salads, etc.. They do not serve alcohol at Sophie's, but on the wall they have a BYOB sign. After asking about it, I have brought a bottle of wine along with a bottle opener on subsequent visits. Sophie's does provide wine glasses for your enjoyment, so ask them to point out the case where they keep wine glasses for customers to get themselves.

There is a sidewalk patio in front of Sophie's on the days the weather is nice. So far, I have loved anything I have eaten out of the bakery case. The latte and hot chocolate is served in humongous mugs, so if the price is a little higher, remember you have about two servings in one mug. I love the whip cream topped hot chocolate and the espresso drinks are great. I recently tried the pear and blue cheese salad served on spinach topped with candied pecans and a cabernet reduction dressing, which I thought was out of this world. Also good are the breakfast egg sandwiches that are served on either a croissant or baguette. I can't wait until the weekend comes around again!

Sophie's French Bakery and Cafe

1633 West Snow Avenue

Hyde Park Village(Tampa), FL 33606

813-254-5257