Peg's Cantina - Gulfport, FL

I love the laid back atmosphere of Gulfport and I have had the fun of exploring it recently with my family, and even more fun trying some of the restaurants in the area. I noticed Peg's Cantina on my last visit to Gulfport, but unfortunately, it was not open during that time, as it is only open for lunch on Saturdays. The rest of the week it is open for dinner only, and closed on Monday's(per their website). Peg's is a charming little bungalow turned into a restaurant. There are a number of tables outside, a patio dining area, and a limited seating area for indoor dining. We opted to dine outside.

A server was quick to bring us a menu and take our drink order. We were definitely there to try the beer as they have some of their own brews. We opted for a white wheat beer that was perfect for the hot weather. In addition to their own brews, they offer some guest brews made locally and from around the world, so they have a good selection here.

The food here was awesome. We started off with some chips, salsa, and guacamole. I really liked the guacamole here. For entrees, my son ordered the margarita pizza which was yummy with its thin and crispy crust. My husband and I both tried the shrimp burritos that had been recommended to us by a frequent diner there. The shrimp is sauteed in salsa fuega and was absolutely delicious. We were kind of glad we ordered the same thing because it was too good to share. Our burritos were served with beans and rice, but you can opt for a salad instead. Good beer, great food, and a relaxing atmosphere made for a great evening!

Peg's Cantina
3038 Beach Blvd.
Gulfport, FL
727-328-2720

Pane Rustica Bakery and Cafe - Tampa, FL

Keep your eyes wide open when driving by, or you just might miss this little gem that is in a rather plain old strip mall. I know that if I had not been specifically driving to Pane Rustica, with an address in hand, I probably would not have noticed it in passing. Luckily, I had read the reviews of others and I was rather curious, plus I love bakeries. On the inside, Pane Rustica is beautiful and filled with tasty goodies. My son and I went over on a weekday morning for breakfast. The bakery is filled with comfortable tables and a long bench with cushions along the back wall. It just invites you to sit down and have a chat or perhaps bring along a good book and get comfy while enjoying coffee.

My son and I went to the bakery counter and deliberated over numerous yummy looking choices. Finally, I chose a croissant and a chocolate espresso cookie, while my son went with a chocolate cupcake. After getting our order filled, we moved down along the counter and chose our drinks, coffee for me and milk for my son. This was all very efficient and we quickly chose a comfy spot to sit and enjoy our selections. Everything was very good and along with the nice atmosphere, we had an enjoyable time. They serve lunch and dinner, so I am excited to try one of those meal times in the future.

Pane Rustica Bakery and Cafe
3225 South MacDill Avenue
Tampa, FL 33629
813-902-8828

Beck's Bistro - Bradenton, FL

Although I don't live in Bradenton anymore, I periodically find myself in the neighborhood. I especially enjoy downtown Bradenton. Even though the downtown area is very small, it is a good place to kick back and enjoy the slow pace of life. A new addition to downtown is Beck's Bistro. This is a nice little bistro that is open for breakfast and lunch. It is a small, but charming space with a country flavor. If you like, you can grab a table at the covered area outside. The service is excellent here and the owners are delightful and it is very evident that they aim to keep their customers happy.

On a recent stop at Beck's, my family and I were there for lunch. We tried the egg and cheese croissant and the curry chicken salad sandwich. Both sandwiches were delicious, but my husband and I agreed that the chicken curry salad sandwich was the star and I opted to have mine made with a croissant, which I loved. For dessert, we tried the chocolate cake, which was one of the best I have had in a long time. Along with our meal, we enjoyed some excellent coffee. The only thing I wish was that we lived in the neighborhood to enjoy it more.

Beck's Bistro
417 Old Main Street (12th Street)
Bradenton, FL 34205
941-896-7873

Cappys Pizza - St Petersburg, FL

This is a groovy little pizza joint located in the Grand Central District. It is located in an old brick house that has been converted into a pizza place. This is a place that is fun for the whole family and has a great vibe and we loved the old movie posters on the wall. Finding a table is fun because you are not sitting in just one big room. Loop through the different rooms in the house and find a table. This does make for a rather more private dining experience with diners spread throughout different rooms.

It didn't take us long to make our order. My husband and I tried a glass of the house wine, which was okay, and my son enjoyed a bottle of root beer served in a frosted glass mug. Passing the time waiting for our pizza, we quizzed each other from the stack of trivia cards that are placed at each table. This is a great idea to keep boredom at bay from the kids. After a not too long wait, pizza was served. We ordered a small cheese Chicago deep dish pizza and a large New York style cheese pizza. Both were very yummy, but I think I liked the deep dish the best. We were very happy with our food here and the total experience was very fun and one that I would love to come back for again.

Cappys Pizza
2900 1st Avenue North
St Petersburg, FL 33713
727-321-3020

Marchand's Bar & Grill - St Petersburg, FL

It has been forever since I have been here for the Sunday Champagne Buffet Brunch, but I finally made it back again recently. This is a very beautiful restaurant located in the Vinoy Resort in downtown St Petersburg. When walking inside, you almost feel like you are in a different era with the elegant surroundings. When you dine during Sunday brunch, you can expect your server to give a run down of the offerings of the day and then he will take your drink order. The Sunday buffet comes with champagne or mimosas, or your usual breakfast beverages if you chose not to imbibe. After you order drinks, let the fun begin.

On the day my family and I were there, we headed straight for the seafood table. There we enjoyed a seafood hot pot, salmon, mahi mahi, crab legs, etc. We did rather bypass the egg benedict station because there were too many things to try. However, if you want an omelette, make sure to order one from you server. Omlettes are part of the buffet, but they are not at the egg station and the order goes back to the kitchen. Next, we made our way to the meat table where there was some lovely chicken and some short ribs that we all enjoyed. We nibbled our way around the buffet just to get a taste of anything that looked interesting. At long last, we made our way to the cheese and dessert station. There was a lot to choose from and my son's favorite was the red velvet cupcake. However, what stuck out for me was what I believe was a strawberry trifle. There were bits of cake, berries, and whip cream and it was a perfect end to brunch.

This is an excellent brunch offered in beautiful surroundings. I don't particularly like to do buffets because it rather defeats the point of dining out and it is a little bit too easy to overindulge. However, save it for an occasional treat and indulge at Marchand's.

Marchand's Bar and Grill
Renaissance Vinoy Resort
501 5th Ave Northeast
St Petersburg, FL 33701
727-894-1000

Central Cafe and Organics - St Petersburg, FL

This is a nice spot on Central Avenue to get food that has a focus on fresh, organic products. It is a small space, but they make good use of every inch. If you are in a hurry in the morning, it is a good spot to grab a coffee and a bakery item. Recently, I stopped in to do a grab and go. I ordered the soup and wrap combo. The soup that day was a vegetable beef soup, which I loved. For the wrap, I chose the chicken jerk with chipotle mayo and plenty of shredded vegetables. The wrap was very good with a perfect little kick for added flavor. The meal combo also came with a simple salad and a small cosmickey cookie. I was very happy with my meal choice and love this fast, healthful dining option in downtown St Petersburg.

Central Cafe and Organics
243 Central Avenue
St Petersburg, FL 33701
727-824-0881

O'Bricks Irish Pub and Martini Bar - Bradenton, FL

We were in our old neighborhood, so we decided to stop in to check out O'Brick's Irish Pub and Martini Bar. When we used to live in Bradenton, O'Brick's used to be the former home of the Kangaroo Pub. Since then, the Kangaroo Pub has moved across the street and O'Brick's moved in and totally remodeled the whole place. O'Brick's was very nicely remodeled and I loved what they did with the place. The new bar is great, with comfortable stools just the right height to comfortably sit at the bar.

It was happy hour at, so well drinks and wine by the glass were half price, which was a real bargain. For martini drinkers, they have quite a decent martini menu. We ordered a pint of Boddington's right off, and then took a quick peak at the menu. My only disappointment was the menu at O'Bricks. I knew they served food, so I was expecting Irish pub grub, but that was not to be. Instead, the menu is from Fav's next door which serves Italian food. I like Fav's and I have ate there frequently in the past, but I didn't realize that would be the menu at O'Bricks. However, we were hungry, so we ordered a cheese pizza off the menu. The order is placed over the phone by the server, and the food is brought over from Fav's once it is done. Good pizza, but again not really what I was expecting. However, we still had a good time and like I said, the new remodeling job is beautiful and creates a nice atmosphere to sit down and enjoy a pint.

O'Bricks Irish Pub and Martini Bar
427 Old Main Street
Bradenton, FL 34205
941-896-8860