Places to Eat in Clearwater

Are you looking for delicious restaurants to enjoy with your friends and family in Clearwater? Learn more about Island Way Grill, Clear Sky Beachside Cafe, and more.

Clearwater, Florida, is a highly sought-after city. This is mainly because of its beautiful beaches with powdery white sand and crystal clear waters. Clearwater is not only a top city to move to but also a great destination city for vacations. With Clearwater only being 27 miles from Tampa, FL, and 23 miles from St. Petersburg, FL, the city gets a lot of traffic in and out of the area. It is located in a prime location in Florida, and because of that, tons of people are constantly moving to or visiting Clearwater.

Finding that perfect place to eat with your friends and family can become overwhelming when there are so many great options. We have created this guide to walk you through some of the local favorites and highly-ranked restaurants that are located throughout Clearwater.

This city is full of delicious, unique restaurants, so it can be hard to decipher which ones are worth trying. We are going to discuss ten of the best restaurants in Clearwater that range from Spanish cuisine to American cuisine and everything in between. Some of these restaurants are a bit more expensive than others, but we have included all price points throughout this guide. 

Here are the best restaurants in Clearwater, Florida

Columbia Restaurant - SandKey

Price: $$

Cuisine: Spanish

Address: 1241 Gulf Blvd, Clearwater, FL

Here you will find a traditional Spanish restaurant that has been serving its community since 1905. If you are looking for a waterfront dining destination, Columbia Restaurant is the finest that overlooks the beautiful Clearwater Bay. It was named one of Florida's top restaurants since 1967. Definitely a must-try. 

You can enjoy a casual lunch or dinner here at this restaurant.

Our favorite thing to order at Columbia Restaurant is their famous salad. Columbia's Original "1905" Salad is the legendary tossed tableside salad. It is served with crispy iceberg lettuce with julienne of baked ham, natural Swiss cheese, tomato, olives, grated romano cheese, Worcestershire sauce, and the famous garlic dressing. 

Moving on to the appetizers, our favorites to enjoy with our friends and family are the queso fundido served with toasted Cuban bread and the scallops "Casimiro." The entree menu at this restaurant is large and has a variety of options to choose from. There is something for everyone here.  

Island Way Grill

Price: $$

Cuisine: Seafood

Address: 20 Island Way, Clearwater, FL

This restaurant offers Asian twists on seafood classics, plus a sushi bar. Not only will you love the food served at Island Way Grill, but you will also love the water views. Island Way Grill takes pride in its fresh seafood, delicious sushi, and hand-cut wood-fired steaks. This restaurant is the perfect spot for any event or memorable waterfront dinner with your friends and family.

The dinner menu at this establishment consists of fire and ice appetizers, small plates, salads, sharing sides, seafood specials, steaks, and other specialties. 

Our favorite dish to start off the evening with is the chilled seafood sampler that comes with scallop ceviche, bay shrimp cocktail, octopus ceviche, crab and cucumber salad, guacamole, pineapple mint salsa, and house-made corn chips. Moving on to the rest of the menu, the local favorite meals are calamari, truffle mac and cheese, or seared bacon-wrapped scallops. 

Island Way Grill also serves brunch on Sunday. A perfect spot to visit if you are out and about with your friends and family.

Ocean Hai Restaurant

Price: $$$

Cuisine: Asian

Address: 100 Coronado Dr, Clearwater Beach, FL

If you are looking for a chic, trendy Asian restaurant that offers fusion fare, shaded patio tables, and scenic ocean views, Ocean Hai Restaurant is the perfect spot. This establishment is located inside Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach Hotel on the water.

Every dish at Ocean Hair has been uniquely prepared under the culinary eye of Executive Sous Chef Nana Darkwah. Each dish is inspired by locally sourced ingredients and fresh, seasonal fare. Ocean Hai serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day of the week. Let's dive into some of our favorite dishes to order.

Our favorite appetizers to order at Ocean Hai are the shrimp pot sticker that comes with stir fry cabbage, teriyaki glaze, sesame seeds, and crispy onions and the crab rangoons that are served with delicious apricot Thai chili.

If you are craving something that is light on your stomach, Ocean Hai has a variety of soups and salads to choose from as well. 

When it comes to entrees, this restaurant has an abundance to pick from. They have meals like fish, pork chops, steak, or noodles and rice, sushi, nigiri, poke bowls, and sashimi. Everything on this menu is delicious it's hard to pick a favorite from the entree list.

Lucky Lobster Co

Price: $$$

Cuisine: Seafood

Address: 941 Huntley Ave, Dunedin, FL

The Lucky Lobster Co. serves casual seafood dishes and has a raw bar. The atmosphere at this restaurant is amazing with its contemporary vibe and sleek bar. If you are looking for a seafood place to enjoy with your family or friends, we highly suggest this one.

Here you will find a variety of food choices. They have so much diversity at Lucky Lobster Co, like brunch, seafood, raw bar, burgers, pizza, and dessert. They even have pasta dishes.

Some of the local favorite dishes to enjoy at this restaurant are the ahi tuna sashimi, grilled octopus, fish tacos with corn salsa, and lobster mac and cheese. But their number one hit is the Lucky Lobster Co. Famous Lobster Roll which is fresh Maine lobster served with hand-cut fries and coleslaw. And you can never go wrong with an order of fish and chips.

Clear Sky Beachside Cafe

Price: $$

Cuisine: American, Seafood

Address: 490 Mandalay Ave Ste 1, Clearwater, FL

This restaurant is a perfect spot if you are seeking a casual dining experience. It is the perfect place to go to enjoy live music and great food with your friends or even a casual date night. Clear Sky Beachside Cafe is located just a half block from Clearwater Beach and is known for having gourmet food without the gourmet prices.

Our go-to appetizers to enjoy are the ahi tuna nachos, which are fried wontons, cherry tomatoes, avocado, queso fresco, and cabbage, and the crab hush puppies that come with delicious garlic aioli. For entree selections, they have a variety of dishes to choose from. Whether you want something from the land, sea, or pasta. They have it at Clear Sky Beachside Cafe.

Some of our favorite dishes are the lobster ravioli, the wagyu sirloin served with twice-baked potato, or the crab cakes. 

If you are looking for something on the lighter side, they serve sushi, soups, salads, handhelds, flatbreads, tacos, quesadillas, and so much more. Clear Sky Beachside Cafe has something for everyone.

Seaweed Steaks, Seafood and Sushi

Price: $$$

Cuisine: Steak

Address: 2819 W Bay Dr, Belleair Bluffs, FL

Seaweed is a contemporary steak and seafood experience with amazing sushi, aged steak, and fresh seafood.

This high-end seafood restaurant has an intense menu that has something for everyone. They have tons of appetizers to select from. Whether you want a cold starter or a hot one, they have a variety of options. They also serve handhelds like a grouper sandwich or an artisan butcher burger. 

The entree selection is top-tier. They have a handful of signature seafood plates like the key west hog snapper piccata. They also have tons of steak choices, from an N.Y. strip to a tomahawk. You can even order a surf and turf if you would like a little bit of land and a little bit of sea.

A great establishment to visit for any celebration or anniversary.

HEW Parlor and Chophouse

Price: $$$

Cuisine: Steakhouse

Address: 453 Edgewater Dr, Dunedin, FL

This chophouse is one of the best in the area. If you are looking for a great place to enjoy a date night or celebrate an occasion, HEW Parlor and Chophouse is the place. As soon as you walk through the doors of HEW, you will be met with a light-filled dining room and savory high-quality cuts of meat. It has a balance of classic charm and Florida sunlight. This restaurant is located in the Fenway Hotel.

As you look through the Parlor Bar Bites menu, we suggest trying the charcuterie board or the crab and artichoke dip that is served with grilled naan. They also have a variety of salads and handhelds if you are looking for dishes on the lighter side.

On the entree menu, you will have a couple of options of steaks to choose from. Our go-to entree is the Filet Mignon with a tarragon demi compound butter. Once you pick your meat, you then pick a side. They have tons of sides to choose from like truffle parmesan fries, french onion mac and cheese, lemon pepper charred asparagus, and more.

Hispania Tapas Bar and Cafe

Price: $$

Cuisine: Spanish

Address: 34 N Fort Harrison Ave, Clearwater, FL

At Hispania Tapas Bar and Cafe, you will get to experience a truly authentic Spanish experience. 

This restaurant serves a variety of tapas, which are small plates that offer a wide variety of appetizers, snacks, or small portions of food that are served as accompaniments to a drink in Spanish cuisine. Some of the tapas that they serve here are manchego and goat cheese, aioli potatoes, octopus vinaigrette, Spanish meatballs, and much more.

They also have a few entree options like chicken served with saffron rice, a seafood plate with rice, shrimp, mussels, calamari, scallops, veggies, and more.

A great destination if you are craving something light but delicious.

Hogan's Hangout

Price: $$

Cuisine: American

Address: 499 Mandalay Ave, Clearwater, FL

This restaurant is a perfect spot to visit after a long day out at Clearwater Beach. Here you will find cocktails and pub eat in a laid-back 2 story establishment with tons of TVs and Hulk Hogan vibes.

Our favorite starter to get at this establishment is the loaded nachos which come with your choice of chicken or beef, queso, smoked corn, pico de gallo, shredded cheese, lettuce, jalapenos, onions, guacamole, cilantro, lime, and sour cream drizzle. These nachos hit the spot and are absolutely delicious.

Their entree menu consists of tacos, flatbreads, handhelds, burgers, pasta, and salads. At Hogan's Hangout, they have something for everyone. Our favorite handheld to get at Hogan's Hangout is the Grouper BLT. You can pick between grilled, blackened, or fried grouper with butter lettuce, candied bacon, tomato, onion, tartar sauce, and avocado slices on a hoagie roll.

Crown and Bull

Price: $$

Cuisine: American

Address: 319 Main St 5733, Dunedin, FL

If you are looking for a fun restaurant, Crown and Bull has just that type of environment. It is known as a funky, all-day American eatery and martini bar with live music and a broad menu of small and large plates. The perfect place to visit with your friends and family. And don't forget to check out their outside patio; it is full of vibrant lights with plenty of tables.

If you are visiting for lunch, our favorite handheld is the ham and brie. It's toasted sourdough, pit-smoked ham, melted brie, and arugula with an apple and balsamic reduction. It is amazing and has tons of flavor. They also have burgers and salads to choose from if that is what you like.

The dinner menu has more options than the lunch and is a must-try. Our favorite items on the dinner menu are the honey fried chicken which is a fried chicken breast topped with lemon herb spiced honey and served over spaghetti squash and sauteed seasonal greens. 

Another unique thing about Crown and Bull is that they have a preparation and protein section. This is where you pick your meat, whether it be steak, chicken, or fish, and then choose how you want it prepared. They have options like delta blue style, lemon basil style, Verde chili lime style, and more.

Definitely one of our favorite spots near Clearwater, Florida.

Best Places to Eat in Clearwater, FL - Our Final Words

As you read through some of the best restaurants to eat at in and around Clearwater, we bet you're hungry. There is an abundance of delicious dining options throughout this area that are all amazing in their own ways. Not only does Clearwater have amazing restaurants, but they also have a variety of things to do. Clearwater has one of the most beautiful beaches, tons of bars and restaurants, family-friendly activities, and more.

Whether you are relocating to Clearwater or just visiting, you will love this city, especially for its cost of living.

If you are considering moving to Clearwater, Florida, contact us here to get connected with a local Real Estate professional for further guidance on buying and selling in Clearwater.