Matter of Taste: Steak

Ah, the sweet smell of grilled steak. The taste of a finely-butchered cut of meat nestled under a troop of button mushrooms glazed with red wine. If you love steak, no doubt you have a favorite place, a go-to restaurant where you know the chef will prepare your cut of meat just as you like. Most people I know don’t name a beach restaurant when they tell me about their favorite place to get a steak.

Fair enough. The beach is all about seafood, right? The problem is, sometimes you just want a steak, and you don’t want to drive to Tampa or St. Petersburg to get it. So where can you go along the beach to get a steak that won’t taste like shoe leather?

Depending on what you’re looking for, you’ll find it somewhere along our sandbar. Here are five places on the Pinellas beaches that serve steak.

If you want...

…Surf and Turf, go over to Guppy’s on Indian Rocks Beach. This beach restaurant looks casual on the outside, and you certainly don’t need a suit and tie to go in, but the company has a solid local reputation for serving traditional meals – such as surf and turf – alongside more creative cuisine. Here is where you go on the beach to get a lobster tail with your filet (about $33), as well as all the fixins’ like baked potatoes, salads and veggies.

...Steak and a beer, try the Brown Boxer on Clearwater Beach (and, as of November 11, Madeira Beach.) They have fresh sirloin steak (never frozen) that pairs perfectly with one of their beer specials, which they have every day of the week. The Brown Boxer, named after the owner’s dog, also allows dogs on their patio.

...Steak and History, eat as Silas Dents on St. Pete Beach. The owner remembers the restaurant’s namesake, a Tierra Verde hermit who played Santa Claus every year. The walls of the restaurant are lined with folklore and memorabilia, and even the menus tell the story of Silas. If you’re lucky enough to catch the owner when he’s not super-busy, he’ll tell you a story or two about life on Long Key before the big hotels. Two other great things about Silas’: they have a “Jus Enuf” menu with smaller portions, and they have a special booth. Ask about it if you go.

...Steak in a Vintage Setting, go to Heilman’s Beachcomber on Clearwater Beach. The Beachcomber has several fine cuts of beef as well as lamb and veal, but the atmosphere sends you back to the 60s with an almost Tiki lounge feel. Before your meal you’ll get a relish tray and an assortment of breads, and after you dine head over to the Bistro next door for a true “piano man” lounge experience.

  ...Steak Somewhere with Elegant Dining, eat at Patrick’s on St. Pete Beach. This converted 1940s beach house can only accommodate a few diners at a time, and they only have two true steak cuts on the menu, but the team-style service, low-key yet tasteful decor, and ambiance make this one of the beach’s finest dining experiences. Bonus: port lovers will enjoy having more than two choices for after-dinner drinks.