Seaside Spirits: Ricky T's Bar and Grille

What sets a good beach bar apart from a mediocre dive is sticking to the basics—good food, cold beer and first-rate atmosphere. In other words, to succeed, do not take for granted what the people want and what will bring them back.

Ricky T’s on Gulf Boulevard gets it all right.

A self-described “rock and roll bar,” Ricky T’s has a broad fan base. The place appeals to both Treasure Island locals and visitors staying at the cluster of resorts on Gulf Boulevard. It has everything you would expect from a beach hangout. All the elements are there—live music after 5 p.m. every day, souvenir t-shirts and wooden walls covered with kitschy signs. The signs are there to fill the spaces between the numbers of big screen TV’s highlighting every sporting event as well as local news.

There are not one, but two outdoor seating areas; including a huge tiki bar set in the back of the building. Cold beer, a full bar and live music come together; local artists provide the rock and roll at night.

At the end of a busy strip mall of gift shops, Ricky T’s is in an excellent high-traffic location, just south of Central and directly across from the venerable Thunderbird resort. You can only imagine every night packed with tourists looking for “local” flavor. However, they are not the only ones; locals flock to Ricky’s too.

It is not hard to understand why. One is the staff. Behind the bar was Amy, a woman brimming with a good-natured, down home charm.

Another is the food—Ricky T’s has one of the better menu selections on the beach—for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Of course, there is the expected beach bar grub and the standard all-you-can-eat seafood and fish fry specials. The Snow Crab dinner is available every Monday and Tuesday.

What’s more interesting are the other—more imaginative—appetizers and entrees. They include things like designer pizzas and “gourmet” French fries. Most curious was the “Buffalo” fries, covered with bleu cheese and served with a side of spicy wing sauce.  Creative and tasty bar food, to be sure.

There is one down side. Ricky T’s has resisted the “craft beer” trend, without a single beer on tap. All their beers are bottled. The closest thing to a craft beer is Magic Hat. The food is the big feature anyway; as long as the beer is cold and the music is loud, then Ricky T’s gets a pass on not having a draft in sight.

If you are tired of corporate restaurants and cookie-cutter, beach-themed bars, then you simply cannot get any better than Ricky T’s.

Ricky T’s is located at 10601 Gulf Boulevard, Treasure Island. They are open every day from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Contact them online at www.rickytsbarandgrille.com or 727-363-RICK (7425).