Clearwater Beach
- Thread starter ReliableOstrich
- Start date
Thanks for the suggestions! I suppose we'll either stick at the Hilton or relocate to the Doubletree in Redington. Wasn't planning on renting a car (or being sober enough to drive it) so based on proximity to other stuff, seems like Hilton-CWB would be the play, right?
Based on the suggestions above, I'm thinking at least one lunch and both dinners at Crabby Bills. Sounds dope!
Based on the suggestions above, I'm thinking at least one lunch and both dinners at Crabby Bills. Sounds dope!
It's right next to McDonald's and yes it's actually pretty good and a nice atmosphere. The food there is definitely not frozen and it's cooked good.
LOL!
By the way there's a Jimmy him as about a block or 2 north of the Hilton. Good lunch/chill spot .
A couple of info tidbits I didn’t see elsewhere in the thread.
At Clearwater in addition to avoiding Crabby Bills and going to the Columbia (which I like everywhere but the original in Ybor with the flamenco dancers is still the best), I’d suggest:
1) hitting up Backwater which is a decent “standard Floridian” seafood place overlooking the water. It’s not mindblowing but I have never had truly mindblowing food anywhere in Clearwater
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ugla2vx6gb7qacu/new dinner menu 2-1-18.pdf?dl=0
2) Caretta’s at the Sand Pearl Resort is a decent higher end place place that is more upscale than Backwater
https://www.sandpearl.com/getmedia/261cef83-7c0e-4059-ab5f-7e9e092331d5/CarettaDinnerMenu.pdf/
3) When you’re tired of seafood, there’s some decent pizza and pasta at Cristino’s Coal Fired Pizza
https://store7.geomerx.com/cristinos/index.cfm?fuseaction=
As far as beaches and things to do, I seldom go to beaches in Clearwater proper (instead going to Ft Desoto in St Pete to camp, roam the fort and spend time on the beach or taking a ferry or boat over to Caledesi Island near Dunedin or Anclote Key in Tarpon Springs). Without a car there’s not a lot to do in Clearwater besides go to the beach, talk to a Scientologists and eat. With a car there’s a ton to do in the area like going to Tarpon Springs to go to the Pinball Museum, hang out at the kitschy Sponge Docks and eat amazing Greek food, or go to Dunedin to drink and listen to music at the (relatively old for craftbrew, well over a decade) Dunedin Brewery and hunt for Florida’s only gemstone in Honeymoon Beach (agatized coral and calcite impregnated clams).
But yeah, I love the general area as I grew up in it, but you’ll have a LOT more fun if you have a car. Clearwater is very bland, just old retirees, boring %*% white yuppies and minddead Scientologists. It’s like Utah with nice white beaches instead of amazing rock formations and canyons. But within twenty minutes in either direction there’s a TON to do.
Noted. Perhaps I’ll rent a car and hit one or two of these spots up on a SaturdayA couple of info tidbits I didn’t see elsewhere in the thread.
At Clearwater in addition to avoiding Crabby Bills and going to the Columbia (which I like everywhere but the original in Ybor with the flamenco dancers is still the best), I’d suggest:
1) hitting up Backwater which is a decent “standard Floridian” seafood place overlooking the water. It’s not mindblowing but I have never had truly mindblowing food anywhere in Clearwater
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ugla2vx6gb7qacu/new dinner menu 2-1-18.pdf?dl=0
2) Caretta’s at the Sand Pearl Resort is a decent higher end place place that is more upscale than Backwater
https://www.sandpearl.com/getmedia/261cef83-7c0e-4059-ab5f-7e9e092331d5/CarettaDinnerMenu.pdf/
3) When you’re tired of seafood, there’s some decent pizza and pasta at Cristino’s Coal Fired Pizza
https://store7.geomerx.com/cristinos/index.cfm?fuseaction=
As far as beaches and things to do, I seldom go to beaches in Clearwater proper (instead going to Ft Desoto in St Pete to camp, roam the fort and spend time on the beach or taking a ferry or boat over to Caledesi Island near Dunedin or Anclote Key in Tarpon Springs). Without a car there’s not a lot to do in Clearwater besides go to the beach, talk to a Scientologists and eat. With a car there’s a ton to do in the area like going to Tarpon Springs to go to the Pinball Museum, hang out at the kitschy Sponge Docks and eat amazing Greek food, or go to Dunedin to drink and listen to music at the (relatively old for craftbrew, well over a decade) Dunedin Brewery and hunt for Florida’s only gemstone in Honeymoon Beach (agatized coral and calcite impregnated clams).
But yeah, I love the general area as I grew up in it, but you’ll have a LOT more fun if you have a car. Clearwater is very bland, just old retirees, boring %*% white yuppies and minddead Scientologists. It’s like Utah with nice white beaches instead of amazing rock formations and canyons. But within twenty minutes in either direction there’s a TON to do.
Thanks for the suggestions fella. You should post more often
I agree with the suggestions of Backwaters, Cristino's and Dunedin Brewery. Note, you'll have to leave Gulf Blvd and go inland for the last two.
All those hating on Crabby Bill's are just being Crabby. As I said, it (it being the IRB location, I won't vouch for the Clearwater Beach ones) has decent food, but if you go (which I know you won't now, lol), go for the outdoor bar drinks and atmosphere. Screw it, I'll cave to all the haters, go to 18 On The Rocks instead if in IRB.
All those hating on Crabby Bill's are just being Crabby. As I said, it (it being the IRB location, I won't vouch for the Clearwater Beach ones) has decent food, but if you go (which I know you won't now, lol), go for the outdoor bar drinks and atmosphere. Screw it, I'll cave to all the haters, go to 18 On The Rocks instead if in IRB.
Going out to Honeymoom Island is a nice day trip, especially if during the week. We walked to the very end and had the beach to ourselves.
Crabby Bills isn't that great. It's OK
Billy's Syone Crab on the other hand has some pretty good stuff and for those of us with a little nostalgia it's where they filmed Summer Rental with John Candy.
Billy's Syone Crab on the other hand has some pretty good stuff and for those of us with a little nostalgia it's where they filmed Summer Rental with John Candy.
Haven
Haven't read whole thread, but go to IRB. Lived there for 4 years, loved it. Rent a condo or AirBNB. Whole town is walkable if close enough. Wife, then girlfriend and I used to pour big glass of wine in cup and walk to anywhere on beach for dinner. Not many people and you can easily drink on beach. One of the places I would move back to.
Thanks for the suggestions folks.
Stayed in Sand Key.
Clearwater Beach near Pier 60 was great, powder soft, clean sand. The water quality was excellent as well.
Walked up the beach to Caladesi Island, nice long hike, not a ton of folks. Caladesi is great, very chill. Took the ferry back and Ubered from Honeymoon Island to CWB.
We didn't put much time into finding restaurants and wound up eating at Frenchy's Rockaway twice for dinner and Pearly's twice for lunch. Meals were sandwiched between other activities, so we prioritized convenience.
Pearly's tacos were great. The fish and shrimp ones especially.
Hit up Shepards after dinner one night. Cool venue but way too towny, which I suppose made for good people watching for 30 mins. Would make a fun house music / beach party venue though if the crowd was ... different.
Didn't get a chance to hit IRB or Huntington. Next time.
Stayed in Sand Key.
Clearwater Beach near Pier 60 was great, powder soft, clean sand. The water quality was excellent as well.
Walked up the beach to Caladesi Island, nice long hike, not a ton of folks. Caladesi is great, very chill. Took the ferry back and Ubered from Honeymoon Island to CWB.
We didn't put much time into finding restaurants and wound up eating at Frenchy's Rockaway twice for dinner and Pearly's twice for lunch. Meals were sandwiched between other activities, so we prioritized convenience.
Pearly's tacos were great. The fish and shrimp ones especially.
Hit up Shepards after dinner one night. Cool venue but way too towny, which I suppose made for good people watching for 30 mins. Would make a fun house music / beach party venue though if the crowd was ... different.
Didn't get a chance to hit IRB or Huntington. Next time.
I don't even think tribe (or imnottribe) could hit up Indian Rock Beach and Huntington Beach in one day.
When did this happen? The place was party central when I lived there. Pop music and people getting smashed every Sunday.
Wife & I went to Clearwater Beach a couple weekends ago & came across Pearlys. We both strongly agree with your assessment; enjoyed their food greatly.
No but I did do an sunrise and early morning walk around the American side of Niagara Falls then caught the Allegiany direct flight from Buffalo/Niagara to Clearwater/St Pete and went to Ft Desoto beach the same day. That’s the closest I’ve come to what you’re talking about but Matador Beach in Malibu one day and Bondi Beach in Sydney 32 hours later is semiclose.
We went Fri night around 1030pm, stayed for maybe an hour. It was getting packed, they had a live coverband playing top 40 & 90s (outkast, montell jordan, creed, etc...). I'm sure it would have been a good time if I were into that sort of crowd. Just a bit too trashy/towny for my taste.
The venue itself is fantastic though. Big stage, beach on both sides, ample space for tables, couple bars. I would imagine a day time party there could be pretty cool if not for their apparent demographic. But if you're a local, it's prob par for the course and something you're used to (if not part of).
Man I'm missing the sauce they put on those shrimp tacos. Frenchy's Rockaway was decent, not bad. But Pearly's was a highlight.
Ah, explains it then. It was totally a Sunday afternoon thing to do. Hang on beach and drink and watch the locals get crazy. Would have college girls getting hammered right by rednecks acting rednecky. Great memories.
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