Sun, Beach, Fishing and…

Of Course, the Delicious Food

When my family returns to Clearwater beach – we go to Frenchy’s as frequently as possible. We always order Conch Fritters and even the kids gobble these up! They are just as they sound – breaded balls of conch bits. We don’t tell the kids they are eating the animal from inside those wonderful shells! We each have our own favorite grouper – sandwich, nuggets etc. Which restaurant we choose depends on time of day, who is with us, etc. You see.

Frenchy’s Clearwater Beach was a single small restaurant when it opened in 1981. But today – there are 4 different Frenchy’s on Clearwater Beach. He also has a hotel, seafood distribution business with a fleet of boats he sends out to catch his fresh seafood, and more. He is, in my mind, a little like Jimmy Buffet: beach bum at heart – but very driven to success. What a cool combination.

So the four restaurants: The Original, Saltwater Café, Rockaways, and South Beach each have a slightly different flair and a slightly different menu. All of them serve amazing fresh grouper.

The Original has a great sandwich called the Crabby Shrimp. It is a delicious blend of crab and shrimp mixed with mayo and served on a soft bun. The ambiance of the Original is beach-dive…small booths in tight spaces and there is usually a wait during peak meal times. But the food is wonderful.

Saltwater Café is tucked on a side street and is a little bigger, still the same general ambiance but mixed with lots of regular seating and a broader menu. This is a great place for families to go for dinner. Kids can find something to eat on the kids menu; meals are served on Frisbee’s just to add to the fun. The She-crab soup is fabulous here – just the right blends of creamy and crabby. Yum.

South Beach sits along the new ‘main drag’ of Clearwater – with the brightly colored storefronts, outdoor roped off ‘café’ areas along the sidewalk and you can walk across the street to the beach from lunch. The Key-west style restaurant is very popular among tourists and locals alike.

Rockaway Grill is the only one directly on the beach. Few restaurants have that honor. It differs also in that it has a pool table and they frequently have live music. The seafood is spectacular and the views are amazing. Eating out on the deck, you are overlooking the beautiful white sands of Clearwater Beach. Park in the adjacent public parking and when you finish eating, you can walk right out onto the sand!

Enjoy!

Article by:

Shannon Zolar
ZOLARIUM

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