Let’s be honest: finding a great restaurant in Clearwater isn’t just about the food. It’s about that perfect blend of coastal charm, a menu that actually excites you, and a vibe that makes you want to linger over another glass of wine. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, these spots deliver. So here are the 17 best restaurants in Clearwater right now—your go-to guide for every craving and occasion.
Joe’s Deli and Grill
$ | (727) 466-0502 | WEBSITE
This breakfast and lunch spot on Hercules Road is built for spontaneous meals with a bunch of people who love classic comfort food. Everyone gets their own plates here, so you won’t have to worry about reaching across the table to joust for the last strip of bacon. Choose among lots of breakfast and sandwich options, plus a nice variety of grilled items (we love the Steak n Eggs) and coffee that’s good enough to satisfy even the pickiest in your group.
Salt Cracker Fish Camp
$$ | (727) 442-6910 | WEBSITE
Salt Cracker Fish Camp in Clearwater Beach is breezy, waterfront, and always buzzing—so if cracking cold beers over fresh seafood is your thing, you’ve found your spot. Gulf breezes drift through the outdoor seating, the vibe is casual and sun-bleached, and the cracker tower is plentiful. Stuffed grouper, plump shrimp, and simple yet phenomenal jalapeño corn hush puppies should all be on your table. Portions are also big enough to overfeed everyone in the party.
So round up two boats’ worth of people and get here.
Bonefish Grill
$$ | (727) 726-1315 | WEBSITE
Grab your appetite and a sense of adventure—you’re heading to Bonefish Grill. A meal at this popular seafood spot is one to share with friends who get excited about perfectly cooked fish (you’ll be tempted by the blackened Baja fish tacos), or who believe every dinner deserves a key lime martini. This Clearwater restaurant hums with energy, and friendly servers like Jabari and Lydia move between tables with ease.
Booths can fit six comfortably—maybe consider planning that celebration dinner after all.
Toucans Bar & Grill
$$ | (727) 461-4500 | WEBSITE
For a casual dinner that makes you feel like you’ve found your neighborhood gem, get to this laid-back grill with its streetwise view in Clearwater. When you’re here with a hungry crew, the generous portions and friendly service are the move. It’s a satisfying parade of comfort classics—like the perfect ribeye dinner, seafood pasta loaded with clams and shrimp, and that steak sandwich—and finishes with live music that keeps the vibe going.
If you want to stretch the evening, just grab another drink and soak in the cozy atmosphere, though be ready for the pricey tabs and tricky parking during peak hours.
Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers
$ | (727) 431-1408 | WEBSITE
Raising Cane’s is the city’s go-to spot for chicken fingers, and the drive-thru line feels like joining a parade of hungry regulars with quick service, affordable prices, and that signature chicken aroma. Order the box combo and as much coleslaw, fries, and housemade lemonade as will fit, and dig right in. Plus, food is cooked fresh to order so it’s always piping hot when you get it.
Mio’s Grill & Cafe
$$ | (727) 281-2193 | WEBSITE
We save Mio’s Grill & Cafe for when we want a truly relaxing meal with a view, or when we need to impress out-of-town guests with something authentic and memorable. But for the purposes of a cozy, satisfying breakfast or lunch, this Mediterranean spot on the lagoon has it on lock. There’s a small but welcoming dining room with Mediterranean-inspired decor, a perfect view of the water, and a vibe that makes you want to linger.
Adding to the charming space and waterfront location are the traditional dishes that are worth coming here for alone, like the delicious menemen, super bread, amazing chicken offerings, and perfect baklava desserts.
Sandbar
$$ | (727) 450-6238 | WEBSITE
One way to immediately become the most popular person in the group chat? Suggest a meet-up at Sandbar. The lowkey waterfront spot overlooking the bay serves cocktails and casual fare that will send you into vacation mode. It’s also an effortless option when you need a last-minute spot for lunch, since walking in with a big crew is always easy (no reservations needed) and everything is shareable.
Once you all have slid into a booth, fill the table with plates and plates of the grilled Cuban sandwich, the pork nachos, and their pina colada with a toasted coconut rim.
Taco Bus
$ | (727) 754-5304 | WEBSITE
Taco Bus is a laid-back Mexican spot in Clearwater that works for quick bites and some chips and queso at the counter, and relaxed meals with a group that’s bigger than a baseball lineup. The clean dining area is filled with simple tables, bright overhead lights, and a generally quiet atmosphere—it’s a friendly place to spend an hour catching up with your cousin’s roommate. Get the seafood burrito, which is freshly made and packed with tasty ingredients.
And know that no casual hangout is complete without the shrimp tacos punched up with a side of crispy churros.
Seminole Subs & Gyros – Clearwater, Florida
$ | (727) 734-2233 | WEBSITE
Throughout a meal at this sub shop, you’ll see staff constantly shuffle orders in the bustling space to keep up with a steady stream of late-night crowds and entire groups of friends. It’s also consistently filled with people who are unwrapping generous sandwiches piled high with fresh ingredients, and dipping crispy garlic cheese bites and jalapeño poppers into the ranch sauce that made this place a local favorite.
Be sure to save room for the slices of Zukies Pies they offer for dessert, especially the chocolate dream cake.
Castillo’s Restaurant
$ | (727) 466-9101 | WEBSITE
Since becoming a Clearwater staple, this cozy diner on the route to the beach has served as the backdrop to countless sunrise breakfasts, lazy weekend brunches, and quick lunches for locals who just spent the morning chasing waves or dodging seagulls. This place is a single-story haven made up of a compact dining room, a bustling counter area, and servers who move with practiced efficiency (keeping the coffee flowing and plates hot is serious business).
Small booths and tables fill the main area—once you’re settled, let the breakfast burrito, which arrives with a crispy exterior and customizable fillings, be the first thing you order.
Bascom’s Chop House
$$$ | (727) 573-3363 | WEBSITE
At Bascom’s Chop House, exceptional steaks are waiting for you—and the lucky people you brought along on this indulgent culinary journey. This classic Clearwater spot’s dining room, enhanced by remarkable paintings and warm lighting, feels like an upscale retreat and can accommodate celebrations large and small.
Order as much flavor-packed sherry pepper cream sauce, truffle fries with bacon, and unbelievably delicious burgers and seafood as will fit on the table—you’ll want multiple rounds of each. The only downside to this experience is there’s no outdoor seating (that’s reserved for other spots only). Regardless, with servers like Chris providing outstanding attention to detail, it’s still impossible to have anything less than an excellent time.
Cristino’s Coal Oven Pizza
$ | (727) 443-4900 | WEBSITE
Lunch at this casual Italian pizza joint in Clearwater is organized efficiency. The space is constantly filled with the warm aroma from all of the pies baking away in the coal-fired oven while the timer occasionally dings. Leaning into and embracing this rhythm is worth it because their coal-oven pizza and free gelato are excellent.
Come with people you don’t mind sharing slices with, and let rounds of Margherita Di Lusso, veggie pies, and other authentic Italian dishes get beautifully blistered in the intense heat. The best part is finishing off the meal by savoring the complimentary gelato taste that caps the experience perfectly.
Tijuana Flats
$ | (727) 437-0915 | WEBSITE
At this lively Clearwater spot, the outdoor tables with umbrellas are perfect for a quick lunch—so grab some friends and head over during a busy day. The Taco Tuesday special is indeed a great deal, with two tacos so tasty you could make a meal out of them alone. But the rest of the vibrant menu, like the customizable sauce bar with many spicy hot sauces and the family-friendly kids’ meals, are also deserving of attention during your visit.
Aviators Tavern
$$ | (727) 577-9100 | WEBSITE
Save Aviators Tavern for when you’re passing through town and need a reliable spot that’s actually open. This welcoming tavern near the airport can usually find a way to fit you and your travel-weary crew at one of their comfortable booths. Order the quesadilla with grilled chicken, the sirloin salad, and the burgers, all of which receive high praise. Ask the bartender about his unique and classic cocktails—he’s known for his kind and attentive nature.
You can also opt for one of their special occasion meals, like Thanksgiving dinner, which feeds a family for around $75.
Pho Que Huong
$ | (727) 800-2086 | WEBSITE
Pho Que Huong is a lively, anything-goes kind of place—just glance at the bustling bar and grill attached to the dining room as proof. The massive menu at this Clearwater spot is just as eclectic, like the crispy, saucy boneless wings and a rich seafood pho that customers love to customize with extra broth. If you’re with folks who prefer something less traditional (or maybe that’s you?), there are creative, equally satisfying options like the popular buffalo roll and crab Rangoon roll.
Keep the friendly staff’s suggestions coming.
Jimmy John’s
$ | (727) 210-2364 | WEBSITE
Jimmy John’s makes the perfect quick lunch stop before errands around Clearwater—it has speedy service that can handle a sudden craving. And the crisp lettuce-wrapped unwiches are fresh, satisfying, and the ideal low-carb fuel for chatting with your coworker’s cousin’s gym buddy. All sandwiches with turkey and provolone are an instant hit, but we also love the unwich with veggies and very crisp lettuce. Not near this location? Their other Clearwater spots are also quick-service-friendly.
Gershys Cafe & Catering
$ | (727) 470-9447 | WEBSITE
The menu at Gershys Cafe & Catering is so compact it feels like every item has earned its place. There’s something for your steak-loving friend, your breakfast-pizza-obsessed coworker, and all the other people who decided to join you at this cozy spot in Clearwater. Their setup is just one welcoming room, with a handful of tables that make it perfect for catching up or enjoying a quiet moment alone.
The menu might seem straightforward, but there’s no going wrong with any of the generous portions or homemade bread dishes. Settle in and order another round of that absolutely delicious pulled pork bowl for the table.
