A Florida Gulf Coast vac
ation is not complete until you’ve tried some of the freshest local catch that our restaurants have to offer. Where can you go to find some of Indian Rocks Beach best seafood? Check out our local dining recommendations. Try one or try them all.
Satisfy your seafood cravings whether it’s Gulf Coast grouper, shrimp, tuna, scallops, oysters, crab, or whatever pleases your palate. You’ll find it in our local eateries prepared to perfection.
In no particular order, here are a few of our Indian Rocks Beach favorites.
Guppy’s on the Beach Seafood Grill & Bar
Located at 1701 Gulf Boulevard, Guppy’s on the Beach is a triple threat offering dynamic food, service and scenery all in one place.Chef Scott Bebell and Sous Chef Jose Rizo team up to provide mouthwatering fare with creative culinary execution.
Winner of the Open Table 2014 Diner’s Choice award, Guppy’s on the Beach is sure to please with a wide variety of lunch and dinner entrées, daily specials, and the freshest local seafood (whenever possible) accompanied by the area’s best seasonal produce. Seriously, what’s not to love?
In addition to all of that local goodness, we really, really love that Chef Scott shares his recipes online for you to enjoy at your convenience. Pick up the ingredients yourself, take them back to your Indian Rocks Beach vacation rental kitchen, and enjoy a taste of Guppy’s in the comfort of your very own vacation-home-away-from-home. Check out the Recipes tab on their website.
We’d offer you a recommendation on what to try, but we can’t pick just one. Sorry, you’re on your own. The good news is whatever you decide, you won’t be disappointed.
The Original Crabby Bill’s in IRB
Located at 401 Gulf Boulevard, Crabby Bill’s in Indian Rocks Beach is a local favorite for authentic, reasonably priced seafood. Crab legs. Crab soup. Crab cakes. Blue crab. Stone crab. We’re beginning to sense a theme here. If an original Florida-style crab house is what you seek, then look no further.
Though the crab selections are excellent, that’s not all you’ll find. Octopus, shrimp, grouper, mussels… the list goes on and on. Along with the great prices, you’ll also find a fabulous selection and friendly service. Hey, there’s even a breakfast menu, a fresh seafood market and live music daily, as well as indoor and outdoor seating. We especially appreciate that they’ve been family owned and operated since 1983.
You may even develop a penchant for a particular server, and that’s okay, a lot of our regulars do. You’re allowed to have a favorite.
Our recommendations include the fresh, locally caught fried mullet when it’s in season and the stone crabs when they’re available. But whatever it is you’re craving, we suggest you go for it.
PJ’s Oyster Bar & Seafood Restaurant
If you’re in the mood for fresh Gulf Coast oysters, PJ’s Oyster Bar is the place to be. Oysters Rockefeller. Oysters Chicago style. Oysters raw on the half shell. You want it, they got it.
They’re settling in nicely at their new location at 415 2nd Street, right across from where the former location used to be. Plenty of outdoor seating, a tiki bar, live entertainment daily on the tiki stage, and fresh delicious seafood is what you’ll find at PJ’s. Add a craft beer or two to your tab, and you’re set for a relaxing dining experience with a beach atmosphere and laid-back vibe.
If oysters aren’t your thing, no worries. There are plenty of other seafood and non-seafood items to choose from including coconut shrimp, lobster tail and Sashimi tuna to grilled burgers, buffalo wings, and gator bites. There are soups, sandwiches, salads and pasta dishes, too. You’ll find a huge selection at a great value.
We do love that the entire menu, minus the raw oysters and raw clams, is available for takeout. Convenience at its finest.
Keegan’s Seafood Grille
On the corner of 16th Avenue and Gulf Boulevard, Keegan’s Seafood Grille is an Indian Rocks Beach tradition and local favorite since 1985. Word has spread outside of our local community partly in thanks to a visit from the Food Network’s Guy Fieri. He featured Keegan’s Seafood Grille on an episode of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Guy enjoyed the Mediterranean twist on our local seafood specials, particularly the octopus.
Keegan’s specialty dishes include gumbo and she-crab soup. Want the gumbo recipe? You can find it here.
What do we recommend? Anything grouper. The blackened grouper sandwich and grouper cheeks are high on our list. It’s a great place to bring the 13-and-under crowd, too, as they feature a great kids’ menu.
Aqua Prime Seafood & Steaks
Chef Jason Vargos kee
ps the menu at Aqua Prime fresh and exciting. Whether you’re in the mood for some surf, some turf or some surf and turf, you won’t be disappointed at the selection. Elegance and intimacy are found in the casual atmosphere, which is nicely complemented by the upscale cuisine.
High quality, locally sourced ingredients finished with creative culinary flair helped Aqua Prime earn Tampa Bay Magazine‘s Best New Restaurant status. Don’t forget to stop by for Happy Hour and consider the Early Specials if you’re dining before 6p.m.
We suggest you go for the gusto and either try the Surf & Turf Skewer featuring a combination of beef tenderloin, shrimp, mushroom, fresh pineapple, red pepper and scallion finished in a Dijon cream sauce; or go all out and opt for the Aqua Prime Surf & Turf, which combines a 5-ounce Angus filet mignon with an exquisite 6-ounce lobster tail. Delish!
One final thought about seafood. You definitely want to check out the annual John’s Pass Seafood Festival at Madeira Beach each October. It’s a one-stop-shop for all of your seafood cravings. The two-and-a-half-day outdoor festival promises a seafood smorgasbord, live entertainment, arts and crafts, and so much more for the entire family. It’s fun, don’t miss it.
We don’t know about you, but all of this food talk is making us hungry. Time to go grab a bite to eat. While we’re away, drop us a line and let us know what your favorite seafood stop is in Indian Rocks Beach. It just may help us decide on our dinner plans…
