THE "SLAMMERS":

This first section is not about gourmet restaurants where the lack of food on the beautifully decorated plate is offset by the large amount on the bill. This is where we all go for a meal. Not the "experience", a meal, a belly filler, a pause in the hassle of life for sustenance and hopefully a fair shake. There is pun intended since the fair shake has milk and the other shakes are soy creations and frozen something’s. That’s why they call it a shake and not a “milk shake”. 

There is a separate section for the upscale dinning adventures, hopefully a step above fast food, it should be a large step. Am elevator ride preferred. 

The ECONOMY:

After the gasoline costs went up,the recession sunk in and the jobs were lost, we found a lot of places either down in numbers or almost empty. On the other hand fast food is thriving. That 20-30 extra dollars per tank appears to be cutting into the taste buds of the let’s eat out crowd. Now with a 10% job loss in the Tampa area it’s even more crucial. Gas prices are down for a while but so are jobs, tourists, middle class dining.

The middle class hangouts and the middle class eateries are getting hit the hardest. Failing as they relied on volume and repeat business. Not happening. The lower cost chains and the high end fine food eateries are up, just another sign of the economy. The old song “Buddy can you spare a dime”, won’t get you the .75-$1.69 cup of coffee these days. 

For 2009, we have expanded to all of Pinellas and the Tampa side of Tampa Bay proper. I am an equally opportunist insulter. I do not solicit advertising, pay my own way, owe nothing to the food joints and simply tell you my experience there.

The papers can't afford to tick off their advertisers, so they are cautious and tend to only print the really great stuff. Besides California, I think Florida owns the second largest share of the fast dining experience. All these big chains and theme restaurants have established themselves here because of the incredible growth in the state most of which is either coastal or situated in the Tampa-Orlando-Daytona corridor. 

How this all got started. Business was good and we started eating out when too tired to do anything else. We had some really disappointing experiences in our most popular fast eating establishments. Most within a three-to-five mile radius of dead center Largo. Florida.

Florida is a service community, with condos, beaches, parks, vacations, etc. It is rapidly losing manufacturing, due to the offshore economy. Few corporations doing light manufacturing have stayed the course seeking greener pastures way off shore. Oceans away.

In Tampa we lost Jabil, Eckerd Corporation, Raytheon downsized, GE, Honeywell, Allstate, and State Farm.  This hurts the local food retailers customer base especially when you factor in the family the wage earner had.  

CONSISTENCY:
Part of our testing meant going back several times. All restaurants can have a bad day. A bad week is a sign of something else. While attending a school of higher education, I worked in an extreme  restaurant and enjoy many of the culinary skills I employ today. Like chopping sweet Vidalia onions and not losing a finger. I am happy-happy in the kitchen. Some of these things I see are not new to me. 

Most of the problems in food service are correctable, nothing has changed that much in forty years, sure, faster cookers, better ovens, and food control. These locations that follow the party line and have no innovation and fail are people problems, management neglect. Wendy's will always be Wendy's, and the same for McDonalds and Burger King. But the help will determine whether you return. And the hype is the bait.

After all who can't forget the Big Mac: "Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame-seed bun.".  We changed it to "two undersized pre-cooked dollops of meat slopped with french dressing, stale lettuce, synthetic cheese, a pickle, two flakes of onion, on a commercial no-taste bun".

MOM TAUGHT ME:
My mother was a food critique, a "maven of sorts", a artist of the Jewish style of cooking. She could tell you the construction of most dishes in any restaurant with one taste. On the other hand she never cooked with recipes.

She never learned metric, everything was a pinch, a little or a fair amount! It was all by touch and taste. I learned a lot from her. The girls from the St. Petersburg Times paper who came out to write about ethnic food on the holidays had to reconstruct every dish and measure it for the article in the paper. She loved to cook and entertain, the numbers meant nothing, it was the taste, the quality, in Yiddish it's called "tomm". In my terms "no-tomm" meant cardboard.

There are taste cooks and there are cookbook cooks. Some of the things we saw when we started looking at more than the food, just amazed me. It became almost automatic now that I look before I eat. 

They wouldn't have been tolerated where I worked. I'm not making the statement all the stores in a chain might be this way. Au contraire, this is why I marked specific locations. Within a normal amount of time, if the situation hasn't been corrected, we will bring that to your attention. If it has, we will also take note. 

OBITUARY
Since we started this article, like a blog it grows, the dearly departed list has grown.  

Seminole Blvd and Ulmerton Rd. No one would believe me at first but the mashed potatoes came with ALTOIDS breath mints enclosed. I didn't see the ALTOIDS on the butter-sour cream- cheddar cheese-chives- menu. I noticed the flavor of the potatoes was different and commented to the waitress "What were they putting in the taters?"
She agreed and the manager agreed something had been inadvertently been added to the menu. The cook now knew where his personal Altoid can fell. I made a swift call the following day to the home office of the Chilies chain. I was contacted by the district manager who promptly comped us another meal. Their manager, district manager, and staff handled the situation correctly. The comped meal was Ok. Overall its food is basically fun and great personnel makes it a good stop.   

RATING: AVERAGE + ***1/2 Ok for a meal or a fast nachos and beer.

STEAK AND SHAKE *** Location: Largo Mall 

This franchise is living proof that it's the sizzle and not the beef that sells here. A couple friends grabbed me and we went out for a quick lunch. Being on a short schedule they picked Steak and Shake. 

We stood around like idiots waiting to be seated. I thought it was strange since there were only 7 people in the whole place. Finally after the help decided whose turn it was, we ordered the Double Hamburger Platters, Ooops "STEAK BURGERS" and a side of Chili.
                                
Soon my ears detected the familiar steel banging on the grill and cremation of a 1/4 pound hockey puck of beef "STEAK-BURGER". The concerto of meat smashing is to sear the flavor in and spread the meager amount of beef enough to cover the bun.  It was skillfully performed by Dr. Kevorkian, aka the steak sizzler and sound effects performer who live on stage (open kitchen) totally smashed every living ounce of taste out of the mini-hockey puck of "STEAK". Now fully crushed to widen it out to look like a hamburger, it was flattened so hard when held up to the light you can almost see through it. Perfection! 

OK, hamburger is beef and beef by-products. By-products are some parts of the cow I won't mention. If you think because they call their meat "STEAK BURGERS" and you are getting prime sirloin, T-bones, rib-eye and other expensive cuts, then get off the pot you're smoking or sitting on.

Bottom Line: For the value the food was overpriced, their lesser cost menu might be addressing that. Cooked to destruction and I had better Chili right from a can. The forties look and uniforms make it a theme place, but the food was subpar for the PRICE.  Again they have since lowered their prices and have specials now. In addition the places are spotless and now with costs in line are upgraded one half star.

RATING: AVERAGE ***+  Nothing exciting, throwback decor and Mickey mouse but very clean and organized as a benefit. 

OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE *** 1/2 Location: East Bay Drive and Belcher:
You were my favorite thirty dollar meal for two with good value and great food, so once a week usually on Sundays we would run to OUTBACK for some meat and chicken. Probably thirty five to forty times a year.

Last two times in Outback I noticed the bill went up 25%, the wings were half the size and not juicy, the salad half the size and drier, not as cold or crisp as it usually is, and the House Special Steak has somehow shrunk. Basically I am the carnivore, and the wife was a chicken lover so we order the same things almost repeatedly and can tell the difference. 

Outback is a great chain and was one of my favorite experiences in the moderate price range, but the quality and value has deteriorated to the point of a turnoff.  I composed a letter to their chain. I have friends there affiliated with the chain who till now did a great job in merchandising, value for the dollar and quality staff. Surprisingly, this is one of the closest stores to the main offices of Outback who built a reputation based on those points. 

RATING: *** 1/2 Sometimes you have to speak up. Basically if you don't, they have no way of telling the impression they are making till it shows up somewhere like here. After four more trips they are a 7-8 out of ten being generous.

SAM SELTZERS ( In Chapter 11) ** (Two Locations) 
√  UPDATE: Effective May 15th, just about one year later after filing chapter 11 protection bankruptcy, the operation shut down all six stores in the Tampa Bay Area, again the bastards didn't even tell the help. 

Good riddance, the food got worse not better during the reorganization. 

Tyrone Mall and US 19 Clearwater featured upper level decor, served with mediocre food. After four visits to two of their stores I only wish that "what they had photographed had appeared on my plate". 

I assumed that every time they run a special and place beautiful food shots in the paper they would simply serve that at the table. "ASS-U-ME" when broken down. I felt like I had forgotten to read the smallish print that stated pictures are for "appetite enhancement only". I like steak, they are a steak place. I sent it back on two occasions due to an abundance of grizzle that was not edible.

Next time, The Rib AYCE (all you can eat special), varied from plate to plate and portion to portion. Clearwater was better than Tyrone. Last Sunday (05/25/08) evening five of us went to dinner at Tyrone. We had a coupon for a free "Blooming Onion" or whatever they call it. 

It would of been better had it been cooked. The NY Strip Steak looked nothing like the $13.99 picture, more grizzle, overcooked and about half the size. Adding the Blooming Idiot who served us to the bill didn't add to the ambiance.  I have had better salad, a better steak and better side dishes at Cody's around the corner at Tyrone mall than at Sam Seltzers. We tested them four times, not worth the effort. It's a hit or miss place and maybe that explains the bankruptcy.

RATING: Nice decor, appearance of a class place, wood dark polished. Food quality, preparation and delivery very questionable, not consistent. We sent a letter on line to their corporate office which is in Tampa: They never replied.  Thats a killer with me.  The place was  submarine...DIVE, DIVE, DIve

KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN ** Location: Across from Countryside Mall - Pinellas County.
Three different times we were disappointed. One time we ordered the little Chicken Special Sandwiches and wouldn't feed them to my dog if I had one. 

The Colonel should really take a good look at what he feeds you rather than the corporation worrying about the Colonels picture logo and public image. 
He went from suit to apron or some crap like that. Stuff him in a box for all I care. It's the food dumb-asses.

The barbecue was dry, like it had sat for hours, the plain one was so small it fell from the bun. This was really low end, tables were dirty and the crew looked like the tables. We threw the remainder in the garbage and walked out. For the time being they should change their name to KFC, "Killed the Frickin Chicken".   So we went to another location:  LOCATION: EAST BAY DRIVE near STARKEY and another dingy looking joint with mediocre cooked food.  

SONNY'S BARBECUE *** LOCATION: Seminole BLVD and Ulmerton: 
This place is living proof that a good manager can turn a joint around. I usually avoided this place because they don't make ribs and barbecue the way I like it. I have enjoyed good ribs and barbecue in places from Jackson Hole Wyoming (Bubbas, my favorite, wet and rubbed) to Memphis (wet) and don't leave out Texas Beef Ribs and Kansas City Dry Rub... I like ribs all kinds. So I went back and the new manager did fine. He seemed to be more in the picture, out amongst the customers than in the office and the food and service has gotten better. Alas, a few weeks later he was gone, back up at his old store and things went back to yuck in this location. 

To be fair, as a food, ribs are like opinions and politics and there are plenty of opinions. Sonny preaches his slow fire cooked “Florida” ribs over a open fire. I express it slightly differently; “the ones I had were like a feral pig running through a brush fire” ultimately dying enroute after being burnt to death.

Sometimes I felt I was getting yesterdays ribs. An ex-waitress told me that was possible. Most folks from Alabama, Mississippi, North and South Carolina think these things qualify as pork meat but not ribs. Some aficionados’ wouldn’t feed on these ribs. I know I met them at other places like Chilies eating Chili's ribs and Chillis are pure commercial ribs.

But there is no consistency, as soon as this manager left, back to burnt. Avoid the “all you can eat on ribs”. They do a fairly good job on chicken, if you like red colored chicken, not me. The pork both pulled and sliced is Ok and they give extra nice portions of garlic toast, taters, fries and the usual beans, green beans and slaw. Beverages come in huge glasses and if you are a tea drinker ask for half sweet and half un-sweet or no sugar at all. The "Southern Sweet Tea" is a prelude to diabetic coma and way too sweet for me. They do serve Beer and now a sports bar at this location. 

RATING: Back To AVERAGE: *** 

CHICK FILET ** 1/2 Location: TYRONE @ Tyrone Mall: 
Brand New Store Their claim is they didn't invent the Chicken but the Chicken Sandwich. It's pretty hard to screw up Chicken but they plucked up severely. They managed to about everything wrong. My spicy sandwich needed a magnifying glass to find the Chicken piece, no spice on it, and they forgot the top part of the BUN. 

So I went back to the line waited and got the top half of the bun for my sandwich which was now spice-less and cold. I used Pepper instead and made my own spicy chicken. New store, service a disaster. The manager was like the cruise director on the Titanic.  Once again this is a management problem, they will have better days. There are some really nice Chick Filet stores that are consistent.    

CHICK FILET - ****  ULMERTON @ LARGO MALL

Now the Chick Filet store on Ulmerton between Starkey and Seminole Boulevard is a really tightly managed store, smart management, quality service personnel, a total picture of staff and quality. 

One of the cleanest, places we went to.  Counters , bathrooms, tables just perfect. We'll give Tyrone a chance to catch up after their shakedown. Chick Filet is a very conscious franchise and they do maintain fairly high standards on preparation and waste controls which effects food costs. This one should be a training store.  One of the days I was there I met the manager/owner of this franchise and it's apparent, the training, supervision and team effort (sometimes called morale) are on ongoing and on a high level. 

RATING: **** Varies by store but the good stores excel in quality and staff. 

CODY'S **** St Petersburg Only Location: Across from Tyrone Mall
Other locations not as good) My wife said she liked it better than Outback. She had a Salmon Filet and I had the Steak Special, a one pound Sirloin and it was excellent, the endless salad great with a nice house ranch, and a sweet potato with trimming. 

Service was excellent and this was the fourth time we had eaten there each time with good results on a Sunday. Our waitress was new and was well versed and trained, 2nd day on the job and did a really nice job. Food was hot, timely and had great eye appeal.

BUT and it's a big but. I have eaten at two other of their locations and got exactly an opposite feeling when I left. RATING: 08/12/07.  The store on West Bay Drive gave me half-cooked chicken, poor service on two occasions, and we would rather drive eight miles to Tyrone than travel one mile at West Bay. No comparison. Nothing but a management problem. 12/27/07 Update: We tried the Cody's at US 19 in Clearwater. Not as good as the one on Tyrone ordering the same food. My steak was first too raw, then they killed it with overcooking. 

OLIVE GARDEN **** Location: Largo Mall…
Surprise, the food was good, timely, reasonably priced and service was excellent for a chain though they were busy. I will tell you though, the management while we were dining was floating all the time, going from room to room checking on and watching things. This takes a "moderate priced chain" dealing in Italian Food, cooked to order, to a higher level than most of the others. 

On a food binge we (four severely intent eaters) went to the pasta promotion they had and I made four plates with different sauces, Marinara, Alfredo , Clam and Fra` Diablo with breadsticks and salad and wasn't hungry for 24 hours. One guy did five.

It again, for a chain was good and well worth the promotion under ten dollars. They had many novelty dishes all looked good and the restaurant was clean and the staff very attentive. Rarely do I ever give a large chain a four star but the one at Largo Mall at Seminole and Ulmerton seems to be well managed. 

RATING: **** Told the manager when leaving, we enjoyed the meal.
 

TACO Bell *** Location:
This wouldn't even be fair since 90 of their restaurants in the northeast were shut down for E.COLI problems. Aside from that, It appeared that "Yo tengo TACO Bell" gets changed to "You'll Tango from Taco Bell" dancing to the nearest bathroom. For those who can't Tango, a slower Fox-with-trots will be appropriate. They are their own worst problem. They could start by making their employees wear gloves. 

I have thrown back meals when I saw the prep guy or gal scratch their head or fix their hair and then dish out my meal. Not letting the meat sit in heat trays for hours uncovered and start a fresh campaign of retraining their staffs in the art of cleanliness. The best thing I like there is their hot sauces and at least they come pre-packaged. I have Mexican friends and they have no idea what half the food served there is.   Note: 02/27/08. And as if bad news comes in threes, the TACO Bell in Manhattan, NYC was filmed with mice and rats scurrying throughout the place before opening one day after they passed their inspection by the NYC health department. As I have said before those certificates on the wall mean nothing, It's the integrity of the chain. I wouldn't be surprised if someone mispronounced Burrito as "Bur-rat-toe" and actually got what they asked for! 

RATING: NOT FOR ME: I avoid the place. Sometimes the minute you walk in you get a feeling it's not clean...go elsewhere. They just tore one down on US 19 and East Bay and incredibly cleaner and newer looking. I was hungry dropped in and they definitely did a better job with the food handling. That's puts them at average fast food. 

RATING: Depends on the store and the management.  *** EDIBLE

SUBWAY **/*** Location: East Bay at US 19 Mall (Tri City Plaza)
While most SUBWAYS are clean and fresh looking, this one really belongs somewhere else like a fourth world country. But you go to a franchise food establishment because you feel a connectivity, and consistency, from a particular chain that says freshness, wholesomeness, cleanliness and fair sized portions. 

And then there's the guy who lost all that weight and you are motivated to go there. In fairness, many of the SUBWAYS I have eaten at have been clean. My only complaint is when the give you a sandwich which looks nothing like the one in the picture right over the guys head. I told one employee, I'll have one sub just like that one in the picture and the manager laughed and said "you don't believe everything you see in pictures, do you"? Wrong answer to a Photo Journalist.

This is one location to avoid. About the worst I have seen. The store itself (look at the ceiling) and the men's bathroom were absolutely filthy. The ceilings were black, with stuff hanging. The meat precooked and looked dried out. What ever happened to franchises inspecting their franchisees. Subway needs to get on their case.

TOO LOW TO RATE – US 19 and East Bay - AVOID this Location
Subway at East Bay and Starkey ( South East Side) AVERAGE
Subway at Seminole near Nursery Rd: BETTER THAN AVERAGE 

The EGG PLATTER:  Ulmerton road and Starkey  (DOA)
(Free Standing Location) It was next to a Rally gas station and I decided after filling my car with gas and getting the Rally car wash, I would grab a fast lunch. I went to the men's room, opened the door and almost threw up. I have no way to explain the condition of the toilets, stalls, graffiti, dirt and stench other than to say I have seen cleaner facilities in some third world countries.  I mentioned to our waitress that they should check the men's room. She said she would tell the manager. We ate and left. On the way out I looked in again. No difference. This one needed a call to the Board of Health. RATING: THEY CLOSED UP

DENNY'S:  Missouri Ave North of East-West Bay
The apparent minimum wage law is a disaster. Must be because the three times we checked on this store there was not enough help, dirty floors, dirty tables, apparently the leaving shift didn't bus their tables and it was once again understaffed. Maybe all these corporate big shots should take less compensation and pay the help a little so they would stay on. Three times the same problems so no one has addressed the problems. 

After the nice waitress came over we ordered two sandwiches, iced tea and a hot tea. They cleaned the table because it was still dirty.  Something caught my eye....I blinked and it moved.....ANTS all over the sugar dish. All over my hand and the tea. We moved to another table, finished the meal and left...........that's it for this place.
THREE times THREE DISASTERS, you are out. RATING: TOO LOW TO RATE - AVOID

MY FAVORITE PICS IN TAMPA BAY

BELLA ITALIA Pizzeria/Restaurant ***** 
Location: Bardmoor Village Largo, Florida (727) 397-9076
When I was a kid growing up in Brooklyn NY, one of my best friend's DAD had an Italian "neighborhood restaurant". These were the Mom and Pop places popular with the working class. They differed from the big polished "named" or "made" gourmet places with the "named or made" clientele. 

You went to this "neighborhood" pizzeria, sub shop and pasta heaven because a) you were hungry, b) portions were big, c) the food was fresh, d) the aroma and flavor was enough to drive you crazy e) it was reasonably priced. 

Granted I would sneak in the back door with my friend and we would partake of the cooking till Mom threw us out. Bella Italia is that kind of local neighborhood restaurant. Sal and his wife have been there for decades, makes all the dishes from scratch, uses the same quality cheese's and meats that meet his standards (much better than the commercial stuff) and the food is cooked to order..... and it reminds me of my childhood except he doesn't leave the backdoor open.... 

I have a favorite dish Sal makes me there. Spaghetti, simple enough with peppers, pepper flakes and garlic tossed and cooked with the sauce instead of the sauce laying on top.  In Italy this is the way pasta is served. It stays hotter longer and the flavor is more integrated with the pasta throughout the dish. Mario Bateli, the esteemed italian former IRON CHEF branded a close sauce to what Sal makes for me except Mario's was too hot and I like hot. It is called ARRABIATTA and t has a kick like sauces tabbed Fra' Diablo el LOBO un Blister. I'll stick with Sal.

We have been customers there for about twenty years and nothing has varied, lots of familiar faces, family run, clean as a whistle and it's my go-to- place when hungry for simple wholesome down to earth Italian food. No frills, no smoking, family run and you'll need a doggie bag. 

RATING: EXCELLENT, Great for the past twenty plus years, never changed, family owned. One of the two jewels at Bardmoor shopping.

THE CLUBHOUSE **** Location: Bardmoor Village 
A great little place that seems to be busy all the time, just around the corner from Bella Italia, and a pleasure to have two jewels in the same mall area.  American cuisine and you won't go away hungry or disappointed.  Big  favorite with the locals and usually thats a good sign.  Breakfast is served all hours especially since they are located next to a hospital complex.

The place is ultra clean and modern looking. The service is top notch, the food fresh and it's got a busy attitude about it and I like that.  It tells you others think the same thing about it.

After donating some blood at the hospital across the street, with the usual fasting for twelve hours, I was a raging bull by ten AM. The nurse, Mrs. Dracula, recommended I try the CLUBHOUSE. 

Bingo, I ordered the "carb-diac" special, I needed a food transfusion. I had two over medium, a huge hamburger, a large pile of home fries, three coffees, a liter of Cranberry juice I had in my canteen (just in case I got too dried out from the fast), and toast.  It was hot, on the spot and service with a smile was excellent.  By the way, we don't disclose what we are doing and tell it like it is.

RATING: Great place to eat ****

TIJUANA FLATS (Almost Hip-Hop Mexican) ****
100 Yards South on Belcher from East Bay Drive. Real manly portions, fresh, hot, you order, they bring it to you and it's hot! And if it isn't hot enough about twenty (or more) salsas/and sauces to intensify with. Don't be a hero. Mr. Mestopholes invented some of these sauces. The foods great, we dropped in for lunch, same menu for dinner and it was consistent. 

I had the Megajuana (about a pound plus Burrito) with Chicken and all the dressings, rice and beans. They also serve Beer and there are about thirty items on the menu broken into categories and sizes. 

But it too has shortcomings; The only problem I see is two-fold, the menu could confuse a Rhodes Scholar especially when the young “cashier-servers-waitresses” prattle off the extras and after a while you didn’t know what the hell you ordered partially because they speak so fast and most importantly they speak "texting". 

I order the same thing all the time and got three variations. They also raised their prices and now a biggie like I order hits 12.00. That’s a lot for beans and a few extras. 

RATING:  Good fresh food, needs to go back to basics, employ K.I.S.S. techniques.

JOES CRAB SHACK-  The Disney of Seafood  **+ 

HIGHER CALLING:

Heilman's Beachcomber ***** CLEARWATER BEACH, FLORIDA
I said in the beginning that food quality, preparation, and presentation (= Value).  Add cleanliness and service, and these are the validation points for restaurants. In all the categories Heilman's exceeds the norm. The food is delicious, consistent and in some cases unique. I first ate there in 1964 with family and at that time the house dish was Baked Chicken. They are still known for their Baked Chicken. How's that for a run! 

It was first opened in 1948 and though many have come and gone Heilman's is still a Clearwater Landmark almost an institution. The unique appetizers which come with the meal consist of a four part relish dish with apple butter, beets in a radish sauce, cottage cheese and you also get fresh butter, homemade bread, muffins and banana bread. I could of made a meal from the appetizer tray. It was followed by a house soup (a rich tomato steak blend) and a fresh greens salad with tomato and cucumber in your choice of six dressings. 

We had the Chicken, baked, yet moist, and lightly seasoned. What it did lack was the grease normally associated with fried chicken and that I could (according to my doctor) live without. Chicken may be replaced by Salmon, incredible Steaks, Lobster and other faire. 

Service is top notch, most of the employees have worked there for years, and a sign of good service is when you don't have to ask for something. When my drink was empty it appeared full as if by telepathy. Waiters and waitresses cover each other’s tables. The food comes out HOT and surprisingly at the right time. 

A quick look into the kitchen and it was immaculate. When Bob Heilman opened the doors 58 years ago he claimed anyone could inspect their kitchen at any time. Years ago, I did. It hasn't changed.

I have probably been there 70 times. The foundation of the business is still solid though many have come and gone in fifty years in Clearwater, good food, good service, clean and consistent dinning make a place a landmark. Heilman's is that place for a special occasion. It's in my top five in Tampa bay. About 75 dollars with tips etc. Valet Parking in the rear.

RUTH CRIS Steak House ***** TAMPA, Florida RATING EXCELLENT:

A truly fascinating enjoyable dining experience. I went as the guest of a friend and even though they were busy, I felt treated like royalty. By the time we were seated we were greeted by the valet, the doorman who opened the car door for my friend, she loved that, and then the entrance door, the reservation manager and the seater, then the waitress, and the manager. 

Welcome and enjoy your dining experience is the theme across the entire evening from start to finish. Yes this is expensive, the higher end for Tampa but worth the price. If for no reason in the terms of the sheer numbers of people who make this happen so appropriately. You do pay for this but not out of reality compared to some other places in the area. 

I don't think you can beat them in terms of service, quality, atmosphere, interpretation and presentation and more managers looking over everything and doing a good job at it. The food was beyond beyond, I had the biggest Rib Eye I had ever seen because I had heard the Rib Eye has a unique flavor compared to the Sirloins and Porterhouse. It's true, tastes totally different, beautifully marbled and cooked to perfection. One word , memorable!

My friend had the petite filet and she couldn't finish it so I helped out side dishes were baked Potatoes and Baby Asparagus. Coffee after and we shared a crumb cake with coffee that was delicious, and I didn't eat till late in the next day. RATING : EXCELLENT ***** 

BERNS Steak House **** 1/2      TAMPA, FLORIDA RATING MED - EXCELLENT: 
This is a place that deserves a five star but for some reason has changed and I can't quite put my finger on it, we will review after the first of the year and see if I can figure out why they dropped a notch.

SCHULERS and a host of others soon….. 

AUTHOR and PHOTOGRAPHER: Al Jacobson, photographs and writes in the Tampa Bay area on a myriad of subjects. He is from NY and occasionally speaks English, preferring Brooklyn based meta-phonetic syllabication (aka Street English).  His high school English teacher, once commented to his parents, "He should try learning a foreign language like English... in a foreign country".  He retorted, "Shakespeare doth not a genius make, for he spake in terms reminiscent of a flake".  She threw him out of the class. He's been scribbling ever since.