Ted Peter’s Famous Smoked Fish - St. Petersburg

Anyone who has been in the St. Petersburg area for any length of time knows about Ted Peter’s smoked fish. It is also amazing them number of people who come for the first time and look for Ted Peter’s having heard about it far, far away. For over 50 years Ted Peter’s Famous Smoked fish has performed two services. First, it is a place where you can go and have a bite to eat and, perhaps, take home some fish for later. Secondly, it has been a place where fishermen could bring their catch to have it smoked.

When you arrive, follow the tongue-in-cheek sign, "Air Conditioned Dining Room." All the patio dining area is al fresco, naturally air conditioned. The picnic-like tables are usually packed. Dinners, costing $13 to $18, with a selection of salmon, mahi-mahi, mackerel and mullet, are served in generous portions. For an additional $1.50, you can have an additional place setting to share the meal.

For smaller appetites, luncheon platters of mahi-mahi, mackerel and mullet are available for $8 to $10. Sides of cole slaw, German potato salad and Manhattan-style clam chowder are available.

For those who prefer other than sea food, hamburgers, hot dogs and grilled chicken sandwiches are also available. Remember, if you want lettuce and tomato, it’s a side order for 50 cents. The soft drinks, with free refills, are served in iced mugs that help keep the beverage cold on the hottest of Florida afternoons. Beer and wine are also available.

Fammily from Tennessee were down for a whirlwind visit and one of the requests was to go to Ted Peter’s place for lunch. Cousin Lynn ordered the luncheon mullet. Mullet, ordinarily an oily fish, is well suited to smoking and very popular. The bones peeled easily off the fish leaving a succulent, smoked filet. Lynn enjoyed her meal and commented the meal was well worth going out for.

I opted for the cheeseburger with the extra lettuce and tomato. It’s a 1/3-pound patty on a large bun. It is filling even without a side dish. The good and the bad: The burger was prepared well and the cheese was piping hot, running into the rough texture of the meat. It was a delicious cheeseburger. It was like the big, beautiful cheese burgers you make in your patio on the barbecue grill. The server kept the mugs of root beer topped of. We all enjoyed our meals and left in a happy frame of mind.

If you are going to stop in for a bite to eat, bring cash. They don’t accept checks or credit cards.