That Food Guy
Saturday, July 06, 2013
Sea Hags - St Pete Beach, Florida 7/2/2013
It was birthday time for Aunt Effie. Cousin Allan wanted to take his Mom and Dad
out to lunch to celebrate. We were lucky enough to be included in the
invitation. Alan chose a place in St
Pete Beach he had heard about from friends. It is the Sea Hags. It is a sandwich,
steak and seafood casual dining waterfront café that evokes the spirit of the
beach shack gathering places of fifty years ago. The rear window and patio open
on the marina overlooking the docks and many pleasure boats. Some of the slips
are reserved for the sail-in boater to tie up and visit the cafe. I suppose
that would be the equivalent of the sport pilot’s $100 hamburger.
We all arrived about noon, shortly after opening. The
restaurant wasn’t crowded and seating was immediate in a booth that was
spacious enough to seat the six of us comfortably. The server was quickly there
to take our beverage orders. Alan also ordered some appetizers for us. He
selected a house signature dish, Hag Shrimp ($7.99 lightly fried and drizzled
with a spicy, creamy Hag sauce), and Onion Rings (Homemade Onion Rings $6.99 –
Nothing more to say). The appetizer order arrive in short order and it was dive
in even before I could break out the trusty camera. The onion rings were real
rings of onion, battered and fried, almost tempura. The coating was crispy and
the onion just cooked through. They were attractive, tasty morsels. The Hag
shrimp was very good. Shrimp is a very mild and delicate flavor. One of my pet
peeves is when someone does something to the shrimp that totally eclipses the
flavor of the shrimp; why bother with the shrimp – go with a glob of tofu.
However, the Hag shrimp are very flavorful, the sauce giving a distinctive
little zing while enjoying the flavor of the shrimp. Well done, a good munchable.
Sea Hags Bar
and Grill
9555 Blind
Pas Rd, St Pete
Beach, Florida 33706
It was birthday time for Aunt Effie. Cousin Allan wanted to take his Mom and Dad
out to lunch to celebrate. We were lucky enough to be included in the
invitation. Alan chose a place in St
Pete Beach he had heard about from friends. It is the Sea Hags. It is a sandwich,
steak and seafood casual dining waterfront café that evokes the spirit of the
beach shack gathering places of fifty years ago. The rear window and patio open
on the marina overlooking the docks and many pleasure boats. Some of the slips
are reserved for the sail-in boater to tie up and visit the cafe. I suppose
that would be the equivalent of the sport pilot’s $100 hamburger.
The Sea Hags is a fairly new incarnation in a building that
has housed many other cafes. After a refit and some sprucing up, the Sea Hags
opened with a menu that features appetizers, soups and salads, burgers and
sandwiches, buckets of clam strips, shrimp and haddock. In addition to a good
selection of dinner entrees, the Sea Hags also offers quesadillas and pizzas;
pretty much something for everyone.
We all arrived about noon, shortly after opening. The
restaurant wasn’t crowded and seating was immediate in a booth that was
spacious enough to seat the six of us comfortably. The server was quickly there
to take our beverage orders. Alan also ordered some appetizers for us. He
selected a house signature dish, Hag Shrimp ($7.99 lightly fried and drizzled
with a spicy, creamy Hag sauce), and Onion Rings (Homemade Onion Rings $6.99 –
Nothing more to say). The appetizer order arrive in short order and it was dive
in even before I could break out the trusty camera. The onion rings were real
rings of onion, battered and fried, almost tempura. The coating was crispy and
the onion just cooked through. They were attractive, tasty morsels. The Hag
shrimp was very good. Shrimp is a very mild and delicate flavor. One of my pet
peeves is when someone does something to the shrimp that totally eclipses the
flavor of the shrimp; why bother with the shrimp – go with a glob of tofu.
However, the Hag shrimp are very flavorful, the sauce giving a distinctive
little zing while enjoying the flavor of the shrimp. Well done, a good munchable.
Our meals came shortly after. Birthday girl Effie and Gil
both ordered the same thing. I have noted that they often will order the same
thing when we go out to eat. Perhaps there is a bit of ESP at work. They
ordered the Po Boy Special ($8.99 Shrimp, scallops and oysters topped with
shredded lettuce, tomatoes and cheese. Sandwiches are served with a choice of
fries, coleslaw, cup of soup or a small salad). The chose a cup of soup; the
soup of the day was Caribbean chowder. The sandwich was served in a tissue
lined basket; remember this is a beach shack café. The sandwich was filled over
flowing and that made eating with a knife and fork a viable option. It was a big sandwich and a big cup of soup.
To their credit Effie and Gill finished their meals and for that take their word
that the sandwich and the soup were good eats.
Kyla ordered a pizza (Specialty Foot Long Pizzas – Served all
day. Pepperoni and cheese $10.99). When I first noted the pizza on the menu I
guessed from the foot long description that it was perhaps made on a bread
roll. I was therefore surprised when it turned out to be a conventional round, flat
bread pizza. I would have never guessed they had a pizza oven in the back, in
the seafood kitchen. The pizza pretty
much filled the serving plate. It was done well; the crust crispy golden brown,
the cheese just starting to brown. It appeared that there was a good serving of
cheese. There was a ring of slice pepperoni. The crust was browned nicely on
the bottom, a bit between a thin and a thick crust pizza. Kyla said it was very
good and was happy with her choice. Try as she may, however, it was a big
serving and she had to leave a few bites of crust behind.
Alan chose the Fresh Florida Grouper Sandwich. After all,
one of the reasons he picked Sea Hags was because of the seafood. Grouper Sandwich (Market Price. Grilled, fried
or blackened. Sandwiches served with a choice of fries, coleslaw, a cup of soup
or a small salad.) Alan selected the fried grouper and the soup. The soup was thick
with lots of bits of sea food and some vegetables in a tomato broth – sort of Manhattan
seafood chowder. He said it has a nice hearty flavor. The bread was grilled and
came with lettuce, tomato and pickle.
The fish was nicely cooked with a golden brown color. It was much larger
than the bread overhanging all around by a good margin; it certainly was not
your fast food restaurant filet of fish sandwich. He said it was very good, the
fish having a good flavor and it being of more than an adequate serving.
Sitting at opposite ends of the booth and across from one
another, the wife and I independently selected the same thing. We both chose
the Fried Shrimp Bucket ($8.99 Choice of fried clam strips, fried shrimp or
haddock – served all day. All buckets are served with fries and slaw, no
substitutions.) The presentation is really a bucket. A small galvanized bucket
is lying on its side in the serving basket spilling out its contents much like
a cornucopia. As cute as the serving is, eating your meal is easier if you
slide the bucket out from the basket. No need to keep reaching into the
recesses of the bucket to get your fries. It is a large serving of seasoned
fries. I’m not sure of just what they are using but it is reminiscent of the
fries served down the street at Woody’s Waterfront.
They taste just fine, are
slightly crispy and served hot out of the fryer. As good as they are, if I were
to eat them regularly I think I would prefer regular fries instead. There was a
nice side of coleslaw; mostly green cabbage with a few shreds of carrots for
color. It was a pedestrian salad; a nice satisfying side dish, good but not
outstanding. There was a nice serving of shrimp, about a dozen pieces of large
(about 31/40 size) that were nicely breaded and fried a deep golden brown. The breading was crispy but the shrimp inside
was not overcooked nor was it soft and mushy. The breading was mild in flavor
so the flavor of the shrimp was predominating. It was filling meal, quite
sufficient although the shrimp were good enough that I would have easily eaten
some more.
For the most part the service was quite good. The server
made several table visits to check on us
and refill beverage glasses. While we were eating the noon crown filled the
restaurant and the serving staff was in busy motion. It took a moment or two to
catch their attention to get the bill but other than that service was
excellent.
The restaurant does have a cocktail lounge and a selection
of wines is available. Some al fresco patio dining is available and there is an
entertainment schedule. I was quite satisfied with the Sea Hag experience. Although
the experience was enhanced and fondly memorable by family close at hand in celebration,
the Sea Hag experience can stand alone. If I were asked to go to the Sea Hag
again I certainly would say yes. The next time I think I’ll try the Marina
burger – sautéed mushrooms, bacon, cheese and grilled onions.
Labels: coleslaw, Florida, French fries, grouper, pizza, po boy, sea hags, shrimp, St Pete Beach
¶ 10:05 AM 0 Comments
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Dion's Pizza - Albuquerque, New Mexico
Dion’s Pizza
Coors and Montano
Albuquerque, New Mexico
(505) 898-1161 http://www.dions.com/
Food cooked at home seems to always be the best. Sometimes, during a busy day, there just isn’t time to cook in so it becomes a night to carry home from your favorite local restaurant. It was just such a night when son Larry called Dion’s to order a pizza and salads. He would pick them up after he picked up his wife, Vickie, at work. I smiled when I noted he had Dion’s on his speed-dial menu. Sometimes the pace is too hectic for young married couples. Dion’s is a chain of restaurants with about seventeen stores in New Mexico and Texas. You can eat in or carry home from each of their stores. Their mantra is that their dough and pizza sauce are made from scratch daily and that they use only the freshest ingredients. Their menu features pizzas, salads and sub sandwiches. The order was for a large pizza (16-inch cheese $10.65, additional toppings $1.65 each) split with half pepperoni and the other half pepperoni, sausage, green peppers and onions. Two salads were ordered; one tossed ($4.35 full size iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, croutons and Dion’s mix), and one gourmet chicken salad ($5.35 full size Spring mix lettuce, grilled chicken strips, pecans, bleu cheese crumbles and tomatoes). The salads ar
e well prepared and neatly package. The large size is certainly sufficient for two or three diners. He lettuce was crisp, the dressing tasty. The croutons were crisp and not soggy, not an easy trick in a salad packaged to go. The pizza was the thin crust style, cooked in a hot oven not unlike a New York pizz
Coors and Montano
Albuquerque, New Mexico
(505) 898-1161 http://www.dions.com/
Food cooked at home seems to always be the best. Sometimes, during a busy day, there just isn’t time to cook in so it becomes a night to carry home from your favorite local restaurant. It was just such a night when son Larry called Dion’s to order a pizza and salads. He would pick them up after he picked up his wife, Vickie, at work. I smiled when I noted he had Dion’s on his speed-dial menu. Sometimes the pace is too hectic for young married couples. Dion’s is a chain of restaurants with about seventeen stores in New Mexico and Texas. You can eat in or carry home from each of their stores. Their mantra is that their dough and pizza sauce are made from scratch daily and that they use only the freshest ingredients. Their menu features pizzas, salads and sub sandwiches. The order was for a large pizza (16-inch cheese $10.65, additional toppings $1.65 each) split with half pepperoni and the other half pepperoni, sausage, green peppers and onions. Two salads were ordered; one tossed ($4.35 full size iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, croutons and Dion’s mix), and one gourmet chicken salad ($5.35 full size Spring mix lettuce, grilled chicken strips, pecans, bleu cheese crumbles and tomatoes). The salads ar
e well prepared and neatly package. The large size is certainly sufficient for two or three diners. He lettuce was crisp, the dressing tasty. The croutons were crisp and not soggy, not an easy trick in a salad packaged to go. The pizza was the thin crust style, cooked in a hot oven not unlike a New York pizz
a but th
e variety of toppings put in a different class. The crust was crispy chewy, there was adequate mozzarella cheese and sauce and the additional toppings in a sufficient amount. It had good flavor and the large size pizza with salads was enough to provide left overs for a light lunch the next day. It was good tasty food that can ordered by telephone or through the internet, was close by and convenient when doing other errands. I can see why Larry keeps the telephone number on his speed dial. Labels: Albuquereque, Dion's, New Mexico, pizza, salad, take out, take-home
¶ 11:59 AM 0 Comments
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Sam's Club, St. Petersburg, FL
Some restaurants are posh, decorated and have an ambience of luxury. The food courts at Sam’s Clubs are a bit different. Almost as if an afterthought and in space available, they are usually placed next to the exit door and adjacent to the cash registers. The open warehouse architecture makes for high ambient noise levels, the nearby exit makes for perceptible drafts, and the high traffic density from the checkout counters makes for crowding and congestion.
On the other hand, if you have favorites on the rather limited menu, it is a convenient place to get an inexpensive bite to eat after filling your basket with all the house-goods staples. As soon as you have the receipt in hand you shove the basket to an empty table to claim it as your own. If there are two of you it certainly is easier. One gets to guard the basket and table while the other goes and stands in line to order the food.
One of the wife’s favorite foods is pizza, pepperoni pizza to be specific. A slice of pepperoni pizza is $1.88. It is well covered in pepperoni slices. It is a crispy thin crust pizza. With all the pepperoni sausage on top, it is just a little greasy but all to the liking of a pizza lover. There is adequate cheese and the sauce has a nice flavor. It appears to be a 14- or 16-inch pizza and cut, I believe, into sixths, a generous portion. It was one of those overbearingly hot Florida summer days so to go along with her pizza, the wife ordered a 32-ounce ICEE, $1.08.
I chose the combination, a large hot dog and bun with a 32-ounce soft drink, $1.70. This Sam’s Club serves Nathans hot dogs which is a good thing. It is a large hot dog and a large bun to match. I have never seen the large Nathan’s hot dogs like that in the supermarkets. Also, in this store, adjacent to St. Petersburg, diced onions are available on request at the pick-up counter; they give you a nice little Solo cupful. Mustard is a pump dispenser on the condiment table and the relish is in those little tear open bags that I hate so much. If you are from New York, there are larger tear-open packages of sauerkraut if you desire. Soft drinks are Coca Cola products and the two machines feature most of the popular brands.
The kitchen and food service area always appears clean and well cared for. The dining area is basically clean but the majority of the table bussing is the patron’s responsibility and I am afraid some of my fellow diners are not really up to the task.
Although we didn’t partake on this day, one other menu item worth mentioning is their Four-Berry Sundae, $1.50. It is a large cup of soft-serve ice cream swirled with a chunky four-berry sauce. On really hot days it is really a life saver on the long trip over the hot asphalt paving to the car. More than once I have been on the verge of brain freeze.
All in all, it was a quick and simple meal that we both enjoyed. And after all, where can you take the wife for lunch and treat her to one of her favorite foods and have the bill come to less than five dollars? A pretty good deal after all.
Some restaurants are posh, decorated and have an ambience of luxury. The food courts at Sam’s Clubs are a bit different. Almost as if an afterthought and in space available, they are usually placed next to the exit door and adjacent to the cash registers. The open warehouse architecture makes for high ambient noise levels, the nearby exit makes for perceptible drafts, and the high traffic density from the checkout counters makes for crowding and congestion.
On the other hand, if you have favorites on the rather limited menu, it is a convenient place to get an inexpensive bite to eat after filling your basket with all the house-goods staples. As soon as you have the receipt in hand you shove the basket to an empty table to claim it as your own. If there are two of you it certainly is easier. One gets to guard the basket and table while the other goes and stands in line to order the food.
One of the wife’s favorite foods is pizza, pepperoni pizza to be specific. A slice of pepperoni pizza is $1.88. It is well covered in pepperoni slices. It is a crispy thin crust pizza. With all the pepperoni sausage on top, it is just a little greasy but all to the liking of a pizza lover. There is adequate cheese and the sauce has a nice flavor. It appears to be a 14- or 16-inch pizza and cut, I believe, into sixths, a generous portion. It was one of those overbearingly hot Florida summer days so to go along with her pizza, the wife ordered a 32-ounce ICEE, $1.08.
I chose the combination, a large hot dog and bun with a 32-ounce soft drink, $1.70. This Sam’s Club serves Nathans hot dogs which is a good thing. It is a large hot dog and a large bun to match. I have never seen the large Nathan’s hot dogs like that in the supermarkets. Also, in this store, adjacent to St. Petersburg, diced onions are available on request at the pick-up counter; they give you a nice little Solo cupful. Mustard is a pump dispenser on the condiment table and the relish is in those little tear open bags that I hate so much. If you are from New York, there are larger tear-open packages of sauerkraut if you desire. Soft drinks are Coca Cola products and the two machines feature most of the popular brands.
The kitchen and food service area always appears clean and well cared for. The dining area is basically clean but the majority of the table bussing is the patron’s responsibility and I am afraid some of my fellow diners are not really up to the task.
Although we didn’t partake on this day, one other menu item worth mentioning is their Four-Berry Sundae, $1.50. It is a large cup of soft-serve ice cream swirled with a chunky four-berry sauce. On really hot days it is really a life saver on the long trip over the hot asphalt paving to the car. More than once I have been on the verge of brain freeze.
All in all, it was a quick and simple meal that we both enjoyed. And after all, where can you take the wife for lunch and treat her to one of her favorite foods and have the bill come to less than five dollars? A pretty good deal after all.
Labels: bun, Coca Cola mustard, Coke, hot dog, ICEE, Nathans, onions, pepperoni, pizza, relish, Sam's Club
¶ 11:44 AM 2 Comments
Monday, July 26, 2010
Prospector’s Pizzeria & Alehouse
Prospector’s Pizzeria & Alehouse
Milepost 238.9 Parks Highway
Denali, Alaska 99577 (907) 683-7437
PO Box 107, Denali, Alaska 99755
We decided to start with an appetizer and ordered humus with crostini. It was an attractive presentation. A round bowl, with a good serving of humus, was in the center of an oval platter. Surrounding the humus were crostini, Kalamata olives, thinly sliced red onion, pepperoncini, diced tomatoes, diced cucumber, a wedge of lemon and a small container of feta cheese. It has been said if you like garlic then you’ll like humus. This version was milder in garlic than expected but still was a nice smooth consistency and good flavor. It was a treat trying all of the possible flavor combinations. The serving was adequate for two.
Milepost 238.9 Parks Highway
Denali, Alaska 99577 (907) 683-7437
PO Box 107, Denali, Alaska 99755
Probably no trip to Alaska is complete without a visit to Denali National Park and Preserve. The name for the park comes from the mountain, Denali, the highest peak in North America. One of America’s jewels, the park is renowned for its wildlife. The gigantic wilderness park is surrounded by even more wilderness. Just outside the park entrance and boundary is a small enclave of hotels, gift shops and food establishments that open seasonally to accommodate Denali’s thousands of visitors.
After a long day of touring the park, marveling at the scenery and capturing the wildlife on film, it was time for dinner. Dick and I used the inexact science of serendipity, walking around a bit and going to a place that struck our fancy. We went to Prospector’s Pizzeria and Alehouse. It turned out to be a good choice.
The hostess seated us in a booth in a large dining room, the walls covered with historic Alaska photographs. The other decorations follow the Alaska theme with snowshoes and bear skins. The building was once a multi-media theater showing aurora, northern lights presentations. There is a long bar with a long line of taps. The booths are bench seat, snug but comfortable enough for a dinner. When the dining room is full of patrons it can be a bit on the noisy side. Besides proclaiming they stock 49 different beers, the menu features appetizers, sandwiches, pasta dishes, salads, and soups as well as the pizza.
We decided to start with an appetizer and ordered humus with crostini. It was an attractive presentation. A round bowl, with a good serving of humus, was in the center of an oval platter. Surrounding the humus were crostini, Kalamata olives, thinly sliced red onion, pepperoncini, diced tomatoes, diced cucumber, a wedge of lemon and a small container of feta cheese. It has been said if you like garlic then you’ll like humus. This version was milder in garlic than expected but still was a nice smooth consistency and good flavor. It was a treat trying all of the possible flavor combinations. The serving was adequate for two.It was a pizzeria after all, so we ordered pizza. Prospector’s offers two sizes, the cub at 12-inches, and the grizzly measuring 17-inches. The menu has a long list of standard pizza topping combinations. As well, if you have particular favorites, you can “build your own,” choosing from a list of sauces, crusts, and extensive toppings. We went back and forth. Did we want to share a large pizza or get a smaller, individual pie. This topping, that combination was considered until we decided to each get an individual pizza, the cub.
Dick ordered the Grizzly Bear (cub-sized $13.95).The toppings included: pepperoni, Italian sausage, double smoked bacon, ground beef, mozzarella and aged provolone cheese. The pizza arrived hot. When I asked Dick how it was, he gave me a big thumbs-up.
I ordered the Prospector (cub-sized $13.95). The toppings included: Italian sausage, mushrooms, green peppers, onions, hot peppers and mozzarella cheese. Also hot on arrival, the crust had a slightly raised edge, was lightly browned on the bottom, and as a good pizza crust should be, soft but tough. There was a good distribution of sauce and cheese, not too much nor too little. There were adequate topping on the pizza. Good flavor, good pizza. We were hungry and ate avidly. About half way through the pizzas, both Dick and I realized we should have really ordered a cub to split.
Prospector’s offers amenities such as a free shuttle service from lodging to the restaurant and back for its customers. All of the restaurant employees we met were courteous and efficient. The hostess greeted and seated us is short order. The server, in his Carhartt overalls, was always in motion and kept up with the needs at his tables. Work at the pizzeria is seasonal and workers come from all over for a summer’s work. They seem energetic and serious about their work.
Considering that the Prospector’s Pizzeria and Alehouse is in the middle of the wilderness, that resupply is a 4 to 6 hour truck drive away, the quality of the food product was excellent. Servings were well prepared and adequate, and the prices were reasonable considering where we were.
If you would like more information about Denali National Park and Preserve,
see http://www.nps.gov/dena/index.htm .
If you would like more information about Prospector’s Pizzeria & Alehouse,
see http://denalipizza.com/ .
Dick ordered the Grizzly Bear (cub-sized $13.95).The toppings included: pepperoni, Italian sausage, double smoked bacon, ground beef, mozzarella and aged provolone cheese. The pizza arrived hot. When I asked Dick how it was, he gave me a big thumbs-up.
I ordered the Prospector (cub-sized $13.95). The toppings included: Italian sausage, mushrooms, green peppers, onions, hot peppers and mozzarella cheese. Also hot on arrival, the crust had a slightly raised edge, was lightly browned on the bottom, and as a good pizza crust should be, soft but tough. There was a good distribution of sauce and cheese, not too much nor too little. There were adequate topping on the pizza. Good flavor, good pizza. We were hungry and ate avidly. About half way through the pizzas, both Dick and I realized we should have really ordered a cub to split.Prospector’s offers amenities such as a free shuttle service from lodging to the restaurant and back for its customers. All of the restaurant employees we met were courteous and efficient. The hostess greeted and seated us is short order. The server, in his Carhartt overalls, was always in motion and kept up with the needs at his tables. Work at the pizzeria is seasonal and workers come from all over for a summer’s work. They seem energetic and serious about their work.
Considering that the Prospector’s Pizzeria and Alehouse is in the middle of the wilderness, that resupply is a 4 to 6 hour truck drive away, the quality of the food product was excellent. Servings were well prepared and adequate, and the prices were reasonable considering where we were.
If you would like more information about Denali National Park and Preserve,
see http://www.nps.gov/dena/index.htm .
If you would like more information about Prospector’s Pizzeria & Alehouse,
see http://denalipizza.com/ .
Labels: Alaska, ale, Denali, pizza, pizzeria, Prospector
¶ 6:30 PM 0 Comments
Friday, February 19, 2010
Fiola's Italian Ristorante - St. Petersburg, FL
Feola’s was always a favorite of my father-in-law, Sonny. Whenever it was running late and dinner had not been planned, Feola’s frequently got the nod. As for Sonny, he always selected the manicotti ($9.55); it was his particular favorite for many years.
Feola’s is a non-descript store-front Italian eatery in a small convenience store corner near St. Petersburg Collage. Driving by you would probably not even give it a second glance. It is one of those places you have to have heard of or know about. It is good enough that the regulars keep coming back for more.
So it was this day, the wife and I had a busy day and decided to call our order into Feola’s. Feola’s does boast of a small dining room and the wait-staff are friendly and attentive. But on this day it was to be take-out and the familiarity of our own dining nook. A look at our well worn copy of their full featured menu and we had our selection, A quick phone call and dinner would be ready for pick-up in a quarter hour.
Over the years I have sampled their pasta dishes, some with marinara, some with meat sauce and some with meat balls. All have been very good. I like their eggplant parmigiana as well. The dinners come with salad, a small side of spaghetti in marinara sauce and bread. Full dinners run from $8.55 for your choice of pasta in marinara sauce to $14.95 for veal Marsala. Pizzas, of course, are offered. It is your choice of thin, thick or pan crust pizza with a wide assortment of toppings to choose from. A small thin crust cheese pizza is $6.55. An extra large Sicilian special pizza will cost you $16.95. A child’s portion menu section is featured with the items averaging $4.95. Feola’s does offer eat-in luncheon specials, 11Am to 4PM daily, with selections starting at $4.95. For the locals, watch the mailbox and Sunday paper for Feola’s ads featuring discount coupons. When you pick up your first order, take home a call-in menu. On the backside will be more discount coupons for your next order.
On this day the wife was intrigued by the Pepperoni Twist (small, $7.95) and decided to try that. I opted for the Philly steak sub sandwich with mushrooms, onions and peppers (large, $6.95). The twist is a pizza crust with the pepperoni and cheese, rolled and baked. It is then scored and served with a side of pizza sauce for dipping – a very different pizza presentation and you get as much or as little sauce as you like. The wife said her twist was very good and liked the novel way it was served. My sub was almost too hot to hold even after the short trip home. The large bun was filled with Philly steak, peppers and onions all covered with lots of hot, melted, stringy mozzarella cheese. It is a big sandwich and part of mine was set aside for a late night snack. I enjoyed it very much.
Feola’s is open Tuesday through Saturday at 11AM, closing 9 or 10PM. Sunday they are open 5PM to 9PM, closed Sundays.
Feola’s Italian Ristorante
7110 5th Ave No
St. Petersburg, FL
(727) 347-8415
7110 5th Ave No
St. Petersburg, FL
(727) 347-8415
Feola’s was always a favorite of my father-in-law, Sonny. Whenever it was running late and dinner had not been planned, Feola’s frequently got the nod. As for Sonny, he always selected the manicotti ($9.55); it was his particular favorite for many years.
Feola’s is a non-descript store-front Italian eatery in a small convenience store corner near St. Petersburg Collage. Driving by you would probably not even give it a second glance. It is one of those places you have to have heard of or know about. It is good enough that the regulars keep coming back for more.
So it was this day, the wife and I had a busy day and decided to call our order into Feola’s. Feola’s does boast of a small dining room and the wait-staff are friendly and attentive. But on this day it was to be take-out and the familiarity of our own dining nook. A look at our well worn copy of their full featured menu and we had our selection, A quick phone call and dinner would be ready for pick-up in a quarter hour.
Over the years I have sampled their pasta dishes, some with marinara, some with meat sauce and some with meat balls. All have been very good. I like their eggplant parmigiana as well. The dinners come with salad, a small side of spaghetti in marinara sauce and bread. Full dinners run from $8.55 for your choice of pasta in marinara sauce to $14.95 for veal Marsala. Pizzas, of course, are offered. It is your choice of thin, thick or pan crust pizza with a wide assortment of toppings to choose from. A small thin crust cheese pizza is $6.55. An extra large Sicilian special pizza will cost you $16.95. A child’s portion menu section is featured with the items averaging $4.95. Feola’s does offer eat-in luncheon specials, 11Am to 4PM daily, with selections starting at $4.95. For the locals, watch the mailbox and Sunday paper for Feola’s ads featuring discount coupons. When you pick up your first order, take home a call-in menu. On the backside will be more discount coupons for your next order.
On this day the wife was intrigued by the Pepperoni Twist (small, $7.95) and decided to try that. I opted for the Philly steak sub sandwich with mushrooms, onions and peppers (large, $6.95). The twist is a pizza crust with the pepperoni and cheese, rolled and baked. It is then scored and served with a side of pizza sauce for dipping – a very different pizza presentation and you get as much or as little sauce as you like. The wife said her twist was very good and liked the novel way it was served. My sub was almost too hot to hold even after the short trip home. The large bun was filled with Philly steak, peppers and onions all covered with lots of hot, melted, stringy mozzarella cheese. It is a big sandwich and part of mine was set aside for a late night snack. I enjoyed it very much. Feola’s is open Tuesday through Saturday at 11AM, closing 9 or 10PM. Sunday they are open 5PM to 9PM, closed Sundays.
Labels: Feola's. Italian, pasta, pizza, Ristorante, take-out
¶ 7:31 PM 0 Comments
