Gulfport is a five minute detour off the Pinellas mainland and it earns the turn: a walkable waterfront strip with room for a white tablecloth Italian dinner, a Greek inflected American kitchen, and a Cuban lunch counter inside a few blocks of each other. This list runs from special occasion to quick bite, all of it worth the drive from the St. Pete side or across the Skyway.
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Lamb ragu anchors the menu at this Gulfport special occasion room, though the dish runs inconsistent: some nights it is generous, other nights thin on meat for the price. Risotto and house pasta are steadier bets. The parking lot fills fast and reservations are worth making ahead. This is the pick for a celebratory dinner, not a quick weeknight plate, and the room dresses up accordingly.
What to orderlamb ragu, risotto, pasta
№ 02
Neptune Grill
Gulfport $$
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Dolmades finished with egg lemon sauce open the menu at Neptune Grill, a Gulfport American kitchen that leans on Greek technique without calling itself a taverna. Grilled fish and steak round out a menu built for diners who want real cooking skill over flash. Service runs warm and unhurried. It draws crossings from the Tampa side of the bay, and the kitchen backs up the trip.
What to orderdolmades with egg lemon sauce, grilled fish, steak
№ 03
ATL Deli
Gulfport
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Wings made to order are the draw at ATL Deli, a Gulfport counter spot where the fries and house sauce get equal credit. The wait stays short even when the sauce runs out fast, a sign the kitchen is not precooking a batch and holding it. This is a quick bite built for grabbing food and moving on, not a sit down meal, and it delivers on that promise consistently.
What to orderwings, fries, sauce
№ 04
Julio's Empanadas
Gulfport
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The Osso Bucco empanada is the reason regulars keep coming back to Julio's, a Gulfport Latin American counter built for repeat weekday lunches. Beef and cheese empanadas round out a short, focused menu that rewards familiarity over novelty. Service runs friendly enough that first timers get treated like regulars fast. This is a lunch break spot, not a destination meal, and it earns its loyal customer base plainly.
What to orderOsso Bucco empanada, beef empanada, cheese empanada
№ 05
Stormrunners Tavern
Gulfport
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The Kalua Pork Sandwich and a poke bowl anchor the menu at Stormrunners Tavern, a waterfront counter where food comes out fast, often inside fifteen minutes even for groups. Mai Tais lean into the tiki bar concept without slowing down service. It is built for a quick lunch with a water view rather than a long sit, and it suits solo travelers and groups equally well.
What to orderMai Tai, Kalua Pork Sandwich, Poke Bowl
№ 06
The Breeze Waterfront Cafe
Gulfport $$
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Shakshuka and the Croissant Paris carry this waterfront brunch spot, alongside a French toast built for sharing. Dogs get water bowls without being asked, and the patio seating makes that easy. Service draws praise more often than the kitchen does; a few visits have run rough on arrival, so patience helps on busy mornings. Still, the plates that land well, land well enough to justify the wait.
What to orderFrench toast, Croissant Paris, shakshuka
Frequently asked
What is the best restaurant in Gulfport near me?
It depends on what you want. Pia's Trattoria is the pick for a special occasion dinner, Neptune Grill for skilled American and Greek influenced cooking, and Stormrunners Tavern or The Breeze Waterfront Cafe for a quick meal near the water. Each entry here carries a Top of Tampa Insider Score based on the public review record, not on payment. No restaurant on this list paid to be included.
Is Gulfport worth the drive from Tampa or St. Petersburg?
Yes. Gulfport sits just south of downtown St. Petersburg and holds a distinct waterfront dining strip that rewards the short detour, whether crossing from Tampa over the Howard Frankland or just cutting across town from Central Avenue.
Where can I get empanadas or Latin American food in Gulfport?
Julio's Empanadas is the standout for Latin American food in Gulfport, known for its Osso Bucco empanada alongside beef and cheese versions. It is built for repeat weekday lunches rather than a single big meal.
Is there waterfront dining with outdoor seating in Gulfport?
Stormrunners Tavern and The Breeze Waterfront Cafe both sit on the water with outdoor seating. Stormrunners leans toward a tiki bar lunch menu with Mai Tais and poke bowls, while The Breeze is a daytime brunch spot that also allows dogs on the patio.
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The data first, then the verdict
We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →
Jenna Kalouris
Staff Writer · Top of Tampa
Staff Writer. Grew up bussing tables near the sponge docks and keeps score across the bridges: a room has to beat what is already on her side of the water to earn the drive. Leads with the practical fact.
