Geno’s Favorite Cheap Tampa Area Restaurants For 2024
Listen Bern’s is great. But I’m a frugal guy. My list of the best of the best Tampa area restaurants is filled with places where you’ll get in and out for $20 or less per person. Here are my picks for 2024. Most have not changed over my 10 or 15 years in Tampa.
Pizza
Cristino’s in Clearwater
It hasn’t changed. For I don’t know how many years now, I’ve yet to find better pizza in Florida. Yes, I’ve tried all the pizzas most Tampa folks rave about… Eddie & Sam’s, Due Amici, Fabrica, Grimaldi’s, Sally O’Neals. Those are all good too. But we’re talking the best on this list and Cristino’s remains the best of the best in Tampa for 2024. I remember the first time I went to Cristino’s. I had a trip to New York City planned a week later. The pizza was so good at Cristino’s I didn’t even seek better pizza out in NYC. It was that good. And still is. One national ranking had Cristino’s at #18 in the country. It’s that good. [More of my favorite Tampa pizza spots.]
Sandwiches
DeCosmo Italian Market in Pinellas Park
This one was probably the toughest to pick the best. Mazzaro’s is so close behind, but they are the runner up. The DeCosmo sub #5 (The Vincenzo) is my favorite sub anywhere in Florida. I’m a big guy and the small fills me up. Spicy Italian with ham, salami, capicola, pepperoni, provolone, tomato, onion, and lettuce finished with hot giardiniera and house dressing. A classic Italian sub with a hot spicy kick. If it’s just you, the small is more than enough. If you’re not a fan of hot and spicy, go with the #1 instead. Wimp. 😉 Delco’s in Dunedin gets an honorable mention here too. Those cheesesteaks are worthy of the legendary status they have. [My favorite $11 lunch]
Italian
Antico Fornaio in Clearwater
Antico Fornaio is a new Italian restaurant in Feather Sound sat for months in dark silence this year. It replaced a Greek place called Taziki’s I was kind of bummed to see go. They had a Balsamic Chicken Pasta dish I loved. The plaza is chain central. Antico Fornaio’s neighbors are Starbucks, Dominoes, and until recently Teriyaki Madness. So my hopes weren’t all that high. You can get chicken parm as a panini with fries for $12 or a main dish with pasta for $18. I’ve now had it both ways… go with the main dish. The texture of Antico Fornaio’s chicken parmesan is perfection. It’s got a crunch but not too much. The chicken is prepared just as I like it. The sauce is fantastic and plentiful (on the main dish, not so much on the panini). A very close runner up is Mama Rosa’s Italian Kitchen in St. Pete. [More on my first visits to Antico Fornaio.]
Mexican
Miguel’s in Tampa
The crazy thing about this one is I didn’t even get a chance to get to Miguel’s in 2024. Or 2023. In fact it’s been years since my last visit. I’m just not over on the Hillsborough side that often these days except for a Lightning game or concert. But Miguel’s was one of my first favorite restaurants when I moved to Tampa. I can’t imagine they’ve fallen off.
Fast Food
Culver’s all over Tampa Bay
I probably go to McD’s the most often since it’s right across the street from the radio station. But Culver’s really is the best of the best in the Tampa area. Five Guys is a runner up, but I have a hard time calling them fast food with those prices. Culver’s has those cheese curds and great frozen custard shakes. My tip: get the kids meal. Plenty enough for me and keeps your price way under $10 for a burger, fries, drink and frozen custard sundae. And the staff is always absurdly friendly… that definitely sets them apart from the other Florida fast food spots.
Chinese Food
China Wok at 301 & Adamo in Tampa
It’s a challenge to find good Chinese food in Florida. And I’m not talking about legitimate healthy Chinese food. I’m talking the “New York style” stuff that clogs your arteries. I like Shang Hai Takeout on Westshore and Yummy House in Tampa. On the Pinellas side, Zom Hee reigns supreme. But my favorite spot is a little dive takeout spot across from Brandon Ford. Get the honey garlic chicken lunch special.
Breakfast
Lenny’s in Clearwater
Another spot I didn’t make it to in 2024, but if I’m up early enough for breakfast, this is the best of the best. It’s nothing fancy. But on a Sunday morning, plan to wait. But there’s a line to get in at Lenny’s for a reason.
