Gary’s Most Underrated Restaurants In NT & WC

Top Shelf Sports Lounge

M anaging editor John Cotey wanted to come up with some other unique categories for me to list on these pages, but the only one other than Favorite Appetizer and Favorite Entrée that appealed to me was Most Underrated Restaurant.

By underrated, I’m talking about by our readers, based on the results of our annual Reader Dining Survey not only this year, but over the past few years.

The local eatery that topped the list — because I see rave reviews for it online but very few votes by our readers every year since it opened at what is now called the AdventHealth Center Ice skating complex — is the Top Shelf Sports Lounge. But, not only does Top Shelf have outstanding wings (photo), but also great burgers, poutines (a Canadian favorite skillet dish) and even some of our area’s best sautéed veggies.

Four newcomers made this list, including two KRATEs — Pisco Express and Chamo Bites — along with Ha Long Bay and Tessa’s Sweet Kafe in New Tampa.

And, even though the menu is now much more of a golf course sports bar, the chef-created items still on the menu at Omari’s Grill at Lexington Oaks Golf Club are all still excellent, too — especially the grilled chicken and croque monsieur sandwiches. I also think Bluefin, located next to Treble Makers at The Grove, hasn’t attracted enough attention and that more of you should check out the recently revamped menu at Dempsey’s Too at Saddlebrook.

1. Top Shelf Sports Lounge

2. Ha Long Bay

3. Tessa’s Sweet Kafe

4. Pisco Express

5. Omari’s Grill

6. Bluefin Japanese Restaurant

7. Chamo Bites

8. Dempsey’s Too