Best Bets: $15 meals | Metromix Tampa Bay
Best Bets: $15 meals

I am a snob, and I'll be the first one to admit it.  I hate going into a chain restaurant that looks like a generic pub with a generic menu, that's charging $16.95 a plate and up.  Not when there are fun little places all over town that offer ambience, live music, ethnic cuisine and gourmet entree's for $15 and under, often including wine, beer or a drink special to boot.

Whether you're looking for Italian, Peruvian, Chinese, Greek, American, Thai, Japanese, Amish, Mexican, "Florribean" or British Pub food, you'll find it here.  Some places set the stage with a backdrop of spectacular beachside sunsets, while others offer a fine dining dinner table with meals at a fraction of the cost.  Still others may have sand on the floor, serving your grouper sandwich in a Tiki hut, with drink specials so low and the crowd so fun, that you won't care.

While many of the places included below offer menu items as high as $30 a plate, every place listed is guaranteed to offer a selection of entree's that will cost you less than $15, including a beverage.  If they don't have specials posted, make sure to ask, as most offer daily menu discounts and 2-4-1 drinks.

Go forth and eat, drink and be merry!

 

The Sun House Restaurant & Bar

The Sun House Restaurant & Bar

111 Gulf Dr. S. - Bradenton Beach
941-782-1122

The Sun House offers exquisite beach sunsets and fine dining. Normally out of our range EXCEPT Pasta Tuesdays, with 3 pasta dish selections, bread, soup or salad and dessert for $15 prixe fixe. Rush Hour meals offer 4 tapas items for $10. The latter still leaves room for beer or wine, while still remaining within budget.

Mamma Onesti's Italian Restaurant

Mamma Onesti's Italian Restaurant

4625 Cortez Road - Bradenton
941-798-3067

As if the healthy portions weren't enough, Mamma Onesti's also features smaller 1/2 plates, for those who want to try the fine dining $18 platters for $7.99-$8.99. And you know what? It's STILL a large meal, and comes with a soup and pasta salad.

Mamma Onesti's

Mamma Onesti's

8453 Cooper Creek Blvd. - University Park
941-351-9595

From Chicken Zingara to Snapper Mare Chiaro, Mamma Onesti's offers some harder-to-find Italian dishes, in a quiet bistro that feels a bit like coming home after a long day.

The Lantern Chinese Restaurant

The Lantern Chinese Restaurant

3126 1st Street - Bradenton
941-746-5450

Okay, had my boyfriend not told me about this place, it would have escaped my radar. A Chinese sit down restaurant with bead board walls and vinyl booths that have avoided redecoration since 1972, its saving grace is the most amazing egg rolls on earth, waitresses who remember your name, and large dinners for under $8 a person. You can add in plum wine, an egg roll and soup and STILL not reach your $15 mark.

Siam Orchid Restaurant

Siam Orchid Restaurant

4141 Tamiami Trail - Sarasota
941-923-7447

Thai, vegan and vegetarian cuisine, their menu tops out at $11 a platter.

Crabby Bill's Beach Club

Crabby Bill's Beach Club

7700 W. Courtney Campbell Causeway - Tampa
813-281-0566

Seafood served indoors and out, sand volleyball and beach parties on Sundays.

Crabby Bill's Clearwater Beach

Crabby Bill's Clearwater Beach

37 Causeway Blvd. - Clearwater Beach
727-210-1313

Early bird dinner special offer $6.99-$8.99 specials like Mahi Mahi, Chicken entree's and even frogs legs. Even on a budget, there are also an assortment of under $11 menu options. Add a beer for a $15 dinner with a view and live music.

Crabby Bill's

Crabby Bill's

5100 Gulf Blvd. - St. Pete Beach
727-360-8858

Crabby Bill's Seafood restaurant began in Indian Rocks Beach many years ago. The owner hit upon a successful business formula by offering no-frills, fresh seafood at a price that is usually far below that of other seafood restaurants. The approach worked and today there are six Crabby Bill's throughout the state. The St. Pete Beach location looks out onto the Gulf of Mexico affording a view of sand dunes and sea oats blowing gently in the breeze. While Crabby Bill's menu serves the gamut of seafood there are a few items deserving of special mention. Crabby Bill's grouper sandwich is a favorite of many of the locals, the stone crab (when in season) is phenomenal and the breaded shrimp is always perfect.

Crab Trap ll

Crab Trap ll

4815 Memphis Rd. - Ellenton
941-729-7777

Blue crabs, Danish lobster, alligator bites and more, the menu is a good ten pages long. That said, there's enough of a pasta, poultry, seafood and exotic entree' variety for everyone's budget. Prince or Pauper, you can enjoy a dinner and beverage for under $15 (though the frozen drinks will cost extra).

Crab Trap

Crab Trap

5611 U.S. 19 - Palmetto
941-722-6255

Leave a little extra time for dinner, as the Crab Trap's novella menu will take a while to peruse, offering everything from alligator bites to ostrich, in addition to traditional nautical fare.

Acropolis Greek Taverna

Acropolis Greek Taverna

13575 58th Street N - Clearwater
727-538-4273

Salmon salad, Athenian Chicken, Mousaka and more, most dishes are around $11 a plate for healthy portions. Even with a glass of the house wine, you're still staying within the $15 range.

Thai Orchid

Thai Orchid

10022 Cross Creek Blvd - Tampa
813-994-1178

For authentic Thai cuisine, Thai Orchid in New Tampa is a premier destination. There are three owners to the venue located in the heart of Cross Creek Center. Thai Orchid has a calm, relaxing atmosphere for you and your guests to enjoy a casual dining experience. They provide a long list of appetizers while you wait for your meal. They also feature Thailand's most popular dish Pad Thai (made with the Chef's personal flair), Roasted Duck Curry, Pinnaple Fried Rice and Pad Woon Sen, a signature Thai Orchid dish. They offer lunch specials for $5.95, daily from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. which include a soup or salad. Whether you dine in or carryout be sure to ask about their selection of vegetarian entrees. Many dinner entrees fall under $12 a plate.

Grandma Yoder's

5896 53rd Ave E - Bradenton
(941) 739-2918

Grandma Yoder's incorporates a homely environment and flavorful Amish food for a unique experience that is venerated by all.

Yoder's Amish Restaurant

Yoder's Amish Restaurant

3434 Bahia Vista Street - Sarasota
941-955-7771

Yoder's offers Mama's Meatloaf, Alaskan cod, and other Amish specialties for between $10-$12 a plate.

Red Peruvian Seafood

1960 Hillview St. - Sarasota
941-954-6956

"Red" as in "red hot", the Red Peruvian Seafood restaurant serves spicy kabobs, ceviche and other classic Peruvian entrées. Located in the posh Hillview section of Sarasota, the Red Peruvian has a suprisingly moderately priced menu, with many selections under $12 a plate. Unique entrees include yucca strips in a cream sauce, and a spicy Lomo Saltado (beef, onions and spices), and Tacu Tacu (herbed rice and bean patty). Close to live music venues, museums, and area shops.

The Moon Under Water

pick The Moon Under Water

332 Beach Dr NE - Saint Petersburg
727.896.6160

British colonial cuisine set along St. Pete's popular Beach Drive. Moon Under Water blends English brew pub fare with exotic Indian flavors.

The Bungalow Tampa

pick The Bungalow Tampa

2202 W Kennedy Blvd - Tampa
(813) 253-3663

Built in 1919 this Tampa Landmark is now home to the coolest new scene in Tampa Bay. The Bungalow has over a dozen flat screens and is Tampa's newest hangout to watch your favorite sports and events. The Bungalow has a full bar and offers a wide selection of draft and bottled beer and wine. The kitchen offers a full menu, featuring delicious Florida style cuisine, so you will never leave hungry.

The Rack

pick The Rack

1809 W Platt St. - Tampa
813-250-1595

Most people think of Japanese restaurants when they want sushi, however, The Rack is an exception to those in the Tampa area. Not only do they have an eclectic menu selection of nachos, salads, burgers, and pasta, but a separate menu displays their many phenomenal sushi options. At what other restaurant can you play pool while at a sushi bar?

Bella Mia Pizzeria

Bella Mia Pizzeria

5917 Manatee Avenue W. - Bradenton
941-761-8700

Bella Mia's rates in my book as among the top pizza places in Manatee county. The Italian bistro offers cozy dining and a new wine bar and lounge. Many dinner specials and entree's are under $12. Two slices of their amazing pepperoni pizza, unlimited garlic rolls and a glass of wine will cost you about $11.

Thai Kitchen

Thai Kitchen

7604 Cortez Rd. - Bradenton
941-794-5470

A little known find in Bradenton, their vegetarian menu is as large as their regular menu, with many entree's between $10 and $12. As hot and spicy as you like it, you can enjoy dinner and sake for under $15.

Riverside Café

Riverside Café

955 Riverside Dr. - Palmetto
941-729-4402

The Riverside Café offers beautiful dockside dining, and modestly priced breakfast, lunch and dinner specialties. An eclectic mix of Greek, Italian and American cuisine.

Chico's Wood Fired Grill

Chico's Wood Fired Grill

12217 Linebaugh Ave. - Tampa
813-814-2023

Chico's Wood Fired Grill combines Mexican cuisine with flavors from a wood-fired grill. The restaurant serves all the Mexican tortilla favorites, from quesadillas to fajitas, and burritos to enchiladas, all with a distinct taste. Not only is the food crowd-pleasing, but Chico's is clean and cozy and has friendly servers. A big plus: they have frosty drinks, like frozen margaritas.

Machu Picchu Peruvian Cuisine

3974 Hillsborough Ave. - Tampa
813-875-2661

Machu Picchu, named after a city in Peru, features signature Latin American dishes with the succulent flavor from the land. Featuring entradas, pastas, carnes and pollo, their wide selection of Latin favorites are sure to stop your stomach from rumbling. Whether your tastes thrive on sugar or spice, they offer meals from lunch to desserts that are just what you are looking for. Mahu Picchu is reasonably priced if you like to dine on a budget and does not only satisfy your appetite, but also your wallet. They also serve Sangria for all those fans of the popular Latin drink! Located just off Hillsborough Ave. for all you Latin food lovers out there!

The Ravioli Company

3413 Manhattan Ave. - Tampa

The Ravioli company specializes in what else? Ravioli. But the selection is almost mind boggling at 40 different varieties. Other entree options include lasagna, steak, seafood and chicken choices. If you're looking for something light, they also offer soups, salads and sandwiches.

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