Bonjour! Best French Restaurants from Safety Harbor to St. Petersburg

We’ll always have Paris. A pilgrimage for Sancerre and pate makes for a very romantic rendezvous. Don a beret and stroll to these bistros and bakeries both charming and congenial in St. Petersburg, Largo, Belleair and all over town.

Bacchus St. Pete

Both a market, bar and bistro, this new addition to DTSP serves up some fun, including a speed dating night. At happy hour 4-7 pm, enjoy small plates (hummus, pickled veggies, roasted nuts) and house red/white/bubbly or beer for just $4.50. Delightful charcuterie, salads (beet carpaccio), gazpacho, tuna carpaccio, jambon sandwich, anchovy and sardine toast or lobster salad soothe the savage beast

Cafe De Paris Bakery

Come for the chocolate chip brioche and beignet, leave with a bavaroise mousse or fruit tarte for the family.  Casual eatery in Indian Rocks Beach, known for desserts, breads and coffee but loved for the buckwheat crepes (mushroom bacon, goat cheese/honey), French onion soup, spinach quiche and Le Parisian sandwich (imported ham, butter and gherkins) and Croque Monsieur. Excellent charcuterie, cheese and pate selection.

Cassis American Brasserie

Dine alfresco on Beach Drive or at the first-class Euro-style bar and bistro where you can enjoy Chef Jeremy Duclut’s American classics French style for brunch, lunch and dinner. Next door, the bakery doles out decadent desserts, macarons and breads.  Share the yellowfin tuna tartare or house-made smoked fish spread, a roasted tomato and burrata mozzarella/avocado salad and Smoked Salmon sandwich or Prime Rib French Dip with horseradish crème fraîche and the best pommes frites in town.

Cafe Largo

I’ve known Dominic for a long, long time, spent New Year’s Eve at his restaurant and sampled his Thursday wine tastings. He makes a simple salad taste like heaven, chateaubriand for the Gods and offers cooking classes.  Start with large diver scallops dusted with pistachio on a bed of parsnips and spinach, finished with Chardonnay sauce or the portobello mushroom with Boursin cheese and cabernet shallot glaze, then revel in the prime veal tenderloin sautéed with wild mushroom sauce or venison chops roasted with red cabbage confit finished with cassis demi glaze. Opt for the prix fixe 3-course (appetizer, entrée, dessert) for $35. Closed Sunday-Monday.

Chez Colette's French Bistro

Amazing French food and quaint décor and some of the best beef bourguignon and crepes (fondue of leeks, smoked salmon, brie) in town, enhanced by a delightful boutique wine list.  For dinner, we like the seafood trio (wild big shrimp, sea scallops cooked on stone, Atlantic smoked salmon and homemade cream cheese), steak tartare or duck leg confit. Save room for the trio dessert: Profiteroles, Chocolate Mousse and Crème Brulee.

Gulf Bistro

This Madeira Beach jewel is hidden in a strip mall, and once inside, you’re transported to dinner in France Tuesday-Saturday. Start with the Veloute Paysan (potato, bacon and navy bean in creamy veloute) or lobster bisque, then share brie cheese crepes with a berry coulis or garlicky escargot. For dinner, best of show are the duck breast, New Zealand lamb chops in rosemary white wine garlic sauce, medaillons de boeuf, coq au vin and sauteed sea scallops and shrimps with almonds and bacon in ginger and lime sauce. Beer and wine only. Reservations suggested.

The Left Bank Bistro

J’adore the Bistro Belgian-style frites and steak, the ambiance, French country market and sipping Buddy Brew coffee or cocktails on the patio. Start with six grilled shrimp in lemon butter herb sauce, then slowly make your way to the  French Onion stout soup, salade niçoise and potato-encrusted snapper. The delicate desserts, berries and pastries are vintage Left Bank delights.

Parts of Paris

This elegant Safety Harbor bar and bistro in a restored 1936 cottage is authentic, from the artisanal charcuterie and pate to the signature cocktails. Sip our fave, La Tour Eiffel (bourbon, blackberry, mint, lemon, vanilla sirop, black walnut bitters) while nibbling a pork belly with crispy kale crepe or steamed mussels with white wine or saffron savory bouillabaisse. Bring your favorite date to Sunday brunch and bubbly here.

Looking for more information on the best French restaurants from Safety Harbor to St Pete? Return to 727area for local insight on The Best Foodie Joints in Town! Or join the Foodie Community on 727area and keep up with your fellow foodies!

Photo courtesy of Café Largo.