Honeymoon Island Fish Fry: Coastal Views, Sandy Toes, Comfort Food
South Beach Pavilion's Friday Night Fish Fry is the type of place beachgoers wander up to after a day in the sun, with sand on their toes, salt in their hair and an appetite for comfort food.
The Fish Fry Friday Night experience at South Beach Pavilion Cafe can make even the most native of Floridians feel like a carefree traveler.
It's the type of place beachgoers wander up to after a day in the sun, with sand on their toes, salt in their hair and an appetite for comfort food.
And friendly, personable staff make first-time visitors and longtime regulars feel instantly welcome. The laidback, anything-goes beachside cafe also doubles as a gift shop-convenience store stocked with all the essentials and kitchsy items necessary for a day on the beach. It's got everything from water socks, surf wax and bug repellent to T-shirts, magnets and koozies.
Walk inside the cafe counter and order from staff, then seat yourself in the elevated outdoor pavilion at one of several large or small picnic-style tables.
Friday's special, of course, is three pieces of traditional beer-battered, panko hand-breaded New England cod served with your choice of two sides: coleslaw, macaroni and cheese, french fries or potato salad for $10.99.
It doesn't matter where you sit, because every seat has a scenic view of Honeymoon Island beach.
Food arrives on paper plates, courtesy the chef — Jonni Malatesta. And it disappears just as quickly as it came.
Watch the waves or sunbathers coming off the beach spraying the sand from their feet while drinking a sangria.
Top 40 contemporary hits play low in the background, but patrons can still have low-level conversations with one another, without the cliche Jimmy Buffet tunes.
And if you time your visit just right, Honeymoon Island's sunset steals the show.
Want to Go?
- When: Every Friday night from 4 until sunset
- Where: South Beach Pavilion on Honeymoon Island State Park, 1 Causeway Blvd
- Parking: Plenty of parking available for free; entry into Honeymoon Island State Park is $8 a vehicle.
- Menu: New England beer-battered Cod, served with your choice of two sides: coleslaw, macaroni and cheese, french fries or potato salad; $10.99.
- Tips: Accepted
See Also:
Get great local stories like this delivered right to your inbox or smartphone every day with the free Dunedin Patch newsletter.
Bob Gallo
11:21 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
um...New England Cod? Did we run out of fish from the Gulf of Mexico? Apparently the locavore movement hasn't taken root on Honeymoon Island. Nice idea but hey let's really get local.