Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Bella Habana Restaurant in St. Pete Beach

My husband and I have spent the last week or so arranging a return trip to the St. Petersburg area of Florida. This trip is becoming a yearly tradition, as we'll now have traveled to this area 3 of the last 4 winters. Call it our cold weather pilgrimmage to the sun and sand (also known as "how I get through Indiana winters").

Naturally we were discussing what attractions and restaurants we might return to, and Bella Habana made the list. It's a Cuban restaurant in St. Pete Beach that we visited on the last night of our trip last year, and I think if I close my eyes, I can still feel the cool breeze as we sat on their patio watching the sun slowly set.

This area of Florida has a large Cuban population, so it's a must that you sample some of the cuisine while there. I went for the crab empanadas, while my husband couldn't resist the traditional Cuban sandwich.



We decided to order the sweet plantains on the side, and they were also delicious. We couldn't get Big Arrow to believe us when we said they were just like bananas and give them a try, but that just meant there was more for mom and dad to devour!


A few other memories stand out from our dinner at Bella Habana.

Like the sangria.

And Big Arrow's great behavior as we enjoyed the large patio.

Insider Tip: The restaurant is known for its live music, which I'm sure is great and fun, but if you visit on a night when there's no show, you may get the patio all to yourself like we did.



And our sunset stroll home along the beach.

Florida, from your tasty food to your breathtaking landscapes, it's no wonder I just can't quit you. Can't wait to do it all over again in March!

If You Visit:
Bella Habana Restaurant
5905 Gulf Boulevard, St. Pete Beach
Insider Tip: Skip the toasted Cuban bread as a side item... it's just your average garlic bread.

Want more information about our travels to this area? You can read my St. Petersburg trip report here. Or read my reviews of two other family-friendly dining options in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area:

This post is a part of Wanderfood Wednesday at Wanderlust and Lipstick.

    3 comments:

    1. I'm with Big Arrow. I just can't bring myself to believe that plantains taste like bananas. You could definitely sell me on either the empanadas or the Cuban sandwich though.

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    2. Oh crab empandadas sounds fabulous! So, do the plantains! I can totally relate to your fond memories of good behavior, too. Those days are magical!

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    3. You're making me hungry! My in-laws spend the winters in St. Petersburg - I will pass the recommendation on to them.

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