GUPPY’S ROCKS ON!

Guppy’s Rock’s On with Delicacies of the deep, artistry on a plate, satisfying, true flavors, wide variety… some reasons the tradition of excellence is going strong at Guppy’s on the Beach Seafood Grill & Bar. Since 1992, this brainchild of Eugen Fuhrmann and Erwin Scheuringer has served quality food in a warm, casually upscale atmosphere. Guppy’s is a popular hangout for locals and favorite discovery of tourists.  It has claimed Open Table’s Diner’s Choice award in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

The menu offers a broad range of tantalizing choices, including soups, small plates and salads, seafood, steak, burgers, poultry and pasta.

Our feast of masterful creations from Chef Scott Bebell began with crisp, tender calamari, drizzled with Meyer lemon, basil aioli with a side of tomato salsa roja, I’m glad we found  what is called “lost tuna,” delicate yet meaty,  Cajun-spiced and seared tuna sashimi, dusted with sesame seeds, with pickled ginger, seaweed salad, soy sauce and Wasabi.

Octopus may not sound appealing, but served char-grilled with tomato dill coulis, feta cheese, kalamata olives, lemon oil and banana peppers, it jumped to the top of my small plate favorite list! Caesar salad with house dressing, Asiago cheese and tri-colored tortilla strips was a refreshing interlude before a superb sampling of entrees prepared by Chef Scott and served with simple elegance for our tasting pleasure.

“Sunset Duo” featured Mahi Mahi crusted with Chilean crab meat, lemon thyme beurre blanc and blistered heirloom tomatoes, and swordfish marinated in garlic and basil, then char-grilled, served with saffron tomato coulis, fried baby artichokes, feta, capers and basil oil. Locally-sourced grouper picatta, Panko-fried with lemon and caper butter sauce, was a creamy and piquant treasure from the Gulf of Mexico. And potato-crusted “True North” salmon was flavorful with leek and garlic sauce. All-natural open ocean farm-raised, this salmon is certified BAP, “best aquaculture-certified practices.”

For dessert, my husband Darrel chose caramel sea salt cheese cake with rum caramel sauce. Comfortably decadent, my apple walnut upside-down pie with cinnamon brown sugar ice cream and a frothy latte completed this exceptional dining experience. The cuisine was matched by impeccable service from the friendly staff.

We shared tastes of food and a very special memory: Guppy’s was the scene of our first date ‘several’ years ago!

For decades, the family of restaurants that now consists of Guppy’s on the Beach Seafood Grill & Bar, E & E Stakeout Grill in Belleair Bluffs and Mystic Fish Seafood Grill & Bar on Tampa Road in Palm Harbor continues to deserve its place on the list of Tampa Bay’s most extraordinary dining destinations.

Guppy’s is located at 1701 Gulf Boulevard, across the street from the Gulf beach on Indian Rocks Beach, at Mile Marker 17 ½. Phone 727.593.2032 for reservations.

Hours are Sunday-Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Visit www.3bestchefs.com for more details.

Photos and content provided by Pat Brooks.  Some photos were made available by Guppy’s. For another great dining destination check out Island Way Grill.

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