Pinellas County Restaurant Inspections: 2,975 Kitchens Ranked and Rated

Pinellas County packs more restaurants per square mile than almost anywhere in Florida. From the Greek sponge docks of Tarpon Springs to the craft cocktail scene on Central Avenue, from Clearwater Beach’s tourist strip to the quiet neighborhood joints of Largo and Seminole — there are nearly 3,000 places to eat here. But behind the Instagram-worthy plating and sunset views, state inspection records tell a very different story.

State records cover 2,975 restaurants across Pinellas County from Florida’s DBPR. The average InspectFL Health Score is 88.1 out of 100 — and more than 300 restaurants are currently failing. New to our scoring system? Check how to read inspection grades.

By the Numbers

43% of Pinellas County restaurants earned an A grade — better than Jacksonville’s 34.3%, but still meaning more than half the county’s restaurants have enough violations to drop below an A. With 304 restaurants currently failing, roughly 1 in 10 Pinellas dining spots has an F grade. See how Pinellas stacks up on our city rankings.

🔥 The Worst Restaurants in Pinellas County

These restaurants have the lowest InspectFL Health Scores in the county. Five restaurants scored a flat zero — and the pattern only gets worse from there.

Tiki Tim’s Pub and Grill — St. Petersburg’s Worst Established Restaurant

With a score of 13.1 out of 100, Tiki Tim’s on 72nd Street North is the lowest-scoring established restaurant in Pinellas County. The kind of violations that earn a score this low aren’t minor paperwork issues — they’re the fundamentals: improper cold holding temperatures, unsanitized food contact surfaces, raw food stored over ready-to-eat items, and missing certified food managers. At 13.1, nearly everything that can go wrong in a kitchen has gone wrong here.

Buffet City — A Dangerous Combination

Buffet City scored 18.3 out of 100. A buffet-style restaurant with temperature control failures is an especially hazardous combination — food sits out for extended periods, and if hot holding and cold holding temperatures aren’t maintained, bacterial growth accelerates rapidly. This St. Petersburg location on 58th Street has one of the worst track records in the county.

Pierogi Grill & Steakhouse — Clearwater’s Lowest

Clearwater’s Pierogi Grill & Steakhouse on Gulf to Bay Boulevard sits at 22.2 out of 100. Scoring in the low 20s means inspectors found critical violations across virtually every category — from food temperatures to sanitation to employee practices. This isn’t a single bad inspection; it’s a pattern of systemic failure.

Matteo Trattoria — Central Avenue’s Shame

Right on St. Pete’s bustling Central Avenue, Matteo Trattoria and Pizzeria scored just 27 out of 100. Tourists and locals alike walk past this spot daily, likely unaware that it has one of the worst food safety records in the entire county. Central Avenue deserves better.

Popular Spots That Are Struggling

Some of Pinellas County’s most recognizable names have inspection scores that should give diners pause.

Cassis American Brasserie — one of the most upscale restaurants on Beach Drive in downtown St. Pete — is sitting at an F grade with a 64 out of 100. For a restaurant where entrees regularly top $40, that’s an alarming number. Clear Sky on Park in Seminole is even worse at 61.8 — an F for a brand that operates four locations across the county. Salt Rock Grill, long considered one of the best waterfront dining experiences on the Gulf, is stuck in C territory at 82.4. And Rumfish Grill at the TradeWinds Resort scores just 71.9 — a C grade at one of the most prominent restaurants on St. Pete Beach.

The Frenchy’s empire is split: the original Frenchy’s Cafe on Clearwater Beach earns an A (97.8), but the Outpost in Dunedin (79.8) and Saltwater Cafe (79.5) are both C-graded. Same brand, wildly different kitchen standards.

How Popular Spots Stack Up

Here’s how Pinellas County’s best-known restaurants actually perform, sorted from highest to lowest:

The takeaway: Frenchy’s Cafe, Ted Peters, Cesare at the Beach, Island Way Grill, and Mr Souvlaki lead the pack with A grades (95+). The Birchwood, Middle Grounds Grill, and Columbia Restaurant all hold strong. But Cassis (64) and Clear Sky on Park (61.8) are outright failing, and you’re paying premium prices at both. Salt Rock Grill — one of the most recommended restaurants on the Gulf — is stuck at a C (82.4).

The Cleanest Restaurants in Pinellas County

These restaurants earned perfect 100 scores — spotless inspections with zero violations. Browse more top performers on our best restaurants page.

Rusty Bellies Annex in Tarpon Springs, Aledo Grille on Dunedin’s Main Street, and Bamboo Beach Bar and Grill in Madeira Beach all earned perfect marks. Notably, 3 Daughters Brewing on Clearwater Beach scored a flawless 100 — proof that even busy tourist-area restaurants can get it right.

City & Area Breakdown

Pinellas County’s food safety varies dramatically by area. Here’s how the major cities and neighborhoods compare:

St. Petersburg (~277 restaurants)

The county’s largest city and its food scene epicenter. Downtown St. Pete along Beach Drive is a tale of two extremes: The Birchwood (96.1) and Datz (94.6) are running clean operations, while Cassis (64) — literally one block away — is failing. Central Avenue is similar: Bodega on Central (87.7) is solid, but Matteo Trattoria (27) is among the worst in the entire county. The 49th Street corridor is particularly troubled, with Sila Thai (23.2), Spring Garden Chinese (23.5), and Lanna Thai (24.1) all in catastrophic failure territory.

Clearwater (~226 restaurants)

Clearwater’s scores swing wildly between the beach and the mainland. Clearwater Beach is mostly strong: Frenchy’s Cafe (97.8), Cesare at the Beach (97.3), Island Way Grill (97.3), and Columbia Restaurant (94) are all excellent. But Hurricane Eddies on Mandalay Ave is failing at 67.6. On the mainland, Pierogi Grill (22.2) on Gulf to Bay is one of the worst restaurants in the county.

The Beaches (St. Pete Beach, Indian Rocks Beach, Madeira Beach, Indian Shores)

Beach dining is a mixed bag. Middle Grounds Grill on Treasure Island (96.3) and Hurricane Seafood on St. Pete Beach (93) are strong. Crabby Bill’s at Indian Rocks Beach (89.9) is a solid B. But Rumfish Grill (71.9) at the TradeWinds and Salt Rock Grill (82.4) — both widely recommended by tourists — are in C territory. Crabby Bills St Pete Beach (84.7) also falls short of its IRB sibling.

Dunedin & Tarpon Springs (~104 restaurants)

Dunedin’s Main Street has problems: Senior Ritas (25.5) and Clase Azul (30.5) are both failing badly. Tarpon Springs’ Dodecanese Boulevard — the famous Greek sponge docks — is mostly clean: Mr Souvlaki (97) leads, Hellas (90) is solid, and Rusty Bellies Annex (100) is perfect. But Mykonos (73.8) and the main Rusty Bellies Waterfront Grill (84.7) have room to improve.

Largo, Pinellas Park & Seminole (~168 restaurants)

The suburban corridor along US 19 has its share of trouble. Red Chillez in Largo (27.5) and Largo Family Restaurant (32.6) are deep in F territory. Osteria Bricco in Seminole (23.9) is one of the worst in the county. Clear Sky on Park (61.8) in Seminole drags down the Clear Sky brand significantly. Pinellas Park has two zero-score restaurants: Early Bird and Cafe Bich Nga.

What the Data Tells Us

After analyzing 2,975 restaurants across Pinellas County, several patterns emerge:

1. Pinellas outperforms Jacksonville, but barely. A 43% A-grade rate vs. Jacksonville’s 34.3% is better, but still means more than half of Pinellas restaurants can’t earn top marks. The 10.2% failure rate means 304 restaurants are failing right now. Browse all Pinellas County restaurants to see the full picture.

2. Beach Drive is the biggest contradiction in the county. The Birchwood (96.1) and Cassis (64) are on the same block. Parkshore Grill (90.3) sits between them. Three restaurants, three very different approaches to food safety.

3. Multi-location brands show wild inconsistency. Frenchy’s Cafe ranges from 97.8 (A) to Frenchy’s Saltwater Cafe at 79.5 (C). Clear Skyz Cafe ranges from 86.4 (B) to Clear Sky on Park at 61.8 (F). Hurricane Eddie’s Kitchen ranges from 93.5 (B) to Hurricane Eddies at 67.6 (F). Brand recognition is not a reliable indicator of kitchen quality.

4. Tourist areas aren’t automatically safer. Clearwater Beach has both some of the highest and lowest scores in the county. Tourists who assume beachfront dining is well-regulated are making a risky bet without checking.

5. The 49th Street corridor in St. Petersburg is a danger zone. Three restaurants within a few blocks — Sila Thai (23.2), Spring Garden Chinese (23.5), and Lanna Thai (24.1) — all score below 25. That concentration of failures in one area is unusual and concerning.

How to Check Your Favorite Spot

Every restaurant in this article links to its full InspectFL page with inspection history, violation details, and score breakdown. Want to check somewhere not mentioned here?

Search our database → — every inspected restaurant in Florida, updated with the latest DBPR data.

Browse all Pinellas County restaurants, check St. Petersburg, Clearwater, or compare cities on our city rankings page. For a deeper dive into specific areas, read our St. Petersburg restaurant inspections analysis, Clearwater Beach restaurant inspections, or see how the other side of the bay compares in our Tampa & Hillsborough County report.

Related: St. Petersburg deep dive · Clearwater Beach inspections · Tampa & Hillsborough County · Jacksonville inspections · 25 worst in Florida · 5 most common critical violations · Chain vs. local: who’s really cleaner? · Tampa Bay brunch inspection guide

Data sourced from Florida DBPR public inspection records. InspectFL Health Scores are calculated using a time-weighted algorithm that prioritizes recent inspections. Scores reflect inspection performance and do not account for food quality, taste, or service. For details on our methodology, see how we grade restaurants.

See also: Sarasota County Inspections · Clearwater Beach

Want to understand what happens when a restaurant fails? Read our complete guide to Florida restaurant inspections.