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Doc Ford’s in Jungle Terrace is a food and drink oasis in St. Pete

Doc Ford’s in Jungle Terrace is a food and drink oasis in St. Pete

The exterior of a seafood restaurant
Photo courtesy Doc Ford's

When we need to get away from it all (or when we’re just hungry), Doc Ford’s in Jungle Terrace is our go-to for tasty eats, great drinks, and waterfront relaxation. The rum- and seafood-forward restaurant just celebrated its first anniversary at 8790 Bay Pines Boulevard, and the secluded spot has become a true hidden gem in St. Pete for lunch, dinner and anything in between.

Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille, a regional favorite, is a local success story, and any visit shows why the literary-inspired restaurant has had so much success. Their opening alongside the St. Pete Pier in 2020 was met with so much fanfare that the need (and demand) for a West St. Pete location quickly became evident.

Nestled along Long Bayou, the newest location for Doc Ford’s is a tropical getaway befitting the restaurant’s island inspiration. Sitting on the patio overlooking the water, it’s hard not to have one of those “oh yeah, we live in paradise” moments.

Doc Ford’s showcases creative seafood favorites

Plates of food
Macadamia Nut Crusted Grouper, left, and Yucatan Shrimp, right

Of course, it isn’t the waterfront views that have made the restaurant so popular. Doc Ford’s Caribbean-inspired lineup of food and drink keeps guests coming back for more, and it was the star of our recent visit, as well. The expansive menu can make selecting which dish (or dishes) to choose quite the brain teaser, but we’ll admit: the rum helps with that.

The menu, open for lunch and dinner, places an emphasis on fresh seafood, including a shellfish bar. The extensive offerings include a wide variety of appetizers, sandwiches and fish-driven entrees. The main attractions on our visit were the Yucatan Shrimp and the Macadamia Nut Crusted Grouper, both of which are exemplars of the restaurant’s seafood-forward experience.

Food at Doc Ford's

For something more snackable, the buffalo shrimp are always a hit, and their new flatbreads are surprisingly light (and delightfully tasty). We’d also recommend steamed mussels, crab cakes, fish tacos, or their seared tuna appetizer plate.

Enjoy a rum-soaked literary paradise

That said, there’s plenty more at Doc Ford’s than just good eats. Rum takes center stage on the drinks menu, with everything from high-end rum flights to fruity and boozy island-inspired cocktails. The Sanibel Sunset is our go-to, though multiple rum punches are tempting members of the menu. If rum isn’t your thing, no worries: the full cocktail menu has an impressive array of margaritas, bloody marys, mojitos, mules and coladas, as well as plenty of local beer and great wines.

Fruity drinks at Doc Ford's

While it’s the food and drinks that keep people coming back, Doc Ford’s is perhaps best known for its literary history. It’s not often that a rum-soaked restaurant has such ties, but thanks to local author Randy Wayne White and his series of novels starring a baseball-loving, tropical adventurer named Doc Ford, the bar and grille is a destination for shrimp lovers and book lovers alike.

Doc Ford’s combines island vibes with a sports bar atmosphere

As for the edible parts of Doc Ford’s success, the restaurant has been on the receiving end of several notable accolades recently. In 2021, Trip Advisor ranked the company’s four restaurants as the No. 1 place in the country for “everyday eats.” Just last year, Trip Advisor also ranked their location on the pier as St. Pete’s No. 1 restaurant.

The restaurant group’s other locations are on Sanibel Island, the St. Pete Pier, and Ft. Myers Beach. On their website, Doc Ford’s describes their approach: “We take pride in providing our customers with only the freshest seafood and ingredients available, and where all of our dishes are prepared fresh in house everyday. We proudly offer daily specials for lunch and dinner, full menu from open to close, signature cocktails, and an extensive Premium Rum Selection.

The airy and bright locations all feature combination indoor and outdoor seating with views of the water, as well as full bars and plenty of TVs for catching any live sports. The Jungle Terrace has two full bars: one tiki-style bar on the patio, and another indoor/outdoor combo tying the entire dining room and patio areas together.

Learn more and see their full menu here.

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