Great Tarpon Springs Restaurants that Locals Love

Tarpon Springs, Florida is renown for being the “Sponge Capital of the World.” Its sponge diving history dates back to the early 1900’s, when a group of around 500 sponge divers immigrated primarily from the Greek island of Kalymnos. The Sponge Docks along Dodecanese St. are lined with tasty restaurants, cafes and shops.

But some Tarpon Springs restaurants are better suited to one time visits, as certain menu items can be mediocre and overpriced. We’ve lived in Tarpon Springs the past several years and these are some of the restaurants that locals rave about. We’ve dined at each of these restaurants multiple times and enjoy taking guests who visit to these savory spots!

Nikos Grill House

Nikos Grill House is relatively new to Tarpon Springs lineup of Greek restaurants. But they’ve become extremely popular with locals because the food is fantastic, prices are reasonable and the portions are generous. A mutual Greek American friend has even gone so far as to say “this is the best Greek restaurant in the country.”

Nikos Grill House is extremely very meat centric, so don’t visit if you want to eat fresh seafood. There are other great places for that around town. Menu highlights include excellent gyros and the best bifteki (Greek style hamburger) I’ve had at a Greek restaurant in the United States. If you’re with a group you can order a mixed grill of various meats which are deliciously prepared.

Nikos Grill House also serves excellent lamb chops, pancetta and kontosouvli (Greek style roast chicken and pork) with hand cut fries and perfectly tangy tzatziki.

H’ours Creole Smokehouse

The H’ours Creole Smokehouse serves the tastiest southern style smoked cooking in the area. Menu highlights include shrimp and crawfish étouffée and smoked 1/2 chicken jambalaya. Their seafood & smoked sausage cajun gumbo is also very tasty.

A popular local tip is to visit H’ours Creole Smokehouse on Tuesday nights when they serve $1 chicken leg drumsticks (6 for $6). Save room for dessert as their bread pudding with whisky butter is the best we’ve ever eaten. And that’s no exaggeration!

The Bistro

The Bistro is a popular restaurant in downtown Tarpon Springs. Its fun ambiance and charming decor also makes for a good date night. Their menu includes a variety of Mediterranean dishes, including some Italian and Greek favorites.

The pollo pesto pasta is one of my favorite dishes at The Bistro. The dish consists of homemade gemelli pasta with chicken, shaved parmesan, asparagus, roasted red peppers and grape tomatoes tossed in pesto sauce. Their Bistro Burger is also excellent and sure to please carnivores. It includes a half pound of juicy short rib brisket sandwiched between a brioche bun, accompanied by a side of tasty parmesan truffle fries.

The Bistro is one of our favorite restaurants in downtown Tarpon Springs. We’ve bumped into local friends multiple times there, so that says a lot.

Katerina’s Taverna and Grill

Just off the tourist trail of the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks, along alternative 19, Katerina’s Taverna and Grill is great. Their village salads, piled with heaps of rich feta and Greek croutons offers nostalgic moments to delicious salads we’ve enjoyed on majestic Greek islands. Katerina’s is also great for traditional Greek dishes like pastichio, moussaka, souvlaki, roasted lamb, char grilled seafood and roasted lamb.

Katerina’s Tavern and Grill features some small touches not frequently found outside Greece. One of them is the char-grilled bread with a hint of lemon, served with pork souvlaki. Their gyro meat roasted on a spit includes a tender and generous pile of sliced pork, instead of the overly processed beef and lamb combination served in too many restaurants.

Request olive oil if you prefer it, as Katerina’s serves bread with butter to cater to local tastes. It’s one of the best and most authentic Greek restaurants in Tarpon Springs.

The Limani

The Limani is a great casual eatery in Tarpon Springs popular with both locals and tourists alike. It is not a full-service restaurant as you order at the counter and food is prepared to order. Then you can sit at one of their outdoor tables along the water.

The Limani’s Greek salad topped with delicious souvlaki style pork or chicken is excellent. They also serve excellent gyros with a tangy tzatziki. Another noteworthy item is their Greek fries, topped with creamy feta cheese and a generous sprinkle of oregano and spices.

Delicious food combined with a picturesque view of the Sponge Docks, makes The Limani one of the most popular eateries in Tarpon Springs. The restaurant is a cash only establishment, and they have an ATM near the counter. It’s possibly the best value for money along the Sponge Docks, making it an idyllic spot for a casual meal during a Florida vacation in Pinellas County.