Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
while Marchand's at the
Renaissance Vinoy Resort
is worth a Sunday brunch splurge (from
11am to 2:30pm).
Coney Island Hot Dog
FAST FOOD
Collectors of Americana and hot-dog fanatics: order two delicious chili dogs, slaw and a
milkshake and savor the vinyl-booth charm of this authentic, unvarnished old St Pete insti-
tution. Cash only. Near 3rd Ave N.
DeLucia Italian Bakery Café
BAKERY
727-824-2874; 119 1st Ave N; pizza $10.50;
7am-9pm Mon-Sat,
7am-2pm Sun)
With a master baker on hand to see that the pizza dough, bread and baked goods meet au-
thentic Italian standards and baristas who have been trained by Illy, this new downtown
bakery promises great things. Order a super-thin-crust pizza to share or just go for the
cookies and a dark shot of Illy espresso.
Biff-Burger
BURGERS
6am-10:30pm Mon-Thu, to
midnight Fri & Sat, 7am-9:30pm Sun; )
Once a national drive-in chain, the last standing Biff-Burger has morphed into a down-
home, blue-collar institution. Under a tin roof you'll find an extremely long, double-sided
bar and thick-lacquered picnic tables. A wall of TV screens and various live musicians vie
for your attention. For a buck and two bits (that is, $1.45), the Biff deluxe is the best bur-
ger around. Biker nights on Wednesdays and Saturdays are a scene.
Biff-Burger is far from downtown, 6 miles northwest of the Museum of Fine Arts, near
39th Ave N.
Alésia
FRENCH, VIETNAMESE
(
727-345-9701;
http://alesiarestaurant.com
;
7204 Central Ave; mains $7.50-18;
11:30am-2:30pm
& 5:30-9pm Tue-Fri, from 10am Sat)
Lovely Alésia with its big windows, laid-back soundtrack and umbrellaed courtyard is the
brainchild of Sandra Ly-Flores, Erika Ly and Paul Hsu, who wanted to recreate the French
