Tavern At Bayboro

Contributor

Citysearch

The Scene
Okay, think back to college: Its pretty relaxed. Hey, this isn't the real world, folks. There's always time for a beer and a lively debate about the nature of black holes, or whether genetic engineering will ultimately civilize the human race. People eat, and then take another half-hour just to read or browse in the adjacent bookstore.

This is definitely a university hang-out: Funky postcards decorate the walls, big groups of young people yak and giggle at picnic tables, perched behind huge Cokes and fat sandwiches. Tucked among the buildings that make up USF's St. Petersburg campus, The Tavern probably wouldn't want to be anything else.

The Food
People discuss the topic du jour as they consume the restaurant's casual fare of homemade soups and sandwiches. The decor is collegiate and spartan, but the place has an undeniable charm many restaurants lack: mellow, laid-back patrons and good karma.

The sandwiches are named after famous authors: for instance, the Tennessee Williams is made from turkey, Muenster cheese, lettuce, tomato, thousand island dressing and pumpernickel bread. You can also order the Zane Grey, the Dante or the James Joyce.

The only real culinary disappointment is in the form of the James Joyce. It's really a Reuben sandwich, but the Tavern's version was a poor imitation of the real thing. Its corned beef was tough, the sauerkraut cold and improperly drained, thus making the bread soggy, and the thousand island dressing and cheese too skimpy. But overall, the Tavern's food is still very good.