In Clearwater Beach for a wedding, two friends and I decided to enjoy dinner at Sea-Guini inside Opal Sands Resort. Upon entering the resort, it wasn’t the lure of the cuisine captivating our immediate attention, but the impressive indoor sand sculptures in the lobby. Soon, however, it was the ambience, food and staff at Sea-Guini, serving fresh-caught seafood and Italian-inspired dishes, commanding our full consideration.
© Opal Sands Resort
Our server, Christine, was exceptional. Her detailed knowledge of the menu and recommendations were impressive and helped us make some great food decisions. Additionally, Christine let us know from where all the ingredients were sourced, allowing us to consider local specialties. We started with three appetizers. We all agreed the crispy calamari, served with Calabria pepper aioli, crispy zucchini, sweet tomato chips and house pomodoro sauce, was the best we’ve ever had. The bruschetta — fresh, garlic-rubbed grilled brick oven farmers bread, fresh tomato and basil, creamy burrata cheese and balsamic drizzle — and the tuna tartare were equally tasty.
The hardest part was selecting entrées. As it was local, I opted for the pan-seared hogfish, served with Florida corn broth, sweet Gulf shrimp, a smokehouse bacon and potato hash (awesome!) and roasted cauliflower. While I enjoyed every bite, I had food envy for my friend’s ricotta gnocchi, flash seared and served with spinach, pancetta, winter truffles and sage-pecorino cream sauce. I’m not usually a gnocchi fan, but this ricotta version was delicious. My other dining companion is never one to turn down penne alla vodka; Sea-Guini’s version is served with fresh broccolini, sweet fennel sausage, heirloom tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella. He started with a cup of the lauded lobster bisque, which lived up to the hype. We paired our meal with a bottle of Villa Maria, Cellar Selection, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand.
Despite being full, we had to complete our meal with a sweet bite, and the zeppole, tossed in cinnamon and sugar and served with dark chocolate sauce and white chocolate mousse, was the perfect finish and designed for sharing. They were sinfully delicious.
To sum the experience, Sea-Guini is a must-visit in Clearwater Beach!
Sea-Guini
Opal Sands Resort
430 S. Gulfview Blvd. #100
Clearwater Beach, FL 33767
tel 727 450 6236
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