Forlini's Restaurant Clearwater

Forlini’s Restaurant is on Mandalay Avenue, a five-minute walk from the sand of Clearwater Beach. The dining room runs smart and elegant, leaning into a Mediterranean and Italian seafood menu that holds a 2024 Wine Spectator Excellence Award.

You choose Forlini’s for the wine program, which outclasses the casual beach bars nearby. While the rest of the strip focuses on quick turnover and plastic cups, this kitchen treats its seafood with a level of restraint that makes the extra wait for a table worthwhile. It remains the serious alternative to the casual boardwalk spots, offering a quiet, deliberate pace that is increasingly difficult to find this close to the water.