PLANT CITY. When it began in 1956, this comfortable restaurant was Mary Branch's private home, and she cooked for friends and family. Now, years later, that same level of care still abounds, and folks come in droves to sample great Southern cooking. Food is served family-style and still follows Mary's recipes. In fact, you'll find country ham, prime rib, catfish, and pork roast, all accompanied by generous servings of squash, sweet potatoes, pole beans, eggplant, chicken pot pie, and plenty of hot biscuits, homemade preserves, and sweet pickles. Plenty of other options are available; just make sure to come hungry, because you certainly won't leave that way! A word to the wise: Branch Ranch shuts down during the summer months.

PALMA CEIA. Since 1935, this family-run restaurant has satisfied hungry, local appetites. Its location beside Hillsborough Bay affords incredible views of the surrounding landscape. The food, especially the seafood, is the freshest possible, and everything is prepared to order on the premises. Grouper, the house specialty, is available seven different ways; you'll also find seafood pasta dishes, steaks, chicken, shrimp and salmon. Crab cakes, conch chowder and escargot lead the list of appetizers, and adventurous diners find it hard to resist the alligator. Key lime pie is a dessert classic, and a kids menu will take care of the little ones.

YBOR CITY. The jungle-themed decor and iguana mascot give this energetic eatery a character all its own. Known for its live entertainment, the place books live bands every night of the week and pumps up the sound to make sure everyone gets an appropriate dose of music. Often crowded, the Iguana is a fantastic place to hang out and nurse a drink during the evenings. During the day, it's a little more subdued, and you can order sandwiches, salads, and burgers with a Gulf Coast flair. The grouper sandwich is a perennial favorite, and you can also try gator bites, conch fritters, or iguana poppers, with crab meat and black bean sauce.

SOUTH TAMPA. Anyone who comes here knows that Kojaks is good eating! Open since 1978, this laid-back restaurant is well-known for its fantastic ribs, and the locals concur, having named it an area favorite for many years. Diners tackle heaps of barbecue, braking only for a bite of coleslaw or some famous parsley potatoes. Although you can sit inside in one of three rooms, the best setting is out on the porch, where you can enjoy the breezes and the freedom that comes with outdoor dining. For an added treat, make sure you try a slice of homemade chocolate cake or a glass of ice-cold sangria.

ROCKY POINT. This casually elegant seafooder, located at Rocky Point, serves up fresh-from-the-water fare that does for the taste buds what the restaurant's panoramic bayside views do for the eyes ­ leaves them wanting more and more. Yes, the Rusty Pelican makes a memorable first impression. But what truly keeps folks coming back is the food, and you'll understand why once you've had the Rocky Point Grouper topped with fresh asparagus, Beggars Salmon wrapped in phylo and stuffed with crab, or Shrimp Scampi Rustico with angel hair pasta. Even the steaks, a handful of which are prepared tableside, garner high praise!