Bar: Bait House Tackle and Tavern

Location: 45 Causeway Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33767

Score: 8.5/10

I recently visited The Bait House in September while I was on vacation. I accidentally found this place as I was looking for a quick bite and this popped up on Google Maps. It was right down the street from all the touristy restaurants in the area and I thought I would give it a try. From the first time I saw the front of the place I knew it was going to be great. How many bars have you been to that serve alcohol and you can also get your tackle supplies? Probably none. Immediately when I walked in I was greeted right away and sat at the bar. The bar itself had a unique design of having money stapled on the bar walls, similar to a bar I saw in Charleston, SC, earlier this year. The beer selection was great and had a variety of local FL beers as well as your standard domestics. What I enjoyed most about the bar is that it was completely outside, which is what you want while you are in Florida. They also did not try too hard with their design trying to make the place scream “beach bar”. You know, floral designs everywhere, tons of bright colors, all the shit that all other beach bars tend to do. They were super simple and let the views of the water do all the talking for the design.

Another impressive part of the bar was the food that they served. It was your typical beach bar food, but everything was grease-free. Why? Well, they do not have a fryer, making all the food incredibly fresh and never soggy by old grease. I had a Corvina Reuben twice (yes twice, I went back-to-back days) and could eat it every day if I lived nearby.

Finally, the Bait House was recently damaged by the hurricane. The place has been a staple since 1940 and needs to stay open so other people can enjoy it as much as I did. If you can afford to, donate to their GoFundMe, every penny truly helps keep this gem of a bar in business.

Décor: Everything was all wood and most of the design came from having money sampled on the walls. It was very unique and refreshing to see.

Prices: The beer was cheap. For the spot that they were in, they could have gotten much more for their beer. I believe a Miller Lite was $4.

Service: The service was quick. I got meals two days in a row, and I was in and out within 30 minutes on both occasions.

Atmosphere: The atmosphere was lively; everyone was on vacation and just enjoying the Florida weather.

Cleanliness: The place was spotless. Nothing to call out here.

Bonus Points: No bonus points