Frenchy's is the name you will hear most often when asking locals where to eat on Clearwater Beach. The original cafe opened in 1981 and has since expanded to five locations along the beach strip, but the Rockaway Grill is the flagship — an open-air spot right on the sand at 7 Rockaway Street with direct Gulf views and live music most evenings.
The Super Grouper sandwich, made with fresh-off-the-boat Gulf grouper, is the signature dish and the reason people line up. The she crab soup, smoked fish spread, and stone crab claws (in season) are also worth ordering. Prices are moderate for a beachfront restaurant. Expect a wait at sunset, especially on weekends — Frenchy's does not take reservations. The Rockaway Grill's combination of location, quality, and atmosphere is hard to beat on the beach.