Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille

by South Florida Eats · Published March 24, 2024 · Updated July 20, 2024

Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille: 8790 Bay Pines Blvd. St. Pete Fl 33709

One afternoon, while Mike and I were driving around St. Petersburg, FL, we decided to stop at Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille. As the South Florida Eats team pulled into the parking lot, we were greeted by a mostly full parking lot. Luckily, we found a space and headed into the restaurant.

Another option would have been to dock a boat at the restaurant. Doc Ford’s has a small marina next door to it, perfect for a quick stop during a day of sailing the waterways of western Florida. There are four locations along the coast, and each one is slightly different than the rest.

The Restaurant:

As you climb up a few steps or walk up the ramp, you will be treated by Doc Ford’s host stand. There is a nice-sized indoor section that includes a bar and restrooms. The upper deck has several high-top tables and a bench counter with perfect views of the Intracoastal waterway. The lower level has a mix of chairs and tables and a small stage for live music performances.

Doc Ford’s Food:

I decided to try Doc Ford’s hamburger, which consists of Prime hand-patted ground beef grilled to your desire, with lettuce, tomato, and onion on a freshly baked roll. Of course, I chose well-done. The two slices of cheese topped the burger perfectly, adding to the flavor. The seasoned fries were also good, and I would order them again. Just remember to get mayo for dipping the fries into.

Mike decided to try Doc Ford’s conch chowder, made with fresh conch, tomatoes, fresh herbs, and bacon in a spicy, chunky tomato broth. This chowder definitely has a bit of a kick to it, but he loved the flavor explosion it provided in his mouth. It was definitely a lot better than the Bloody Mary he had.

For the second part of his meal, he chose the seared tuna appetizer. It is served rare atop chilled rice noodles tossed with crispy Asian veggies, fresh herbs, and a Thai peanut vinaigrette. They top it off with a sweet soy drizzle and wasabi coulis. The tune was probably his favorite part of the meal. It didn’t take long for there to be nothing left on the plate.