Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 72

12d ST. PETERSBURG TIMES FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7. 1986 Fat Jacque's cafe attracts a crowd a la carte I ii 1 I 4 i i I 1 11 4 Urn yH I ir NEW ENGLAND SBF00D BABY BACK MBS RACK-TD-TI IE-FARM CHICKEN EVERGLADES FROG LEGS MAINE LOBSTER PRIME BEEF -i 121. Fat Jacque's Cajun Cafe. 11300 Fourth St.

N. Large bar lounge. No children's menu but will fix children's servings. Diners seated in non-smoking area on request. Lunch-dinner, 1 1 a.m.-midnight daily; Sun.

brunch 10 a.m. -3 p.m. Disabled would have no steps to navigate. Visa, MasterCard, American Express accepted. No reservations.

Phone 578-0158. By RUTH GRAY St. Ptriburg Times Staff Writar Fat Jacque's (pronounced Jack's) was a busy scene the Saturday evening we ate dinner there. The bar was packed, so much so it was even difficult to wedge into the ring around the bar to order a glass of wine. Then came a nice touch: As we stood near the entrance a waitress passed champagne to those of us waiting for tables.

A weekday dinner hour might be just as busy, so brace yourself before you walk in Fat Jacque's front door. The crowd is apt to be a noisy one. "DO WE TAKE reservations? No, we don't," said a waitress. "But, you can call a half hour ahead and see how busy it is," she added. We were seated on high stools at our table, which was on a platform.

Consequently, when my shoe fell off St. Patariburg Timaa JOHN P. JONES it disappeared into the depths below and the rest of the table had a good laugh as I tried to retrieve it by fishing around "down there." So buckle up your shoes when seated at one of the high tables. Fat Jacque's menu looks small but actually has 14 pages of things to order. I had a little difficulty reading it because the light was dim and the pages are printed in script.

The four of us had ordered a number of dishes: four appetizers, chili, plus two entrees. I enjoyed trying this variety until my palate burned out. The food is spicy-hot and quite different from that in most Suncoast eating places, and I had resorted to the salt shaker several times. I learned years ago at an Indian restaurant that a little salt can cut the "heat" when food is spicy. I asked our waitress what one should do if they wanted the food to be less spicy, and she told us it we could request it when we ordered.

OUR FIRST appetizers were the shrimp Cancun, beautifully done coconut shrimp with a "zesty" sauce for dipping and "Le Cheese Toast" The monterey jack cheese Fat Jacque's Cajun Cafe features fiery, delicous cooking. The decor of the restaurant is eye-catching, and the atmosphere lively. Just a few of the reasons we've been a dining tradition on Clearwater Beach for 37 years. and veal with fettucine Beef dishes are a filet, a rib eye and a blackened dish of prime rib, each $9.95. Duckling, pasta with vegetables and Cajun chicken are $9.95 and $6.95.

Don't ignore the dessert list here. We had bananas flambe with a heavy brown sugar and cinnamon sauce and loads of whipped cream However, it was the bread pudding that took the cake. This was a marvelous mixture of bread and eggs with a big touch of coconut Or, there's pecan pie with chocolate, mile high pie (for two) and ice cream from $1.50 to $4.25. FAT JACQUE'S is a beautifully decorated restaurant, and if you can see the furnishings through the crowd I feel sure you'll agree. Etched glass, brass posts, an old style ceiling with moulded designs, brick planters, wooden tables topped with shiny ep-oxy, colorful lamps over the tables and other old-fashioned lamps along with high chairs and stools add up to a good looking place.

Jack Carey, owner-manager, was visiting with customers in the dining rooms, and he stopped to talk. He said the restaurant seats 170, so it is large. Our check totaled $47.25 for two appetizers, two entrees, two desserts, two glasses of wine and two cups of coffee plus tax and tip. Cajun chef with ham, beef, artichoke, turkey, egg and bacon; a spinach salad with bacon; and a soup and salad combo or a gumbo and salad combo. These range in price from $1.95 to $5.85.

FOR THOSE who don't wish a large meal, the restaurant has a bunch of "burgers and sandwiches: cheese, Mexican with hot peppers, Cajun with cheese, bayou with zesty barbecue sauce, another with guaca-mole on the side, croissant, roast beef poor boys and an andouille (Cajun sausage), $4.65 to $5.95. My lamb ribs "le BBQ" were splendid specimens They were actually short ribs that had taken on a good mahogany hue from the sauce. It seems every restaurant must have a "blackened" dish on its menu today, and Fat Jacque's does. The one we sampled was blackened red-fish, the catch of the day and a good choice at $8.95. The coating was quite spicy, and the fish moist and beautifully cooked.

Other entrees are fish etouffe topped with crawfish and a cream sauce redfish Jacques chargrilled shrimp Bucktown cooked in beer, butter and pepper sauce shrimp St. Charles with pasta pork ribs chargrilled with barbecue sauce ($8.95) wasn't spicy, but it was garlicky and it did have a thick, thick slice of French bread under the garlic topping. Very filling. It would have gone beautifully with a salad, but was somewhat heavy with all our other appetizers. Ordering Cajun popcorn a Louisiana name for fried crawfish tails, brought us a dish of these small nuggets.

Crawfish are always delicious and so these were. The Cajun cheese balls ($3.95) are a blend of broccoli, bacon and cheese. They had been dipped in batter and fried, but just weren't as exciting as the other starters we had ordered in spite of their good mixture of ingredients and the horseradish sauce. The menu offers a total of 12 appetizers. In addition to the above there are mushrooms, red beans and rice, angelhair pasta with crawfish, onion rings, Cajun fries, potato skins, nachos and jambalaya, $1.25 to $5.25.

One of our friends across the table ordered "Rita's Famous Chili" This consisted of a large bowl, Cajun stylo, so of course it was spicy. It was delicious, too. There's a gumbo listed as well as "Frenchy's Onion Soup" Salad lovers can have a heyday here. Six salads and five dressings are on hand: a house salad with a mix of vegetables; a fruit platter with sherbet; a FOOD SERVICE BOB HEILMAN BEACHCOMBER RESTAURANT 447 M.mdalay Avenue Clearwater Beach Serving every day from 11:30 til midnight Sundays from 12 noon ATMOSPHERE 1 For reservations: 442-4144 Restaurants ara visitad anonymously and with other parsons to allow a wide sampling of food. All meals are paid for.

Restaurants receiving unfavorable reviews have been visited more than once. Restaurants are rated according to food, service and atmosphere. Five symbols, excellent; four, good; three, average; two, fair; one, poor. Ave n. syCy -I SYCHIO FAB lit I PLAN NOW TO VISIT EXPO '86 SUHCOAST TRAVEL SHOW Live Entertainment 11 Travelog Theatre 1 56 International Travel Exhibitors Door Prizes Cruises February 15 -10 A.MM P.M.

(Doors Open 9:00 AM.) FORUM OF MANY TRUTHS Rev. Rose Marie Bittler Rev. Jack Bittler ECONO-LODGE 5005 34th St. St. Petersburg, FL Seafood Platters $595 to $945 Casual and Inexpensive Come in we're north of the construction detour on 34th St.

S. fU.S. 19) 420O-34thSt. South (U.S. 19)867-9231 Exit 1-275 at 54th Ave.

(Exit 4) Happy Hour 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. 8SC Bar Brands! OFFER EXPIRES FEB. 15th to! Prwnf by EASTMAN KODAK SHRIMP or OGER'S SAVE 50' CATFISH PLATE REAL Pit Available in our LUAU DINING ROOM A new selection of Daily Specials which will be featured in our "NEW BEACH FRONT RESTAURANT." with coupon below! 2 i oo ZF Menu a Price With Coupon Or bring this coupon for a free bowl of our Barbeque Beans. No take out on beans.) Wednesday Night Prime Rib $6.95 Sunday Monday All-You-Can-Eat Barbeque Chicken $4.50 Coupon Expires SUNCOAST TRAVEL SHOW 1 ONE COUPON $3.00 EACH ADMITS PARTY February 7th, 8th 9th Fri.

Sat. 1 0:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M. Sun. P.M. $n795andup If Plus Tax Gratuity Ask your waiter or waitress for our daily features iiii BAYFRONT CENTER, ST.

PETERSBURG FREE PARKING Largo 1 2 1 50 Seminole Blvd. 586-2629 Pinellas Park 685 1 -66th St. N. 544-6671 Not valid with other offers We'll smoke your turkey Judged "Best Chicken Ribs" At the Southern Invitational BBQ Cookoff 22886 On? Coupon Per Person Catering Open Sun -Thurs II AM to9PM Fri. Sal HAM to 9 30 Dine In or Carry Out a Drive Thru ST.

PETE BEACH HILTON 5250 Gulf Blvd. For Reservations 360-181 1 WEDGWOOD INN RETURN WITH US TO THE DAYS OF YESTERYEAR Enjoy International Cuisine, tableside service, and late night dining and dancing at the completely remodeled Jungle Prada. Lunch from 3.95 Early Birds from 5.95 Dinner Specials from 6.95 Full Dinners from 8.95 Sunday-Thursday, 11 A.M.-1 A.M. Friday, 11 A.M.-2A.M. 4 P.M.-2 A.M.

Closed Monday 1t SALAD BAR AND ft I tiWIVJ All. YOU-CAN-EAT SNOW CRAB LEGS Served with a Baked Potato, Rice Pilaf or our crinkle cut Steak Fries and an oven fresh dinner ONLY S7-95 Banquet Facilities Available EST. 1925 Sorry, No Take Out Orders, SUNDAY SPECIALS ROAST BEEF MEAT LOAF CHICKEN DUMPLING MASHED POTATOES VEGETABLES uoggie Dags or snaring: Cannot be used in combination will Cannot be used in combination with JUNGLE PRADA RESTAURANT A LOUNCE 1700 Park St. St. Petersburg Reservations: 345-0105 LOVE-LINES other coupons or discount offers.

Applicable taxes not included. Not redeemable lor cash. OFFER EXPIRES 2986 Pinellas Park-8180 49th St No. Largo-9100 Ulmerton Blvd. St.

Petersburg-7005 4th St No. Bayonet Point-8825 R. 52 Crystal River-1935 U.S.19 So. Brandon-704 E. Brandon Blvd.

Sebring-3540 U.S.Hwy. 27 So. Zephyrhills-750 Call Blvd. No. ENTERTAINMENT NIGHTLY IN THE LOUNGE 6 p.m.

-10 p.m. STEAKS SEAFOOD SALADS I Hey Kids! Send a Valentine's Greeting to Mom! Lunch Dinner FREE HORS D'OEUVRES 445-1 8th Ave. So. St. Petersburg, Florida 33705 Phone 823-7600 LWjl 894-1141.

11-11. Sat. 3-11 Son. 12-8. Closed Monday Call Classified Love-Lines today at CLASSIFIED.