Mastry's Bar & Grill   

Despite its location among Central Avenue's high class clubs and boutiques, this bar and grill for the working class maintains its unpretentious nature. The simple decor and the welcoming but gritty clientele are not what you'd expect given the location, but then again, that's what gives it charm. On any given afternoon, you can anticipate a little Patsy Cline on the jukebox and slow-moving, beer-filled patrons by the bar. Cheap is the name of the game here -- drinks are significantly cheaper than neighboring bars and most patrons make no bones about being here for one thing and one thing only, stiff drinks. But behind every stiff drink is a friendly personality that keeps the conversation interesting. Bar regulars swear they'd go nowhere else, and the bartenders must feel the same -- many have worked here for ten years or more. This Tampa mainstay has found its groove and sticks to it. -- Jamy Bond