Son-of-a BEACH, that food was good! (And didn't make me sick.)

 Ah, vacation dining—the thrill of trusting total strangers not to poison you with wheat.

Last month, I visited the beautiful beaches on Treasure Island, Florida. The sun was bright, the beaches beautiful, and as always I had some good and not so good restaurant experiences. Today I want to focus on one of the good experiences, Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grill.

This is the Jungle Terrace location, and the ambiance is on point!

The location I visited was Jungle Terrace, on the westside of the St. Pete peninsula. The ambiance of this restaurant was instantly my favorite even before they showed me the gluten-free menu. One unique feature my inner book-nerd loved is that Doc Ford's is named after a character in a series of books by Randy Wayne White, which I am currently reading and definitely recommend! You can buy the books at the restaurant, restaurant's website or on Amazon. There is even an outside bar with some of the best sunset views you'll see in the area and live music on certain nights of the week. The Jungle Terrace location had good accessibility for those in wheelchairs, ramp to the front door is a little long though. I also noticed a dog at the outside seating area, turns out they are pet friendly, just keep your fur baby on a leash and in control.

Now on to the FOOD. I ate here twice during my week stay and both meals I had were delicious, gluten-free, and their staff actually are trained on food allergies! Their gluten-free menu had so many options it was hard to choose but here is what I got:

Visit 1 - Conch chowder & Cameche Fish Tacos

They don't skimp on the portions at Doc Ford's - these babies were FAT and Full of flavor!

Visit 2 -  Yucatan Baked Oysters & Shrimp Salad

Let me just say, I've NEVER liked oysters due to their snot-like texture. I am so glad I decided to give these a try though...so good!

The staff were great, bathrooms were accessible and clean, and they donated towards certain charities if you bought certain drinks from their bar! Overall, I give Doc Ford's 5 out of 5. The beaches at Treasure Island are some of my favorites, even with all the clean-up and construction still going on after the devastating hurricane season of 2024.

The sunsets are beautiful on Treasure Island, FL.

Now, let me say that this great restaurant experience isn't always the case. Even the best-laid allergy precautions can fail. It’s not your fault. It’s not over-dramatic when you're glued to the bathroom like it was an all-inclusive spa treatment.

Unfortunately, this is just how life can work out for some of us. Just remember to always keep your head up, even if it's only to puke in a hotel toilet.

-🍑🐐🧳

What are some of your favorite beaches? Share in the comments below.