Choose the evening before choosing the table
These three restaurants are in Treasure Island itself, along the central Gulf Boulevard corridor. Middle Grounds Grill is farther north at 10925 Gulf Boulevard; VIP and Ricky T’s are near 106th Avenue. Map the restaurant from your accommodation, especially if you are staying in Sunset Beach at the southern end of the island or across the bridge in Madeira Beach.
| Restaurant and address | Meal and atmosphere | How to plan |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Grounds Grill 10925 Gulf Boulevard | Seafood, steaks and pasta for a planned sit-down dinner | Reservations recommended; phone only, 727-360-4253 |
| VIP Mexican American Cuisine 10625 Gulf Boulevard | Tacos, burritos and bowls for a casual meal | Walk-in only; no reservations or call-ahead seating. Phone pickup orders are offered. |
| Ricky T’s Bar & Grille 10601 Gulf Boulevard | Bar-and-grille food with indoor and outdoor seating and live music | Check the music calendar; call 727-363-7425 about seating and group arrangements. |
Use the restaurant links below for changing menus and hours. A short distance between venues does not guarantee a short wait, and music listings do not reserve a dinner table.
Middle Grounds Grill: a dinner to arrange in advance
The Middle Grounds dinner menu gives a mixed group more choices than seafood alone. It lists grouper with a nut crust, salmon with a honey-and-ginger glaze, seafood pasta, beef steaks and a vegetarian pasta option. That makes it a useful candidate when some guests want fish and others would prefer meat or pasta.
Families can check the separate children’s menu, which includes pasta, grilled mahi, shrimp and chicken tenders. Ingredient and preparation requests still belong with the restaurant; a menu label cannot answer every dietary question.
Call to reserve through the official contact information. The restaurant recommends reservations, publishes a Monday closure and limits outdoor reservations to parties of six or fewer. Larger groups should discuss seating and the current card and cancellation terms before committing. If an outdoor table matters, say so during that call rather than assuming any reservation includes the patio.
VIP: casual Mexican food with a flexible arrival
VIP’s Treasure Island location operates on a first-come basis. Its published policy says no reservations and no call-ahead seating, so it suits an evening where the group can adjust to the wait. It also accepts orders by phone for pickup, giving you an alternative if everyone would rather eat back at the accommodation.
The Treasure Island menu includes individual tacos, burritos covered in sauce and cheese, and rice-and-bean bowls. Tacos offer different fillings and toppings; bowls and quesadillas include grilled-vegetable choices. The children’s section is specifically for ages 12 and under and lists a burger or tenders. Read this location’s menu before heading out; VIP also has an Indian Rocks Beach restaurant, which is a separate destination.
Ricky T’s: decide how much music you want with dinner
At the corner of Gulf Boulevard and 106th Avenue, Ricky T’s combines an indoor restaurant with outdoor bar areas and live entertainment. Its food descriptions include seafood, shrimp and chicken wings; the official menu page links the full menu and changing specials.
Start with the music calendar if a performance is part of the evening. Choose whether you want to listen outdoors or prefer an indoor meal, then contact the venue about the seating you need. For a group or a particular seating area, call ahead to ask how seating is handled. For a wider choice of evening venues, use our Treasure Island live-music guide.
A beach-to-dinner plan that works from your lodging
- Before the beach: choose the meal with your group. Make a Middle Grounds reservation if that is the plan, or keep the VIP arrival flexible.
- Return to your accommodation: put away chairs, rinse off and change. Keep the dinner departure separate from the time you hope to leave the sand.
- Head to the actual address: select a walk or ride based on your lodging and crossing route. For music, account for the performance time separately from dinner.
For example, a family wanting an agreed dinner time can investigate Middle Grounds and its children’s menu before the beach day. A group that prefers an unhurried afternoon can consider VIP, with pickup as another way to eat. Friends planning the evening around a band can start with Ricky T’s lineup and work backward.
Use our Treasure Island activities guide for the daytime plan. For a longer stay, BeachDay’s Treasure Island service delivers portable rental gear to your accommodation and collects it there; guests carry and set up the equipment themselves.
Sources & current information
Official information checked September 13, 2026. Check linked pages again for changing access, schedules and conditions.