St. Pete’s is a beautiful city on the western side of Florida. There are many local restaurants, as well as your typical go-to chain restaurants available for optimal fueling and recovery. The good news, there are numerous fantastic options all within a short distance from the pool. Here are a few of our favorites while you are competing in St. Pete’s.
Flatbread & Butter (hours vary by day)
Menu Link: https://www.flatbreadandbutter.com/menu
Online Ordering: YES!
Hours: 7:30AM to 4:00PM (M-TH), 7:30AM to 9:00PM (F), 8:00AM to 4:00PM (SA & SU)
Address
1 Mile Away from the Pool
497 7th Ave N
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
A St. Pete’s staple located in historic uptown. You can find plenty of vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options for your tastebuds. You really can’t go wrong with any of the options on the menu. Here are a few of our top picks.
Acai Smoothie Bowl
With a blend of amazing fruits like blueberries, mango, bananas, acai, with coconut milk, granola, cacao nibs, coconut flakes, chia & fresh fruit, you’ll be set pre-meet with plenty of amazing antioxidants and carbs. This can also be paired with a protein side for a post-meet meal.
Turkey Avocado Sandwich
On delicious sourdough with smashed avocado, smoked turkey, arugula and chipotle mayo. Leave the mayo off or on the side as mayo can be very heavy and slow to digest.
Avocado Toast
Always a staple to any trip. Add on some additional protein in one or two eggs to make it a truly power breakfast for the ultimate swim fuel!
What to Leave off Your Order from the Menu:
Chicken Melt (chicken salad can be heavy and slow to digest in your stomach)
Chocolate Chunk Sea Salt Cookie (although probably amazing, not the best swim fast fuel – treat yourself after the meet is completely done)
First Watch (open 7AM to 2:30PM)
Menu Link: https://www.firstwatch.com/menu/?version=core-tampa
Online Ordering: YES!
Hours: 7AM to 2:30PM
Address
1.1 Miles Away from the Pool
1345 4th St N
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
First Watch is one of my absolute favorites to look for on the road for breakfast or lunch. You can always find a good power bowl, omelette, or avocado toast item on the menu.
Chicken Pesto Power Bowl
You can do this for breakfast or lunch with 31g of Protein and 52g of Carbs, this is a super way to start your day if you have a meet that starts late or for between prelims and finals. You may want to consider asking for the dressing on the side so you can add your own desired amount, which will also reduce the fat content for easier digestion.
Baja Turkey Burger
Who says you can’t have burgers at swim meets? This lean burger will provide you with 46g of Protein and 52g of Carbs, a great way to refuel after prelims. Ask for the mayo to be removed or on the side for easier digestion. Pair this with a side salad, a soup, or a bowl of fruit for a complete recovery and fueling meal!
AM Superfoods Bowl
Containing 21g of Protein and 104g of Carbs, you’ll be fueled up for a long prelims session. The bowl contains chia seed pudding with berries for extra antioxidant support to assist in recovery and keeping your immune system supported in that germ-infested pool.
Healthy Turkey
An egg white omelette with turkey, house-roasted onions, tomatoes, spinach, and feta for some awesome antioxidant and folate power! Also served with carbs for quick an easy fuel in toast with all-natural preserves. This can be a great pre-meet or post-meet meal containing 51g of protein and 56g of carbs.
What to Leave off Your Order from the Menu:
Heavy Sauce Items (such as Eggs Benedict, too heavy and not swim fast food).
Lots of heavy meats (such as bacon, a little is ok, but too much will weigh you down).
Chipotle (open 10:45AM to 11PM, Closed Sunday)
Menu Link: https://www.chipotle.com/#menu
Online Ordering: YES!
Hours: 10:45AM to 11PM, Closed Sunday
Address
2.6 Miles Away from the Pool
478 4th St. N
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Chipotle is a staple on the road for quick fuel. Here’s a few of our favorite selections to keep you fueled during the meet.
Burrito Bowl
Easy to get carbs, protein, and fat in one stop. Load up your bowl with brown rice (a good source of Vitamin B6) + a protein (stick with leaner options, even the plant-based protein: sofritas offer a lot of protein content) + small amount of beans (good source of Folate – easy on the beans, too many create LOTS of gas) + greens + guac (great source of healthy fats) + any veggie toppings (salsa, corn, etc.)
Tacos
If you’re not up for a bowl, go with a hand-held option in the tacos. Load up your tacos with a protein (stick with leaner options, even the plant-based protein: sofritas offer a lot of protein content) + small amount of beans (good source of Folate – easy on the beans, too many create LOTS of gas) + greens + guac (great source of healthy fats) + any veggie toppings (salsa, corn, etc.)
What to Leave off Your Order from the Menu:
Chips (Chipotle uses sunflower oil to make the chips – keep seed oils reduced)
Queso (heavy in the stomach – a little can be ok on a bowl but too much is disruptive to the digestive system – save the queso for an after the meet treat)
Sodas & Drinks (stick with water or your approved hydration drink for electrolytes Sodas contain caffeine and lots of sugar or artificial sweeteners – all things that aren’t needed when you’re trying to swim fast!)
Chicken Salad Chick (open 10:30AM to 8PM, Closed Sunday)
Menu Link: https://www.chickensaladchick.com/menu/restaurant-menu/chicken-salad/
Online Ordering: YES!
Hours: 10:30AM to 8PM, Closed Sunday
Address
1 Mile Away from the Pool
1221 4th St. N
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Chipotle is a staple on the road for quick fuel. Here’s a few of our favorite selections to keep you fueled during the meet.
Turkey Club
Plenty of protein in this delicious sandwich. Ask for the honey mustard on the side and add a little yourself. Get a fresh fruit bowl on the side for some extra easy to digest carbs and antioxidant power.
Awesome Sides
The seasonal salad, pasta salad, and fresh fruit bowl are great additions for a meal or grab-and-go to keep at the hotel for later.
What to Leave off Your Order from the Menu:
Mac & Cheese (too heavy with the cheese for your stomach)
Broccoli Salad (broccoli is a great food but not the best during meets, can provide a lot of gas in your digestive system)
Three Birds Tavern (hours vary by day)
Menu Link: https://www.chickensaladchick.com/menu/restaurant-menu/chicken-salad/
Online Ordering: YES!
Hours: 11AM to 9:30PM (M-F), 11AM to10:30PM (SA), 11AM to 9:30PM (SU)
Address
1.1 Miles Away from the Pool
1492 4th St. N
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
The menu is extensive but stick to light and lean options without heavy sauces.
Salmon Entree
A great piece of salmon with mashed potatoes as a carb side and seasonal veggies make this a great meal for recovery after a long day of racing.
Grilled Chicken Sandwich
A basic that will get you protein and carbs. Sub out the side of fries for either seasonal vegetables, coleslaw, or mashed potatoes. Fries are yummy, but fried food is not swim fast food.
What to Leave off Your Order from the Menu:
Fried Food (too heavy for racing and not good for your recovery)
Heavy Meats(stick with lean options like chicken, turkey, and fish for easy to digest protein)
Desserts (not swim fast food, save it for a treat when you are done competing)
Sodas & Drinks (stick with water or your approved hydration drink for electrolytes Sodas contain caffeine and lots of sugar or artificial sweeteners – all things that aren’t needed when you’re trying to swim fast!)
Carrabba’s (hours vary by day)
Menu Link: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/253273985/
Online Ordering: YES!
Hours: 11AM to 10PM (M-TH), 11AM to 11PM (F & SA), 11AM to 9PM (SU)
Address
1.4 Miles Away from the Pool
1951 4th St. N
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
A ton of options here but stick to light and lean choices. If you’re looking for a gluten-free pasta option, this is a spot for you!
Tuscan Grilled Chicken
Grilled is always a good word to look for on a menu. For the side, choose asparagus or the mashed potatoes.
Grilled Salmon
With this option you get a cup of soup, salad, and choice of side. Stick with a clear broth soup if given the option. For a side, go with the asparagus or mashed potatoes. Go with this option over the other salmon option for removal of the lemon butter sauce.
Spaghetti
Go with the pomodoro sauce option and ask for chicken as the protein. Bolognese meat sauce and meatballs are typically fairly fatty and will not digest quickly. Don’t forget to ask for the gluten-free pasta option if needed.
What to Leave off Your Order from the Menu:
Fried Food (too heavy for racing and not good for your recovery)
Heavy Meats (stick with lean options like chicken, turkey, and fish for easy to digest protein)
Desserts (not swim fast food, save it for a treat when you are done competing)
Sodas & Drinks (stick with water or your approved hydration drink for electrolytes Sodas contain caffeine and lots of sugar or artificial sweeteners – all things that aren’t needed when you’re trying to swim fast!)