Thomas Belkowski, Neighbor

I've been a Snowbird for several years, and am now making a permanent to Florida from my home in New Jersey.

<br>I am retired, and enjoy traveling. Recent trips have brought me to the nearby oasis of Bermuda, canoeing, helicoptering to and walking on glaciers in Alaska, visiting the ruins of Pompeii, the Pyramids at Saqqara and Giza, Delphi and the Acropolis in Athens, as well as the Greek Isles, Cyprus and Turkey. I&#39;ve also traveled extensively in Iceland, Great Britain (including England, Scotland and Wales,) Spain, Austria and Switzerland. I&#39;m hoping soon to add India to the mix.

My partner and I eat out a lot, when traveling and while at home. Good food is more important than ambience. I&#39;m just as comfortable in a small, &#34;hole in the wall&#34; with great food as in a four star restaurant. I like trying new things, but not sushi.

I started writing restaurant reviews online on travel sites mainly because I wondered at some of the reviews I read on those sites. When writing reviews, I try to take the nature of the establishment into account. You can&#39;t go to a tiki bar or wharfside restaurant and expect it to be like a 5 star hotel. Same with a bistro or cafe, trattoria or ristorante. I also try to be totally objective in my opinion. I cannot abide individuals who feel they have the right to make rude comments or personal judgements simply because someone does not share their point of view.

My favorite eateries fall into three categories. First, there&#39;s<br>the special occasion &#34;over the top&#34; restaurant where you go for<br>celebrations. Then there are the &#34;let&#39;s go out and have a good time&#34;<br>places where we go by ourselves or with friends just for fun. Finally, and very important, are the &#34;I&#39;m too tired to cook, to dress up, and don&#39;t want to have to be on my best behavior&#34; places that are so comfortable that you want to go there just because you don&#39;t have to fuss.

Follow me on Trip Advisor: http://www.tripadvisor.com/members/TomInNPR, and Urbanspoon: http://www.urbanspoon.com/u/profile/703143/Tom-B.html for other reviews in the Tampa Bay Area.