There’s no shortage of great restaurants to try in Tampa Bay, and I’m not just talking about the new, hip openings. I love exploring the region’s lesser-known neighborhood gems, the sort of spots that fly under the radar or serve delicious meals where you’d least expect them to.
It’s how I wound up in the waiting area of Bob Lee’s, the decades-old St. Petersburg auto shop, on a recent Wednesday afternoon.
Banquette seating, standard tables and a couple of bar stools surround a little food counter. A dry-erase board advertises a $10 sandwich special: Turkey Bacon Avocado on toasted ciabatta with melted cheese and a house-made spicy avocado crema. The glossy, laminated menu for “Diner @ 4th North” lists a small selection of breakfast and lunch eats…