Surrounded by the nutrient-rich waters of the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other, it's not surprising that the Sunshine State is full of seafood restaurants. From upscale eateries to rustic shanties on the water, visitors have a choice of places. There are several seafood chain restaurants located throughout Florida, but if you're looking for a local, family-owned place to get fresh seafood, check out these.
Fresh seafood and live entertainment make this longstanding Destin restaurant a local favorite. The restaurant has been locally owned and operated by Cary Shahid and his family for more than 20 years. (It opened in 1989.) Start with classic shrimp cocktail or the deep fried eggplant topped with Gulf shrimp and blue crab. Signature entrees include the grouper topped with toasted almonds, crabmeat au gratin and the fried lobster tail. The restaurant has live music on the weekends; local bands play on Wednesday night, when drinks are half-price.
Ocean Club
8855 US 98 West
Destin, FL 32550
(850) 267-3666
theoceanclubdestin.com
This come-as-you-are seafood restaurant has been locally-owned and operated by the Thompson family for more than 25 years. Rodney Thompson, the founder of the restaurant, was a local boat builder.Today, the Thompson family continues to operate the restaurant and share favorite "Old Florida" family recipes on the restaurant's website.The casual eat-in or take-out restaurant offers an extensive menu featuring fresh-caught, domestic fish and seafood. The rock shrimp, fried oysters and crab bites are popular appetizers. Follow them with one of the restaurant's signature fried seafood baskets. A variety of fish dishes are also on the menu, which can be prepared fried, broiled, steamed or grilled. Try the popular catfish or fresh Indian River mullet.
Dixie Crossroads Seafood Restaurant
1475 Garden St.
Titusville, FL 32796
dixiecrossroads.com
This famous restaurant opened in 1913 and is still owned and operated by the same family. Joe Weiss opened it as a small lunch counter and today it remains one of the Miami Beach's favorite seafood restaurants. Crabs are their specialty, including the "killer king crab claws" and stone crabs (in season.) The menu also has a variety of seafood choices, like the conch fritter and chilled lobster appetizers, crab cakes, fried oysters and shrimp and scallop entrees. Other popular dishes include the seafood cioppino, pan-seared grouper and lobster macaroni and cheese. There's a takeout menu as well.
Joe's Stone Crab
11 Washington Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 673-0365
joestonecrab.com
Owned by a local fisherman and his family, this St. Pete Beach restaurants features fresh seafood prepared with upscale, creative twists. Start with the fried shrimp doused with sweet-chili-garlic sauce, oysters sauteed with spinach, bacon and boursin cheese, or the chargrilled blue tuna with blueberry teriyaki sauce. Signature entrees include the wasabi crusted tuna, fried fisherman's dinner and the lobster and shrimp fra diavalo.
Snappers Sea Grill
5895 Gulf Blvd.
St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
(727) 367-3550
