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Upstairs from the legendary Boston's on the Beach, you'll find its fancier annex, 50 Ocean. In contrast to the no-frills sports bar on the ground floor, 50 Ocean is a more refined restaurant featuring dishes with a large percentage of locally sourced ingredients. The views from above are spectacular, and the setting is casually elegant, with an outdoor veranda and notable quartz bar. If it feels too fancy upstairs, just head back downstairs for some decent bar fare that includes New England clam chowder, several lobster dishes, and fresh fish.
40 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach, Florida, 33483, USA
Known For
- Fresh Florida seafood, which varies seasonally
- Great views
- Outdoor bar
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In downtown West Palm Beach's waterfront district, this hot spot is an alternative to the bar food, tacos, and burgers more common in the area. "Green" cuisine---seasonal salads, vegetarian dishes, and sustainably produced meats and seafood---is making waves at the avocado-theme restaurant. Small plates of stuffed zucchini blossoms, octopus with chorizo and fingerling potatoes, or a mushroom fricassee with grits and truffle oil are examples of plates designed for sharing. A raw bar, specialty sushi, a vegetarian list, and inspired sandwiches are included among the pastas, salads, meats, and fish also listed. A brunch here with an extensive menu is popular. Craft cocktails, a nice wine selection, and beers are served at the long bar in the bistrolike eatery with casual-chic decor. Dine inside or out.
125 Datura St., Florida, 33401, USA
Known For
- Everything avocado, including wonderful guacamole
- Mushroom fricassee with cheddar grits
- Mixed seafood ceviche
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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A mainstay for local boaters who cruise up and down the Intracoastal Waterway, Banana Boat is easily recognizable by the lighthouse on its roof. On weekends casual crowds clad in tank tops, flip-flops, and bikinis dance to live island music while downing frozen drinks (try the Dirty Banana or Hurricane Wilma) and nibbling on bar foods like burgers and ribs. Brunch is served on Sunday from 11 am to 3 pm; it's just lunch and dinner—or should we say liquid lunch and liquid dinner—otherwise.
739 E. Ocean Ave., Florida, 33435, USA
Known For
- Frozen bar drinks
- Burgers and other pub grub
- Brunch on Sunday
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Palm Beach ladies who lunch leave the island for an afternoon at Belle and Maxwell's, while young professionals loosen up after work at the wine bar, part of the bistro's expanded dining area. Tucked along Antique Row, it looks like a storybook tea party at lunch, with eclectic furnishings and decor and a charming garden. Expect colorful luncheonette dresses and great soups, salads, and sandwiches at affordable prices midday; at night, it becomes a fun, twinkling bistro, offering creative comfort fare such as homemade orecchiette with squid and sausage and classic chicken marsala, along with fillets and a risotto of the day. Dessert lovers know the sweets are all made in-house; call ahead to get whole cakes, pies, and tarts to take to grateful hosts.
3700 S. Dixie Hwy., Florida, 33405, USA
Known For
- Classic chicken marsala
- Extensive list of lunch salads
- Homemade desserts
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No dinner Mon
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The bougainvillea-laden trellises set the scene at the main entrance on Peruvian Way, off posh Worth Avenue. Even though it's a chain, this is a favorite of Palm Beach society, and both the restaurant and the bar become packed and noisy during high season. Weather permitting, many patrons prefer to dine on the outdoor terrace on the narrow pedestrian walkway, where "walking models" showcase jewelry and apparel from nearby boutiques. The aroma of basil, chives, and oregano fills the air as waiters carry out home-baked pizzaccia (a pizzalike bread) to accompany delectable dishes such as seafood risotto and veal Marsala.
313½ Worth Ave., Palm Beach, Florida, 33480, USA
Known For
- Seafood risotto
- Homemade pizzaccia bread with basil, chives, and oregano
- Outdoor dining where you can watch the scene on Worth Avenue
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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Yes, this pub was actually shipped from England, where it had stood for 150 years in London's historic Chancery Lane. There it was a watering hole for famed English residents, including Winston Churchill; here you may hear stories of lingering ghosts told over some suds. Chow down on a ploughman's lunch (a chunk of Stilton cheese, a piece of bread, a slice of English pork pie, and pickled onions), fish-and-chips, and bangers and mash (sausages with mashed potatoes). This is a pub's pub—nothing fancy, very hearty. English beers and ales are on tap and by the bottle. It's also a late-night place and has live music on weekends.
804 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, Florida, 33483, USA
Known For
- Fish-and-chips
- Beer selection
- Late-night food spot
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A longtime local favorite, Café Chardonnay is charming and romantic and has some of the most refined food in the suburban town of Palm Beach Gardens. Soft lighting, warm woods, white tablecloths, and cozy banquettes set the scene for a quiet lunch or romantic dinner. The place receives consistent praise for its innovative, continually changing menu and outstanding wine list, as well as crack service. The wine bar alone is worth a visit. Starters can include wild-mushroom strudel and pancetta-wrapped diver scallops. Entrées might be grilled filet mignon or a pan-roasted veal chop with Parmesan risotto and brandy morel sauce.
4533 PGA Blvd., Florida, 33418, USA
Known For
- Outstanding wine list
- Innovative specials
- Many locally sourced ingredients
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekends
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Since 1980, the favorite spot of society's movers and shakers—and a few celebs—has remained a regular stop on foodie itineraries. Service and consistency are big reasons for its longevity. It's known as one of the most romantic dining rooms in South Florida, thanks to signature floral displays. Bestsellers include Maine lobster risotto and veal chops, along with such inspired creations as crispy veal sweetbreads with wild mushrooms and asparagus. Depending on your mood, the champagne-caviar bar can serve up appetizers or desserts. The place has an extensive, award-winning wine list with many by-the-glass options. A pianist plays nightly from 7 to 9:30 (Billy Joel has been spotted at the keyboard), and the lively crowd gracefully sways to the music.
331 S. County Rd., Palm Beach, Florida, 33480, USA
Known For
- Veal chops
- Romantic setting
- Champagne-and-caviar bar with extensive selections
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon, Reservations essential
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This trendy restaurant mingles the personalities and flavors of a New England oyster bar, a modern sushi eatery, an eclectic seafood grill, and an award-winning dessert bakery to create a can't-miss foodie haven in the heart of Delray's bustling Atlantic Avenue. Dishes like the oyster bisque, New Orleans–style shrimp and crab gumbo, tuna crudo, and lobster fried rice are simply sublime. The restaurant's colossal bakery adds an unexpected element of carb bliss with a full roster of homemade breads and desserts, including seasonal pies and an insanely divine pecan pie in a glass. Pastas, too, are made in house. On the downside, the place can be so busy and noisy that you can't hear your dining companions, especially in high season.
213 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, Florida, 33444, USA
Known For
- Large selection of oysters
- Excellent desserts
- Loud and busy, especially in high season
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Like a hermit crab sliding into a new shell, Conchy Joe's moved up from West Palm Beach to its current home, a 1920s rustic stilt house on the Indian River. It's full of antique fish mounts, gator hides, and snakeskins and is a popular tourist spot—but the waterfront location, very casual vibe, and delicious seafood lure locals, too. Grouper marsala (the house specialty), coconut shrimp, and fried Bahamian cracked conch are menu fixtures. Don't miss the conch chowder. Live reggae gets people out of their shells Thursday through Sunday.
3945 N.E. Indian River Dr., Jensen Beach, Florida, 34957, USA
Known For
- Conch chowder
- Grouper marsala
- Live reggae Thursday–Sunday
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Farm-fresh foods with a Southern accent are served at this chef-owned restaurant with a theater kitchen, where comfort foods are taken to new levels. (Slow Food, a group that celebrates local foods and artisans, has given the restaurant a "Snail of Approval.") The vibe is both hipster and rustic melded into an open (and often noisy) space; the chefs provide entertainment, and the bar is lively. On an ever-changing menu (check the website for the current list), find homemade condiments and jams served with crab hush puppies, sweet-tea fried chicken, or blackened Gulf shrimp. Look for unusual meat dishes as well: a U.S. Prime teres major is a seldom-seen shoulder cut served here with asparagus, warm potato salad, and garlic butter—creative fare in a convivial setting. If listed, don't miss the Grand Marnier soufflé for dessert.
900 S.E. Indian St., Stuart, Florida, 34994, USA
Known For
- Farm-to-table menu
- Lively bar scene
- Everything homemade, including condiments and jams
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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Palm Beach's window on Asia has a sleek sushi bar and floor-to-ceiling glass doors separating the interior from the popular terrace dining area. Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese selections are neatly categorized: Wind (small plates starting your journey), Water (seafood mains), Fire (open-flame wok creations), Earth (meat dishes), and Flavor (desserts, sweets). Pick from dim sum to sashimi, pad Thai to Szechuan beef, steamed sea bass to shrimp lo mein. On weekdays, come for the early shift (5–6 pm) for half-price sushi and cocktails in the restaurant's Dragonfly Lounge.
230-A Sunrise Ave., Palm Beach, Florida, 33480, USA
Known For
- Sushi and specialty rolls
- Fresh seafood
- Cocktails in the Dragonfly Lounge
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch; closed Mon.
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Taking up the local-food mantle, the menu here includes inventive dishes following the seasons using locally sourced meats, seafood, and vegetables. Whenever possible, the foods are organic or sustainable. Bison meat loaf, a Buddha bowl, and "spasta" (pasta made from squash) with chicken meatballs are some of the popular entrées. Dishes such as the chicken chop tagine or za'atar-spiced salmon are preparations that let foods work with flavors rather than be disguised by them. Vegan and vegetarian dishes, including juices, "mocktails," and desserts, are on the menu, and dietary requests are accommodated with the same creativity. The wine list includes many organic and sustainable varietals. Mixologists apply the same philosophy of fresh, local foods to their craft cocktails.
1901 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton, Florida, 33431, USA
Known For
- Buddha bowl with stir-fried vegetables and udon
- Good wine, cocktails, and beer
- Some vegan options
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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Expect a wait for dinner, which is not necessarily a bad thing at this island paradise of a waterfront restaurant and bar. Take the wait time to explore the bridges and trails of the open-air tropical oasis, or grab a chair by the river to watch the sunset, listen to the live band, or nibble on some conch fritters at the large tiki bar until your table is ready. Try the lemon-butter hogfish for dinner, and stick around for the live music (a full concert calendar is on the website). Breakfast, offered only on weekends, is good, too. That said, it's more about the view and vibe than the food here. There's only valet parking on site; a free lot is about a block away but fills up fast in season.
960 N. Rte. A1A, Jupiter, Florida, 33477, USA
Known For
- Water views from the outdoor dining area
- Live music
- Weekend breakfast
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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Decorated with vintage travel posters of its namesake city, this two-level restaurant serves authentic Cuban specialties on the cheap, including great Cubanos (pressed roast pork sandwiches), arroz con pollo, and ropa vieja. The friendly place attracts a late-night crowd at its popular walk-up window. Get strong Cuban coffee (often awarded the best in Palm Beach County), sugary fried churros, and fruit juices in exotic flavors like mamey, mango, papaya, guava, and guanabana.
6801 S. Dixie Hwy., Florida, 33405, USA
Known For
- Late-night food service
- Cuban sandwiches
- Picadillo Cubano
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Since 1950, this diner's eat-in counter and "cooked in sight, it must be right" motto have made it a congenial setting for meeting old friends and making new ones. Nowadays, Howley's prides itself on its kitsch factor and old-school eats like turkey pot pie and a traditional Thanksgiving feast, as well as its retro-redux dishes like a potato-and-brisket burrito. Forgo the counter for the retro tables or sit out on the covered patio. The café attracts a loyal clientele into the wee hours (it's open weekdays until midnight and weekends until 2 am and has a full bar).
4700 S. Dixie Hwy., Florida, 33405, USA
Known For
- Kitschy setting
- Retro diner specialties
- Late-night dining
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In the heart of The Square, this European-style eatery offers Italian specialties and a wide variety of fine wines. The menu includes classics like chicken parmigiana, risotto, and fettuccine alfredo. Pizzas from the wood-burning oven are especially good. Service is friendly and efficient, but the overall noise level tends to be high. Sit at the outdoor tables next to the main plaza's dancing fountains if you can.
600 S. Rosemary Ave., Florida, 33401, USA
Known For
- Pasta choices
- Pizzas from the wood-burning oven
- Seating near the dancing fountains
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The pick of the lake, this lodge-style restaurant started at the Okee-Tantie campground as a fish place with four tables in a corner. Now the taxidermy-filled joint beckons bikers and tourists for fresh catfish (the signature dish) as well as frogs' legs, alligator tenderloin, and oysters on the half shell. You can also order a selection of ocean fish like mahimahi and snapper. Not feeling like fruits of the Everglades and Lake Okeechobee? There's steak and other land-spun delights. They'll cook your catch, too.
1506 Parrot Ave., Okeechobee, Florida, 34974, USA
Known For
- Fresh catfish
- Cook-your-catch option
- Taxidermy decor
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This local favorite is not much to look at and a bit tricky to find, but well worth the search. The fried-food standards you might expect at such a casual, small place that uses plastic utensils are not found on the menu; instead there are fried tuna rolls with basil and panko-crusted fried oysters with spicy fruit salad. A variety of beers are fun to pair with the creatively prepared seafood dishes that include wahoo, mahimahi, and snapper, all of which are locally sourced. Wait for your table next door at Maxi's Lineup—also under Moir's ownership—during the busy winter season when lines are long.
103 S. U.S. 1, Jupiter, Florida, 33477, USA
Known For
- Fresh fish
- Good beer selection
- Long lines during the season
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun, Reservations not accepted
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A longtime favorite of locals, this sophisticated Italian restaurant is in an unexpected, nondescript location on Dixie Highway away from downtown and central hubs. But warm hospitality from a husband-and-wife team, along with smart service and delectable traditional dishes, awaits. A much-awarded wine list, including a popular "50 under $50" draws from international vineyards and complements dishes such as pepperoni e acciughe (oven-roasted peppers with white anchovies and extra-virgin olive oil), rigatoni ala vodka (said to have been invented by the chef's father), veal chops, and scaloppine prepared several ways. Desserts alone are worth an after-dinner stop.
6316 S. Dixie Hwy., Florida, 33405, USA
Known For
- Fresh pasta dishes
- Award-winning wine list
- Great desserts
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Reservations essential
