643 Best Restaurants in Florida, USA

It's worth a drive to Stock Island for a meal at this down-to-earth spot, where hogfish is, of course, the specialty. Favorites include the "Killer Hogfish Sandwich," which is served on Cuban bread (be sure to sprinkle it with one of the house hot sauces), as well as the hogfish tacos, gator bites, lobster BLT or pot pie, pulled-pork sandwich, and barbecued ribs.

Disney Channel stars come to life at this restaurant (a great choice for toddlers) through its Disney Junior Play n' Dine breakfasts. Vampirina, along with friends of Sofia the First and Doc McStuffins, are among the cheerful characters marching around the room, singing and dancing to the delight of energetic fans. During lunch and dinner Minnie takes over the dining room, offering seasonal events where she and her friends don various costumes. The buffet features entrees such as carved turkey breast or beef tenderloin, or macaroni and cheese with shrimp.

At this reproduction of the famous 1940s Hollywood favorite, the walls are lined with caricatures of old-time movie stars, and the specialty is a Cobb salad, which was invented by Brown Derby founder Robert Cobb and is still tossed table-side. Waiting for a table might take a while, so as an alternative, try the outdoor lounge, where you can order appetizers and drinks. Other menu choices include filet mignon and seafood cioppino.    If you request the Fantasmic! dinner package, make a reservation for no later than two hours before the start of the show.

Locals in the know come to this counter-service spot for superb salads, homemade soups, and sandwiches. Opt for a chunky chicken melt, walnut gorgonzola salad, or garden vegetarian sub. The spearmint iced tea is a must-have, as is the chewy Congo Bar for dessert. A second location at 1660 North Monroe Street offers the same menu; a third location has also opened at 1208 Capital Circle SE.

In addition the wide-ranging musical soundtrack that's equal parts groovy, funky, and soulful, the House of Blues has a menu that offers everything from ribs to shrimp and grits to a tasty chicken Caesar salad. Consider trying the Juicy Lucy, a bacon cheeseburger with jalapeño and chipotle mayo; the pulled-pork sandwiches and the cornbread are also delicious. A worthy dessert is the bourbon-white-chocolate-banana-bread pudding. Consistently popular is the Gospel Sunday Brunch, where an elaborate Southern buffet (chicken and waffles, made-to-order omelets, shrimp and crawfish étouffée, bourbon bread pudding, etc.) is served with a side of live gospel music. For a faster meal, visit the quick-service barbecue counter The Smokehouse.

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).

This is part of the colorful, bustling Old Florida scene at Robbie's Marina, so you know that the seafood here is fresh and top quality. The extensive menu seems as if it's bigger than the dining space, which consists of a few tables and counter seating indoors, plus tables out back under the mangrove trees. Try the Matecumbe fish sandwich with provolone and bacon on grilled sourdough.

This chophouse provides an upscale alternative to Daytona's more prevalent shorts-and-flip-flop joints. Steaks, especially the cuts named after race-car drivers, and mouthwatering sides (don't miss the potatoes Gruyère gratin) are the main attractions. The 22-ounce bone-in rib eye named after Tony Stewart is, appropriately, among the thickest, showing that these guys know their NASCAR. The popular Steak Earnhardt is a filet mignon over bordelaise crowned with lobster, Béarnaise (yes, it has two sauces), asparagus, and sliced mushroom. The lively dining room—done in dark wood with soft lighting and splashes of colorful artwork—is complemented by dramatic ocean views. An expansive wine list includes over 40 options by the glass. And don't let this restaurant chain's Ohio roots fool you—the Key lime pie is absolutely Florida-worthy.

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.

For decades Il Mulino New York has ranked among the top Italian restaurants in Gotham, so it's no surprise that this Miami outpost is similarly good. Start your food coma with the complimentary starters—fresh cuts of Parmesan cheese, four types of fresh bread, garlicky bruschetta, and spicy, fried zucchini whet the palate—and then move on to antipasti like calamari fritti followed by ever-changing risottos and other classic Italian dishes perfected.

We may say tomato or tomahtoe, but in Italy, they say pomodoro. Start with hot, crusty, garlic-glazed rolls, and Caesar salad with a flavorful Romano dressing; from there you have your pick from combinations of classic Italian subs, pastas and sauces, pizzas, and proteins. The same menu applies for both lunch and dinner, but with different pricing. It ranges from standard veal parmigiana and lasagna to gnocchi pomodoro (smothered in fresh tomatoes and basil) and chicken Sinatra (battered and layered with prosciutto, eggplant, roasted peppers, and fresh mozzarella in lemon wine sauce).

To feast on oysters that "slept in the bay last night," head 18 miles west of Apalachicola to this unique coastal seafood shack. The menu consists primarily of oysters, shrimp, and crab legs served raw, steamed, stuffed, or baked—nothing fried here—but there's also seafood gumbo, burgers, and hot dogs. Beer and other drinks are on the honor system, so grab what you need, and spend time on the porch listening to live music and making friends. Chances are you will have to wait, because this place is that popular.

Owned by Bass Pro Shops and housed in an open-air, oversize tiki hut on Florida Bay, this restaurant offers a quintessential Keys dining experience. Menu highlights include cracked conch beaten until tender and then fried, and fresh-catch Portofino blackened perfectly and topped with Key West shrimp and a brandied lobster sauce. There's a small tiki bar if you prefer a stool to a table.

Don't be fooled by appearances; this waterfront shack takes island breakfast, lunch, and dinner up a notch. Tempting options include the famed "original tuna nachos," lobster rolls, and a nice selection of seafood and sandwiches. Southern-style shrimp and andouille sausage with grits join island-style specialties such as grilled ribs with guava barbecue sauce on the list of entrées. There's an air-conditioned dining room and bar as well as open seating under a vaulted porch ceiling. The outdoor bar hosts live entertainment Wednesday to Sunday. Don't be in a hurry; service is usually slow.

An airy room and tropical decor complement the menu's curries, pad Thai, coconut soup, and other Asian-inspired dishes. Islands, which serves breakfast and dinner, also has a play area to keeps tots entertained, and you can create your own stir-fry combos during the Wok Experience on Friday and Saturday evenings. On Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights, you might be treated to visits from assorted characters such as Scooby Doo and Shaggy—at no extra cost.

Be it for breakfast or a snack, stop here for a latte and danish to avoid the lines at the Starbucks on the other side of Discovery Island. In the afternoon, several tropics-inspired alcoholic beverages are available, but the ever-popular Island Cappuccino with Captain Morgan spiced rum is there all day.

Better known simply as J.B.'s, this local landmark is on the eastern shore of the Indian River (i.e., the middle of nowhere). Crowds gather around the picnic-style tables (inside and out) or belly up to the bar to dine on mounds of spicy seafood, Cajun alligator, J.B.'s famous crab cakes, and rock shrimp by the dozen. It's a great place to catch the sunset, and there's live music on weekend afternoons. Five bucks says at least one person at your table says their hush puppies are the best they've ever eaten.

A favorite among the Downtown crowd for business lunches and intimate dinners, Jackson's has received the Florida Trend Golden Spoon Hall of Fame Award for its superb steaks and local seafood. The setting’s not bad, either—housed in an 1860s-era mercantile building, the restaurant overlooks Plaza Ferdinand, where the American flag was first raised in Pensacola.

With an adventurer's theme honoring its namesake aviator (Captain Jake McNally), this gastropub is a great place to grab a cold one as well as anything from a Caesar salad or flatbread sandwich to shrimp mac 'n' cheese or roasted chicken. Jake's also hosts seasonal beer dinners that feature regional and specialty brews.

Jaleo (pronounced huh-lay-oh) means "revelry," and in this contemporary and spacious setting, diners celebrate with authentic paellas cooked over a wood fire, as well as chef and humanitarian José Andrés's signature gambas al ajillo (shrimp sautéed with garlic and chili) or croquetas de pollo (Spanish chicken fritters). The extensive tapas options are perfect for taste-driving a variety of items—the Jaleo Experience prix fixe includes traditional and modern tapas, or go Jose's Way, with a larger and more elaborate selection of the chef's favorites. And remember: when you hear the bell, it’s paella time! Entire pans of paella are available for parties of eight or more with advance notice. Pick up a container of beautiful gazpacho next door at Pepe, a stationary food truck offering grab-and-go items.

At the flagship restaurant of The Setai Miami Beach hotel, expect a pan-Asian extravaganza, representing the countries of Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Korea, India, China, and Japan through dishes that range from sea bass tikka to Peking duck to lobster curry. Before or after dinner, be sure to enjoy a cocktail around the harmonious courtyard reflecting pool.

If you must have your cheeseburger in paradise, it may as well be here. The first of Buffett's line of chain eateries, it belongs in Key West more than anywhere else, but, quite frankly, it's more about the name, music, and attitude (and margaritas) than the food. The menu has a Cajun-Caribbean flair, and live bands pack the place come dinner and into the wee hours.

West of the nation's tiniest post office, you'll find this red barn of a place dishing out catfish, frog legs, gator, grouper, burgers, salads, and (no surprise here) an abundance of soft-shell crabs and crab cakes. Entrées are reasonably priced, and peanut butter pie makes for a solid finish. Order an icy beer or wine by the glass, and eat out front or on the back patio—just keep an eye out for neighborhood gators. Joanie's schedule changes depending on the season, so call for hours of operation.

An unconventional Jewish deli that's not exactly kosher, Josh's serves impressive creations like the "Jewbanize," a deli-style take on a Cubano, in addition to more traditional classics like corned beef Reubens and latkes. The menu here changes often and can be found on Instagram. One day it's a barbecue pop-up and the next day it's Chinese, but there's always some sort of deli offering.

This fun, friendly, flavorful Mexican eatery from Michelin-star chef Joe Isidori is the latest full-service restaurant to join a stellar line-up at Channelside’s Sparkman Wharf. The globally inspired menu offers playful renditions of classics—from wood-fired tacos with fillings you might not think to try on your own (think: Korean-style barbecue, Vietnamese steak, tempura fish) to hearty knife-and-fork burritos. And the starters and sides are as delicious as the entrées. Make sure you try the street corn and the crispy Brussels sprouts.

Sushi-ya Henry Moso makes hip, modern-day variants of old-school sushi, with everything from standard spicy tuna rolls to tempura-fried St. Louis sticky ribs. The noteworthy, 10- to 15-course omakase events cost as much as $300 and feature such rare delights as Japanese flying fish or live scallops.

Colorful abstract mosaics and inviting, upholstered banquettes almost steal the show, but the food is equally interesting. The menu, a fusion of East and West, offers sushi rolls that combine local ingredients with traditional Japanese tastes. A wood grill is used to prepare such dishes as grilled catch of the day and hardwood-grilled rack of lamb. Wine and sake choices are abundant, and the manager is a wine connoisseur, so take advantage.

Design impresario Philippe Starck opted to fill the smoking-hot SLS Hotel South Beach with a number of see-and-be-seen eateries, including Katsuya South Beach. At this popular Japanese restaurant, dishes come from four separate kitchens and include awesome eats like a legendary miso-marinated black cod, succulent lobster dynamite (in a creamy mushroom sauce), baked crab hand rolls, and amazing sushi rolls. If you want a quieter evening, ask to sit in the unpublicized second-floor dining room.

The inviting aroma of an Italian kitchen pervades this family-owned favorite. For lunch there are fish and steak entrées served with fries, salad, and bread in addition to Italian specialties; dinner features veal Oscar and other traditional dishes, as well as specialties like seafood Italiano, a dish of scallops and shrimp sautéed in garlic butter and served with marinara sauce over linguine.