643 Best Restaurants in Florida, USA

Locals come for affordable sandwiches and seafood in the vaulted, vine-twisted courtyard of this traditional pub, which has been tucked away from the shopping traffic of upscale Third Street since 1990. It's an everybody-knows-your-name kind of place, with jars of pickles on the tables; friendly bartenders; and a menu of fried "ungrouper" sandwiches (made with "mild flaky white fillet" as grouper numbers wait to make a comeback), burgers, chicken salad, nachos, and fried gator tail. There's musical entertainment Wednesday through Sunday year round.

A menu of steamer and raw-bar options supplements such much-enjoyed favorites as quarter-pound hot dogs, fish-and-chips, wings, and burgers—and early birds can catch breakfast here, too. With views of New Pass between Longboat and Lido keys, this is a popular stop for locals and visitors en route from Mote Aquarium and the adjoining bay-front park. The open-air dining area is comfortable even in summer, thanks to a pleasant breeze. Its bar is shaped from the hull of an old boat. There are two additional branches on Siesta Key and Venice Island.

Pizzas are the star of the show at this bustling trattoria a short walk from the Duval fray. The kitchen churns out a variety of Neopolitan pies from its 2-ton wood-fired oven made of bricks and stones from Mt. Vesuvius. Pastas run the gamut from gnocchi to buccatini done cacio e pepe (cheese and pepper) style. Antipasti and salads round out the lengthy menu.

Take a trip to the Greek Isles at Michael Mina's Mediterranean restaurant featuring bright, light fare and fish that's delivered overnight straight from the Aegean Sea. In addition to a raw bar, menu items include dishes inspired by the chef's travels, including classic Greek spreads, grilled octopus, lamb shoulder, and more.

Fusing Japanese and Peruvian flavors, this sultry Nikkei restaurant is known for its multisensory menu, including many nigiri dishes that are torched tableside, such as the hotate truffle with scallop, truffle butter, and lime. The menu features an array of ceviches, tiraditos, and seafood dishes, but there's also a 24-ounce bone-in rib eye with truffle. Japanese whiskey lovers will enjoy the 24-plus varieties on hand behind the gorgeous bar.

Amid the shade of banyan trees in the hip Burns Court district, a 1923 cottage has been converted into a casual restaurant that serves quintessentially Southern fare (though the menu is not geographically limited). Dishes emphasize locally caught seafood, with everything from a shrimp-and-oyster po'boy with bacon to chicken-fried lobster tail. Takeaway "jars" offered include smoked fish spread with saltines, fried pickles, and boiled peanuts. Note: there can often be a wait, so get here early because you can't reserve a table.

Housed in a paddleboat on Lake Buena Vista, this sophisticated seafood destination has multiple outdoor dining areas, where same-day, fresh-catch selections are presented in any number of ways, from raw bar delicacies to the traditional Gulf-shore jambalaya or the Build-Your-Own Seafood Boil. There are non-seafood dishes like filet mignon and pork chops, as well as vegetarian options. The casual rooftop bar offers views of the entire Disney Springs complex.

Paddy's is the place locals will tell you about if they like you. Tucked away on the bayside of St. George, it's got the casual vibe of a beach shack with lots of outdoor seating. Even the indoor bar and tables bring the outside in—dogs and swimsuits are welcome. Raw oysters are king here, but be sure to try one of the chef's creative specials, like Captain Clint's spicy Big Fish SGI: oysters steamed with jalapeño, Parmesan, and Old Bay seasoning.

Long heralded as one of the best spots for watching sunsets, this place also gets high marks for its fresh seafood. Seared tuna, gator bites, and wasabi scallops are among the more intriguing appetizers on the menu, which also has an assortment of bowls, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and wraps; entrées range from coconut shrimp or grilled salmon with a mango salsa to St. Louis–style barbecue ribs or marinated skirt steak. The restaurant is casual but not too casual, with a bit of a Tommy Bahama feel, so you may want to ditch the beach attire. Be advised that it gets pretty packed around sunset, when a live band plays island music and the margaritas flow.

With its dark-wood interior and hundreds of framed celebrity caricatures, this pricey restaurant resembles its famed New York City namesake. For most diners, steak steals the show (aged beef is a specialty), but the gargantuan Nova Scotia lobsters are nearly as popular. Other seafood options include broiled salmon with mango salsa and jumbo-lump-meat crab cakes with chipotle tartar sauce. The Italian specialties are top-notch versions of favorites like veal parmigiana.

The java spot that launched Miami's caffeine revolution, this no-frills Wynwood flagship is a good pit stop for iced cold brew as you're perusing art and graffiti murals in the district. The shop also serves cakes, cookies, wine, and beer, all in a friendly atmosphere with free Wi-Fi and local art on the walls. The coffee beans here are roasted in-house and sold by the pound, which make for great take-home gifts.

Arguably downtown Lake Worth's fanciest restaurant, with sophisticated modern Northern Italian cuisine, this is a go-to place for a romantic evening. Waiters are on point and anticipate needs. Whole branzino baked in a salt crust, grilled octopus, tuna carpaccio, and smoked mozzarella ravioli are all excellent choices. A separate lounge menu features lighter bites such as stuffed squash blossoms; pair these with one of the wines off an extensive list put together by the chef. Don't miss the chocolate Grand Marnier soufflé for dessert. As the name implies, the food is heavenly.

Ask for the wine room table, which seats eight, for a more private experience.

As the name implies, it's all about fins and shells here, including the live ones that entertain diners in their tanks in the modern dining room. The menu includes a raw bar with a good selection of raw (or grilled) oysters and clams and the chef's "seacuterie" platter, a build-your-own sampler of such choices as salmon pastrami, citrus-cured fluke, cured sea bass, or octopus torchon. Local fish—grouper, snapper, and yellowfin tuna—are best bets as entrées. Hipsters talk up the craft cocktails, and the happy-hour discounts include certain foods. That's a good thing, since Palm Beach prices apply.

Prepare for long lines during the summertime at this local favorite. Dig into seafood favorites at one of three dining areas—indoors, outdoors on the covered deck, or at picnic tables downstairs, near the wryly named Under Where Bar, which often has live music. Note: If you do choose to sit downstairs (near the playground, a perk for parents) no grilled dishes are available. Luckily for you, the fried shrimp and fish are some of the best around.

From the bread (Amoroso rolls) to the corned beef, almost everything here comes from Philadelphia. Not only are the cheesesteaks delicious and authentic, but the burgers and other sandwiches are excellent—and the prices are among the lowest around. Stay for an old-fashioned shake, or join the Philly natives for pork roll and scrapple at breakfast. The strip-mall café occupies two rooms sided with natural wood board-and-bead paneling. Signs at every table humorously reveal "25 Ways to Tell You're from Philly." If you come for dinner, plan on eating early because the restaurant closes at 8.

A Downtown Gulfport gem, this rustic Italian eatery serves up simple yet bold flavors in a setting the feels like a waterfront European getaway. The homey interior has plenty of space for gregarious family dinners, as well as cozy nooks and crannies for more romantic meals. There’s also a gorgeous outdoor terrace and inventive specials that change weekly.

Although "the island" is no doubt a bastion of French cuisine, this cozy bistro across the bridge on the Clematis Street waterfront entices a lively crowd looking for an unpretentious good meal. The outdoor terrace can't be beat, and the fabulous modern French menu with twists such as roasted sliced duck with truffled polenta is a delight. Save room for dessert: the homemade pudding Breton, a fluffy, raisin-accented brioche bread pudding paired with crème Anglaise, could be straight out of a Parisian café.

This old-fashioned roadside eatery on the Tamiami Trail near Krome Avenue was opened in 1965 by the late Tommy Little, who wanted to provide easy access to cold drinks and rib-sticking fare for folks heading to and from the Everglades. Now spiffed up, the backwoods heritage vision remains a popular, affordable family option for lunch and dinner. Specialties include barbecued chicken and ribs with a tangy basting sauce, fries, coleslaw, and biscuits, plus burgers, fish sandwiches, and wings. The whopping double-decker beef or pork sandwich with slaw requires multiple napkins. Latin specialties include deep-fried pork and fried green plantains. Beer is by the bottle or pitcher. Chow down inside or outdoors.

The hidden-garden setting is the secret to the success of this European-style pizzeria, where you can dine under a canopy of century-old banyans in an intimate courtyard. Specialties are 12-inch hand-tossed brick-oven pizzas with toppings such as prosciutto, arugula, and caviar. There's even a carbonara breakfast pizza (part of a small morning menu) and a Nutella dessert pizza. Piping-hot calzones, salads, and baked pastas round out the choices. Next to the patio, look for the grave markers of Addison Mizner's beloved pet monkey, Johnnie Brown, and Rose Sachs's dog, Laddie (she and husband Morton bought Mizner's villa and lived there for 47 years). Delivery is available at night.

Robonaut Red Ale and Pleasure Chest IPA are just two of the beers created inside this sprawling, renovated former lumberyard. The beers are complemented by not-so-diet-friendly pub fare including corned-beef poutine, flatbreads, and what some have labeled the best burgers in town. Sunday brunch features mimosa flights and a breakfast flatbread, and dogs are welcome in the outdoor beer garden. The brewery has a smaller location serving the same delicious beer and a less expansive food menu in a former hardware store in downtown Titusville.

The James Beard Award–nominated chef-owners of the Ravenous Pig gastropub in nearby Winter Park opened this sit-down restaurant to give Disney visitors a taste of Orlando's finest. Not only do they source as many ingredients as possible from local farmers and purveyors, but they also house-smoke the ribs, brisket, and chicken, and they offer special Southern sides like tomato-and-watermelon salad or smoked corn with lime butter. Bar options include locally made beer and cocktails; a selection of nearly 100 whiskies adds an extra kick.

Na'vi-inspired treats, such as pineapple cream cheese spring rolls and giant pretzels, can be found here. But what kids will love is the Night Blossom, a limeade topped with boba. Pongu Pongu also offers breakfast, so if you find yourself deep into the park without having stopped to eat, grab a biscuit here.

Award-winning chef Tom Gray's menu of contemporary Italian dishes changes with the seasons at this local foodie hot spot. Share a Roman-style pizza at the chef's table or at the outdoor seating area beside the lake, or head upstairs to the bar for artisanal cocktails.

This wildly busy steak house is particularly prized for its highly marbleized prime beef, creamed corn with black truffles, lobster macaroni and cheese, and buzzing scene. While you stand at the bar awaiting your table—everyone has to wait, at least a little bit—you'll clamor for a drink with all facets of Miami's high society, from the city's top real estate developers and philanthropists to striking models and celebrities.

A New Orleans theme prevails at this lively venue, a longtime favorite with locals and visitors alike. The crowd ranges in age from twentysomething to midlife-crisis, and everyone comes to sample the craft beer and eat the seafood-based fare, including Ragtime shrimp po'boy sandwiches, grilled fish, and shrimp and grits.

At this tropical-themed chain restaurant your meal will be accompanied by singing birds (of the Audio-Animatronic type), aquariums full of fish (real), and an occasional thunderstorm (artificial). The menu features seafood, beef, chicken, and pasta dishes, as well as burgers prepared in a variety of ways, with a selection of seasonings. Kids can choose from a more limited selection, but everyone can share in the Sparkling Volcano, a towering chocolate brownie served with vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, and whipped toppings. Delighting adults is the Lava Lounge, an impressive serpentine bar with a wide selection of beers, wines, and specialty cocktails.

Under the leadership of Neapolitan chef Fabrizio Schenardi, Ravello is a chic, modern Italian restaurant. Hand-tossed pizzas emerge from the oven—perhaps finished with house-made ricotta, arugula, and truffle oil; the pastas might be familiar or ambitious, like ravioli made with veal, spinach, and wild mushrooms; and the entrées are simple yet hearty, perhaps a 16-ounce, dry-aged rib eye with Fabrizio's special rub or a swordfish fillet. In the morning, the dining room is fresh and bright, perfect for a buffet or à la carte breakfast. On select mornings, this is also the backdrop for a Good Morning Breakfast with Goofy & Pals character meal. The $46 adult/$24 kid price tag includes a buffet with an omelet station plus a pic of each guest with Goofy.

Known locally as “the best backyard on the beach,” this open-air establishment was built from sustainable materials including shipping containers and reclaimed wood from an old Coca-Cola warehouse. Bring the kids, bring the dog, and enjoy this grassy spot on the sound side of the beach.