643 Best Restaurants in Florida, USA

This chic, modern, Michelin-starred dining room atop the luxury Four Seasons resort highlights the culinary culture of Spain, starting with authentic tapas and continuing with exceptional steaks, among them dry-aged strip and Wagyu. A range of caviar or oysters is available, and everyone will enjoy the Madrid churros.

The lines are deservedly long at this upscale Tuscan restaurant in Boca Raton. The outpost of the renowned Casa D'Angelo in Broward impresses with an outstanding selection of antipasti, carpaccios, pastas, and specialties from the wood-burning oven. From staples like the antipasto angelo (grilled vegetables and buffalo mozzarella), osso buco, and linguine with white-water clams and garlic, to the ever-changing gnocchi, risotto, veal scaloppine, and fish specials of the day, Angelo's dishes deliver pure perfection in every bite. The wine list is also exceptional, with hundreds of Italian and American wines to choose from. Servers are experienced and top-notch.

At this colorful local institution, you can veg out on roasted chiles rellenos (cheese-stuffed peppers); enchiladas with vegetables; and a cactus salad that won't prick your tongue but will tickle your taste buds with the flavors of tender pieces of cactus, cilantro, tomatoes, onions, lime, and queso fresco. Tamales, tacos, and tortillas are prepared in dozens of ways.

People have been known to check their bags at the airport and then go back through security and change terminals just to eat at C&L. The draws at this locally owned restaurant are the gastropub-inspired menu and the microbrews. Locally sourced ingredients highlight the breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus, with items like sandwiches, pulled pork and ribs, and specialty burnt-end meat loaf.

This fun-and-funky grease pit in Deerfield Beach is one of Broward County's favorite dives on the supercheap. Serving up massive beef burgers, chicken burgers, and veggie burgers piled high with unapologetically fattening toppings like candied bacon strips, haystack onion straws, hash browns, and blue cheese spread, this is the true diet nemesis. Grab a side of hand-cut sweet potato fries with your burger, wash it all down with a thick Key lime milk shake, and then seal the food coma deal with a dessert of fried Oreos fritters or The Carnie, fried Twinkies with vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, and powdered sugar.

This local favorite makes big waves with fresh seafood that's prepared with tropical flair. Carnivores can feast on prime-grade beef, which is carved in-house and has the kind of marbling that just melts in your mouth. Gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian dishes are also available.

Locals like this legendary, uncomplicated, very large, family-run steak house, which delivers carefully prepared food and attentive service in a traditional setting of red leather and dark wood. When your steak arrives—still sizzling on a hot plate—the waiter asks you to cut into it and check that it was cooked as you ordered. Don't let the location in an industrial part of town keep you away. The menu is simple: rib eye, porterhouse, filet mignon. Seafood such as lobster, shrimp, and salmon fill out the surf side of the menu. End your meal with a big slice of the award-winning mandarin orange cake.

There's more to love than just cookies at this adorable off-the-radar bakeshop. Each day more than a dozen types of treats are baked fresh with care, including Rocky Road and Nutella swirl cookies, banana bread, carrot cake, and more. Even the biggest sweet tooth can be conquered with the larger-than-life cookies and cakes served here.

There are rooms with a view, and then there's this view: uninterrupted sea from a wraparound veranda at the southern end of Humiston Park. Even better, the food here is a straightforward, delicious celebration of fresh and fabulous. The emphasis is on Florida seafood (don't miss the fresh snapper), with organic and gluten-free touches. Sunset lovers (and bargain hunters) rejoice over the two-course prix-fixe menu Monday through Thursday from 5 to 6 pm. A kids' menu is available.

Some of the best bites come from the smallest spots, and that's especially true at Clive's Cafe. This local gem serves hearty plates of some of the best Jamaican food in Miami. Each entrée, from curried goat to jerk chicken, is piled high and features your choice of two sides, such as the popular rice and peas or macaroni salad. Don't forget to grab a spicy beef patty for the road.

Nestled in the Historic District, this 48-seat restaurant highlights local seafood, which, depending on the success of the fishermen, will include several fish entrées each day. The ever-changing menu also often has steak, lamb, or veal selections, all served in an intimate setting that is a tad more upscale than most area restaurants. For an original dessert try the bougainvillea—inspired by the colorful flowering plants that frame the building, it's made of strawberries, ice cream, and Cabernet-vanilla sauce served in a leaf-shaped phyllo cup.

Make a date for some of the best Latin cuisine in Tampa. A fixture since 1905, this magnificent structure with an old-world air and spacious dining rooms takes up an entire city block and seems to feed the entire city—locals as well as visitors—throughout the week, but especially on weekends. The paella à la Valenciana, bursting with seafood, chicken, and pork, is arguably the best in Florida, and the 1905 salad (with ham, olives, cheese, and garlic) is legendary. The menu also has Cuban classics such as boliche criollo (tender eye of round stuffed with chorizo), ropa vieja (shredded beef with onions, peppers, and tomatoes), and arroz con pollo (chicken with yellow rice). Don't miss the flamenco dancing show every night but Sunday. This place is also known for its sangria. If you can, walk around the building and check out the elaborate, antique decor along every inch of the interior.

It's tucked away in a strip mall and has only 50 seats inside (counting the bar) and a handful out on the sidewalk, but everything down to the condiments is made in house here. Rabbit sausage and noodles or lamb meatball risotto are examples on the seasonal one-page menus the chef puts together daily. When there's fish on the menu from local waters, go for it. At the open kitchen in the warm, modern space, you can banter with the chefs if you sit at the bar.

The restaurant at the exclusive Little Palm Island Resort—its dining room and adjacent outdoor terrace lit by candles and warmed by live music—is one of the most romantic spots in the Keys. It's open to nonguests on a reservations-only basis, but no one under 16 is allowed on the island. If you can get a reservation, go. The oceanfront setting is one that can't be matched, except for maybe in St. Barts or Fiji. Keep that in mind as you reach for the bill, which can also make you swoon. The menu melds Latin and Caribbean flavors, with exotic little touches—think foie gras crème brûlée with mango and toasted coconut, followed by grilled Spanish octopus and corn-jalapeño pudding. The Sunday brunch, the full-moon dinners with live entertainment, and the Chef's Table Dinner are very popular.

A lush setting on the barrier island of Longboat Key makes this one of the most romantic restaurants around. Signature dishes include crisp roast duckling with bread stuffing and flambéed prime peppered steak; the popular dessert display is a sweet ending. The staff is friendly and gracious, the food delightful, and the atmosphere contagious. The upstairs Haye Loft, once the home of the original owner's grandson, has been converted into a more casual bistro and lounge.

A white-light-adorned oak tree in the center of the dining room sets a warm, wistful tone at this casual fine-dining gem. The menu features fresh seafood (including a sushi bar) and Southern feel-good staples, all creatively plated. Diners typically rave about the personalized service.

Drive, boat, or paddleboard to this waterfront, open-air eatery that serves mainly seafood dishes, as well as a few salads, steaks, and sandwiches. Stay for the live music on the beach, or head over to the Flora-Bama bar if you’re in the mood for a wild night out.

Although many flock to this artsy and inspired eatery for its veggie-centric menu, there's plenty to tantalize omnivores as well. Delicious Southern food with flair ranges from braised pork belly biscuits to toast du jour, a rotating bruschetta inspired by the freshest produce from local farms. Many dishes, such as the cornbread panzanella, offer a choice of meat, seafood, tofu, or tempeh. Some gluten-free dishes are also available. Attire is casual, and the oceanic hues and funky decor put you at ease. Kids' needs are handled with flexible good nature. It's a deservedly popular spot, especially on weekends, when you should make a reservation.

Sleek but casual (covered-up swimsuits are allowed) and family-friendly, FOOW (which stands for Fish Out of Water) has exceptional food, service, and Gulf views. As the restaurant's name suggests, the menu is heavy on local seafood, and chefs work in an open kitchen creating the Southern specialties infused with international flavors.

Top Chef winner Richard Blais has fun with his beloved Florida seafood at this Michelin Recommended restaurant. Although he's rarely in the kitchen, his flair for inventive combinations and wacky molecular-gastronomy touches are obvious in dishes such as monkfish in oxtail ragu, turmeric-rubbed fresh Florida catch with banana leaf grits, or scallop ceviche in coconut.

This laid-back food hall and community-centric market complete with colorful murals is a crowd pleaser. There's plenty to taste, with 12 vendors selling everything from tacos to fried chicken to rolled ice cream. There's also a unique event space and weekly curated programming for all ages. Check out the small farmers' market on the weekend and live jazz that accompanies brunch, along with community yoga and kids activities. Standouts include shrimp po' boys from Roux Cajun Cuisine, bowls of ramen from Ramen Lab Eatery, and cold brew from Pumphouse Coffee. A full bar serving wine, beer, and cocktails is also available.

A sprawling cavern of wood-fired pizzas, pastas, and cocktails, this sibling to popular bûccan is a hit. Soaring ceilings, concrete floors, dark wood, and an open kitchen provide a buzzy backdrop to dishes of nicely charred pies (made with organic flour) and homemade pastas. Like chef-owner Clay Conley's other spots, the food here is hearty, unfussy yet sophisticated, and wonderfully balanced, from the curry cauliflower hummus to the hand-rolled macaroni with Florida rock shrimp and fennel. The popular weekend brunch (with a show-stopping breakfast pizza) fills up during the season, so make a reservation.

This stateside sibling of the Michelin-star London restaurant brings the haute-Chinese-food movement to South Florida, adding pan-Asian flair to even quite simple and authentic Cantonese recipes and producing an entire menu that can be classified as blow-your-mind delicious. Superb eats notwithstanding, another reason to experience Hakkasan is that it's arguably the sexiest, best-looking restaurant on Miami Beach.

Hipsters, families, and business groups dine side by side at this popular restaurant, a laid-back spot that specializes in Asian street food and has quickly become a Southern institution with 15 locations in seven states, including six in Florida. Travel Southeast Asia with scratch-made family recipes from across the region. Developed by four Florida friends, the adventurous menu includes roti canai, a flaky bread with a chicken-curry dip; curry laksa, a noodle soup with exotic flavors; and crispy Korean wings. More timid eaters adore the marinated beef skewers with Malaysian satay sauce, peanut-y chilled sesame noodles, and duck tacos.

Named after Florida visionary and resort founder Henry M. Flagler, this swanky spot is part of the culinary collection of The Breakers Palm Beach and features elevated comfort food like lobster rolls, chicken pot pie, and a daily homemade pasta, along with sophisticated cocktails. Located just a few minutes from the resort on Royal Poinciana Way, it is situated at Via Flagler by The Breakers and features a handsome bar with a colored mosaic limestone base and plum and gold leather bar stools. Shaded bronze chandeliers and a series of arched, floor-to-ceiling windows along with banquette seating give the space a vintage-but-luxe feel. Brunch is served weekends, and reservations are recommended.

It's easy to miss this café tucked between Grassy Key and Marathon, but when you find it (upstairs at Rainbow Bend Resort), expect it to be filled with locals who appreciate a well-planned menu, lovely ocean view, and quiet evening away from the crowds. For starters, dig into escargots à la Edison (sautéed with vegetables, pepper, cognac, and cream) before feasting on specialties, such as a rarely found chateaubriand for one or a seafood medley combining the catch of the day with scallops and shrimp.

Modern spins on locally sourced Southern staples are the crux of this sprawling restaurant, where scratch cooking by Ritz chefs is the rule, and produce is grown on the resort's own private Whisper Creek farm. Dinner entrées change regularly and might include Florida shrimp and grits, waffle fried quail or diver scallops with wild mushrooms. The "devil" chocolate cake and homemade doughnuts with coffee gelato are choice sweets. 

Sunsets and Gulf views are the bait that hooks regulars as well as travelers who find their way to this somewhat hidden pit stop in historic Pass-a-Grille. Dating from 1977, it's mainly heralded as a watering hole where you can hoist a cold one while munching on one of the area's better grouper sandwiches. (Speaking of this sweet white fish, it's the real deal here, which—be warned—isn't always a guarantee in some restaurants.) There's also a range of seafood and steak entrées, and the crab cakes are legendary. The aforementioned sunsets are best seen from the rooftop sundeck.

Authentic southern Italian cuisine, with freshly made Neapolitan (Naples-style) pizza, pastas, and desserts is the focus here. A nicely landscaped garden with a cute Fiat decked out in the colors of the Italian flag should alert you to founders Tony and Isis Wright's obsession with detail. All the ingredients are imported from Italy, including the tomato sauce and olive oil, and master pizzaiolo Leopoldo Figlioli churns out pies with chewy crusts that are nicely blistered from the brick oven.