Best Seafood Restaurants In Florida
We’ve listed some of the best seafood restaurants in Florida! See where you can find fresh shrimp, tuna, stone crabs, grouper, and more!
Best Seafood Restaurants In Florida
One of the best things about Florida, besides its beaches, is its seafood. We wanted to share with you some of our favorite Florida seafood restaurants, but to give you an even bigger list, we’ve asked some of our blogger friends to pitch in with their favorites as well. So while you’re exploring the best cities to visit in Florida, be on the lookout for these restaurants. Because all together, these are what we think are some of the best seafood restaurants in Florida…
Make sure to also check out the rest of our Best in Florida articles:
– Best Museums In Florida
– Best Breweries In Florida
– Unique Coffee Shops In Florida
– Best Hiking In Florida
– Best Virtual Experiences In Florida
Cedar Key – Steamers
Steamers is definitely one of the best seafood restaurants in Florida. Located in the laid back town of Cedar Key, it offers guests a fun atmosphere and great views of the Gulf of Mexico. Of course, it also has great seafood.
During our visit we had a Fried Shrimp Platter and Blackened Fish Tacos. The blackened fish was seasoned well and it also came with crispy fries, which we loved. We highly recommend getting their Key Lime Pie too!
Delray Beach – Mussel Beach
Right on popular Atlantic Avenue, is Mussel Beach. They’re considered one of the best restaurants in town and certainly the best seafood restaurant. The staff was warm and welcoming, answering our questions and also making suggestions.
We ordered the Shrimp Francese, with egg battered shrimp, tomatoes, lemon, garlic, and white wine over linguine. We couldn’t quite get over just how big the shrimp were!
Fort Lauderdale – Boatyard
Heidi of HeidiSiefkas.com
Boatyard is my spot for a sophisticated, waterfront dining experience in Fort Lauderdale. With an eclectic menu with a seafood focus, Chef Doug Reiss and The Restaurant People are true to their philosophy of, ‘Eat Local, Be Coastal.’ Being a frequent diner and foodie, I suggest you try my favorite coastal dishes: Florida Paella, Tuna Tacos, and the Shrimp Roll. However, don’t forget to order the best appetizer, sautéed Brussels Sprouts (just trust me!).
Boatyard is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner with brunch on Sunday. With indoor seating as well as a dockside patio area and bar for admiring the boats in the Yachting Capital of the World, Boatyard is ideal all-year-round for casual lunch, celebratory dinners, and happy hour(s). Parking is easy with both valet and self-parking.
Gainesville – Blue Gill Quality Foods
If you’re visiting Gainesville and want eat at one of the best restaurants in Florida, make sure you stop in to Blue Gill Quality Foods to eat fresh seafood cooked with a southern flare. This family-owned restaurant has a lot of pride in their dishes and they are made from the best local ingredients.
Inside, the mood is casual and relaxed. The crowd is a mixture of college students, families, and business professionals. Everyone loves the food here! Plus, parking is easy to find (and free) in the garage above the restaurant.
We recommend the Smoked Fish Dip with homemade tortilla chips as an appetizer. For your main meal, consider the Fried Shrimp with collards and cornbread. We loved the crunch the shrimp had and we really enjoyed how soft and fluffy the cornbread was.
Homosassa – Monkey Bar and Grill
Just outside of Crystal River is the city of Homosassa, where you’ll find Monkey Bar and Grill. The restaurant is right on the water so you get great views as you eat. Go right before sunset to get the best views from the deck.
Monkey Bar and Grill offers it’s guests a large menu of fresh caught seafood, with their specialty being blue crab. Formerly known as the Riverside Crab House, Monkey Bar and Grill has been renovated and is now under new ownership.
We definitely suggest you get the Conch Fritters for your appetizer. Although they are known for blue crab, we chose to go with the Basket of Fish Fingers which came with french fries, hushpuppies, and coleslaw. Everything was delicious and the service was great too.
Key Largo – Island Gril
Aaron of Nomads Nation
Amazing seafood? Check. Ocean views? Check. Live music? Check. We must be in the Florida Keys!
But Island Grill Restaurant is more than just your average Keys seafood restaurant. Located in sleepy Key Largo, this seafood mecca is something of a local legend, and their Tuna Nachos are the most important reason why!
Located right on the ocean, Island Grill is a seafood lover’s paradise, and has a menu that is both modern, yet also very classic Florida Keys. Like most of the Keys the vibe is extremely casual. Being a staple of Key Largo, Island Grill is usually busy, so give a call before you go to see if they can seat you!
Key Largo – Gilbert’s Tiki Bar
Laura of Adrift Aesthetic
When traveling to the Florida Keys, whether to enjoy some beach time or to snorkel, you have to make sure you eat ALL the seafood. One of the best places to stop on your journey is on the larger Key of Key Largo, where you’ll find Gilbert’s Tiki Bar, a fantastic oasis for tropical cuisine and drinks, right on the water.
With boat slips for those traveling from island to island, the views from the ample outdoor seating are unparalleled (and you don’t need a reservation). As you explore the menu, make sure to try the conch fritters for an authentic taste of the Keys.
These delightfully deep-fried nuggets may look basic, but they are overflowing with local conch from the surrounding waters. Wash it all down with a fresh-squeezed mojito, and you’ll be living on “island time” in no time.
Key West – The Stoned Crab
Noel of Travel Photo Discovery
If you’re looking for fantastic seafood restaurants serving the freshest local seafood and you are in Key West, head out to The Stoned Crab. Located right on a lagoon marine sanctuary with beautiful water views, The Stoned Crab offers an extensive menu of seafood delights prepared any style you may like. From fresh fish caught in the local waters, stone crabs and other shell fish farmed locally to delicious shrimp and lobster caught locally, you’ll have a feast dining here.
The restaurant offers a variety of different preparations that you can also choose for your dish and the seafood is caught in an eco-fashion with their own boat to get today’s catch and using the freshest ingredients available locally.
You can choose your catch or seafood in a steamer fashion done in Key Lime, butter and garlic, spicy marinara or with a local beer to steam with. There are so many delicious seafood choices to try on the menu and with those perfect lagoon views, you really do feel a sense of place here in Key West.
If you’re visiting the Florida Keys, check out my road trip post from Miami to Key West here for more inspiration, food and other adventures traveling through the area.
Key West – Blue Heaven
Lori of Travlinmad
“Blue light guitars
And tropical breeze
Hummingbirds mime the words
As they dance in the trees
It’s a flashback kind of crowd
It’s a cabaret sound
There’s still some magic left
In this tourist town”
~ Jimmy Buffett, Blue Heaven Rendezvous
That’s Jimmy Buffett singing about one of the best restaurants in the Conch Republic. Visiting Blue Heaven is still one of my favorite places in Key West because it’s everything Key West has been for so long — low-key, eclectic, funky, chill.
The outdoor restaurant under the trees and market lights used to have chickens running around under the tables to pick up scraps you’d leave behind. Located at the entrance to Bahama Village in Old Town, there’s no parking lot but it’s easily walkable.
When it comes to the food, Blue Heaven might be known for their mile-high Key Lime pie, but seafood lovers should take note — their Shrimp and Grits is worth a visit alone. The fresh-caught Key West pink shrimp make this dish and their Caribbean “BBQ” Shrimp (deglazed with Red Stripe beer) some of the best seafood dishes we’ve ever had! And of course, you should stay a while and have dessert. And enjoy your own private Blue Heaven Rendezvous.
Orlando – Big Fin Seafood Kitchen
Rai of A Rai of Light
The award winning Big Fin Seafood Kitchen in Orlando’s Restaurant Row is a favorite among locals and tourists alike. The extensive menu features exotic foods, specialty items, and of course a whole lot of seasonal seafood.
The shrimp and king crab legs are a particular favorite, well-flavored and well prepared. For dessert, you can’t go wrong with the apple pie bread pudding.
The upscale casual atmosphere is matched with extensive service, with the staff being very knowledgeable on the food items and are happy to recommend great choices. Reservations are suggested, but walk-ins are accommodated too and the complimentary valet parking is always welcomed.
Punta Gorda – Peace River Seafood
Charles of McCool Travel
Peace River Seafood in Punta Gorda is a classic Old Florida seafood shack, serving the freshest seafood in the Sunshine State in a throwback setting. Yes, I said the freshest—seafood at Peace River is served within hours of leaving the water compared to a day or more elsewhere around the state.
You might have to accept the first available table when it is busy but if you have a choice, sit outside under the massive oak tree. The blue crab, shrimp, oysters, stone crabs, grouper, and other Florida Gulf Coast delicacies simply taste better here than pretty much every else.
And when something runs out, it is OUT. When I last visited, grouper (my favorite) ran out the day prior so I had to settle for this feast pictured here. You must start with the gator gumbo and finish with the key lime pie. Do not argue, it is the law!
Titusville – Pier 220
Besides Kennedy Space Center, Titusville is also home to one of the best seafood restaurants in Florida… Pier 220. Not only are they right on the water (they’re literally on the pier) offering beautiful views of the intracoastal waterway, they also have some of the freshest seafood in Florida.
Another wonderful thing about Pier 220 is that they are very conscious of their impact on the environment. They source almost all of their seafood from sustainable fisheries and they use corn-based disposable plasticware, sugarcane-based take out containers, and other paper and bamboo products that are 100 % biodegradable and compostable.
While we were there, we had the Fried Shrimp Platter. The seasoning and breading on the shrimp were light but very flavorful. The platter came with two sides; we chose coleslaw and fries. Everything was great and we loved eating next to the window and enjoying our meal with such pretty views of the water.
Pro Tip: If you’re planning your trip to Florida, check out these Florida Hotel Rates!
Final Thoughts On The Best Seafood Restaurants In Florida
Florida has some amazing seafood! This is by no means an all-inclusive list, though, so we plan on updating and adding restaurants as we travel around the state. It’ll be tough, but we’ll do our best. 😉
Have you been to any of these restaurants? Is there a favorite seafood restaurant that you recommend we visit? Let us know in the comments below! 🙂
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Mollys Seafood Merritt Island, FL
Thank you Wendy! We’ll try to stop in next time we’re in the area. 🙂
Thanks for including my local favorite, The Boatyard. I’ll be heading to Key Largo this weekend; so, I’ll hit up your suggestion.
Peace River Seafood in Punta Gorda, you can watch the blue crabs unload off of the boat while you dine.
Al fresco/rustic dining with prompt and friendly service is the perfect combination for “boat to throat” fresh seafood. The gator gumbo recipe was published in a florida seafood book and is one of my favorite dishes there.
Oh wow, didn’t know about the gator gumbo recipe. Very cool!
Glad you added something in Punta Gorda. I never have heard of Peace River Seafood. Just the wildlife center
What a very delicious post! I, too, have had some terrific seafood meals while exploring Florida. It is one of my favourite states and one that never disappoints from a culinary standpoint.
I adore seafood so much, Florida is a great place to enjoy fresh food. My vote goes to Peace River Seafood and The Stoned Crab. I am not big on fried seafood.
Great blog!
Thanks for sharing this amazing post…
What a mouth-watering blog! Thinking about the beaches of Florida and looking at the option for gorging upon a variety of seafood have literally transported me to a different world.
Happy to hear that! 🙂