citizenry who say you’re able to live in Miami without a railroad car are almost asdelusional as Gator fansafter a braggart win over Presbyterian College ( anactualteam on the 2016 docket ) . Sure , you might be able to navigate a neighbourhood or two using the Metromover and Lyft , but if you really want to experience all that our great region has to bid , walking is out of the question . Case in gunpoint : some of the adept restaurants you ’ll ever go to are within a couple hours ’ drive of the Magic City . So whether you live in the 561 , 954 , 239 , or the Keys , or just like to go there to escape Miami , here are a XII restaurant that are as good – if not good – than anything you ’ll find in Dade .
Jardin
Clematis St is n’t precisely known as a culinary nirvana – unless your definition of “ culinary nirvana ” involves pizza pie slices and wetback . But this comparatively new spot from a twosome of marital chef / owner is train to exchange all that . Jardin brings hooey you ’ve probably never seen – like deeply - fry hummus and gator grits ( on the button what they sound like ) , and puts it in a busy , chic space with an open kitchen and a trade - cocktail stocked bar . It ’s the best example of modern cuisine in West Palm , and an haven of creative plates for immature professionals in PBC .
Ario
Forget the shell along the guts in one ofAmerica ’s best address for couples . The literal hide treasure is this steak and seafood joint on the bottom trading floor of the Marco Island Marriott . Here , chefs combine local seafood like nori - singe ahi tuna fish with steaks from the on - premises wry - age way , then sprinkle the menu with creations like foie gras torchon . Throw in a enormously telling wine list and a décor that ’s part ' 50s living room , part glass - surround penthouse , and you may well have the best restaurant in southwest Florida .
Buccan
The saucy , local ingredient front is n’t just for eco - conscious millennials in large cities . Old money is in on it , too , as best demonstrated in this Palm Beach restaurant . Though the crew here browse from the ultra - flush who have houses nearby to untested professionals from other parts of PBC , the food for thought is decidedly urban . share plates like Swiss chard gnocchi and brisket “ Reuben ” pizza dominate the computer menu , with larger plate like U8 shrimp scampi on grilled bread make appearance . It ’s a young- tone restaurant in a more mature expanse , convey a definite Miami feel to Palm Beach .
nine one five
Getting seafood in Key West can be dicey , since even Irish Kevin ’s claims to have material “ get fresh that day . ” But this amercement - dining smirch in an previous firm on Duval not only live up to that claim , it does it better than anyone on the island . The lobster ravioli uses a light tomato plant sauce , so you could revel it and still have room for the grill octopus , which brings one of the biggest tentacle you ’ll ever see . The sum are done impeccably , too , including a Kobe beef Bolognese pappardelle , chipotle pork tacos , and a Florida grass - fed beefburger , all of which will have you completely leave you ’re eating dinner mere steps from bars with refillable plastic cupful and Jimmy Buffett on repetition .
Little Moir’s Food Shack
Anyone who ’s ever go down foot in northern Palm Beach County – even just to pay a parking ticket – know about this local anaesthetic ’ favorite tucked into a nondescript Jupiter strip mall . The feel is unmistakably hipster , with hand - written composition computer menu and a ill-scented , multi - colorful décor . But it ’s not ironical , it ’s the diametric – an authentic neighbourhood gathering blot for Jupiterians . The food ’s wedge - full of imaginative turn on Florida staples , like the chimichurri - sear sea cutlet and a daily fish crusted with boniato , habanero , and coconut . And the bill of fare is vary almost as often as the bands who toy there . But that does n’t keep locals and seasonal residents from packing this place pretty much class - round .
4 Rivers Smokehouse
Miami ’s secure barbeque restaurantsare officially on observation . The Winter Park BBQ joint that made that Orlando suburbia one ofAmerica ’s best small solid food cities– and was also named thebest BBQ in Floridaby some serious experts – open its first SoFla outpost in Coral Springs this September . The pitmaster here has prepare at the James Beard theater , and seamlessly combines manner , with St. Louis ribs flop next to an 18 - hour hickory - smoked Texas brisket , and does it all without raising the ire of any barbeque traditionalists . For Miamians who ’ve fled to the 954 but still pretermit a salutary Cuban , it ’s even got a meat house version , with smoke pork and ham summate to the traditional Indian mustard , mayo , pickles , and cheese .
Kuro
Imagine the impudent sushi and savory , smoky robata of Miami ’s Zuma , but rather than staring out at some dude ’s exorbitant yacht , you ’re staring out at the state pool at the Seminole Hard Rock . That ’s Kuro in a nutshell . An Asian fine - dining experience in Hollywood ’s biggest hotel , Kuro is adorned with a chandelier bigger than some apartments , high-pitched ceilings , and plenty of watch glass . The chef have put together a computer menu that blows anything in Broward away , with a hamachi pepper sashimi and avocado toro tartare that even the most hard-core carnivore will appreciate . The highlighting of all the independent courses is the Chilean sea bass voice miso , but any of the grill steak from the robata grill will make a utter lynchpin to a multi - course Asian fiesta .
Hardy Park Bistro
It might not be the biggest eatery on the leaning , but this bantam spot near Downtown Lauderdale packs more culinary puncher per straight fundament than anywhere in South Florida . Chef Philip Darmon is no stranger to little spaces . He spent the good part of his calling as the chef on yachts for the rich and famous , develop a cult following in South Florida that led him to afford Hardy Park with his married woman Jessica Rossitto . The menu ’s perpetually in flux , so watch the chalkboard daily , and order what calculate best . But if you desire to taste the tried & dependable raw material that have made this place famed , get the HPB Burger with crispy onion and tomato chutney , or the hoisin - glazed duck breast .
Rocco’s Tacos
There may be no greater way to spend a Tuesday in South Florida than crushing AYCE tacos and washing them down with margaritas at Rocco ’s . That ’s because northwards of the County line , there ’s a Rocco ’s on every company street in SoFla , from Clematis in West Palm , to Atlantic Ave in Delray , to Las Olas in Ft . Lauderdale . No matter which one you ’re inspect , you ’re always guaranteed fresh , spicy guacamole and home - made tortilla , palisade flame - broil inwardness and grill vegetables . So even on the off chance you did n’t go to Rocco ’s to drink , the repast ’s still worth crap the trip .
Pierre’s
Along the Overseas Highway , there ’s no shortage of restaurants serving tonic seafood complement by sundown views . There ’s also no shortage of places that have table that adhere to your arm , and mumbling locals who look like they ’ve been there since 1974 . For Keys seafood and a sunset experience in a tranquil , island - Eden setting , no place in Monroe County beat up Pierre ’s . The eating house is fix in an old plantation family at the Morada Bay stamping ground , complete with a teakwood - Natalie Wood bar below with unresolved - air access to the resort ’s individual beach . Upstairs you ’ll find the requisite collection of daily capture seafood , plus a 16 oz cowboy steak , ceviche , and the chef ’s most appreciate creation , the seafood curry .
Café Boulud
Perhaps you agnize Daniel Boulud ’s name – or rather his initials – as the “ DB ” in DB Bistro Moderne in Miami . His Palm Beach outpost is the same world - class dining experience , in a totally different setting . Here you ’ll dine alfresco in a Mediterranean courtyard decorate with fountain and perfectly manicured hedging . The menu is long on simple , wise seafood and hearty meat like the bacon - crusted pork barrel chop shot and ironic - of age NY strip . And do n’t let the location near Worth Ave dash you away : Café Boulud also has a Sunday - Thursday prix fixe for $ 48 where you may enjoy the best restaurant in Palm Beach without having to own a house there .
Captain Charlie’s Reef Grill
If South Florida is known for two things , it ’s great seafood and even swell scam artists . Shockingly , sometimes those two things meet in the form of eating place that charge $ 39 for a opus of " Chilean ocean bass voice " that is , in fact , farm - raised tilapia . This willnever , everhappen to you at Captain Charlie ’s , one of the freshest , most trust seafood eatery in the commonwealth . Locals have been occur here for decades for simple seafood that is always the refreshing catch it claims to be . The postponement for a table can be painful ( they do n’t take reservation ) , but always deserving it . And the prices at Captain Charlie ’s are a fraction of what you might bear a couple of county in the south , for seafood that ’s a fraction of the quality .
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Būccan
Jardin
Būccan
Food Shack Restaurant
Courtesy of 4 Rivers Smokehouse
Courtesy of Kuro
Courtesy of Rocco’s Tacos
Cafe Boulud Palm Beach