TCPalm tells you where to find food locally on the Treasure Coast
TCPalm’s entertainment reporter Laurie K. Blandford finds the best food, reports on new restaurants and goes behind the scenes to tell their stories.
Florida or Caribbean spiny lobsters come from the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. It takes 2 years for them to grow to a harvestable size, with the commercial season running from Aug. 6 through March 31.
The difference between them and Maine lobsters is they have no claws, so you only eat the tail, but there’s more meat per pound and it’s sweeter. They’re best broiled with butter and seasoning. Some people add citrus juice or zest.
Here are the places with some of the best lobster in Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties:
INDIAN RIVER COUNTYCrab Stop
Crab Stop is owned by the Buckner family and specializes in Maryland-style garlic crabs, among other seafood dishes, including lobster. Since opening their first location in Daytona Beach, they have expanded to several locations across Florida, including Sebastian and Vero Beach. The menu features a lobster bites appetizer, a lobster snack pack and the option to add a lobster tail to the dish of your choice. It also offers specials, including a seafood platter entree, the ultimate feast entree and a snow deluxe entree, which all include lobster, among other seafood.
Fishack
Fishack is family- owned and operated by chef Mitchell Weiss and his family, who have been successful local restaurateurs for over two decades. In 2011, they opened Fishack to serve fresh, flavorful seafood alongside a full bar and margarita list. The space is casual and colorful and includes an outdoor patio. The menu features Lob Lob Mac, Lobstah BLT Salad, New England Lobstah Roll and a Lobstah Club Wrap. Wednesdays are Maine Lobster Boil night, and lobster options include lobster out of the shell, baked stuffed lobster and lobster cracked.
ST. LUCIE COUNTY12A Buoy
12A Buoy is self described as a rustic dive located on Fisherman’s Wharf at the end of the South Causeway in Fort Pierce. It has a casual atmosphere with an Old Florida feel that offers indoor and outdoor seating. The menu features lobster mac and cheese; a Florida lobster entree either whole prepared grilled or boiled or bite style prepared fried or sauteed in garlic butter; and a surf and turf entree with steak and a choice of lobster, shrimp or scallops. It also has specials with previous lobster options, including whole Florida Lobsters cooked any way and served with butter and the option to add crab stuffing and lobster alfredo.
Kyle G’s Oyster and Wine Bar
Kyle G’s Oyster and Wine Bar is owned by local restaurateur Kyle Greene, who also owns Kyle G’s Prime Seafood & Steaks on Hutchinson Island, Oak and Ember Steakhouse in Port St. Lucie, Nonna’s in Jensen Beach and The Chicken Place Latin Rotisserie & Cocktail Bar in Port St. Lucie. It offers a variety of signature seafood dishes, multiple selections of cold water oysters, craft cocktails and a curated wine list. Menu items include It’s a Shellebration with six oysters, six clams, two colossal shrimp and half a Maine lobster; Whole Main Lobster Cracked either chilled or broiled, cracked and served with butter; lobster dip and Pasta & Lobstah with Maine lobster, shrimp, pappardelle, butter, spinach, mushrooms and blistered tomatoes.
MARTIN COUNTYNew England Fish Market & Restaurant
New England Fish Market & Restaurant has a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere and serves fresh seafood including New England and Florida favorites. In 1981, John Mellaci opened the fish market on Indian River Drive in Jensen Beach then moved to its current location on Jensen Beach Boulevard in 1987. In 1991, he added a takeout window and started its evolution into a sit-down restaurant. Mellaci opened a second location in Palm City in 2010, but closed it in 2023, right before his 73rd birthday. Menu items include Maine lobster bisque, a classic New England lobster roll and live lobster options including a Maine lobster dinner with two sides and New England Clambake with Maine lobsters, clams, mussels, andouille sausage, potatoes, corn and butter for dipping.
1419 N.E. Jensen Beach Blvd., Jensen Beach; 772-334-7324; websiteTCPalm article: 42-year-old fish market and seafood restaurant closes one locationStuart Boathouse Restaurant & Bar
The building originally was the Annex, then the St. Lucie Hotel in the mid-1920’s, then physically moved to its current location. It housed numerous businesses before becoming the Stuart Boathouse. It overlooks the St. Lucie River and every seat in the house has a view of the water. Menu items include a lobster crunch roll; the Boathouse signature trio with broiled Maine lobster tail, scallops and bacon and crab stuffed shrimp over a crab and corn risotto; and the option to add a lobster tail to any entree.
Sailor’s Return
Sailor’s Return has a casual, elegant atmosphere in a tropical harbor setting. Bob and Tracy Davis opened the restaurant in 2009 at the Sunset Bay Marina and Anchorage in downtown Stuart. The restaurant was built by the husband-and-wife team, who also owned and operated the Jolly Sailor Pub from 1992 to 2003. It has a picturesque waterfront view of the St. Lucie River, and there is a 930-foot-long courtesy dock in front of it. Menu items include a lobster tail entree on its lunch and early dinner menu and a baked twin tails entree on its dinner menu. Guests also have the option to add a baked lobster tail to any steak, and it serves cold water lobster tails. Daily specials include Wednesday lobster night featuring twin lobster tails served with mashed potatoes and vegetables.
Ristorante Claretta
Ristorante Claretta is owned by Clara Russell and her children, Cristina and chef Francesco, who opened it in 1997. The upscale Italian restaurant uses premium ingredients imported from Italy and meticulously chosen from local vendors. The wine list expresses the rarity of all varietals of Italy. The family opened their first restaurant in the Piedmont region of Italy in 1993. Every summer, they visit Italy to observe new influences and trends in the kitchen. The menu offers a tagliatelle all’aragosta with long, flat, homemade pasta, a Maine lobster tail, white wine, EVOO, tomato sauce and parsley.
1315 S.W. Martin Highway, Palm City; 772-219-9940; website
Two Georges Dockside Grille
Formerly The Twisted Tuna and then Fysh, the Manatee Pocket restaurant in the Port Salerno waterfront district is now under Two Georges’ management. The waterfront restaurant has an outdoor bar and outdoor floating dock, plus live music. Menu items include lobster bisque, lobster melt and surf ‘n’ turf with an 8 ounce choice tenderloin and 6 ounce lobster tail served with fire-roasted potatoes.
Sophia’s
Sophia’s is a family- owned and operated restaurant with indoor/outdoor seating. It is under the same ownership as Blue Pointe Bar & Grill in Tequesta and Stadium Grill in Jupiter. The menu features a spicy lobster sushi roll with cold water lobster tail; The Tower with oysters, jumbo shrimp, colossal crab, marinated ahi tuna and chilled lobster; Sophia’s Seafood Tower similar to The Tower with the addition of cobia ceviche, colossal blue crab chunks, spicy lobster roll and crunchy crab roll; lobster and crab bisque; lobster roll with New England style buns; Surg and Turf Buger topped with lobster meat and lobster bisque, lettuce, tomato, red onion and choice of cheese; lobster tail or twin tails entree; and a Surf and Turf entree with a center cut filt and cold water lobster tail.
11970 S.E. Dixie Highway, Hobe Sound; 772-245-8182; website
Eve Pierpont is a freelancer for TCPalm who looks out for the best things to do across the Treasure Coast. Do you have an upcoming event you want to be potentially included in this weekly roundup? Email it to her at epierpont@gannett.com. You can also upload your event to TCPalm’s event page at events.tcpalm.com.