Twisted Pickle Deli in Sebastian, Sunrise City Cafe in Fort Pierce and Ellie’s Dockside Deli in Port Salerno top the list.
Dine-and-dock, oceanfront and riverfront restaurants on Treasure Coast
Restaurants on the Treasure Coast not only offer unique meals, but also serve stunning waterfront views.
Gourmet salads take a simple menu item that tends to be passed over to a chef-d’oeuvre with an emphasis on superior ingredients, unique flavor pairings, complex textures and a captivating aesthetic.
The ingredients are fresh and have been thoughtfully put together, balancing flavor and exhibiting creativity. There is a concept behind it that dictates what should or shouldn’t go into the salad and how it should be assembled. It is also essential that the dressing is not only made with superior ingredients but that the perfect amount is used.
Here are some restaurants that offer gourmet salads, one in each Treasure Coast city where applicable, including some that are less-obvious choices than your tried-and-true favorite.
INDIAN RIVER COUNTYTwisted Pickle Deli, Sebastian
The family-owned sandwich shop was opened in 2002 and is known for its made-in-house pickles. The deli was previously located further south on U.S. 1 in Wabasso than its current location, but it had to relocate in 2020 because of a fire. It sources the deli meats and cheese from Thumann’s in New Jersey, and the breads and rolls are from Cusano’s Bakery in Coconut Creek. The menu features homemade salads, including Tom’s Toasted Sesame shrimp, with chilled shrimp tossed in toasted sesame oil and sesame seeds, with mandarin oranges, cucumbers, sweet peppers, red onions, cilantro, candied almond clusters and toasted coconut, served with a side of lime olive oil and coconut white balsamic vinegar.
Waldo’s Restaurant & Bar, Vero Beach
The oceanfront restaurant located in the Driftwood Inn is named after Waldo Sexton, who first came to Vero Beach in the 1920s and started building the inn out of the timbers of a dairy barn destroyed in a storm. It was supposed to be a family beach house, but was eventually turned into the Driftwood Resort with an oceanfront restaurant and bar. The old Florida-style bar and restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating on a deck that sits on the beach, with a guest-only pool in the middle and live music on the weekends. The large, eclectic menu features a Hawaiian salad with blackened scallops and shrimp on top of mixed greens, diced tomatoes, pineapple, grapes and toasted almonds with your choice of any of their homemade dressings.
ST. LUCIE COUNTYSunrise City Cafe, Fort Pierce
Fort Pierce native Nichole Parker opened the cafe in 2017. It uses fresh, local foods whenever possible and offers daily specials. The downtown Fort Pierce restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch and has indoor and outdoor seating. The lunch menu features a Caribbean salad with romaine lettuce, white rice, pineapple, mango, pico de gallo, queso fresco and pork or blackened chicken.
Nino’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria, Lakewood Park
Croce Giambanco opened Nino’s in Lakewood Park over 20 years ago. It is one of three locations on the Treasure Coast, which also includes Nino’s Cafe, established in 1981, and Nino’s Corner, both in Vero Beach. It serves Italian fare, subs and New York-style pizzas. The menu features a steak salad with grilled, shaved ribeye, grilled red onion, field greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, candied walnuts, gorgonzola cheese and raspberry vinaigrette.
Zest Kitchen & Bar, Port St. Lucie
The restaurant and bar, which opened in St. Lucie West in 2020, offers modern American fare with global influences. It is decorated with line-colored walls, black ceilings, steel paneling and Sputnik-style chandeliers with a large full bar. It has indoor and outdoor seating. The menu features a shredded duck salad with local mixed greens, Humboldt Fog goat cheese, hearts of palm, pine nuts and cherry vinaigrette.
MARTIN COUNTYSauder’s Landing Restaurant, Jensen Beach
The waterfront marina restaurant on Nettles Island was opened in 2015 by a local family who has over 30 years of experience. The restaurant is inspired by traditional recipes and modern cooking styles and is known for its seafood. It offers indoor dining with a warm ambiance and marina views, as well as outdoor seating under a thatched-roof patio that sits right next to the water. The menu features a pecan chicken salad with romaine lettuce and spring mix topped with hand-breaded, fried candied pecan chicken served with mandarin oranges, candied pecans, bleu cheese crumbs and house dressing.
La Grande Martier, Stuart
The bar, restaurant and cafe is located in the historic Post Office Arcade in downtown Stuart, which has also previously housed a haberdashery, a shoeshine stand and a farmer’s market. It holds the charm of the building’s 1920s history, beginning with a breezeway offering bistro-style tables and chairs and a wood-paneled bar, furnished with red stools and palm blade ceiling fans. It serves Lowcountry cuisine, offering coastal ingredients made with elegant techniques. The menu features a Smokey Mountain apple pecan salad with spinach, green apple, candied pecans, craisins, a chicken breast, cherrywood smoked bacon, hard-boiled egg, blue cheese crumbles and poppyseed dressing.
The deli in the historic fishing village of Port Salerno is located on the water at the Sailfish Marina in the Manatee Pocket. It was taken over by chef Mark 15 years ago, who has been cooking for over 25 years in various states. It is the second location for the deli with the original Ellie’s Downtown Deli being located on Sixth Street in Stuart. It sources many ingredients from local friends and neighbors in Martin County. The menu features a cran-apple crunch salad with mixed greens, craisins, sliced apple, toasted almonds, oven-gold turkey and crumbled gorgonzola cheese.
3565 S.E. St. Lucie Blvd., Stuart; 772-291-2706; website
Palm City residents Rick and Elizabeth Wilson and their son, Taylor, owners of The Gafford in Stuart, opened the restaurant located in the Martin Downs Village Center in 2023. It offers modern new American cuisine with a focus on farm-to-table whenever possible. It features an open floor plan with an open kitchen and has a chic atmosphere with emerald green booths, blonde wood, brass and glass chandeliers and a large square bar. There is indoor and outdoor seating. The menu is seasonal, including a seasonal salad consisting of watermelon, baby arugula in chipotle lime vinaigrette, basil and mint, queso fresco, Marcona almond crumble, pickled onion and toasted coconut. Other seasonal salads have included roasted squash, apple, prosciutto, Parmesan cheese, pumpkin seed, quinoa, baby kale and local mixed greens tossed in a maple Dijon vinaigrette.
Co-owners Carl Berry and Jason Emmett opened the restaurant in 2024. It offers a refreshing take on American cuisine, featuring chef-inspired dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. It has a contemporary, elegant yet warm and inviting atmosphere with high top seating in the bar area, a main dining room and an outdoor patio. The menu features a carne asada salad with marinated tenderloin steak, romaine lettuce, roasted corn, heirloom tomatoes, cotija cheese, pickled red onion and buttermilk chipotle ranch.
The Fresh Stop, Indiantown
Danielle Williamson opened her deli in hopes of bringing more job opportunities to Indiantown and to provide the community with healthier options. It serves freshly made soups, salads, sandwiches and wraps using Boar’s Head meats and cheeses and locally sourced produce and freshly baked breads delivered daily. The casual eatery has an Old Western feel with indoor and some outdoor seating. The menu features a crunchy Thai salad with colorful shredded cabbage and crisp romaine lettuce, edamame, carrots, red onion, cucumber, peanuts, avocado and crispy wontons dressed with a Thai peanut dressing.
14988 S.W. Monroe Ave., Indiantown; 772-597-3150; Facebook
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.
Dining and Cooking