Chicken parmesan, also known as chicken parm and chicken parmigiana, is one of the most iconic Italian-American dishes, stemming from its hearty, indulgent and comforting nature.
Its crispy, juicy chicken pairs beautifully with gooey melted cheese and decadent marinara sauce, creating a mouthwatering dish.
Here are some restaurants that offer chicken parm, one in each Treasure Coast city where applicable, including some that are less-obvious choices than your tried-and-true favorite.
INDIAN RIVER COUNTYThe Italian Cousin, Sebastian
Chef Michele Hennessey and her chef-husband, Gus, own the well-known intimate Italian restaurant. Gus, an immigrant from Mexico City, trained under a Sicilian restaurant owner for 10 years. The two previously ran River Grill before retiring the restaurant in 2013. It has an elevated casual atmosphere with a rustic Italian feel featuring an inviting, open dining area and bar. Along with Italian classics, it offers house-made cannolis, specialty cocktails and a diverse wine list. The chicken Parmesan, smothered in marinara and mozzarella and served over pasta, is a crowd favorite.
480 U.S. 1, Sebastian; 772-589-1412; website
Giuseppe’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria, Fellsmere
Giuseppe Giambanco, a native of Carini, Italy, and his son, Robert, opened the first Giuseppe’s restaurant in Sebastian’s Roseland community in 1983, which later was relocated to its current spot. They expanded the Italian restaurant with a second location in Fellsmere in 1989. Robert’s daughter, Raffaella, and her husband, Brett, now run the Fellsmere location, still using the family’s authentic recipes. The casual eatery offers chicken parmigiana, lightly breaded and topped with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese.
4 S. Bay St., Fellsmere; 772-571-0917; website
Italian Kitchen, Vero Beach
The downtown Vero Beach restaurant has been serving New York-style pizza and classic Italian food for 30 years. It is owned by New York native Ralph Cuccurese, who uses many of his family’s secret recipes passed down by his father, who opened their first pizza shop in the 1950s. It has a cozy atmosphere with indoor and limited outdoor seating. The popular chicken parmigiana is breaded and fried, topped with house-made tomato sauce and melted mozzarella and served over spaghetti or ziti.
2121 14th Ave., Vero Beach; 772-569-0060; website
ST. LUCIE COUNTYLorenzo’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria, Fort Pierce
The family-owned and operated downtown Fort Pierce restaurant opened in 2006. It specializes in authentic Sicilian cuisine and New York-style pizza, with all sauces, dressing, garlic rolls and desserts made in-house. It offers a casual atmosphere with indoor seating with a view its open kitchen. The menu features chicken parmigiana, breaded, baked and topped with mozzarella, served with pasta; and chicken parsagna, a parmesan cutlet with a slice of lasagna on top.
222 Orange Ave., Fort Pierce; 772-460-5445; website
Nino’s Lakewood Park, Lakewood Park
Croce Giambanco opened the first Nino’s restaurant, Nino’s Cafe, in Vero Beach in 1981, and has expanded with Nino’s Corner in Vero Beach and Nino’s Lakewood Park. Giambanco was born in Carini, Italy, and migrated to the United States in 1973. David Decker, who spent over 15 years as Giambanco’s apprentice, has taken over stewardship of Nino’s Cafe. The menu features chicken parmigiana with a lightly breaded chicken breast, topped with tomato sauce and mozzarella, served with spaghetti, penne, rigatoni or fettuccine.
5018 Turnpike Feeder Road, Fort Pierce; 772-466-7644; website
Da Vinci’s Italian Grill, Port St. Lucie
Anthony and Dominic Feola own and operate the Italian restaurant, which their father opened in 1968 after emigrating from Italy. It offers traditional Italian cuisine made from recipes passed down by their parents. It offers a cozy, authentic “neighborhood Italian restaurant” atmosphere with indoor booth and table seating, along with some outdoor tables. The menu features chicken parmesan with side options including linguini, angel hair, fries, broccoli, spinach, penne and spaghetti.
6692 U.S. 1, Port St. Lucie; 772-466-9331; website
MARTIN COUNTYOriginal Santos Pizzeria, Jensen Beach
The authentic Italian restaurant serves classic Italian fare alongside brick-oven or conventional New York-style pizzas. It offers a quaint atmosphere with indoor seating, a full bar and an outdoor tiki patio. There is live music on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The popular chicken parmigiana features a breaded chicken breast, baked with tomato sauce, mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
1319 N.E. Sunview Terrace, Jensen Beach; 772-261-8427; website
Casa Bella Ristorante, Stuart
Chef-owner Gerry Profeta opened the restaurant near the Roosevelt Bridge in 1997. It specializes in northern and southern Italian cuisine, a tribute to Profeta’s mother, who is from northern Italy, and father, who is from southern Italy. Casa Bella means “beautiful house” in Italian, a fitting name for the romantic Old Florida-style house-turned-restaurant. It is affectionately decorated, with three dining areas including an intimate alcove, a main living room-like dining space and an extraordinary garden area with live plants and a running fountain. It offers a varied food menu and an extensive wine line. The menu features pollo alla parmigiana, a boneless chicken breast lightly breaded and sauteed to a golden brown, topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese.
512 S.W. Third St., Stuart; 772-223-0077; website
Mangia Clam Bar is seen from Basin Seafood and Fresh Fish Market’s outdoor dining patio along Southeast Dixie Highway along the railroad tracks, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, in Port Salerno.
Dave Tranes opened the waterfront clam bar known for its fresh seafood and Italian fusion cuisine in 2022. The casual restaurant features a warm and relaxed experience with views of the Manatee Pocket and dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. It offers live entertainment, dockage for guests who come by boat and daily specials. There is a tiki bar with an outdoor dining area and indoor seating surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows. The menu features chicken parmigiana served with your choice of minestrone soup, pasta fagioli, house salad or Caesar salad and your choice of broccoli, roasted potatoes, french fries or linguini with meat or regular sauce.
4817 S.E. Dixie Highway, Stuart; 772-678-6460; website
Pastaio, meaning “pasta maker,” offers a subtly chic, black-and-white-themed ambiance mixed with an unassuming atmosphere. It blends the art of serious Italian cooking with a laid-back approach, specializing in fresh handmade pasta prepared daily, and handcrafted cocktails. Other locations include Port St. Lucie and Grosse Pointe, Michigan. The menu features chicken parmigiana made with breaded chicken, pomodoro sauce, fresh mozzarella, spaghetti and herbs.
3290 S.W. Martin Downs Blvd., Palm City; 772-274-3905; website
Amato’s Ristorante & Pizzeria, Hobe Sound
The family-owned and operated restaurant originally opened in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1992. Over 15 years ago, it moved to Hobe Sound, serving classic Italian-American dishes and New Haven-style pizza, all made from family recipes passed down through generations. It has a tastefully decorated, welcoming atmosphere with indoor, bar and outdoor seating. The menu features chicken parmigianino made with breaded chicken breasts topped with mozzarella and marinara sauce.
9042 S.E. Bridge Road, Hobe Sound;772-546-2220; website
Eve Pierpont is TCPalm’s freelance food writer. Contact her at eve.pierpont@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Best chicken Parmesan Florida, Port St Lucie, Vero Beach, Stuart
Dining and Cooking