You won't find fancy nouvelle cuisine in this suburbanized farm country, but there are plenty of fast-food chains along U.S. 1 and a few old favorites worth a taste.
Here for nearly a quarter of a century, El Toro Taco Family Restaurant, 1 S. Krome Ave., near Mowry and Campbell drives, Homestead (tel. 305/245-8182), opens daily at 9:30am and stays crowded until at least 9pm most days. The fresh grilled meats, tacos, burritos, salsas, guacamole, and stews are all mild and delicious. No matter how big your appetite, it's hard to spend more than $12 per person at this Mexican outpost. Bring your own beer or wine.
Housed in a one-story, windowless building that looks something like a medieval fort, the Capri Restaurant, 935 N. Krome Ave., Florida City (tel. 305/247-1542), has been serving hearty Italian-American fare since 1958. Great pastas and salads complement a menu of meat and fish dishes; portions are big. Lunch and dinner are served Monday through Friday until 9:30pm and Saturday until 10:30pm. The White Lion Café, 146 NW Seventh St., Homestead (tel. 305/248-1076), is a quaint home-and-gardens-cum-cafe with live blues, jazz, and swing music at night, and a menu with items like Dirty Little Shrimp and Poor Man's Steak, which is actually delicious meatloaf with mushrooms, gravy, mashed potatoes, and veggies for just $11. Dinner is served Tuesday through Saturday from 5pm until "the fat lady sings."
The Miccosukee Restaurant, just west of the Shark Valley entrance on the Tamiami Trail/U.S. 41 (tel. 305/223-8380), serves authentic pumpkin bread, fry bread, and fish, and not-so-authentic Native American interpretations of tacos and fried chicken. It's worth a stop for brunch, lunch, or dinner.
Near the Miccosukee reservation is the Pit Bar-B-Q, 16400 SW Eighth St. (tel. 305/226-2272), a total pit of a place known for some of the best smoked ribs, barbecued chicken, and corn bread this side of the Deep South. It's open daily from 11am to 8pm.
In Everglades City, the Oyster House, on Chokoloskee Causeway, S.R. (the locals call it Hwy.) 29 South (tel. 239/695-2073), is a large but homey seafood restaurant with modest prices, excellent service, and a fantastic view of the Ten Thousand Islands. Try the hush puppies.
Once inside the Everglades, you'll want to eat at the only restaurant within the boundaries of this huge park, the Flamingo Restaurant (tel. 239/695-3101). Located in the Flamingo Lodge, Marina, and Outpost Resort, this is a very civilized and affordable establishment. All of Flamingo took a beating from 2005's ruthless Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma, and the restaurant, like the lodge, was closed at the time of this writing. The restaurant was slated to reopen in late 2008 -- but call first.
