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.
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—and fried alligator—since 1958. Tasty 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 7th 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 Blue Plate specials and cheekily named appetizers and entrees such as Dirty Shrimp and the $200 PJ & Dom, which they claim to be the “World’s largest PB&J sandwich for two with a bottle of Dom Perignon”. Fancy! Try the Romanian steak, skirt steak sliced thin and served with fresh mushrooms, spinach, and garlic over real mashed potatoes and gravy. Open Tuesday through Friday from 11am to 3pm and Saturday from noon to 5pm, with dinner served only on Fridays from 5pm until “the fat lady sings.”
Craving gator ribs? Near the Miccosukee reservation is the Pit Bar-B-Q, 16400 SW 8th St. (tel. 305/226-2272; daily 11am-8pm), a total pit of a place (sorry!) known for some of the best smoked ribs, barbecued chicken, and corn bread this side of the Deep South.
For even more ‘gator, head to Homestead’s Everglades Gator Grill, 36650 SW 192nd Ave., (tel. 786/243-0620; daily 11am-6pm), where gator tacos have a distinct bite.
The first Cuban restaurant in the Everglades, Captain Morgan’s Seafood Grill, 102 S. Copland Ave., Everglades City, (tel. 239/232-0041; Wed-Sun 11am-8pm), serves excellent ceviches and tostones, delicious ice cream, and an eye-opening café con leche.
Finally, Camellia Street Grill, 208 Camellia St. (tel. 239/695-2003; daily 11am-9pm), a rusty waterfront fish joint fuses Southern hospitality with outstanding, fresh seafood. An on-site herb and veggie garden provides the freshest ingredients for sides and stellar salads. Everything is homemade, including the Key lime pie, and there’s live music weekends.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
