Where The Locals Go

Contributions by Ashley Cagle

These hidden gems and longtime traditions bring the best of The Palm Beaches to your plate—and your palate.

CUBAN CUISINE & COFFEE

From ropa vieja (ultra-tender, shredded beef) to arroz con pollo (a one-pot dish of chicken and yellow rice), the flavors of the Caribbean come to life at Don Ramon Restaurante Cubano on Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach. Finish your meal with caramel-drenched flan custard and a tiny cup of café Cubano: robust, sweetened espresso.

Cook Your Catch

In The Palm Beaches, fresh seafood is what we do best—and it’s even better when you catch it yourself. After spending a day boating and fishing, dock at the waterfront Deck 84 in downtown Delray Beach and bring in your just-caught and filleted fish for the chefs to prepare it any way you like.

Fried Alligator

Satisfy your adventurous side when you try this exotic meat— touted to have a mild fish flavor and a firm texture. West Palm Beach’s Dixie Grill & Brewery serves it freshly battered, fried and paired with chipotle aioli. Tip: Order a pint of craft beer from the in-house brewery.

Coconut Cr Me Pie

Indulge in a taste of the tropics at Ta-boo on Worth Avenue in Palm Beach, where the dessert menu includes its “Famous Taboo Lust,” a slice of sumptuous pie featuring a walnut cookie crust, coconut cream filling, whipped cream topping and toasted coconut—a nod to the famed Providencia shipwreck that gave The Palm Beaches its name.

STEAK & SEAFOOD

There’s nothing like fresh lobster tail broiled to perfection and bathed in butter. Order it alongside a USDA prime steak— dry aged and cut in-house—at

Okeechobee Steakhouse, the oldest steakhouse in Florida, open since 1947.

TIKI BAR

Sit out on the patio of the waterfront Square Grouper Tiki Bar in Jupiter to take in views of the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse while sipping island-inspired cocktails and frozen, fruity concoctions. Cheers to vacation!

Peruvian Dishes

At their restaurant Mestizo Peruvian Cuisine, husband and wife team Misleidy Amores and Pedro Rivera serve up flavorful Peruvian favorites such as ceviche (raw, marinated fish), beef or chicken saltado (stir fry), fried yuca, causa (layered potato casserole) and fruity chicha morada (a deep-purple corn beverage). Bonus: vegans will also find a comprehensive menu of offerings. Other iconic locations include Dr. Limon on the bustling 500 block of Clematis Street in West Palm Beach and Victoria’s in Lantana.

Jamaican Specialties

Locals flock to Jamaica House Grill in Wellington for good reason. Indulge in braised oxtails, wild salmon marinated in jerk seasoning, chicken wings tossed in spicy mango sauce and jumbo shrimp breaded with sweet coconut flakes. Cap off your meal with a slice of signature black cake and rum raisin ice cream.

Waterfront Dining

Waterfront dining in The Palm Beaches makes any meal extra special. The smell of the salt air and sounds of waves create vacation memories.

Beginning in Jupiter, the Charlie & Joe’s Love Street restaurants are a collection of casual yet chic establishments featuring all-American and fresh seafood including Beacon, Topside, Lucky Shuck and The Tackle Box. Arrive by boat or car at 1000 North and revel in views of the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Intracoastal Waterway while munching on the Palm Beach Tower consisting of an epic display of oysters, shrimp, stone crab claws and lobster. Just south is 3800 Ocean situated right on the Atlantic Ocean on Singer Island at the Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa. While you watch the surf, try the Maine Lobster Pie, a creamy bisque with vegetables in a puff pastry. Make it a sophisticated evening at The Breakers and dine at The Seafood Bar, complete with bespoke nautical details, beautiful aquariums and a front row seat to view the ocean. Enjoy the fresh catch of the day, prepared to your heart’s desire either wood grilled, blackened or pan seared. When you’re in Boca Raton, rendezvous at The Seaspray Inlet Grill and watch the yachts pass by as you sip on a signature cocktail like the Monkey Mule and indulge in fresh shrimp tacos.