FLORIDA
GO FISH
BY DIANE BAIR AND PAMELA WRIGHT
DINE ON THE FRESHEST SEAFOOD AT THESE NO-FRILLS FLORIDA FISH SHACKS.
Just-hooked fish, with sides of salt air and sand, slapped on the table by a waitstaff with attitude—that’s the kind of nonfussy dining experience you’ll get at Florida fish shacks. When you want the freshest fish (usually heaping servings on paper plates) in the Sunshine State, seek out these one-of-a-kind, come-as-youare seafood spots.
CHERRY POCKET FISH CAMP AND STEAK & SEAFOOD SHAK
3100 Canal Rd, Lake Wales
(53 miles south of Orlando)
863-439-2031
This ramshackle, worn-wood joint is worth the jaunt into the Old Florida countryside. Set on Lake Pierce, one of central Florida’s top fishing holes, the camp is a favorite with anglers, but you don’t need to pick up a pole to enjoy a fresh catch. The run-down shack, decorated in rusty license plates, serves some of Florida’s finest fish. The fried shrimp and oyster platters are top sellers; grouper and catfish are popular, too. You’ll want to start with ’gator nuggets and end with the homemade key lime pie.
CRAB SHACK
11400 Gandy Blvd, St. Petersburg
(13 miles southwest of Tampa)
727-576-7813
The rustic appearance and location on industrial Gandy Boulevard doesn’t seem to bother loyal customers, who come to satisfy fish cravings at wallet-pleasing prices. Grab a pile of napkins, pick up a mullet and start cracking. This T-shirt-and-shorts-style place, with a cluster of picnic tables, is best known for steamed blue crab (and stone crab in season). But there’s plenty more on the menu to lure hungry crowds: Fresh shucked oysters, smoked mullet and fried platters (best washed down with an ice-cold bottle of Bud) also keep serious seafood eaters coming back.
TED PETERS FAMOUS SMOKED FISH
1350 Pasadena Ave,
South St. Petersburg
(28 miles southwest of Tampa)
727-381-7931
If you like your fish earthy and smoky, don’t miss this long-standing smokehouse and restaurant. The 50-plus-year-old landmark takes fresh-caught local fish and smokes it over slow-burning red oak logs. It’s the way Native Americans and fishermen did it for years.
The ambience isn’t perfect (street-side tables with lots of traffic noise), but the fish—mullet, mackerel, salmon and more, served with a side of German potato salad—is moist and delicately smoked. (Pick up a tub of the smoked fish spread to take home.) Tip: The restaurant will smoke your catch for $1.50 a pound.
DEWEY DESTIN’S SEAFOOD
9 Calhoun Ave, Destin
(48 miles east of Pensacola)
850-837-7575
Dewey’s great, great grandfather founded the town in 1835, and Dewey employs traditional Destin-family recipes. The kitchen uses the freshest fish possible, prepares it simply and serves it hot. The service is minimal; place your order at the outside window, grab a seat on the dock, and wait for the waitperson to yell your name. Feast on the food (try the hot crabmeat dip, followed by steamed shrimp or fried oysters) and appreciate the ocean view.
SINGLETON’S
4728 Ocean St, Atlantic Beach
(19 miles northeast of Jacksonville)
904-246-4442
Snag a table on the deck overlooking the St. Johns River and watch the shrimp boats haul in their catch. That’s dinner! The shack, built by Captain Ray Singleton three decades ago, is legendary for its just-caught fish plates; you can gander at the fish on ice as you walk in. You can’t go wrong with the lightly battered shrimp, piled next to a heap of hush puppies and fried okra. Save room for the peanut butter pie.
CATCH & EAT
You landed a keeper, now what? Well, many restaurants throughout Florida offer “you catch ’em, we’ll cook ’em” services. Local favorite Friendly Fisherman (www.hubbardsmarina.com/friendly.html; 727-391-6025) in Madeira Beach (about 40 minutes from Tampa) has a longstanding “hook & cook” policy. Walk off the boat (they have a fishing charter business, too) into the bustling restaurant, fish in hand. For a more upscale option, try Guppy’s on the Beach Grill & Bar (www.3bestchefs.com/guppys; 727-595-7215) in Indian Rocks, also near Tampa. Order your just-caught-and-cleaned snapper, herb-crusted and grilled. Caught a whopper? Bring your friends to the oceanfront Lazy Days Restaurant (www.keysdining.com/lazydays; 305-664-5256) in Islamorado (70 miles from Miami). For $13.95 per person (for up to one pound of fish), you can see your trophy on a platter, prepared up to six different ways by Chef Lupe. There’s nothing more satisfying than dining on your own catch of the day, prepared by someome else.
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