Where To Eat In Everglades City, Florida

Welcome to Everglades City, a charming enclave on Florida's Paradise Coast, where the restaurants are as diverse and authentic as the natural beauty surrounding it. This quaint town offers a treasure trove of dining experiences that cater to both adventurous eaters and those looking for the comfort of familiar tastes. From the freshest seafood straight from the Gulf, including their famous seasonal stone crab claws, to unique regional delights (think “gator”!), Everglades City has something to tantalize every taste bud.

CAMELLIA STREET GRILL

Camellia Street Grill offers a delightful array of dishes in a laid-back waterfront setting, open seasonally each year. You have to try the stone crab when it's in season (mid-October through May), and their grouper sandwich is a must-have.

If you’re more daring, don’t miss the chance to taste gator tacos. Pair your meal with a refreshing cucumber salad and delicious sweet potato fries. Don't forget to save room for dessert–their key lime pie is incredible!

ISLAND CAFE

While many restaurants in Everglades City closed during the off-season, Island Cafe is conveniently open year-round. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this local favorite offers menu items like grouper, crab cakes, shrimp, and fish tacos, as well as unique dishes like gator bites and frog legs. For dessert, the deep-fried key lime pie is a must-try, offering a unique twist on a classic Florida treat.

CITY SEAFOOD

City Seafood delivers a true taste of the Everglades with its fresh, locally sourced seafood. Famous for its stone crab claws, which are available fresh from the restaurant’s own boats, this casual eatery also serves delicious conch fritters, soft shell crab, grouper, gator bites, and frog legs.

Enjoy your meal at one of their picnic tables overlooking the Barron River–perhaps after an exciting airboat ride. Plus, they also have an on-site Seafood Market in case you’re looking to bring goodies back home with you!

JOANIE’S BLUE CRAB CAFE

Just 10 minutes from Everglades City, you’ll find Joanie’s Blue Crab Cafe, a local institution embracing Old Florida culture. As the name suggests, you can enjoy fresh blue crab and stone crab (when in season). Their menu also features one-of-a-kind dishes like gator nuggets, crab cakes, frog legs, grouper, and hush puppies. Don't miss the "swamp dog!"

TRIAD SEAFOOD MARKET & CAFE

Opened in 1984, Triad Seafood Market & Cafe is a family-owned and operated gem located on the Barron River. Known for its all-you-can-eat stone crabs (available seasonally), this spot offers a variety of lunch options.

Choose between seafood baskets featuring everything from mahi mahi and grouper to fried alligator tail, as well as sandwiches and wraps. Relax on their screened deck while savoring the fresh flavors and picturesque river views!

EVERGLADES ROD & GUN CLUB

Step back in time at the Everglades Rod & Gun Club. This historic venue, providing a taste of Old Florida, features a delightful menu, including seafood platters of fresh fish, shrimp, and crab. Of course, being in the heart of the Everglades, you can also find some unique combos here, like the Swamp and Turf (frog legs and steak).

Enjoy an excellent lunch on their screened-in porch overlooking the water, where presidents and famous figures once dined. The ambiance and charm of this place make it a must-visit for those exploring the area! Just make sure that you have some cash on hand because they do not accept credit cards.

CAPTAIN MORGAN’S SEAFOOD GRILL CORP

Captain Morgan's Seafood Grill is the first Cuban-American restaurant in Everglades City and is family-owned. Known for its Latin spice, the menu offers exciting options like wild-caught shrimp tostones (a guest favorite), sailor-baked whole fresh red snapper, and seafood enchilado (not to be confused with enchiladas).

For dessert, try their signature rum flan! Not partial to flan? This restaurant also includes an ice cream parlor, making it a perfect spot for a complete dining experience.

THE DIVING PELICAN

The Diving Pelican serves fresh seafood in the form of customer favorites, like the Gulf grouper sandwich, boom-boom shrimp, and broiled scallops alfredo. Their baskets, which range from fried shrimp to frog legs, come with Everglades-seasoned fries.

For a true Everglades experience, try the gator nuggets or basket–complete with marinated gator tail and tartar sauce. This location is also home to the Gator Hole Bar, an outside bar offering cocktails and live music from Friday through Sunday.

WILDMAN’S PIZZA PASTA & PYTHONS

Here's something you'll only find in Everglades City: a locally beloved python hunter serving up delicious pizzas at Wildman's Pizza, Pasta & Pythons. Dusty Crum, the “Python Wildman” himself, runs this unique eatery where you can enjoy pizzas, calzones, pasta, wings, and more.

As part of Dusty's mission to remove invasive pythons from the Everglades and restore the natural balance, he promotes an interesting trade: one large house specialty pizza if you bring him a python (we do not recommend attempting this). Instead, just plan to drop by and pay for your pizza like a regular non-python hunter: with a credit card or cash.

Everglades City offers a diverse array of dining experiences that highlight the unique flavors and culinary traditions of Florida's Paradise Coast. From fresh seafood to local specialties, there's something for everyone. When it comes to memorable meals, Only Paradise will do.