(UPDATED OCTOBER 2022) Fort Pierce lies on Florida’s Treasure Coast, south of Vero Beach and north of Palm Beach. As its coast implies, Fort Pierce is full of treasures— restaurants are part of that bounty. You’ll find excellent fresh seafood, live music, daily specials, and a fresh catch-of-the-day. Here are a dozen tasty restaurants in Fort Pierce, Florida, you’ll want to check out on your travels.
12A Buoy
12A Buoy doesn’t have the best scenery or setting of the Fort Pierce eateries, but it has the best food. I find myself driving down here from Vero Beach way too often. You’ll find a slew of favorite seafood items on the menu, from lobster rolls to pickled shrimp.
The Lobster Mac and Cheese at 12A Buoy is another star, but my go-to item is 1/2 a pound of hot shrimp with drawn butter. Shrimp prices run the gamut from $8 to $19 a pound on Florida’s East Coast, and 12A Buoy has one of the best priced and some of the tastiest shrimp around.
Taco Dive
Taco Dive, “not your average hole in the wall”, is a casual street taco restaurant with creative combinations and a fun atmosphere. You have to start your dining experience with the Tots—covered with cheese fondue and fresh jalapeños. They are divine and plenty big enough to share.
Depending on your hunger, one to two tacos are probably enough to fill you up. Choose from Cajun Shrimp, Irish (corned beef and cabbage), steak, pork, beef, and more. My favorite is the pork with cabbage, pineapple, and Thai sauce.
If you are really hungry, the Drunken Burrito (ground beef, tomato, white queso, and tots) is perfect.
Manatee Island
Sitting on the Fort Pierce Inlet is Manatee Island Bar and Grill, a colorful and tropically decorated eatery with a seafood-forward menu and classic American dishes. On a visit with my daughter, she was more than happy with the pulled pork sandwich and rice/bean dish. They were both very flavorful.
I like Manatee Island’s fish & chips. The fish is fried to perfection and is light and tasty. The cole slaw is excellent, as is the tartar sauce accompanying the fish. Next time, I’m trying the Ahi Tuna Bowl with a ponzu vinaigrette.
Cobb’s Landing
You’ll find Cobb’s Landing in the most desirable spot in Fort Pierce. With indoor and outdoor seating, live music, plus exceptional views of the beautiful boats, water, and action around downtown Fort Pierce, this alone is enough to draw a big crowd.
But then the delicious meals you can get at Cobb’s Landing solidify why this is one of the top restaurants on Florida’s Treasure Coast.
I love everything about this restaurant and have never been less than 10/10 happy with my meal. Start your meal with Mrs. Peter’s Smoked Wahoo Fish Dip, a perfect dish to share.
From gourmet burgers to taco creations, crab cakes, to honkin’ big salads, Cobb’s Landing is a high-end foodie joint that will satisfy even the pickiest eater.
2nd Street Bistro
One of the best addresses in downtown Fort Pierce is where 2nd Street Bistro sits amidst all the action of the bustling shoppers and weekend market crowds. 2nd Street Bistro is a casual dining spot with friendly staff, a great happy hour, Sunday brunch, and a fantastic outdoor patio.
2nd Street Bistro is also one of the go-to places for holiday meals, such as Thanksgiving, which we tried out.
From the Classic Thanksgiving plate to the open-faced turkey & dressing sandwich, both were delicious and reasonably priced. My daughter had the Jacked Up gourmet burger with jalapeño pimento cheese, applewood bacon, and a bourbon glaze and loved every bite.
We were at 2nd Street Bistro for a holiday celebration, but we couldn’t say no to the Conch Fritters and Caribbean dipping sauce.
Pineapple Joe’s Grill
Sitting at the north end of Fort Pierce is Pineapple Joe’s Grill, an unassuming stand-alone restaurant along US1. I’ve driven by it countless times and finally made the stop to enjoy lunch. What a treat! Inside, the restaurant offers a jukebox, billiards area, lots to look at, and an inviting atmosphere.
You can tell that the staff knows the regulars by name and on a personal note.
The steamed peel & eat shrimp is really good, though more expensive than its Fort Pierce counterparts. I recommend the Fish & Chips, a hearty portion with excellent taste. Pineapple Joe’s coleslaw is absolutely fantastic —I could eat this every single day.
Try the margaritas—well done.
On the Edge Bar & Grill
A casual eatery on beautiful Hutchinson Island with excellent food in Fort Pierce is On the Edge Bar & Grill. Attractive outdoor seating and a tiki-style bar are just two offerings that make this a unique place to dine.
The Thai Rock Shrimp and Seared Ahi Tuna are both great appetizers and the freshest seafood choices, paired with wasabi mayo sauce and seaweed salad. Or, the Gator Bites and Bavarian Pretzel Logs are both satisfying, too.
On the Edge Bar & Grill has South of the Border dishes (tacos, quesadillas, nachos), sandwiches, gourmet Lobster Mac & Cheese, and fresh daily catches, among others.
You can check their FB page for daily specials and check out the Sunday Brunch. Our little one approved of the kid’s menu.
Archie’s Seabreeze
Archie’s Seabreeze has been the premier Old Florida beach bar in Fort Pierce for 70 years. You’re sure to have a great time at this eclectic eatery with various seating areas and live music, but they also have delicious food and photo-ops.
Choose between sandwiches, fresh salads, and finger-lickin’ seafood baskets, or choose a variety of appetizers like Conch Fritters, Buffalo Bleu Chips, and Chili Cheese Fries. The Blackened Mahi Mahi basket is superb, with coleslaw and crinkle fries.
Another tasty option is the coconut shrimp (hand-breaded) with sweet potato fries and a decadent cinnamon sauce. Yummy!
Harbor Cove Bar & Grill
Please note: This restaurant is temporarily closed as of October 2022.
Experience waterfront views and a second-to-none patio and fire pit area near the Fort Pierce Causeway at Harbor Cove Bar & Grill. Start your meal with finger-licking good peel & eat shrimp and wash it down with a cold beer or perfectly brewed iced tea.
For your main course, the Grouper Reuben, blackened, of course, is a great choice. The sandwich is flavorful and has a substantially sized portion of freshly caught fish. Make sure to try the coleslaw—yum!
Costa Azul Mexican Restaurant
Most of the Fort Pierce restaurants I go to are in the same part of town, so I was super excited about Costa Azul, the #1 rated area restaurant per TripAdvisor. From the moment we walked in the door, the Costa Azul staff was as friendly and helpful as could be.
My husband, Eddie, and I started with margaritas and Queso Dip, even though we were served complimentary warm chips with salsa and an epic black bean dip. I could have eaten my weight in that bean dip.
Eddie chose Costa Azul’s Fajita Burrito with double rice, and I stepped out of my comfort zone and picked the sampler appetizer platter. My huge dish consisted of yuca fries, homemade guacamole, fried plantains, chicken quesadilla, and flautas.
Both the salsa verde and habanero sauces were fresh-made and amazingly delicious. We savored every bite of this fantastic Mexican dinner. I ate until I couldn’t hold another bite, and still had enough leftovers for lunch the next day.
Pickled
One of Fort Pierce’s newest additions is the beautiful Pickled Restaurant and Bar, with a prime corner location. This stylish eatery features a tempting menu with Deviled Eggs topped with salmon roe was one of the appetizer choices. Pickled’s burgers are heavenly and come with truffle fries.
If you are a pickled fan, no pun intended; the house-made bread and butter pickles are perfect.
On my list for the next visit is the truffled five cheese Mac & cheese—great day in the morning. That sounds amazing!
La Hacienda Super Taqueria
When you need your Mexican food fix, La Hacienda Super Taqueria is a great place to get it. The menu is limited, but the food is cooked to order and comes out quickly. There is indoor and outdoor seating for enjoying your Gorditas, quesadillas, rice, beans, and much more.
The prices are incredibly appealing, with a Gordita costing you only $3.50. I loved the selection of canned and bottled beverages to choose from.
You don’t have to sacrifice good food to eat at a reasonably priced eatery with La Hacienda Super Taqueria.
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