This family-owned restaurant serves creative and flavorful maki minutes away from Sarasota’s famed Ringling Museum of Art. Whether it’s the Hudson roll (salmon, avocado, cream cheese, crunch inside topped with mango, yellow tobiko, mango sauce, and spicy shrimp), Ruby (spicy tuna, asparagus, cucumber, and crunch inside topped with black pepper tuna, avocado, and red tobiko, with unique sauces), or vegan Jungle (sweet potato and broccoli tempura and mango topped with avocado and special sauce), sushi lovers will find surprising new flavor combinations that will create a yearning to cross Alligator Alley again and again.

This modern American restaurant captured the attention of food lovers with its flavorful dedication to carefully sourced cuisine. Housed in an elegant, restored home, diners are treated to a rotating, seasonal menu showcasing dishes such as parmesan beignets with local honey, thyme, and pears; red snapper sourced from Madeira Beach served with local corn puree, herbed mushroom bread pudding, grilled broccolini and shallots, arugula pesto, and parmesan; baked scallops with Everglades spice, white wine, butter, lemon, braised potatoes, and tarragon breadcrumbs, and Iberico pork chop with dijon hollandaise, caramelized brown sugar, and bacon and broccoli potato hash. Be sure to make a reservation.

Even the Amish and Mennonite communities found allure in Florida, making the tiny town of Pinecraft (in Sarasota) their winter home. At Yoder's, diners enjoy Amish-style cooking, including biscuits, potato cakes, fried chicken, and a hearty assortment of homemade pies. Head to the marketplace next door and purchase fruits and vegetables and jams and jellies to take home.

Formerly from Niven Patan’s Ghee Indian Kitchen, chef Pushkar Marathe has created a loyal following in Palm Beach Gardens with his exceptional globally inspired cuisine with Indian flair. Try the spicy tuna bomb (semolina puri, spicy soy, green goddess, and avocado), chicken liver pate with grilled bread, or duck confit rolls for game-changing starters before diving into main courses like wood-grilled Spanish octopus (with marble potatoes, kaffir lime, and green apple nuoc cham, a Vietnamese dipping sauce) or prime short rib with bone marrow korma and rice grits. There is a long list of vegetable dishes to enhance the meals. Lover’s of the Old Fashioned cocktail, take note, the cocktail here is worth the drive alone.

Well-known in Miami for inventive, exceptional cuisine, chef Jeremy Ford helms this elegant restaurant within the Palm Beach Garden’s PGA National Resort. The restaurant offers a robust selection of meats and sauces, with many customers preferring Ford’s Favorite Four: Beef Fat Hollandaise, Creamy Peppercorn, Chimichurri, and TBC Steak. Complementing these are crunchy ‘Brava’ potatoes and creamy, herb-filled spinach with dill, tarragon, basil, and garlic crumbs. For diners not inclined towards meat, the restaurant also presents an extensive raw bar and dishes such as truffle chicken and halibut with wilted greens, crispy sunchokes, and a caviar beurre blanc.

On trendy Clematis Street, this cozy French bistro takes diners straight to Paris, with the bonus of waterfront views. Head to the outdoor terrace and enjoy dishes like chicken paillard, moules frites, and the ever-popular Pistache burger. Brunch is a popular option and the perfect opportunity to mingle with the chic West Palm Beach crowd.

Head to West Palm Beach to sample James Beard Nominated Best Chef South 2023 chef Rick Mace’s barbecue inspired by South Florida’s diversity. Paying homage to Haitian, Dominican, Cuban and Jamaican cuisine, dishes include smoked brisket, mojo pulled pork, spicy wahoo dip, and cajun gator sausage. Hot and sweet hushpuppies, fried cobia sandwiches, and barbecue jackfruit are options for those not eating meat. Burger fans will be glad to have made the drive.

People flock to this bustling, cramped Delray Beach food market for its incredible selection of produce, fruits, meats, fish, cheeses, and more—all at reasonable prices. There’s a bakery and a prepared food section that will cover your meals any day of the week. Come early and possibly (but possibly not) avoid the crowd.

The perfect day trip for anyone craving exotic smoothies and shakes (think soursop, passionfruit, and guava, visitors can also peruse the market and sample the extensive collection of Florida honey (avocado tree and sawgrass are favorites) and shop for fruits, veggies, and other goods.

For those willing to drive for dessert, this celebrated sweet spot in the Keys is the place to go. Choices are simple: opt for a slice of Key lime pie topped with meringue or whipped cream. There’s also pie dipped in dark chocolate and key lime lemonade.

The iconic restaurant located in Plantation Key, in the Village of Islamorada, recently reopened its doors after a lengthy expansion and renovation that includes an expanded beachfront bar and dining areas. Diners can enjoy Caribbean-inspired curries (made from scratch), Marker 88’s signature Floridian-style jerk chicken, and plenty of seafood. Wrap things up, of course, with Key lime pie.