The Top 5 Restaurants in South Florida - Tales From South Florida: History of the People and Places That Shaped South Florida

Summary6 min read

Podcast Summary

Podcast: Tales From South Florida: History of the People and Places That Shaped South Florida
Episode: The Top 5 Restaurants in South Florida
Host: Bill Monty
Date: June 23, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode of Tales From South Florida, host Bill Monty takes a flavorful detour from local lore and history to serve up the definitive list of the top five must-visit restaurants in South Florida. Based on a listener and community poll, Bill walks through these iconic establishments, sharing their unique histories, memorable menu highlights, and a few personal anecdotes, offering both nostalgia and practical recommendations for locals and first-time visitors alike.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction and Methodology

Approach: Bill introduces the episode as a “Meals from South Florida” special, where the top five restaurants are chosen based on listener surveys (00:14).
Disclaimer: “I have no affiliation with any of the restaurants that were chosen here at all. I don’t get any kickback. I don’t get any free meals. I don’t get a free drink.” (01:13)

#5: Mai Kai, Fort Lauderdale

History:
- Opened in 1956 by brothers Bob and Jack Thornton, inspired by Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic’s (02:06).
- Original building cost $350,000, making it the most expensive U.S. restaurant built that year.
- Sold more rum than any other Florida venue for years.
Experience:
- “If you've been there, you know they’ve got great food, huge drinks. It features a Polynesian show complete with fire twirlers.” (02:50)
- Recently reopened after a major $20 million renovation due to a burst pipe and delays from COVID closure.
- Fun fact: “Mai Kai in Hawaiian, it means ‘the best’? Unfortunately not for this particular survey.” (03:20)

#4: 15th Street Fisheries, Fort Lauderdale

History & Setting:
- Opened in 1978, located in the Lauderdale Marina, celebrated for its scenic setting on the water (03:28).
- Guests can view tarpon, yachts, and often enjoy live performances outside.
Dining Options:
- “You can dine informally on the first floor, the lower deck, close to the water—that’s my favorite spot—or experience a more formal setting upstairs.” (04:16)
- Personal recommendation: Host’s favorite spot for Father’s Day.
Atmosphere:
- “If you’re there in the evening, there’s really nothing like it… It really is a fantastic evening or a fantastic afternoon lunch.” (04:04)

#3: Joe’s Stone Crab, Miami

Prestige:
- Legendary, high-profile restaurant known for stone crab claws and key lime pie (04:52).
- “Visited by every celebrity, politician—hey, anyone who’s someone goes to Joe’s.”
Host’s Note:
- Bill admits, “I’ve never been there myself, even though I’ve lived here since 1965. But folks, I’m a poor podcaster.” (05:00)
- Reputation cemented in fine dining guides and television features.

#2: Jackson’s Ice Cream Parlor, Dania Beach

Nostalgia Factor:
- Iconic ice cream parlor established in 1956, famous for retro décor and novelty menu items (05:56).
Memorable Offerings:
- “I just watched a YouTube video the other night where a vlog was in Jackson’s Ice Cream Parlor and ordered the enormous world’s largest hot dog—and friends, that has got to be one of the biggest hot dogs I’ve ever seen.” (06:18)
- The “Kitchen Sink” dessert: “It comes complete with pipes and consists of four or more flavors of ice cream, whipped cream, strawberry, raspberries, bananas, nuts, and well, everything. I think I gained four pounds just talking about it.” (06:40)
Atmosphere: Decorated with license plates and classic Americana, holds “many fond memories” for locals.

Notable Runners-Up

Brunch at the Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables:
- “It’s expensive but it is well worth it.” (07:27)
Aruba’s Beach Cafe:
- A beloved beachside spot, “I don’t believe I’ve ever been to Aruba’s and based on the comments I should maybe think about giving it a visit.” (07:35)
Le Tub, Hollywood:
- Known for great hamburgers, “If you thought the kitchen sink was something in Jackson’s, wait until you see... Look, you just gotta go.” (07:54)

#1: Rustic Inn Crab House, Fort Lauderdale

History & Signature:
- Opened in 1955. Began as a “hole-in-the-wall saloon,” now renowned for garlic crabs and waterfront dining (08:13).
Menu Highlight:
- “It does serve up… some of the best garlic crabs to be found anywhere. …The last time that I was there I had the fish and chips and I have got to say the best fried fish I’ve had at any restaurant in a long time in South Florida.” (08:24)
Experience:
- Casual, noisy, and crowded, but legendary. Voted top place to give a visitor the quintessential South Florida seafood experience.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Mai Kai’s Return:
- “The Mai Kai did reopen though, in December of 2024 after a 20 million dollar renovation. And it’s just waiting for you to bring your friends and have a great time, great food and see a great show.” (02:56)
On 15th Street Fisheries:
- “If you’re lucky enough to be sitting outside when they have the performer out there singing some songs, some yacht rock, some Jimmy Buffett, crisscross—it really is a fantastic evening or a fantastic afternoon lunch.” (04:05)
Personal Touch (Joe’s Stone Crab):
- “I’ve never been there myself… but folks, I’m a poor podcaster.” (05:01)
Jackson’s Kitchen Sink:
- “This is an ice cream dessert delivered in a real sink. It comes complete with pipes and consists of four more flavors of ice cream, whipped cream, strawberry, raspberries, bananas, nuts and well, everything.” (06:40)
On Rustic Inn Crab House:
- “The best fried fish I’ve had at any restaurant in a long time in South Florida.” (08:30)

Timestamps for Key Segments

00:14 – Episode introduction and methodology
02:06 – Mai Kai history and features
03:28 – 15th Street Fisheries setting and host’s personal recollection
04:52 – Joe’s Stone Crab legend and host’s admittance
05:56 – Jackson’s Ice Cream Parlor nostalgia and highlights
07:27 – Runners-up commentary
08:13 – Rustic Inn Crab House: history, experiences, and menu

Closing

Bill closes by inviting listeners to share their own favorites, visit talesfromsouthflorida.com, and listen to more episodes filled with local color and forgotten stories:

“If not, scroll on down, leave me a 90 second voicemail… let me know your favorite restaurants.” (09:12)
Encourages sharing, subscribing, and staying safe and kind. (09:55)

Summary Table: The Top 5 Restaurants

| Rank | Restaurant | Location | Highlight | |------|---------------------------------|--------------------|----------------------------------------------------| | 1 | Rustic Inn Crab House | Fort Lauderdale | Garlic crabs, best fried fish, waterfront dining | | 2 | Jackson’s Ice Cream Parlor | Dania Beach | Retro, “Kitchen Sink” dessert, family nostalgia | | 3 | Joe’s Stone Crab | Miami | Stone crab claws, celebrity clientele | | 4 | 15th Street Fisheries | Fort Lauderdale | Scenic marina, casual dining, waterfront views | | 5 | Mai Kai | Fort Lauderdale | Polynesian show, tiki history, tropical cocktails |

For Newcomers and Locals Alike

This episode is a delight for foodies and history buffs, mixing local lore with mouth-watering recommendations and a generous dash of Bill Monty’s signature storytelling wit. Whether you’re planning a trip or reliving memories, it’s a can’t-miss tour of South Florida’s most legendary eateries.

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Transcript3 lines

[00:01]
A
These are the Tales from South Florida for you with your host, Bill Monte.
[00:14]
B
Hello, my friends, and welcome to Tales from South Florida. I am your host, Bill Monti. We're going to have an episode that's a little bit different today than the other episodes that you're used to hearing. We might even be calling this episode Meals from South Florida. It recently came up in a conversation that if you had a friend coming to South Florida for the first time, what would be the top five restaurants that you would choose to take them to? Well, I put that out there to my listeners and to some other folks in a survey, and I'm about to give you the top five restaurants in South Florida that you should be visiting for a special occasion or if you've got that special friend coming in who's never enjoyed what we have to offer down here. Here's the places that your neighbors say you should be taking them to. Now, I want to start by saying I have no affiliation with any of the restaurants that were chosen here at all. I don't get any kickback. I don't get any free meals. I don't get a free drink. However, if you are a restaurant listening to this and you like where you were placed, feel free to contact me. I do take a bribe. Well, all right. So let's get this show started, shall we? In the number five spot was the Mai Kai. World famous Mai Kai. As you know, it just recently reopened, but it originally opened in 1956. Brothers Bob and Jack Thornton were inspired by their visits to Don the Beachcomber in Chicago and Trader Vic's in San Francisco, and wanted to open something similar in beautiful Fort Lauderdale. The original restaurant was built at a cost of $350,000, making it the most expensive restaurant built in the United States in 1956. In its first year, it made $1 million and sold more rum than any other location in Florida for many years. If you've been there, you know they've got great food, huge drinks. It features a Polynesian show complete with fire twirlers. And after a burst pipe caused flooding in 2020, it closed up for repairs. Probably would have reopened sooner, but a little thing called Covid happened that might have put it in the back burner for a while. The Mai Kai did reopen though, in December of 2024 after a 20 million dollar renovation. And it's just waiting for you to bring your friends and have a great time, great food and see a great show. And in case you're wondering, Mai Kai in Hawaiian, it means the best? Unfortunately not for this particular survey. We're not to the best yet though. We're going to move on to number four and one of my personal favorite restaurants. I would have thought it would have made it higher than 4, but it's still a great restaurant to go to and that's in Fort Lauderdale. And it's the 15th Street Fisheries. It's situated inside the Lauderdale Marina. It first opened back in 1978, where it quickly became one of the most popular spots to eat in South Florida. And to me it's one of the most beautiful, beautiful restaurants you can go to. It sits right on the water. They got all those tarpon out there that you can go look at when you walk out on the dock. Beautiful yachts and boats coming by. If you're there in the evening, there's really nothing like it. If you're lucky enough to be sitting outside when they have the performer out there singing some songs, some yacht rock, some Jimmy Buffett, crisscross. It really is a fantastic evening or a fantastic afternoon lunch. Went there actually for the last Father's Day. That was my choice of places to go. It has two ways you can dine there. There's more informal dining down on the first floor, the lower deck. And for me, I like that one the best. It's close to the water. As I said, it's a little more informal. The more formal setting is upstairs. Look, this is a must go to place for a great time. But there are three other restaurants that you place before it. So we're going to move on now to our next stop at number three. For number three, we gotta jump in the car and head south to Miami. You're probably not surprised by this one at all. When we say we're gonna go to Joe's Stone Crab. Look, I've never been there myself, even though I've lived here since 1965. But folks, I'm a poor podcaster. Joe's is one of the most famous and also one of the most expensive restaurants in South Florida. It's been visited by every celebrity politic. Hey, anyone who is someone goes to Joe's. They're supposed to have the best stone crab claws that can be found anywhere. And I hear the key lime pie is the best north of the Florida Keys. It's been featured on television, fine dining guides. It's a highlight for tourists and locals alike. It is good, or so I'm told. It's really good. It's just not the best. We're not quite there yet because we've still got to make a stop at number two. Who did everyone say was the number two spot you would have to take? Someone who's never been to South Florida before and you wanted to show them something really special and really talks about what South Florida is all about. Well, everyone who voted thought that the place you should take them to is located in Dania beach and it's called Jackson's Ice Cream Parlor. It too is often featured on travel and food channels. I just watched a YouTube video the other night where a vlog was in Jackson's Ice Cream Parlor ordered the enormous world's largest hot dog and friends. That has got to be one of the biggest hot dogs I've ever seen. If George Takei were there, you can be sure he would be saying, oh my God. Jackson's Ice Cream Parlor has been around and serving ice cream since 1956 and for many of us here in South Florida, it holds many fond memories. The menu includes everything you could want but the kitchen sink. Oh wait, it does have the kitchen sink. This is an ice cream dessert delivered in a real sink. It comes complete with pipes and consists of four more flavors of ice cream, whipped cream, strawberry, raspberries, bananas, nuts and well, everything. I think I gained four pounds just talking about it. Jackson's Ice Cream Parlor has retro decor, it's fun, it's decorated with license plates and tons of nostalgia. And it is the perfect place to visit for your dessert after you visit our number one spot. But first, before giving you the listeners number one restaurant to take a first time visitor to South Florida, here are some runners up that are also great but they just didn't crack the top five. Brunch at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. The comment said it's expensive but it is well worth it. Aruba's Beach Cafe it didn't get the most votes but for those who did vote for it, I can tell you they really love this place. I don't believe I've ever been to Aruba's and based on the comments I should maybe think about giving it a visit. And then there's Latab in Hollywood on the Intercoastal across from the Margaritaville Hotel and Resort. It's a bar and grill that's a long time fave with great food. I've been to La Tubbe. It's been a long time. Those were college days. Great hamburgers, great food and a unique setting. If you thought the kitchen sink was something in Jackson's, wait until you see. Look, you just gotta Go. Okay, I'm not gonna spoil it for you. And now let's see. What is the number one place that you should take a first time visitor when they're feeling a little bit hungry? Well, It's located right off Griffin Road and I95 on Anglers Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. And it is the Rustic Inn Crab House, a fabulous seafood restaurant that started out as a little hole in the wall saloon that was back in 1955. It does serve up though, some of the best garlic crabs to be found anywhere. You can enjoy waterfront dining and a menu that's a lot more than crabs. Hey, for me, I know the last time that I was there I had the fish and chips and I have got to say the best fried fish I've had at any restaurant in a long time in South Florida, Rustic and Crab House. It's number one according to those who voted on our poll. And that's it. That's our top five. Did your favorite restaurant make the list? If not, scroll on down, leave me a 90 second voicemail. Click on that, leave me a message, link in the show notes and let me know your favorite restaurants. Or you can email me at talesfromsouthfloridamail.com I ask you to please visit talesfromsouthflorida.com to listen to more podcast episodes. Look, there's like over 40 episodes to choose from. And I highlight places and people and events from South Florida like the Hollywood Sportatorium and Pirates World and Miami Vice and that day that Key west seceded from the Union. And look, if you live down here for a long time, you know we're talking a whole lot more. It's a lot of fun. I hope you'll join me by going to Tales from South Florida Dot com. I also hope that if you enjoyed this episode that you'll hit that like you'll comment, you'll share it with your friends and family and then you'll also click that subscribe or follow button. It's free. That just notifies you when we drop a new episode of Tales from South Florida. I hope you enjoyed our little jaunt down Restaurant Row. And I want to thank you for listening and remind you, as I always do, my friends, be safe and be kind. Now let's get that full theme song playing, shall we?
[10:38]
A
Let's take a talk down memory lane. Cause the stories around here are just insane. Pirates World, Despoto and Wolfies do Palm beach the Key west, that's where we grew. These are the Tales from South Florida for you with your host, Bill Monte.