4 Best Restaurants in Vero Beach, Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast

Citrus Grillhouse

$ Fodor's choice

There are rooms with a view, and then there's this view: uninterrupted sea from a wraparound veranda at the southern end of Humiston Park. Even better, the food here is a straightforward, delicious celebration of fresh and fabulous. The emphasis is on Florida seafood (don't miss the fresh snapper), with organic and gluten-free touches. Sunset lovers (and bargain hunters) rejoice over the two-course prix-fixe menu Monday through Thursday from 5 to 6 pm. A kids' menu is available.

The Tides

$$$ Fodor's choice

A charming cottage restaurant west of Ocean Drive prepares some of the best food around—not just in Vero Beach, but all of South Florida. The chefs, classically trained, give a nod to international fare with disparate dishes such as tuna tataki, Asian-inspired carpaccio with satay, penne quattro formaggi, and classic lobster bisque. The setting is effortlessly elegant (think pale-blue, coral-printed fabrics and a brick fireplace) and the service top-notch. An appetizer's two jumbo crab cakes have scarcely anything but sweet, fresh flesh; a Southern-inspired corn-and-pepper sauce naps them. Floridian fish are a focus, testament to the chef's commitment to local sourcing. Adventurous eaters may want to book the chef's table, where the chef's choice menu is paired with wines from an impressive list.

3103 Cardinal Dr., Vero Beach, Florida, 32963, USA
772-234–3966
Known For
  • fresh Florida fish
  • jumbo crab cakes with corn-and-pepper sauce
  • chef's table with wine pairings
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: No lunch, Reservations essential

Ocean Grill

$$

Opened in 1941, this family-owned Old Florida–style restaurant combines its ocean view with Tiffany-style lamps, wrought-iron chandeliers, and paintings of pirates. Count on at least three kinds of seafood any day on the menu, along with steaks, pork chops, soups, and salads. The house drink is "Pusser's Painkiller"—a curious blend first mixed by British sailors in the Virgin Islands and rationed in a tin cup. It commemorates the 1894 wreck of the Breconshire, which occurred offshore and from which 34 British sailors escaped.

1050 Beachland Blvd., Vero Beach, Florida, 32963, USA
772-231–5409
Known For
  • just OK food
  • great drinks
  • the Pusser's Painkiller
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed 2 wks around Labor Day. No lunch Sun.

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The Lemon Tree

$

If Italy had old-school luncheonettes, this is what they'd look like: a storefront of yellow walls, dark-green booths, white linoleum tables, and cascading sconces of faux ivy leaves and hand-painted Tuscan serving pieces for artwork. It's self-described by the husband-and-wife owners (who are always at the front) as an "upscale diner," and locals swear by it for breakfast (served all day) and lunch. Expect a short wait any day in season at peak hours. There's always a treat on the house, like a glass of sorbet to finish lunch; and don't miss the shrimp scampi—the sauce is so good, you'll want to dip every bit of the fresh focaccia in it.

3125 Ocean Dr., Vero Beach, Florida, 32963, USA
772-231–0858
Known For
  • shrimp scampi
  • treats on the house
  • waits during the high season
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: No dinner