Life slows down during the summer on the Treasure Coast.
With the snowbirds flying (or driving) north away from the heat, local restaurants typically take a hit during the slower summer months.
That means it’s up to the locals to support small business by eating some of the best food in Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties.
Seafood outdoors
It’s time to enjoy an ice-cold beer and a pile of chilled peel-and-eat shrimp. Check out some of these 80 Treasure Coast restaurants that have seafood and outdoor seating.
Seafood outdoors:Seafood restaurants with outdoor dining to celebrate summer
Waterfront restaurants
Enjoy an ocean view despite the heat at waterfront restaurants with outdoor seating across the Treasure Coast.
Waterfront outdoors:Try these waterfront restaurants with outdoor dining
Vegan, vegetarian
Be healthy and get beach-body ready for the summer at one of the few strictly vegan (no animal products) or vegetarian (no meat) restaurants locally.
Healthy food:Find vegan, vegetarian, organic at these Treasure Coast restaurants
Fine dining
Make a reservation for a table for two. Fine dining and gourmet food can be found across the Treasure Coast. Here’s a long list of some of your best bets for date night.
Fine dining:Where to find best fine dining for date night on Treasure Coast
Coffee
Enjoy a cold brew or iced latte at one of the 23 Treasure Coast coffeehouses and coffee shops listed while you read about their history.
Coffee:Treasure Coast coffeehouses serve as ‘Schools of the Wise’
Chicken wings
Chicken wings go hand-in-hand with football, but they’re especially delicious during the summer. Here’s where you can find the best chicken wings on the Treasure Coast.
Chicken wings:Where to find best chicken wings on Treasure Coast
Cuban food
Traditional Cuban cuisine includes beans, rice, plantains, yucca, pork, chicken and beef. Here’s where to find authentic Cuban food on the Treasure Coast.
Cuban food:7 authentic, traditional Cuban restaurants on Treasure Coast
Indian food
The Treasure Coast is home to five Indian restaurants: one in Vero Beach, two in Port St. Lucie and two in Stuart. All serve authentic, traditional Indian cuisine.
Indian food:5 restaurants with authentic, traditional cuisine
Soul food
Soul food is food from the soul, for the soul. But only a handful of soul food restaurants can be found in Fort Pierce and Vero Beach.
Soul food:Chitlins, oxtail, other soul food are served up daily locally
Greek food
The best taste of the Mediterranean comes to town only once a year at the Fort Pierce Greek Festival at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. But before and after the festival, you still can enjoy authentic Greek cuisine and pastries at these nine restaurants in Stuart, Port St. Lucie and Vero Beach.
Greek food:9 restaurants serve authentic Mediterranean on Treasure Coast
Polish food
Pierogies. Kielbasa. Stuffed cabbage. Hunter’s stew. Poppy seed rolls. Eastern European restaurants can be difficult to find on the Treasure Coast, but these four authentic ones were found in St. Lucie, Indian River and Martin counties.
Polish food:4 local restaurants serve authentic taste of Central, Eastern Europe
Irish food
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day all year by eating Irish food at the six restaurants and pubs across the Treasure Coast that offer authentic fare. Here’s where to get corned beef and cabbage, bangers and mash — and even Irish “hot pockets.”
Irish food:Irish pubs that serve Irish hot pockets and other traditional fare
Chocolate
When it comes to chocolate made on the Treasure Coast, it’s about quality, not quantity. While many stores and shops sell chocolates, only a handful of businesses in St. Lucie, Martin and Indian River counties actually make the sweet treat themselves.
Chocolate:These five chocolate-makers create their own sweets on the Treasure Coast
Laurie K. Blandford is TCPalm’s entertainment reporter and columnist dedicated to finding the best things to do on the Treasure Coast. Follow her on Twitter @TCPalmLaurie and Facebook @TCPalmLaurie. Email her at [email protected]. Sign up for her What To Do in 772 weekly newsletter at profile.tcpalm.com/newsletters/manage.
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