South Florida Restaurant and Bar — Restaurant in Port Saint Lucie

I was having some work done in the Bayshore/Crosstown area on a Monday and I needed to "use up" some time. It was noon and I thought I'd stop by South Florida Restaurant off of Bayshore and grab something to eat. Flag outside said breakfast. I thought ok! I walked in and the place was empty and kind of dark but there were two men behind the counter. I asked if they were open and one man, Jackson, said they were normally closed on Monday but asked if he could make me something to eat. He offered me a menu and I asked for a bottle of water. I looked over the menu and I can't read too well the older I get so I was undecided. I felt bad because they were closed. I noticed Jackson had an accent. He told me he was from Haiti. I asked him what he would eat. He told me a few dishes and I picked the oxtail. Never had it but Jackson looked like he knew exactly what I needed. Out came a bowl of oxtail and vegetables, rice and beans, and a white cabbage slaw w/ bonnet peppers. My first taste was if it was a delicious roast. The more I ate the more I loved it. The rice beans w yellow pepper was delicious. It was the slaw I fell in love with. I looked up the recipe for it, and the oxtail and both were pretty complicated dishes to make, but Jackson enjoyed it as much as I did. We sat in the darkened restaurant and talked for probably 40 minutes or more. Discussing family, the Commonwealth of Dominica and his wonderful family. It was like meeting a friend you hadn't seen in years. Sadly I had to go back to the auto shop. Jackson said he kind of made the dishes quickly but upon my promised return he would show me the real way the dishes were prepared. Oh, I'll be back! Don't let my having oxtail worry you, the menu is complete with all types of American foods also. I specifically asked for something Haitian and cooked the way he would eat it. I'd get the exact same thing! You'll notice Jackson he does everything in the place. And one of the most genuinely nice person I've met in Florida. Way to go Jackson....

Terrific food and customer service. We enjoyed a late lunch (1:30PM) and were looking for good local cooking with both sandwiches and meals. This place is a real find. The breakfast is served all day, which is nice for those so inclined. The lunch has a terrific variety of sandwiches and hamburgers. Both breakfast and lunch are generally "American" style. The dinners are also available at this time and have a more Haitian/Caribbean flair.

I ordered the (specialty) stewed turkey with Caribbean rice and beans, fried plantains, and Haitian pikliz. The turkey was clearly slow cooked and absolutely delicious. And virtually no salt for those watching this. I have never had pikliz. It is essentially cole slaw with spicy Haitian pepper. The pepper was a real treat - I am a big hot pepper fan but have not tasted anything like this. It has heat (I would say medium hot) with a very interesting spicy flavor. Nothing like the traditional jalapeno, cayenne, or habanero.

Others had the California wrap - grilled chicken breast, bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado, and cheddar cheese on a pita wrap. All portions were “ginormous”. With all due respect to all the women out there, nobody at our table could eat both halves. A nice second meal.

My suspicion is that this is a true family affair. The server – David – was super attentive and friendly. He wanted to know everybody’s name so he could serve us by name. Others were also watching to be sure the service was great. They told us that all ingredients are fresh and local, except the bread which is purchased from a bakery down the road. It certainly tasted as much.

I recommend 100% that you check...

We drove up from Key Largo and wanted to stop and get a good meal. I was unfamiliar with the area and looked up restaurants near me. This gem popped up and after looking at the reviews and menu I thought we should try it. This was probably one of the best dinning experiences we have had. We were instantly greeted by Raphael who was the best server I have ever encountered. He was so attentive and polite. We didn't have to wait for anything as he was consistently asking us if we needed anything. Every request was met with a smile and such a refreshing pleasant attitude. The restaurant itself is quaint and very very clean. The bathroom was also very clean which was a delightful surprise after our long trip. The food was absolutely amazing. My husband had the bacon cheeseburger and fries. He said it was the best burger he ever had. It looked just like the picture. Magazine worthy. I had the turkey avacodo wrap. The portion was so big it is easily two portions. I also had a side of mashed potatoes. They were so smooth and creamy and hot! The drinks were huge and had that really good ice. The chef came out and asked us how everything was. We told him how extremely pleased we were and couldn't rave enough on the food. When it was time for the bill we were shocked at how reasonable it was. For the amount of food, flavor and price this place outshines any place we have ever eaten. They have a huge menu with loads of options. They even serve breakfast...