Southpaw Brewing Company — Restaurant in Port Saint Lucie

Disappointed by the Hype: A Review of Southpaw Brewery

Let’s start by saying this isn’t about personal taste—because, as the old Latin phrase reminds us, de gustibus non disputandum est (there’s no arguing about taste). Still, on June 12, my wife and I dined at Southpaw Brewery, and unfortunately, it didn’t live up to expectations.

The menu looked promising, and their approach to beer is certainly creative. But beyond that, both the food and the drinks were underwhelming—and overpriced. If we had to choose, the drinks were marginally better than the food, but that’s not a high bar.

Between the two of us, we have over 50 years of experience in the hospitality industry—working in 4- and 5-star hotels, on cruise ships, and in restaurants across the globe. We've experienced the full range of dining, from Michelin-starred spots to street food stalls. For the record, my wife’s favorite guilty pleasure is still a Costco hotdog: not haute cuisine, but consistently good and perfectly priced. So yes, our expectations may be seasoned—but they’re not unreasonable.

Perhaps we no longer fit the target demographic. We’re not likely to perch at the bar for hours nursing cocktails, and that seemed obvious to the staff, given the lack of attention we received. We came in ready to support a new local option, excited about a fresh addition to the neighborhood—but that excitement faded fast.

If you're looking for genuinely good food and thoughtful service, we recommend Pastaio—but skip the one in Tradition. Head to the Palm City location instead. There, you'll find well-executed dishes, attentive staff, and prices that feel right for...

The concept seems nice but hopefully the disappointing experience we had was due to opening weekend and learning the ropes.

$80 dollars for 1 beer, 1 salad and 1 grilled cheese seems a bit steep. Walking you through the experience, the indoor seating area music was loud and made it difficult to have a conversation, so we sat outside. Upon sitting down, we were informed the ice machine was broken. However, the waitress was wonderful and did her best considering the circumstances. Next, we had to ask the hostess for silverware because we were never brought any.

After waiting 45 minutes and still no food, we asked for our food to go so we could at least enjoy our meals at home and be able to speak to each other and not be in the Florida heat as the long wait started to sink in. About 15 minutes later, our food arrived and the short drive home we were ready to enjoy the meal.

The underwhelming grilled chicken salad didn’t have the chicken cut and was something I could have made at home for a fraction of the price.

The grilled cheese and tater tot meal was soggy and the tater tots didn’t seem to be seasoned. My husband took one bite and ended up opting for a lunchables from the fridge instead of the expensive grilled cheese. The waitress was the saving grace of this of this experience, she handled the opening weekend...

My fiancée and I had dinner at Southpaw Brewing Company and overall had a great time. We started with the short rib nachos (highly recommend!) and then had the Bacon Bleu Burger and Drunken Vodka Pizza—both were excellent and came in generous portions. We also ordered cocktails and a beer flight to get a feel for their drink offerings.

Service was friendly and attentive, especially impressive given that they haven’t been open long and it was a reasonably busy night.

One downside was the beer selection. We immediately noticed a beer on tap from Hop Life, a nearby brewery we’re very familiar with and enjoy visiting. When we asked, our server mentioned that Southpaw brews their beers at Hop Life and that the one beer still carrying the Hop Life name was probably one of theirs. After comparing menus and tasting the flight, it seemed like all Southpaw's beers were just rebranded Hop Life offerings. While we like Hop Life, we were hoping for something original from a place that calls itself a brewing company.

Prices also felt a bit high for this style of restaurant, especially given the lack of unique house beers. Still, the food and service made it a pleasant experience overall. Worth a visit if you’re in the area, though local craft beer enthusiasts may find themselves...