Restaurants in Port Saint Lucie

Chef Fritz Cassel constantly imagines up creative dishes to complement his eclectic, ever-changing menus. Servers transport his small plates and inventive gastro-pub dishes—such as mussels, gourmet sandwiches, and cheesy grits—to tables already supplied with complimentary baskets of housemade potato chips. Beneath a lofted ceiling lit by artistic pendant lamps and chandeliers, bartenders pour craft beers and mixed drinks as well as concoct potent adult milkshakes that pair perfectly with a copy of the latest _ Hardy Men_ mystery novel.

Fresh, seasonal ingredients, harmonious flavors, artful presentation, and eclectic gastronomic touches are the core tenets behind Patio Delray's tropical-inspired menu. The creative bill of fare highlights fresh local seafood—including Florida blue-crab cakes and a catch du jour—as well as Asian-inspired dishes such as braised boneless beef short ribs that the Sun Sentinel praised as "slow-prepared to practically dissolve in your mouth." Sunday brunch pairs premium libations with inventive takes on breakfast classics, such as the blue crab cake benedict, which features petit Florida blue crab cakes topping a croissant and covered with a béarnaise sauce. An intimate purple-and-gray bar pours more than 30 craft and local beers, plus a menu of specialty cocktails and martinis, each one devised by owner Miss Lily.

Patio Delray’s namesake space—a covered outdoor patio area—situates diners amid lush tropical plants and casual patio tables, and an interior dining room offers a more refined experience, complete with crisp white tablecloths, silk draperies, and forks that whisper in French. The yellow-and-orange walls are made all the more colorful with the addition of artwork from Dr. Mark H. Widick, a local photographer who captures cityscapes, space-shuttle launches, and vivid underwater scenes in vibrant high-resolution images.

At the family-owned Nick's 50's Diner, you’ll find time-period specific memorabilia, including celebrity photographs and illustrated advertisements, as well as a 1955 Seeburg Juke Box. Red diner booths and checkerboard floors complete the scene. This is a spot where people can grow nostalgic for another time—or to simply enjoy the era’s delicious food. The diner serves classic burgers, sandwiches, and breakfast eats, and Nick and his cooks make everything by hand. They’ll go as far as roasting their own turkeys and beef, slicing them onto sandwiches and transforming the rest into delicious gravies. Finish with a treat from the soda jerk, perhaps an old-fashioned shake or an egg cream.

Brewzzi funnels its German influences into a lineup of craft microbrews to complement its bistro-style menu. The brewmaster crafts lagers, ales, and seasonal beers right onsite. In the open kitchen, chefs feed flatbread bruschetta and hand-stretched pizza dough to a hungry brick oven, and craft ranch burgers filled with Angus beef, bacon, monterey jack cheese, and dreams of running away to join the circus concession stand.

Fish have to fly in order to reach Bistro. Fresh from Europe, the Dover sole arrives ready for chefs to pan sear, fillet, and artfully garnish with almond potato cakes and asparagus tips. This dish spotlights one of the more literal examples of European influence on the menu, but more subtle influences, according to a 2004 review in the Palm Beach Post, consist of "ingredients you may have at home prepared perfectly in a way you'd never contemplate." The feature emphasizes the "gentle touch" of the chef, whose expertise ensures that the lobster tails from Maine leave the broiler at exactly the right moment.

The same attention to detail has stocked the Zagat-rated restaurant’s expansive wine cellar. Countries such as France, Germany, Italy, and Argentina contribute libations to the list, which pairs robust glasses with entrees to ensure that the flavors of the veal escalope or beef Wellington pop appropriately. A sunny, canary-yellow dining room frames these flavors, gracing eyes with photographs, pressed-tin ceilings, and lamp-clad chandeliers. Outside, a brick patio takes shelter under a pinstripe awning, warming cool nights with space heaters and accompanying meals with the gurgles of a shallow pond and the haunting songs of the abandoned reflections therein.