Southport Raw Bar

You’re probably thinking, “This is in Fort Lauderdale!” but trust us, this hidden gem is worth the drive from Miami. In the 1970s, when it opened, Fort Lauderdale was still a very undeveloped little beach town, but it was the home to one of the finest seafood restaurants in South Florida. Over the past fifty-plus years, Southport Raw Bar has served everyone from famous people to generations of residents. Carmine Ferrante and Mickey Kirtman started selling their share in the restaurant in 1998, when its three managers, Jack, Pat, and Buddy Sherman, purchased Southport Raw Bar. Among the three of them, they have almost one hundred years of experience at this restaurant, which is an impressive feat. Expect casual waterfront dining at inexpensive prices. Oysters and clams are the specialty.