Palm Coast Restaurants: Top 8 Spots for Local Dining and Freshness
Palm Coast – located south of Jacksonville – offers a waterfront destination along scenic A1A River and the Atlantic Ocean on Florida’s northeast coast. This location paired with handcrafted cuisine makes this one of Florida’s hidden gems, but not for long. The area’s food scene has garnered national attention, so it’s only a matter of time before foodies flock to the region. To find out why, check out the top Palm Coast restaurants.
Palm Coast Restaurants for Local Food and Friendly Service
Metro Diner
For the best breakfast in Palm Coast, head to Metro Diner. This award-winning spot has been serving delicious dishes for over 25 years, and has been featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. However, Metro Diner is not a typical dive. It focuses on contemporary techniques and fresh flavor.
For breakfast or lunch, try house favorites, Benedicts, omelets, griddles, and sandwiches. A few popular options include chicken and waffles, breakfast pie, and bissell breakfast. In addition to breakfast, Metro Diner serves dinner and has a separate kids menu.
Captain’s BBQ
Among the top Palm Coast restaurants find Captain’s BBQ, a local favorite serving Southern barbecue smoked to perfection. The people at Captain’s BBQ slow-smoke each piece in a wood-burning smoker, ensuring tenderness and rich taste.
Diners have a large selection of hearty dishes, such as St. Louis ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, chicken, turkey and sausage. In addition, customers enjoy specialties ranging from sliders to tacos and soups. Smaller portions are also available from the al la carte menu, and kids have their own options, too.
JT’s Seafood Shack
Part of Florida’s appeal is fresh seafood, much of which is caught daily by local anglers. And that’s exactly what visitors love about JT’s Seafood Shack – that and the cozy atmosphere. JT’s Seafood Shack offers a casual place to grab a meal and kick back with friendly people.
For lunch and dinner, select from wraps, sandwiches, fried platters and house specialties. Examples range from Florida crab cakes, shrimp pots, and catch of the day to ultimate steam pot. For those not into seafood, JT’s also serves burgers, wraps and salads, and has a full kids menu.
La Piazza Cafe
La Piazza Cafe provides an upscale atmosphere with family-friendly vibes. In fact, La Piazza is a family-owned and operated spot in European Village, a center for dining and shopping. The restaurant specializes in traditional Italian cuisine, making this a great spot for special occasions and date nights.
On the menu, select traditional pasta dishes, such as spaghetti and lasagna, all made with homemade sauces. Other specialties include Marsala, parmigiana, steak, pork loin and seafood medley. Diners can also order live Maine lobster three days in advance.
Mezzaluna Pizzeria
Another top Italian restaurant in Palm Coast is Mezzaluna Pizzeria. This locally owned spot has three restaurants in the area, with two in European Village and Town Center. Mezzaluna Pizzeria offers a full menu, and guests are welcome to dine-in, order to-go, or have it delivered.
Choose from antipastas, pizzas, meats, seafood and vegetarian options. Visitors are welcome to create their own pizzas, order specialty pies, or try something different. Mezzaluna Pizzeria serves heroes, pasta dishes and signature entrees, such as chicken Mezzaluna and eggplant rollatini.
Highjackers Restaurant
Find Highjackers Restaurant at Flagler County Airport, which once served as a base for Navy planes during WWII. Today, the restaurant honors the American tradition of living in “the land of the free and home of the brave.”
At Highjackers, dig into casual fare while watching planes take off and land. The menu features salads, wraps, pizza, entrees, kabobs and burgers. There’s a little something for every craving, especially for hungry travelers coming off planes.
Flagler Fish Company
Flagler Fish Company is located in nearby Flagler Beach and serves locally caught seafood and USDA beef. Visitors can shop for prime cuts to cook at home, or have in-house chefs prepare them in new ways.
Those dining inside find fish and fish-less sandwiches, entrees, wraps, fish tacos, burgers, and pasta. Try fish of the day, homemade dips, A1A catches or a hand-cut to order steak. In addition, Flagler Fish Company serves Friday breakfast and has a kids menu.
Oceanside Beach Bar and Grill
Another top restaurant in Flagler Beach is Oceanside Beach Bar and Grill. This family-owned spot has been a local favorite for over 30 years, and features recipes in Greek, Italian and American style.
Oceanside Beach Bar and Grill opens for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Early birds enjoy egg dishes, waffles and Southern-style favorites – think country-fried steak. For lunch and dinner, try burgers, gyros, po boys, Reubens, pizzas, oven-baked pastas seafood and in-house specialties.
Want to dig into these top Palm Coast restaurants? Read more about the Palm Coast-Flagler Beach area and find vacation rentals.