Florida Dining Guide for UK Visitors

Cuban Sandwich

The official sandwich of Tampa (and claimed by Miami). Pressed pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and yellow mustard on Cuban bread. Simple, perfect, and addictive. Available everywhere from gas stations to fine dining restaurants. The best ones come from Tampa (Columbia Restaurant, La Segunda Central Bakery) and Miami (Versailles, any Little Havana ventanita).

Stone Crab

Season: October 15 to May 15. Fishermen harvest one claw (the crab regenerates it) and return the crab to the water. The claws are served cold with mustard sauce. Sweet, delicate, and very Floridian. Available at seafood restaurants statewide during season, but Joe's Stone Crab in Miami Beach is the most famous serving.

Key Lime Pie

Florida's official state pie. Made with key lime juice, egg yolks, and sweetened condensed milk on a graham cracker crust. It should be pale yellow (never green — green means artificial colouring). The best are creamy, tart, and served cold. Key West claims ownership, but every Florida restaurant serves a version.

Grouper Sandwich

Grouper is Florida's signature fish — mild, white, flaky, and substantial. Served fried (beer-battered, golden, crispy), blackened (coated in Cajun spices, pan-seared), or grilled on a bun with slaw and tartar sauce. Frenchy's in Clearwater Beach is legendary for it.

Conch Fritters

Deep-fried balls of conch (a marine snail) meat mixed with peppers, onion, and batter. Served with a cocktail or remoulade sauce. Found at most coastal restaurants, especially in the Keys.

Gator Bites

Deep-fried alligator nuggets. The meat is firm and mild, somewhere between chicken and white fish. Available at seafood shacks and airboat tour stops throughout Central and South Florida. Worth trying at least once.

Pub Sub

Not a traditional Florida food but a modern essential. Publix (a supermarket chain beloved by Floridians) makes custom deli subs that have achieved cult status. A chicken tender sub is the most famous. Cheap, generous, and available at any Publix — there's one on practically every corner.

Seafood Shacks

Casual, often waterfront, usually good value. Paper plates, plastic forks, fried fish, cold beer. This is where locals eat. Look for places near fishing docks where the catch comes off the boats.

Cuban Restaurants

Concentrated in Miami (Little Havana, Hialeah) and Tampa (Ybor City) but found statewide. Typically family-run, generous portions, and excellent value. Rice, beans, sweet plantains (maduros), and roast pork feature heavily.

American Chains

Some American chains are worth a visit because they're rare or absent in the UK, or different from their UK branches:

• Chick-fil-A — The cult chicken chain. Try the original chicken sandwich and waffle fries
• Waffle House — Diner culture at its finest. Open 24/7. Hash browns scattered, smothered, covered, and chunked
• Cracker Barrel — Southern comfort food and a general store. Country-fried steak, biscuits and gravy, sweet tea
• Publix — The supermarket deli sub (see above)
• Cheesecake Factory — A 250-item menu and portions that defeat most humans

Fine Dining

Florida has serious fine dining, particularly in Miami (Ariete, Stubborn Seed), Tampa (Bern's Steak House), and the Palm Beach area. Prices are comparable to London — expect 100+ per person at top restaurants.

Tipping

This bears repeating because it's the single biggest cultural adjustment:

• 15-20% of the pre-tax total at sit-down restaurants. 20% is standard for good service
• Tip is NOT included in the bill (unlike some UK restaurants that add a service charge)
• Many restaurants now present suggested tip amounts on the bill (18%, 20%, 22%)
• Not tipping is considered deeply offensive — servers earn as little as $2.13/hour base pay and rely on tips

Sales Tax

The price on the menu is NOT the price you pay. Florida sales tax (6-7.5%) is added at the bill. So a 50 meal becomes about 54 before tip.

The Maths of a Florida Meal

For British visitors budgeting in pounds:

• Menu price $50 (for two)
• Plus 7% tax (the combined rate in Miami-Dade) = $53.50
• Plus 20% tip on the pre-tax amount = $63.50
• Convert the total at the day's exchange rate, not the menu price: the bill is about 27% higher than the number you first saw

Budget roughly 25-30% above menu price for the actual cost.

Portion Sizes

American portions are significantly larger than British portions. A main course in most restaurants is enough food for 1.5-2 UK meals. Strategies:

• Share starters — One starter between two is often sufficient
• Doggy bags — Taking leftovers home (or to your hotel) is completely normal and expected. Ask your server for a "to-go box"
• Lunch specials — Many restaurants offer smaller, cheaper portions at lunch
• Appetisers as mains — Ordering a starter as your main course is perfectly acceptable

Drinks

• Free refills on soft drinks at most restaurants (tea, coffee, and fountain sodas)
• Iced tea — The default tea in the US is served cold and sweet. Specify "hot tea" if you want a cuppa (don't expect quality — bring your own teabags)
• No drinking age exception — 21 to drink, no exceptions, even if you're 41 and look it. Bring photo ID
• Water — Tap water is free at all restaurants and safe to drink

Breakfast

American breakfast is an event:

• Pancakes, bacon, eggs, hash browns — The standard American breakfast is a British fry-up's larger, sweeter cousin
• Biscuits and gravy — Not what you think. "Biscuits" are savoury scones; "gravy" is a thick, peppery sausage cream sauce. A heavy but popular Southern breakfast
• Diners — American diners serve breakfast all day. IHOP, Denny's, and Waffle House are ubiquitous. Local diners are usually better

Allergies and Dietary Requirements

US restaurants are generally very accommodating of dietary requirements and allergies — more so than many UK restaurants. Most menus mark allergens and offer gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options. Ask your server — they're trained to handle it.