"Perfect if you like:Garcia’s SeafoodGarcia’s brand of old, salty, wooden waterfront dining is slowly going extinct in Miami. But not so in Broward. The county rich in canals has more casual waterfront options, but none we love quite as much as Southport. Just like Garcia’s, this place is old-school, embraces sandals, and really puts their fryers to work. Sit outside if a view of the water is important to you. But the stuck-in-time dining room is pretty fun, too." - Ryan Pfeffer, Mariana Trabanino
"Fun fact time: not only is Fort Lauderdale one of the yachting capitals of North America, but the city also has hundreds of miles of navigable waterways. This not only explains the amount of yachties you’re likely to match with on Tinder while in town, but also why eating seafood on the water is such a Fort Lauderdale thing. There’s no better place to do that than at Southport, a salty old seafood spot with waterfront seating and excellent seafood. The dining room has a charming nautical aesthetic, but you really want to sit outside on the dock. When it’s time to order, get anything that used to swim and is now fried. A frozen rum rummer isn’t a bad idea either." - ryan pfeffer, virginia otazo
"Its “Eat Fish, Live Longer … Eat Oysters, Love Longer …” bumper stickers are practically Fort Lauderdale lore. This low-key canal-side shack draws locals for its shuck-to-order raw bar and salty-air views. Mussels, clams, and oysters are the heroes here, best washed down with a cold beer on the dock. No pretension here, folks."
"If it’s your turn to drive to Broward, you might as well engage in one of Fort Lauderdale’s great pleasures: eating fried shrimp very close to a canal. There’s no better place to do that than at Southport, a salty old seafood spot with waterfront seating and excellent seafood. The dining room has a charming nautical aesthetic, but you really want to sit outside on the dock. When it’s time to order, get anything that used to swim and is now fried. A frozen rum rummer isn’t a bad idea either." - ryan pfeffer
"As unpretentious as it gets, you’ve seen this spot’s bumper stickers in South Florida and well beyond, “Eat fish, live longer; eat oysters, love longer; eat clams, last longer.” In 2024, the Cordova Road mainstay celebrated its 50th year in business, a testament to being a favorite for its raw bar and boater-friendliness."