Restaurant Review: Cap's Island Restaurant in Lighthouse Point, Florida

If you boat on the Intracoastal in the Hillsboro, Boca area in Florida you are familiar with what looks like a little shanty but is actually Caps Place Island Restaurant. It's a shabby little place from the outside. It still has storm damage on the intracoastal side.It serves a lot of all American fare and excellent fish. It's a well known landmark in the area. From the water it looks like an abandoned shack but it's a popular historical eatery.

They serve lobster, steak and native seafoods like Wahoo, Dolphin, Cobia, Snapper and of course, Stone Crab. The Oysters and Clams are shucked right at the clam bar (6 Oysters $7.95 )while you wait. The heart of palm salad ($111.95) is made from the palms of Sbal trees that grow locally. A really charming feature is that you can access the restaurant on their own little shuttle boat. You can catch the shuttle at the Lighthouse Point Marina. This boat ride over makes going there even more special. There is ample parking at the dock when you boat over.

Cap's Island Restaurant is actually Florida's oldest restaurant. It's been in business since the 1920's. It really looks like they haven't changed a bit since then. In the 30's it was a gambling casino. It is just loaded with old charm and wonderful stories.Cap had his own fishing fleet and fish market in Pompano and was a runaway at the age of 13. He had quite a background. His brother was a Lighthouse Keeper. He was a rum runner in the day and would sink the rum outide in the water and haul it up as the orders came in. He also got in trouble with the law for serving turtle eggs.

Cap's Island is right near the Hillsboro Inlet within eyesight of the lighthouse. It was put together by Cap and Lola Knight and a friend Al Hasis and floated into place. Now their children run it. In 1990 Cap's Place was listed as a historical site on the National Register of Historic Places.

We pass Cap's every time we go out in our boat and we finally decided to eat there. It's pricey but it's historical and you have to go at least once if you live in the area or are visiting. This crazy looking place had been through the Roaring twenties, Prohibition and the Depression. . The restaurant is just a gold mine of interesting stories. The bar is made of Bamboo. The sea grape jelly they serve comes from local sea grape trees. Eat outside and watch the boats go by on the Intracoastal or eat inside in air conditioning. Each area has it's ambience. I always prefer outside eating.

The seating is high backed wooden booths, Along the walls are photographs and memorabilia. The bar is has a strange, large, carved wooden decorative piece whiah I was told is the bow-sprit from a Spanish galleon. There are numerous artifacts around and odd pieces scavenged from the sea.These have been here as long as the restaurant has. The bar is dark and homey, nothing fancy here but this place has entertained many famous people, the Vanderbilts, Casey Stengl, Joe DiMaggio and more. Franklin Roosevelt had secret war meetings here with Winston Churchill.

In season they're open 7 days a week, off season it's 6 days.

You can have your fish any number of ways, deep fried, cooked in a court bouillion broth,blackened or pan fired. The catch of the day is always a choice and is extremely fresh. It was probably swimming around that morning. I went for the broiled scallops which were sweet and delicious. There is also filet mignon or chicken available. The menu is rather all American with a leaning toward fish.

Get the home made lime pie for desert ($6.95) One piece is enough for a group.There is also a children's menu. This is a family friendly place.

The food is wonderful the history is fascinating, It's a must see place.