America Voted for Stuart
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meeting. It is polished without becoming formal and works particularly well before a performance at e Lyric.
e Ga ord, a few doors from the theater, is another downtown favorite with a menu that gives local ingredients a Southern accent. Pretzel-crusted local snapper arrives with honey-Dijon beurre blanc, Mabel’s fried chicken is served with black-dot gravy and garlic mashed potatoes, and the signature 20-ounce bone-in ribeye settles any concern that a coastal town must survive entirely on grouper. For a meal directly beside the water, Stuart Boathouse pairs broad St. Lucie River views with seafood, sushi, steaks and cocktails. A table outside brings passing boats into the entertainment, including captains who approach the dock with varying degrees of con dence. CoLab Kitchen, near the Creek District, o ers a more relaxed farm-to-table setting with a large lawn, covered patio, re pits and seasonal New American cooking. Menus change, but dishes have included potato-encrusted snapper with sweet corn purée, seared yellow n tuna with kimchi and bacon fried rice, local vegetables and a popular weekend brunch. Sailor’s Return at Sunset Bay Marina is another strong choice for guests who want dinner among yachts, palms and dock lights. e atmosphere is decidedly coastal, with seafood, steaks and nightly specials served beside one of Stuart’s busiest marinas. Reservations are sensible during winter and spring, when seasonal residents and visitors suddenly remember every restaurant at approximately the same hour. Water is not merely a backdrop here. Stuart sits at the eastern end of the Okeechobee Waterway, with the St. Lucie Inlet providing access to the Atlantic, and boats are woven into daily life. e city was ocially recognized as the “Sail sh Capital of the World” in 1957 a er decades of attracting o shore anglers. Visitors can book a deep-sea
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14 Coastal Pearl Living - TREASURE
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