Shirttail Charlies, Fort Lauderdale

South Florida is generally known for its transient place. Few people can claim to be natives and there's little loyalty to the place where most call home for a brief time, or where they arrive later in life only to refer to somewhere else as home. But Shirttail Charlies is one of those rare exceptions which has a loyal local following. It is a little hole in the wall type place located along the Fort Lauderdale Riverfront marina. A real come as you are place as many arrive at Shirttail's by boat and sit on the outdoor patio drinking beer and eating fresh seafood. Most tourists would never find this place, prefering South Beach or the Fort Lauderdale riverfront area instead. But if you're looking to get away from the tourist type places, Shirttail's is worth a trip.

A few years ago, Shirttails was supposed to close. The area was bought by some condo developers eager to put up some more highrises in an already densely populated area. I remember talking to one of the waiters about it and he said that they didn't know if they'd make it through the month. Either Hurricane Wilma or some local pressure put a stop to that. The condos have gone up in the area, but Shirttails still stands.

Favorite Dish: Here's your chance to try some true South Florida delicacies, such as gator bites! They do taste like chicken.

Shirttail Charlies on the New River
The restaurant is hidden from the tourist crowd in a marina on the New River. It's unassuming attitude with it's paper plates and plastic utensils make this an ideal spot to come to and just while away the time. The pool is a magnet for children while the parents have a meal and drinks.