Pompano offers pure South Florida beach-town vibrance: mosaic murals, long fishing piers, sea breezes, and a food scene that blends old-guard seafood shacks with trendsetting Caribbean, Latin, and chef-driven innovation.
Its best spots draw both sun-splashed locals and savvy visitors looking for authentic flavor.
1. Beach House Pompano
A two-story stunner right on the sand, Beach House is all glass and ocean views.
There’s a retractable roof for stargazing, a buzzing crowd that moves between fire pits, and an always-fresh menu: blackened snapper sandwiches, shellfish towers, miso-glazed sea bass, and creative bowls loaded with grilled pineapple and avocado.
Brunch is an all-day party—think lobster Benedict, sticky buns, bottomless mimosas, and morning DJs. Nights, the tiki bar and fresh-caught ceviche turn dinner into a vacation.
2. Calypso Restaurant & Raw Bar
Calypso is that legendary Florida-Caribbean dive where the conch fritters come hot, the jerk chicken makes you sweat, and the rum punch flows.
Daily chalkboard specials (oxtail stew, pepper shrimp, curry goat) are “just like home” according to Jamaican ex-pats and local fishermen alike.
Regulars have their own tables; bartenders know their regulars’ favorite drinks.
Music gets loud on Fridays and the party spills out onto the waterfront deck.
3. Boathouse at the Riverside
Eat right on the Intracoastal as yachts and pelicans drift by—Boathouse turns out steak frites, Key West pink shrimp, creative salads, and hand-tossed pizzas.
The 360° bar is perfect for happy hour, especially at sunset. Dress up or walk in barefoot; everyone’s story gets a welcome here.
Weekends bring dockside live music, and families stay late with kids watching fish swim by the underwater lights.
4. Umberto’s of Long Island
Sometimes, you crave classic: red-sauce Italian, stretchy cheese pizza, meatballs nearly the size of baseballs.
Umberto’s delivers, with a New York accent and a Pompano sunset twist. Family groups fill big booths for pasta platters, lasagna, antipasto, and cannoli.
The room bustles with a kind of easy-going celebration, whether it’s a soccer team’s pizza party or an anniversary with the city’s best baked clams.
5. Gianni’s Ristorante
A local fine-dining go-to, Gianni’s feels like an Italian villa planted in the Florida palms. Linen tables, live piano on weekends, and a staff that treats everyone as a long-lost cousin.
Specialties include veal piccata, lobster ravioli, seafood risotto, and grilled lamb chops.
When you need “someplace special” (birthday, proposal, Mom’s night out), this is where locals go.
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