Best diners: These restaurants celebrate good old-fashioned American comfort food
Diners are known for their affordable, American, short-order fare, mostly cooked on a flat-top grill and sometimes served with a side of charming, retro aesthetic that includes counter service on diner stools. They usually serve homestyle breakfast, lunch and dinner comfort foods, and some are open 24/7.
Here are some of the best diners in Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties:
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INDIAN RIVER COUNTY
Pelican Diner
Pelican Diner chef-owner Greg Helper has been in the restaurant industry for many years. Since 2009, his diner has been serving generous portions of seasonal and local food. It's open 7 days a week, has a full liquor bar, outside seating and is located at the Sebastian Municipal Golf Course.
100 Brush Foot Drive, Sebastian; 772-228-9600; pelicandiner.com
JT's Corner Diner
JT's opened in 2012 as JD's Corner Diner. It was renamed after the new owner, John Truckner, took over. It is open for breakfast and lunch every day and for dinner on Thursdays to Saturdays, with live music on the weekends. The head chef is Scott Spampinato from The Old Fish House Bar & Grill in Grant-Valkaria.
13600 U.S. 1, Sebastian; 772-581-9137; Facebook
Mrs. Mac's Fillin' Station
Jeff Macfarland opened the first Mrs. Mac's in Key Largo in 1976 and the Vero Beach location in 2000. It is owned by Macfarland's niece, Loren Moran, and her husband, Patrick. The old-school restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch and filled to the brim with vintage automobile memorabilia and collectibles.
951 Old Dixie Highway, Vero Beach; 772-564-8400; mrsmacs.com
Nettie's Roadside Restaurant
Antoinette Lawhon Magee, a Vero Beach local, has owned Nettie's since 2022. It's a breakfast and lunch spot serving family-style comfort food and rotating specials.
2555 27th Ave., Vero Beach; 772-778-8495; Facebook
ST. LUCIE COUNTY
Dave's Diner
Dave's Diner has been around for over 25 years and is owned by Jim and Brenda Roth. It serves made-to-order classic breakfast and lunch meals, specials and homemade desserts with the option to dine outside.
1011 Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce; 772-460-2810
Sweeties Diner
Owner Rick Reed said he started Sweeties to create jobs and enhance the business climate in his native Fort Pierce. Chef Joaquin Flores makes breakfast, lunch and dinner with old-fashioned values. The changeable sign is notorious for Reed's vulgar jokes and the satire he uses to raise awareness about public officials and community concerns.
2625 S U.S. 1, Fort Pierce; 772-828-3720; sweetiesdiner.com
Mickey's Restaurant
Since 1983, Mickey's has been serving traditional breakfast and lunch. Its huge menu features eggs, specialty sandwiches, and juicy half-pound hamburgers in a bright and festive atmosphere.
3315 U.S. 1, Fort Pierce; 772-468-7642; mickeysfortpierce.com
Rick's Diner
Rick and Judy Eno opened Rick's in 1997. After they retired in 2013, the Hyde family took over, offering fresh local food in a vintage diner setting. It is open for breakfast and lunch with a variety of signature dishes made from secret recipes and daily specials.
466 S.W. Port St. Lucie Blvd., Port St. Lucie; 772-335-8660; Facebook
Grandpa's Diner
Grandpa's is owned by Bert DeLuca, who has opened several restaurants in Stuart and Port St. Lucie since the early 1970s. It is open for breakfast (served all day), lunch and dinner and serves beer and wine. It has a casual setting with a classic diner feel and TVs.
7586 U.S. 1, Port St. Lucie; 773-777-4134; Facebook
Rosita's Diner
Rosita's is family-owned and offers an extensive menu with breakfast, brunch and lunch options ranging from classic favorites to unique specialties. The featured menu items are the Everything But The Kitchen Sink omelet, cheese omelet, chicken club, fresh fruit pancakes and bacon cheeseburger.
338 S.E. Port St. Lucie Blvd., Port St. Lucie; 772-212-7244; rositasdiner.com
MARTIN COUNTY
Flamingo Diner
The Flamingo Restaurant opened in 1983, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner from recipes that were made from scratch and old-time favorites. Owners John Laskaris and Angelo Sofikitis ran it for 25 years, then retired. In 1990, Angelo moved back to Michigan, where he opened a sister restaurant and ran it for 15 years. He and his family returned to Florida, relaxed for four years, and decided to open The Flamingo Diner. It strives to provide the freshest products and combination of spices. The menu includes a "Taste of Greece" and a "Taste of Italy" sections, as well as Flamingo Favorites that include meatloaf, breaded pork cutlets and country fried steak.
3259 S.E. Federal Highway, Stuart; 772-324-8089; flamingodinerfl.com
Galaxy Diner
Galaxy is owned by Nain Mora and Greivin Chacon and their families, who started working together in the 1990s in New Jersey. They both work as chefs in the kitchen to ensure quality and make everything from scratch. Popular dishes include the turkey sandwich, Greek gyros and cheeseburgers. It is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, serving home-styled diner food.
6590 S. Kanner Highway, Stuart; 772-223-4622; Facebook
Key West Diner
Key West Diner serves diner-style comfort food, all-day breakfast and Greek and Italian specialties. The decor lives up to its name with bright colors, tropical feel and laid-back Key West atmosphere. There's a small bar with coffee, wine and desserts, and outdoor seating is available.
1619 N.W. Federal Highway, Stuart; 772-692-7822; Facebook
Sammy J's Diner
Sammy J's serves breakfast and lunch in a vintage diner setting. It is known for its Mama B's quiche, pork roll, Italian sausage, kielbasa, country fried steak and Big Daddy ham.
6027 S.E. Federal Highway, Stuart; 772-286-5775; sammyjs.net
City Diner of Stuart
City Diner is owned by Jimmy Diamantopoulos and serves homemade family-recipe comfort food and baked goods. The menu features homemade Greek food, traditional American dishes, and one-of-a-kind creations. It is a New York/New Jersey-style diner that's open 24 hours.
2660 S.E. Federal Highway, Stuart; 772-291-2794; citydinerofstuart.com
Eve Pierpont is a freelancer for TCPalm who looks out for the best things to do across the Treasure Coast. Do you have an upcoming event you want to be potentially included in this weekly roundup? Email it to her at epierpont@gannett.com. You can also upload your event to TCPalm's event page at events.tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Best diners: Sebastian, Stuart, Vero Beach, Fort Pierce, Jensen, PSL
