Picture yourself boarding a small motor launch, waves gently lapping against its sides as you glide across Florida waters toward an island shrouded in mystery. Your destination is a wooden building that has stood proudly since 1928, hiding stories of rum runners, gangsters, and Hollywood stars within its weathered walls.
Cap’s Place waits on that island in Lighthouse Point, serving meals to curious visitors as it did when Al Capone sat at its tables. Few restaurants can claim nearly a century of continuous operation, and fewer still can boast about gangsters sipping illegal rum at their bar during Prohibition.
Your journey to Cap’s begins differently than most restaurant visits. No parking lot greets you—instead, a boat captain welcomes you aboard for a short trip across the water to reach your dining destination. Many restaurants claim uniqueness, but how many require a boat ride to get your table?
Famous faces have always found their way to Cap’s hidden location. From notorious gangster Al Capone to movie stars seeking privacy, these walls have witnessed countless conversations worth millions. Even today, you might find yourself seated next to someone noteworthy, continuing a tradition of distinguished dining that spans generations.
Historic Background
Cap’s Place began its journey as more than just a restaurant. Originally a floating barge anchored off Florida’s coast, its early days saw action as a gambling hall where fortunes changed hands nightly. Locals called it Club Unique back then – an apt name for what would become a Florida institution.
During Prohibition years, Cap’s truly earned its place in Florida lore. While federal agents hunted bootleggers across America, Cap’s operated as a thriving speakeasy where alcohol flowed freely despite national bans. Rum runners brought Caribbean spirits directly to its docks, allowing patrons to enjoy drinks forbidden elsewhere. Gambling tables filled back rooms, creating an atmosphere of danger and excitement that drew people from miles around.
Famous faces became common sights at Cap’s tables. Perhaps its most notorious regular, Al Capone, reportedly enjoyed private meals here while avoiding Chicago heat. Hollywood royalty followed—Winston Churchill, Meyer Lansky, Franklin Roosevelt, and Gloria Swanson allegedly dined within these walls. Each visitor added to Cap’s growing legend, spreading the word about this hidden Florida gem through influential social circles.
Many Florida landmarks vanished during progress marches, but Cap’s Place stood firm. Now recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, its survival represents something increasingly rare—a genuine connection to Florida’s wild past. Each wooden plank, vintage photo, and family recipe passed down tells part of a Florida story few places still remember.
Must-Try Appetizers At Cap’s Place
Cap’s Place honors its history through atmosphere and flavors. Kitchen staff prepare appetizers using recipes refined over decades, many unchanged since the early days. Starting your meal here means beginning a culinary journey through Florida’s past, with each bite carrying traditions rarely found elsewhere.
- Fried Calamari: Perfectly golden rings of tender squid are served with zesty marinara sauce. Each piece delivers a light crunch that gives way to succulent seafood.
- Cajun Fish Bites: Local catch is cubed and dusted with spicy Cajun seasonings before flash-frying. These bites pair wonderfully with a cold beer while watching boats pass by dockside windows.
- Escargot (6): Tender snails baked in garlic butter sauce, served bubbling hot, are a nod to the European influence on Florida cuisine that Cap’s has maintained for decades.
- Fresh Okeechobee Hearts of Palm Salad: Harvested from Florida’s inland waters, these crisp palm hearts showcase local flavor. They are served simply with a light dressing, allowing the natural sweetness to shine through.
- Soup of the Day: Cap’s soups often feature seafood caught that morning. They change with the seasons and availability. Ask your server what’s simmering—clam chowder remains especially popular when available.
Exceptional Main Course Menu
Main courses at Cap’s Place offer something rare among modern restaurants: flexibility. Kitchen staff prepare each dish according to your preferences, adapting cooking methods to suit individual tastes. While many restaurants force patrons into rigid menu options, Cap’s honors old-world hospitality by crafting meals precisely as you want.
Cooking Methods For Your Selection
Cap’s offers remarkable versatility with your chosen entrée. Select from multiple cooking styles:
- Broiled (staff recommended for moist, flavorful results)
- Char-grilled (delivers robust flavor but yields drier texture)
- Baked (gentle cooking preserving natural juices)
- Pan-fried (crisp exterior with tender interior)
- Pan-roasted (rich flavor development)
- Deep-fried (golden, crispy coating)
- Island scampi style (butter, garlic, wine sauce)
- Blackened Cajun style (spicy, salt-forward seasoning)
Fresh Seafood Selections
- Fish of the Day: Caught locally and changing daily based on what boats bring to the dock. Depending on the season, ask your server about today’s catch – it often includes grouper, snapper, or mahi-mahi.
- Scottish Salmon: Fresh salmon rich in omega-3 fatty acids, particularly delicious when char-grilled. The perfect balance of flavor and nutrition on every fork.
- Scallops: Extra-large wild sea scallops with natural sweetness and tender texture. Prepared according to your preference, these ocean gems showcase seafood at its finest.
- Shrimp: Sweet, premium shrimp adapted to your taste preferences. Popular preparations include scampi with garlic butter or lightly fried with cocktail sauce.
- Broiled or Sautéed Seafood Platter: Abundant assortment featuring various shellfish alongside chunks of fresh catch. Perfect for diners wanting to sample multiple seafood varieties in one meal.
- Lobster – One and One Half Pound Seafood Stuffed Whole Maine
Call ahead to confirm the availability of this spectacular dish. Whole Maine lobster stuffed with seafood mixture creates a memorable dining experience.
Complete Meal Experience
Dining at Cap’s Place offers carefully crafted complete meals from start to finish. Your experience begins with warm bread and extends through multiple courses, each adding to your culinary journey through Florida history.
Meals at Cap’s start with baskets filled with rolls baked on-site daily. Homemade soups follow, often featuring seafood caught the previous day. Staff take pride in every aspect of your meal—nothing arrives pre-prepared, as kitchen teams create each component fresh daily.
Unlike restaurants with static menus, Cap’s offerings evolve constantly based on what local fishermen bring to the dock. Some nights feature fresh grouper; others showcase snapper or mahi, depending on fishing conditions. Such variability ensures peak freshness while connecting diners directly with local food systems.
Savvy diners know that calling ahead yields valuable information about the day’s offerings, since the menu changes based on fresh catches, calling the restaurant before your visit allows you to learn about special preparations or limited-quantity dishes before you arrive.
Cap’s unique atmosphere suits remarkably diverse occasions. Families celebrate milestones amid historical photos, while couples find intimacy at small tables overlooking the water, especially during sunset hours. Few restaurants manage a balancing act between family-friendly and romance-conducive so successfully.
Florida History Served With Every Meal
Dining at Cap’s Place offers more than just food. With each visit, guests consume slices of authentic Florida history. Stories cling to the walls like salt air, making meals here edifying and satisfying.
Henry Flagler Connection To Cap’s Place
Railroad magnate Henry Flagler, who essentially created modern Florida through his ambitious developments, reportedly visited Cap’s Place during its early days. Records suggest Flagler enjoyed dining here while overseeing his Florida East Coast Railway projects. His visits highlight how Cap’s was a gathering spot for influential figures who shaped Florida’s development from a wild frontier into a tourist paradise.
Staff points out spots where Flagler reportedly dined, adding a tangible connection to history books. For history buffs, eating where such pivotal figures once sat adds a meaningful dimension to the dining experience.
How Cap’s Place Influenced Pompano Beach Naming
Local lore holds a fascinating connection between Cap’s and the naming of nearby Pompano Beach. According to stories passed down through generations, Flagler became particularly fond of pompano fish served at Cap’s. His enthusiasm for the dish supposedly led him to name the passing train station “Pompano” when establishing Florida East Coast Railway stops.
Maps from the era show “Pompano” appearing shortly after Flagler’s visits to the area. While historians debate the exact influence, the connection between the restaurant’s signature dish and the city name remains a compelling part of local identity. This shows how culinary history intertwines with place names we take for granted.
Authentic Stories From Multi-Generation Staff
Several staff members represent second—or third-generation serving at Cap’s, carrying family legacies alongside dinner plates. These employees share firsthand accounts passed down from parents and grandparents who witnessed prohibition raids, celebrity visits, and the transformation of the surrounding area from wilderness to urban development.
Listen carefully during your visit. Servers often sprinkle conversations with anecdotes about famous guests or memorable events from decades past. Such personal connections to history provide authenticity, which is increasingly rare in corporate dining establishments.
Local Lore Shared At Dinner Tables
Conversation flows naturally at Cap’s tables, with staff and fellow diners frequently exchanging stories about the restaurant’s colorful past. You might hear about rumored secret passages used during prohibition raids or which tables hosted famous gangsters plotting their next moves.
Many patrons contribute their family connections—grandparents who celebrated anniversaries here or parents who proposed at waterside tables. Such shared storytelling creates a communal atmosphere, elevating meals beyond mere consumption into cultural experiences that bind generations through a shared appreciation of genuine Florida heritage.
Visitor Planning Guide
Finding and dining at Cap’s Place requires planning. Located on an island accessible only by boat, your journey becomes part of a dining adventure. Follow these guidelines to ensure a smooth visit to Florida’s legendary restaurant.
Cap’s dock is located near Lighthouse Point Yacht Basin & Marina, about 8 miles north of Fort Lauderdale. Motor launches transport guests from the mainland dock to the restaurant island throughout the evening.
Finding Cap’s dock requires attention to directions. From I-95, take the Copans Road exit and head east to US-1. Drive north two blocks from Copans Road, then turn right onto NE 24th Street.
Cap’s Place opens five days a week, Wednesday through Sunday, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Seasonal demand affects availability, making reservations essential during winter when snowbirds and tourists fill tables nightly.
Cap’s Place staff must confirm all reservations. The online reservation system stops monitoring after 3:30 PM daily, so same-day requests require a phone call at 5:00 PM. Cap’s holds reservations for 15 minutes past the scheduled time. Walk-ins are welcome but may face wait times during busy periods. The bar area provides the perfect spot to relax during any delays.
Allow extra travel time for boat transport between the mainland dock and the restaurant. The journey takes only minutes but adds a unique element to the dining experience. Remember a few important considerations:
- Wear appropriate shoes for boarding a small boat
- Notify staff about mobility concerns when making reservation
- Consider weather forecast when planning visit
- Boat runs continuously throughout the evening
- Bring a light jacket for evening boat return after dinner
A Living Testament to Florida’s Colorful Past
As the boat gently returns you to the mainland after your meal at Cap’s Place, you might reflect on more than just the excellent food. You’ve just experienced something increasingly rare in our fast-paced world – a genuine connection to a bygone era that shaped modern Florida.
Cap’s Place is the real deal in an age where themed restaurants manufacture artificial nostalgia. No designer created its weathered charm or scripted its colorful history. The salt-kissed wooden beams, which have withstood nearly a century of Florida storms, tell their authentic story.
What makes Cap’s truly special isn’t just its food or famous visitors but how it preserves a slice of Florida’s soul that might otherwise be lost to time. Each visit supports preserving living history – a place where Florida’s past isn’t relegated to museum displays but continues to thrive through active use.
The next time someone asks about “real Florida” beyond the theme parks and resort beaches, you’ll have an answer. Cap’s Place represents Florida’s untamed spirit – resourceful, rebellious, and unapologetically unique. In a state constantly reinventing itself, this humble island restaurant reminds us that the most fascinating stories aren’t always found in guidebooks but are sometimes hidden just offshore, waiting for those willing to take a short boat ride into history.
