Florida’s No-Fuss Restaurant Serves Crab Cakes That Are Absolutely Incredible
In the quiet fishing village of Cortez, there’s a little dockside spot that proves simple really is better.
The Star Fish Company Market & Dockside Restaurant doesn’t bother with fancy décor or complicated recipes.
Instead, it serves up crab cakes so fresh and flavorful that they taste like the ocean itself. Locals swear it’s the best in Florida, and one bite of that golden, buttery perfection is all it takes to agree.
Crab Cakes Made Fresh Daily With Real Crab Meat
Fresh crab cakes at Star Fish Company aren’t menu filler. They’re the main event, crafted every single morning with chunks of real crab pulled straight from local waters. No imitation nonsense here.
Each cake is packed tight with sweet, tender meat and just enough breading to hold it together without stealing the spotlight.
The kitchen fries them up golden and crispy on the outside while keeping the inside moist and flaky.
One bite and you’ll taste why regulars keep coming back, sometimes driving hours just for another fix of these legendary patties.
Cash-Only, No-Frills Setup in a Working Fishing Village
Forget your credit cards because Star Fish Company operates strictly on cash. There’s no fancy payment terminal, no splitting the bill six ways on different apps.
This place keeps things old school in the best possible way, reflecting the hardworking vibe of Cortez itself. The decor won’t win design awards, but that’s exactly the point.
Wooden tables, simple counters, and zero pretension make up the atmosphere. You’re here for incredible seafood, not Instagram-worthy chandeliers.
Bring bills, leave your expectations of white tablecloths at home, and prepare for some seriously good eating.
Order at the Counter, Meals Served in Simple Boxes
Walk up, place your order, grab a number, and wait. That’s the drill at Star Fish Company, where fancy table service takes a permanent vacation.
Your meal arrives in a cardboard box or basket, no china plates required. It’s picnic-style dining at its finest, with plastic utensils and paper napkins doing all the heavy lifting.
Carry your bounty to one of the outdoor picnic tables scattered around the property. The setup might sound basic, but it perfectly matches the laid-back coastal lifestyle that makes Florida’s Gulf Coast so addictive.
Dockside Location With Views of Mangrove Islands and Fishing Fleet
Eating your crab cakes while watching shrimp boats bob in the water hits differently. Star Fish Company sits right on the working docks, surrounded by the sights and sounds of actual fishing operations.
Mangrove islands dot the horizon, their tangled roots visible at low tide. Pelicans dive for scraps while gulls circle overhead, hoping you’ll share.
The view alone is worth the trip, offering a front-row seat to Florida’s maritime culture. Between bites, you’ll spot fishermen unloading their catch, reminding you exactly where your dinner came from.
Seafood Sourced From Local Cortez Waters and Filleted On Site
When Star Fish Company says local, they mean it. The seafood swimming in Gulf waters one morning could be on your plate by lunchtime.
Fishermen from the village bring their daily haul directly to the restaurant’s market, where skilled hands fillet, clean, and prep everything on site.
You can actually watch the process if you peek into the market side of the operation.
This boat-to-table approach guarantees freshness that chain restaurants can only dream about. Every forkful tastes like the ocean, in the best possible way.
Located in Historic Cortez, One of Florida’s Last True Fishing Villages
Cortez isn’t trying to be Miami Beach, and that’s its superpower. Founded in the 1880s, this village remains stubbornly authentic while development swallows up the rest of Florida’s coastline.
Colorful fishing shacks, working docks, and multigenerational fishing families define the landscape.
Star Fish Company thrives here because it belongs here, woven into the fabric of a community that still makes its living from the sea.
Visiting feels like stepping back fifty years, when Florida meant fishing villages instead of high-rises and tourist traps.
Florida Maritime Museum Nearby Preserves Village’s Maritime Heritage
After stuffing yourself with crab cakes, waddle over to the Florida Maritime Museum to walk off lunch while learning something cool.
Located right in Cortez, the museum celebrates the village’s rich fishing and boatbuilding traditions.
Exhibits showcase vintage nets, boat models, and photographs documenting how families have harvested these waters for generations. Admission is free, though donations keep the lights on.
It’s a small museum with a big heart, perfectly complementing your Star Fish Company experience by connecting your meal to centuries of Gulf Coast maritime culture.