Best Raw Bar


Important: This article was last updated on September 21, 2005. Please call ahead to confirm hours, prices, dates and other information.

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Southport Raw Bar
1536 Cordova Road, Fort Lauderdale, 954/525-2526, www.southportrawbar.com

 Everyone knows Southport is the old, reliable choice for clams, oysters, shrimp, scallops, mussels and other raw items. Prices are reasonable, but the best bargains occur during happy hour, which is 4 to 7 nightly, and 11 until closing every night but Friday. That's when you can get oysters for $5 a dozen, clams for $7 a dozen or half a pound of Old Bay-spiced shrimp for $5.99. Bring your non-seafood-eating friends along as well, because the menu also offers chicken, subs and burgers, in addition to cheese steaks that would make a Philadelphian proud. Arrive by boat or car and sit inside, where the ceiling is graced with ads hand-painted on ceiling tiles, or on the waterfront patio, where fake owls keep away pesky birds.