The best boat days always include an epic food spread
getty
One thing is sure about Miamians: we freaking love a boat day. Put us out on the water and let us live our best lives. All that sun (and likely day drinking) is bound to work up an appetite and having the perfect boat day eats is key to curating the best boat day ever.
From a build your own taco bar to stone crabs and fried chicken to family-sized bowls of some of Miami’s most iconic bites, there’s really no shortage of great spots offering easy to transport, large format food for a crowd that plans on hanging outside all day.
Advertisement
Here are 8 Miami spots to grab boat day eats for a group that are guaranteed crowd pleasers every time.
For a true Miami staple: Chicken Kitchen
Chicken Kitchen Chop Chop bowls make boat days better
Amber Love Bond
Forever one of the absolute best boat day options, Chicken Kitchen is a local chain with locations all over the city meaning, you’re likely close to one as you prepare to head to the marina. Family (serves 4 to 5) and Party-sized (serves 8 to 10) Chop-Chop bowls are the go to move here. Pair a bowl or two — might we suggest the Cuban featuring chicken, black beans, tomato, and lettuce — with a quesadilla platter and perhaps a family-sized salad and an order of balsamic tomatoes and you’re good to go. They even provide plates, utensils, and plenty of curry mustard (and other sauces as well). And the best part? No need to worry about ordering in advance. In fact, you can even order the large format bowls via Uber Eats for delivery right to the dock just before you set sail just as easily as you can pop into one of their locations and order on the spot.
Advertisement
For those keeping it as classic as possible: Publix
Publix Chicken Tender Platter
Amber Love Bond
Those from Miami (or really Florida and the South in general) know Publix is the ultimate favorite when it comes to feeding a large group delicious platters of food. From mini sandwiches to fruit and veggie platters to the legendary chicken tender platters, there’s no shortage of easy-to-order ideal boat day food at this favorite supermarket. The ultimate order will most definitely include a chicken tender platter, maybe a mix and match deli wrap platter, a fruit tray, and cookie platter. Make sure to stock up on plenty of sauces for the tenders. Orders can be placed online and need to be done 24-hours in advance.
For the fancy boat days: Joe’s Stone Crab
Joe’s Stone Crab for an epic boat day meal
Advertisement
Joe’s Stone Crab
There’s nothing more iconic in Miami than stone crabs from Joe’s Stone Crab. As the first restaurant to ever serve stone crabs, this spot has perfected the art of delicious stone crabs all year long. Thanks to Joe’s Takeaway, ordering from Joe’s on your boat day is super simple. Pair those stone crabs with Joe’s legendary fried chicken, peel & eat shrimp, Joe’s coleslaw, a chopped salad, and the Miami-style fish and chips aka fried grouper in lemon garlic spices served with yuca fries and mango guava sauce and garlic aioli for the dreamiest order. Don’t forget to order Key Lime pie, because everyone deserves a sweet treat.
For those who can’t get enough sushi: Poke OG
Poke OG makes for a perfect boat day spread
Amber Love Bond
From omakase boxes to large scale sides of seaweed salad, krab salad, and zucchini noodles, Poke OG is one of the most refreshing boat day options. Opt for a few omakase boxes that each feature 10 nigiri, maki rolls, 5 sashimi, edamame, and seaweed salad for easy to pick at options or go hard with a build your own poke bowl bar. With your choice of two mixes (tuna, salmon, Japanese yellowtail, shrimp, watermelon, or tofu), rice, greens, toppings, and even nori sheets so you can make your own handrolls, it’s a super solid boat day option that’s easy to customize for a crowd. Orders can be placed in advance on Poke OG’s website.
For taco and tequila loving crowd: Coyo Taco
Advertisement
Nothing beats a salsa bar on a boat
Coyo Taco
Who doesn’t love a build-your-own taco bar at sea? Coyo Taco makes it easy with their catering options — featuring your choice of proteins, all the ingredients needed to make tacos (or burrito bowls), a salsa bar, chips, plenty of guacamole, rice and beans — it’s ideal for a boat day where people can eat at their own pace and make whatever taco creations they want. Add a few quesadillas and an order or two of esquite (street corn) and you’re all set. Orders can be placed on Coyo Taco’s website.
For those trying to stay healthy during the boat day: Carrot Express
Carrot Express makes being healthy on a boat easy
Carrot Express
Keeping healthy on a boat day is easy thanks to Carrot Express. No matter what time of day your day begins, this spot has a wide range of options from all-day breakfast, wrap and ciabatta platters, family style salads, power bowls, dessert trays, juice bundles and more. Wrap and sandwich trays feed up to 10 to 12 people and include two different variations of your choosing including the Chicken Caesar Wrap filled with chicken breast, romaine, kale, homemade croutons, parmesan cheese and homemade Caesar dressing or the Pesto Passion featuring Free range grilled chicken, arugula, tomato, mozzarella, pesto, balsamic glaze, lemon and olive oil. Salads are served family style also feed 10 to 12 people with choices like their Oriental Crunch Salad made with mixed greens, romaine, avocado, carrots, bean sprouts, roasted cashews, toasted sesame seeds & crispy tortilla strips tossed with honey-lime peanut vinaigrette. For something more hearty, Power Bowls are large enough for 10-12 people including the popular Mario’s Favorite Chicken Bowl mixed with arugula, kale, spinach, almonds, peas, golden raisins, quinoa, cilantro brown rice in their tangy citrus sauce. Carrot Express’s dessert tray includes a choice of three different treats where guests will have to decide between their homemade vegan banana bread, chocolate chunk walnut cookies, oatmeal cookies and guava cookies. Catering orders can be placed online here and must be placed 24-hours in advance.
Advertisement
For the burger lovers: Shake Shack
Large Order options for Shake Shack for the win
Shake Shack
Burgers on a boat? Look no further. Did you know Shake Shack’s menu has a Large Orders section of the menu? Perfect for groups of up to 12, these orders come with a variety of sandwich options — including the ShackBurger, Chicken Shack, Veggie Shack, and even SmokeShack. A perfect classic order would be the ShackBurger Box and the Crinkle Cut Fry Box. Orders can be placed via shakeshack.com or by using the app.
For those looking for a chic option: Maman
For light bites Maman is the clear winner
Advertisement
Maman
This New York transplant located in the heart of Wynwood makes the ultimate boat day lunch for those who are looking for chic French sandwiches and easy mini bites. Snag a platter of 16 half sandwiches for including bestselling options like the Katie Sandwich with herb-roasted chicken with basil aioli, roasted red peppers, arugula, and roasted tomato on a baguette or Bibian’s Turkey Sandwich with sliced turkey with kale spring pea and ricotta spread, pickled onions, and melted Swiss on seeded sourdough. For those who prefer mini bites, choose from a selection of mini sandwiches or mini quiches, sold by the dozen featuring delicious options like the Croissant de Sud, Mini Everything Croissants, and Quiche Sophie made with Spinach, feta, and artichoke quiche. Of course, finishing off on a sweet note is everything, and Maman offers cookies by the dozen ranging from Oprah’s favorite Nutty Chocolate Chip Cookies to S’mores Cookies and Lime Cilantro Sugar Cookies. To place an order visit Maman’s website or use the Maman app.
A teenage boy remains in the hospital after a shooting in southwest Miami-Dade, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
The shooting happened along SW 152nd Avenue near SW 80th Street, where deputies say a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old boy were walking when someone opened fire from a vehicle. The 15-year-old was struck multiple times as the vehicle fled the scene.
Rescue crews took the injured 15-year-old to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital, where the Sheriff’s Office said he is in stable condition.
Advertisement
According to authorities, the 16-year-old was able to help his friend reach a safe area and call 911 for help.
Deputies said they are actively searching for leads but currently have no information about the suspect vehicle or the people inside it.
“We do not have any information regarding the subject vehicle or the subjects within that vehicle,” said MDSO spokesperson Samantha Choon.
When asked whether the teens were targeted, the Sheriff’s Office said it is not ruling out that possibility.
“This is a heinous crime against children,” Choon said.
Advertisement
The 16-year-old who called 911 was not taken to the hospital, but authorities said he is shaken by the incident.
“He’s a child. He’s shaken up by this,” Choon said. “So if anyone has any information, no matter how small you might think it is, please reach out to us and assist in this investigation.”
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305‑471‑TIPS.
Palantir announced Tuesday it has moved its headquarters from Denver to Miami – joining a slew of tech firms fleeing to South Florida as a growing number of industry leaders deem it the new Silicon Valley.
Tech giants have been increasingly flocking to Florida from business hubs like New York and California in pursuit of lower taxes, warm weather and safer neighborhoods.
“We have moved our headquarters to Miami, Florida,” Palantir wrote in a brief post on X Tuesday morning.
Tech giants have been increasingly flocking to Florida from business hubs like New York and California. be free – stock.adobe.com
The company did not immediately respond to inquiries about its reason for the move.
Advertisement
Palantir was founded in Palo Alto, Calif., in 2003 and moved to Denver in 2020 as its CEO Alex Karp emerged as a vocal critic of Silicon Valley’s culture.
Former Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, who has long pushed for tech talent to move to Florida, cheered Tuesday’s “watershed moment for Miami.”
“This is the tipping point!” he wrote on X, using numerous exclamation points.
The Post has sought comment from Palantir.
Citadel’s Ken Griffin and real estate magnate Stephen Ross – some of the highest-profile billionaires to move to South Florida during the pandemic – recently launched a $10 million campaign to encourage business leaders to move to the Sunshine State, The Post reported.
Advertisement
“The only place a CEO or founder can scale from 10 employees to 10,000 will be in South Florida,” Ross previously told The Post. “While other cities are still special, they no longer support building business and supporting ambition like you can find here.”
The campaign targets CEOs and investors with national ads and direct outreach, as well as a dedicated concierge program that can help executives relocate operations and navigate state regulations.
Apple has already expanded its presence in South Florida with a new Miami campus, while software company ServiceNow has committed to opening an office in West Palm Beach.
Amazon earlier this year signed a massive office lease in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood.
Palantir announced Tuesday it has moved its headquarters to Miami. Getty Images
Billionaire Peter Thiel – Palantir’s chairman and co-founder – has ramped up his investments in South Florida, opening a new Miami office for his investment firm Thiel Capital late last year.
His venture capital firm Founders Fund opened a Florida office in 2021, near his Miami Beach mansion, and the businessman has even switched his voter registration to Florida.
Advertisement
Citadel’s Griffin – who lived in Chicago for nearly three decades – was one of the most outspoken business leaders to vouch for Miami after his 2022 move.
“I’ve lived in a failed city-state. I lived in Chicago for 30-some years. I had two colleagues who had bullets fly through their cars,” Griffin previously told Fox News.
“I had 25 bullet holes in the front of my building where I lived. You can’t live in a city awash [with] violent crime.”