Best Seafood Restaurant Chiefland, Florida
Great Seafood and Outdoor Dining on the Shores of the Suwannee River. In our opinion it is the best place to eat outside near Chiefland, FL.
The Treasure Camp Restaurant & Resort is located along the famous historic Suwannee River about 14 miles South of Chiefland in the tiny village of Fowlers Bluff. It is approximately halfway between Chiefland and the laid-back beach resort town of Cedar Key along County Highway 347. In addition to their restaurant food and drink, Treasure Camp offers bait and supplies for fishing trips on the river and lodging in their nearby cabins.
Restaurant Review Treasure Camp Restaurant and Resort – Cedar Key Chiefland, Florida
While some other restaurants may rival the Treasure Camp in terms of food quality, none comes close in terms of the outdoor dining atmosphere. It is located in a quiet rural setting amid Live Oak trees festooned with Spanish Moss and views of the river. It is well worth the 14 mile drive from Chiefland and most other diners agree with us as it wins a 4.5 star rating on Google among Chiefland area restaurants.
People staying in Cedar Key will find the Treasure Camp food and service ranks up there with the Top Cedar Key Restaurants, worth the 14 mile drive North from town.
Outdoor Dining & Music.
Often on Friday or Saturdays, in addition to enjoying a fine seafood or steak dinner on the patio overlooking the serene Suwannee River, there’s musical entertainment from local musicians. (see a sample of this in our Video lower down the page featuring Lupe of Unlimited Sounds playing the electric piano and singing some country western classics.)
More About Dining at The Treasure Camp
The street side entrance to the Treasure Camp runs by the kitchen where when we entered we were warmly greeted by the cook. (Treasure Camp is under new ownership and they are trying hard to please, and doing a good job of it). Although the enclosed dining porch was spacious and not at all crowded we elected to eat outside on one of the patio picnic tables.
Treasure Camp Wait Service
The wait service was friendly and prompt. While waiting for our order to arrive, Jo enjoyed a Cabernet and I had one of my favorite Florida brews, a Yuengling Black and Tan. Although we were eating outside at a picnic table Jo was pleasantly surprised to find her wine arrived in a nice glass goblet (instead of plastic). My Black and Tan arrived with a chilled mug and an ice cold bottle, also a nice touch. When our meals arrived they were served on regular china plates and stainless steel utensils, again a departure from a plastic meal place-setting you might find in an informal dining setting.
Treasure Camp Menu Food Quality – Our Dinner
Jo ordered the Grouper dinner with a choice of two sides; she selected steamed broccoli and french fries. I went with the Grouper sandwich and fries that came with a dill pickle slice on a bed of kale. The broccoli was perfectly prepared, cooked but not over-cooked, still slightly scrunchy but hot. Her grilled Grouper was delicious, flakey but meaty enough to stay on your fork. Served hot and moist and nicely seasoned, grilled just the right amount of time. My grilled and blackened Grouper was similarly spot-on in terms of preparation and served hot. It came with fresh leaf lettuce, tomatoes, and a nice slice of sweet onion. A nice touch was the soft over-sized bun which allowed me to eat my generous meal sandwich-style without spilling contents all over the place!
Our waiter was quite attentive; she returned several times to inquire how our meal was and if we needed anything more. I obliged by ordering a second round of Black and Tan, which came with a fresh chilled mug.
Overall Treasure Camp Restaurant Review
Treasure Camp may be located out in the “boonies” in a tiny river village, yet the quality of food and wait service is big time. Gets 5 stars from us.
Post Script: About 10 days later we returned for a second visit on a sunny Friday afternoon. In addition to enjoying another fine seafood dinner on the patio, we were entertained by Lupe of Unlimited Sounds playing the electric piano and singing some country western classics. (Get a flavor of the ambience and Lupe’s entertaining music in our video below)
Treasure Camp Video – Dining and Entertainment on the Banks of the Suwannee
Links to Visitor Attractions Cedar Key and Chiefland, Florida
- Cedar Key, Hidden Gem on the Gulf
- Best Cedar Key Restaurants
- Nature Trails Suwannee River Wildlife Refuge
- Nature Trails Cedar Keys Wildlife Refuge
- Treasure Camp Restaurant and Resort
- Manatee Springs
- Shell Mound Park and Campground
- Best Chiefland RV Parks & Campgrounds
Restaurant Reviewer: Ross Reinhold – roscoetrails@gmail.com