The Boathouse ★ 4.2
The Boathouse at Disney Springs is the dockside American seafood restaurant with raw bar, lobster rolls and Amphicar lake tours of the Disney Springs lake.
Signature: Lobster roll, Amphicar tour
History
Grouper is Florida's signature white fish, pulled from the Gulf and Atlantic by commercial fleets out of Madeira Beach, Tarpon Springs and the Florida Keys since the late 1800s. The grouper sandwich rose to fame in the 1970s as Florida tourism opened coastal seafood shacks; it became the canonical lunch order across the state by the 1990s. Florida-leaning Orlando rooms run the sandwich heavy in the summer and switch to imported grouper offseason: The Boathouse at Disney Springs, Canvas at Lake Nona and many Mills 50 lunch counters carry the canonical version.
Common allergens: Gluten, Fish, Dairy, Eggs
Make it at home
Ingredients
- 2 fresh grouper fillets, about 180g each
- 2 brioche burger buns, split and buttered
- 2 tablespoons Cajun blackening spice mix
- 30g unsalted butter for blackening
- Crisp green leaf lettuce
- 2 thick slices ripe tomato
- 60g tartar sauce
- Dill pickle spears and lemon wedges to serve
Method
- Pat the grouper fillets dry with paper towels. Coat both sides liberally with Cajun blackening spice.
- Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until very hot, about 3 minutes. Add butter; it will smoke.
- Lay the grouper fillets in the skillet. Sear 3 to 4 minutes per side until the spice forms a deep crust and the fish flakes.
- Meanwhile toast the buttered brioche buns cut-side down in a second pan until golden.
- Spread tartar sauce on both bun halves. Layer lettuce, tomato, then the blackened fillet on the bottom. Close.
- Serve immediately with a lemon wedge and pickle spear on the side.
Tip from the editors. Fried grouper is the alternative: dredge in seasoned flour, dip in egg wash, then panko breadcrumbs and deep-fry at 175C for 5 minutes.
This is the TableJourney editorial recipe, modelled on the canonical bistro / counter version. The first place to try the dish in its city of origin is below.
Where to eat florida grouper sandwich
Florida grouper sandwich in Orlando
Canvas Restaurant and Market ★ 4.3
Canvas Restaurant and Market on Sachs Avenue in Lake Nona is the lakefront American room with a covered patio, a wood-fired hearth and Sunday lake brunch.
Signature: Florida grouper sandwich, Tomato pie
SoCo Restaurant ★ 4.4
SoCo on East Central Boulevard in Thornton Park runs a modern Southern menu with shrimp and grits, fried chicken and a covered weekend brunch patio.
Signature: Shrimp and grits, Fried chicken
Florida grouper sandwich in Tampa
Ulele ★ 4.4
Ulele on the Tampa Riverwalk in a restored 1903 water works building cooks native-inspired Floridian fish, alligator and pompano over a 10-foot barbacoa.
Half Moon Seafood Company ★ 4.3
Half Moon Seafood at Sparkman Wharf fries award-winning Nashville Hot Fish sandwiches, with made-to-order seafood from the shipping container row.
Try: Nashville Hot Fish sandwich
The Rusty Pelican ★ 4.2
Rusty Pelican on Rocky Point runs Florida seafood with sweeping Bay views, fresh fish and a classic special-occasion dining room. Walk-ins welcome at the bar.
Order: Grilled grouper with mango salsa and a sunset cocktail on the deck.
Tip: Book a sunset reservation for the western view; the dock fills for special occasions.
Wright's Gourmet House ★ 4.4
Wright's Gourmet House on South Dale Mabry has built Tampa's classic Cuban and roast-beef sandwiches plus the famous rum cake since 1963. A Tampa table.
Order: Cuban sandwich pressed and a slice of the rum cake to take home.
Tip: Pete and Marjorie Wright started the shop on April 20, 1963; the Casper family bought it in 2024 to keep it Tampa-owned.
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