Good food, simple rules and island life are what you find here. Eating outside next to the water somehow makes the food taste perfect. The menu changes daily, but there are always a lot of fish in salads, on sandwiches or served as entrees.
CHRISTINA MAYO Special to The Herald
A visit to Black Point Ocean Grill is almost like stepping into a Jimmy Buffett song. Or maybe a whole lot of songs.
Near the open-air restaurant, palm trees sway in the breeze. Dolphins play by the boats docked at the marina. Manatees lumber by looking for handouts. And a 14-foot crocodile named "Rock the Croc" swims by almost every evening.
Lunch and dinner are served at blue-painted picnic tables on a deck under a tent. Ceiling fans hum. A yellow bicycle and a surfboard are perched high up on the tent's poles. This is a lazy place to come and watch the world go by.
"Every time I come here I feel like I'm on vacation, " said Lizette Lopez, who lives in the neighborhood. "I've seen dolphin and the croc. My favorite part is the food though. The lobster bisque is one of the best."
The grill's general manager, Connie Watson, has been working here for 15 years. She makes the menu and hires the bands. There is rock and roll almost every Friday and Saturday night, and on Sunday, Watson books bands that play island music.
"It gets really lively. We're the best-kept secret in South Miami, " she said.
Eating outside next to the water somehow makes the food taste perfect. We had conch fritters with a spicy rémoulade sauce ($6), blackened dolphin topped with avocado cream and mango salsa and served with yellow rice and sautéed veggies ($12.95).
We also enjoyed the blackened chicken and brie focaccia sandwich with mango chutney and fries ($8). For dessert we had the Florida orange sunshine cake, which our very friendly server, Judi Self-McCoy, said tasted like an orange creamsicle. She was right. We also devoured the white chocolate raspberry key lime cheesecake which barely had time to sit on the plate it was so good. Desserts also include chocolate tuxedo mousse cake and the very berry crumble pie. All are $6.
The menu changes daily, but there are always a lot of fish in salads, on sandwiches or served as entrees. Prices range from $8 for a sandwich with fries to $22.95 for the surf-n-turf. That dish includes a 6-ounce bacon wrapped filet and a half-pound Alaskan King Crab served with baked potato and veggies.
The devils on horseback is a favorite appetizer, Watson said. "It's grilled shrimp stuffed with a jalapeño and wrapped in bacon. The shrimp is like the sea horse and the jalapeño is the devil. Everyone loves that and the lobster roll."
The grill also has an outside bar with TVs and a dining area for private parties. Watson said she held 25 Christmas parties this past holiday season. She and Self-McCoy said they love seeing all the wildlife right near by.
"We're right next to a manatee sanctuary, " Self-McCoy said. "They are released here after being rehabilitated from injuries."
"I've seen snapper this big, " Watson said holding her hands about two feet apart. "This is a no-fishing area and all the fish are on the right side. I tell customers the fish are smart because they're in school all day."
We reluctantly leave the deck noting the rules that are posted nearby.
"Shoes and shirt required. Like your mother dressed you, " is a rule. The last one is "Please play by the rules." A pelican flies by skimming the water. Good food, simple rules and island life.
It is all there at Black Point Ocean Grill.
Reviewed on January 24, 2008
