Dockside dining: This Cortez eatery honors years of fishing history

Florida and fishing: The two are inseparable.  And when you grow up here, you are bound to know the best spots to grab a bite – whether catching or cooking.  

It’s that hometown heritage that led FOX 13 viewer Sonja Owens to bring Chip Brewster and his Bay Area Best segment to Star Fish Company in Cortez.

“This is a very tightknit community, Cortez is; it’s all fishermen. Generations of fishermen,” explained Sonja.  “I can remember when I was in high school and my friend’s dad would come home and it was always the same thing -- he smelled like fish. If we got in trouble, we’d have to clean shrimp and that was just awful. But I can clean a mean shrimp.”

Star Fish Company began in the 1920s purely as a wholesale company.  It wasn’t until the 1960s that the retail market was opened and the late 1990s when the restaurant portion came into existence.

They claim to serve some of the freshest seafood you can get at a restaurant and it’s hard to argue. After all, the daily catch from commercial fishermen is brought right next door to the company’s active dock.  And it’s not just the amazing seafood that appeals to Sonja.

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“There’s tours that come in…you can go out and watch the dolphins.  Spend a couple hours out on the water with Captain Kathy or Captain Katie or Captain Patsy and just enjoy yourself and relax.  Then on the way back they’ll call in your food order so when you get back your food’s ready, they bring it right out to you so you eat your dinner and you’ve made a whole evening of it,” offered Sonja.

Want to check out Star Fish Company for yourself?  Here’s all the info you’ll need:

Star Fish Company
12306 46th Ave W
Cortez Fl, 34215
(941) 794-1243
LINK: www.starfishcompany.com

Sunday & Monday 11:30am - 3:00pm
Tuesday - Saturday 11:30am - 8:00pm 

Cash Only

Curious where else Chip has been with Bay Area Best?  Take a look: http://bit.ly/BABMap