Unearth The Voyage
Hidden on a small island near Fort Lauderdale sits one of Florida’s most legendary restaurants. Cap’s Place has been serving fresh seafood and creating memories for nearly a century. Famous guests like Franklin Roosevelt and Al Capone once dined here, while today’s celebrities still visit this special place that locals consider their best-kept secret.
1. From Speakeasy to Seafood Paradise
Cap’s Place started life as Club Unique back in 1928, when Prohibition made drinking illegal across America. Captain Theodore Knight and Albert Hasis built their secret hideaway on an old dredging barge, creating the perfect spot for people to enjoy drinks and gambling away from prying eyes.
The founders used beautiful Cuban mahogany and pecky cypress wood from local sources. These materials still give the restaurant its warm, rustic feeling that makes every meal feel special and historic.
2. Boat Ride Adventures to Dinner
Getting to Cap’s Place used to be quite an adventure that required secret signals and boat rides. Hungry guests would drive to Hillsboro Beach and flash their car headlights three times, which told restaurant workers to send a rowboat across the dark water to pick them up.
Even though a road was built in 1953, many people still choose the boat ride today. The free shuttle across the Intracoastal Waterway makes dining here feel like a mini vacation adventure.
3. Hearts of Palm Salad Legend
One dish has remained exactly the same since 1928, and it comes with an amazing story. The hearts of palm salad features tender palm hearts harvested from sabal palms in the Everglades and around Lake Okeechobee, prepared using the original secret recipe.
What makes this even more special is that the same Seminole family has been supplying these palm hearts for decades. This partnership shows how Cap’s Place values tradition and supports local Florida families while serving authentic regional cuisine.
4. Secret Gambling and Rum Running Days
During its wild early years, Cap’s Place operated as much more than just a restaurant. For only 25 cents, people could buy secret memberships to the supper club, which gave them access to slot machines, blackjack tables, and roulette wheels hidden throughout the building.
Rum runners would secretly deliver illegal alcohol under cover of darkness, while guests enjoyed fine food and tried their luck at gambling. Despite these illegal activities, the restaurant always maintained its reputation for excellent service and delicious meals.
5. Three Generations of Family Ownership
When Captain Knight passed away in 1964, his partner Albert Hasis continued running the restaurant with the same dedication to quality and tradition. After Hasis died in 1982, his children took over the business, determined to preserve everything that made Cap’s Place special.
Today, the Hasis family still operates the restaurant, maintaining the same high standards their father established decades ago. Tom, Ted, and Talle Hasis work together to ensure every guest experiences the magic that has made Cap’s Place famous for generations.
6. National Historic Landmark Status
Cap’s Place earned a very special honor on August 10, 1990, when it was officially added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This recognition means the government considers the restaurant an important piece of American history worth preserving for future generations.
The landmark designation celebrates both the building’s unique architecture and its role in Florida’s colorful past. Very few restaurants receive this honor, making Cap’s Place one of the most historically significant dining establishments in the entire state of Florida.
7. Celebrity Guest Hall of Fame
Cap’s Place has welcomed some of the most famous people in history, creating stories that still amaze visitors today. President Franklin Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill both dined here, along with notorious figures like Al Capone and Meyer Lansky who appreciated the restaurant’s discretion.
Sports legends Joe DiMaggio and Jack Dempsey enjoyed meals here, while movie stars like Susan Hayward and Myrna Loy added Hollywood glamour. Even Beatles member George Harrison and the wealthy Vanderbilt family have experienced Cap’s Place’s unique charm and exceptional food.
8. Fresh Seafood and Old Florida Atmosphere
Every meal at Cap’s Place feels like stepping back in time while enjoying the freshest seafood Florida waters can provide. The low wooden ceilings, creaky floors, and walls covered with historical photographs create an atmosphere you cannot find anywhere else in modern Florida.
Stone crab claws, fresh snapper, and lobster arrive at your table prepared with recipes perfected over decades. The combination of incredible food, fascinating history, and unique boat access makes Cap’s Place a truly unforgettable dining experience that locals treasure and visitors never forget.
