Some of the best bites in Florida come from places you would drive right past without a second look. A plain little BBQ shack or a cash-only seafood joint can hand you a flavor you will be thinking about for weeks.
That flavor is often the datil pepper, a tiny yellow chili that tastes sweet and fiery at the same time and grows in very few places on Earth. If you have never tried one, these eight stops are about to make you very hungry and very curious.
1. Woodpeckers Backyard BBQ, St. Augustine, FL
Datil shows up on nearly every corner of the menu here, and that is exactly the point. Woodpeckers Backyard BBQ sits along State Road 13 North in a small, rustic building with a cozy, almost church-like calm to it.
Meats come by the plate or by the pound, and the ribs fall right off the bone.
Where it really earns its spot is the sides. Datil cornbread, datil corn, datil coleslaw, datil baked beans, and collard greens splashed with a datil vinegar sauce all bring a gentle, peppery kick.
Grab the datil sausage too, then work your way through the seven sauces lined up on the table, including the house datil pepper sauce with its sweet local heat.
Save room for banana pudding, eclair cake, or blackberry cobbler. Most plates land in the $10 to $20 range, so a full spread will not wreck your budget.
The doors open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 AM to 7 PM, and weekend afternoons get busy, so a weekday lunch is the easy move.
2. O’Steen’s Restaurant, St. Augustine, FL
Bring cash. That one tip says a lot about O’Steen’s, an Old Florida seafood spot on Anastasia Boulevard that has kept things simple and stayed beloved because of it.
The fried shrimp is the headliner, and it arrives with a special sauce made with datil peppers. The house-made sauces in general are a highlight, with the datil hot sauce giving everything a true St. Augustine twist.
Then there is the homemade Minorcan clam chowder, a local classic that carries the pepper in its tomato-rich broth.
History buffs, here is a fun one. The datil is tied to the Minorcan settlers who came to this area in the 1700s, and their chowder is still a hometown favorite.
Finish with coconut cream, banana cream, or key lime pie. Expect about $10 to $20 a person, hours Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 8:30 PM, and a line on Saturday evenings.
3. Funkadelic Food Shack, St. Augustine, FL
Funky is in the name, and the menu lives up to it. This colorful shack on A1A South mixes live music, a relaxed patio, and creative plates like sticky rice bowls, shrimp sliders, and fresh fish sandwiches.
Datil fans should head straight for the Datil Bacon burger. The datil pepper sauce is sweet first and spicy second, the kind you will want to drag every fry through.
There is also a datil pepper jelly that shows up on the grilled cheese, and it is bold, so if you like your heat gentle, ask for it on the side.
Vegans and vegetarians get a full menu here, with beet fries as a fun pick. Prices run about $10 to $20, parking is free, and hours are Tuesday through Saturday 11 AM to 9 PM, with Sunday wrapping up at 4 PM.
4. Smokin’ D’s BBQ, St. Augustine, FL
Five homemade sauces wait at Smokin’ D’s, and one of them might become your new favorite thing. The Datil Pepper BBQ Sauce is the star, a sweet and spicy local twist on the classic that surprises plenty of first-timers who have never heard of the pepper.
Meats here are smoked with real care and sold by the pound or in sandwiches. The turkey sandwich stays juicy and soft, and it pairs nicely with that datil sauce or the horseradish mayo.
Feeding a crew? The Brisket Lunch Bucket and the BBQ Picnic for 2 make it easy.
It is a counter-and-takeout setup with outdoor tables, so think picnic, not sit-down dinner. Most meals cost $10 to $20.
Plan around the schedule: closed Monday and Tuesday, open Wednesday until 6:30 PM, and Thursday through Sunday until 7:30 PM.
5. DJ’s Clam Shack St. Augustine, St. Augustine, FL
New England met North Florida, and they get along great. DJ’s Clam Shack on Hypolita Street serves lobster rolls, clam chowder, coconut shrimp, and fish tacos in a breezy, beach-vacation setting right in the historic district.
Here is the local touch. A datil pepper hot sauce from a hometown maker sits on every table, and it is also for sale if you want to take a bottle home.
Shake a little on your fries and you will understand why people hunt this stuff down.
Patio heaters and live music make the outdoor seating pleasant even on cool winter nights, and dogs are welcome. Budget about $20 to $30 a person.
It runs Tuesday through Sunday from 11 AM to 9 PM, and parking downtown is paid, so walking over is smart.
6. Asado Life, St. Augustine, FL
Flames, smoke, and a waterfront view set the mood at Asado Life, an Argentine-inspired steakhouse that cooks over live fire. Tomahawk steaks and house-made focaccia get the spotlight, but the datil surprises hide in the sides.
Grilled steak, chicken, and chorizo come with a Datil pepper potato salad that is creamy with a sneaky kick. Datil black beans also pair beautifully with grilled asada and fried poblano.
It is a clever blend of South American grilling and St. Augustine flavor.
This is the dressier stop on the list, with prices from about $20 to $80. Reservations are recommended for lunch, brunch, and dinner, especially Friday and Saturday evenings.
Hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 11 AM to 8:30 PM, and parking is easy.
7. Sunset Grille, St Augustine Beach, FL
Sand on your feet is basically the dress code. Sunset Grille sits on A1A Beach Boulevard, a laid-back local institution with an ocean breeze, rooftop seating, and plenty of sports on the TVs.
Order the Minorcan Datil shrimp for a taste of the pepper by the sea. Portions are big, and the coconut shrimp appetizer makes a great partner.
The crab bisque earned second place in a local cook-off, and chowder fries are a fun side.
Leave space for key lime or peanut butter pie. Meals run about $20 to $30.
It is open every day except Tuesday from 11 AM, staying until 10 PM on Friday and Saturday.
8. The Floridian Restaurant, St. Augustine, FL
Kitschy decor, Southern comfort, and a local-first kitchen make The Floridian a fitting finale. The menu leans on locally sourced ingredients, with modern takes on classics like fried green tomatoes, Biscuits and Belly, and pork belly sandwiches.
Datil-spiked dishes appear as a nod to the town’s signature pepper, and they catch many newcomers by happy surprise. Pair one with the Spicy Melt or a cheese board, and know that sides often come as fresh salads instead of fries.
Vegans and vegetarians get full menus, too.
Finish with Kentucky Derby Pie. Plan on $20 to $30 per person, with dinner reservations recommended.
It is open daily except Tuesday, from 11 AM until 9 PM most nights and 10 PM on weekends.
One pepper, eight very different kitchens. Start anywhere on this list and you will see why St. Augustine guards its datil so proudly.
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