In a world of cookie-cutter fast-food chains and dwindling customer service, a good, old-fashioned, family-run restaurant is getting harder to find. A few things may have changed at this iconic steakhouse over its 70 years of operation, but the quality and charm remain.
West Palm Beach's Okeechobee Steakhouse, which opened in 1947, is the oldest still-running steakhouse in Florida and one of the oldest in the country.
This classic restaurant is filled with nostalgia and old-fashioned charm, with dark walls, stone accents, and intimate booths that give it a very warm atmosphere. Like the best steakhouses, it has a little bit of a vintage vibe, without feeling outdated. The new room shown here is the only addition in the last 40 years.
The steaks are dry aged in the restaurant's own dry-aging room, with a special process that gives them phenomenal flavor. When ordering, a platter of steaks is brought to the table so guests can ask questions and choose their favorite cut.
New York Strip and Filet Mignon are popular choices, but it's hard to go wrong with this menu (unless maybe you're a vegetarian). Steaks are served with a starchy side and a salad.
A large selection of drinks and desserts make this the perfect spot for special occasions. (On their birthday, a guest can even receive a free dinner or discount).
This photo shows the steakhouse on opening day in 1947, when the Okeechobee Steakhouse was actually a drive-in with curb service. Back then, the tiny restaurant was so far out in the boonies that suppliers wouldn't make deliveries. Yet, it was a big hit. The location remains the same, but it's no longer in the middle of nowhere.
Of course, the restaurant is not a drive-in anymore, but the tradition of excellent food and service remain. Plus, the business remains a family affair. The current owner is the original owner's grandson, and the same unique dry aging process he developed is still used today.
