Restaurant Review: 12A Buoy features tons of options in its ‘rustic dive’ atmosphere

Lucie Regensdorf
·3 min read
The main dining area at 12A Buoy features teal leather and wood booths or wooden tables and chairs.
The main dining area at 12A Buoy features teal leather and wood booths or wooden tables and chairs.

Although it describes itself as a “rustic dive,” 12A Buoy shines like a beacon on Fisherman’s Wharf at the foot of the South Causeway in Fort Pierce. The décor is simple and unpretentious, emphasizing the focus of the restaurant which it describes as “exceptional eats.”

12A Buoy has comfortable outdoor dining on a well-illuminated deck that overlooks the water.
12A Buoy has comfortable outdoor dining on a well-illuminated deck that overlooks the water.

There is an outdoor deck with tables and comfy sling chairs. A strategically placed awning protects diners from the sun. Stringed lights provide atmosphere and illumination in the evening. The view beyond the deck is the curvy architecture of the causeway bridge reflected in the water.

Indoors at 12A Buoy, you will find an unassuming bar with colorful neon beer signs and televisions where you can dine at high tops with padded stools.
Indoors at 12A Buoy, you will find an unassuming bar with colorful neon beer signs and televisions where you can dine at high tops with padded stools.

Indoors, you will find an unassuming bar with colorful neon beer signs and televisions. You can dine in the bar at high tops with padded stools or in the main dining area featuring teal leather and wood booths or wooden tables and chairs.

12A Buoy serves a side salad of fresh fancy greens with artichoke hearts
12A Buoy serves a side salad of fresh fancy greens with artichoke hearts

And now for the good part. Appetizers include raw bar options; shrimp; clams; hot, hot, hot cheesy wags; and surf and turf carpaccio. 12A Buoy has soups, salads, sandwiches and entrees such as onion crusted snapper, blackened scallops, beef, lamb, and seafood pasta dishes. The evening we visited, the specials featured oysters, stone crabs and Havana mahi.

12A Buoy has their very own smoked fish dip which is delicious.
12A Buoy has their very own smoked fish dip which is delicious.

We started with smoked fish dip ($12), which was served with buttery crackers, minced tomato, onion and jalapeno on the side. The dip had nice chunks of smoky, creamy fish and was delicious. Our other choice of appetizer was sweet swine ($14). Thick-cut black pepper and maple glazed strips of bacon were brought to the table dangling from a clothesline by metal clips. A dill pickle spear lounged contentedly on a wooden plank below the bacon, receiving the drips. My husband was in heaven. The bacon would have made a heavenly BLT.

The Sweet Swine at 12A Buoy is thick-cut black pepper and maple glazed bacon strips dangling from a clothesline by metal clips.
The Sweet Swine at 12A Buoy is thick-cut black pepper and maple glazed bacon strips dangling from a clothesline by metal clips.

Two of our first entrée choices were unavailable. Components of the sauces had not been delivered due to issues with the supply chain. I subsequently reached out to the chef and learned that, lately, every delivery presents a new set of challenges. The restaurant is doing what it can to adapt. He added that a statement on the daily specials explains to diners that 12A Buoy strives to deliver the freshest and highest quality at a fair price but has been dealing with industrywide employee and product shortages.

The Yellowtail Snapper at 12A Buoy was butterflied, pan-seared and served with garlic, olives, capers, spinach and roasted pepper drizzled with a light wine and basil sauce.
The Yellowtail Snapper at 12A Buoy was butterflied, pan-seared and served with garlic, olives, capers, spinach and roasted pepper drizzled with a light wine and basil sauce.

There are plenty of options on the menu, so my friend ordered the yellowtail snapper ($40), which was butterflied, pan-seared and served with a light wine and basil sauce, garlic, olives, capers, spinach and roasted red peppers. For her side, instead of potatoes or coleslaw, she requested pasta ($8). She loved her meal. I ordered the fresh catch sheepshead ($32) which was a lightly seasoned, sweet fish, pan-seared and served with a tangy lemon butter sauce. I too craved a pasta side. The entire dish was wonderful.

The catch of the day at 12A Buoy was delicious, sweet, pan-seared Sheepshead with a lemon butter sauce.
The catch of the day at 12A Buoy was delicious, sweet, pan-seared Sheepshead with a lemon butter sauce.

The mister ordered the soup of the day, broccoli and cheese ($8). It was thick and very cheesy, in a good way. His dinner was prime rib ($30). The beef was perfectly cooked and flavorful but, unfortunately, the meat was a little tough.

12A Buoy's broccoli and cheddar soup is thick and very cheesy, in a good way.
12A Buoy's broccoli and cheddar soup is thick and very cheesy, in a good way.

These are challenging times beyond our control, and 12A Buoy is not immune to the frustrations of delivery and staffing issues. For the unforeseeable future, they may be out of certain items on the menu. But there are plenty of choices, and they will accommodate when possible.

Check out the food truck on weekends after Jan. 1. It will offer beer, wine and appetizers while you wait. 12A Buoy is your neighborhood restaurant offering a casual, humble menu style with fresh, quality food and a beautiful presentation.

12A Buoy

Cuisine: Seafood and American

Address: 22 Fisherman’s Wharf, Fort Pierce

Phone: 772-672-4524

Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays-Mondays and Wednesdays-Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays-Saturday. Closed Tuesdays.

Alcohol: Beer and wine

Online: www.12ABuoy.com

Lucie Regensdorf dines anonymously at the expense of TCPalm for #WhatToDoIn772. Contact her at Lucie@theloveofcooking.com.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Restaurant Review: 12A Buoy features tons of options in ‘rustic dive’