If you're on the hunt for a new waterfront restaurant with stunning panoramic views and great food, you'll find four-in-one at this new Jupiter establishment.
Charlie & Joe’s at Love Street recently opened in February, a concpet founded — and named for — former New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath, and his longtime friend, Charlie Modica.
With its destination location overlooking the Jupiter Inlet, Namath says the restaurant was designed to pay homage to Jupiter's ocean-centric lifestyle. As part of his vision, the sprawling space — formerly home to the Barden Boating Center, marina, and a tackle/bait shop — has been upgraded to featuer a restored 13-slip dock and boat ramp.
The recreational community area, also known as the Love Street Outdoor Center, offers locals and tourists a chance to get out on the water. Here, guests can reserve kayaks and paddleboards, or partake in guided eco-tours on the Loxahatchee River. The dock is also a stop for the Jupiter Water Taxi, with services for island hopping, inlet cruises, river tours, and sand bar trips.
For those looking to eat or drink, there's also the option for a happy hour sunset cruise. The narrated boat ride departs every 30 minutes, taking guests past the Jupiter Lighthouse, up the Intracoastal, Indian River, or to Fullerton Island where they can watch for manatees, turtles, osprey, and other local wildlife.
The best part about Charlie & Joe's, however, isn't just the atmosphere — it's the options. When it comes to food, there actually is a little something for everyone.
Four distinct concepts makeup Charlie & Joe's, from the contemporary Beacon American Grille to the laidback Lucky Shuck Oyster Bar & Taphouse, or Topside rooftop tapas bar and cocktail lounge. The property also features its own boutique seafood market, The Tacklebox Seafood & Supply Co.
With Beacon, a seat at the Chef's Counter overlooks the restaurant's showpiece exhibition kitchen where a team of chefs and mixologists orchestrate service side-by-side in artful unison. The menu features coastally-inspired Mediterreanean cuisine with everything from Charred Spanish Octopus and Wood-Grilled Oysters to a Lobster Bucatini Cacio e Pepe to prime meats and a daily selection of locally-caugh fish.
At Lucky Shuck, the menu offers more casual fare, with a heavy focus on all things seafood. Offerings highlight the Ceviche Trio (ahi tuna tiradito, local fish kokoda, and clam aguachili) and Raw Bar items that include stone crab claws, fresh-shucked oysters, Cedar Key clams, and peel-and-eat shrimp. Or go low-key with the Crawfish Gumbo, Ahi Tuna Tacos, Crab Hushpuppies, or the housemade Smoked Fish Dip.
A daily happy hour from 3 to 5 p.m. puts the spotlight on Topside, where guests can order $5 draft beers (including the restaurant's onw Love & Passion, a blonde ale brewed by Barrel of Monks in Boca Raton); $7 wine by the glass; and $8 cocktails. The tiki-themed bar also offers a wide array of tropical-insired drinks — some frozen and others spirit-free. Pair it all with tapas like wood-fired meat skewers or the Quesos & Charcuteria, a selection of artisan cheeses and cured Spanish meats served with grilled bread and accoutrements that serves up to three people.
Last, the Tacklebox is the place to go for some of the area's freshest fish, caught from local waters by dozens of resident fishermen who bring their daily catch to the restaurant's docks each morning. The market also offers quick to-go lunch options that include sandwiches, salads, and poke bowls — available for curbside pick up, or even delivery straight to your boat.
Modica and Namath didn't take any chances deciding to launch not just one — but all four — concepts during a pandemic. To do so, they tapped Lessing's Hospitality Group to manage the venues, while helping to protect the well-being of guests, staff, and the community. Along with team members wearing masks and undergoing daily temperature checks, the venues at Charlie & Joe’s have in-duct air purification systems that reduce airborne and surface contaminants.
When asked about his inspiration for Charlie & Joe's, Namath says it was all about the location. Much like his famed Super Bowl III promise, the football star is confident Charlie & Joe's at Love Street will be a hit.
"Charlie and I talked about this for years, back when it was just an old fishing pier," recalls Namath. "Today, it continues to be a wonderful spot that will not only enhance the community, but also honor its history."
Charlie & Joe’s at Love Street. 1116 Love St., Jupiter; 561-532-3280; lovestreetjupiter.com.