Doc B's in Fort Lauderdale worth a visit

 

Doc B's

https://www.docbsrestaurant.com/locations/fort-lauderdale

452 N. Federal Highway (near Fresh Market)
Fort Lauderdale FL 33301
754-900-2401
M-Thurs: 11 am-10 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am -11 pm
Sun: 10:30 am-9 pm
Happy Hour, M-F, 5-7

By Jane Feehan

Part of a small chain of nine or 10 stores*, Doc B’s in Fort Lauderdale attracts a steady stream of customers for brunch, lunch, dinner or drinks and food at the bar.

Their menu presents a casual line up of salads, chicken variations or beef dishes such as ribs, burgers, and steaks. Seafood is limited but shrimp and blackened white fish for sandwiches are available. Bar food includes wings, tasty meatballs, guacamole with house- made sweet potato chips and a variety of other items. For those with a sweet tooth, “Homemade Oreo ice cream,” headlines the list (it's delish).

Burgers and salads will make most customers smile. I tried their turkey burger, an exceptional version with avocado, tortilla strips and an excellent vinaigrette. The dressed up blackened fish sandwich also elicited accolades. On another visit, I chose the California salad with an add-on of grilled chicken. The waiter asked if I wanted the chicken cold or hot. The menu description—grilled—implied (to me) that it would be hot. The salad arrived with warmed up strips of tough chicken. However, the dish didn’t need anything else with its kale, avocado, dried cranberries, roasted sweet potatoes, wasabi peas, pistachio and tortilla and that tasty vinaigrette. Wow, a knockout!

If you’re looking for fancier chicken dishes, such as chicken paillard, this may not be the place. I was disappointed on a subsequent visit with that choice. Typically, paillard is chicken pounded so thin it covers a plate. Doc B’s version was a tough chicken breast barely exposed to the meat pounder.  It was blanketed with a generous portion of arugula drizzled with that excellent vinaigrette, which redeemed it … sort of.

The atmosphere is trendy and appeals to all ages. Seating is available both inside and on a covered patio or adjacent tables with umbrellas A bar greets customers at the entrance with tables arranged around it. Service is excellent. Reservations suggested, especially for brunch. Free parking is available in an adjoining garage.

 *Other locations: Coral Gables, and Tampa in Florida, several in Texas, including an excellent one in Austin at the Domain, Chicago, Indiana and a new one soon in North Carolina.

 

 

Tags: Fort Lauderdale dining, casual dining in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale brunch, Happy Hour in Fort Lauderdale

Restaurants open Christmas Day in Fort Lauderdale and Pompano 2024

For Christmas dining some establishments take reservations via Open Table (check there first); others take phone reservations. Call to confirm they are open. Some places change plans depending on reservations, which most require for that day. 

This is not an inclusive dining list. Restaurants may be added below.

Anthony’s Clam House (Commercial Boulevard) – 954-467-9720

Aruba Beach Café (Lauderdale-by-the Sea) – 954-776-0001

Batch New Southern Kitchen and Tap (Flagler Village) -754-757-0000

Benihana (Lauderdale-by-the-Sea) – 954-776-0111

Blue Moon Fish Co. (Lauderdale-By-the-Sea) 954-267-9888

Burlock Coast (Ritz Carlton on FTL beach) – 954-302-6460

Café Max (Pompano) – 954-782-0606

Cafe Sensei  (Pan Asian, E. Las Olas Boulevard) 954-530-4176

Chima Steak House (Las Olas Boulevard) – 954-712-0580

Dal Contadina Trattoria  (FTL off Oakland Park Blvd) – 954-900-2714

Del Frisco’s Grille (FTL downtown) – 754-312-3235

Dune (FTL Auberge Beach Residences A1A) - 754-900-4059 

EaTapas (Oakland Park) -754-779-7554

Evelyn’s Four Seasons (FTL beach) – 754-336-3100

Flanigan's (several around town) Oakland Park  954-493-5329

Fogo de Chao (FTL downtown) – 754-900-3111

Lasso Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse (FTL Sunrise Blvd) – 754-223-4660

Lotus Chinese - (Federal near Oakland) 954-566-5565 first come, first served

Morton’s Steak House (FTL downtown) – 954-467-9722

The Terrace at The Dalmar (FTL Marriott on U.S. 1) 954-945-9500

Timpano (Las Olas) – 954-462-9119

Vitolo – Conrad Hotel (FTL central beach) – 954-414-5100

Wild Sea Las Olas (FTL Las Olas Boulevard)  -954-467-2555

Zuckarello's - (FTL E. Commercial Blvd. 776-4282

Tags: 

Restaurants open Christmas Day in Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach,

restaurants open Christmas Day in Fort Lauderdale, restaurants open Christmas Day in Pompano 

Spell mouthwatering: Tarpon River Cafe Absolute Catering

Tarpon River Café Absolute Catering

14 SW 11 Street

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315

954-767-8306

Lunch, 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Monday through Friday

Lunch first Saturday of each month

Catering for organizations, weddings and other special occasions

For my history posts, please see index here AND visit: JanesHistoryNook.blogspot.com

By Jane Feehan

Just out of the shadows of downtown Fort Lauderdale sits an unpretentious, terrazzo-floored tiny café shrouded in trees and other flora. It would be easy to miss except for a small sign indicating its business or if someone invites you as I was.  

Catering is chef/owner Chris Stachowski’s primary occupation here, but what a find for lunch. He whips up a new menu of five entrees and a soup each day; all entrees are priced at $11. With 24-hour-notice, he’ll fill a special meal request as well as requests for the next month’s Saturday lunch.

A large group of us—about 15—ordered across the menu. I sampled a delicious, slightly spiced clam

Turkey, brie and cranberry ciabatta

chowder and off-the-frame turkey, brie and cranberry creation on a ciabatta roll. It was served with a choice of a green salad or pasta salad; the large-portioned pasta salad of perfectly-cooked macaroni ranks as one of the best I’ve had. One of us ordered a ham plate, a few others ordered pork loin—all with eye-popping thick cuts of meat. Turkey slices in my sandwich were nearly a half-inch thick as well as they were for a large off-the- menu salad entrée one diner requested. Extremely accommodating, Chef Chris also served an off-the-menu burger with several slices of bacon draped over the meat. Desserts are house made by Chris’s sister, Beth, who serves as baker extraordinaire of an array of mouthwatering pies and cakes.

With deep, life-long roots in Fort Lauderdale, Chris comes with an impressive resume and thick portfolio of wedding, special occasion and business clients as well as repeat catering customers, including Saint Anthony Church Women’s Guild. Also, for about a decade, he served as a yacht chef—one of the most demanding roles in the culinary field. He’s also been an award-winning participant in local seafood festivals…and in fishing tournaments. Chris’s interests extend to horticulture, evidenced by his collection on 11th Street of fruit-bearing trees, a cinnamon tree, three varieties of pineapple, and herbs and vegetables and a project dear to his heart: an orchid farm, which is under development.

Stop by with a big appetite or to preview a catering menu. Easy parking at Tarpon River Café, which lies across the street from historic Trinity Lutheran Church. The café is an inexpensive and peaceful alternative to the hub bub of downtown. Patio or indoor dining.

Tags: Fort Lauderdale caterers, Fort Lauderdale catering, Fort Lauderdale restaurants, downtown Fort Lauderdale lunch

Fort Lauderdale's Royal Pig Pub: Majestic fare

Royal Pig Pub
350 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
954-617-7447
www.RoyalPigPub.com
Open: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-Midnight
          Friday/Saturday 11 a.m.-2 a.m.
          Sunday Noon -11 p.m.

By Jane Feehan

Awesome: Royal Pig Pub. Atmospheric and handsome, if not typically pub-cozy, this eatery delivers creative, high quality, sophisticated food that sets the bar (no pun intended) for other SOFLA establishments that embrace the gastropub concept.

Executive Chef Stanton Bundy brings Texas and New Orleans influences to a menu that includes bounteous sandwiches, inspired salads and main course marvels. Consider the Free range Creole Chicken Club with cheddar cheese, a delicately fried and oh-so-tasty slice of avocado topped with chipotle aioli. Enthusiasm for this creation precluded relegating any to  a common Styrofoam

Free Range Creole Chicken Club

container for takeaway. Blasphemy. Down the hatch it went with most of a side of parmesan truffle fries. The same for dining companions blissfully munching on palate-teasing Prime Beef Sliders, and a BBQ Rotisserie Pulled Pork sandwich crowned with coleslaw spicy mustard, American cheese and a fried pickle. The Rotisserie Free Range Turkey Club, encased in cranberry walnut bread, topped with cranberry compote, Vermont cheddar, bacon and avocado, tasted like Thanksgiving on a bun … and ranks among the best sandwiches I’ve eaten.

The roster of main plates (served after 5 p.m.) include New Orleans inspired BBQ Shrimp, and Seafood Gumbo. Texas-influenced Rotisserie Ribs and prime steaks join Free Range Rotisserie Chicken, “Fish of the Moment” and tons more to accommodate any craving, any appetite. The Royal Pig Pub serves fabulous fare on many holidays. Wallet-friendly, this pub offers fine cocktails, excellent wines and craft beers. And yes, the service lives up to the food.

Sophisticated, airy and New Yorkish

Parking available on the street or in a nearby parking garage.










Tags: Fort Lauderdale pubs, gastropub, Las Olas restaurants

Crash landing on oil slick, Runway 84 in Fort Lauderdale

Runway 84

330 Florida State rd. 84

Fort Lauderdale, 33315

954-467-8484

Runway-84.com

Lunch, Tuesday-Friday

Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday

This airline-themed Italian eatery and lively bar with a three-decade history has an enthusiastic following. After a recent visit, I cannot say I am a member of that following.

Oil was in abundance in places it should not have been and was missing in another. This sad experience began with tasteless, slightly burned bread accompanied by a small dish of oil for dipping. We could not find the oil; the dish was mostly grated Parmesan with barely enough liquid to grace one slice of bread. Bread is usually the first sign of what’s to follow; this time was no exception.

Enter an appetizer of clams oreganata drowning in oil that should have come with the bread. Oil was not the only problem; the woebegone clams tasted as if they had been resurrected from the freezer. Onward. Mussels were delivered in a “sauce” that tasted more like water with a few dollops of tomato paste. It was miserably tasteless as was the house salad served with a gimmicky piece of salami holding a single sorrowful olive. Iceberg lettuce, a pepperconi here, a slice of tomato there, all drizzled in a bland dressing fit for a bottle off a grocery store shelf.

Denouement of this meal misery: two plates of pasta overloaded with oil. The rigatoni was perfectly prepared but swimming in cheap olive oil. So much broccoli rabe covered one dish that the pasta was hard to find. My plate was topped with a mushy mess of cauliflower and sliced mushrooms.

Runway 84 may be popular for their free meatballs on Thursday nights and grossly huge portions every night. It’s not cheap however; our pasta dishes were about $25 each.

To borrow from Edgar Allen Poe … Once upon a January Florida night cheery … deep into that dish peering, long I stood there wondering, really? Said this writer, NEVERMORE.

Tags: Fort Lauderdale restaurants, Italian restaurants in Fort Lauderdale, restaurants near Fort Lauderdale airport

Jet Runway Café, Fort Lauderdale: Calling all aviators – and foodies

Dining room with a view

Jet Runway Café

5540 NW 21 Terrace

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309

954-958-9900

Open Monday-Friday: 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

Saturday: 7:30-2 p.m.

Jetrunwaycafe.com

Beer and wine, catering

By Jane Feehan

Jet Runway Café, exactly as its name conveys, sits along a runway in a hangar at Fort Lauderdale’s Executive Airport. What this unique eatery lacks in exterior design (except for the airplane windows of its entrance), is more than made up for by the details of its interior and in its artful presentations from the kitchen. The café’s expanse of glass along its front and side affords all visitors a great view of the tarmac and planes taking off, landing or awaiting the next trip. Its appropriately high-ceiling, airy interior is decked out in a turbine and other aviation elements.  

Entrance

We had standard breakfasts of eggs, potatoes, and a piece of their housemade light fried bread pudding (also available as a complete serving). Presentation here is all about the details: tiny cups with butter or catsup (no ugly bottles or alumium butter wrappers here); potatoes served in a small dish atop the plated eggs. Simple fare but beautifully delivered. They also serve Brioche Almond French toast, breakfast burritos, pancakes and house made coffee cakes.

 

Thoughtful presentation 

Service is excellent. I’ll be back for lunch during this next week and hope I can find a parking space. It was impossible last Friday at 1 p.m. and I think I know why. With good food, a great wait staff and an exceptional setting, what’s not to return for? Stay tuned …

Open for private parties (great venue) only during the evening.

Tags: Fort Lauderdale breakfast, runway restautants, unique restaurant Fort Lauderdale, private party venues, unique party venue, catering

s3 - Fussy and casual not a good match at the beach - Fort Lauderdale

s3

At the Fort Lauderdale Hilton Hotel

505 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd.

Fort Lauderdale, 33304

954-523-7873

Open

Sun-Thur: 11:30 a.m. to midnight

Fri-Sat 11 a.m.-2 a.m.

By Jane Feehan

Launched by The Restaurant People, the company behind YOLO, Vibe, and Tarpon Bend Food and Tackle, s3 (sun, surf and sand) could use some adjustments and reconsideration (or consideration?) of its theme.

Three of us brunched there on a recent Sunday. A server told us in introductions that they embraced a

“sharing” theme. We couldn't discern what was to be shared other than some side dishes of mac n’ cheese, butter braised pole beans and other vegetables. Their small plates could not be shared. Onward … I tried a weekend brunch item, chicken atop a sweet potato waffle served with bacon butter. The waffle was tough, dry and nearly tasteless. Syrup wasn’t served; I was told there was some on it … somewhere. The lightly battered and fried chicken was moist and flavorsome but it didn’t atone for the waffle. Another diner ordered oak grilled fish, which was grouper that day. It came loaded with a thick, overpowering, unappealing-looking “sauce Gribbiche,” better suited to the name “sauce gibberish” of tarragon and/or dill. That and an inappropriate ciabatta roll (too much bread for this entrée) subdued the grilled fish, which did not taste fresh. The best dish was an over-sized hamburger served on a Challah roll. A trio of mini Bloody Mary’s with different garnishes was interesting.

On the plus side is the soothingly beautiful décor, with its  earth tones set against a backdrop of dark and light woods— somewhat unusual in a beach setting. A view of the ocean can be captured from any table or from any seat at one of several bars. s3 occupies a large area at street level of the Hilton and for the most part, is covered, though open. The breeze can be stiff and the humidity uncomfortable–not pleasant for those who normally avoid al fresco dining during Florida summers.

A less pretentious, less fussy approach would be better suited to this laid back beachy atmosphere. We will return; they have a lot to work with and s3 is so very new.

Tags: Fort Lauderdale beach dining, waterside dining Fort Lauderdale, Hilton Hotel, s3, open air beachside dining

PDQ - Clucky concept outruns competition in fast food arena

PDQ

3359 N. Federal Hwy.

Fort Lauderdale, FL  

954-874-8528

www.eatpdq.com

Open 11 a.m. daily until 10 p.m. except Fri. and Sat. until 11 p.m.

By Jane Feehan

PDQ, launched by a few of the principals of Outback Steakhouse, sells chicken tenders, salads and sandwiches in several stores in Florida and in North Carolina. Plans are underway for other franchises. Business at the Fort Lauderdale store has been brisk since it opened recently. Lines for franchises may be nearly as long as they are for PDQ chicken tenders. They have a concept that works and their food is yummy.

PDQ (“people dedicated to quality”) serves fast food a few notches above its competition. It’s mostly chicken here at this "fast-casual" restaurant. To fully appreciate why PDQ stands heads above its competition, future fans might first sample their meaty tenders in one of the baskets served with hand cut fries or blueberry coleslaw. The lightly breaded, lightly fried tenders are plump (huge!) and juicy.  Two or three

tenders with a side order are plenty for even a big appetite. Chicken sandwiches are just as tasty.  They also sell grilled turkey sandwiches with a dollop of cranberry sauce, an item that also sets PDQ apart from other fast-food chains. For waist watchers, there's a small variety of large, fresh salads. Milkshakes and malts top the desert choices for those who don't worry about calories. 

PDQ's interior design makes for a pleasant, airy and somewhat noisy ambiance, but comports with its casual presentation. Drive-in service underscores the fast food experience. It’s fast food outrunning the competition, fast.





Tags: Fort Lauderdale chicken restaurant, fast food Fort Lauderdale, take out chicken, chicken tenders, historical researcher

Christina Wan's - Chinese food with flair in Fort Lauderdale

CLOSED NOVEMBER 10, 2024

Christina Wan’s

664 N. Federal Hwy (Shoppes of Victoria Park)

Fort Lauderdale 33304

954-527-0228

www.christinawans.com

Mon-Thurs: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

Fri and Sat: 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Sun: 4 to 10 p.m.

Takeout and delivery available

By Jane Feehan

With phone orders coming in at a brisk rate and deliveries going out the door at the same tempo, Christina Wan’s is a busy place. But the best way to enjoy it is on the premises in a pleasant setting accented with white table cloths, booths, and a granite top bar with full liquor service; there is also a patio, a popular place with diners.

The food, standard American-Chinese fare, is good. No frozen, crinkle-cut veggies out of a bag here; vegetables are fresh. For the diet conscious, low carb and grilled items are available. Fried rice items such as Nutty vegetable or Egg and Onion join the pork, beef, chicken and vegetable varieties. Brown rice is also offered. Orders are generous and more than substantial for sharing. A recent dinner for two of Lemongrass chicken and Honey garlic crispy chicken will have us returning for more.

Owner Christina Wan maintains a high profile at her restaurant. She tends bar, seats patrons, takes orders over the phone – all at a frenetic pace - while engaging customers in friendly conversation. Her move from a location on Federal just north of Sunrise Boulevard was a good one. She’s now located near downtown, where a place like hers was sorely needed.

Tags: Chinese restaurants in Fort Lauderdale, Chinese takeout Fort Lauderdale, Chinese food delivery Fort Lauderdale, Chinese food

D'Angelo for pizza, tapas, and ... Fort Lauderdale

D’Angelo – Pizza, Wine Bar and Tapas

4215 N. Federal Hwy.

Fort Lauderdale, 33334 (Oakland Park)

954-561-7300 – Reservation required for parties of more than six

http://dangelopizza.com

By Jane Feehan

Brought to us by Chef Angelo Elia, the same owner behind the popular Casa D’Angelo, the more moderately-priced D’Angelo focuses on pizza, tapas and a wine bar.  It’s a concept that extends the D’Angelo name to a wider South Florida dining community. Judging by the crowds filling up the place, it’s a concept that seems to be working.

A striking modern black and white Italian décor provides a casual, smart setting to munch on an array of “artisan,” pizzas crowned with some interesting toppings, including Italian tuna, gorgonzola and buratta cheese, salmon and soft brie, arugula, dried figs and lots more. Pizza is good here if you’re less inclined to embrace traditional versions, though a Margherita may suffice – unless you order it topped with fries, which is an option.

Besides pizza, D’Angelo’s tapas ($12 and less) are also interesting, if not all tasty. Turkey and chicken meatballs are generous in size but short on flavor - no detectable garlic and slightly gummy (overabundance of bread crumbs?). But other small plates of rice balls or Arancini, crispy polenta, eggplant parmegiana, or stuffed zucchini flowers may make up for that item. D’Angelo also serves a small selection of soups, bruschette, ceviche (raw marinated fish) and carpacci (raw meats).

Daily dinner specials vary, but on my second visit included salmon stuffed with crab meat, chicken cacciatore, and a pasta dish; I chose the chicken.  A heaping plate of steaming hot chicken in red sauce and mashed potatoes came accented with tasty olives and sliced red peppers. It proved to be a good choice.

Reviews are mixed on their bread – bland – and salads. An arugula salad with white beans and shaved Reggiano drizzled in an orange citronette was terrific. A Ceasar, thrown together with two small heads of embarrassingly tired, limp Romaine lettuce, was a disappointment. That aside I’d return here for a meal. The service is excellent, the bar lively and the price is right. Valet parking, also at lunch.  Family-friendly.

Tags: Fort Lauderdale dining, Italian restaurants in Fort Lauderdale, pizza places in Fort Lauderdale, wine bar in Fort Lauderdale

Spotlight on LOBSTER at these Fort Lauderdale area restaurants

Below are a few Fort Lauderdale area restaurants advertising or featuring lobster specials, either year round or seasonally.

Fin & Claw – 954-782-1060

2476 N. Federal Hwy, Lighthouse Point

Open 4-10 p.m.

Fifth Avenue Grill -954-782-4433 - CLOSED
4650 N. Federal Hwy., Lighthouse Point

Summer Maine lobster specials – call to confirm availability

www.5thavegrill.com

Kelly’s Landing 954-760-7009

1305 SE 17^th Street, Fort Lauderdale, 33316

Monday-Thursday: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

Friday, Saturday: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

www.kellyslandingseafood.com

Lobster House – 954-748-6080

3527 N. Pine Island Rd., Sunrise

Open daily 2-11 p.m.

http://lobsterhousesunrise.com/

Old Florida Seafood House – 954-566-1044

1414 NE 26^th Street, Wilton Manors

Open nightly at 5 p.m., Lobster tails

www.oldflaseafood.com

Rustic Inn – 954-584-1637

Crab is their specialty but they also serve lobster

4331 Ravenswood Rd., Fort Lauderdale

www.rusticinn.com

The Ark Restaurant – 954-584-3075

6255 Stirling Road, Davie

www.thearkrestaurantfla.com

Tropical Acres – 954-989-2500

2500 Griffin Rd., Fort Lauderdale

Maine lobster specials - seasonal

www.tropicalacres.com

Vinnie's Lobster Bar 954-680-3323
5810 S. University Drive, Davie 33328 (Lakeside Town Shops)
www.vinnieslobsterbarflorida.com/

For more Fort Lauderdale seafood restaurants see: 
http://janesbits.blogspot.com/2011/07/fort-lauderdale-area-seafood.html

For seafood MARKETS, see:
http://janesbits.blogspot.com/2012/03/south-floridas-best-seafood-markets.html

Tags: Lobster dinner Fort Lauderdale, lobster specials Fort Lauderdale, lobster restaurants Broward County

Waterfront dining in Fort Lauderdale, Pompano

Below are restaurants on the water in Fort Lauderdale and Pompano. Some sit ocean side, others along the Intracoastal, canals or the Middle River. Locations indicated. Some are reviewed elsewhere on this blog.

Fort Lauderdale

Anglin’s Beach Café - pier on the ocean

2 Commercial Blvd., Lauderdale-by-the-Sea

954-491-6007 - Open daily 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.

http://www.anglinsbeachcafe.com/

Review on this blog, use search box

Aruba Beach Café   – on the beach

1 Commercial Blvd., Lauderdale by-the-Sea

11 a.m.-11 p.m., casual inexpensive to moderate

954-776-0001

www.arubabeachcafe.com

Review on this blog, use search box

Asia Bay – on a fork of the New River – outdoor terrace

1111 E. Las Olas Blvd., lunch/dinner, moderate

954-848-9900

www.asiabayrestaurants.com

Bahia Cabana – on the Bahia Mar Marina

3001 Harbor Dr., Breakfast, lunch, dinner – Casual, inexpensive

954-524-1555

www.bahiacabanaresort.com

Bamboo Beach Tiki Bar – on the beach

At the Ocean Manor Hotel/Condo

4040 Galt Ocean Dr., Lunch/dinner – very casual

954-566-7500

www.BambooBeachTikiBar.com

Benihana – on the Intracoastal

276 Commercial Blvd., Lauderdale-by-the-Sea

954-776-0111

www.benihana.com

Blue Moon Fish Company – on the Intracoastal

4405 West Tradewinds Ave. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea - Moderate

954-267-9888

www.bluemoonfishco.com/

Kim Bokamper’s

Sports Bar and Grill
3115 NE 32nd Ave (Along east side of Intracoastal near Oakland Park bridge)

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 (opened Nov 27, 2013)

Locations also in Miramar and Plantation

www.bokampers.com
Phone - 954-900-5584 (not working as of Dec. 1)

Bimini Boatyard – on canal off Intracoastal

1555 SE 17^th St., moderate

954-525-7400

www.Biminiboatyard.com

Casablanca Café    954-764-3500 – Across the street from ocean

3049 Alhambra St.

www.casablancacafeonline.com

Reviewed on this blog; use search box.

Chart House (a Landry's restaurant) – on the Intracoastal

3000 NE 32 St - moderate

954-561-4800

http://www.chart-house.com/

Coconuts – next to Bahia Mar Marina, on the water

429 Seabreeze Blvd., inexpensive to moderate

Open daily at 11:30 a.m.

954-525-2421

http://coconutsfortlauderdale.com/

Review on this blog, use search box.

Downtowner Saloon – on the New River

10 S. New River Drive East - inexpensive

South of New River, east of the Andrews Ave. Bridge, behind the Courthouse

954-463-9800

www.downtownersaloon.com

Review on this blog; use search box.

East End Brasserie at  

The Atlantic Resort and Spa – Terrace across from the beach

601 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd.

954-567-8070

www.atlantichotelfl.com

Hyatt Pier 66   

2301 SE 17^th Street – two venues

Grille Room – Expensive

Pelican Landing – Casual. lunch, light dinner high up with view of Intracoastal

954-525-6666

www.pier66.hyatt.com

Pelican Landing is reviewed on this blog – use search box.

Marriott Harbor Beach   - overlooks ocean - Main number 954-525-4000

3030 Holiday Drive

Riva Restaurant – 954-765-3100 – moderate, casual

www.marriottharborbeach.com

Review on this blog; use search box.

Pelican Grand Beach Resort   - on the beach

2000 North Ocean Blvd., moderate

954-568-9431

www.pelicanbeach.com

Ritz Carlton Hotel – Terrace across from beach, lunch, breakfast

1 North Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd.

954-465-2300

www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/FortLauderdale/Default.htm

s3

At the Fort Lauderdale Hilton Hotel

505 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale

954-523-7873

Sun-Thur: 11:30 a.m. to midnight

Fri-Sat 11 a.m.-2 a.m.

Sand Bar and Grill – very casual, with a deck and stairs to beach

Sun Tower Hotel (north of the Pelican Grand Resort)

2030 N. Ocean Blvd., Breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days 8 am- 9 pm

954-565-5700

Review on this blog; use search box.

Sea Watch Restaurant - on the ocean

6002 North Ocean Drive

954-781-2200

www.seawatchontheocean.com

Review on this blog; use search box.

Serafina – on Middle River off Sunrise

926 NE 20^th Ct., lunch/dinner, moderate to expensive

954-463-2566

www.serabythewater.com

Shooter’s Waterfront Café (New owners, Grateful Palate, reopening early 2013) 

3033 NE 32^nd St. Lunch, dinner - casual

954-566-2855

www.shooterscafe.com

Shula’s on the Beach, terrace across from the beach

Westin Resort Moderate to expensive

321 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd. Breakfast, dinner

954-355-4000

http://tinyurl.com/9clp3te

Southport Raw Bar – end of canal off the Intracoastal

1536 Cordova Rd., Lunch and dinner. Casual, inexpensive

954-525-2526

www.southportrawbar.com/

Pompano Beach

Houston’s – on the Intracoastal at the bridge

2861 E. Atlantic Blvd., Lunch, dinner - moderate

954-783-9499

www.hillstone.com/#/restaurants/houstons/

Tags: waterside restaurants in Fort Lauderdale, waterside dining in Pompano, restaurants on the beach, restaurants on the Intracoastal, Fort Lauderdale waterfront restaurants

Saint Tropez Bistro - authentically French in Fort Lauderdale

Saint Tropez Bistro

1010 East Las Olas Blvd.

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Open seven days for lunch and dinner

954-767-1073

http://sainttropezbistro.com

By Jane Feehan

History tells us that it was the Italians who introduced fine food to the French.  Saint Tropez Bistro brings its spin on French cookery to Fort Lauderdale and the city is better for it. Open since 2009, this eatery has endeared itself to the community; the bistro captures the essence of casual French food.

It’s not formal or stuffy with plenty of outdoor seating both adjacent to Las Olas Boulevard and in an airy, yet elegant arcade. A tip off to its authenticity is its limited but more-than-adequate and traditional menu featuring spicy lamb sausages, escargots in garlic-parsley butter sauce, steamed mussels, salmon, duck a la orange, several different cuts of beef, and lamb chops.   

Introduced by a basket of warm, tempting French bread, a lunch of Salade Byblos au poulet et aux noix – was as beautiful as it was tasty. Grilled, carved chicken on greens surrounded by large slices of tomato topped off with a generous sprinkling of blue cheese, a dash of delicate vinaigrette, walnuts, and artistically sliced apples made a sweltering summer day more bearable.  Their Sandwich Cannes with chicken was equally enjoyable served atop a fresh baguette and accented by a subtly nuanced French mustard.

Desserts vary by season but count on crème brulee or tarte tatin – upside down caramelized apple tart – as staples for a sweet ending to a great meal.

Service is excellent; moderately priced (check their website above for prices).

Check Food Network for tarte tatin recipes: http://tinyurl.com/c4mfqzw

Tags: Fort Lauderdale dining, Las Olas Boulevard restaurants, French dining in Fort Lauderdale, casual French restaurants in Fort Lauderdale

Coconuts breaks away from tourist fare in Fort Lauderdale

Coconuts

429 Seabreeze Blvd.

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

Open daily at 11:30 a.m.

Catering available

Sunday Brunch: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

954-525-2421

http://coconutsfortlauderdale.com/

By Jane Feehan

Set a block or so off Fort Lauderdale’s beach and adjacent to Bahia Mar Marina, Coconuts entices patrons with its view and consistently good food. 

Owners Elliot Wolf and Merv Jonota know what it takes to cultivate both Fort Lauderdale and tourist

clientele. I’ll return for the fresh crab cake served as a sandwich or atop a salad, hefty beefsteak tomato drizzled in balsamic vinaigrette or the Lobster Benedict (an item at Sunday brunch). Daily fresh fish, lollipop pork chops, strip steak, lobster roll or pan seared chicken with a side of sage and sausage stuffing provide a tempting lineup. It’s a cut above many eateries along the strip and its environs that pack customers in during winter season in spite of insipid food and sit empty during summer. Coconuts fills tables year round.

Wolf and Jonota bought Coconuts from restaurateur and musician John Day (of Mango’s on Las Olas) about five years ago. They recently opened G&B Oyster (next to Coconuts) and The Foxy Brown on Broward Boulevard; I look forward to visiting both.

Coconuts welcomes friendly pets, provides excellent service and complimentary valet.  Steel drum player on weekends. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved. Jane Feehan.

                                                

Tags: Fort Lauderdale waterfront dining, casual dining Fort Lauderdale, Maine lobster Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale restaurants along the water, Sunday brunch Fort Lauderdale 

15th Street Fisheries Dockside Cafe - Fort Lauderdale: Touristy

15th Street Fisheries Dockside Café

1900 SE 15th Street, Fort Lauderdale

954-763-2777

Open for lunch daily at 11:30 

http://tinyurl.com/88xak5r

By Jane Feehan

If a tourist asks a cabdriver where to go for seafood in Fort Lauderdale, 15^th Street Fisheries tops the list. So do its prices because it draws mostly visitors. Lunch at its outdoor Dockside Café is a better match for the plebeian purse.

I ordered their signature Lauderdale Marina salad ($14), which was gargantuan. But artichokes, tomatoes, heaps of lettuce, a good vinaigrette and half a hardboiled egg couldn’t make up for the unappetizing mound of soft, soggy shrimp; frozen they were - not a hint of fresh. An abundance of crab meat helped remedy the

Not so good ...

meal but next time I’ll try something else. I would have sampled the fish and chips but they use tilapia, one fish I don’t eat. Prices run from $9 to $21 for sandwiches, fish, lobster rolls, steak, chicken, alligator and shrimp, a sautéed seafood medley and more.

Sights and nautical ambiance provide enough reason for visiting the Dockside Café. Mega yachts gas up at the adjacent Lauderdale Marina where kids of all ages (including adults) can buy food to feed the tarpon splashing a few feet from diners.  Also, a view of Pier 66 with its bevy of yachts across the Intracoastal provides a slice of quintessential Fort Lauderdale.

Service is very good. Full bar. Family friendly. Dogs allowed at perimeter tables. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved. Jane Feehan.

Rocco's Tacos - another reason to visit Fort Lauderdale's Las Olas Boulevard

(Use search box at right to find other restaurants by zip code or name)

Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar

1313 E. Las Olas Blvd.

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

954-524-9550

Also in Boca Raton, West Palm Beach with one opening soon in Palm Beach Gardens

www.roccostacos.com

Lunch: M-F, 11:30 a.m.- 4 pm, Saturday and Sunday, 11 am-4 pm

Dinner: Sunday-Thursday, 4 pm-2 am; Friday and Saturday, 4 pm – 3 am

Takeout 

By Jane Feehan

Fort Lauderdale’s Mexican restaurant universe has expanded with the addition of Rocco’s Tacos on Las Olas Boulevard. This casual, high energy eatery offers authentic, tasty dishes in south-of-the-border tradition.

Guacamole is made up fresh – tableside - with the right blend of avocado, tomato and lime juice. At $12 this appetizer seems pricey but it easily feeds four.  Soft tacos, a smaller version than Americans are used to, come steaming to the table topped with a broad range of choices: pulled pork, chicken, or beef, grilled fish, lightly fried rock shrimp, or vegetables (there are plenty of vegetarian-friendly choices). Combination plates (average $14) or individual tacos ($3-4), and a great appetizer line-up please most any purse or appetite. Quesadillas, flautas, nachos, and enchiladas top off fare that is lower on the grease-o-meter than that of other Mexican restaurants. Rocco’s also serves skirt steaks, fish dishes, burgers, and salads.

An attractive bar with 225 varieties of tequila – and late hours (2 and 3 am closings) - is a hit with the youngish crowd, but Rocco’s welcomes all. Service is above average and management works hard to please, frequently asking if all is OK. Rocco’s fills up early; it's not unusual to see a line waiting for tables on weekdays. Reservations are available. Parking is $5 but there's metered parking nearby. Patio and indoor dining.

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For delicious guacamole recipes, visit Food Network at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/search/delegate.do?fnSearchString=guacamole&fnSearchType=site

Tags: Mexican restaurants in Fort Lauderdale, Las Olas restaurants, late-night dining on Las Olas, tacos in Fort Lauderdale, bars in Fort Lauderdale.

Village Grille, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea for dining and beach breezes

Village Grille

4404 El Mar Drive

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL 33308

Open daily 8 a.m.-2 a.m.

954-776-5092

www.villagegrille.com

(USE SEARCH BOX TO FIND ANOTHER RESTAURANT BY NAME  OR ZIP CODE)

By Jane Feehan

Located just steps from the beach and Broward County’s longest fishing pier, Village Grille offers good food and a pleasant atmosphere that draws just as many locals as tourists.

Basic seafood, pasta, chicken, beef dishes, and salads headline lunch and dinner. Their fish and chips entrée (about $14) deserves special mention; the fish is batter dipped in house.  No fancy dining here and menus have changed over the years but I’ve never had a bad meal at Village Grille. Breakfast on the deck or sidewalk café includes better-than-average French toast along with other morning standards of eggs and cereal.

A visit to Village Grille often includes an after-meal walk on the beach or pier, or a drink at their adjacent Village Pump where there’s music and a martini bar. On Friday evenings at 6 p.m. the street is cordoned off outside the restaurant for live music and dancing.  Drawing hundreds, this weekly event has evolved into a Lauderdale-by-the-Sea tradition … and it’s free.   

Dining at Village Grille is more than filling up on food; it’s also about taking in the beach, gentle breezes and good times. Just don't forget quarters for parking meters.

Tags: Dining in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, beachside dining Fort Lauderdale, entertainment in Fort Lauderdale, entertainment in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea.

Sublime Restaurant not so sublime on this visit - Fort Lauderdale

Sublime Restaurant

1431 N. Federal Hwy

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304

954-615-1431

Open Tuesday-Sunday: 5:30-10 p.m.

Happy Hour at the bar: 5:30-7:30

http://sublimerestaurant.com/

By Jane Feehan

I can’t count the times I’ve eaten at Sublime and thoroughly enjoyed the concept, food, atmosphere, and gracious hospitality of owner Nanci Alexander, animal rights activist. Ms. Alexander walks the talk, firmly committed to her cause; she donates 100 percent of Sublime’s profits to organizations that promote animal welfare and a vegan lifestyle.

That said, my recent visit to introduce someone to this restaurant – and to vegan dining – backfired. Pot stickers ($5), an appetizer, appeared as if they had been sitting in the kitchen too long. Tough, flat, skimpy - not much larger than 50 cent pieces, these pot stickers kicked things off to a poor start. Then came the main course, Singapore Noodles (about $16) with vegetables. An unappetizing heap (at least a pound) of noodles was delivered with tiny fragments of vegetables scattered about on the edges of the plate. With little or no sauce, the noodles were barely edible.  Fellow diner ordered the Portobello Stack ($19) with spinach, tomato, rosemary and mashed potatoes. Nice ingredients but absolutely tasteless.  This too scored low in presentation.  We skipped desert.

Maybe a new chef is directing the kitchen? Sublime seemed nearly gloomy for a Friday night. BUT, I’ll return; I’ve had too many great meals there not to. I salute Ms. Alexander for her work, which includes founding Animal Rights Foundation of Florida (AARF) and for introducing Fort Lauderdale to ambitiously delicious vegan cuisine. She wasn’t there on my last visit; maybe that was the problem.

 Tags: Fort Lauderdale dining, vegan dining in Fort Lauderdale, vegetarian restaurants in Fort Lauderdale

Molokai: foot stompin' summer nights at Fort Lauderdale's Mai-Kai

Molokai Lounge at the Mai-Kai

3599 N. Federal Highway

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

954-563-3272

Open at 5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday (summer hours)

http://www.maikai.com/specials/happy-hour-specials

By Jane Feehan

The Mai-Kai has retained its appeal among tourists, locals, and spring breakers for decades with its Polynesian review, specialty drinks, and scantily clad “serving maidens.” As I’ve written before, not much has changed since the 1950s, but what has changed keeps the place hopping during the slow summer months.

It’s tough finding a seat in the Molokai Lounge these slow-moving, oppressively hot August days. This South Seas fin de siècle saloon stays busy for a few reasons: half-priced drinks* and appetizers and a variety of music acts that has patrons clearing the floor to make room for dancing.

Cadillac Bombers

The Cadillac Bombers skidded into town from Tampa recently to play three and a half hours of foot-stomping, knee-bopping, hand-and-body-shaking swing music that was as intoxicating as a double

Mai-Kai Sidewinders Fang. Whew …

Next in the music line-up is Dan Cunningham’s annual Elvis Anniversary show and – straight from Yeehaw Junction – Slip and the Spinouts with more boppin’. Tai Olapa and Andrew Cornwall change the pace from stomping to swaying on weeknights (see schedule) with ukulele and bongos strumming those laid back island sounds.  

Check out the Mai-Kai Club membership for earning 25 to 50 percent discounts until December. If you’re a Mai-Kai fan, it’s well worth the $15 processing fee. The Molokai Lounge ROCKS. Copyright © 2011. All rights reserved. Jane Feehan.

*Half-price on most, not all, drinks

Tags: Fort Lauderdale entertainment, Fort Lauderdale night life, Fort Lauderdale Polynesian Review, Fort Lauderdale restaurants, summer specials in Fort Lauderdale, Cadillac Bombers, 
Molokai Bar review