Whale's Rib, Deerfield Beach - Captain Ahab would gladly dine here

Whale’s Rib

2031 NE 2^nd Street

Deerfield Beach, Florida 33441

954-421-8880

Open Monday through Thursday and Sunday: 11 a.m.-11 pm

Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m.-12 a.m.

By Jane Feehan

It’s not gourmet but Whale’s Rib dishes up some basic seafood at reasonable prices – and it’s fresh.

Shrimp, scallops, fish, fried seafood platters, sandwiches, and raw bar selections highlight a large menu priced from about $10 to $25. A combo seafood platter ($25) with lobster, a clam Casino, an oyster Rockefeller, shrimp and scallops is large enough a meal to be shared. Popular sides are black beans and rice. Fries here, resembling homemade potato chips and served with honey mustard, are excellent.  One caveat: stay away from the shrimp po-boys. Made with a few shrimp cooked tempura style (yikes) and thrown on a soft roll similar to a hotdog’s (oh dear) is as far away from the traditional Mississippi Gulf Coast and New Orleans variety as one can get. They should take it off the menu; it’s tasteless.

Whale’s Ribs hosts a loyal and spirited bar crowd but it’s also family friendly and ultra casual.  A raw bar (away from the drinking area) seats four or five. Food Network's Guy Fieri stopped in a couple of years ago to do an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. It was a well-deserved media hit for the restaurant.

Service: good. Parking: tight.

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Tags: Deerfield Beach seafood restaurants, South Florida seafood, South Florida dining

"Never knew the charm of Spring" until Le Café de Paris in Fort Lauderdale

Le Café de Paris       CLOSED
715 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Closed

http://www.cafedeparislasolas.com
954-467-2900

By Jane Feehan

Many restaurants have come and gone since Le Café de Paris opened several decades ago (about five) but this Las Olas landmark remains, continuing its tradition of serving consistently good food.

No trendy, clumsy, fusion attempts here. The menu draws returning customers with the classics: Beef Wellington, Steak Dianne, Duck a l’orange ... Choose your poultry, veal or seafood with a francaise, marsala or meuniere theme - you get the picture. To round out the experience they offer Baked Alaska, Cherries Jubilee, Crepes Suzette - all very traditional and delicious and not easy to find these days in Fort Lauderdale. (Remember La Reserve, Cafe Beaujolais? Gone but not forgotten.)

Le Café de Paris provides several venues for dining, one a cozy room lined with bricks and wine bottles. Live piano music plays in the main dining area, near an attractive bar, nightly.

Not much has changed over the years except the red, white and blue awning, which fell victim to time, to Florida's heat and humidity. It was replaced not long ago with another, less eye catching beige affair with stripes of color at each end, in case some plan to return using the old awning as a landmark.landmark.

"Never knew the joy of Spring..."   from the song, April in Paris, lyrics by E.Y. Harburg, 1932.

Tags: French restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, fine dining Fort Lauderdale

Gallery Grille - Tequesta's best for breakfast and lunch

Gallery Grille

383 Tequesta Drive

Tequesta, Florida 33469

561-427-8919

http://www.gallerygrille.com

(For other breakfast spots in Jupiter, Juno, see my list.)

Breakfast: Monday-Saturday  from 7 to 11 a.m.

Sunday brunch: 7 a.m.-1:30

Lunch: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.; Saturday  11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

By Jane Feehan

It’s rare that I recommend a drive out of one’s neighborhood for breakfast but I will for Tequesta’s Gallery Grille. Located at Tequesta ‘s art plaza, not far from the village’s government buildings, Gallery Grille will surprise  - both with its ambiance and food.

It may look like a typical coffee shop from its exterior; it’s not. The dining area, a mix of tables and a large, attractive square redwood counter looks more like a place to enjoy dinner. It’s a sophisticated, yet warm neighborhood establishment.

Freshly baked muffins sit in baskets along the counter – a real distraction (a good one) when trying to decide what to order for breakfast. Their buttermilk pancakes are out-of-this-world good: light and thin but deep in flavor. I don’t eat pork so was happy to see they offer chicken apple sausages. Eggs and omelets are perfectly cooked. One can also choose Irish oat meal, croissants or fresh fruit;  their menu offers a hearty choice for breaking a morning fast. 

After sampling breakfast a few times, I went back to the Gallery Grille for lunch.  A turkey sandwich with slaw and fries was as good as the morning meal. They also make oversized salads, oyster po’ boys, fried green tomato BLTs - two items not often found in these parts - and a variety of chicken, beef and seafood dishes. Wine is available to top it all off.

No surprise that it’s always busy at the Gallery Grille. With above-the-cut–food in a stylish neighborhood setting, this eatery is a local favorite.

                                                                             
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Looking for a recipe for that favorite restaurant dish? It may be at http://www.copykat.com

Tags: Best breakfast in Tequesta, breakfast in Jupiter, lunch in Tequesta, Palm Beach Gardens breakfast, north Palm Beach County breakfast

The eyes have it - Eyeball Avenue, Jupiter Florida

It's not much more than an alley, but Eyeball Avenue connects Dixie and Federal highways in Jupiter, Florida.

Might the name have something to do with the optician there? It's one of several businesses on the street. It's hard to resist taking a photo of this eye catching sign.

Tags: Jupiter, Florida, odd street names, weird street names

Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge: The way Florida was

Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge and Nature Center

772-546-2067

13640 SE Federal Hwy

Hobe Sound, Florida 33455

Martin County (about 20 miles north of West Palm Beach)

Off US Highway 1, about four miles north of Tequesta

Admission: donations

http://www.hobesoundnaturecenter.com

Center open Monday-Saturday :  9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Wildlife refuge open sunrise to sunset, seven days

By Jane Feehan

There’s  a piece of natural, undeveloped Florida habitat between Tequesta and the town of Hobe Sound that should not be missed: the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge and Nature Center. It’s fascinating, educational, and on my visit, a bit exciting because of unexpected animal activity along its Scrub Trail.

Ninety percent of the natural scrub pine environment has been lost to development in Florida – reason enough to stop here and see how things used to be.  The 1000-acre refuge, part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that’s operated by the Hobe Sound Nature Center (a nonprofit organization), includes a short trail, steps to the Indian River Lagoon, a collection of living indigenous and exotic animals, a gift shop and classroom.

Two living birds of prey, an owl and a falcon unable to fly because of old injuries, greet visitors from a perch as seen in the photos left. (They’re caged outdoors off site at night).  A wildlife expert guides a tour of the exhibit, starting with the birds, and then through a collection of other animals. If asked, she’ll take a baby gator, crocodile or most any other resident creature out of their artificial habitats for an up close and personal encounter. We passed on that but did have an encounter of the unexpected kind.

While on the Scrub Pine Trail, we met up with a family of wild boar.  They won’t attack unless their offspring are threatened but we didn’t want to chance it and turned around. We'll try it another time, when others come along. From there we walked down 46 steps to the Indian River Lagoon where some were fishing– a beautiful area with a view of posh Jupiter Island. Another plus: This refuge, like most, provides a great venue for bird watching.

More than 120,000 visitors come through the center each year. With weekly guided walks, classes and a host of other activities, the Hobe Sound Wildlife Refuge and Nature Center is a terrific Florida experience, not far from the concrete and congested traffic of Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties. 

Tags: Florida sights, natural Florida habitats, Treasure Coast, Hobe Sound, 

South Florida attractions, wild boar, Martin County

Old Key Lime House - One part history, two parts fun in Lantana, Florida

Old Key Lime House

300 E. Ocean Avenue

Lantana, FL 33462

Open daily from 11 a.m.

Happy hour 4-6 p.m. daily

561-582-1889

www.oldkeylimehouse.com

By Jane Feehan

Bright tropical colors draw some to this landmark sitting along the waterway in Lantana. Others may be attracted by its history and structure.  Built in 1889 by one of Lantana’s founders, M.B. Lyman, today’s Old Key Lime House stands strong, made of Dade County pine, a species that no longer grows in Florida.

Whatever pulls patrons in, all get to enjoy one of the best Intracoastal vistas in South Florida. Old Key Lime House offers a casual indoor-outdoor setting punctuated by docked boats, lots of televisions for sports enthusiasts (and avid Gator fans), three bars and a fun tropical atmosphere.

Atmosphere is king here; food is not. On a recent visit the only fish offered was tilapia and whitefish - neither a favorite with this seafood lover.  Their online menu indicates a more extensive choice, including mahi mahi.  Perhaps we were there on a day they ran out. Hamburgers, fish tacos (good), fish dip, shrimp, pizza and all the standards for informal dining highlight the menu.

Live music plays Tuesday-Sunday evenings. Service: good. Valet parking. Plenty of docking for boats – and waverunners. Plan on fun.

Tags: Lantana restaurants, waterfront restaurants, sports bar, live music

Christmas decoration stores - Palm Beach and Broward counties, Florida

Christmas stores and retailers of holiday decorations

Following is a list of some retailers in Palm Beach and Broward counties in Florida that sell Christmas decorations and other holiday décor items. A few sell decorations through their Web sites. This is not inclusive of all major retailers that feature holiday decorative merchandise. This is a list only and does not serve as an endorsement of any retailer mentioned.

Both Broward and Palm Beach counties

Michaels Stores

Check http://www.michaels.com for store locator

or call 1-800-MICHAELS or 1-800-642-4235

Jupiter

Mrs. Claus

801 Maplewood Drive, Ste 108

Jupiter, Florida 33458

561-743-7915

Palm Beach Gardens

Crafts- N- Stuff home of the Christmas Palace

9810 Alternate A1A

Promenade Shopping Center

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410

http://www.crafts-n-stuff.com

http://www.christmaspalace.com

561-694-0750

North Palm Beach

Christopher’s Creative Designs, and Christopher’s Christmas Shop

920 Lighthouse Drive

North Palm Beach, Florida

http://www.Christopherschristmasshop.com

561-848-4500 or 1-800-771-2033

West Palm Beach

Christmas, Etc.

1201 Allendale Road

West Palm Beach, Florida 33405

561-805-7000

Boynton Beach

Crafts- N- Stuff home of the Christmas Palace

250 N. Congress Avenue

Leisureville Shopping Plaza

Boynton Beach, Florida

http://www.crafts-n-stuff.com

http://www.christmaspalace.com

561-736-5668

Fort Lauderdale

The Christmas Palace
800 NE 13^th Street

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304

http://www.thechristmaspalace.com

954-763-1403

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea

Interior Digs

258 Commercial Blvd.

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida 33308

http://www.interiordigs.com

954-938-0101

1-800-976-3447

Jane's Bits also has a list of restaurants open in Jupiter and the Palm Beaches for Christmas and in
Boynton, Delray and Boca Raton

Tags: Christmas decorations, holiday decorations, Christmas decor retailers, Christmas stores

Thai Spice: among Fort Lauderdale's best

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Thai Spice
1514 E. Commercial Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33334

Lunch weekdays: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Dinner nightly from 5 p.m.

954 -771-4535

http://www.thaispicefla.com

By Jane Feehan

When I think best Thai food in Fort Lauderdale, Thai Spice tops the list. I’ll also tap it as being one of the best restaurants in the Greater Fort Lauderdale area.

Tucked away in a strip shopping center, Thai Spice serves high quality beef, pork, poultry and seafood - including lobster and shell fish – with an elegant Asian spin.  Elegant is the operative word here; it describes menu, presentation, sauces and service.  Thai Spice Grouper ranks as one of my favorite dishes, spiced just right, not cloaking the fresh taste of the fish.

For those not into Thai, they also do a fantastic job with U.S Prime steaks and chops. Dishes are served à la carte. There’s plenty to choose from the appetizer and salad side  to make a light, inexpensive meal of.  A good wine list rounds out the Thai Spice experience and there is a small bar to dine at as well.  Dinner reservations suggested. Thai Spice is a small restaurant with a huge following – and rightly so. Party idea: order take out (or delivery) appetizers; spring rolls, satays and curry puffs are perfect for parties.

Fort Lauderdale dining, Thai food, best Fort Lauderdale restaurants