Fort Lauderdale's Bahia Mar Yacht Lineup

Yes, they're here even during summer ...

For more Fort Lauderdale yachts, see: http://tinyurl.com/8wnkcl5

For Bahia Mar history see:
http://tinyurl.com/czth5wg


Tags: Fort Lauderdale, boating, yachts

Kelly's Landing, Fort Lauderdale ... ice cold or boiled Maine lobster & things Boston

Kelly’s Landing

1305 SE 17^th Street

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316

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

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

Sunday: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Sunday Brunch: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

954-760-7009

http://www.kellyslandingseafood.com/

By Jane Feehan

Kelly’s Landing, serving New England seafood, is proof that good food can overcome a not-so-good location. This eatery opened nearly 25 years ago at the west end of a shopping center on SE 17^th Street. It remains when other businesses, including restaurants, have closed or moved. If you didn’t know it was there, facing Cordova Road, you'd miss it.

Kelly’s has built a huge following serving up Maine lobster, chowders, Ipswich clams, scrod dishes and, well, all things Boston, including Boston sports TV.

I lunched on a lobster roll ($16), served with piping hot fries and a generous helping of excellent cole slaw. The scoop of lobster was fresh, ice cold and tossed with a minimum of dressing, a good thing. Dining companion ordered a fresh and tasty mahi mahi sandwich (about $10) with the same sides.

The caveat for dinner is to stick with the lobster and fried seafood dishes. A broiled Kelly's medley of scrod, shrimp and scallops was watery (once frozen) and fairly tasteless. They also don't know much about blackened fish or scallops--clearly not their specialty.

Kelly’s also entices repeat customers with beef, chicken and pasta dishes.  When I visited, daily specials included a prime rib hoagie. Neighboring diner, a regular, was pleased with a comfort meal of meatloaf and mashed potatoes.

Other specialties, averaging $20, include fried seafood platters, sea scallop scampi, chicken scampi, and clam bake. Prices range to fit different budgets; there are lunch specials and appetizers under $10 to lobster scampi at $25 and Maine lobster at market prices.

Wait staff told me Kelly’s is a great place to work; it shows in their friendly, excellent service. It’s not surprising, then, that both customers and staff know each other by first name here … where Boston accents run thick.

Bar serves wine and beer.

Tags:  Maine lobster in Fort Lauderdale, New England seafood in Fort Lauderdale, Boston sports bar in Fort Lauderdale

Shrimper's in Stuart: More than shrimp ...

Shrimper’s

Grill and Raw Bar

4903 S.E. Dixie Hwy

Stuart, Florida

772-220-3287

Lunch seven days: 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Dinner: Sunday-Thursday: 4-10 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: 4-11 p.m.

Happy Hour, Monday: Friday: 3-7 p.m.

http://www.prawnbroker.com/floridaeast/Shrimpers/

By Jane Feehan

Located on the water at Manatee Marina, Shrimper’s should be on everyone’s A-list of inexpensive, open air eateries to visit in the Stuart area.

Specialties include shrimp (of course) cooked eight different ways, Crunchy Grouper, and fried lobster baskets.  They also serve a Cracked Conch Platter, not often available in this part of Florida, and a number of other fresh seafood dishes that make this place a favorite among locals.  Chicken, hamburgers and other meat selections are available for non-seafood eaters.

I sampled the fried Florida lobster – fresh bite-size pieces in a light, tasty batter served with a garlic tinged sauce – and it was delicious ($11.95). For a dollar more (and instead of fries), it came with huge, fried onion rings, also served with a sauce, and a small side of bland cole slaw.  Fellow diner ordered a dolphin sandwich ($9.95) with sweet potato fries. The piece of fish was fine but the insipid hamburger roll it was served with diminished taste and presentation.

The raw bar is a big draw with its oysters, clam steamers, and peel-and-eat shrimp. With a good turn over of tables, even after the season ends, the raw bar items and fish entrées promise to be fresh.

Shrimper’s offers an array of dinner specials served 4 p.m. until “actual sunset” for $9.95 that include Crunchy Shrimp, Coconut Shrimp, Barbequed Shrimp, and more. This deal comes with a choice of New England clam chowder, Bahamian conch chowder or dinner salad and potato, rice or vegetable and includes one beverage. No question – this is value for the buck in a great setting. We’ll be back.

Service: good. Full bar with lots of seating.

Tags: Stuart dining, waterside dining in Stuart, seafood restaurants in Stuart, dockside dining in Stuart, Stuart raw bar

Cafe Seville: A touch of Spain in Fort Lauderdale

Café Seville

2768 E. Oakland Park Blvd.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33305

954-565-1148

www.cafeseville.com

Dinner: Monday-Saturday, 5 p.m. to close

Lunch:  Tuesday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

By Jane Feehan

Seafood is ubiquitous in Spain and it’s among Chef/Owner Joe Esposito’s specialties at his Café Seville in Fort Lauderdale.

On a recent visit, I dined on Merluza Francaise ($27) topped with crab meat in a creamy sauce touched with garlic. Merluza, or hake, a fish commonly served in Spain, is white, flaky and mild tasting. The dish was delicious. Though the sauce was generous, the flavor of the merluza wasn’t masked. Companion sampled Unicorn Olé, unicorn fish from Hawaii, gently covered in mushrooms, artichokes, leeks and garlic ($28), another winner. Flavorful Spanish saffron rice and green beans rounded out the meals.

Café Seville, open for about 25 years - a feat in this perpetually shaky restaurant market - also dishes up a variety of meats with the same finesse as seafood. The house specialty is paella, with chicken, pork and fish.  A list of fresh, daily specials on a white board greets diners at the entrance. Tapas, or appetizers, include traditional Spanish favorites such as Pollo al Ajillo, chunks of chicken in olive oil and sherry, and Butifarra a la Parilla, grilled slices of pork.

Terrific food with a Spanish flair served with good wines in a cozy atmosphere places Café Seville high on the list of restaurants to dine at - lunch or dinner - in Fort Lauderdale. Casual, no bar, good service.

___________

Tags: Fort Lauderdale restaurants, Fort Lauderdale seafood, Spanish food in Fort Lauderdale, lunch in Fort Lauderdale.

County Line Pizza: Best pizza in Juno Beach, Florida

County Line Pizza

877 Donald Ross Rd. (La Mer Plaza, east of the bridge)

Juno Beach, (also considered North Palm Beach) FL 33408

561-626-3662

Sunday – Thursday: 4-9:30 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: 4-10 p.m.

By Jane Feehan 

Fabulous pizza here, done the Philly way: Thin, crispy crust well-coated in cornmeal served bubbling hot.They know what makes good pizza – great cheese with just the right amount of tomato sauce. It’s not expensive; a large plain pie (my favorite) goes for $11. Pies come round but are cut in squares – the best way to eat a crispy piece.  I haven’t tried their other fare but judging by the way the dining room fills up before six on a week day in May speaks volumes.  Summer specials kick in during May – dinners go for under $10.

If you’re looking for a thicker crust pizza – the folding type found in New York City - visit Angelo’s (see review) in Jupiter. These two – County Line Pizza and Angelo’s  - serve the best pizza in the area.

Bar with wine and beer. Great service (ask for Karen), casual  and family-friendly. 

___________

Tags: best pizza in Jupiter, best pizza in Juno Beach, crispy crust pizza, Italian restaurants in Juno Beach, casual Italian restaurants in Jupiter area

Crawdaddy's N'awlins Café in Jensen: this rhyme may save your dime

Crawdaddy’s  N’awlins Café and Raw Bar

1949 NE Jensen Beach Blvd.

Jensen Beach, FL 34957

772-225-3444

http://crawdaddysrestaurant.org/

By Jane Feehan

Always in search of a slice of the Big Easy,

I sashayed into Crawdaddy’s N’awlins Café feelin’ a bit queasy.

Would this be the place my Florida search would end

for the shrimp po’boy with that unbeatable Crescent City blend?

Shrimp are dipped into spicy batter in that city,

then fried golden and set atop a long crusty roll so pretty.

Dressed, maybe pressed they come, with lettuce crisp and tomatoes sliced.

But not at Crawdaddy’s where their version would have to suffice.

Because there’s no deep fryer at this Jensen Beach place,

to cook up shrimp N’awlins style, they told us with a straight face.

So it was sliced chicken drenched in etoufee on a weird roll served -

rendering the name "po'boy" undeserved.

But all was not lost at Crawdaddy’s N’awlins Café

‘cause  they dished out a thick and tasty gumbo made their way.

My Florida quest continues for an authentic, delicious shrimp po’boy,

something even a New Orleanian could call the Real McCoy.

_______





Tags: Jensen Beach restaurants, Jensen Beach blues, Jensen Beach raw bar 

Mother's Day Brunch in Boynton, Delray and Boca Raton

2013

Below are some, not all, restaurants serving Mother's Day Brunch. Reservations required.
Also see: Mother's Day Brunch in Jupiter and the Palm Beaches
Mother's Day Brunch in Deerfield, Pompano and Fort Lauderdale

Boynton Beach/Lantana

Old Key Lime House -561-582-1889

300 E. Ocean Avenue, Lantana 33462

Brunch (a la carte menu) 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Review


Prime Catch  – 561-737-8822

700 East Woolbright Rd. Boynton Beach

Brunch: Noon to 9 p.m.

Delray Beach

Atlantic Grille -561-665-4900

1000 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach

Brunch 9 a.m-2:30 p.m.

Deck 84 -561-665-8484

840 East Atlantic Blvd., Delray Beach

Brunch (regular) starting at 11 a.m.  – call for details

Review

Sundy House        561-272-5678

106 S. Swinton Avenue, Delray Beach, Florida  33444

Brunch   One seating left - 5:30 p.m.

Old Calypso      561-279-2300

900 E. Atlantic Blvd. Delray Beach, Florida 33483

Brunch: 10 a.m. -3:30 p.m.

Marriott Delray Beach     561-274-3219 (Reservation line)

10 N. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach, Florida 33483

Brunch from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.

Boca Raton

Carmen’s  at the top of the Bridge Hotel – 561-368-9500

999 East Camino Real, Boca Raton

Brunch: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Tags: Mother's Day Brunch in Boynton, Mother's Day Brunch in Boca Raton, Mother's Day Brunch in Delray, restaurants in South Florida

Mother's Day Brunch in Jupiter and the Palm Beaches

For 2012 update, see:
http://janesbits.blogspot.com/2012/04/mothers-day-brunch-in-jupiter-and-palm.html

Below are some, not all, restaurants serving Mother's Day brunch. This is one of the busiest restaurant days of the year; reservations required by all. Also see:
Mother's Day Brunch in Boynton, Delray and Boca Raton.
Mother's Day Brunch in Deerfield, Pompano and Fort Lauderdale


Jupiter

The Bistro – 561-744-5054

2133 South U.S. Highway 1, Jupiter

Serving Brunch Noon – 3 p.m.

Crab House 11 a.m-9 p.m. CLOSED BUT WILL REOPEN AS BUBBA GUMP SHRIMP CO BY SAME OWNER, LANDRY'S

Buffet 8 a.m.- 9 p.m.

1065 N. Hwy A1A, Jupiter, Florida 33477

561-744-1300

Review  

Jupiter Beach Resort and Spa   561-746-2511

Sinclair’s - Buffet: from 11 a.m. – call to check hours

5 North A1A Jupiter, Florida 33477

Review

Pep’s Island Grill - 561-575-5977

1556 N. US Highway 1, 

Tequesta, FL 33469

Brunch (regular)11:30 a.m.- 3 p.m. Call to confirm hours

Review

Schooners – 561-746-7558

1001 N. Hwy A1A, Jupiter

Brunch: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Review

Palm Beach Gardens

Waterway Café – 561-694-1700

2300 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens

Serving brunch 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Review

Note: River House Restaurant (below) is open one hour early, 4 p.m., for dinner, not brunch. It's an area favorite, thus the reason it's listed.

River House Restaurant 561-694-1188
2373 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens
Dinner only - one hour early at 4 p.m.

Palm Beach

The Breakers Palm Beach     561-659-8488, select #4

One South County Road,  Palm Beach

Several venues for brunch. Call or visit website for details 

Ta-boo – 561-835-3500

221 Worth Avenue, Palm Beach

Serving brunch 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

Charley’s Crab Palm Beach 561-659-1500

456 South Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach

Brunch: 10:30 a.m – 2:30 p.m.

Four Seasons Hotel -561-582-2800

2800 South Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach

The Restaurant

Brunch : 12-6 p.m.

Ritz Carlton, Palm Beach -561-533-6000

Ballroom – two seatings. 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

100 South Ocean Blvd., Manalapan, Florida 33462

Testa’s -561-832-0992

221 Royal Poinciana Way, Palm Beach

Brunch (regular brunch):  7 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Review

Omphoy Ocean Resort -561-540-6440

2842 South Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach

The Terrace (regular Sunday Brunch) – 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

Review

West Palm Beach

E.R. Bradleys – 561-833-3520

104 Clematis St., West Palm Beach

Brunch: 8 a.m-2 p.m.

Review

Hilton Palm Beach Airport -561-684-9400

150 Australian Ave., West Palm Beach

From noon - call for details

Tags: Mother's day brunch in Jupiter, Mother's Day brunch in Palm Beach, Mother's Day Brunch in Palm Beach Gardens, Mother's Day brunch in West Palm Beach