BurgerFi in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea: Beyond fast food with healthy burgers and more ...

4343 N. Ocean Dr.

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL 33308

954-489-0110

Open daily 11 a.m.-1 a.m.

http://www.burgerfi.com/

Enter zipcode in search box at right to find more restaurant reviews.

 By Jane Feehan

Curious about business BurgerFi is drumming up at the site of a closed Burger King along A1A in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, I was compelled to sample their menu recently. By noon, a small line cued up for orders of natural burgers, hand cut fries, hotdogs, shakes and … cupcakes. The line grew considerably by the time I left.

Open air but partially air conditioned BurgerFi is also sparkling modern,  eat-off-the-floor-clean, providing a cool and relaxing respite from heat and traffic; it's a much-needed, solid improvement over the Burger King that used to sit there. BurgerFi's menu remains the same for lunch or dinner.  A crisp-grilled quinoa veggie burger, fries, and a soda went for nearly $12. Pricey, but it’s not typical fast food. Beef eaters there told me they think BurgerFi’s prices for their exceptional burgers (about $6 for the basic choice) are well worth it. Diners include tourists and a fair share of repeat local customers, which says a lot.

Owner David Manero’s (Vic and Angelo’s and other eateries) premise is to serve healthy, hormone-free beef. The Web site explains the name and philosophy: “a Burgerfication of the Nation^™ … a discovery of what the burger could be.”  In keeping with the health theme, they also sell sodas sweetened with sugar cane instead of corn syrup.

Good beef (and hotdogs), abundant toppings, “hand-spun shakes,” craft beers and a more-than-ample selection of wines raises BurgerFi a few notches above a fast food joint. Another BurgerFi operates in Delray with more to be opened as franchises. Franchises are among the few business endeavors making any money these days so they may be on to something.

NOTE: now open on Sunrise Boulevard, across from the Galleria, in Fort Lauderdale.

Tags: healthy burgers Fort Lauderdale, places to dine in Lauderdale by-the-Sea, lunch in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, burger franchises, Fort Lauderdale hamburger places, BurgerFi

Renaissance Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port Hotel ... Business or pleasure

Renaissance Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port Hotel

1617 SE 17^th Street

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

954-626-1700

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/fllbr-renaissance-fort-lauderdale-cruise-port-hotel/

See below for restaurants nearby

Sitting across from the entrance to Port Everglades, Marriott’s Renaissance Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port Hotel is the place to stay before or after ocean travel. It’s also a good choice for those who have business in downtown Fort Lauderdale. A resort it’s not.

View of downtown Fort Lauderdale from concierge level

A pool sits close to the 17^th Street Causeway, separated from the busy road by hedges but it serves its purpose for cooling off or swimming some laps. Save the resort lounging for the ship’s deck or Caribbean destination. Refurbished in 2008, the hotel’s accommodations are clean, bright, comfortable, and appropriately tropical.  For those reluctant to ditch the digital habit while vacationing, computers are available near the lobby.

Leisure travelers crowd the Renaissance on weekends when cruise ships come and go, filling Bistro 17, the restaurant, to capacity during breakfast hours. This places a strain on seating and service but most don’t seem to mind, especially when they're in a cruise state of mind.  Morning buffet is typical Marriott fare: omelets to order, hot and cold cereal, scrambled eggs, sausage, and sweet rolls.

Staff is experienced and accommodating. Concierge room/floor available. Self or valet parking for about $20. Restaurants and shopping within walking distance.

Restaurants nearby:

Kelly's Landing: http://janesbits.blogspot.com/2011/06/kellys-landing-fort-lauderdale-ice-cold.html

Pelican Landing (for lunch with a beautiful view from the dock, Pier 66): http://janesbits.blogspot.com/2010/09/pelican-landing-at-pier-66-mega-yachts.html

Bimini Boatyard http://biminiboatyard.com/

Dough Boys Pizza - http://doughboysfla.com/

Market 17 (expensive) - http://www.market17.net/

Tags: Fort Lauderdale hotels, Hotels near Port Everglades, cruise hotel, Marriott hotels, Renaissance hotel

Ernie's Bar-B-Q - same but different Fort Lauderdale landmark

Closed, new restaurant, new name
Ernie’s Bar-B-Q

1843 S. Federal Hwy

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

954-523-8636

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By Jane Feehan

CLOSED, NEW RESTAURANT

A Fort Lauderdale landmark since 1957, Ernie’s has been the place to go for things conch: conch chowder, conch fritters, conch salad. Bar-B-Q was always secondary. Many used to stop by because it was an easy-to-find party place with a balcony overhanging Federal Highway.

 A step inside today is to step into a place less cavernous, less funky than it was during the years so many referred to it as “Dirty” Ernie’s. Sixteen years ago, the same people who own the Floridian on Las Olas took over Ernie’s. Gone are the dark walls covered in writing; they’re in storage some place.  Day-glo colors brighten an interior with lowered ceilings and serve as the exterior backdrop for an attractive palm tree mural.  Several TVs line up across or near the bar. An outdoor patio squeezed in between the parking lot and front door beckons breakfast, lunch and dinner patrons. The menu is huge, and so are portions -- just like it is at the Floridian.

A few things remain the same: A cook has served up the same conch chowder and fritters for the past 35 years with the original recipe; the balcony remains open for dining and high-powered drinking and all that goes with it, and there’s still bar-b-q chicken, pork and beef and … that fluffy thick, faintly sweet Bimini bread. Yes, Ernie’s is different - yet somewhat the same.

Service: Food delivered fast and hot. Fried seafood and children's menu available. Family-friendly (that’s different).

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Food Network conch recipes: http://www.foodnetwork.com/search/delegate.do?fnSearchString=conch+chowder&fnSearchType=site

Tags: Fort Lauderdale restaurants, conch in Fort Lauderdale, conch chowder, conch fritters, Dirty Ernie's, Ernie's BBQ

Café Chardonnay reigns best in Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach County

Café Chardonnay

4533 PGA Blvd.

Palm Beach Gardens, FL

561-627-2662

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

Dinner : Monday-Saturday – 5:30-10 p.m.; Sunday dinner 5:30-9 p.m.

Catering available

http://www.cafechardonnay.com/

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By Jane Feehan

Elegant, sophisticated, sumptuous, unpretentious – these are just a few of the adjectives that aptly describe both the food and décor of Café Chardonnay in Palm Beach Gardens.

Continental entrées are served with a 21^st- century emphasis on organic.   Starters for our lunch visit included French Onion soup appropriately crusted with golden browned Gruyere cheese, and Lobster Bisque infused with the flavor of those wonderful Maine crustaceans.  Organic Irish salmon served atop a bed of lentils, and a jumbo lump crab cake with far more meat than bread made for two exquisite meals.

Café Chardonnay is pricey with dinner entrées averaging $35 and sides served a la carte but it’s well worth it.  The summer provides an opportunity to dine for less. A specially priced four-course dinner menu changes weekly featuring house specialties such as rack of lamb, organic breast of chicken Milanese, San Francisco Cioppino (seafood stew), and braised short ribs, and much more.

Patio dining -popular during the cooler months

Consistently delicious, Café Chardonnay may be one of the finest dining establishments in Palm Beach and Broward counties.  Dinner reservations suggested.

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Tags: Fine dining Palm Beach Gardens, fine dining Palm Beach County, catering in Palm Beach County, summer dining deals, Cafe Chardonnay

Jupiter, Florida - Going to the Dogs

Freedom!

What did she say?

One of the best beaches for dogs in South Florida has to be three or so miles of Jupiter (and some of neighboring Juno). Excitement builds as four-legged critters bound out of cars and crash down wooden stair entrances to the beach to run free. Most run into the water, all look for new canine friends. When their jaunt to the beach ends, many dogs resist calls to return to the car. Some sit stubbornly, refusing to budge even if gently tugged by leash.  It's good fun all around, and the beaches remain clean and beautiful.

Jupiter Beach

Tags: Best beach for dogs in South Florida, dog beaches, Palm Beach County dog beach

Ferdo's Grill in Fort Lauderdale: Kabob Central

Ferdo’s Grill

4300 N. Federal Hwy.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33308

954-492-5552

Open Mon-Thurs: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m., 

Fri: 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m., Saturday: 5-11 p.m.

http://www.ferdosgrill.net/

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 By Jane Feehan

Ferdo’s Grill has expanded in the last few years to accommodate its growing popularity. A favorite among locals for Mediterranean food, this eatery delivers a good meal for the buck.

The operative word here is oversized; portions are huge – much larger than one would find in Lebanon, Greece or Iran – anywhere in the Levant and surrounds.  Kabobs originated in Persia (today Iran) and were adopted by Turkey and other Middle Eastern countries. They mesh well with the American quest (among some) for simplicity and healthy eating. So do Ferdo’s appetizers of humus (enough for three or four), Baba Ghannouj, falafel, stuffed grape leaves, spinach, and meat pies. It’s all here.

Kabob meats and vegetables charred over a grill come with rice, humus, vegetables and /or a salad. I’m not wild about iceberg lettuce for a Middle Eastern meal; that’s an American twist they could do well without. Same goes for their version of a big fat Greek iceberg lettuce salad with Feta on the bottom rather than scattered atop. Did I mention beets? Also a twist on this salad, they’re added in a seemingly arbitrary way.  Other than the odd big fat Greek salad, the meats, seafood and poultry are dished up in an appealing way, kabob or otherwise. Lunch averages $9; dinners, $12-19 (yellow snapper a bargain under $20), and an array of appetizers about $6.

Patience is mandatory here; always has been. Kabobs are grilled to order. Lunch hours are quite busy, even during the summer. Belly dancing draws crowds on Saturday nights. Wine and beer available.

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Food Network's recipes for Greek salad: http://www.foodnetwork.com/search/delegate.do?fnSearchString=greek+salad&fnSearchType=site

Tags: Fort Lauderdale Middle Eastern restaurants, dining in Fort Lauderdale, belly dancing in Fort Lauderdale, kabobs in Fort Lauderdale

Nick's Tomatoe Pie draws Jupiter fans of Italian food

Nick’s Tomatoe Pie

1667 W. Indiantown Rd.

Jupiter, FL 33458

561-744-8935

Open daily for dinner; takeout available

Sunday –Thursday: 4:30-9:30 p.m.

Friday-Saturday: 4:30-10:30 p.m.

By Jane Feehan

If you can get by the kitschy atmosphere with its wood and neon signs, tomato cans as center pieces, and elevated noise levels that reminds one of Italian eatery Buca di Beppo it’s clear that Nick’s Tomatoe Pie dishes up some good southern Italian food.

Sauces  - marinara, bolognese, alla vodka, primavera - and others that define Italian cooking are available with most anything the kitchen serves (the menu is huge). For starters, I ordered a Gorgonzola salad tossed with several varieties of lettuce, and tomatoes and olives topped with a generous amount of cheese that was worth the visit.  I was less enthusiastic about the individual loaf of tasteless bread served in a bag. It was redeemed by olive oil with plenty of garlic cloves. For the main course, I sampled eggplant rollatini (about $16). Three huge vegetable rolls stuffed with quality ricotta cheese in a delicious marinara plus a side penne (overcooked) was enough for two.  Smaller portions are available for a dollar or two less.  Fellow diner supped on penne with bolognese, another tasty sauce, and a better-than-average house salad. For $15, this small order dinner choice was a bit overpriced.

A raw bar with cold water oysters, and clams in white or red sauce are among favorites of regular customers. Nick’s serves pizza but with bland dough and tasteless toppings, it’s not worth naming this restaurant (and mis-spelling tomato) for. There are plenty of other menu items that please, including a lineup of pasta, meats, lobster and fish.

 Full bar, good service, family friendly. 

For recipes, grocery lists, a meal planner and meal plans, visit DinnerTool:  www.dinnertool.com

Tags: Jupiter Italian restaurants, dining in Jupiter, raw bar in Jupiter, takeout in Jupiter, wedding rehearsal dinner accommodations, Nick's Tomato Pie

Mr. Zhang's for traditional Chinese-American dining in Palm Beach Gardens

Mr. Zhang’s

4650 Donald Ross Rd. Suite 116

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33418

Lunch and dinner

Sun-Thurs: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri-Sat: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

561-624-2946

http://www.mrzhangchinese.com/

Take out also available

Enter zipcode in search box at right to find more restaurant reviews

By Jane Feehan

For those with a hankering for “authentic” Chinese-American dishes -- Chow Mein, Egg  Foo Young, Chop Suey,  Happy Family,  General Gau (or Pao) Chicken,  or egg rolls -- it’s all at Mr. Zhang’s.

A sophisticated décor accented with tablecloths, an attractive full bar, and ample seating both indoors and out, places an elegant touch on an otherwise pedestrian eating experience.

Combination platters, overloaded with rice, average about $9.  House specialties such as Rose Shrimp, Sizzling Mongolian Delights, and Roast Duck run about $15-16.

A good vegetarian lineup, a wide seafood selection, and a variety of lo mein, and fried rice dishes should satisfy most cravings for Chinese-American food. Mr. Zhang's is not gourmet but the prices are right, the service good, and the atmosphere, above average.

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Food Network's egg roll recipe here or at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sara-moulton/egg-rolls-recipe/index.html

Tags: Chinese food Palm Beach Gardens, Chinese food Juno Beach, dining in Palm Beach Gardens, dining in Abacoa, Chinese food Abacoa,