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

Anglin’s Beach Café: Top of the sand, side of the pier in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea

Anglin’s Beach Café

2 Commercial Blvd.

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida 33308

954-491-6007

http://www.anglinsbeachcafe.com/

Open daily 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.

By Jane Feehan

Nothing stays the same and that brings both good and sad to Anglin’s Beach Café. Under new ownership for several years, the café offers the same view of the ocean, sand, and sun seekers as its predecessor, Pier Café. For fans that frequented the place in the past, the intimacy of the indoor counter and familiar waitresses that tended to patrons for decades are gone (the gals work down the street at another establishment these days).

The lineup for breakfast, lunch, and now dinner has expanded and so has outdoor seating that includes a deck with umbrellas. Beach Café offers a modernized menu of organic salads and veggies, Panini sandwiches, pizza, New England favs such as clam rolls, and fish and chips (ordinary). There’s also coconut shrimp ($18), soft shell crab sliders ($12), and the tasty Anglin’s Beach Café special – a crispy pita stuffed with veggies and chicken ($12). Swordfish ($25) and other seafood specials are also available. My only complaint was a completely flat Coke, a bad thing on a hot day.

Anglin’s Beach Café caters to tourists and it’s more expensive than the previous restaurant, but there’s much more to choose from, including wine, beer and frozen drinks. Another welcome addition is a singer with guitar at lunch and dinner hours. The wait staff works hard to please and that view is hard to beat …

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For more about the pier, see: http://janesbits.blogspot.com/2011/07/florida-history-broward-countys-longest.html

Tags: restaurants in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, breakfast in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, music in Lauderdale by the sea; beachside dining in Fort Lauderdale, Anglin’s Fishing Pier

Another anniversary of Hiroshima. Will it be remembered?

Aug. 7. 1945

By Jane Feehan

Today is the 66^th anniversary of a cataclysmic event, the dropping of an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Will it be mentioned in the news? With so much ignorance of our history these days, I’m compelled to make note of it here. It’s not Florida history, but it affected all in this nation - and is still cause for debate. Caution: no weapon (anywhere) has ever been developed that has NOT been used.

A sentence from The Miami News story above, August 7, 1945:

Iron censorship was clamped on details of the atom bombing of Hiroshoma by the U.S. strategic air forces today, but from the stunned enemy finally came admission that the terrific new weapon had done great damage.

The U.S did not reveal any statistics that day but President Truman released a statement, included, in part here:

We are now prepared to obliterate more rapidly and completely every productive enterprise the Japanese have above ground in any city. We shall destroy their docks, their factories, and their communications. Let there be no mistake; we shall completely destroy Japan’s power to make war. If they do not now accept our terms they may expect a rain of ruin from the air, the like of which has never been seen on this earth.

The toll of destruction eventually reported:

60 percent of Hiroshima had been leveled.

80,000 people were killed instantly.

Another 50,000 to 60,000 died in the months following.

Of the total killed, 10,000 were Japanese troops.

Still no Japanese surrender. On August 9, another bomb – a plutonium bomb – was dropped on Nagasaki, killing 70,000.  The Japanese surrendered August 14, 1945.

___

Sources:

Miami News, Aug. 7, 1945

McCullough, David. Truman. New York: Simon & Shuster, 1992

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

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

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).

_______

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