Great Eats in Fort Lauderdale.....

[crazyspice]

Hey fellow Hounds!

We are headed to Ft. L in a couple of months and would love recs on the best eats in town. The only foods we are not fond of are Mexican and Chinese. Everything else is fair game! I looked for a current thread and could not immediately identify anything for 2008. This is a big vacation for us, so we are not on a budget where our food is concerned. I appreciate any insight you can share!!

[tpigeon]

Cafe Martorano

[Raboi]

please be more specific as to whether you will have kids, price range, how dressy, where you are staying and i can be REAL specific about the restaurant.

[crazyspice]

We will be staying at the Marriott Harbor Beach, No children, Dress, well we bring it all, price does not matter. We will pay with no limit for excellent food. Does that help?

[Raboi]

your at like where 17th street causeway and A1A come together. lots of good stuff around you.

15th Street Fishery - A Lauderdale Classic
http://www.15streetfisheries.com/
Fish - on the 17th Street Causeway
http://www.fish-fl.com/

Anthony's Run Way 84 - On Marina
Great Italian, up there with Cafe Mortorano, Cafe D'Angelo
Head over to Las Olas 1 mile north of you for tons of great food
Chima - All you can eat meat, brazilian style
http://www.chima.cc/
Johnny V - chef was on iron chef last year
http://www.johnnyvlasolas.com/
Las Olas Cafe - Small hole in the wall awesome food

Trina - On A1A, Mediterranean style
Canyon - On Sunrise at Federal. My favorite in Lauderdale. Hi Class Tex Mex

Thai Spice - Oakland Blvd
Sunfish Grill
Anything on Himmarshee Blvd is great, especially River House, Himmarshee, or Creolinas

Hope that helps

[crazyspice]

Thank you for these suggestions. We will be there for a week and will eat lunch and dinner out. I don't care about breakfast food at all. We do like a Sunday brunch because they generally serve food other than breakfast. Any ideas on that?

[sweet_polly]

The Blue Moon Fish Co. is lovely, and they serve an wonderful seafood and champagne brunch (click link for menu). They are situated right on the intracoastal waterway, so you can watch the yachts go by while you dine. Lunch and dinner are very nice, too.

http://www.bluemoonfishco.com/menu.html

[The Chowfather AKA sobe]

I've only been to Blue Moon once and didn't care for it. Here is what I would recommend in Ft. Lauderdale.

Italian
Valentino's- small spot that serves upscale Italian.
Cafe Martorano- also very good Italian. More of scene type place and on the red sauce side of the equation but great food and a lot of fun.
Casa d' Angelo- closer to Valentino's in style than Martorano.

Seafood
3030 Ocean
Sunfish Grill

Bistro- Bistro Mezzaluna

Las Olas
Johnny V's
Mark's

Hotels near Ocean
Cero@ St Regis- $$$$ but very good
Trina@ Atlantic-

Casual Seafood
Kelly's Landing- lobster roll, clam bellies, great burgers
Southport Raw Bar- conch chowder

Pizza and wings
Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza- don't forget the wings

Burger- Jack's Old fashion
New, haven't been yet but getting good reviews- Christine's
New for Ft. Lauderdale- China Grill

I'm sure I'm forgetting some other options and will post back later.

[sweet_polly]

Really? I made my husband drive me to Ft. Lauderdale from Tampa several months ago just because I was craving Blue Moon's spinach salad with blackened langostinos, caramelized onions, walnuts and goat cheese for lunch. lol

[ldkelley]

We love their Sunday Brunch for special occasions.

[The Chowfather AKA sobe]

I was really looking forward to it because the menu sounded great but we were very underwhelmed. I only went 1x though and could be in the minority.

[sweet_polly]

I used to go all the time when I lived in FLL several years ago, but (to be fair) I have only been back 2-3 times in the past couple of years. Perhaps their consistency has faltered since I was a "regular". I'd better drive down again soon and see. :)

I miss FLL.

[crazyspice]

Great suggestions! We are staying at the Marriott where 3030 Ocean is. I am looking forward totrying it.

[johnmlinn]

If you like Thai you also may want to try Four Rivers.

Upscale Thai Fusion. Great fish.

[crazyspice]

Big fan of Thai! Just retuened home from Charleston and had a fantastic Thai at Basil. Will do Thai for lunch multiple times! Thank you.

[RickL]

If you don't mind heading west to Rt 441, go to Bangkok Palace for a great Thai lunch.

[johnmlinn]

Yeah, Bangkok would be a good lunch spot. Four Rivers is very sophisticated and would be good for a nice dinner.

[j3c77]

The best suggestion I can give you is my personal favorite Timpano's Italian Chop House. It is located at 450 las olas blvd. which is right around the corner from your hotel. That is if you don't mind paying for great food. It's pricey but well worth it. They have one of the best steaks the 12oz N.Y. strip, the filet is super tender and the garlic mashed potatoes are to die for. My fav. appetizer is tomato, basil and matz. stacked and drizzled with balsamic reduction.....perfecto.
Many other people rave about Jackson's steakhouse which is also on las olas just down from Timpano's they are said to have great food but when I was there I wasn't impressed. But they do cary the biggest live lobster I've ever seen around in a little red wagon. Both of these places are 5 star.
Mark's on las olas is also popular but pricey. Mark (chef) prepares his menu's based on what is readily available at the fresh markets. I've never been but it has great reviews. All are very fine dinning and have a great ambience!! Timpano's has a live jazz band on Saturday nights and a great martini bar at the front of the restaurant.
Hope this helps.....

[crazyspice]

We have been to Jackson's and don't need to go back. (Pity the poor lobster!) The last time we were there I did not have the foresight to seek advice from my delightful buddies on Chowhound. (Shame on me!) I don't travel without checking in with you guys. I am anxious to try Timpano's! It sounds like The Saloon here in Philadelphia. I am getting excited now! Many thanks!!

[Jagg]

Hands down favorite greek ever is Greek Islands Taverna

http://www.greekislandstaverna.com/

We still have foodies from NYC who come down and request this place.

The lambchops are to die for!

[pilches]

Yeah, and what's the secret ingredient in the shrimp sauce? I've tried to duplicate it at least 20 times!

[gblcsw]

Timpano's is a mediocre chain. For excellent steaks, beautiful atmosphere and a great dining experience, try Riley McDermott's on Las Olas. I would also recommend Johnny V for a very nice meal (new American) and Valentino's for great Italian food. Cero at the St. Regis is another excellent choice. We were just at 3030 Ocean and while nothing was wrong, the food wasn't great or exciting.
By the way, Mark's is closed:-(

[Icantread]

too bad about 3030. Although there wasn't anything to unique when we ate there, we were surprised by how good it was the 2 times we ate there.

[crazyspice]

I have never heard of Timpano's so I did not know it was a chain. We generally don't care to eat in chain restaurants. We are staying at the Marriott and were looking forward to 3030. Thanks for the recs.

[danb73]

I agree that Timpano's is mediocre at best. Greek Island Taverna is a good recommendation but be prepared to wait in line. My favorite Ft. Lauderdale place by far, if you like fish, is Sunfish Grill on Oakland Park east of US1.

[Calipoutine]

Well, the Chinese food is pretty crappy in S. Fl so you're not missing anything. I have found one Mexican place that rocks though.

[jmdhsmiami]

Interesting what you say about chinese. I am asian, and I rarely eat chinese due to the lack of quality. The only place I may go if at all is Tony Chan's in The Grand Hotel/Condo in Miami.

[aynrandgirl]

Where? The Mexican food in SFL is generally pretty crappy, too.

[Calipoutine]

Old Florida Seafood house is really good and rarely gets a mention. The fish is very fresh, huge portions, not too expensive. Its in Wilton Manners.

[lexpatti]

If you want fun, casual, awesome New Orleans food (bbq shrimp, po-boys, buckets of crawfish, red beans and rice, gumbo, jambaliya, etc.) and awesome music and beer - go a little west to Rosey Baby's on University Ave. I really love this place.
http://www.roseybaby.com/menu.php

[rosygogo]

Based on where you are staying, don't overlook the Bahia Cabana at the Days Inn. I wouldn't stay there. But the food is "dive bar" great and very reasonable. Great views of the intracoastal. Music on Weekend afternoons. You can't eat at Johnny Vs for every meal. :-)

[robiyaki]

Yeah but you got to eat Johnny V's at least once while down there. But a lot of the places on the same street look promising too.