One week in Boca Raton area...a foodie needs some recommendations???

[jcamis]

We'll be staying in Boca from Nov 27-Dec 4. We love good food and are looking for recommendations in Boca or up or down the coast (Lauderdale or Miami area are just fine). We're willing to drive as great food is always the highlight of our vacations. That said, a few caveats - no chains, we'd consider a restaurant based in and with multiple locations in S. Florida, but that's it. We like locally-owned hole-in-the-wall or off-the-beaten-path type places. Any food is good by us, but being from Kansas City we can get good steaks, Italian, BBQ, and comfort food, so if it's one of those it better ROCK! Ethnic places would be ideal, as would seafood. I'd also be happy chasing down some food trucks if they are worth it.

Also - any good food markets or bakeries where we could pick up our food & drink and take back to our place?

Last question - any local breweries or beers worth trying out?

[summerofjade]

Check out Totti's Mediterranean Kitchen in Lighthouse Point. Great falafel. I've been thrice and am always pleased with my meal. I usually get a wrap or salad with a side of falafel. Second El Jefe Luchador. The owners also own a burger joint, Charm City, which is just down the street from El Jefe but check online - they're selling burgers out of El Jefe until the renovation on the Charm City store is complete. For Cuban, I highly recommend Little Havana in Deerfield Beach. I order either the Cuban sandwich or the Little Havana steak with chimichurri, which is good enough to bathe in. Ask for extra. Service can be spotty at times. Mona Lisa by the beach in Deerfield has great pizza. Nestor's in Boca is a Jewish deli. for seafood - go to Old Florida Seafood in Lauderdale or Seafood World in Lighthouse Point. Calypso is also good. Tark's in Dania Beach has been around since the sixties.

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Little Havana Restaurant
12727 Biscayne Blvd, North Miami, FL 33181

Mona Lisa
4751 SW 8th St, Coral Gables, FL 33134

[CFByrne]

A couple more options...

Florida's become a hotbed of thin crust coal fired pizza - and some of it is very very good. Look into Tucci's in Boca or Mona Lisa in Deerfield or Anthony's all over. Lots of other threads here on "Best Pizza in S Florida" but you'll likely get lost in them!

Also for a casual quick lunch head to El Jefe Luchador in nearby Deerfield Beach. "Gourmet" tacos, some very interesting stuff going on there you likely won't find in Kansas City.

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Mona Lisa
4751 SW 8th St, Coral Gables, FL 33134

[CFByrne]

If you want unique, excellent, ethnic/seafood local places I would recommend Calypso in Pompano Beach, and Bamboo Fire in Delray Beach. Search this board for those two names and you'll find out why.

Craft beer is booming in South Florida, Funky Buddha is getting national acclaim for some of their stuff. Cigar City is based over in Tampa but they are also getting national acclaim and you'll find their stuff available in many restos locally.

If you want to actually dine in a place where they're brewing, check out Big Bear Brewing in Coral Springs.