Which are the Top Restaurants in Fort Lauderdale ?? | FerrariChat

Which are the Top Restaurants in Fort Lauderdale ??

Discussion in 'Florida' started by wtlaw, Dec 7, 2015.

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  1. wtlaw

    wtlaw Karting

    Jul 28, 2011
    171
    SoFLA
    Full Name:
    WT Law
    With Friends and Families visiting for the upcoming Holidays. Which are the the Top Restaurants you would recommend these days in the Fort Lauderdale area ?

    Preference is for seafood and Mediterranean cuisine.
    Thanks for the imput
     
  2. 88Testarossa

    88Testarossa Formula 3

    Sep 25, 2012
    2,450
    Annapolis and Daytona Beach
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    Al
    I'm interested in this thread too. I'll be in Lauderdale for New Year's Eve and staying over for about a week


    Sent by incredibly fast electrons
     
  3. SoFLFerrari

    SoFLFerrari Karting

    Apr 23, 2015
    202
    South FL
    Yelp.com


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  4. bball16

    bball16 F1 Rookie
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    Dec 2, 2011
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    A lot of great places. My favorite is in Pompano Beach, called Cafe Maxx.
     
  5. RP

    RP F1 World Champ

    Feb 9, 2005
    17,667
    Bocahuahua, Florxico
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    Tone Def
    Pizza from Anthony's. All over south Florida, I recommend the eggplant pizza with extra mozz and tomato sauce.

    But for an incredible experience, go where Senna, Lauda, Andretti, etc, would go. It is in Miami, Coral Gables to be exact, Caffee Abrracci. A no jeans or shorts type restaurant. You need to look good.

    When Paul Newman when there, the owner sent his runners to the local supermarket, had them buy all of Newman's dressings. When they returned, they put them on a silver platter, and took it to Newman's table. Newman bust a gut laughing, but with a straight face, Nino the owner, looked at Newman and said "what, we always serve your salad dressings".

    Paul McCartney would show up multiple times, because Nino made sure he was served strictly vegan food.

    But Senna, when he arrived in Miami, checked into the Grand Bay Hotel, then went to his favorite hobby store Orange Blossum, he would call Nino, "come get me", and they would have dinner together. When Lauda was flying his own airline, LaudaAir, he would go to Abrracci for dinner. When IndyCars come to Homestead, the Andretti family goes to Caffee Abrracci. When the SuperBowl is in Miami, one night for one team, the next night for the other team.

    Incredible Italian, done your way. The same waiters for 20+ years, and if you are a regular, they know the names of every member of your family. And all your birthdays by memory.

    I got married there, Nino was my Best Man, and I know all of his secrets.
     
  6. kylec

    kylec F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 9, 2005
    3,572
    Orlando
    Coconuts and a local seafood dive bar that's awesome- Southport Raw Bar.
     
  7. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Six Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 22, 2004
    69,058
    Moot Pointe
    Best Italian restaurant in South Florida is Valentino in Ft Lauderdale. Authentic, not a red sauce restaurant. Ask for one of Keith's tables.

    Best white table cloth (no egg foo yung, chow mien, etc) Chinese, Rainbow Palace in Ft Lauderdale

    Fine American bistro in Ft Lauderdale, Hardy Park

    Can't recommend a seafood restaurant as the best one, Sunfish Grille, recently closed.

    Agree with Cafe Maxx. Incredibly good American cuisine for about 25 years.

    Avoid most restaurants on Las Olas Blvd. Crowded, over priced, self-consciously hip, bad parking, etc.

    Above based on dining in Ft Lauderdale >50 years.
     
  8. GatorFL

    GatorFL Moderator
    Moderator Owner

    Nov 18, 2005
    16,335
    Wellington, FL
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    Duane
    Agreed with the above except I was disappointed by Hardy Park Bistro. I dined there with a friend and her steak (ordered medium) was served so rare it was almost Philly style. They threw it back on the grill and it came back so tough she couldn't eat it. My dish was fine but they butchered hers.

    Sad that Sunfish is closed, loved that place.

    If you can make it to Jupiter I can recommend both Leftovers and Captain Charlie's Reef Grill. Both have excellent fish.

    In Miami just south of downtown is El Carajo. It's amazing Spanish food in a 4 star setting, but it's inside a gas station. We drive an hour to eat there a few times a year.
     
  9. floridadoorman

    floridadoorman Formula Junior

    Jan 14, 2014
    392
    Florida
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    Alex
    Blue Moon Fish Company, Commercial Blvd and the intracoastal bridge....

    Steak 954, W Hotel, A1A
     
  10. Bullitt1

    Bullitt1 Formula Junior

    Oct 5, 2007
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    Boca Raton, FL
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    Chris
  11. 328PWC

    328PWC Formula Junior
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    Mar 5, 2011
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    Naples, FL
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    Paul Cissell
    Another is Casa D'Angelo Ristorante for Italian.
     
  12. bball16

    bball16 F1 Rookie
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    Oh and I forgot Kaluz on the intercoatal and Commercial. Great food and great atmosphere on the water.
     
  13. bball16

    bball16 F1 Rookie
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    And +1 on Casa D'Angelo.
     
  14. 328PWC

    328PWC Formula Junior
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    Mar 5, 2011
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    Naples, FL
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    +1 I also forgot Kaluz.
     
  15. blackbolt22

    blackbolt22 F1 Veteran

    Sep 25, 2007
    5,751
    Boca Raton, FL
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    Mr. Anderson
    Yes. I've been to Kaluz many times.
     
  16. ILuv4Res

    ILuv4Res F1 Veteran
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    Aug 8, 2002
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    This is one of the best threads in a while!!..

    Great info here!!! I am anxious to try some of the recommendations!!

    Some of my pics;

    BBQ - Blue Willies - Pompano
    Greek - Greek Isles - Ft Laud
    Steak - Irelands - Weston
    Steak - Timpano - Ft Laud
    Italian - Aquolina - Weston
    Seafood (nice) - Casablanca Cafe - Ft Laud
    Seafood (casual) - Kelly's Landing - Ft Laud
    Seafood (far away, but awesome) Triad Seafood - Everglades City
    Thai - Thai Spice - Ft Laud
    Dim Sum - Tropical - Miami
    Other - Canyon - Ft Laud

    Hmmmmm ... .. that is what comes to mind quickly...... now, I am hungry!!!

    :)
     
  17. wtlaw

    wtlaw Karting

    Jul 28, 2011
    171
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    Full Name:
    WT Law
    Thanks to everyone for taking the time. Always helps to keep a current list.
    I'm sure it will benefit everyone visiting the area including Wavey38 and his smart
    Yelp that is well noted by me.
    Happy Holidays !
     
  18. mr bond

    mr bond Rookie

    Dec 5, 2015
    15
    We just went out to Market 17, which was very good. It's all farm to table and I thought it was excellent. Another good one for Southwestern is called Canyon. They have very good food and amazing Prickly Pear Margaritas. Check them both out.
     
  19. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Six Time F1 World Champ
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    Jun 22, 2004
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    Moot Pointe
    Market 17 is good, so is Canyon, but unless they've (Canyon) started taking reservations I would avoid it, unless during less busy times.
     
  20. SoFLFerrari

    SoFLFerrari Karting

    Apr 23, 2015
    202
    South FL

    Hey WT - as Fred noted this turned out to be a very good thread. We dine out frequently and I'm an active Yelper so for more detailed reviews I point people there. I should note that many restaurants offering the best overall experience are not on the water. That said, here are a few of my favs.

    Kaluz - Ft L - on the water, upscale, valet, great cuisine
    Cafe Seville - Ft L - Spanish, tapas, great indoor ambiance, outstanding cuisine, owned and run by a goodfella from Brooklyn. In a strip mall a mile inland but Quite simply The best Spanish.
    Coconuts - Ft L - on the water, valet, super fresh seafood, but two nights a week they serve paella that is to die for (Wed & Fri?). Not upscale but not a dive either.
    Casa D'Angelo - Ft L - Italian. Upscale. The best. Inland.
    Scarpetta (Fontainbelau Hotel Miami) - Italian, not cheap, but wow!
    Tamarina Miami - super trendy on Brickell
    Cantina La Veinte - also on Brickell in Miami, the best authentic Mexican outside of Mexico City. Trendy. What people think of when they think of Miami. Beautiful people dressed to the 9s, delicious cuisine, gorgeous ambiance, on the water. It gets dinged for snobby service, it helps if you speak a little Spanish, but the rows of exotics valeted out front tells you why.

    I'm sure I've overlooked a few.






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  21. Bullitt1

    Bullitt1 Formula Junior

    Oct 5, 2007
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    Boca Raton, FL
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    Chris
  22. jcarb123

    jcarb123 Rookie

    Sep 29, 2016
    11
    Fort Lauderdale
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    John Carbonaro
    3030 ocean is good!!
     
  23. Jbfmcar

    Jbfmcar Rookie

    Jan 19, 2016
    29
    Fort Lauderdale, FL
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    Justin Falla
    Most have been mentioned but my favorites for sure locally are:
    Kaluz
    Canyon
    Louie Bossis
    Coconuts (any "BE NICE" restaurant group)
    Lobster Bar
    Top Hat Deli (Great breakfast/lunch)
    Foxy Browns
    Grille 401
     
  24. Redrrari

    Redrrari Karting

    Oct 17, 2016
    113
    Florida
    Cafe Martorano on Oakland. They have a live DJ so not a place if you want a lot of conversation. The gravy is awesome
     
  25. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Six Time F1 World Champ
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    Jun 22, 2004
    69,058
    Moot Pointe
    Went once. Never again.

    I'm also withdrawing my recommendation for Rainbow Palace. The last couple of visits have been disappointing.
     

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