Cap’s Place: True Waterfront Dining in Lighthouse Point

Cap’s Place is Broward County’s oldest restaurant. It dates back to the 1920s when the eatery was used as a casino and rum-running speakeasy. Today Cap’s Place is a bit of a tourist trap, offering casual waterfront dining that’s a short ferryboat ride away (provided by the restaurant). Food at Cap’s showcases locally caught fish and seafood including a raw bar with fresh, shucked clams and oysters and selections like stone crab claws, Florida lobster, classic shrimp scampi, crab cakes, and grilled salmon. The broiled or sautéed seafood platter is by far the most popular meal on the menu featuring an assortment of shellfish and chunks of the fresh caught that morning. And if there’s room for dessert, Cap’s offers their “famous tangy homemade lime pie.”

Cap’s Place Island Restaurant
2765 NE 28th Court
Lighthouse Point, FL. 33064
(954) 941-0418
www.capsplace.com

Le Tub: Try an Acclaimed Burger at This Hollywood Hidden Gem

Nestled away on A1A, hidden behind dense foliage, Le Tub Saloon is literally a hidden gem that even many locals don’t know about. The restaurant has built a name by word of mouth alone—there are no signs and no advertising—yet this little hole in the wall establishment has garnered much national acclaim. It won “Best Hamburger” by GQ and was also featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show! Although the restaurant’s digs are somewhat eclectic and the menu is small, the recipes are one of a kind and beer is always on tap. With all the hype, it’s worth giving the sirloinburger a try, but other popular dishes on the menu include the famous Le Tub chili, the catch of the day (seasoned and served with fries) and when available, the seafood gumbo. Dessert options are limited, but the featured key lime pie is homemade and made with fresh limes. Le Tub is open from noon to 4 a.m., and there is plenty of outside seating to enjoy your meal by the water.

Le Tub
1100 N. Ocean Drive
Hollywood, FL 33019
(954) 921-9425
www.theletub.com

The Wayward Sailor Pub: Great Food, Great Fun

Located near Coral Shores, the Wayward Sailor Pub is a great place to meet with friends, watch the game, and get good food. Stop at the Wayward Sailor, grab a brew, and try something from a menu that includes a great selection of soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches, and wraps. Every day there’s a daily special with different soups, burgers, and entrees at great prices. Big bar food favorites include chicken pot pie, shepherd’s pie, and fish & chips. There’s plenty of great beer on tap, or you can try one of the selection of craft brews. And there’s always something happening, like live music and fun parties. Come in and have a ball at the Wayward Sailor Pub.

The Wayward Sailor Pub
3045 N. Federal Highway
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306
(954) 630-2856
http://www.yelp.com/biz/wayward-sailor-pub-fort-lauderdale

Tee Jay Sushi: Thai Specialties and Japanese Favorites All Under One Roof

Tee Jay Sushi brings fresh seafood creations to Fort Lauderdale, producing authentic hot dishes that rival the raw ones. Creating an inviting atmosphere to enjoy your meal, whether you’re in the mood for artful sushi creations or Thai specialties, you’re in luck. Take a seat at the sushi bar or grab a table in the dining room and start with one of Tee Jay’s Thai and Japanese-inspired soups, salads and starters—like miso soup, Thai garden salad with peanut dressing, or gyoza dumplings. On the Thai side of things, prepared specialties of the house are highlighted by hot and spicy snapper topped with a kicked-up red chili sauce and a variety of curries, while Japanese entrees come in the form of stir-fries and grilled dishes of vegetables, meat, and fish. If you’re a sushi fan, however, try one of the many rolls, ranging from traditional maki to creative favorites like the house signature, the Tee-Jay Roll, packed with shrimp tempura, cream cheese, cucumber and asparagus, and topped with tuna, salmon, and Tee-Jay’s special sauce.  The menu also features sushi and sashimi entrees as well as sushi boats to share with your entire party.

Tee Jay Sushi
5975 North Federal Highway
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
(954) 771-4447‎
www.tjthaisushi.com

Mai Kai: An Island Dining Experience in Ft. Lauderdale

Mai Kai has been bringing unique dining entertainment to the residents and visitors of Ft. Lauderdale since 1956. The establishment authentically recreates a Polynesian village complete with tiki torches, a plank bridge entrance, and a thatch rooftop. The dining experience also features entertainment in the form of a Polynesian Island Review with musicians, drums, dancers and song. Any meal at Mai Kai must begin with a pupu platter, a combination of Shanghai chicken, egg roll, crab Rangoon and Tahitian cheese tangs—the perfect way to sample Mai Kai’s best hot appetizers. There is also a selection of soups and salads to start the meal, from won ton soup and lobster bisque to a mixed greens salad with sesame encrusted goat cheese and a fresh spinach salad with warm apple, smoked bacon in a pecan vinaigrette. Entrées consist of a variety of stir-fried dishes with beef, pork, chicken, or seafood, and a mix of vegetables. A selection of vegetarian dishes is also available. Don’t miss the Peking Duck, a specialty of the house that is classically prepared and presented—but availability is limited so make sure to order early! Dessert at Mai Kai is as entertaining and decadent as the restaurant itself, like the Polynesian Surprise—a volcano of ice adorned with fresh, tropical fruits, set on fire at the table with sparklers.

Mai Kai
3599 N. Federal Highway
Ft. Lauderdale, FL  33308
(954) 563-3272
www.maikai.com

Canyon Southwest Cafe: Ft. Lauderdale’s Take on Modern Southwestern Fusion

Southwestern fusion of the highest order is the norm at Canyon Southwest Café, a chic eatery in Fort Lauderdale that blends Southwestern traditionalism with tones of Asian, South American, and Central American cuisines. Thanks to the expert guidance of Chef Chris Wilber, the Café has become a popular dining destination for those seeking an experience of flavor and culinary skill. That, along with the prickly pear margaritas, is a hard combination to beat. According to the restaurant’s website, “Chipotle, wasabi, ginger, cilantro, lemongrass, basil, jalapeño, mango and red chilies accent the freshest seafood and wild game available.” So, exotically-flavored dishes like Hawaiian snapper ceviche, Indonesian spiced bison medallions, and Maine lobster grilled flatbread are exciting ways to start your meal, while the jalapeño panko crusted jumbo shrimp, 3 chili bbq glazed tasmanian salmon, and a tender cut of filet mignon topped with poblano pesto goat cheese are standout entrees on the menu. Just remember that Canyon Southwest Café doesn’t takes reservations, so be prepared to wait —with a margarita of course. 

Canyon Southwest Café
1818 E. Sunrise Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
(954) 765-1950
www.canyonfl.com

Timpano Chophouse: Steak In Style

If you’re looking for a great steakhouse experience in south Florida, regulars rave about Timpano—this classy restaurant delivers awesome food in swank décor that will have you feeling like a million bucks without spending it. Order a martini right off—that’s the bar’s specialty, and they make them amazingly with a variety of flavors. Regulars rave about the spectacular sizzling mussels as an appetizer—these delicate shellfish are cooked to absolute perfection and the sauce they come with will make you want to bottle it and take it home. The Caesar salad is great as well, elevating this standard to something truly special. Steaks are one of the specialties of the house, excellent cuts of meat, served to order and served with delicious garlic mashed potatoes. Desserts are also amazing—the cheesecake lollipop tree is something utterly spectacular, and the dessert shots are cute and delicious. This place is a winner.

Timpano Chophouse
450 E. Las Olas Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
(954) 462-9119
www.timpanochophouse.net

Vegetarian Food For Everyone at Green Wave Cafe

If vegetarian food has no appeal, Plantation’s Green Wave Café will change all that if you give it a try. It has become one of the most popular restaurants in town, producing wonderful meals from its vegetarian kitchen. Chef Lisa Valle has been knocking out incredible meals for years that perfectly balance flavor and nutrition. Located in a nondescript strip mall, you’re more than likely to be met by Valle and her husband inside. The menu has a large number of strong dishes, but special praise goes toward the delicious daily soups, which fuse magnificent flavors in interesting ways to keep diners coming back. The hummus open sandwiches are amazing, served on onion bread with avocado, tomatoes, and sprouts. Vegan cheeseburgers are also very well-received, doused in a cheesy sauce that will have you flabbergasted that there’s no dairy in it. Eating here might not convert you to vegetarianism, but you’ll have a great meal.

Green Wave Café
5221 W. Broward Boulevard
Plantation, FL 33317
(954) 701-9993
www.greenwavecafe.org

Capriccio Ristorante: The Taste and Ambiance of Italy

Capriccio's motto, "where food, music and memories embrace" aptly tells the restaurant’s story. Ever since the Cangelosi family founded this popular eatery in 1987, its traditional Italian cuisine has spawned overwhelming success—since Cappricio’s modest beginnings, the restaurant has been upgraded to include two dining rooms and a beautiful lounge built around a 6’5” chandelier hoisted from the center of the room. And the food quality is such that Cappricio's earned a Zagat's "Award of Excellence" in 2005, as well the Reader’s Choice Award for "Best Restaurant" in the Miami Herald. From appetizers like fried calamari in marinara sauce and fresh bruschetta to fresh pasta dishes like Penne pasta with baby shrimp and mushrooms in a creamy vodka sauce to entrees like sautéed veal smothered in a cognac and cream sauce, Capriccio's is truly a taste of excellence.

Capriccio's Ristorante
2424 N. University Drive
Pembroke Pines, FL 33024
(954) 432-7001
www.capriccios.net

15th Street Fisheries & Dockside Cafe: Both Casual and Upscale Dining with an Unbeatable View

Not only does the Lauderdale marina offer visitors a stunning view and a glittering skyline, it also offers excellent dining options—like the 15th Street Fisheries. Serving quality, award-winning cuisine for thirty years, the restaurant sits right on the water, and offers two distinctly different dining experiences. Downstairs, the Dockside Café offers casual dining by the water, while upstairs the Fisheries presents a more upscale, fine dining ambiance. As with many waterfront restaurants, the 15th Street Fisheries serves fresh seafood and island influenced preparations, with starters like spicy conch chowder, cold seafood salads, and, although not from the sea, homemade breads with a cheese-and-chive spread that have received high praise from guests. Entrees feature a range of delicacies from the sea from grilled mahi mahi to alligator, and for non-seafood eaters, contemporary takes on prime cuts of beef and chicken. Whether in the mood for fine dining upstairs or casual dining downstairs to the sounds of live music, make sure to visit the marina docks any day of the week between 5 and 6 p.m. to catch the daily feeding of the Giant Silver Tarpons.

15th Street Fisheries & Dockside Café
1900 SE 15th Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
(954) 763-2777
www.15streetfisheries.com

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