16. Sugar Reef Tropical Grille
City: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (954) 922-1119
Address: 600 N. Surf Rd.
Description: If you’ve been walking along the Broadwalk wondering which open-air spaces are worth it and which are tourist traps, Sugar Reef is the real thing. We’ve placed this under American & Eclectic food, but really, this place is more eclectic than anything else. With items like seafood gumbo, Vietnamese pho (beef or chicken noodle soup), bouillabaisse, and chicken Alfredo on the menu, you can ponder over French, Asian, Caribbean, and Southern fare. To boot, its whimsical mosaic tile decoration inside and out, dim lighting, and large fish art covering the walls lend a fun and cozy atmosphere.
17. YOLO
City: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (954) 523-1000
Address: 333 E. Las Olas Blvd.
Description: One of the newest additions to downtown Fort Lauderdale’s swanky scene, YOLO (which stands for You Only Live Once) is as polished and fabulous as its clientele. Flickering fire pits make the patio SSAS (Swanky, Sleek, and Sexy) and after imbibing in a cocktail or munching on their new American cuisine (with Southern and seafood leanings), you can SABS (See and Be Seen) the night away. Designer clothing, stiletto heels, and cherry-red Aston Martins are de rigueur here.
18. Chinatown
City: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (954) 473-8770
Address: 8934 SR 84
Description: You’d never guess this blah strip mall in Davie could deliver such amazing Chinese and Japanese fare at these prices—maybe it’s because everything has both the touch and the eye of the owner, who never seems to take the day off. Szechuan chicken, salt and pepper shrimp, delicate rice noodle dishes, and more arrive in massive portions (it’s a great place for groups and families), and while service is curt, it’s consistently efficient.
City: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Category: Restaurants
Address: 3599 N. Federal Hwy.
20. Fin & Claw
City: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (954) 782-1060
Address: 2476 N. Federal Hwy.
Description: Austrian and seafood don’t generally sit together, but yes, even this landlocked country has its share of streams, rivers, and lakes, and many original recipes incorporate seafood with their more well-known fare like Wiener schnitzel (pounded and breaded veal), potato salad, kraut salad, and goulash served with hefty dumplings. This being Florida, they serve up local catches too, but whatever you order, it is delivered with a smile in this tiny mom-and-pop place tucked away in a shopping center.
21. Ernie’s Barbecue
City: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (954) 523-8636
Address: 1843 S. Federal Hwy.
Description: It’s a darn shame they don’t make ‘em like this anymore. Started by Ernie the bootlegger, who eschewed all rules and regulations, this blues, beer, and barbecue landmark has been churning out the good stuff since 1957—and Ernie’s attitude still prevails. Regulars know to hit the tomato-heavy conch dishes, tangy slow-cooked ribs, or the succulent and enormous burgers and cheese steak sandwiches. The beer is always icy cold, and don’t forget to indulge in their signature, addictive Bimini bread, served with seemingly everything. You can’t miss the rounded building swathed in faded yellow paint when driving down Federal Highway, and the interior is comfy, down-home goodness.
22. Rosey Baby Crawfish & Cajun House
City: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (954) 749-5627
Address: 4587 N. University Dr.
Description: New Orleans comes to Florida in this laid-back house of crawfish (served by the bucket) and po’boys. If shellfish isn’t your style, check out the burgers or the “swimmers and roamers” section of the menu (fish and meats). Evenings welcome live music and more beer-drinking patrons than diners, and the place morphs into a bar as midnight nears and dart players hover (weekday nights feature dart leagues).
23. Tom Jenkins BBQ
City: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (954) 522-5046
Address: 1236 S. Federal Hwy.
Description: A couple of former frat brothers from Florida A&M University run this place, and the pair is unstoppable—their barbecue sauce sells like hotcakes, and the best place to try it is here, their no-frills BBQ joint (to call it a restaurant is a stretch—you order at the counter, grub is served on Styrofoam, and picnic tables surround the space). But that’s real barbecue, and you’ll have fun watching the entertaining kitchen whip up your dish with flair and attitude. This local fixture is also a popular for takeout: Though we like the country memorabilia and Southern vibe inside, some may not fancy eating on picnic tables. But you can’t beat their succulent ribs and pork sandwiches; their Mississippi catfish and hush puppies are a fine alternative for non-meat eaters.
24. Argentango Grill
City: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (954) 920-9233
Address: 1822 S. Young Circle
Description: It’s a carnivore’s mecca: a meat-filled extravaganza, with skirt steak, filet mignon, rib eyes, and more (most cooked on a wood-fired grill), excellent mixed meat platters available for one or two people, all served with a large choice of sides, freshly baked bread and rolls with their own homemade ”Chimmichurri Sauce” (a blend of herbs, garlic, oil, and vinegar, sometimes with a tomato base or red bell peppers), and soup or salad. And this isn’t where it ends: Their famous sangria is whipped up tableside. Decor is reminiscent of Buenos Aires (lots of brick and wood with low lighting), and service is attentive and friendly. Best to come with a large appetite, and expect your waist to expand during your meal—but if it didn’t, it wouldn’t be an authentic experience anyway.
25. Chima Brazilian Steakhouse
City: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (954) 712-0580
Address: 2400 E. Las Olas Blvd.
Description: Flickering, modern torches lead the way into this bastion of South American class and design—walk through the impressive entrance courtyard filled with terra-cotta stones, into the main dining room with vibrant art and polished wood floors. This is a rodizio restaurant (one set price for a variety of selections served tableside) where a churrasco (grilled meat) is on offer—slabs of rotisserie meats circulate, thinly sliced upon demand at your table. Waiters are dressed as gauchos (cowboys from southern South America), and even vegetarians can fill up at the gargantuan salad bar. Weekday evenings the courtyard hosts live music and a hopping, trendy happy hour.
26. Bon Ami Cafe
City: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (954) 962-2070
Address: 5650 Stirling Rd.
Description: Despite its French-sounding name, this is a true kosher cafe, where the menu is printed in both English and Hebrew. Clientele is always extremely mixed, and you can expect a large variety of fresh food like omelettes, salads, sandwiches, and a fair share of Middle Eastern options like Israeli salads and kozza, ziva, and malawach—think oodles of feta-filled concoctions. The space isn’t sexy, but you come for the carefully prepared, affordable meals, not for the decor. Closed Sat for the Sabbath.
27. Boomerang Coffeehouse
City: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (954) 783-9339
Address: 1631 South Cypress Rd.
Description: Some simply drive through and pick up a bagel or a muffin here, but that’s a shame, because the comfy couches and relaxed vibes make this a prime spot to lounge with a paper and a cuppa from their extensive coffee and tea menu. Weekend afternoons are a big hit, when they showcase live jazz ensembles and local one-man bands, such as Hurricane Dave, a country-and-folk singer who’s been returning to belt it out for several years.
City: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Category: Restaurants
Address: 209 SW 2nd Ave.
29. Coffee Scene
City: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (954) 441-2364
Address: 15955 Pines Blvd.
Description: With over 50 coffee flavors to choose from, it might take a while to order. But this place won’t rush you—in fact it’s the slow pace that makes it distinctive and stand out from the Starbucks dotting many corners of town. Take the amazing coffee selection and add sandwiches, wraps, salads, and soups, and you’ve got a coffee-shop-cum-bistro that attracts families and businesspeople on a regular basis. Family owned, they always have unique touches that make them stand out, like coloring books for the little ones and live music a few days and nights per week.
30. Emunah Cafe & Tea Room
City: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (954) 561-6411
Address: 3558 N. Ocean Blvd.
Description: You don’t need to be a kabbalah devotee to love this spiritual haven of calm and tranquility—choose from a large selection of organic teas, curl up with your favorite magazine, and take in the simplicity of the sparse furnishings. If you get peckish, the kosher restaurant offers excellent vegetarian and seafood dishes, and summers feature a three-course sunset menu. Whatever you seek when you come here, you’ll relax in the oasis far, far away from the maddening traffic and honking horns.