Las Vegas Cuban Cuisine - Broward/Palm Beach

Taste: ****

Cost: $

We had our wedding rehearsal here and I'm glad we did. The food was very good. Kim actually thought the lechon was better than at Don Ramones, but I think the Vaca Frita is definitely not as good as the Don (though still good). I had the churrasco and it was very good. Everyone seemed to love all their dishes and the service and price were excellent. Will have to try some more things on the menu!

There are various locations but we went to the Delray Beach one.

1715 South Federal Highway, Delray Beach, FL‎ - (561) 278-2133‎

Taverna Kyma

Taste: ****

Cost: $$

Went here for lunch, nice place, great outdoor seating. The serving size was massive for lunch. I had the Gyro and it was very good. My buddy had the chicken Pita and though he couldn't answer my question on how it tasted bc his mouth was full, I'm sure he loved it. Will have to come back and further explore the menu.

6298 N Federal Highway

Boca Raton, FL 33487

(561) 994-2828

Basilic - Broward

Taste: ***

Cost: $$

I can't give any Vietnamese food 5 stars bc they don't compare to my moms cooking. So 4 stars is a very very good rating. Basilic is good Vietnamese food, I would give it 3.5 stars if I could. The service was impeccable, and its a very nice upscale presentation of Vietnamese food as most Viet restaurants are dives. I have the Com Thit Nuong (pork chops) which was good, if not a tad on the sweet side. I'd appreciate a bit more char and more saltiness to it. The Crispy Seafood Egg noodles though were great once the rich saice was allowed to soften the noodles a bit. The portions are generous and the place has a very nice ambience. They give shrimp chips to hold you over while you wait for you meal. I consider the viet places on Colonial in Orlando to be 4 stars, and this place falls just a tad short, but I still highly recommend it.

218 Commercial Blvd
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
(954) 771-5798

Charm City Burger Company - Broward/Palm Beach

Taste: ****

Cost: $$

One of the best burgers I've had in a long time. Good blend, ordered Med, should of gone medium rare as the beef was very flavorful. Everything here is just the extra mile. They could of used canned mushrooms, they were fresh and sauteed. The could of used microwave bacon, it was thick cut, perfectly fried. I had the cowboy burger with the added fried egg (genius) as I didn't want to wreck my diet too much with a big sloppy. Should of went with sweet potato fries, but went with o-rings. A bit too greasy and the batter was a tad cakey as I prefer mine more lightly fried. with a thinner coat, but to their compliment they use some great sweet vadalias. Will definitely have to go back after the wedding when I'm not on a diet and explore the menu more thoroughly.

1136 E. Hillsboro Blvd.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

954-531-0300

Maria's Greek Restaurant - Miami

Taste: *****

Cost: $$

The best greek food I've ever had. period. You have to try the saganaki... its perfection on a plate. Perfectly baked cheese set on fire. No seriously, I have dreams about it. The grape leaves, hummus, and gyro platters are amazing too. But yeah, saganaki... you've been warned b/c this stuff is addicting like crack. Portions are plentiful, cost is pretty low considering its the gables area. This place has been recently decorated and is a rare gem. Even small nuances like the feta cheese, and the crispy fries. This is probably the one place I will break from my diet to eat at. 5 stars easy. Best Greek Food. EVER.

2359 SW 22nd St
Coral Gables, FL 33145-3510
(305) 856-0938

Area 31 - Miami

Taste: ***

Cost: $$$$

Decent food, but you're paying for the view. Appetizers are pretty average. This place is probably a plus if you're on an atkins diet, bc all the fish and steak are served with salad. The yellow tail snapper was tasty enough, if not a little over seasoned. The flat iron steak was cooked well and tender enough, and well seasoned. The rapini was a bit of a throw away. Sauteed brocolini with some olive oil.

The view and atmosphere, however, is what elevates everything. If you're trying to impress someone, they will be visually, but just sated with their appetite. The menu evokes mostly latin flavors with some italian influece. Heavy emphasis on seafood.

270 Biscayne Blvd. Way
Miami, FL 33131
(305) 424-5234

Moon Thai - Miami

Taste: ***

Cost: $$$

I was really ready to write them off with 2 stars, but their pad thai won me over in the end. The sushi here is pretty average, not bad, but not great. They have a big focus on cooked rolls with lots of tempura flakes. Their pad thai is tasty, a bit heavy for my tastes and I prefer a bit more sweet. After I squeezed a bit of lime into it, it opened up and was a very nice savory pad thai. Everything is a bit pricey but not unreasonable. A good place for someone not too into asian food as the menu seems very Pan-Asian inspired and more suited for an american palate.

Tel: (305) 668 - 9890
1118 S Dixie Hwy, Coral Gables, FL 33146

Matsuri (Miami)

Taste: ****

Cost: $$

Went here for lunch and instead of splurging, I just decided to order a lunch box. I'll voice my dissappointments first. They do not have an all sushi lunch special. I was forced to split my lunch between sashimi and some sauteed beef, teryaki, or tempura. Ok, thats out of the way. The fish here is insanely fresh. The sashimi lunch box had cuts of buttery salmon, tasty tuna, and hamachi that tasted like it just came off my fishing pole. Even the california rolls tasted good (must of been the real crab meat and fresh avocado). The quality here is really top notch. Though their roll selection is a bit limited (even more limited since there some of them contain cooked rolls... eww), it is very modestly priced. Before I can declare this the best sushi joint in miami, it definitely needs a dinner time review.

5759 Bird Rd

Miami, FL

305-663-1615

Hot Dog Heaven (Ft. Lauderdale)

Taste: ***

Cost: $$

The parking is going to be cramp and they're open till 4:30 only. Hot Dog Heaven must be one of these cult things similar to our Miami love of Arbetters hotdogs. Their hotdog is quite beefy but I don't like the whole boiled method. Unlike Arbetters though, their dogs are pricier... I just don't know if I can justify 3-4 bucks for a hotdog... I'll have to give them the benefit of the doubt though, as it was a nice beefy dog, and the chilli cheese fries was solid (chilli with beans, FTW). Maybe b/c i'm not from here I just don't have the same nostalgia other broward residents do. Solid dog, cramped parking, not too shabby though.

101 E Sunrise Blvd
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

(954) 523-7100

Jack's Old Fashioned Hamburgers (Ft. Lauderdale)

Taste: ***
Cost: $

After my move in, I decided against cooking dinner and finding something to eat instead. I had always wanted to try Jacks's but never got around to making the trip. first off the burger is pretty decent. I'm not a big fan of all sirloin burgers but this one was pretty decent. nice char taste, cooked medium without me asking. I'm a fan of a 50-50 sirloin chuck burger, but this once wasn't dry at all. The condiment bar had homemade horseradish and other good fixins. The fries were nothing to write home about. If they were a tad skinnier, they probably would have been great. Overall a nice charming place, that reeks with history. I'm pretty sure I might visit again, but thats only if I feel too lazy from firing up my grill to cook my own burgers.

4201 N Federal Hwy, Oakland Park, FL‎
(954) 565-9960‎

Power Pizza (Miami)

Taste: *
Cost: $$

This might not be a fair review as I just had the calzone, but I was generally dissappointed with my calzone. I had always wanted to try this place, but never got around to it. I should of just went to Ernesto's for some Mexican next door. The dough was ok, but it costs a buck per toppping (base calzone does not include any toppings, just ricotta cheese and moz). The calzone was a nice size, but was stuffed with tons of moz. I'm not joking, I'd be happy with this, but there was barely any of the mushrooms and sausage i had ordered in there. The moz was also low fat and generally bland... I would of expected some parmesean or some flavor hard cheese to be in there to give it some flavor. I don't know if I have the heart to go back and try a pizza...

8825 SW 107th Ave Miami, FL 33176
(305) 270-3319

Alta Cocina (Miami)

Taste: ***
Cost: $$

Went here for lunch, very nice decor inside. Definitely a nice place to take a date. The menu and name evoke Latin Flavors, but the menu suggests a more global fusion type cuisine. I had the Yellowtail Tuna Salad. Expecting some chopped ahi tuna on a bed of greens, I was pleasantly surprised to find a decent sized Tuna Steak on plate waiting for me next to their side salad. The Tuna was cooked rare as per my request, but the soy/ginger sauce it was served with was a tad too sweet and detracted a bit too much from the flavor of the Tuna. The side salad was luckily dressed with a vineagrette so that provided some much needed acid. With the obvious asian influence on this dish, I would of appreciated a wasabi rub on the fish. The french fries were very light and crispy; they had a nice starch to them. My co-workers enjoyed their various Panini's, and had no complaints. At a glance on their dinner menu, 33 bucks for a choice (non-prime) filet, is a bit steep. The food was solid food though in a nice atmosphere, its definitely worth a try.

www.altacocinarestaurant.com
5837 Sunset Dr
South Miami, FL 33143
(305) 662-7435

Levi Kelly's BBQ (Miami)

Taste: *****
Cost: $

Do you live within 40 miles from the University of Miami? Is it Friday or Saturday? Go visit Levi Kelly... NOW!

On my drive into work, I see this man setting up, but unfortunately I always take the train up to West Palm on Fridays so I've been unable to try out his BBQ. I've finally had an opportunity and it is hands down THE BEST BBQ IN SOUTH FLORIDA. The ribs are in a word.... PERFECT. Succulent, tender, but not shreds in your teeth tender, they have a nice snap to the meat, great smokiness with no charred bitter undertone. The meat is just incredible and Mr. Kelly does not trim the rib membrane, you het all the meat. For 8 bucks you get a huge half slab.

The sauce is best described as the crossroads of the big 4 of BBQ: Memphis, Carolinas, Texas and KC. Actually its very St Louis-style. It is sweet, but not overly sweet; its has a nice touch of tang but not too acidic. Its just right, although maybe a bit more spiciness might work too.

I transcend into a little pork induced heaven after biting in and the only thing that made the ribs better was sharing the bones and some fat with my best friend; my dog Halo.

The neighborhood Mr. Kelly serves his excellent bbq might be perceived as a bit "tough". It is actually not like that at all. Its a charming little area, where the people are extraordinarily nice and make due the best they can with their means. Trust me, you'll forget about where you are, as soon as you bite in. They have officially overthrown Tom's in West Palm Beach (now under new management) as the best BBQ in florida.

Corner of SW 59th Place and 62nd Street
On the Gravel Lot behind the church

CharHut (Broward/Palm Beach)

Taste: **
Price: $$$

I'm really torn between giving this place 2 or 3 stars. The burger is good, it tastes like a better quality burger king burger, nice smokiness, good quality. The only thing is the price... a bit more expensive than a dine in burger at over 7 bucks! Yes it had good flavor, good char, and they cook to order, but that still doesn't justify the price. I spent 8 bucks on a burger with no drink or fries. Still, its better than fast food, but you're better off going to fuddruckers for a burger. If you're in a bind, with money burning in your pocket, give it a try.

www.charhut.com

Rickey's World Famous Restaurant (Ft. Lauderdale)

Taste: *****
Price: $

Update 3/1/09

I just couldn't get the wings off my mind plus I'd been dying to meet Mr. Billy Mitchell so me and Kim made the trek down to the Pines Blvd location from West Palm. Unfortunately Billy Mitchell was at the Renaissance Festival (which we drove past on the way down). Fortunately the wings were no fluke. We ordered some onion rings and wings. I'm sorry, I can't force myself to eat anything else. Did I say this already? Billy Mitchell makes one hell of a chicken wing. He must hold a PhD in chemistry, bc it is scientifically impossible to keep a wing that crispy, when doused in his famous wing sauce. Its an interesting crust, its so crispy, its almost candy like, but it doesn't feel heavy. The onion rings were great too, but the wings are the star. The hot sauce isn't just heat in a bottle, you can taste the chili peppers. If you haven't ate here yet and you're within a 30 mile radius, make the trip. For their proven consistency, Rickey's is upgraded to 5 stars.

------------------------------------

I'm a huge fan of the movie The King of Kong, and when I drove by this place, I immediately did a u-turn to see if I could catch a glimpse of Billy Mitchell. Unfortunately hes at the other location, but what I got instead were quite possibly the best wings I've eaten in a long time. Billy Mitchell makes a GOOD chicken wing. The batter was perfect, crispy, not heavy, and managed to stay crispy while doused in the incredible wing sauce. I haven't been able to get the wings off my mind for sometime now and will have to visit the other location to see if I can get an autographed bottle of hot sauce. Definitely recommend. The wings and the documentary.

http://www.rickeysrestaurant.net/index.htm

Scully's Tavern (Miami)

Taste: ***
Price: $

A very nice little place. The construction going on outside had discouraged me from going inside, but you definitely should. They have an interesting take on cooking wings. They're partially deep fried, and then transplanted to the grill for some char. The result is a crispy wing with a nice smokey aftertaste. I had the scampi wings, and found them to be delightful since they keep the wingtips on! Some pieces might be a tad over charred, but for the most part, the wings were great. The fish and chips were all you can eat and they were good too. Didn't feel too heavy, but I would of liked some malt vinegar on them. Great slaw though, I never really like slaw all that much but this was great. The Ribs were ok, some ribs were tender, some were a bit dry and overdone. The sauce is treated like an afterthought and tastes as such. The fried green tomatos were ok, kind of like sour onion rings. The burger patties were frozen. After inquiring about its freshness they conceded that the head chef was out and they were using frozen patties as opposed to fresh ones. Scully's tries to do alot and it succeeds on some levels yet comes short on others. I think this is one of those places where one day the food is amazing and one day its just ok. Much better than typical bar food, but I guess bc of the food network I had higher expectations.

9809 Sunset Drive
Miami, FL 33173

Shawarma Mediterranean Grill (Miami)

Taste: ***
Cost: $$

Out here in west kendall, you're hard pressed to find anything remotely Mediterranean with the except of the "gyro" platter at Miami Subs. Tucked away on kendall, Shawarma, was some decent alternative eats if you don't feel like making the trek out east. Its your typical food on a stick, carved off concept. No Tzaki sauce, but the meat is very aromatic, it doesn't really need it, lots of fennel, which is good. The rice pilaf was ok, i mean the rice is definitely hispanic rice, with oil, and they try their best by putting the mini noodles and almond slivers. I like my pilaf more fluffy rather than oily and salty (a first for me, i know). The pita is unimpressive, but for the money and the meat, I'll be coming back when I'm sick of Chipotle and Pei Wei.

11752 SW 88 St
Kendall, FL 33186
305-596-3121