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

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

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

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

Siam Palace (Miami)

Taste: *
Cost: $$

The environment was nice, I just wished the food was better. The shrimp wasn't deveined, and the food was sloppy. Although not entirely horrible, nothing left an impression on my palate which is a bad sign. I usually can find something redeeming about a place. I'm sure people not keen on real thai cuisine will be happy, but for me my money's better spent at Bangkok Bangkok.

9999 SW 72nd St # 109
Miami, FL 33173

Fritz and Franz (Miami)

Taste: **
Cost: $

If it weren't for the beer I don't know what I would rate this... I'm only joking, the food here is good especially the spaetzle, brats, and other German items. Nothing is particular stands out, but nothing really offended my palate as well. Its in a nice location in Merrek Park, and the beer is always cold. If anything I'd say this would be an interesting place for bar food. I've seen German food better represented elsewhere but this is as Oktoberfest as you're going to get in Miami.

60 Merrick Way
Coral Gables, FL 33134

Jaguar (Miami)

Taste: **
Cost: $$

A trendy little ceviche spoon place in the Grove. Jaguar has some tasty ceviche which is their main draw but the actual entre items are less than stellar. All the menu items seem a tad toned down and homogenized to my palate. Its shame bc the ambiance is great and they're in a prime location in the Grove. Still the food won't set you back very far and the ceviche is actually pretty good. With time maybe some more attention can be paid to their menu items as well?

3067 Grand Ave
Miami, FL 33133

Mississippi Sweets BBQ Co. (Palm Beach)

Taste: **
Cost: $$

With such a clever name you would expect some top notch BBQ? The execution here is good at times but it seems the owners have gotten complacent how the Tom's BBQ moved out of Boca. The ribs have a nice savory style sauce with an obvious kick of sweetness, its just how the ribs are cooked is the problem. I'm often to find a rib thats just a bit over charred or a piece thats a bit tough. On a whole its not bad and if I'm craving for BBQ in Boca this is where I go. Their name is akin to their sweet potato chips which are very good and abundant. Go ahead and order extra, you won't be disappointed. Theres so much potential here its such a shame to see them rest on their laurels.

2399 N. Federal Highway
Boca Raton, FL

Bangkok Bangkok (Miami)

Taste: *****
Cost: $

This is my family's place. By default we automatically start heading here thanks to the incredible food. Compared to other Thai places I've been to, this one is heads and shoulders above the rest. A more careful attention and gourmet palate is executed here. The flavors are bold and in abundance and the food presentation is top notch compared to most. I have to start out with the Satay skewers. They're perfectly done with a cook it yourself mini grill, but the real star is their peanut sauce. In fact it took me a good part of an entire weekend to finally break it down so I can replicate it at home. My family loves the squid salad to start and the chicken wings are also very well done. The main courses are where this place shines. I cannot pick a favorite, and we've eaten almost every single item. If I had to choose it would be the "Name that Tune" which is sliced tenderloin marinated in 2 different sauces, one sweet and savory, and the other tangy and savory and its served to you flambe'. The "3 musketeers" is another favorite beef dish, which is pretty much like a whole serving of the tangy side of the 3 musketeers. The "London Bridge Ribs" are tender babybacks, served with a tangy tamarind dipping sauce; its extremely well executed. The roasted duck is also another staple, as is the tiger prawns. I could go on forever listing dishes but they're all very good. In fact the only flaw with their food would have to be their pad thai. Yes how can I give 4 stars if they messed up Thai's signature dish? Its not horrible, but its just ok. Really the food here is amazing and their consistency has been a major factor to why we've been here almost over 100 times.

12584 N Kendall Dr
Miami, FL 33186

D'Best Sandwich Shop (Palm Beach)

Taste: *****
Cost: $$

Like the name says, it is the most amazing Philly cheesesteak you will eat south of Philadelphia. The rib eye is hand cut and every ingredient they use is fresh. In fact I've been to Geno's and I'd have to say D'Best ranks up there damn near close. You can have it any style, but I like the Cheese Wiz, mushroom and onions combo. Their sandwiches are nothing to joke abuot either. Most notably is D'Pilgrim. It is literally thanksgiving between bread. They actually roast whole turkeys in the morning and carve them up. Its topped with some stuffing, gravy, a touch of mayo and cranberry sauce to top. If I had a cheesesteak for lunch, I'm definitely getting D'Pilgrim for dinner.

5201 N. Dixie Highway
Boca Raton, FL 33487

Beanies (Boca Raton)

Taste: ****
Cost: $$

Lemon artichoke sandwich. Beanies has managed to take 2 food items I don't particularly care for and crafted one of the most amazing sandwiches I've ever had. Their aeoli and chicken are just perfect when paired. I honestly love the sandwich so much I have not tried another on the menu. Their twice baked potato though is a massive meal in itself. They scoop out the potato, mix some buttermilk and butter, stuff it in with the toppings of your choice and rebake. Excellent! Like all things in Boca, its a bit pricier but well worth it.

Located on the outskirts of Mizner Park by the Post Office

Fujiya (Miami)

Taste: ***
Cost: $

A decent spot for lunch here in Miami. The variety of rolls is a bit lacking, but the fish is always fresh. If you're not a die hard raw fish person look else where. There is a lack of cooked rolls on the menu. The Hosomaki combo for lunch is a great value and you actually get quite a bit of food for you money. Rolls are nice and tight, I just wished they would showcase some more flair on their menu.

11768 SW 88th St
Miami, FL 33186

Yu Mi (Palm Beach)

Taste: ****
Cost: $$

Update 5/25/09

Went here recently for dinner. The prices have come down and the quality has gone up. All the fish was incredibly fresh and well prepared and our favorite rolls were spot on perfect. Tokyo Love Story roll was especially delicious. The Escola (white tuna) was like butter.

*************************************

4 Years ago I would of given this 4 stars, but in recent years the fish quality hasn't really dropped, but the tightness of the rolls has. Sometimes they fall apart a bit and thats a major no-no for me. The roles are still tasty, but compared to my Akashi back home, this place is over charging. Still a nice place, and so long as the fish is fresh I can't really complain. Their dynamite roll here is good though, in fact its probably my favorite here, that and the crunch roll. I know its blasphemous to enjoy the cooked rolls more, but the raw rolls just aren't constructed well and the crunch roll while fried is still raw anyways.

2800 N Military Trl
West Palm Beach, FL 33409

Akashi (Miami)

Taste: ****
Cost: $

Hands down, the default place I goto for raw fish in Miami. Its crowded, small, but the price and quality of fish is remarkable. I think by now I've had every roll on the menu... at least 4 times? The fish is fresh and when they have it, make sure to grab some hamachi rolls. The standard rolls (spider, rainbow, volcano, etc...) really shine here. Everything is spot on, in fact I haven't had a single roll I've been disappointed with. Their dynamite roll with the scallops is a great fresh twist to the recipe, and their sashimi platter is always fresh. In fact the surprises you'll get is when its spectacularly excellent and the tuna literally melts in your mouth. They're open late, but expect to wait... its small, and extremely crowded and chaotic, but I probably wouldn't have it any other way.

5830 S Dixie Hwy
Miami, FL 33143