Cafe in South Florida

Ally's Comfort Cafe

13674 W. State Road 84, Davie Plantation

954-476-4343

Cafe, Comfort Foods, Best Of, Sponsor

2 articles

Grace's Cafe

75 N. Federal Highway, Dania Beach Hollywood

954-816-3324

Cafe, Sponsor

Simply Natural

8271 Sunset Strip Plantation

954-742-8344

Burgers, Cafe, Greek, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Vegan, Vegetarian, Best Of, Sponsor

Any health-food store can sell stuff that claims to be good for you. But go to the counter at Simply Natural in Sunrise and you're liable to find Richard or Shahrooz, the husband-and-wife owners who are not just selling healthy stuff, but creating a community of wholesome living. Together, they have been known to offer free meditation classes, free guest lecturers, and even free samples of vegan foods. They can draw upon their vast expertise on all matters health to recommend an herbal remedy or nutrition supplement for whatever ails you. Or they can set you up with one of the many practitioners who rotate through the shop's back office: an acupuncturist, masseuse, reflexologist, iridologist, or CardioVision analyst. Plus, it's a short walk next door to the Simply Natural Café, which boasts the area's cheapest and most truly organic menu around. The meat is grass-fed and hormone-free, and even the beer and wine are organic.

1 article

The Alchemist

2430 NE 13th Ave. Wilton Manors

954-787-3663

Coffeehouse, Cafe, Coffee Shops, Best Of

Coffee from carefully chosen coffee beans is complemented by open faced sandwiches called “slicers” and a full spectrum of gluten free deserts at this tranquil cafe located within a gated artist’s community.

4 articles

Ann's Florist & Coffee Bar

1001 E Las Olas Blvd Fort Lauderdale

954-761-3334

Coffeehouse, Cafe

Florist and coffeehouse combo with a full bar, serving empanadas and other bites on Las Olas.

Boulevard Kitchen + Juice Bar

701 E. Broward Blvd., Suite F, Fort Lauderdale Beaches

954-530-1793

Health, Cafe

Brew Urban Cafe

638 N. Federal Highway Fort Lauderdale

954-990-5597

Cafe, Best Of, Menu

It's a majestic coffee shop that also serves wine and beer — perhaps that's why Brew Urban Café is appropriately nestled in the slew of restaurants near Victoria Park. And the coffee is some of the best around. Be ballsy and try the godzilla: That's 40 grams of protein and four shots of espresso. Or go for the electric shock: That's a vanilla-and-cinnamon-infused espresso, complete with a caramel glaze. Every coffee-shop-goer's dream is fulfilled: free wi-fi and friendly baristas. The microbeer selection includes Dogfish Punk, Stoudt American Pale Ale, and Rogue Dead Guy. Just try to find a Bolshevic Revolution anywhere else.

6 articles

Candela Restaurant

2909 NE Sixth Ave. Wilton Manors

954-563-8088

Latin American, Tapas, Cafe, Critics' Pick, Best Of

In South Florida, where the recent small-plate obsession has tainted our palates (and pockets) with pricey, upmarket concept foods, we have no understanding of the Spanish art of celebrating food and drink. But at Candela Restaurant in Wilton Manors, you can get an idea of what it's all about. Just one block south of Oakland Park Boulevard and over a canal that hems the northern edge of the Island City, you'll find one of the area's best-kept secrets. You may be familiar with a restaurant where the chef knows your name and delivers your dish as if you were family. This is the type of experience you'll get from chef-owner Armando Vega and his wife Yudaris, a Cuban-born couple that dishes out authentic Latin and Mediterranean cuisine. What makes Candela so endearing is Vega's knowledge of his painstakingly sourced ingredients. A medium-grain rice from Murcia, Spain; Mahon, a soft cow's-milk cheese from the island of Minorca; smoky pimenton, a type of Spanish paprika; and olive oil from Jaen, a city in the south of Spain. The rustic, red-walled hideaway is accented with handmade wooden wine racks; Vega's family china and art made with the corks of emptied wine bottles are evidence of the gastronomic merriment that's taken place over the years. Vega is most proud of his paella, prepared in the style of Valencia. The recipe calls for Spanish Calasparra rice, a pearl-shaped variety that won't stick and allows for the complete absorption of the savory calamari-, clam-, mussel-, and shrimp-based broth. The dish is served from a piping-hot paella pan, blackened rice scraped from the steel and onto your plate. Another house specialty is the fideua negra, a noodle dish with an unctuous sauce of squid ink that's filled with fat chunks of tender squid and octopus. Or try the credo asado, confit pork finished in a hot paella pan with olive oil and sofrito. The technique renders the meat into crispy fried tendrils of pulled pork that are served over a bed of rice and black beans seasoned with a pepper-based vinegar sauce Vega gets from his family in Cuba. Read our full review.

2 articles

Corner Bakery Cafe

2240 NW 19th St. Boca Raton

561-417-6060

Bakery, Cafe, Menu

Casual, counter-serve cafe chain offering a standard menu of sandwiches, pasta & pastries.

Falafel Benny

658 W. Hallandale Beach Blvd. Hallandale Beach

954-455-2118

Middle Eastern, Cafe, Moroccan, Sandwiches, Vegetarian, Best Of, Menu

"Howz dee faylafell?," Ben Regev yells from behind a glass and granite countertop. Most people can only awkwardly nod as they chew on soft pitas filled with well-seasoned green falafel topped with tahini and a rainbow of fresh and pickled vegetables. As a kid growing up in Israel, Regev used to skip school to work odd jobs to buy falafel. As an adult, they've become his life. He says even Muslims come into his small shop for falafel saying "kif imeh," which in English, he says, means "like home." Nothing bridges cultural gaps like a perfect falafel.

2 articles

Gigi's Music Cafe

4385 NW 88th Ave., Sunrise Plantation

954-748-9494

Cafe

9 articles

Icebox Cafe

219 NE 3rd St Hallandale Beach

754-777-7255

Burgers, Cafe, Menu

Icebox Cafe’s newest location in Hallandale Beach features a large dining room with art installations and murals, a greenhouse, a plaza for outdoor entertainment and a large commercial kitchen to accommodate special events. The menu is stacked with classic favorites including a variety of burgers with unique flavor profiles.

IKEA

151 NW 136th Ave. Plantation

954-537-2002

Cafe, Swiss, Retail

While no compelling reason exists to eat at IKEA unless you're shopping there, you're doing yourself a dis-service if you're buying furniture without dining. And we don't mean a chicken wrap or a salad. We're talking a plate of Swedish meatballs. With the gravy. And the potatoes and (most importantly) the lingonberries. You're only going to make the trip to IKEA maybe -- what? - twice a year, and we recommend meatballs on both visits, just to stay on the safe side. If you're feeling meatballed-out, the salmon will suffice, but they'll keep the meatballs coming here all day from 10 in the morning till after 8 at night. That's exactly the sort of fortification you're going to need to read all those assembly manuals later.

3 articles

IKEA Restaurant

151 NW 136th Ave. Plantation

954-838-9292

American, Cafe, Best Of

While no compelling reason exists to eat at IKEA unless you're shopping there, you're doing yourself a dis-service if you're buying furniture without dining. And we don't mean a chicken wrap or a salad. We're talking a plate of Swedish meatballs. With the gravy. And the potatoes and (most importantly) the lingonberries. You're only going to make the trip to IKEA maybe -- what? - twice a year, and we recommend meatballs on both visits, just to stay on the safe side. If you're feeling meatballed-out, the salmon will suffice, but they'll keep the meatballs coming here all day from 10 in the morning till after 8 at night. That's exactly the sort of fortification you're going to need to read all those assembly manuals later.

5 articles

International House of Schnitzel

4820 N. Dixie Highway Oakland Park

954-626-0723

American, Breakfast, Cafe, German, Sandwiches, Recommended

It's safe to say the thin, breaded meat cutlet known as schnitzel is not quite as buzzworthy as pancakes, the specialty of another, well-known international house. But even if it doesn't always get the respect it deserves, schnitzel is undoubtedly more popular worldwide, whether it goes by the name "milanesa" in Italy and Latin America or simply "chicken cutlet" here at home. The International House of Schnitzel - a quirky restaurant next door to the Fox and Hound Pub - specializes in the chicken version of the dish (not pork or more expensive veal). The tiny lunch spot pounds its schnitzel to a perfect quarter-inch thickness, coats it in breadcrumbs, and bakes it until a luscious, crisp coating forms on the surface. IHOS completes the working-class dish with amazing, German-style red cabbage and a side of mashed potatoes for just $5.95. The same thing stuffed on a Kaiser roll and served with lettuce, tomato, and homemade garlic mayonnaise costs less than $5. The entire menu is made from scratch daily by owners Rudi Pollak and Eli Herschkovich, two 30-year industry vets who have an undying love for the feel-good dish. IHOS serves breakfast all day, as well as subs, soups, burgers, salads, knishes, and some of the flakiest, freshest homemade apple strudel you'll find.

1 article

Java Boys Coffee House

2230 Wilton Dr. Wilton Manors

954-564-8828

Breakfast, Cafe, Coffeehouse, Coffee Shops, Best Of

Put simply, now that Starbuck's has invaded Wilton Manors (at Five Points, in the old Shakespeare's Pub location) those beholden to its corporate charms will go there. Folks supporting the little guy, however, will come to Java Boys in the gayest strip mall in the state. Put it this way: Anita Bryant has nothing to do with the Florida orange sunshine cake. Cheaper and way friendlier than a Starbucks, with free WiFi, and some well-worn tables where you can work, slurp, gawk, and

3 articles

Luna Star Cafe

775 NE 125th St., Miami Shores North Dade

305-799-7123

Cafe, Bar Food, Music Venues

An oasis along the commercial strip in North Miami, this funky acoustic music stronghold has a relaxed community vibe, where customers do indeed know each other. It's cozy, with a smattering of tables, a bar, and a stage that supports live music and readings. The friendly, casual service, then, fits right in.

1 article

Mama's Latin Cafe

1015 W. State Road 84 Fort Lauderdale

954-769-9993

Latin American, Cafe, Best Of, Menu

Sometimes you can't get to Havana -- or even Miami. Sometimes, this five-table, splinter of a cafÃ© at the western end of Fort Lauderdaleâ??s Southland Shopping Center is as far as you make it for a Cuban sandwich fix so satisfying you'll wonder why Mama isn't front-page news. Oh, there are lots of breakfast items, soups, croquettes, and the usual Cuban-y things on the menu. Pull up your barstool to the blue plastic malachite countertop. The low-overhead prices are much more in line with those of Havana than South Beach (where a Cuban sandwich can run $9). Although you hear mostly Spanish among the customers, gringos are welcomed by the capable staff. Mira. That means you. Mama's packs 'em in at lunchtime, so drop by nearby Big Lots until the rush dies down. Either way, you're on to one of the real bargains in town.

2 articles

Shawn & Nick's Courtyard Cafe

2211 Wilton Dr. Wilton Manors

954-563-2499

American, Cafe, Best Of, Menu

A retro diner in the heart of Wilton Manors, Shawn & Nick's draws from the locals crowds. The walls are an "I'm awake!" lime green and lemon yellow, with red and orange accents and a black and white checkerboard floor. Breakfast is served all day (or night), with several eclectic twists: fried green tomatoes and eggs, fried spam and eggs, Benedicts with sausage gravy and biscuits. Lunch fare is standard: juicy half-pound burgers, sandwiches (try the classic Monte Cristo or thick-cut meat loaf), wraps, and salads. For dessert: no pie, but deep-fried Twinkies or Oreos. It's open 24 hours on the weekends and closes early on Sunday in keeping with the club crowds it attracts. Prices won't deter you from trying a few dishes at a time.

3 articles

Sip Java Co.

638 N Federal Highway Fort Lauderdale

954-990-5597

Coffeehouse, Cafe, Menu

This independent café in the Victoria Park neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale serves espresso drinks, pastries and sandwiches.

Sweat Records

5505 NE Second Ave., Miami Central Dade

786-693-9309

Cafe, Music Venues, Retail

In the days of digital, for a record store to thrive requires more than a little entrepreneurial spirit - and the music Gods looking kindly on you doesn't hurt either. Luckily, Sweat Records is much more than a record retailer. The Little Haiti venue is the unofficial headquarters for Miami's indie set. It's a music store, cafe and event space that hosts everything from vegan brunches to movie nights. Their on-site vegan coffee bar serves up local favorite Panther Coffee, empanadas and other baked eats. And in addition to music, they sell magazines, books, gifts and other carefully curated made-in-Miami offerings for the hipster crew. The question is, what can't Sweat do?

6 articles

The Sticky Bun

1619 SE Third Court Deerfield Beach

754-212-5569

Cafe, Breakfast, Best Of

1 article

Zara's Jazz Cafe

1901 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd, West Palm Beach Palm Beach

561-290-6739

Cafe

Cafe in South Florida

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