Continental in South Florida

715 E. Las Olas Blvd. Fort Lauderdale

954-467-2900

Ooh la la! What iz ze problem, my sweetie? Romance iz not dead; it's alive! Le Cafe de Paris, Las Olas French fixture since 1962, is any hopeless romantic's dream. The space is chic yet charming. With antiques and a piano bar indoors and sidewalk seating outdoors, diners can play Parisians while dishing on classic French cuisine. The extensive French wine collection has bottles from cheap to extravagant prices. Watch out for the dessert cart -- once the server rolls it over to the table, it's nearly impossible to resist. Bon appetit!

2 articles

Joe's Riverside Grille

125 N. Riverside Dr. Pompano Beach

954-941-2499

American, Continental, Seafood, Recommended

Joe's has the feel of a family operation - from a menu filled with chef Joe's personalized touches (wine pairing recommendations, "Mom's key lime pie") to the cheerful, attentive service in the front of the house. The mom-and-pop atmosphere is considerably offset by the chic beauty of the space: an indoor room gleaming with polished wood and ruby downlighting that overlooks the Sands Harbor Resort. All the fish served at Joe's is "eco-friendly"; that means your swordfish is local and line-caught. Steaks, like New York strip and center-cut sirloin, are prime, aged beef. The chicken is Belle & Evans "all natural." What that adds up to is one of the last few decent waterfront restaurants in South Florida serving lovingly prepared, simple, fresh food at fair prices.

2 articles

Josef's

9763 W. Broward Blvd. Plantation

954-473-0000

Austrian, Continental, European, Italian, Critics' Pick, Menu

This funky/elegant Plantation restaurant specializes in the Northern Italian fare of the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia region; it's run by an Austrian chef and his American wife. This region of Italy was dominated by the Austrian Hapsburgs for years, and its cuisine incorporates Greek and Turkish elements as well. Shrimp casserole is laced with grappa and Edam; homemade spaetzle is tossed with speck, sage, and caramelized onions. A generous pounded and butterflied veal chop coated with bread crumbs, egg, and Parmesan and served with a simple, perfectly dressed green salad is simply one of the best veal dishes we have ever tasted. The menu changes seasonally. Splendid desserts include a puff-of-air apple strudel. A gift of the house, chocolate-covered strawberries end every meal here. One of the finest restaurants in Broward County.

4 articles

Market 17

1850 SE 17th St. Fort Lauderdale

954-835-5507

Continental, Organic, Seafood, Steakhouse, Critics' Pick, Slideshow

When Market 17 opened in 2010, the goal was to enter the burgeoning farm-to-table, organic, sustainable movement. Using day-boat fish, free-range chicken, grass- and corn-fed (and hormone-free) beef, and organic veggies, it was one of the first restaurants in the area to tout such sourcing. If you're not dining in the dark (that's a thing here) with a surprise tasting menu, popular dishes range from the Market Vegetable Shakshuka (a pan fried free range farm eggs topped with tomato, zuchinni, eggplant, chickpeas, and crispy garlic on grilled naan) to the Whole Key West Pink Shrimp (served with a black bean puree, avocado mousse, crispy boniato, green beans, corn, and a pepper chimichurri). These days, executive chef Lauren DeShields is best known for her housemade charcuterie that rotates according to season. It includes offerings like pickled antelope hot dog, bacon cheddar chive sausage, and Thai red-curry salami. Dry-cured selections deliver a varied lineup of coppa, culatello, fiocco, and guanciale that can be paired with daily cheese selections sourced from states like Vermont, Georgia, and Wisconsin. Wash it all down with a pairing from the globetrotting wine list that includes some 30 wines by the glass, or check out one of the bar's trendy handcrafted cocktails.

27 articles

Mustard Seed Bistro

8616 Griffin Rd. Davie/West Hollywood

954-252-0002

Bistro, Continental, French, Recommended

Tim and Lara Boyd sure have built a following over the many years they've been running restaurants in South Florida. Like their last few ventures, the Mustard Seed is a quaint, chefy place set in the bistro mold. The room feels classic but not antiquated, with rust-brown chandeliers, white chair rails along the walls, and lacy curtains that obscure the orange strip mall outside. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and it packs up at almost all times. At lunch, you'll find the place stocked with well-heeled ladies canoodling over bistro favs like crab cakes with black bean salsa and tuna Niçoise as host Lara works the room. For dinner, the lacquered wood tables get covered in white linen and service stiffens up a notch. Entrees tip the scale in terms of price, and though some deliver, the rough edges are slightly exposed - examples: excellent cherry gastrique coating a so-so portion of duck, perfectly cooked bison tenderloin mounting uninspired mashed potatoes. Still, in terms of charm, this bistro has it. Just book early, and bring your good card.

2 articles

News Cafe

800 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach South Beach

305-538-6397

American, Continental, Eclectic, Middle Eastern, Recommended

Munch cold cuts and any of a dozen cheeses and sip your choice of three fine wines by the glass, or while away an entire day with a bottle, listening to piped-in and piped-out (to porch) jazz. Tahini salad with pita is tops, and the gazpacho is great. Look cool with a Euro mag from the adjoining newsstand (hence the name). Open 24 hours.

Tropics

2004 Wilton Dr. Wilton Manors

954-563-4269

American, Continental, Best Of

This longtime kitsch bar/restaurant caters to older GLBT gents who relax with solid cocktails poured by chatty barkeeps before dinner. A younger professional crowd drops in around happy hour. A faux tropical aviary and bamboo theme adorns the central room, with oversized art of tropical birds and plants as unifying artwork throughout the dining room. With three bars, drinks are a big part of business, and they're not afraid of a generous pour. Word is out about the popular Sunday brunch; crowds wait in line for this buffet. Of special note is the breakfast lasagna and a gooey French toast. Prime-rib night (Wednesdays) is also a favorite, but a meal here anytime is within reason and even sometimes a steal ($2 bloody Marys). Meal salads such as the seared tuna salad or char-grilled burgers satisfy bar patrons at the Sidecar Lounge. Live entertainment takes place several times a week.

1 article

Continental in South Florida

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