Fusion in South Florida

7908 Pines Blvd. Pembroke Pines

954-987-0078

C-Viche will win no awards for its decor; an outdated dining room is lunchroom-casual, with barren whitewashed walls with nothing but a pair of TVs blaring Spanish programming. A short bar offers nothing but import beers -- like Peruvian Cristal -- and just one type of liquor, enough to make a few potent pisco sours. Yet despite its dismal trappings, C-Viche has managed to make its mark the old-fashioned way: by serving well-made, regional dishes presented by Peruvian-born chef and owner Jorge Velarde. C-Viche is his latest concept, a neighborhood-style establishment with a menu offering both modern and traditional Peruvian cuisine side by side. Dishes include a list of hot and cold appetizers, several takes on ceviche, soups and salads, and entrées that include some meat and chicken but are largely seafoodcentric. Prices offer similar variety and fluctuate from penny-pinching affordable to fine-dining pricey. Starters like causa -- bright yellow potatoes layered with meat and vegetable filling and blended with lime juice and pepper sauce -- will fill you up for less than $8; house specialties and large sharing plates are priced from $20 to $30. the ceviche, a dish served at every Peruvian establishment from the rustic picanterías of the north to the bus-station snack bars of the cities. This South American staple of raw fish is a highlight at the aptly named C-Viche, an example of Peruvian dishes that forgo overpowering sauces and spice for the quieter pleasures of the aji Amarillo chili pepper.

Cafe Sharaku

2736 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale Wilton Manors

954-563-2888

Asian, French, Fusion, Japanese, Recommended

This boutique, six-table restaurant located off of Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale takes French technique and merges it with the ingredients of Japanese chef/owner Iwoa Kaita's homeland. The result is as enticing as a well-written line of poetry. A specials board denotes what's fresh daily and includes offerings like vibrant Florida stone crab baked with wasabi/garlic aioli and slender enoki mushrooms and New England clams sautéed gently with spinach, butter, and yuzu, a tart variety of Japanese lemon. Not everything works perfectly, as with the cold dishes like chilled deep-fried salmon with sour lemon sauce. But thanks to a competent, friendly staff and a broad menu, Café Sharaku is a charming and pleasant experience.

4 articles

The Chimney House

701 W. Las Olas Blvd. Fort Lauderdale

954-900-5352

Latin, Fusion, Best Of, Menu, Slideshow

After six years and rolls of red tape Frank and Yaddi Rodriguez opened The Chimney House, a casual Pan-Latin eatery on West Las Olas Boulevard in early September. The idea behind the restaurant was to open up a fair-priced homestyle neighborhood restaurant for the wester part of Fort Lauderdale. On most Latin dishes The Chimney House excels. A Lomo Saltado came with a perfect soy-vinegar sauce and tender pieces of sirloin. Like the menu, the kitchen hails from across South American with cooks from Peru and Uruguay. There are also some American items on the menu, such as “The Chimney House Burger” and a meatloaf, but we advise you to stick with the classics.

3 articles

Hotsy-Totsy Bar & Grill and the sidecar speakeasy

2032 Harrison St. Hollywood

954-544-2383

Tapas, Fusion, Menu

Stop by Hotsy-Totsy for tapas style bites and cocktails from the attached speakeasy.

La Brochette Bistro

2635 N. Hiatus Rd. Cooper City

954-435-9090

Fusion, Seafood, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

La Brochette, opened in March '93, may be located out in East Jabip (read: Cooper City), but regulars happily trek there for chef/owner Aboud Kobaitri's European-by-way-of-Lebanon style, as evidenced by the preparations of fresh fish flown in daily, dainty lamb chops, skewered shrimp, escargots, and wild game, all presented beautifully with flourishes of fresh herbs and sauced in butter, key lime, and chipotle; rubbed in spices; or draped in exotic blankets of wild mushrooms, pomegranate seeds, or pine nuts. The place is old-fashioned, old-world romantic, from the flickering tapers on every table to the Frenchman who comes around to recite the specials. Go with the specials, but don't miss the cracked conch steak appetizer or the white chocolate bread pudding for dessert.

5 articles

Sistrunk Marketplace & Brewery

115 Northwest 6th St. Fort Lauderdale

954-329-2551

Comfort Foods, Fusion, Menu

Fort Lauderdale's first food hall has it all: Aussie-style coffee at Bronte Café, Lebanese food at Needa' Pita, Latin staples at HotLime Craft Tacos and Ceviche, vegan options at Heavenly Raw, and so much more.

The Salad Bowl

100 E. Broward Blvd., 107 Fort Lauderdale

954-828-9208

Fusion, Salads, Best Of, Menu

Don't let the name fool you into thinking all you can get here is a tossed salad with a side of salad. No. In fact, the family-owned, downtown Fort Lauderdale eatery features a cafe fusion menu with breakfast items, sandwiches, burgers, and Latin dishes, all of which are a far toss up from a salad. The Salad Bowl does serve an extensive salad menu with more than 20 options in a no-frills cafe setting with outdoor seating. Stop in and catch Lauderdale's professional crowd noshing on power lunches before going back to the grind.

1 article

Fusion in South Florida

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