Mauslein's Profile
Urban Legends of Le Tub
Rumor: If you try to order water, they glare at you with hate, shake their head and point disgustedly in the direction of a giant beat up looking Coleman cooler that looks like it spent the last 10 years of its life bungeed to the back of a landscaping truck, and tell you to get it yourself.
Status: True. Evidence: Personal Experience
Rumor: If you don't finish your peel 'n eat shrimp, they give the uneaten ones, shells and all, to the neighborhood cat who hangs around there.
Status: True Evidence: Personal Experience
Rumor: The cat was kidnapped by a patron.
Status: Unknown. The cat is no longer around, though.
Rumor: Every time you go, at least one member of your party will have a palmetto bug either run up their pant leg or drop from above into their hair.
Status: True. Evidence: Personal Experience.
Rumor: Cook is a loose cannon. If a waiter orders too many cheeseburgers in a row, the cook will scream at him/her, "If you order one more f***ing burger, I'm walking out!!" Or, the cook will be in a great mood and casually chat with you hanging in the doorway of the kitchen.
Status: True.
Gourmet Food Truck Expo Wed. May, 11
This coming Wednesday at Boomer's in Boca Raton, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
I'm not affiliated in any way - just read about it today in the Sun-Sentinel. It looks like a good way to sample a bunch of trucks at once.
http://gourmettruckexpo.com/
Chicago style pizza in Broward or Dade?
The Costco on Military Trail (just north of Clint Moore Road) in Boca Raton also sells the Home Run Inn frozen pizzas in 2-Packs.
I'm from Chicago, and I can't stand New York pizza. I've had the Home Run Inn frozens and I'm not really wild about them, although the crust is as close to vaguely Chicago-y as I've been able to find down here. Whenever I buy them I decide I don't really like them, but every time I go to Costco I end up buying some and then when I eat them, remember again that I don't really like them.
I'm going to check out a Super Target and see how the Uno's fares.
Best unique french fries
Yes, the Wilton Manors store is better usually. I've had that also on A1A that they were limp and soggy, that's why you have to extra make it clear that you want them cooked until they are crispy.
Old-School and Deliciously Divey Miami Recs (and some Key-area fish shacks?)
If you are willing to spend a buck on the toll fee and add eight miles to your trip down to (or up from) Key West, take Card Sound Road instead of US1 from Florida City to Key Largo, which goes through the old fishing village of Card Sound. In the middle of the mangroves you come across Alabama Jack's, founded in 1947 (according to their website). It's true old school Florida Keys, serving peel 'n eat shrimp, conch (pronounced "conk") fritters, fish sandwiches, etc.
I wouldn't plan a main meal there, but it's a nice little stop with great atmosphere - more of an off the beaten path type place to take a break and have a snack and a cold beer on your way to or from the Keys.
http://www.alabamajacks.com/
Best unique french fries
Primanti Brothers' (Sunrise and A1A, and Oakland Park and Andrews - both in Fort Lauderdale) fries are worth a mention - hand cut with lots of long ones. You just have to make sure that they don't take them out too soon. They're the best when they're fried nice and crispy.
Does anyone know a market that sells French groceries?
Croissant'Time on Federal Highway just north of Sunrise in Fort Lauderdale is an authentic French Bakery and has a small selection of French groceries. You might want to check with them. Their website says they have duck magret and duck leg confit.
http://www.croissantime.com/
Rack's Italian Bistro
Rack's has a weird menu - sushi, and then a whole menu of "American standards" an inordinate amount of which are fried or really fat-laden - onion rings, mac 'n cheese, meat loaf, calamari, ribs, pot pie, trout, classic blue cheese wedge salad, burger, greek salad, filet, pork chop, rigatoni, grilled salmon...
I've been there twice and would not go back. The drinks are just awfully made - a crying shame as well as a slap in the face ripoff, but the craft beers are good. It's just such a weird combination of concepts.
Best Mexican food
Energystar, the others have recommended excellent spots for mexican food, and I agree. I do think that TravelLuv probably got it right that you were at Baja Cafe. It's not the best mexican food in the area, but the location and drinks are good, and food is fine if you want a kind of lively atmosphere. There aren't a ton of good mexican places in Pompano/Deerfield, so if you're not in the mood to just drink and eat something, it's good. That being said, if you want to drink and just need some food on the side, there are tons of places that are not mexican.
Breakfast in Boca Raton area...
The Green Owl in Delray is worth a look. No view or special ambiance, but a solid breakfast.
330 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach
Best Fish Tacos in Ft Lauderdale ?
I have had both. The fish at Zona Fresca is battered and fried, more like the fish as in Fish and Chips, where the Coconuts fish is grilled and not battered. It depends what you like. Zona Fresca has a creamy tartar type sauce which I happen to prefer, while Coconuts has a more diced vegetable pico de gallo type topping.
Both are good, though. Zona Fresca is on busy Federal Highway surrounded by strip malls, and you order at the counter, then sit down and pick up your food when it is ready. They do serve bottled beer. It would probably not be your first pick for atmosphere if you wanted to sit outside, unless you smoke or have a dog with you.
Coconuts is directly on the Intracoastal where you sit outside on a dock, and it is a sit-down restaurant with full bar. Locationwise, if you are staying on the beachfront, you are going to be within walking distance of Coconuts.
Chicago-style Italian Beef
Johnnie's Beef! This was six blocks from my house and was the first beef I ever had for years growing up. I didn't know it was one of the top beefs of all time until I moved away and found that all beefs are not as good.
Has anyone ever ordered the Portillo's kit from Lou Malnati's Tastes of Chicago? I'm wondering how that holds up being shipped and assembling it yourself.
Rocco's Tacos????
I went here last Friday night around 10:00 for a drink at the bar. There are basically three areas - outside, which consists of a bunch of round tables/chairs and some hightop tables/stools (some under cover), in the courtyard area with the other restaurants, the dining room area, and the bar. The dining room and the bar are separated only by a low railing, the dining room part is not really a separate room.
It might be a little quieter early on in the evening, but at the time we were there, the music was blasting loud, so if you were eating inside, it would be somewhat hard to have a discussion in a normal tone of voice. That being said, it was a lively atmosphere with a lot of large tables of boisterous young people having fun, doing shots, etc. If you are an older couple trying to have a quiet dinner, your best bet would be outside. I had a margarita which was good, but nothing really special. We didn't eat, but I would go back to try the food at some point, never having been to the WPB location.
Going to Palm Beach soon - recommendations?
I think Ta'Boo could fit the criteria. They have moderately priced items like burgers, pizzas, soups and salads, and it is considered a kind of historical Palm Beach institution. Not really any views per se, except the people watching, which is about as "Palm Beach" as you can get. Worth a try for sure.
http://www.taboorestaurant.com/
Hollywood - Boardwalk
Whoops, you're right, sorry! Google it, too, they are nationally known.
There are quite varied opinions on this board about it, but I am a big fan. I have been going there forever, since before they made it big because of the burgers, and it hasn't changed whatsoever. You have to think of it as a bar with great food, rather than a restaurant, and adjust your expectations accordingly. I think some of the other things on the menu are even better than the burgers - the fresh catch fish sandwich (usually mahi or grouper) is simply grilled and delicious, but sometimes they run out of the fish.
Also, I would recommend going there about a half-hour before it gets dark, and you have a nice sunset view over the Intracoastal.
lastellas boca
Wow - it must really be worth recommending if it prompted you to write your first and only post...I'm not sure if I would agree with you though on the seating. I work across the street, and I do a U-turn directly in front of it every Tuesday through Friday evening (they are closed Mondays) including occasional Saturdays, and I have never seen more than one or two tables occupied at a time.
Considering that a popular Italian restaurant (Casa d'Angelo) is literally two doors down, it was quite optimistic to open another at that location. Also, they had been open for lunch (Casa d'Angelo is not) so that would have given them an edge, but they have stopped that and are now only open evenings. People in my office had tried it, but thought it was rather expensive for lunch. If it is as good as you say, though, it is worth trying.
La Stella's Downtown Market
http://www.lastellasmarket.com
Ruth's Chris Boca to close down?
I heard this as well. No idea, though I tend to believe it. They apparently are not doing well. The location is weird, as well as the parking.
Hollywood - Boardwalk
Wow - I get to be the first one to say it! One obvious no-brainer is Le Tub. If you do a search on this board, you will find vast postings. The website is www.letub.com and will also tell you a lot about it.
And just FYI, not to be a stickler or anything, but it's actually BROADwalk and not BOARDwalk, although people say that all the time. : )
"Chow" restaurant in Boca Raton
I haven't, but looking at their website, the menu seems to be all over the place. Meatballs with ricotta cheese, szechuan tuna stir-ry and then lamb chop with roasted potatoes. It also seems to want to be a nightclub. Hopefully someone will try it and post.
Chocolate croissant in/near Boca Raton
You might check out Cote France bakery. They have two locations in Boca Raton, at 110 Northeast 2nd Street Boca Raton, and 101 Plaza Real S Boca Raton. The 2nd St. location is more of a take-out with very limited seating, serving sandwiches and pastries, and closes earlier. The other at Plaza Real is more a cafe, and has tables and chairs and is bigger. I believe it is open a little later than the other one, maybe until 7 or 8. They also serve wine and probably beer.
I used to live in an apartment on that street and would go by it every night. There was a French family who would be there 2-3 times a week, sitting with their children at a table and drinking a bottle of wine.
Chicago-style Italian Beef
Hot-Dog-opolis at 6020 N. Federal Hwy Boca Raton, FL 33432, has Italian Beef on their menu. This just recently opened up. I can't vouch for the beef, but I had a Chicago dog and it was exactly the way it was supposed to be. I'm from Chicago, so I know a good Chicago hot dog. The fries are fresh cut and delicious, too.
http://www.hotdogopolis.com/
The Jib Room
I think I was the one that suggested it. I'm typically more of a lurker, but I had to suggest it because it was so close to where freakerdude was attending the concert.
I had wanted to post a link to a review from a few years ago to give a little more backround about the place, but I wasn't sure if that was allowed. If you do a search for "browardpalmbeach.com" and "Jib Room" you will find it. It has actually evolved and gotten even better since then. The Sun Sentinel has also done a full review.
Gblscw, it actually is a bar, that would be totally fine on its own just being a bar, except it is also a tablecloth and candles restaurant. And, the restaurant would be great on its own without being a bar. (Mr. Mauslein is not really a wine drinker, so we tend to frequent places with a full bar.)
Unlike other "restaurant/bar" type places (think The Ale House or Flanigan's), they make a mean drink. If you order a martini, it's made with care, chilled glass, and full to the brim. The Jib Room is really in a whole different league, food atmosphere, and service-wise. I really recommend it.
Ft. Laud./Oakland Park rec request
The perfect place - park your car and walk one block west on Oakland, same side of the street:
The Jib Room
2104 E. Oakland Park Blvd
Fort Lauderdale
954-564-3581
Where can I get Provel cheese or St. Louis-style pizza around FL?
Supposedly there is a Sir Pizza on Key Biscayne (Miami).
712 Crandon Blvd
Key Biscayne, FL 33149
(305) 361-5701
I've never been there but I remember there was a big thread on this board a few years ago, and I believe they are/were associated with the Orlando branch referenced above.
Need recommendation for upscale restaurant in Boca
Bova also has a very nice upscale lunch. My boss has taken many clients there and it has always been excellent.
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Bova Ristorante
1450 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton, FL 33432
Cooking Class / Birthday Dinner near Boca?
Try googling Chef Jean Pierre's Cooking School in Fort Lauderdale, they have a website. They do kind of the same thing and there are a ton of different "classes" that you can do as a private party.
Also, Publix, believe it or not, has something similar at different locations. I know there is one in Boca, but I'm not sure of the other locations. If you go to the Publix website, it is under "Apron's" or something like that. I saw that Michelle Bernstein was scheduled to do a class (in Boca, and already sold out) so I don't think it is rinky dink.
ice cream/dessert in delray, boca, or boynton?
Brendy's Yogurt and Ice Cream, in the strip shopping center on the Northeast corner of Jog and Clint Moore Road.
They have regular ice cream (in tubs), as well as soft serve yogurt. There are always at least 6-8 flavors of yogurt, including fat-free and carbolite versions. They also have some low carb items and candies in bins.
The decor is pretty basic, and the prices are very reasonable.
Conch Fritters and/or Fried Green Tomatoes
This place has fried green tomatoes, although it is horribly run. Service is consistently atrocious, but the food is sometimes pretty good, if you catch them on a good night.
Shuck 'N Dive Cajun Cafe
650 N. Federal Highway )
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
954-462-0088
da Campo Osteria - Fort Lauderdale
Wow, thank you for taking the time to post that. I just made a reservation based on your positive report. I have tried to find a copy of the menu online but haven't been successful, so I guess we'll just wing it when we get there.
