My parents are arriving this weekend and wondering if anyone has some great suggestions? They are fast/causual to casual diners and I'm hoping to maybe find something that is more of a 'day destination' that will make the food/drinks more 'entertainment' or for a tourist.

I'm trying to keep it narrowed down to Coconut Creek and Coral Springs (maybe as far North as Boca) and not really wanting to drive to Ft Laud beach area.

Just moved to the Coconut Creek area (Lyons and Sample) and am looking for some great 'local' restaurants. We've hit a few in the area...but has to be more. Not really looking for those found in Coral Springs Mall area...more around 441 and my new location.

I used to live in Ft. Lauderdale and there seems to be more 'local' spots (more quantity than quality really). I know there has to be some great suggestions. Our tastes vary and can be happy in a casual spot to a little nicer...but not too formal.

Anyone know of any diners in the Ft. Lauderdale area that clocks from scratch? Too many seem like they get their food from a distributor and just heat and serve. Would love to find a great local spot for breakfast.

Sonic Beach on Ft Lauderdale Beach in NOW OPEN. It's a cool location overlooking the beach with beer and wine available. Have to dine in for alcohol and the do have table service. We went yesterday the second day open and the staff is quite 'new'. Friendly but it's a little hectic. Food came out very fast. Beer was cold and good. The food was a bit off. While this is our first Sonic in Launderdake, we've eaten there plenty times in other cities. The buger seemed kind of thin and the toppings were sparse. Not much lettuce at all and tomatoes were very thin. Too much mayo and didn't get the katsup I ordered. Maybe it's just because they are on their second day. Jalapeño poppers were 'ok'. Not piping hot like when you go through ant Sonic drive thru. Motzerella sticks were great but could have been a touch hotter. The server forgot the marinera and never checked on us till we were done. No napkins either.
In time hopefully consistancy I food will improve. Hours are 10 am to 3 am daily. I wish they opened at 7 am. Lots of early risers on the beach.

Haven't been to Key West in yeeears. Anyone have any good restaurant suggestions? We will be staying on mid-Duvall and don't really go for the 'high-end' spots. We usually like to keep the check to around $50 without drinks when it comes to dinner.

Thanks!!

Hmmm. Tricky question for sure. Primanti Brothers has a location on Ft. Lauderdale Beach and another in Wilton Manors/Oakland Park (on Oakland Park Blvd east of Andrews). We can walk from our condo so it's really quick and easy. While we've gotten a few 'ok' pies from them...overall...I feel they are right up there with the best. Best to keep your topings limited as I find most pizza to go down in quality when you pile too much on.

The Cajun Dry Rub Wings are off the hook there too (spicy) and the Pitts-burger is awesome (burger with cole slaw and fries on top).

I'm not a fan of the Anthony's Coal pizza. It's a local chain and always really greasy and overrated.

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Primanti Brothers Restaurant
901 Fort Lauderdale Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Florida is such a strange market. It almost seems to be set up by 'County'. You can travel to Ft. Lauderdale (Broward) and have totally different chain stores and restaurants than you find in Palm Beach or Miami-Dade county. And the West Coast of FL is totally different.

I've never been to a Trader Joe's but always hoped we'd get one.

We are seeing an increase in Fresh Market stores pop up. Ft. Lauderdale is getting a brand new one built and the one in Boca Raton just opened a few months ago. I love this store. It's a smaller version of Whole Foods with all kinds of different items. Their pre-prepared food selection is HUGE. The decor is almost like being in a Market Theme store in a theme park. It's comfy and I always spend way too much there.

Marco Island is a great spot to realx. That being said...the food isn't the highlight of your visit there. Some places are a bit high priced. Here are some ideas:

Neenie's for Breakfast. It's down by the Marriott.

Vandy's Pizza is a 'sports bar' dive kind of place. The pizza is 'ok'..but they have the BEST Broasted Chicken. Broasted Chicken is very hard to find in Florida and they fit the bill.

Pass on the Seafood/Comedy club that is in the strip mall accross from the Hilton. so-so food and HORRIBLE SERVICE. There is an Irish Pub in a free-standing building in that same mall that had a great Thanksgiving meal.

Porkey's Last Stand was 'ok', but not worth a special trip.

While I know seafood is the specialty of the island...some of us are Fried Chicken lovers. Marco Island has a great Pizza place that offers the best Broasted chicken. We are planning a trip to Sanibel next month and wonder if there is anyplace on the island that has fried chicken.

Thanks!

sketchy-looking area?? Wow...that's pretty harsh. Just because there is a Kmart accross the street...doesn't make it sketchy! Sure...it's not Boca...but still. The restaurant just expanded and is now twice the size. Went there when they first opened...food was good...service was a bit off. Now...just need to give them another shot...I'm hearing a lot of good things.

The place isn't THAT bad. They did a good job opening the place up...but it is kind of 'out of place'. It belongs downtown Ft. Lauderdale by Cayote Ugly and Art Bar. I really don't see the neighborhood embracing the place. It is better than Bucky's though. 100 times better. The food was typical...and I was kind of shocked my burger didn't come with lettuce and tomato. It was $8 after all. I'm going to give it one more chance in a few months. I hate to see empty places...and god knows there are a lot on US1 lately. Houstons was a great place...but a few months prior to closing it went down hill. J Alexanders has slipped a bit recently too. Prices are going up and food/service is going down.

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So I guess the verdict is pretty much to skip it huh? Lots of these food festivals are kind of a rip off. I went to the seafood festival in Pompano one year. Was a huge rip off to me. Pay a huge fee for parking....or park waaaay off site and take a shuttle (yuck)..then pay a high fee to just walk in. The seafood dishes weren't even discounted!

Where's eveyone's pick for the best burger in Lauderdale? I just saw Diner, Drive-Ins and Dives on Food TV and today's show was about burgers. They all looked so good...and I got sad since I havn't found a great place here yet.

Tried Jack's on US1...kind of bland.
Cheeseburger, Cheeseburger...eh.

Thanks.
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Totally agree. Went there 2 times right when it opened. The staff was waaay too young for the prices they were charging. To get street cred, you should have more seasoned servers and greeters. While the food was 'good' it wasn't great. BBQ is usually a bit pricey here in Florida...but if the service isn't all that...it's better to get take out somewhere else.

It should be interesting to see what they do different at D. Wade's. Celebrity chow spots do well their first year...but don't seem to last.

**The Shorty's in Deerfield is GREAT!

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