This noisy, gaudy restaurant, with its mirrored walls, neon lights, and thumping disco soundtrack,
is like a set from The Sopranos — with the cast of characters to match.
DJ/chef/owner Steve Martorano is a no-nonsense Philly native: no menu, no reservations,
and he don't take no attitude. His unfussy, Italian-American food is the real deal:
lovingly prepared standards like fettucine Alfredo; pasta with spicy Sicilian sausages;
and succulent, tennis-ball-sized meatballs, all served family-style. — ME
This bustling Fort Lauderdale outpost of a São Paolo steakhouse has a simple concept:
One of the few traditional diners left in this gentrifying town,
The Floridian is Old Fort Lauderdale at its finest: vintage formica furniture, peeling
autographed pictures lining the walls, and outstanding food at rock-bottom prices.
The menu is vast — every kind of deli sandwich and breakfast combo (even a steak and Champagne special) — and the clientele a cross-section of
the city's locals, from club-hopping refugees from South Beach to blue-haired retirees.
Best of all, it's enormous, which means never having to wait for a table. — ME
Celebrity chef Johnny Vincencz made his name cooking at the Astor Hotel on South Beach;
This pricey new hot spot, run by a team that served time at Manhattan's
Tribeca Grill and Gramercy Tavern, is one of the few upscale eateries on
the beach here; views across the water, especially from the seafront tables, are outstanding.
The room is standard dark wood and crisp white tablecloths, while the crowd is a mix of local young professionals and New York snowbirds.
As for the food, it's best described as Mediterranean Rim: There are moist crab cakes (Greece),
a hearty, spicy tagine of grouper (Morocco), and gazpacho (Spain), among other dishes.
The real standouts, though, are the airy flatbreads, spread with toppings like tart arugula pesto or wild mushrooms and Taleggio. — ME