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My local friends, we’re only weeks away from the snowbirds flocking to South Florida to clog our
roads, retail stores, and restaurants. You’ll start to fill your bumper-to-bumper
mornings by counting the Quebec license plates and wondering if you can teach our
French-Canadian guests enough English so they understand what “you can drive
faster than 45 miles per hour on I-95″ means.
But we really do love our northern neighbors. As a former waitress, I counted on
snowbirds to help me stock up on cash in the winter so I wouldn’t starve in the
dead of summer. We really hate you only when you forget to tip or hold us up on our way to work.
If you’re an out-of-towner trying to blend in, we’ve got you covered. In no particular order, here are ten places where the locals are eating. Cautionary driving tips available upon request.
10. 15th Street Fisheries and Dockside Café
Your last stop
before the Lauderdale Marina is 15th Street Fisheries. You’re probably missing it as you drive along the 17th Street Causeway on your way to the Fort
Lauderdale beach. Stay downstairs for the dockside café menu to nosh on
mussels and smoked fish dip. Make room for the New England clam chowder
and Key lime pie. Also visit Southport Raw Bar.
9.Riggins Crabhouse
For our 561 visitors, Lantana has your spot for seafood.
For the crab and Maine lobster eaters, feel free to choose your own meal straight from the tanks before it gets cooked. Maryland-style blue crabs are also available. Fort
Lauderdale friends: Rustic Inn has some great garlic crabs.
8. Le Tub Saloon
Le Tub garnered national attention in 2005 when GQ voted it
the “best burger in America,” which prompted an Oprah visit shortly thereafter.
Some have visited and called it a tourist trap, but as a local who just made the drive in September, I say the Sirloin Burger is worth the trip. If
you visit in the dead of summer like I did, you may need a shower
afterward, since the restaurant doesn’t have air conditioning anywhere except its
kitchen cooler. Don’t come on a quick lunch break, though. It could take up to
45 minutes for their signature 13-ounce burger to make it to your mouth.
7. The Floridian
I still have dreams about the pancakes I ate at my first
visit to the Floridian a few years ago. Set near the end of the swank Las
Olas Boulevard, “The Flo” is no stranger to serving drunken partygoers looking to
recover before sunrise. It’s been a Fort Lauderdale landmark for more than
60 years. Bring cash, since legendary Flo doesn’t take credit cards. If you want
to skip the busy downtown area, head to Peter Pan in Oakland Park.
6. Tom Sawyer
If a place prides itself on “country breakfast” and doesn’t serve its biscuits like Tom Sawyer’s, just leave immediately. Known for
ginormous French toast and eggs Benedict, I always take on the Breakfast
in a Pot — two buttermilk biscuits with homemade sausage gravy, meat or
veggies, and cheese. It’s really served in a pot, and really not easy to finish.
Ever.
5. Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlour
On weekends, you can wait in line outside while
listening to a one-man live band. Once inside, nosh on popcorn while you decide if you can tackle the hot fudge banana split or if you brought enough
people to consume the kitchen sink. And don’t think this is some some shop that gets its
desserts shipped in. The ice cream is homemade.
4. LaSpada’s Original Hoagies
With nearly 40 years of handing out hoagies
to south Palm Beach and Broward kids, LaSpada’s is known for flinging
lunch meats straight from a meat slicer to sandwich bread. The hoagies (don’t
call them subs!) are made to order with layers of meat lining the bread and
one final layer to tuck in the cheese and veggies — sort of like a meat blanket
for your sandwich. Visit locations in Davie, Coral Springs, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Fort Lauderdale, and Boca.
3. Tom Jenkins’ BBQ
Is there ever a BBQ sauce good enough to drink? There is
at Tom’s. I’m not sure what sort of illegal substances they put in their sauce
to make it addicting, nor do I want to. Traditional spare or baby back ribs are
enough to satisfy your pork craving, or go with a brisket sandwich for a
quick bite. Save room for the homemade macaroni and cheese. Also check out Georgia Pig in Davie.
2. Direct From Philly
It’s probably counterintuitive to put a place that
specializes in Philadelphia fare on a list of places to frequent in South Florida,
but if you show me a place that can do it better, I’ll retract this entry. You
can order cheese steaks all over Broward and Palm Beach, but have you ever
ordered one from a place that operates out of a gas station? Direct From
Philly is one of the few places around to serve its sandwiches with Cheese
Whiz and on bread shipped from the cheese-steak homeland (Amoroso’s). It has killer garlic teriyaki wings
too.
1. Latin Bohemia Grill
If the extent of your Latin food experience is
Pollo Tropical, you may or may not need to try Latin Bohemia for authentic
Cuban grub. Last time I was there, I had churrasco, but definitely try the masas de cerdo (fried pork). You know it’s legit when the beans have soaked
and simmered and don’t come out of a can. Extra points if you can order in
Spanish.
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