Cafe Marquesa

The converted 1880s “conch” houses that form the Marquesa Hotel back up to this lovely boutique restaurant that serves an ever-changing menu of local seafood married with worldly flavors. Here, Chef Susan Ferry creates unexpected pleasures out of yellowtail snapper, working the fillet into an herb-dusted medallion and then setting it off with a summery […]

Cafe Paraiso

Downtown day workers have been grabbing a quick lunch at this Cuban sandwich stand along Andrews Avenue for years, since it was known as Sury’s. But recently, the walkup counter has been taken over by the property’s original owners, who have cleaned the place up and revamped the menu. Where the old stand was dirty […]

Cafe Sharaku

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 […]

Cafe Vico

The most romantic spot in Fort Lauderdale if you happen to be craving homemade pasta — Vico’s does it best. Standout dishes include family-sized lasagna, chicken-filled raviolis, and their famous osso buco.

Cafeina

One day, 23rd Street might resemble Ocean Drive, but for now, it’s a dark street on a dark block on a dark side of town. This bar and lounge, the Wynwood Café District’s first, is an oasis. The venue includes a spacious outdoor area with couches under glowstick-lit tree branches, a goth-like candlelit interior, an […]

Calypso Restaurant & Raw Bar

Got a hankering for some marinated, pounded, and “scorched” conch? A craving for chicken curry stuffed in roti? A feeling for mahi, fried and squirted with lime? If so, a visit to the islands-inspired Calypso is certainly in order. Casual and ultraclean, the pub serves Caribbean fare to those who have had it with local […]

Candela Restaurant

In South Florida, where the recent small-plate obsession has tainted our palates (and pockets) with pricey, upmarket concept foods, we have no understanding of the Spanish art of celebrating food and drink. But at Candela Restaurant in Wilton Manors, you can get an idea of what it’s all about. Just one block south of Oakland […]

Canyon

Ask any Fort Lauderdale foodie for restaurant recommendations, and one name is sure to come up without question. Canyon has been a local gourmand haven for decades. In a town that has new restaurants opening and closing on a daily basis, that really is saying something. Inside this cavernous little restaurant, cuddly couples and lively […]

Cap’s Place Island Restaurant and Bar

Old gambling dens never die; they just fade away. Cap’s Place, set on an island in what used to be acres of scrub and beach sand, is now surrounded by million-dollar condos and even pricier yachts in Lighthouse Point, but that just makes the nostalgia even richer. In 1928, Cap Knight and friend Al Hasis […]

The Capital Grille

Although it’s a chain, the Capital Grille offers well-trained service, strategically rewarding food, and a mahogany-and-linen atmosphere that has worked itself into an ambiance. Steaks are king here, and prices are through the roof, but for special occasions, you’ll have quite a fling. Great starters (try the pan-fried calamari), side orders such as Sam’s mashed […]

Capone’s Flicker Lite Pizza and Raw Bar

This funky hole-in-the-wall on the Intracoastal Waterway plays second fiddle to its funkier next door neighbor, world-famous hamburger joint Le Tub. Flicker Lite survives on an old neon sign, word-of-mouth, an emphasis on sports, and proximity to its famous friend. Flicker Lite’s ATM has saved many Le Tub newbies from washing dishes since it’s cash-only […]

Casa Maya Grill

Deerfield Beach is loaded with Mexican restaurants, but none is as original as Casa Maya Grill. The restaurant focuses on authentic dishes from the Yucatan Peninsula, which means you’ll find specialties beyond the ordinary burritos and tacos. Cochinita Pibil, pork marinated in annatto seed and sour orange juice, is baked in a banana leaf until […]

Casablanca Cafe

A classy respite from the noise and hubbub at Beach Place, Casablanca Cafe sits on A1A across from Fort Lauderdale Beach in a quasi Mediterranean-style structure. You’ll know you’ve arrived because there is no other establishment as packed for at least half a mile north or south. Sure, there may be a wait, but enjoying […]

Caspian Persian Grill

The menu here is chock-full of wondrous Persian cuisine, which is a politically innocuous way of saying Iranian food. This may seem quite exotic, but many of the offerings here are surprisingly familiar, like hummus, stuffed grape leaves, and kebabs of chicken, salmon, tenderloin, and lamb — all tasty renditions but nothing to declare a […]

Catfish Dewey’s

We’re surprised the tables and chairs haven’t been breaded and given the hot-oil treatment in this joint, where much of the menu (look down; it’s your place mat) comes as crisp as Jack jumping over the candlestick. Catch owners Shirley and Dewey on the right night and it’s fry-factory delight with all-you-can-eat shrimp and fried […]

Ceviche by the Sea

With deep-gray slate accents, a large Machu Picchu panorama, and recessed alcoves with brilliant gold replicas of Inca artifacts, the décor at Ceviche by the Sea is cool and contemporary while honoring its cuisine’s heritage.The menu here is not your average Peruvian fare. Although some authentic home recipes appear, the focus is on the growing […]

Champps Americana

Champps Americana, part of a sports bar and restaurant chain, is loaded with TV screens so you can catch the various games from one seat. Warning: No one will leave this place hungry. The portions here are huge, and it’s likely you’ll have to ask the server for a doggy bag. The portions match the […]