What to see/do/eat in Ft. Lauderdale?

[Asr]

I'm big on sightseeing and checking out local cuisine. What's in the area around the CanJam hotel? The closer the better.

As for restaurants, I'm looking for one that serves a great lunch, preferrably something unique & great in Ft. Lauderdale. As in, Chicago has pizza, NYC has Greek (and pizza too), NorCal has Asian, SoCal has Mexican (no offense to NorCal but the SoCal Mexican is just that much better)...what does SoFla have? Caveat, I don't eat seafood tho. Oh and a cool breakfast place would be good too.

[boomana]

All I can tell you is that there's one of the best gourmet vegan restaurants in the country about 15 minutes away. Perhaps not what you were thinking, but I'll be heading that way a least a couple times over the weekend if you want to try something out.

Sublime Restaurant and Bar – Natural and Organic Cuisine

[guzziguy]

Miami is probably best known for Cuban cuisine. I'm sure that someone can recommend a Cuban restaurant near the hotel.

Mike (Tyrion) made some suggestions in another thread.

[Wmcmanus]

Originally Posted by boomana

All I can tell you is that there's one of the best gourmet vegan restaurants in the country about 15 minutes away. Perhaps not what you were thinking, but I'll be heading that way a least a couple times over the weekend if you want to try something out.

Sublime Restaurant and Bar – Natural and Organic Cuisine

That one looks like a fun place. I'd be game if you're making a mini road trip. Of course, I'll only be there for Friday...

URGH!!!

I don't know, I'm kind of a beach bum type, so I'd prefer to go to Le Tub if I were going to make a major side trip. Only problems are that: 1) it's a long drive from where the meet is being held and 2) not everyone is into redneck whole-in-the-wall burger joints. But they're famous and have been voted many times as having the best burgers in America!

Le Tub burger

Critical Miami: Le Tub

This is not really a "serious" recommendation for an out of town visitor but for anyone living in South Florida, its worth a stop at one point or another. Maybe if you have teenage kids or nieces and nephews, or if you're getting together to reunite with a bunch of your beer drinking buddies from college. Either that, of if you are looking for an antidote after visiting Sublime. Le Tub will definitely to help return your system back to normal if you're a beer drinking, burger eating hick like me!

[breakfastchef]

The finest 'local' food product to south Florida is stone crab. If you have never had stone crab claws, they are outstanding. They are served cold, usually with a mustard sauce for dipping. They are only available from October 15 through May 15.

[rocdoc]

Anything brought to you by the Chamber of Commerce.
Sorry, I am fully aware of how cheezy this is, but I could not resist.

[boomana]

Originally Posted by Wmcmanus

That one looks like a fun place. I'd be game if you're making a mini road trip. Of course, I'll only be there for Friday...

URGH!!!

Then we'll make a Friday trip, even if just for take-out if we're busy. I know John's a Sublime fan, and Mike's been wanting to go there, if he hasn't been already.

[mrarroyo]

Originally Posted by breakfastchef

The finest 'local' food product to south Florida is stone crab. If you have never had stone crab claws, they are outstanding. They are served cold, usually with a mustard sauce for dipping. They are only available from October 15 through May 15.

I am about 1/2 a mile away from Joe's Stone Crab, great food but the wait is way to long.

As far as a cuban restaurant close to the hotel there is:

1. Las Colinas Restaurant, 2724 N Andrews Ave, Wilton Manors, FL
(954) 390-7410

2. Las Vegas Cuban Cuisine, 7015 W Broward Blvd, Plantation, FL 33317
(954) 584-4400

However if you could drive to Miami then: Versailles Restaurant, 3555 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33135 (305) 444-0240 or: La Carreta Restaurant, 3632 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33135 (305) 444-7501

Good luck.

[tyrion]

Originally Posted by boomana

Then we'll make a Friday trip, even if just for take-out if we're busy. I know John's a Sublime fan, and Mike's been wanting to go there, if he hasn't been already.

I've been there a few times, great food.

[pmillett]

Originally Posted by boomana

All I can tell you is that there's one of the best gourmet vegan restaurants in the country about 15 minutes away.

That's not food - that's what food eats!

[boomana]

Originally Posted by pmillett

That's not food - that's what food eats!

It's still tasty.

[breakfastchef]

Originally Posted by mrarroyo

I am about 1/2 a mile away from Joe's Stone Crab...La Carreta Restaurant, 3632 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33135

Haven't been to Joe's or LaCarreta in years. Food is definitely the one thing I miss most about Miami. Wish I could get a decent media noche up here in Jupiter like the ones at the Latin Ameirca Cafeteria outside the Gables.

[mrarroyo]

Originally Posted by breakfastchef

Haven't been to Joe's or LaCarreta in years. Food is definitely the one thing I miss most about Miami. Wish I could get a decent media noche up here in Jupiter like the ones at the Latin Ameirca Cafeteria outside the Gables.

I do miss Latin America Cafeteria, for some reason they closed up shop. Can't understand it, they were there for over 35 years and it was always packed. Perhaps mismanagement or the owner kids had no interest in being in the business ???

[Wmcmanus]

Originally Posted by pmillett

That's not food - that's what food eats!

Le Tub candidate if I've ever met one!

[WalkGood]

Beach, Beach, Beach … nuff said

If you don’t listen to my beach advice then google some of these places for map & address, the following list is in no specific order. I grew up near the hotel, so if you have a specific question feel free to pm me here or on abi >>. I’ll try and get to the pm’s as fast as possible, but bear with me as I’m working 7 to 7 M-F …

• Great diving & sportfishing
• Ernies BBQ And Lounge (better know as Dirty Ernies, BBQ pork or beef sandwiches w/Bimini Bread around the corner from the hotel on US1)
• South Port Raw Bar (walking distance, raw oysters & great clams)
• Quarter Deck (walking distance, great burgers)
• Rustic Inn Crabhouse
• Indigo (seafood restaurant)
• Blue Moon Fish Company (seafood restaurant)
• Grill Room (on Las Olas)
• The River House (killer waterfront dining close to river walk in a historic house)
• 15th Street Fishery Restaurant (close by)
• Chimas Grill (Argentinean Steak House, on Las Olas Ft. Lauderdale)
• Café Vico (reasonably priced Italian, only open for dinner, my personal favorite)
• Mai-Kai Polynesian Dinner Show in Ft Lauderdale (worth even dropping by for happy hour)
• Water Taxi (cheap and fun to go water front bar hopping)
• River Walk (downtown Ft Lauderdale)
• Jugle Queen Riverboat ride
• Snorkeing or Glassbottom boat rides
• Almost any water sport you enjoy
• Culture Room (nice big name bands in a neighborhood bar/small concert hall)
• Ft Lauderdale Art Museum
• Museum of Discovery & Science (mainly for kids) on the same note, Butterfly World is cool for kids too
• Imax Theater
• Broward Performing Arts
• Las Olas - Shops - Bars & Restaurants
• Did I say beach heh
• Sawgrass Mall (shopping super mall)
• Galleria (shopping mall)
• West Palm Beach Lion Country Safari
• Miami Sea Seaquarium (You can swim w/the dolphins)
• Florida Keys, worth the drive if you’re a diver
• Joes Stone Crab ***** excellent, plus South Beach night life to boot
• For those that may stay on, Mickey Mouse is only a 4 to 5 hour drive