"Must" Restaurants When in South Florida

Whenever I have out of town visitors there are certain restaurants I will be taking them to each for a different reason--here are just a few:

SEASONS 52--though it is situated on a very busy thorough fare once you enter this well appointed restaurant the outside world disappears. They have a few very well planned, excellently executed 'gimmicks'--no dish on the menu is more than 475 calories--the menu is changed 4 times a year and, sometimes weekly, to spotlight that season's (week's) fresh foods. They, also, serve mini desserts in tall, square shot glasses--carrot cake, chocolate mousse, rum cake, etc. All plates are beautifully presented and portions are a lot bigger than you would expect. Service is excellent.

CATFISH DEWEY'S--their come on is a different all-u-can eat item every night plus the sweetest catfish (filleted or whole) eaten anywhere--One night it is ribs, another night shrimp (and we aren't talking small ones either!), weekends it can be stone crabs or snow crabs, etc. They are served with 3 sides and both the coleslaw and hush puppies are the best--the surroundings are strictly 'redneck' with people from all walks of life. Fast and good service.


THE ARK--a "Captain's Table" filled with everything from fresh clams, oysters, prime ribs, roast lamb to pizza,, pasta, lasagna, 6 different kinds of butters and breads to a humongous salad bar. On the ala carte menu they feature (my favorite) a 36 ounce cut of Prime Rib with bone (Who me worry about cholesterol???) A romantic room with booths and/or private sections and above par service.

OLD FLORIDA SEAFOOD HOUSE--for the best and freshest seafood in town--wonderful mixed bread basket--large (that's a recurring theme with me:O) portions served with 3 side dishes including the best fried zucchini you will taste anywhere--the setting is like all seafood houses from the 70s and has a big raw bar counter at entrance.

15TH STREET FISHERIES--another place for fresh seafood but this one overlooks the water--they also have the best homemade bread anywhere which is constantly offered by servers walking around with full baskets--though an expensive restaurant it fulfills my requirements: excellent food, excellent service, good decor and beautiful surroundings. They do have an earlybird though expensive--must be seated between 5:15-5:30 PM--though I have never gone to ti I just love the idea of only fiftenn minutes!

EMERALD COAST--one of the most elaborate buffet dinners you can ever have--aside from every Chinese dish you can think of and sushi of every stripe they have all sorts of fresh shellfish, steaks, prime ribs, salads PLUS a 'chocolate fountain' which you can dip all sorts of fresh fruit.

LESTERS--just a good old fashioned diner serving all sorts of good 'comfort' food and cakes (including carrot cake!) a mile high. Unfortunately they just redecorated and made it too modern, too shiny--took away the individual 'jukeboxes' on each table but they didn't change the food--a huge menu plus a lot of Greek specialties.

BIG LOUIE'S--a neighborhood pizza/Italian joint--disclosure--I worked there for a few years and is one of the very few restaurants I have ever returned to to eat as a customer on a regular basis--they had been closed for 6 months due to a car crashing into the entrance and redecorated making it a little too upscale with lousy acoustics but still great--best pizza in town--best garlic rolls you'll find anywhere and blu cheese dressing with real large lumps of cheese--portions overflow the plate and most people (not me!) can't finish their order (could be because of too many garlic rolls!)

THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY--I am not big on chain restaurants but this is great--98 kinds of cheesecake (I've tried them all!) all delicious, especially their Godiva Chocolate cheesecake--over 200 items to choose from (I'm probably have tried up to 170 by now)--huge, good tasting, moderately priced items from salads to sandwiches to pasta to chicken, shrimp and/or beef main courses.

KILIWIN'S HOMEMADE ICE CREAM AND CANDY STORE--though not a restaurant per se it is s a must go to store--you gain 5 pounds just from the aroma and another 10 from the items--always changing ice cream flavors--you have a choice of plain waffle cones and/ or cups and/or chocolate covered cones/cups in dark or milk chocolate.

All the above are diamonds in a city where 2,000 new restaurants open every year and 2,500 close--the ones mentioned have been around for at least 15-20 years and maintain their high standards.