1611 N. Federal Highway

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33305

Phone: 954-563-4141

I was at Mario’s Catalina Restaurant for a networking group holiday dinner on a Monday night with 18 other professionals. It was a lovely experience in Cuban, American, and Spanish Cuisine with light Latin music in the background. We had a large long table on the outside inclosed patio area in the front of the restaurant. We were welcomed right away and drink orders were taken. They are known for their fruit sangrias and their mojitos.  My husband and I had the fruit sangrias.  The food is fresh and delicious and the service is superb. The restaurant is able to handle larger gatherings as well as romantic dinners for two.  The prices are moderate to pricey, but the presentation and food quality is worth it. The meal portions are generous.

We started with appetizers for the table. Then everyone got the salad with fruit and vegetables.  I had the grouper in lobster sauce that came with asparagus. Some of group had the salmon with lemon sauce and others had pulled pork or strip steak dishes. I had flam for dessert that was very smooth.

I look forward to returning to Mario’s Catalina for dinner another time and trying some of their other dishes. There is another location in Miami.

www.sublimerestaurant.com

SUBLIME RESTAURANT & BAR

1431 N. Federal Highway, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33304

Phone: 954-615-1431

Sublime is an innovative concept in vegetarian dining that’s completely cholesterol-free. With an award-winning menu featuring natural and organic foods and spirits from around the globe, Sublime is one South Florida restaurant that truly lives up to its name. Sublime has received numerous accolades including 4 out of 4 stars in the Sun-Sentinel, USA Today’s top 10 in the nation for serving cuisine with a clear conscience, and the 2005 South Beach Wine and Food Festival’s Best Restaurant in Broward County.

Sublime is also a treat for your eyes. Cascading window waterfalls, skylights, Italian glass tiles, an open-hearth oven, and exotic trees reminiscent of a tropical rainforest are the reason the Zagat Guide gave Sublime its “Top Restaurant Decor” award. Locals, visitors and celebrities including Pamela Anderson, Paul McCartney, Alec Baldwin, Alicia Silverstone, and Bob Barker love Sublime’s eclectic cuisine as well as its upbeat atmosphere. Owner Nanci Alexander invites you to enjoy a truly Sublime experience!

There is a large selection to choose from on the menu and all the dishes are made to perfection. There is a nice bar when you enter. I dined at Sublime with friends during the week and we had great service. We were seated at a nice round table and ordered wine first. Then some of us ordered appetizers and the rest ordered entrees. I had their vege burger with string beans that was very tasty. We were treated to a tasting of their delicious lental curry soup which was the soup of the day. As a compliment from the chef, we were served a special organic heated bread with our wine.  For dessert, we ordered a piece of Chocolate Nirvana to share among us. It was very rich and decadent.

Their prices are moderate and they do accept all major credit cards. The restaurant is closed on  Monday’s and is open for dinner the rest of the week. There are drink specials at the bar daily. Sublime does cater for larger parties and will book functions there as well. Great place for a Christmas party!

I look forward to going back there again soon to try their other dishes.

CHEDDAR’s Casual Cafe

7951 W. Commercial Blvd.

Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33321

Phone: 954-557-0551

Cheddar’s is a nice casual place to dine with good quality food at reasonable prices. They are open daily for lunch and dinner.  There is a bar area as well. The menu has a large variety of dishes for all tastes and ages.  There is even a kids menu. The atmosphere of the restaurant is comfortable. Their appetizers are big enough for two or more to share.

I was at the Ft. Lauderdale location last week on a week night with friends and it was pretty steady with customers. Great for families. There is also a covered area outside that is perfect for a private party.  We only waited maybe 3 minutes for a booth that was just cleaned. Our waiter was friendly and prompt. I had their classic cheeseburger that is made with Angus beef and made to order with a choice of a side dish. I picked the cheese broccoli casserole. That was really delicious! The raspberry tea quenched my thirst. One friend ordered the salmon dinner and loved it.

I look forward to going back there again and trying one of their many other dishes. It is also a great place for lunch, snack, or a drink.

http://www.cheddars.com

1207 S.E. 17th Street

Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316

Phone: 954-764-3333

If you really enjoy New York Strip steak, Chuck’s makes a delicious Black Angus beef cooked to order.  There have been several Chuck’s locations in Florida that are no longer around. The first Florida location was opened in 1973 in Ft. Lauderdale and has thrived throughout the years. Lunch is served on Saturday and Sunday and music is played on Friday and Saturday evenings. Chuck’s takes reservations, especially for parties of 10 or more.  They have happy hour Monday through Friday from 4pm to 6:30pm.

The decor is dark inside with a big bar area where the music is played. My family and I were at Chuck’s Ft. Lauderdale location with relatives last Friday night. We had around 18 people in our party so we had two long tables set up towards the back area of the restaurant. We were able to hear the music and see the bar. The menu is varied and the prices are moderate for steak and seafood dishes. Some people ordered seafood and others ordered Prime Rib and the New York Strip. The Prime Rib was tasty, but too rare for me. The New York Strip really looked good and lean. I ordered their famous Salad Bar and delicious Manhattan Clam Chowder soup.

The service was efficient and timely for our dinner party.  Being a Friday night, it got crowded.  I have not been there in many years so I really enjoyed it. Chuck’s is a great place to take the family, go as a couple, or for a larger party or event.

We enjoyed the Sushi Lunch Box with four pieces of California roll, six pieces of tuna roll and three other pieces of sushi  for $10.95 including miso soup.  Another fresh and tasty dish  was the Stir-Fried Mixed Vegetables with Chicken and Jasmine rice for $7.95 including miso soup.

Tee-Jay Thai Sushi has locations in Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, and Wilton Manors.

The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner. For more information and a menu, please visit their website, tjthaisushi.com.

5975 North Federal Highway
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308

(954) 771-4447

The decor is cheeful, nice and simple. There is outside seating.

The restaurant is reasonably priced when using a discount coupon. Our meal for two with tax and tip was about $45. 

For more information including menus, directions, photos and discount coupons, please visit the restaurant’s website at http://www.siamkitchensushithai.com.

3341 N. Federal Highway
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306
(954) 565-0855

(954) 845-1113    www.pfchangs.com

In P.F. Chang’s locations you are surrounded by American and Chinese culture. If you want to eat healthy or not, P.F. Chang’s has a variety for you to choose from on their menu. Their lunch bowls are economical and filling. I would suggest trying something that you have not had before and you will love it! I met some friends there on Sunday for lunch and because we had ten people, we decided to order family style and share different platters. We started with wonton soup and appetizers. Then we ordered three different dishes to share such as mongolian beef, vegetables with lo mein, and my favorite, baby shrimp with walnuts and melon balls. It was delicious! The Asian and Chinese dishes are easy to digest and do not give you that heavy uncomfortable feeling. Some people had wine and I had the honey ginger decaffeinated green tea that I usually order.  P.F. Chang’s has a wine creation that is called Vineyard 518 which is a “green” concept with earth-friendly packaging. For dessert we ordered two larger desserts to share. One was a chocolate fudge preparation and the other one was a fried banana and ice cream creation. Both were rich, filling, and delicious! Our service was efficient and friendly. The waitress seemed to have a lot of patience with a large group ordering so much food.  The restaurant was crowded and has an upbeat atmosphere.  It did happen to be a weekend in the middle of the holiday season at a large upper scale discount mall.  They offer online ordering and pick-up as well.  Reservations can be made online or by phone. Great place for parties. With a Warrior Card there are various discounts offered during the year. Most major credit cards are accepted. I have been to other P.F. Chang’s for lunch and for dinner and always enjoyed the food, service, and atmosphere. I look forward to going there again soon to try even more dishes.

For more information please visit TomDanks.com and RestaurantsOnTap.com.

PAI WEI ASIAN DINER

522 N. Pine Island Road

Plantation, FL 33324

Phone: 954-308-3720

Pai Wei (pronounced “Pay Way”) is a subsidiary of P.F. Chang’s China Bistro and was originally launched in July 2000 as a vehicle for them with many locations.  They have consistently flavorful dishes from China, Japan, Vietnam and Thailand.  Their dishes are made-to-order featuring authentic Mandarin-style wok cooking in an exhibition kitchen.  Pai Wei has a similar look and feel of P.F. Chang’s, but more casual and convenient for everyday dining.  Their varied menu is available for eat-in as well as take-out and is moderately priced.  They take most major credit cards.  This is a great alternative for local business people or others on the go who want a quick meal.

I ate at Pai Wei in Plantation for the first time about a week ago with my son and really enjoyed it.  It was not very crowded when we first got there at 5:45pm on a Thursday night, but by the time we left, there was a medium-size line that moved quickly.  Once you order and pay, the waiters bring your food and drinks to your table.  The cashier taking our order was helpful and fast.  Our service was prompt and efficient.  I ordered hot and sour soup which was tasty and fresh.  My son had a spicy chicken dish that also looked and tasted delicious.  Portions are generous much like they are at P.F. Chang’s.  I would recommend trying Pai Wei for lunch or dinner and I look forward to going back there again soon.