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.

1100 N. Congress

Suite 110

Boynton Beach, FL 33426

Phone: 561-737-7413

www.JimmyJohns.com

Jimmy John’s serves healthy gourmet sandwiches on a variety of sub bread, grain bread, or in a wrap. The restaurant is clean and the ingredients are fresh. The employees are friendly and accommodating. I ate lunch there with a friend during the week and it was steady with customers. I had a delicious tuna fish sandwich on grain bread. My friend had the JJ Unwich which is a lettuce wrap.  Both portions were generous and delicious!

Jimmy John’s also accepts online orders, offers catering and delivery. The Boynton Beach location is open daily. Jimmy John’s is different from the others because they are always fast, use fresh ingredients with fresh baked bread, and the prices are reasonable.

Great place to eat casually while enjoying the food. I look forward to going back there to try the JJ Unwich next time.

www.tiramisuboca.com

TIRAMISU OF BOCA

170 West Camino Real

Boca Raton, Florida 33432

Phone: 561-338-9692

Tiramisu of Boca serves up fantastic and unique Italian Cuisine that features modern European and American culinary techniques. Tiramisu is now under new management in a new location. The restaurant is closed on Monday’s and open Tuesday through Sunday for dinner.  Check out their website for their dinner specials. Tiramisu does offer 3 course Fall Specials served before 6:30pm. Lite music is played in the background to set a calm dining mood.

Zagat rated, this charming, warm and romantic restaurant features a full bar, wines and beers from around the world. The inside is very quant and elegant. Each dish is prepared to order and to perfection with a nice presentation. My husband and I were there on a Saturday night around 7pm. It was busy, but not crowded.  We were seated right away with our reservation and had excellent service. The owner of the restaurant also introduced himself and made sure we were being taken care of to our satisfaction.  Everything is a la carte. We both ordered martinis and the onion soup to start. Both were delicious. I had the trout for my entree and my husband had the snapper dish. Both were very tasty and fresh. We ended with sharing a cheese cake dessert with fruit topping.

We enjoyed our dinner and the atmosphere and look forward to coming back to try their other dinner dishes. It is a great place for a special occasion or a holiday gathering with family.

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.

13001 Founders Square Drive
Avalon Park
Orlando, FL 32822
(407) 482-3339

www.thunyathaiatdowntownavalon.com

Thunya Thai at Downtown Avalon Park is a new Thai resturant serving the growing community of Avalon Park in Orlando, Florida. Featuring dozens of fresh and delicious Thai dishes, Thunya Thai will become your favorite authentic Thai restaurant after trying any dish.

Open for both lunch and dinner, you can enjoy the best Thai food in Orlando at your leisure. Choose from a wide range of dishes and beverages that satisfy any craving.

There was Octoberfest held in Downtown Avalon last weekend and we were in the mood for a good Thai restaurant for dinner.  It was not too busy yet, as it was early on a Saturday night. My husband, my grandson, and I were greeted and got seated right away to order. They did not have a dedicated children’s menu, but they agreed to make anything in a child’s portion. My grandson ate delicious chicken wings and rice. I had fresh and tasty wonton soup and a side order of oriental vegetables. My husband had Pad Prick Yuak platter which is similar to pepper steak. He had the sweet and sour soup first. He said his whole dinner tasted fresh and delicious with just the right amount of spices. Their prices are moderate and they accept all major credit cards.

We look forward to going there again and trying their many other dishes when we visit the area.

T REX Cafe Restaurant

Downtown Disney

Marketplace – 1676 E. Buena Vista Drive

Orlando, FL 32830

(407) 828-TREX (8739) for reservations

Going to Disney Village in Downtown Disney is a treat in itself. There are attractions, shops, movies, and dining choices all throughout the area. In the marketplace area is T Rex Cafe Restaurant.  T-REX Café is a dinosaur-themed family eatery serving lunch and dinner amid prehistoric creatures, fun displays and merchandise in Downtown Disney area. T-Rex has a Build-A-Dino Workshop by Build-A-Bear. T-Rex is part of the Premium, Platinum and Wine and Dine Packages. Stare into the eyes of a dangerous Tyrannosaurus Rex or size up a stegosaurus or triceratops living in a prehistoric landscape of geysers and jungle-like greenery. They are open daily for lunch and dinner and take all major credit cards.

There is a separate children’s menu complete with a coloring book and crayons upon arrival. There are pre-historic exhibits that move and make sounds at different times while dining there. There is a huge fish aqaurium in the front behind the bar. When my husband and I arrived with my grandson on a Friday afternoon, there was a line to get seated, but it moved quickly and efficiently. The lunch menu had much to choose from with moderate pricing. There are dishes that are good for large and smaller appetites. I shared a gigantosaures burger and waffle fries with my husband and my grandson ordered the children’s cheese pizza.  We all loved our food. It was hot, fresh, and tasty. There were many waitresses going back and forth. Our waitress was very friendly and made us feel comfortable. She answered our questions and served us effectively and promptly.

It was fun having entertainment and interaction while we were eating good food. Looking forward to going there again and trying one of their dinner dishes.

Margarita’s Bar & Grill

3891 Avalon Park East Blvd
Orlando, FL 32828
Phone: 407.380.1452

www.margaritasgrill.com

Avalon Park in East Orlando is a self-contained family community with its own downtown district of businesses and restaurants.  They are open daily, except for Monday. My husband and I were in the mood for a Mexican lunch last week while visiting the area. We stopped in Margarita’s Bar & Grill and were greeted by a hostess, lots of natural light, and lite music in the background. There were a few tables with customers having a later lunch around 2:00pm.  We sat at a table by the window and ordered from the lunch menu.  We each ordered the taco lunch with rice and beans. It was delicious and lite. We both agreed that it tasted very fresh and less spicy than most Mexican restaurants that we have tried. The prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is comfortable and friendly. It has a hometown feeling there as many local residents are regular patrons. We look forward to returning there again on another future visit.

8440 W. Oakland Park Blvd.

Sunrise, Florida 33351

Phone: 954-741-8104

http://szechuanpandafl.com

Sze-Chuan Panda specializes in Szechuan and Taiwanese styles of cooking. The atmosphere is friendly and comfortable. Their dishes are fresh and tasty. This location has been in existence since 1990 and the food quality is excellent. The decor of the restaurant is warm and has nice oriental pictures. The menu is varied and they offer discounted complete early bird dinners every evening. Delivery is available within a limited area. Prices are very reasonable.

I ate dinner at Sze-Chuan Panda during the week and their was a steady flow of people there. The owner visits each table and the service is prompt and courteous. I ordered the Shrimp, Chicken and Vegetables complete early bird dinner that is served with your choice of soup, egg roll or chicken wings or bean sprouts salad, fried rice or white rice, and choice dessert.  It was hot and delicious! The portions are generous so I had some of my main dish to take home.

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

Mo’s Bagels

2772 NE 187th St
Miami, FL 33180-2919

305-936-8555

If you are in the mood for a New York neighborhood kosher style casual deli, Mo’s Bagel is the place to go. They have all the foods you like such as Hebrew National hotdogs, matzoh ball soup, smoked fish, fresh deli meat, matzoh brei, challah French Toast, homemade blintzes, delicious desserts, and creamed sodas. They have take out, delivery, and catering available. There is also a kids menu.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served. They are currently open every day, except Monday.

I visited the Aventura location (North Miami Beach) with a couple of friends last week for lunch one day. There is construction going on in the strip shopping center where it is located so it can be hard to park at times.  This location is large and seats 160 people.  They are closed on Monday and do not take reservations. It was busy, but we got seated right away and taken care of shortly thereafter. We each got a generous portion of cole slaw and their sweet and sour pickles.  I ordered a delicious hot lean corn beef sandwich on rye. The sandwich was piled high so I only ate one half and brought the other half home. One friend ordered the cabbage soup. Someone else ordered a pastrami sandwich on rye and finished the whole thing! The prices seem reasonable for the portions that you get.

I look forward to returning there again when I am in the area to try one of their other sandwiches. It is hard to have the willpower to not order any of the deli items as you walk out of the restaurant.

6000 Glades Road #1230

Boca  Raton, FL  33431

Phone: 561-368-2805

California Pizza Kitchen is a fun and casual place to have different types of pizza and other dishes.  Great for families and gatherings of all ages. They have regular and thin crust pizza, small cravings, appetizers, salads, soups, kids menus, pastas, tacos, and delicious desserts. New items are featured on their website as well as at their locations. California Pizza Kitchen started in Beverly Hills California in 1985 and has expanded globally since. They are involved with fundraisers. CPK does offer catering for parties and has some dishes in the grocery store.

I was at the Boca Raton location in the Town Center Mall last Sunday for a late lunch with my husband. It was busy, even at that time.  There is also a bar that was almost filled.  We only waited a few minutes for a table and got taken care of right away. We ordered two of the small cravings which are smaller portion appetizers. One was a Arugula and Asparagus Salad. The other was the Korean Barbeque Steak Tacos. Both were tasty. Then we ordered a thin crust Roasted Artichoke and Spinach Pizza to share. The pizza was fresh, light, and very tasty.

This location was convenient for us as we were already shopping in the mall. There are so many choices that I look forward to trying their other pizzas and dishes as well.