Quarterdeck
What: Blackened Mahi Sandwich
Where: ocations at A1A and Las Olas, 17th Street Causeway and Dania Beach)
Menu: quarterdeckrestaurants.com
These days, the Fort Lauderdale institution offers everything from jambalaya to an entire menu section devoted to sushi. But the blackened mahi-mahi El Dorado Sandwich remains the Lauderdale classic – particularly if you remember before we started calling it “mahi-mahi” instead of “dolphin” because it was worrying the tourists. (Seriously guys, it was never the blowhole one, jeez.)
Tropical Acres Steakhouse
What: Surf & Turf
Where: 2500 Griffin Rd
Menu: tropicalacres.com
Surf and turf. Some seafood, some beef. So simple, yet so profound. Particularly if you get it from Broward’s old-school proprietor of properly done steak. Lobster tails and petite filet mignon aren’t complicated – and when they taste like this, they don’t have to be.
Southport Raw Bar & Restaurant
What: Bimini bread
Where: 1536 Cordova Rd
Menu: southportrawbar.com
One great thing about Bimini bread is that it’s called “bread” instead of “Bimini cake” or “Bimini dessert,” which means you can totally justify ordering this sugary, buttery, diet-busting dish as part of the main course. Local institution Southport offers all sorts of goodies from the sea – there’s a clue about that in the name – but you’d be remiss not to join them with a basket of desser…um, bread.
Coconuts
What: Scoobies
Where: 429 Seabreeze Blvd
Menu: coconutsfortlauderdale.com
Coconuts’ specialty appetizer of garlicky fried blue crab isn’t the only reason to go there – but by the time your main course comes, you’ll have already had one of the city’s iconic dishes. The people in the yachts you can see from your perch are living the good life – but hey, so are you.
