Pelican Landing At Pier 66

Open patio dining spot upstairs at the Pier 66 Marina behind the Hyatt in Fort Lauderdale. I visited on a Saturday afternoon with a couple of girlfriends for a leisurely tipsy lunch.


What we had:

Mahi Burrito--flavorful and juicy, with a really nice mango sauce.

Mediterreanean Appetizer--great hummus, though it came with tortillas instead of the menu-listed pita chips.

Conch Fritters--managed to be light, even though they were larger than golf ball-sized.

Skirt Steak--cooked properly and well seasoned.

Chicken Gyro--this dish I don't remember tasting, but it looked perfectly fine and I didn't hear any complaints.

Sweet Potato Fries--always delicious and a generous helping.


Chocolate Mousse Cup--beautiful to look at and just as tasty rich, velvety chocolate mousse in a lightly-fruited chocolate tulip cup.

Liquor Drinks--I don't remember what all we had, and I think I mainly stuck to some sort of pink lemonade. Drinks are great and priced around $10, so keep that in mind if leisurely lunching with the ladies. We ended up racking up quite the drinks bill.


Décor:

We ate outside, with a view of the marina, sun and wind, and it was pleasant.


Service:

We lunched through a shift change, and both servers we had were very attentive and personable. They adjusted our table umbrella so we weren't baking in the sun, ran to get one of our party cigarettes, and were all around attentive guys.


Overall impressions:

Maybe it was the booze, but we had a great time and I would recommend. The locale was beautiful, as was the day, and the company couldn't be beat. A word of caution: this place is kind of hard to find. Enter the Hyatt property and look closely for the signs--the restaurant is to the far left, behind the main building, down the pier, turn right, at the end of the next pier and up a steep flight of stairs on the side of the building.


Rating:

3.5 out of 5 salamanders





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Canyon Southwest Cafe

Cute little modern American cafe in Fort Lauderdale. My DH and I went with a friend on Tuesday night for dinner.


What we had:

We all shared small plates.

Indonesian spiced bison medallions with scotch bonnet blueberry crema and anjeo tequila roasted corn salsa. This was a great dish, with perfectly mid-rare buffalo, and a well-balanced sauce. The blueberry didn't come through, but the overall fruitiness of the peppers did. The spice rub wasn't my DH's favorite thing in the world, but that isn't his thing on red meat, either. I liked it and our third had no complaints.




Wasabi ginger marinated beef with soba, carrots, scallions, cilantro & crispy wontons and a fermented brown rice vinegar soy sauce. A nice dish, if a bit on the oily side, with juicy steak nuggets that we all clamored for at the bottom of the plate.

Blue corn fried oysters with toasted sweet corn, mixed organic greens, cascabel chili vinaigrette and cilantro cream. These were the best fried oysters I have ever had. The oysters were perfectly, barely fried, still briny jewels. The salad was a great accompaniment, cutting the fat of the fried corn oyster coating and sauce nicely. This was also my DH's first time eating oysters, and I'm kind of sorry the bar got set so high. Really happy we got to taste them, but now the standard of what a fried oyster should taste like is going to be impossibly high.

Pork & shrimp dumplings. Aside from pasted shrimp and pork, the dumplings were bursting with flavor from fresh ginger, garlic, scallion, and an unidentifiable "wow factor" ingredient. These tasted better and just more than pork dumplings have a right to.

White truffle manchengo cheese potato chips. When they came out in a mini fryer basket, we just couldn't help but smile. These were great little chips, with a nice saltiness from the cheese and richness from the truffle. Addictive.


Décor:

Tiny and cute in warm golds and icy purples. Be forewarned: this place is very cozy. The plate choice must also be mentioned here, because they were large and fun.


Service:

Good service, especially considering the servers have to battle their way from the kitchen or bar.


Overall impressions:

This was a great find. We went on recommendation from another FTL-based foodie friend, and she hit the nail right in the head. I'm also glad we arrived when we did--at 7, we snagged the next-to-last table and by the time we left (on a Tuesday!) it was standing room only, with bar patrons waiting to get in. This is a happening little spot, and as they warn 10 times on their website, they don't take reservations.


Rating:

4 out of 5 salamanders





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Shing Wang Bubble Tea House

A fast casual locally owned & operated Asian restaurant specializing in banh mi sandwiches and bubble tea.


What we had:




I had the Thai Chicken Banh Mi--moist chicken with nice spicy coconut curry, great crispy vegetables and light, flavorful mayo on crusty, chewy French bread. Served with a side of crispy vegetable fries. This sandwich had a perfect taste balance between bright and fresh and satisfying from the rich coconut and a great balance of crunch to chewiness. My only gripe is the same gripe I have with every banh mi sandwich; the cilantro sprigs are always on top and they are always near impossible to keep in the sandwich past the first few bites. A small gripe, to be sure.




My DH had the Chicken Lo Mein--light garlic sauce with juicy chicken and a nice mix of mushrooms, bamboo, carrot, bok choy, pea pods, bean sprouts and cabbage. His dish was huge for a lunch plate and had a good taste profile. Not too salty and everything tasted like it was prepared with care and attention.

We did not try the bubble tea, though the menu for it was impressive--they even carry reduced sugar varieties upon request.


Décor:

Cute, stripped-down decor. Nice and sunny.


Service:

Order at the counter or at your table and they bring it to you. We were the only customers in the restaurant when we ordered and we ordered at the counter. As the place filled up, customers ordered at their tables.

Very friendly service from the enthusiastic greeting at the door.

We were also brought table water in a nice glass bottle, which is always a nice touch.


Overall impressions:

A great find and we will definitely be going back for a grocery day lunch next time I need to swing by the Asian market.

The clientele was nicely mixed, which is always a good mark of quality, especially when your establishment is right next to the market; a table of middle aged and older Chinese speaking table came in next and a few tables of different round eye varietals came in after.

Shing Wang also offers Free Wi Fi.


Rating:

3.75 out of 5 salamanders





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Pancho Villa Mexican Restaurant

Authentic Mexican fare on 125th St. in North Miami including offal like lengua (tongue), buche (stomach) and cabeza (head).


What we had:







Overstuffed Carne Asada (pictured) & Carnitas tacos with melting cheese, fresh pinto beans, crema, light guacamole & pico de gallo on fresh corn tortillas. Very tasty. Clean, simple flavors done right.







My DH had the chicken flautas (two out of three pictured) with pinto beans and rice, which he said was good but a little greasy and that I made out better in the deal. I was so busy stuffing my face with taco, I forgot to try his.


Décor:

Tiny inside with an exposed grill and fryer so clean they look new. Mainly an eat at the bar space with outdoor seating available.


Service:

Friendly order at the counter service.


Overall impressions:

Pretty great. The flavors are well-balanced and clean and the menu is decently varied.


Rating:

3.75 out of 5 salamanders






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Tijuana Taxi Company

Rattlesnake Tacos


Bright and busy Hooters-meets-beachy taco & beers joint.


What we had:

Oaxaca Tacos
Three soft corn tortillas filled with carne asada, pico de gallo, avocado salsa verde, radish, cilantro, queso fresco and lime.

Rattlesnake Tacos
Three soft flour tortillas with strips of blackened chicken, queso fresco, radish, roasted corn, pico de gallo and southwest sauce

Both tacos were good. Tijuana Taxi was aiming for gringo food with an authentic Mexican spin, and hit the nail on the head. Both tacos were flavorful and delicious, and the refried beans were either cleverly-disguised canned or fresh, we couldn't tell which. The rice wasn't great, but it tasted like it had at least seen tomato, so that's a plus.

Nice and fresh table salsa.


Décor:

Overloaded bright and festive kitch, with riotous colors and a half beetle taxi on the wall. Kind of an ex-pat party bar in Mexico feel.

The waitresses are also in Hooters-style booty shorts.


Service:

Attentive.


Overall impressions:

A great place to grab a drink and watch the game, hit the patio for some late-night fun or stop in for lunch.


Rating:

3.75 out of 5 salamanders





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Sakaya Kitchen

Fast-ish casual gourmet Asian bistro with Korean flair in the Design District's mega Target complex.

On the go: Dim Ssam A Gogo food truck. Review: http://foodieinmiami.blogspot.com/2010/10/miami-food-truck-roundup.html


What we had:

"Dae Ji" spicy pork tenderloin with buttered organic cauliflower and coconut rice -- I absolutely loved the rice; sticky, hearty and mildly sweet, it was exactly what I was craving and a dish need to perfect at home. The pork was beyond fork tender, but a little too sweet and heavily spiced for my taste; and the cauliflower was buttery and clean. The components of this dish worked well together and apart. Eaten together, the rice tempered the pork nicely.




Pork bao (bun) with 8-hour pork and sweet chili-- nice buns. They needed a hit of vinegar or heat to give some depth and put them over the top (better than Gigi's), but a solid, soft and pillowy bun nonetheless.




Spicy tater tots -- so-so. These were much better from the food truck covered in cheese and short rib bits.




Décor:

Kitschy and visually crowded; small dining space, chalkboard walls.


Service:

Order at the front with table delivery.


Overall impressions:

Not bad. For modern Asian-inspired joints in the 'hood, I think Gigi is a bit better--the tastes are cleaner, more refined, and feel a bit lighter on the palate--but so does other Asian cuisines vs. Korean.


Rating:

3.75 out of 5 salamanders





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Red Light, Little River

Elevated down home American comfort food nestled in the Motel Blu, smack dab in the 'wilds' of the little river section of Biscayne (right over the north edge of MiMo). Chef Kris Wessel got a 2009 James Beard nod for what he's doing here and it was well deserved.


What we had:

Half rack of sticky ribs with apple slaw--the ribs were sticky, sweet, tender and generous with caramelized smoky undertones; the apple slaw paid a bright, crisp complement to cut the fat.

Mac & cheese--the Mac & cheese was great. Not too greasy, not too heavy. A grown up and just right version. I think I detected a hint of bacon intermixed with the light cheesiness.

Mahi Mahi with sour orange butter sauce, Calabaza hash and spinach--this fish was something special. Tender, woodsmoky with just the right hits of sour and fat from the sauce. Chef Kris is a man after my own heart, as he serves potato hash with quite a few dishes. This potato and (light on the) Calabaza hash was just the right side. You also can't go wrong with fresh baby spinach.


Décor:

Cute, cozy & somewhat haphazardly eclectic decor in reds & tans.

The music is always eclectic and always wonderful. The bartender plays iPod DJ and takes care to select great dining music. Tonight, we were treated to a truly great acoustic rendition of 'Light My Fire,' among other songs.


Service:

Good. It can't really help but be good inside, though. The dining room is tiny.


Overall impressions:

This is the first time we managed to make the long! Arduous! Walk! (note the sarcasm; we can almost see our domicile from Red Light) out here for dinner. Previously we have been for lunch (which was good if on the greasy side) and drinks (which were by far the best we've had in town. The bartender is fabulous).


Rating:

4 out of 5 salamanders