Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood

[kikismom]

I am going to a conference the last week of this month in Hollywood, Florida. I've been trying to research restaurants because I like to have a plan. I wasn't sure where exactly to post this because I'm not seeing something similar to the the California and the West thread over in the Disneyland section.

Any not to be missed restaurants? We're pretty open to anything but we do have excellent seafood, although a different style, as I live on the coast in Washington.

 

[Buzz Rules]

I am going to a conference the last week of this month in Hollywood, Florida. I've been trying to research restaurants because I like to have a plan. I wasn't sure where exactly to post this because I'm not seeing something similar to the the California and the West thread over in the Disneyland section.

Any not to be missed restaurants? We're pretty open to anything but we do have excellent seafood, although a different style, as I live on the coast in Washington.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g34296-Hollywood_Broward_County_Florida

https://www.hollywoodfl.org/9/Visit

 

[kikismom]

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g34296-Hollywood_Broward_County_Florida

https://www.hollywoodfl.org/9/Visit

I've scoured Trip Advisor among other sites. I was hoping more for people who live in the area or visit often.

 

[Buzz Rules]

I've scoured Trip Advisor among other sites. I was hoping more for people who live in the area or visit often.

No problem. Just trying to help. Another idea is to call your hotel and ask the front desk for their recommendations.

 

[mikehn]

I dont have any recommendations for Hollywood, but if you go up the road to Ft Lauderdale, there are all sorts of hip and trendy restaurants up and down downtown Las Olas Blvd. My go to is Louie Bossi. Another is El Camino for happy hour. Over at the 15th St area of Ft Lauderdale is Southport raw bar and 15th St Fisheries.

 

[kikismom]

Thank you! I've been kicking around the idea of renting a car. This will most likely be my only trip to the area as my conferences aren't usually held around there.

Looking forward to enjoying some heat and nice beach views. Also margaritas for my friend who is coming with me. She LOVES a good margarita.

 

[princesscinderella]

Are you staying by the beach?
Sardellis is a great restaurant in Hollywood beach. Tiki Tki, Taverna Opa and GiGis are also good. Le Tub was voted best burger by Oprah’s show years ago, it was sold after the owner died and is now owned by GiGis but still a great place to have a good burger on the intercoastal. You can ride the water taxi to Fort Lauderdale and eat at restaurants there too along the water. Louie Bossi mentioned above it great on Las Olas but there are also a ton of great restaurants there. YOLO is an another popular spot.
It’s worth a trip to the hard rock casino guitar hotel there’s some good restaurants there too and a fun place to take some pictures at night since they do a light show on it.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Our favorite Hollywood restaurants are in downtown.

Go Bistro is my favorite restaurant. It's a small restaurant, with a boring atmosphere, but you can't beat it for fresh sushi/sashimi. The pork belly buns are fantastic. The ramen is also good. There's an option to sit outside & people watch, if you prefer that. IMO, that's preferable, if the weather is nice.

If sushi isn't what you're looking for, C.L.A.S.S Soiree Steakhouse is a good choice. It's another small restaurant that can be loud, but everything we've eaten there has been excellent. Reservations suggested, if not necessary.

Le Comptoir is good for reasonably priced French food.

Tipsy Boar is an above average Gastropub that I would recommend.

At the beach, GG's Waterfront is a good choice. You will need a reservation.

If you want to try really good Cuban food, Padrino's in Hallandale Beach is a short Uber ride away.

You may want to visit Hard Rock Hotel. Be warned that the main casino floor allows smoking. It's hard to avoid it. We rarely go there for that reason. If that doesn't bother you, it's a fun way to spend an evening.

Honestly, there are so many good choices that I wouldn't go to Ft. Lauderdale, unless you want to experience Los Olas Blvd. That in itself could be enough reason to go.

There's also a laua/dinner show in Ft. Lauderdale that recently reopened, but we haven't tried it.

 

[kdonnel]

We don't have Skyline Chili near us so we always indulge when near Ft Lauderdale. Not trendy in anyway but we love it.

 

[kikismom]

Oh cool about the water taxi! We're staying at the Diplomat. I'm going to go look at some menus! I appreciate the recommendations!

 

[princesscinderella]

Oh cool about the water taxi! We're staying at the Diplomat. I'm going to go look at some menus! I appreciate the recommendations!

Staying at the diplomat you are close to Hallandale/Aventura which also has some good restaurants. Aventura mall has a ton of places, Tap 42 is a local favorite there.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Oh cool about the water taxi! We're staying at the Diplomat. I'm going to go look at some menus! I appreciate the recommendations!

The Padrino's I mentioned is very close to your hotel. I would only recommend it, if you want to try above average Cuban food. It's not exactly fine dining.

Our favorite pizza in the area is at Piola's on Hallandale Beach, Blvd., which is also closer to your hotel than the Hollywood restaurants I mentioned. They also have good pasta dishes. The arugula & proscuitto pizza is my favorite. Once again, the atmosphere isn't great. Dining al fresco gives you a view of a busy parking lot, but the food is solid, if you're just looking for a good meal & an adult beverage near your hotel.

Honestly, there are so many good restaurants in the area that it would be easier to know what type of cuisine you're looking for & make recommendations based on that.

 

[SteveMouse]

The Mai Kai is back! It is an experience! For those of you who remember when the Poly was Poly, Mai Kai will take you back!

15th Street Fisheries is reliably good. You can eat upstairs, but downstairs is fun and much less formal. It was always interesting to go and torture our waitress while I was in high school. She went to my school. We did not get along- she bullied me quite a bit. She had to be nice while working.

Take a Water Taxi and enjoy the evening. If your captain is J, send him greetings from a fellow yellow limo rider- we grew up together.

Quarterdeck is reliably good. It’s fish sandwiches are good. My entire preschool carpool worked there at one point or another. Or at least rolled silverware in napkins.

Southport Raw Bar- it had an issue with an inspection recently, but its been resolved. I'd eat there in a heartbeat. Conch is what you want.

I was in Sourthport or Quarterdeck on a very regular basis- I had a reserved space in the parking lot and my credit card on file. (Quarterdeck Cordova Road used to be across the street from Southport. A plant nursery was where Qdeck now stands. The Dania Qdeck has a better location- literally over the water.

In Miami, Joe’s Stone Crabs, if you’re there in season. There is nothing better if you like crab.

 

[kikismom]

The Padrino's I mentioned is very close to your hotel. I would only recommend it, if you want to try above average Cuban food. It's not exactly fine dining.

Our favorite pizza in the area is at Piola's on Hallandale Beach, Blvd., which is also closer to your hotel than the Hollywood restaurants I mentioned. They also have good pasta dishes. The arugula & proscuitto pizza is my favorite. Once again, the atmosphere isn't great. Dining al fresco gives you a view of a busy parking lot, but the food is solid, if you're just looking for a good meal & an adult beverage near your hotel.

Honestly, there are so many good restaurants in the area that it would be easier to know what type of cuisine you're looking for & make recommendations based on that.

Gosh this is hard! The only thing neither of us like is sushi.

We don't need fine dining but aren't adverse to it. Just more some local places. I love going to a good locally owned place, I don't care about atmosphere if the food is good. I'm not a huge drinker but she loves margaritas and mules.

We love seafood and most cuisines. Just not sushi, well I should say not sashimi.

I have been looking at so many menus. I've never been to this area at all so I'm looking forward to exploring. Our last day we have all day to explore as we have a late flight out and my classes are over.