Armadillo Cafe 4630 SW 64 Ave (954) 791-4866 Southwestern There’s a unique flair to entrées like boneless smoked barbecue duck with tropical fruit salsa, Texas beef tenderloin tacos with smoked bacon and black beans, tequila grilled shrimp and chile rellenos. Among the desserts, chocolate fritters that ooze chocolate sauce are irresistible. $$$ Burt & Jack’ s Berth 23, East (End of State Rd. 84, Port Everglades, off I-95). (954) 522-5225 Steak & Seafood A long time Lauderdale favorite. Actor Burt Reynolds and veteran restaurateur Jack Jackson serve up excellent prime steaks and “large man” lobsters in a sophisticated waterfront setting. Top-notch service. Jacket and tie required. Reservations suggested. $$$$ Cafe del Maxx 290 North Broadwalk, Hollywood (954) 929-1077 Italian A fine place to enjoy simple fare like pasta e fagioli, crusty Italian bread and a glass of wine, served in a relaxing atmosphere. Simple pleasures abound like bruschetta with yummy tapenade, sundried tomatoes and pepperoncini toppings. Pastas have the right proportion of sauces and are terrific. Try grilled fish with just a splash of lemon. Desserts are molto buono. $$ Casa D’Angelo 1201 N Federal Hwy. (954) 564-1234 Italian Superb appetizers and pastas such as calamari and scungilli salad, insalata caprino or mozzarella with beef-steak tomatoes. Among the entrées is the finest steak Florentine, a fresh tuna steak with grilled eggplant and thin-crusted pizza Margherita. Scrumptious desserts change daily. $$$ Café de Geneve 1519 S Andrews Ave. (954) 522-8928 Swiss & French A Lauderdale mainstay. A cozy, comfortably setting for tasty Swiss and French favorites, like beef and peppers and sautéed trout, and a lovely cream of asparagus soup. $$ Café Europa 726 E Las Olas Blvd. (954) 763-6600 Italian A popular bistro with a warm atmosphere where street dining is bigger than indoors. You may have main course Italian dishes or you may want to top that pizza slice off with a rich dessert and a cappuccino. $$ Café La Bonne Crepe 815 E Las Olas Blvd. (954) 761-1515 French Charmingly European in style and attractively refurbished, this is a favorite breakfast stop for those who dote on a great cup of café au lait and on crepes stuffed with a variety of savory or sweet fillings. $$ Charley’s Crab 3000 NE 32nd Ave. (954) 561-4800 Seafood Always reliable for fresh and tasty seafood. Favorites include Maine lobster, Maryland crab cakes and seafood (and non-seafood) pasta dishes. For dessert, we highly recommend the macadamia white chocolate mousse. $$ Darrel & Oliver’s Bistro 17 1617 Southeast 17th Street (954) 626-1701 Textural contrasts, terrific flavors make for creative, stand-out appetizers; add impeccable service, subtract the hotel lobby, and it sums up as a meaningful dining exper ience. $ The Floridian 1410 E Las Olas Blvd. (954) 463-4041 American With its simple lunchroom-style decor, The Floridian serves up standard breakfasts, lunchtime salads and sandwiches, as well as American-style entrées. A popular stop for after-theater crowds, it is open 24 hours. $ Galleria G’vanni 625 E. Las Olas Blvd. (954) 524-5246 Italian A romantic spot serving Italian cuisine and fine wines, hops with nightly music and Monday night disco-dancing. $$ IL Toscano 2282 Weston Rd, (954) 385-5883 Italian Enjoy music, fine wines and spirits, and sumptuous dishes, from main-course salads, pizzas, and sandwiches to delicious pastas, snapper livornese, veal piccata, and chicken portobello. Weston’s super club is great for cocktail parties, Sunday brunches, corporate luncheons and catering available. $$$ Jackson’s 450 E. Las Olas Blvd (954) 522-4450. American The luxurious, supper club attracts the town’s elite and where you can dine on beautifully presented dishes such as pan-seared peppercorn crusted loin of tuna served over spinach. $$$$

LaReserve 3115 NE 32nd Ave. (954) 563-6644 French A longtime South Florida favorite for superior French fare, like chateaubriand and rack of lamb. La Reserve’s dessert soufflés are not to be missed. $$$$ La Tavernetta 926 NE 20th Ave. (954) 480-4894 Italian A delightful waterfront family-owned restaurant you can access by water taxi. The regional specialties change daily but for perennials like veal chop portobello, shrimp paradiso and saltimbocca alla Romana, among others. Desserts are homemade and worth sinning for. $$ Las Olas Café 922 E Las Olas Blvd. (954) 524-4300 Contemporary American Tiny, beautiful, and tucked away behind a group of shops. Once found, if you are lucky enough to obtain a table, it is a revelation of charm, particularly its lush outdoor garden. The specialty is fashionable, contemporary and highly creative American cuisine. $ Le Cafe De Paris 715 E Las Olas Blvd. (954) 467-2900 French Owner Louis Flemati has turned it into a popular, tropical restaurant, keeping the cuisine classically French. Strolling musicians and a piano bar contribute to the casual charm. $$$ The Left Bank 214 E 6th Ave. (954) 462-5376 French Chef Michael Ben nett combines fresh local ingredients, like mango with an Asian lump crab; turns a macadamia-cru sted mahi-mahi into a Mediterranean entree fragrant with goat cheese, sundried tomatoes, capers and Greek olives; and draws passionate signs for a plantain-crusted Gulf grouper prepared with passionfruit juice and rice vinegar. $$$$ Louie Louie 1103 E Las Olas Blvd. (954) 524-5200 Italian Dine al fresco while feasting on the best gourmet pizza in town. Well-known Italian dishes are available too, but those pizzas, particularly the Greek salad pizza, are the real lure. $ Mango’s 904 E Las Olas Blvd. (954) 523-5001 American Without a doubt, the busiest restaurant on the boulevard. Though the food is quintessenially American, the service is very good and the prices just right. Entertainment nightly. $ Mark’s Las Olas 1032 E Las Olas Blvd. (954) 463-1000 American Highly acclaimed trendsetting chef Mark Militello has done it again. His golden touch is evident in the cutting-edge decor, in every imaginative dish (like tuna pizza with oven dried tomatoes and onions) and dramatic dessert presentations. The place to see and be seen. $$$ Michael's Kitchen 433 E. Sheridan St., Dania Beach (954) 926-5556 American People come in dro ves for the lush breakfast and inventive American cuisine like wild mushroom and filet mignon fettuccini, brick-oven baked shrimp scampi, brick-oven pizzas including thai chicken and b-l-t. $$ Rainbow Palace (Oakland Park) 2787 E Oakland Park Blvd. (954) 565-5652 Chinese & American Gourmet Chinese/American food, artfully presented. You’ll be impressed with the vast menu and the fine wines. The duck dishes are especially wonderful. $$ Ruth’s Chris Steak House 2525 N Federal Hwy. (954) 565-2338 Steak It’s all about steaks, and they do them right. Monster-size steaks, and lobsters that weigh in at a minimum of three pounds. Very good sides, too, especially the homemade potato chips. Try your best to save room for the classic bread pudding with whiskey sauce. $$$ Samba Room 350 E. Las Olas Blvd. (954) 468-2000 Caribbean/Spanish Creatively prepared fusion fare is the attraction at this upscale downtown hot spot, but the action at the bar also pulls in hip singles, too. $$ Sea Watch 6002 N Ocean Blvd. (954) 781-2200 Seafood A stunning view and good food make Sea Watch a winner. Fresh fish is, of course, king, and the grouper baked in a paper bag is impressive. A great date spot. $$ Shula’s On The Beach 321 N Atlantic Blvd. (954) 355-4000 Steak Football fans will be in cowhide heaven, as Dolphins’ memorabilia is everywhere. (Don Shula, of course, being ex-coach of the Miami Dolphins.) The food, hearty, unpretentious fare, is surprisingly good; the steaks rank among the best in town. $$$ Sunfish Grill 2771 East Atlanta Blvd. (954) 788-2434 Seafood For starters try Tony Sindaco’s fresh, sweet-tasting and tender sautéed conch fillet and potato salad, BBQ mahi and wild mush room torta, or whitewater clams. As a main entrée, pepper seared rare tuna “Bourguignonne,” seared diver scallops, or perfectly cooked sea bass and finish with a simple dessert for an outstanding dining experience. $$ 3030 Ocean (Marriott Harbor Beach Resort) 3030 Holiday Dr. (954) 788-2434 Seafood Bistro Hotel food takes a major culinary leap, as Chef Dean Max prepares Florida-inspired dishes to rave reviews. Along with a fabulous view of the ocean, 3030 boasts a fabulous raw bar, unique and yummy appetizers like potato leek soup, and marvelous main courses including Caribbean-style sauteed snapper. $$$