Local flavor

We will be in Ft. Lauderdale for two days at the end of March -- visiting for the Tut exhibit. Can anyone recommend any good breakfast places, etc. -- something with local flavor as opposed to large chain hotel ambience? We are staying in a large, international chain hotel, but would like to get a bit of the ';local flavor';. Also, the only thing we have booked is the exhibit at the art museum and beach time. Anything else we shouldn%26#39;t miss while we are there for two short days?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Local flavor

Depends of course on where you are staying. If you are staying near Las Olas Blvd., I suggest the Floridian at the east end of Las Olas Bld. ( south side of street, away from major tourist area. It where a lot of local politicians and business leaders go for breakfast- nothing to look at inside, but good, reasonable food. I%26#39;m sorry to say Rachel Ray went there on her Food Network show, so they may have more than normal tourists now.

I can also recommend a few spots on A1A at Commercial Blvd.- Mulligans and the Village Grill. You can sit outdoors and the food is good at both spots.

If you are around route 84 a venerable instution is Lesters Diner- once again, not a trendy place but full of local tradesmen and truck drivers.

Just north of Sunrise Blvd. on Federal Highway (Rt.1 is a spot called Offerdahl%26#39;s- owned by a former Miami Dolphin- some of the best bagels and bagel sandwiches I have ever had and lots of good coffee- there is another in Pompano Beach.

If you have a particular area of town in mind, post again and I%26#39;ll put on my thinking cap.

Local flavor

Lulu,

Many thanks for the good info. We are staying on/across from the beach -- Sheraton Yankee Trader. I believe (?) this is close to Los Olas Blvd area. We will have a car, so many options are open. The restaurants you listed are what we are looking for --good food, non-chain kind of places -- something unique to the area, as opposed to just the cookie cutter hotel experience. Any galleries, music venues, must-sees, etc.?

How are the beaches, post hurricane(s)?

Thanks again.

Glad to help! I%26#39;m headed out to the Las Olas area this morning and will be visiting the Stranahan House- a cute little historic home that you might enjoy seeing while you are here. When I get back, I will possibley have a few more dining ideas for you.

Also I love taking an afternoon waterway cruise on the Carrie B.- a chance to see all the lavish waterfront estates. I am sorry that I can%26#39;t recommend the Jungle Queen- not as nice.

You might also go to www.southflorida.com/dining which is the website of the dining reviews of the local paper. Lots of reader input and several ';Best for..'; features including ';Eats near King Tut.';

You could also take the water taxi over to the Downtowner, which is a really fun, relaxed place unique to Ft Lauderdale where a lot of locals go. Good food and drinks, and it is right on the New River where you can sit outside and watch the Yachts pass by. While you are on the water taxi on the way there the driver will give you some interesting tidbits, and you will also see a lot of the sites as well. (huge houses,boats, etc). You could also drive over to Downtowner, and it is w/ in walking distance from the exhibit. I was just in Ft Lauderdale last weekend and I wish back!

Downtowner is a great spot- right near the Courthouse and very popular with the legal community. I was on Las Olas near the Museum last week and would also like to suggest the Cafe Europa on Las Olas- the owner is from Naples and the pizza is thin crusted and delicious and their pasta fagioli is a meal in a bowl. Saw lots of locals enjoying the pasta as well. One caution- they put a gratuity on the check - but state that plainly and remind you you can raise or lower it. Brio , right next to it, is the latest ';hot spot'; a wine bar with an interesting eclectic menu- slightly higher prices but looked interesting too. Las Olas Blvd has lots of great private galleries for browsing as well, and my favorite really cool gift shop- Seldom Seen is catty corner to both- also near is Kilwins- for great homeade candies.

Most beaches, post hurricane, are in wonderful condition. You won%26#39;t be disappointed!

As long as you%26#39;re going to the Museum to see King Tut, you can stroll about two blocks to the west and eat at Max%26#39;s on the Riverfront - great meals, three for one drinks, and you can sit outside and watch the boats on the river. After that, stroll another block or so to the west and tour the historical village. It%26#39;s all about how Fort Lauderdale started and is quite interesting!

Las Olas has many wonderful restaurants - Chima%26#39;s, Johnny V, Big City Grille - all lend a ';local flavor'; with their curb-side dining, etc.

How many days are you going to be in Fort Lauderdale? You need a few weeks, minimum, to see and experience everything it has to offer!

Haven%26#39;t checked this forum in a while. Many thanks to everyone who offered suggestions --I am printing this out and putting it in my suitcase. Too bad we%26#39;re only going to be there for a long weekend! We are all looking forward to sunshine and relaxation.

Thanks again.

Storks on Las Olas is good for cakes!

Don%26#39;t walk from the beach to there like we did!

I agree with Lulutoo about the Floridian we really liked it.

The boat trip around the fabulous homes, cruise port etc was great.

Too bad we forgot the sunscreen and our faces throbbed like the warp core thing on the Starship Enterprise for 2 days.