DINE OUT IN LAUDERDALE

Thanks to the great success of Miami Spice, Ft. Lauderdale will be offering a similar program aptly named "Dine Out" during October 1 - November 14, 2008. Although not as well known, or advertised as Miami Spice, there are some excellent restaurants on the list such as Cero's, and Jackson's Steak House. This dining program started last year, and was successful enough to bring it back for '08. They also note on the website that there is a special preview at selected restaurants beginning September 15, 2008, check the web site for particulars.

Three course dinners will be offered at $35 per person. A few interesting restrictions are notable: Most Dine Out Lauderdale menus are valid Sunday-Thursday, and not valid during the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Oct. 30-Nov 3, 2008. American Express is an official sponsor; however, no word yet whether they will offer any cashback bonus as they did for Miami Spice. The official Dine Out website can be seen here.

Bourbon Steak @ Turnberry Isle

This is tough review to begin. Do I start with the grand entrance to the hotel? The outstanding service? The beautiful chic decor? The ambiance? They are all fantastic. This restaurant is worth a visit, especially with the Miami Spice menu available. The Chef, Michael Mina puts together a nice presentation and has several restaurants based out of San Francisco.

I had been looking forward to trying Bourbon Steak for a while, and I was teeming with excitement. I had been told by several people that one of Mina's signature items were the Trio of Duck Fat Fries. Imagine my surprise as I sat down and a complimentary order of the fries were plopped down in front of me. The item is normally an $8 side dish. Contrary to what one might envision this dish to be, it is simply presented in three varieties: Smoked Paprika and Mustard, Saffron and Garlic, and Rosemary and Onion. Each variety is presented in an individual small glass served standing up. As if the flavored fries were not enough he has paired them with three different dips: Smoked Paprika and Mustard Crème Fraîche, Saffron and Garlic Aïoli, and Onion Ketchup. All I can say is délicieux.

The Miami Spice Menu appetizers offered were: Sweet Corn Soup with Jalapeño and Jack Grilled Cheese, Sausalito Springs Watercress with Mission Figs, Pistachio, Goat Cheese, and Cumin-Dusted Tempura Prawns with Cucumber-Mango Salad. I opted for the Prawns, which were served piping hot and perfectly, lightly fried. They were piled on a tasty salad and overall gets a "A".

The name of the game is steak, so lets take a look at the menu offerings. On the Miami Spice menu, I was surprised to be confronted with an up charge of $10 in order to opt for the Filet Rossini with Crispy Shallot Potato Cake, and Foie Gras. Your other options were: Wood-Grilled Organic Chicken with Chicken-Scallion Ravioli, and Ginger-Carrot Emulsion, or Swordfish with Caramelized Pearl Onions and Yukon Potatoes, Tomatoes, and Beurre noisette Sauce. We ordered the Swordfish and Filet. The Swordfish was marinated and cooked to perfection; however, it was a very small piece of fish. The Filet was good, but I pegged it at about 6 oz., again a very small portion, especially in light of the surcharge. The Potato Cake and Foie Gras were good but not great. The main course gets a "B" rating which is good.

Finally, the desert menu. Your choice of either Doughnuts “Foster” with Bananas, Cinnamon Ice Cream or Beignets and Valrhona Chocolate Pot De Crème. They were both excellent and worthy of ordering.

A few notes about Bourbon Steak. The portions are small, and the prices are high. I reviewed the regular menu as well as the wine list. The regular menu prices about $10 per entree over the other super premium steak houses for their Angus Beef. They also host a plethora of Kobe Beef which is very pricey ($72 for the Kobe Filet). The wine list was a bit on the pricey side as well; however, it was extensive and well stocked. This is one place I would certainly take advantage of during Miami Spice Restaurant Month. I'm fairly sure I would not pay the regular menu prices for Bourbon Steak although I did enjoy the experience. Good job Bourbon Steak.

The Palm- An Institution?

The Palm is a taste of history, as it started in 1926 in New York City by two Parma, Italian immigrants. This makes the restaurants history all that much more interesting, since it's humble beginnings are that of a Northern Italian Trattoria. In their earliest years, they were not known for their steak or their seafood. Lets move to 2008, The Palm has 25 locations and is considered to be an institution by most. Still family run by descendants of the original families.

We opened with a bottle of Red Zinfandel and took in some appetizers. The Colossal Lump Crab Meat Cocktail was okay, but not good. It was served in a plate with a side of cocktail sauce and horseradish. It was fairly bland and a bit small for $17. I added quite a bit of horseradish to the cocktail sauce to make it palatable. Next time I will go for the Shrimp Cocktail. We also got an East Coast Gigi Salad, and a West Coast Gigi Salad. The Gigi Salads are always a big hit and it is recommended. Also recommended is the Hearts of Palm Salad.

Lets get to the meat. The Filet was ordered medium and served perfectly pink. Their selection of meats rivals most Also ordered was an off the menu item, a veal chop. It was ordered medium and came out just right. It is recommended if you can get it. The sides were Lyonaise Potatoes (off the menu), and Creamed Spinach. The Lyonaise was more of a hash brown patty dish, not what I expected. It was very greasy and heavy a 'la Joe's Hash Browns, not for everyone; however, was good for me. The Spinach was very good. No desert tonight.

I enjoyed my meal except for the Crab Meat Cocktail. The service was wonderful. The waiter suggested two things for us off the regular menu and gave us some excellent recommendations. The steaks were great and cooked perfectly. Their dry aged beef is right up there with some of the best I have had. Although I never had the pleasure, of eating there, my father always raves about The Palm in the Hampton's. Others have had similar comments about Las Vegas, New York City, and Los Angeles.

The Palm is a bit stuffy, the caricatures humorous, and the service is good. I like the Palm, and I think they have a fine institution. Thumbs up for the Palm. Reservations are recommended, they are located at 9650 East Bay Harbor Drive, Bay Harbor Islands, FL 33154. Telephone: (305) 868-7256.

CAPITAL GRILLE - "REVISITED"

After my last dining experience at Capital Grille, I thought I would take a break from the establishment for some time. Low and behold, family and friends from out of town, coupled with an American Express gift certificate dragged me right back to the Galleria in East Ft. Lauderdale. Still wary of the Darden Restaurant ownership nexus, I was not convinced this was the best command decision we had ever made.

I'm happy to report this experience was a positive one. If you haven't read my original review, please read it here. I was on high alert, and ready to pound them right into the ground. We started with a bottle of Clos Du Val Pinot Noir, and waited for the appetizers to arrive.

After my last experience with the chopped salad, I opted for "The Wedge" this time around. It consisted of a quarter of an iceberg lettuce drizzled with bacon and bleu cheese. Fairly simple,it was wonderful. Next came the Lobster Bisque. It was a bit better this time and had a fair amount of lobster meat. They still tend to use too much cream and too little lobster. We skipped the Shrimp Cocktail this time around

Enough with the small stuff. I wanted my NY Strip and ordered it medium-rare, and it came perfectly cooked and was quite tasty indeed. The Lyonaise Potatoes were money in the bank as always, the Mashed Potatoes, Asparagus, and Lobster Macaroni and Cheese were also excellent. Also ordered was a 3 lb Maine Lobster, and a Filet. The lobster was very good, but a bit pricey at $94. The Filet was excellent.

I had imagined that after my previous experience there was no way they could get it right. I'm glad to say they still still know how to cook and serve the brown moo. As usual the service was excellent and our server was very knowledgeable. This in no way excuses my previous visit; however, this was a major stride to placing Capital Grille and back on the preferred list. I still prefer the steak at Council Oak at the Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood but Capital Grill is making its way back into my good graces. For those who use American Express, Membership Rewards has Capital Grille on their list of gift certificates available for cashing in.

Let's face it, the premium steak houses are charging exorbitant prices for their meals nowadays. When one pays $35-40 for a steak a' la carte, it should be a darn good steak, not just okay. Lets hope the Grille can keep it up.

Where's the Beef?

For those who have not discovered the cornucopia of restaurants in the Downtown Hollywood area, I recommend a trip to explore the newly renovated area. There are several noteworthy restaurants; however, let's stick to the beef for today.

Beefeater's is located at 1902 Hollywood Boulevard in the heart of downtown. The ambiance is Argentinian, and Latin. The specialty of the house is the churrasco or skirt steak. I went for the executive lunch last week and was pleasantly surprised by their executive lunch special priced at $6.99. This includes a foot long plus churrasco, salad, and one side. You will not walk away hungry.

The service was very good and we were started with a piping hot basket of rolls and a glass of bottomless ice tea for starters. The salad that followed was basic, but tasty with it's bleu cheese dressing. It was time for the main attraction, the churrasco. Homemade chimichurri was placed on the table and the steak screams to be doused in the green confection. The sides were mashed potatoes (regular and sweet), rice and beans, baked potato or vegetables. The steak was ordered medium rare and served medium rare. The steak was tender, juicy, and cooked perfectly.

One may believe that Beefeater's lunch prices are too low for them to maintain their business. Before you think them into bankruptcy, last time I was there for dinner, they also serve free beer at the bar if there is a wait. The dinner prices are very reasonable, albeit not the bargain of the executive lunch special. You can be sure, the beef is right here at Beefeater's.

The King of all Steaks

There is a very special tree on the corner of 441 and Stirling Road in Broward County. Next time you roll toward the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, take a minute to look at it. It is the original "Council Oak" where previous generations of Seminole Tribe elders and tribal members met for community meetings. Hence, the flagship restaurant at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is aptly named "Council Oak" after that legendary tree.

I first ate at the Council Oak a few years ago shortly after the casino opened. The reason? A 20 percent off coupon that came to me in the mail. Ever since that fateful night, I have been a fan of the "Oak".

Upon entering through the casino, you are in full view of the meats through the display window. The dark rich mahogany and leather seem to make the place look more traditional than it actually is. The Oak offers your typical steakhouse fare, salads, appetizers, fish, and of course, the steaks.

The appetizers were an iceberg salad wedge topped with crumbled Gorgonzola cheese, bacon, and a homemade bleu cheese dressing and a hot and cold combination dish containing jumbo lump crab meat and diced lobster tail. The wedge was nearly perfect. The lettuce was crisp, cold, and presented as if made for royalty. The toppings blended perfectly together and made a fused salad that is second to none. The other appetizer was chilled crab with hot lobster tail. Both were served in a radicchio shell. The crab was served with a mild cocktail sauce and the lobster with drawn butter. Both were very good but the wedge blew me away.

Here come the steaks. We ordered the 14oz Fillet and the Heavy Cut New York Strip. The Oak dry ages it's beef, a rarity in this day and age. For those not in the know, dry aging beef is a more costly option than wet aging beef. Dry aging requires a large inventory to rotate, special care and handling, and there is up to a one third loss of the meat during the process. Wet aging is done inside a vacuum sealed bag so there is no loss of weight, and aging happens rapidly and thus, cheaper to produce. Most steakhouses you eat at use the wet aging method.

The strip was ordered medium rare, and the fillet ordered medium, both came out right. The strip was tender, flavorful, and the natural scent of the meat was overwhelming. I found my mouth watering as I sliced into the center. This my friends, is a steak the way the almighty intended it to be eaten. The fillet was equally as good. The sides ordered were a baked potato and hash browns. The potato was good and the hash browns were well done and had a crispy exterior shell, just like it should be. I paired this with a Clos du Val Cabernet which was a match made in heaven. Additionally, as a nice touch , everyone is served Fiji bottled water throughout the meal at no additional cost.

Desert was a peanut butter bar with espresso ice cream on the side, and a scoop of Dulce de Leche ice cream. Both were yummy. I do wish they would reincarnate the dark chocolate oak tree filled with peanut butter ice cream they used to offer as their signature desert. Espresso Macchiato's were also good. Service was very good throughout the meal, but be careful of the server's recommendations, he is not on a budget.

With Blackjack, Pai-Gow Poker, and Let it Ride coming to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on June 22, 2008, I expect the Oak will be getting a large boost in popularity and reviews in the very near future. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Go to the Oak. Where dry aged beef has no match.

Is Capital Grille King of the Steaks?

Let's not beat around the bush here. Capital Grille, once the time honored grandpappy of the brown moo has slipped at least a notch.

It seems that since Darden Restaurants, Inc. acquired the stuffy chain in 2007, they have relinquished some level of quality control. For those who don't know, Darden is the proud owner of such fine dining establishments such as Red Lobster and the Olive Garden.

Service was excellent. Our server named Robert was a witty, likable character who performed his tasks to excellence.

Dinner opened with a Shrimp Cocktail, Lobster Bisque, and a Lump Crab Appetizer. The shrimps were perfectly cooked, but extremely small size crustaceans for a $15 appetizer. I was expecting jumbo or at least extra large for that price. The Bisque was very light on the lobster meat, heavy on the cream, but good and served at the proper temperature. The Lump Crab appetizer was the winner, served in a martini glass, chilled with cocktail sauce. Overall I ranked the appetizers as "good".

Next on the list were the salads. I was disappointed in my Capital Grille Chopped Salad. The presentation was poor and the dressing was just okay. Also tasted was the special salad of the night which was a lump crab meat salad with avocado. This was the winner of the salads. I remember the chopped salad having more visually stimulating greens and vegetables. Overall I ranked the salads as "Okay".

Finally, it was time to forget the appetizers and salads, this is the Capital Grille, where men come to eat steaks and leftovers are unheard of. Ordered were the 14 oz fillet, and a New York Strip. The fillet was ordered medium and came out medium well. The outside was charred and actually tasted burnt and was shell-like. The center of the cut was tender and flavorful as a $43 steak should be. The strip was cooked medium and was very good. The sides were lyonaise potatoes and creamed spinach. Both were very good. The potatoes in particular were the highlight of the night.

Desert was a creme brulee and cherry cobbler. Both were fantastic. The cappuccino's were well prepared and the rock candy swizzle stick adds a touch of class. No messing around with desert here

I'm afraid that Capital Grille has fallen a few notches on my list of fine steakhouses. Of the dozen or so times I have eaten there, the last two times have not been wholly satisfying. Not that the food is not good, it is tasty. But a top tier steak house with super-premium prices should have done a better job on the food itself. Their service remains a staple of excellence; however, for the overall experience I cannot give the Capital Grille a sterling recommendation. There are too many other premium steak houses in South Florida to spend the money here. Sorry Capital Grille, I expected better.

UPDATED 8/16/08 HERE