He who eats well, lives well.

Yesterday, I went to a going away party for for some close friends that are relocating away from South Florida. The party was going to be a group of fifteen with a few babies (including my Jillian). Enter Buca di Beppo, a chain of large portions, large tables, and reasonable pricing.

The key word here is "big". They encourage large groups to order several family style platters of American-Italian food and share a taste of the smorgasbord. They recently began offering half portions and even solo dishes if it is a small group or an executive lunch. Buca offers a staggering number of appetizers, salads, pastas, entrees, and even rectangular pizza's.

We started with a Caesar Salad for the table and the lettuce was crisp, fresh, and the dressing tasted just right. No anchovies here but it was still a surprisingly good salad. Next were the appetizers, crispy calamari with a spicy marinara sauce and brushetta. The calamari was well done and the sauce delicious. The brushetta was generously covered with toppings and could have been a bit more well done for my taste.

The main dishes were served, Spaghetti with Meatballs, Penne Arrabiata with Sausage, Chicken Parmesan, and Porchetta Rustica (pork loin). The meatballs are the size of grapefruits, expect to slice them into at least four portions each. The spaghetti was al dente and well received. The chicken Parmesan was typical fare and quite good. The pork loin was topped with a Balsamic Vinegar, blueberries, capers, and hazelnuts. It blended together well but was my least favorite. The winner of the night was the Penne Arrabiata. It was spicy, tangy, and the fennel sausage was cooked to perfection. The penne was cooked al dente and went well with the spicy sauce. I was impressed that the sauce was quite spicy, as family style restaurants usually tone down the fire.

The prices are reasonable for the amount of food you get, and the service was excellent. Double thumbs up for Buca di Beppo's. They are usually packed with a line out the door, so arrive early or expect a decent wait. Locations are in East Ft. Lauderdale, Davie, and Miami Lakes.

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

Great Falafel

One of my favorite lunch spots is Pita Plus, 2145 Stirling Road, Hollywood 33021. One of the delicacies of the middle east is the falafel. Several cultures claim it; however, Pita Plus has my vote for best in South Florida.

For those who are not familiar with it, a falafel is a fried ball of seasoned chick peas placed in a pita with fresh vegetables, and usually topped with hummus and tahini, and spiced with a topping sauce called schug. This masterpiece they create is a perfect version of the falafel here in South Florida.

Several interesting notes: They are a full kosher restaurant and the appearance is very clean. The owner is Israeli and cater to that crowd although I observed all types of people eating there. They also offer fresh schwarma which is seasoned lamb on a spit, tuna, chicken and a few other varieties. You can order the sandwich alone or as a platter with side salads such as hummus, baba ghanoush, tabouli, and eggplant.

From their green falafel balls, personalized service, and free garnishes they have a winning combination. At $5.45 for a falafel sandwich bursting at the seams, it is also a bargain. The prices are very reasonable and they are open from 11am until 10pm Sunday through Thursday. Open Friday 11am to 4pm and closed Saturday.

Welcome to my blog!

South Florida has a cornucopia of restaurants, cuisines, and regional foods to choose from. We are an international market and the food comes from really lousy to excellent. How many times have you walked out of a restaurant saying, "I wish someone would have told me this place (was so good) or (was so bad)?"

I hope to change all that. I live in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale area and generally eat out several times per month. I fancy myself to be one of the better tasting persons around when it comes to reviewing foods and restaurants. I also dabble in the kitchen and will post a few winning recipes as well as tips every now and then. This will range from lunch joints to fine dining. Feel free to comment and please provide feedback. Thanks and good dining!