Category Archives: Restaurants

Restaurant Critiques, Restaurants

THIRTEEN RESTAURANT AND BAR

Thirteen Restaurant and Bar

Thirteen  Restaurant and Bar just opened their doors a few weeks ago with a steak and chop menu that is out of this world!  I had the 14 oz. butter and sage braised bone in chop served on mashed parsnips with apple butter and grilled garlic asparagus.  This 4 inch thick chop was so tender I could cut it with a spoon!  It’s my understanding that the  chef takes  the  time to brine the chop, the result being the juiciest and most tender chop  ever!  Thirteen is located at 2390 Wilton Drive  in Wilton Manors and is not to  be confused with 13 Even,  the sister  restaurant a few blocks south.  The fried chicken sliders are  amazing.  They take a  2-bite, house-made, cheddar biscuit and stuff it with fried chicken tossed in Sriracha maple syrup. Yum! If  that doesn’t do it for you, you  can always try Thirteen’s twist on traditional hummus made with peanuts and served with Naan, carrots, cucumbers and sweet, spicy cherry peppers.  The entree prices  range from $14 (for  a burger) to $28 dollars  (for  filet mignon or ribeye)  Especially  tantalizing is  the Sunday  brunch menu with fried green tomatoes,  biscuits and gravy, crab benedict and all you can drink $15 mimosas.  The entree prices  range from $14 (for  a burger) to $28 dollars  (for  filet mignon or rib eye) www.thirteenwilton.com/menu-page/ They don’t take reservations so you can  pop in  any evening between 4 and  10PM.  (11PM on Friday and Saturday night)

Restaurant Critiques, Restaurants

FRESH TUNA CRUDO AND GYRO WRAPS ARE DELICIOUS NIBBLES YOU’LL FIND AT TAPS!


 

Taps Restaurant Bar   & Lounge is the newest restaurant to hit the Himmarshee area in Fort Lauderdale.  Whether you are having  a quick business lunch, tapas with friends or a late night post-theatre snack, don’t even  think of going there without trying Chef James DeVito’s signature dish, fresh Ahi tuna, mingled with fennel, sun-dried tomato, red onion and avocado, tossed with special chili oil and served  on a crispy baked wonton.

Tuna Crudo
Tuna Crudo at Taps

With a quaint atmosphere that seats about 100, there’s a “pub-style” feel to it featuring a two-story beer wall that offers over 350 types of beer, (including 250 craft beers), over 60 wines on tap – 32 of which are by the glass.

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Unfortunately, there  is no local beer from our very own Funky Buddha Brewery, however, that could be forthcoming.

I am a self-proclaimed ice fanatic, as is my husband, to the point that we  won’t even consider  buying a  refrigerator with an ice  maker that produces half-moon shaped ice cubes.  (They get stuck in the bottom of the glass then come crashing into your face splashing your drink everywhere)  Block ice, shaved ice, cracked ice, you-name-it ice, it makes a difference in the drink. Taps has 1 1/4″ solid cubes for the perfect craft cocktail-a standout!

Sandwiches come wrapped in parchment paper, an old-time pub  tradition.

Northern Italian Sausage Hero and salad.
Northern Italian Sausage Hero and salad.

The sausage is house-made as is the Gyro meat.

Beef Gyro Tzatziki
Beef Gyro Tzatziki

The average price for tapas, salads and sandwiches is around $12.00.   Owners Elizabeth and James DeVito say “Every day is happy at TAPS”.  With happy hour from 4PM to 6PM, they offer $1.00 off draft beer, $5.00 single-liquor cocktails and house wines, and a $5.00 happy hour food menu that includes bacon wrapped jalapenos, bruschetta, fresh-baked artisan pretzels and more.

Taps Restaurant Bar and Lounge is located at 330 SW 2nd Street in Fort Lauderdale and has locations in Tampa, Orlando and Naples.

Taps dog-friendly outside seating
Taps dog-friendly outside seating