Vacationing in Ft Lauderdale in July (Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood: house, live in, young professionals)

[Mr. Lee]

Originally Posted by BNBR

There is nothing wrong with enjoying these places, but when someone is visiting from out of town and wants to get a feel for the area, you really think Outback Steakhouse, a major national chain, is a good recommendation? It would be like visiting Rome and suggesting McDonalds or Pizza Hut.

Like anything else, we list things and they can pick among what is listed. Sure they might have one back home, not everyone does, also it is close by and they might wish to try a bunch of places, if that was the only place I had listed then I could understand your bitching, instead of bitching how about keeping it positive and listing a bunch of your own favorites. BTW the op did not say where they were visiting from, whenever we get back from the Philippines, then places like that are real treats after not being able to get a decent steak for a few months but with a forum name like windycity I will guess that is where they came from but it could also be where they originally came from.

[blueherons]

Lots of stuff to see in Fort Lauderdale.

Himmarshee Village for restaurants and clubs.
Downtown Himmarshee Village Association

Water Taxi
Things to Do In Fort Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale Water TaxiFt Lauderdale Water Taxi | Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood Water Taxi

Hard Rock Casino
www.SeminoleHardRockCasino.com

Gulf Stream Racetrack
Gulfstream Park Racing | Casino | Dining | Shopping

Lauderdale-By-The-Sea
Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center

Sawgrass Mills (2nd or third largest mall in the US)
Sawgrass Mills® - A Shopping Center In Sunrise, FL 33323-4020 - A Simon Property

[Nolefan34]

Originally Posted by BNBR

Lol. Did you really just recommend Outback, Longhorn, and Cheesecake Factory as destination restaurants to check out in Fort Lauderdale? Oh lord.

ROTFL!! My goodness. Don't forget Olive Garden or Chipotle!

[BNBR]

Originally Posted by Nolefan34

ROTFL!! My goodness. Don't forget Olive Garden or Chipotle!

There is nothing I enjoy more than a great Italian dinner with my wife. The finest and best authentic Italian Fort Lauderdale has to offer. But when I have a coupon, we go to the Olive Garden.....

[Mr. Lee]

Originally Posted by BNBR

There is nothing I enjoy more than a great Italian dinner with my wife. The finest and best authentic Italian Fort Lauderdale has to offer. But when I have a coupon, we go to the Olive Garden.....

So who do you recommend for an authentic Italian meal near Las Olas?

We too go to Olive Garden once in a while for their specials only, their breadstick meatball and chicken parm are decent but not first class, then again, neither am I, and I do not pretend to be like some people. The Olive Garden Breadstick Sandwiches

[BNBR]

Originally Posted by Mr. Lee

So who do you recommend for an authentic Italian meal near Las Olas?

We too go to Olive Garden once in a while for their specials only, their breadstick meatball and chicken parm are decent but not first class, then again, neither am I, and I do not pretend to be like some people. The Olive Garden Breadstick Sandwiches

Olive Garden is like McDonalds of Italian. And honestly, I don't really say that in a bad way, necessarily. I don't go regularly, but sometimes you just want an Americanized, buttery and salty meal. The joke about Olive Garden I made with the coupon, it's from a Madd TV skit.

I don't know Las Olas that well, but I recommended Cafe Martorano up on Oakland and A1A. It's and interesting place with great food. For more authentic Italian, I prefer the places out west that I know.

Brusketta in Pembroke Pines, then D' Angelo Elia and Bellini in Weston are outstanding, too. Brusketta is pure Italian home cooking and a best kept secret that is totally hidden. Broccolini Cafe in Cooper City is a pretty good option, too. And the best pasta restaurant, probably that I've ever been to... is up in Margate and just called "Pasta And..."

And if you want to totally geek out at a little Italian American market (not a restaurant), hit up "Mimi's Ravioli" in Hollywood.

There are definitely some great Italian places all over Fort Lauderdale and I'm sure some others can chime in. But generally speaking you have 2 types of Italian. You have the Italian-American version, which is your typical local Italian places, then you have authentic Italian... which you won't typically find things like stuffed shells at.

[jdallas]

No love for Coconuts? grab some Scooby snacks and watch the yachties float by?
Coconuts – Waterfront Restaurant – Fort Lauderdale

[BNBR]

Or Rustic Inn. Pretty touristy but it's cool.

[Momma_bear]

Originally Posted by Mr. Lee

So who do you recommend for an authentic Italian meal near Las Olas?

We too go to Olive Garden once in a while for their specials only, their breadstick meatball and chicken parm are decent but not first class, then again, neither am I, and I do not pretend to be like some people. The Olive Garden Breadstick Sandwiches

D'Angelo's is not on Las Olas but is excellent for Italian in Fort Lauderdale. It's not priced like Olive Garden.

Johnny V's and YOLO are not Italian but I have never had a bad meal at either place. LobsterBar is over rated but the interior is beautiful. Wild Sea (at Riverside Hotel) is both beautiful and has great food.

[Papillons2]

For fans of Thai food, I highly recommend Thai Spice on Commercial Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. It's in a busy, strip-shopping-center-intensive area and the surroundings aren't anything special (no waterfront or downtown vibe), but once inside it's well worth the visit.