Fort Lauderdale

Replacing founding chef Dean James Max, farm-to-table toque Paula DaSilva, a former Max protégée, brings excitement to this seafood-centric restaurant. — Gayot

Casa D'Angelo is always packed. — Fodor's

What you want are the famous meatball salad... always-al dente pastas like garlicky linguine with fresh-shucked clams; anything including the fresh homemade mozzarella. — Gayot

While the menu may be steakhouse simple, with steaks, chops, seafood, sandwiches, raw bar, and sides, this is Fort Lauderdale's newest "it" girl, a virtual meat market of seeing and being seen. — Frommer's

Hands down, this is one of the coolest, most unpretentious, quintessential pre-swanky South Florida restaurants, if not one of the coolest restaurants, period. — Frommer's

The crew at this seaside hole-in-the-wall puts on quite a show of ingredient-tossing flair while assembling takeout hoagies, subs, and deli sandwiches. — Fodor's

This popular eatery is Santa Fe–chic, specializing in tasty, southwestern fusion grub such as smoked-salmon tostadas and filet mignon with a rich poblano-pepper goat cheese. — Lonely Planet

At the Floridian Restaurant on Las Olas Boulevard in Ft. Lauderdale (Florida), the chocolate chip pancakes are a delicious treat at any hour of the day. — Afar Magazine

Part ice-cream palor, part ode to American childhood, Jaxon’s has a 50-year-long-established reputation as a specialist in kids’ dessert wish-fulfillment. — Time Out

Overall, the customer service, varied cuisine options, and inviting atmosphere are outstanding. — Afar Magazine

If you order the guacamole and chips, they bring out avocados and make the guacamole to your liking (do you want mayo? how about more lemon?) at your table. — Afar Magazine

"Family and friends" get "down and dirty" at this huge, circa-1955 "landmark" crab shack near the airport, donning bibs and "banging" away with mallets. — Zagat

With a broad, open-fronted deck offering a front row view of yachts and motor boats, this place is hard to beat for waterfront dining. — Lonely Planet

This light, airy Fort Lauderdale cafe serves “yummy” gluten-free “Americana-style vegan” dishes (think hearty Buffalo tempeh or a smokehouse burger with caramelized onions). — Zagat

Besides its "wonderful" good looks, the fish is always "perfectly done" (there's also a lobster bar, a raw bar and plenty of steak offerings) and the cocktails are "amazing". — Zagat

Meet Anthony, the gregarious owner of this Fort Lauderdale restaurant with an interior all about jet-setting -- albeit in the mid- to late '70s -- and a bar crafted out of a plane fuselage. — Frommer's

Angelo Elia Pizza, Bar & Tapas is an upscale Italian eatery and wine bar which offers a modern take on traditional Tuscan fare. — Where

Lester's on State Road 84 has stood as a 24-hour haven for the hungry and the late-night crowd since 1967. — Fodor's

It's "dockside dining at its best" say fans of this "easy, breezy" Fort Lauderdale sea-and-comfort-food restaurant boasting a "beautiful location" overlooking the Intracoastal. — Zagat

More Alessi than O Sole Mio, this contemporary Italian restaurant is industrial chic, with raw concrete floors, bright orange and lime green furniture, and a red-and-yellow tiled open kitchen. — Concierge