Florida Agenda

By RICHARD DAVID CHAMBERLAIN

Tijuana Flats on East Sunrise Boulevard is a one-room joint of the place-yourorder and-wait-for-the-magic-tohappen type. Around 7 p.m. on any night, the place is a chatty, crazy kind of fun where it’s likely you’ll end up becoming best friends with the folks at the next table. Everyone, from the wait staff who cashier your order, to the kitchen staff who prepare it, to the manager who may just end up serving it, likes to talk. It’s this slap-ya-on-the-back sort of camaraderie that is as intriguing as the food.

We’ve eaten at Tijuana Flats maybe ten times over the past two years, so we know this menu well. It breaks down rather easily, as most things Mexican do, into burritos, chimichangas, tacos, nachos, flautas, tosdadas, enchiladas, and quesadillas. At TF’s, you not only get to choose your meal, you get to choose the size of your meal—as in the quantity of food on your plate.

Burritos, for instance, come in three sizes—the Regular—about the size of Rhode Island; the Tijuana—about the size of Pennsylvania; and the Megajuana—think Texas. Our favorite is the Blackened Chicken Burrito Tijuana Size at $6.19. For that price you get a whole-wheat tortilla, filled with the aforementioned chicken (done delightfully moist), tomatoes, lettuce, onions, jalapenos, and sour cream—with your selection of 15 different hot sauces from the “pump your own” serving bar.

Hot sauces are a specialty here, with Tijuana Flats serving their own “Smack My Ass & Call Me Sally” brand in varying intensities from mild to five-alarm fire. And regardless of where on the menu you may wander, you’ll eventually end up back on the sauce, so to speak.

Tuesday nights is Taco Tuesdaze where for $4.99 you can get two large crispy tacos, with lettuce, chopped tomatoes, onions, jalepenos, plus chips and a drink—and yes, hot sauce. A deal that packs the place.

On Thursday night, think Throwback Thursdaze during which $5.99 gets you a regular burrito, chips and a drink. Same fillers, same sauces. The bargain remains in your pocketbook.

Lighten your potbelly with the Norrito Bowl, a burrito without the tortilla, served in a bowl and topped with a light salsa-based rice, black beans, pico de gallo sauce, fresh guacamole and green onions. All for only $6.19.

If calories are no object, then rush right over and order a Chimichanga, which is stuffed full of cheese, chicken or beef, all the toppings and lightly fried. The Megajuana Carnitas Chimichangas go for $8.59.

The chain was started just up the road in Winter Park, Florida back in 1995 by Brian Wheeler, and Brian is still at the wheel along with his pop Chester,who’s CFO, and industry insider Camp Fitch (ya gotta love the name), who’s co-partner and chairman.

The restaurant now numbers some seventyplus eateries, spread over several states, with Florida getting the lion’s share.

From the murals on the wall, to the funky drawings on the menus, nothing is taken too seriously at Tijauna Flats—except the food, which is consistently great, fast, and plentiful. The company gives back to the community through its Just in Queso Foundation that to date has donated $670,000 to those in need.

Check out the action any night of the week. The restaurant is snuggled next to the Trek Bicycle Shop, so expect to see plenty of spandex in the vicinity. And, as always, tell them Agenda sent you.

TIJUANA FLATS
1619 E Sunrise Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
954-463-3480

View Larger Map

Tijuana Flats

Directions

SCOREOVERALL
23 

Join Google+ for full scores and summary

15 Google reviews

At a glance:hot sauce · entrees · lettuce · burritos Address: 1619 East Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 Phone: (954) 463-3480 Hours: Mon-Thu 11am–10pm Fri-Sat 11am–11pm Sun 11am–9pm Transit: Sunrise B/NE 16 A Menu: urbanspoon.com More reviews: urbanspoon.com, citysearch.com, yahoo.com, botw.org

Feedback

By RICHARD DAVID CHAMBERLAIN

A few years ago, we spent an hysterically funny Valentine’s Day evening at P.F. Chang’s, the Chinese food emporium at the Galleria Mall. Like all branches of this national chain, the entrance to the restaurant is guarded by giant copies of the famous battle mounts of the terra cotta soldiers of Xian, China. The 11th century warriors who rode those steeds stake their claim to fame inside the eatery, where statues preside over the dining room.

This particular Valentine’s Day, we arrived at the scheduled time for our reservation, only to discover that it had somehow been lost in the system, and while we were promised the “very next table,” it was a wait of nearly an hour. Such is the popularity of P.F. Chang’s.

After being seated, we placed an order for Chinese 5 Spice Duo of Duck ($19.95), which is the wrong thing to order if you’re in a rush. Fortunately, after waiting an hour for a table, we were in no hurry for the food, content to just be seated. Twenty minutes into our order, the server announced that our duck had been delivered to the wrong table, and had been eaten by another guest!

When last our duck finally arrived, it turned out to be a very good meal—a slowed-cooked leg and breast, perfectly crispy with a cherry ginger chutney and sesame watercress salad. It still remains one of our preferred dishes at this restaurant that roams all over China to find its assortment of recipes.

Our favorite dish on the whole menu is the Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps ($7.95), with its filling of wok-seared minced chicken, mushrooms, green onions and water chestnuts, wrapped in crispy iceburg lettuce cups. It’s a Cantonese dish from the Olde Country that was originally made with minced pigeon. The version served here is a delight not to be missed. So, too, is the deliciously spicy Chang’s Chicken Noodle Soup ($7.95), a made-to-order chicken broth containing white hot pepper, shitake mushrooms, pin rice noodles, and grape tomatoes. Take the time to explore this subtle soup.

In Northern China, rice is a rarity, with wheat serving as the starch of choice. It’s translated here at P.F. Chang’s in its noodle dishes. Our very favorite is the Wok-Seared Lamb ($15.95), featuring semi-crisp egg noodles stir-fried with vegetables and a succulently-sauced, tender lamb cooked just so. It’s served with cilantro over cooling shredded lettuce.

The Szechuan region gets its nod with a classic Kung Pao Chicken ($13.95), prepared as you would expect with peanuts, chile peppers and scallions. Since Szechuan chefs use hot and pungent spices liberally, expect your taste buds to tingle. As this is Chinese cuisine sieved through the filter of American palates, the hot and spicy factor is on the mild side. You can increase the dose of heat at the table with the abundant selection of chili sauces available.

Vegetarians are not forgotten here either, with any stir-fried dish on the menu available in a tofu version. There’s also a flavorful selection of fish, as well. Our go-to preference is the Lemongrass Grilled Norwegian Salmon ($18.95), featuring a glaze of ginger, red peppers and lemongrass that is grilled to order and served atop asparagus.

Finish your meal off with Banana Spring Rolls ($5.95), six small sections of bananas wrapped in spring roll dough and lightly fried. These are served with a scoop of coconut pineapple ice cream with caramel and vanilla sauces. As you’re saying “yum,” tell them Florida Agenda sent you.

P.F. CHANG’S—Galleria Mall
2418 E Sunrise Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
954-565-5877

 
View Larger Map

RICHARD DAVID CHAMBERLAIN

SEAWATCH ON THE OCEAN
6002 North Ocean Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
954-781-2200

There was always something so relaxing about SeaWatch on the Ocean, a local favorite since 1974. The nautical ambiance of heavy dock rope, ship lanterns, 12-spoke wheels, and dusty ancient maps and books competing for wall space was a home-away-from- home for many Floridians, who found the restaurant’s fresh seafood as comforting as its sagging red banquettes.

All that changed about a year ago, when the popular place closed its doors for months, as its owners remodeled the eatery in what was its first update in its 38-year history. The menu received a full fluff-and-fold as well, with the resulting transformation as sophisticated as it is complete.

The restaurant sits on the sand some 50 yards from the Atlantic, and on nights of the Full Moon, the joint is packed to capacity to celebrate the lunar experience, as it creeps over the horizon and showcases the jubilant crowd. (The next full moon party is August 30th.) During those parties, there’s an outdoor barbecue and DJ Alex spinning in the booth.

While SeaWatch has a multipage menu featuring some top-notch house specialties— Bouillabaisse, a rich soup of lobster, shrimp, scallops, calamari, white fish, mussels, clams, and saffron-chicken broth, with a hint of Pernod ($29.00); a Seafood Paella, heavy with king crab, chicken, shrimp, spicy chorizo, clams, salmon, and mussels served on a bed of Spanish rice ($28.00); and a slow-roasted 16-ounce Prime Rib with a zesty horseradish sauce and flavorful au jus, plus a side of Yorkshire pudding ($32.00)—it’s the lunch specials that have lately kept us smiling.

In an off-season promotion running daily between 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., SeaWatch offers Sail the $7 Seas, a host of $7 lunch items, including some extremely good paninis. The grilled and pressed sandwiches range in choice from Salmon BLT with smack-your-lips applewood bacon on multi-grain bread to a Classic Corned Beef Reuben, with sauerkraut, swiss cheese on delicious sliced caraway seed loaf. All the paninis are served with a dill pickle wedge and a bag of Miss Vickie’s Simply Sea Salt Potato Chips.

Not in the mood for a Panini? Try Maria’s Tortilla Salad, sliced lean sirloin steak mixed with iceberg lettuce, tortilla chips, beans, chopped tomatoes, and cheddar cheese with a creamy Italian dressing—Maria’s special contribution. Also priced at $7: An amazingly flavored Shrimp Penne Pasta, with grilled pancetta, sun-dried tomato and arugula.

SeaWatch also has a very nice grilled Cheeseburger and Fries with caramelized onions, sliced pickles, tomato and a secret sauce, or a forget-the-calories Grilled Hot Dog with catsup, mustard and sweet relish. That one comes with fries as well, and plenty of them.

For dinner, the vast daily menu is available from 6 p.m. until closing. For those special few who want to see the place as the moon comes up, try Dinner at Dusk from 5-6 p.m. For $20.95, select your choice of 1¼ pound Broiled Lobster, Blackened Mahi Mahi, Roasted Half Chicken, Slow-Roasted Prime Rib, or the Broiled Combination Platter that features shrimp, scallops, and mahi mahi in a garlic, herb and butter sauce that’s a two-napkin taste treat.

Be sure to say hi to Mary at the upstairs bar, Jeannette at the door, and Beth, who manages the joint as if it’s her own nightly party. And, as always, tell them Agenda sent you.

By RICHARD DAVID CHAMBERLAIN

STORK’S BAKERY, COFFEE HOUSE & CAFÉ
2505 NE 15th Ave.
Wilton Manors, FL 33305
954-567-3220

We admit it. We’re a sucker for a Pilgrim Wrap. Although we were first introduced to the sandwich years ago while living in Provincetown, Massachusetts, land of the Mayflower, we recently reacquainted ourselves with the joy of this taste treat at Stork’s Bakery, Coffee House & Café in Wilton Manors. The local variety serves up a delicious sliced oven-roast turkey combo with cornbread stuffing, cranberry vinaigrette, chutney, beefsteak tomato, lettuce and mayo in a spinach wrap. At $8.49, it’s the signature sandwich of Stork’s, a local institution for the past 15 years. Over that time, there’s been a few changes to the menu, but the Pilgrim Wrap has always made the cut.

In case you’re new to the neighborhood, or haven’t stopped by recently for a fast, wholesome meal, Stork’s blends a menu of salads, sandwiches, soups, and quiches with their famous housemade desserts. This day, we tasted our way through a fresh-from-the-stove Creamy Veggie Soup ($8.95), a smack-yourlips Caprese Salad with field greens, tomato, mozzarella, basil, chives, and cracked black pepper ($7.99), a Baked Eggplant Lasagna ($10 per pound) that had just the right amount of heft to counter the light tomato sauce, and a large slice of Storkberry Pie, which, if you haven’t tried it, is heaven between a crust. The Storkberry, which should have its own patent, is a unique blend of strawberries, cherries, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries, with a flaky lattice-work oatmeal crust, at $4.00 per slice. At breakfast, the spotlight is on Stork’s 13 different whole bean blends of coffee, with Snickerdoodle Decaf our vote for the moment, though they’ve got an equally large variety of fresh brewed teas. Where else could you find a tea called Get Gorgeous, which, when consumed, promises to produce the clearest skin this side of Snow White? At breakfasttime, it’s an aroma orgy inside the shop, as coffees fence with baked goods for bragging rights to um-um good.

Yet as great as the café and coffee are, Stork’s shines when the bakery is placed front and center.

There is nowhere else in town with as consistently a great German Chocolate Cake: Moist chocolate with coconut sweetness, tempered with a sprinkle of pecan at $4.15 a slice. Another favorite, which is often out of stock, is the White Chocolate Pistachio Cheesecake ($4.15). It should be illegal, and maybe it is, since it seems to vanish from the display case as soon as it arrives. It’s a white chocolate pistachio ganache that’s made sinful with the addition of pictachio pieces that circle the rim of the outside of the cheesecake. The first bite will tell you you’re in big trouble.

Those who know such things swear by the Kahlua Marble Cheesecake ($4.15), with its coffee swirl atop a dark chocolate crumb crust. While it’s too adult for us to even try, the baker insists it’s a winner.

So, too, is Stork’s within the community.

It is not unusual to see the company logo on charity fundraisers for not-for-profit organizations, particularly within the LGBT arena. They continue to be a major presence during the annual SmartRide (this year, it’s November 16-17), as well as the monthly Tea Cruise benefiting the Brian Neal Fitness and Health Foundation. Thank them for that when you next drop by, and, of course, tell them Agenda sent you.

By RICHARD DAVID CHAMBERLAIN

Masked in the guise of a neighborhood pizza parlor, Fort Lauderdale Pizza & Pasta is a family-run trattoria that divines some angelic dishes beyond the expected fare of 12”, 14” and 16” thin crust pizzas ($11- $18.00), plus Stromboli ($7.50), Calzone ($6.50) and Sausage Roll ($6.00).

Located in a typical strip mall just west of Federal Highway and East Oakland Park Boulevard, the specialty meals served at this homey eatery are like stepping back in time to Mama’s Italian kitchen.

There’s nothing particularly fancy about the wholesome cooking except the taste, and that is where Fort Lauderdale Pizza & Pasta excels. We were amazed at the texture of the Filet of Tilapia Françese, lightly egg-battered fish swimming in a sea of wine butter reduction ($13.95), served with a side order of spaghetti, a green salad, and housemade garlic rolls. The Françese is repeated with veal or shrimp ($14.95), both surprisingly light, yet abundant with the garlicked flavor of a seasoned chef. The Chicken Cacciatore ($13.95) is falloff- the-bone tender, and is served with onions, white mushrooms, and green peppers in a marinara sauce. There is just enough sauce remaining to wipe up your plate with the garlic rolls that keep being baked fresh in the pizza ovens all night long.

We were less thrilled by the Sausage and Peppers (11.95) delivered over thick spaghetti. While the flavor was pleasant enough, there was a decidedly left-over quality about the peppers, as if yesterday’s batch was stretched on to today’s menu. For those willing to walk on the opposite side of the street, take a taste of the Penne a la Vodka with Grilled Chicken ($14.95). While we tried to force the recipe from the chef, the closest we could get to uncovering the secret of this fashionably subtle dish was a mix of marinara and crème sauce that was a little Alfredo and a lot Southern Italy. While we didn’t taste Vodka, what we did taste was pure pleasure.

Fort Lauderdale Pizza & Pasta also offers an assortment of Italian Subs and Wraps that are aimed at the hardy and hungry among. We’ve never gotten a bad choice from this group, and we’ve tried the Veal Parmigiana ($7.00), the Solid White Tuna with Melted Provolone ($6.50), the Steak and Onions with Mozzarella ($7.00), and the Meatball and Pepper Sub ($6.50), which is the bargain on the entire menu.

There’s a lunch menu served between 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at Fort Lauderdale Pizza & Pasta that’s heavy on an assortment of fine pasta dishes. The sauces—meat, marinara, tomato, mushroom and garlic & oil, are all housemade—and do not disappoint. Mix and match them across pasta selections of Rigatoni, Cappellini, Penne, Lingine and Spaghetti. The prices are a low $7.00-$7.50, and the serving size will give you enough for a doggie bag for the cagna Italiana.

Should you find a spare inch for dessert, we recommend the Cannoli ($3.50) for its crisp pastry shells filled with delicious sweetened ricotta cheese and sprinkled with powdered sugar; or the tiramisu—pure decadence priced at $4.00. And don’t forget to tell them Agenda sent you, even if you have to speak with your mouth full. We completely understand.

Fort Lauderdale Pizza & Pasta

2100 East Oakland Park Blvd. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306 (954) 566-5226

By RICHARD DAVID CHAMBERLAIN

We admit it. We’re an absolute sucker for pupu platters—the kind of nibbles that come sized for two or four, and we end up eating all by ourselves. In some places, these are called “tapas,” but at Wilton’s Bier Garden, that just-on-the-bend dive of merriment and sex appeal, these are called “bites.” The Deutsche Sausage Platter is square in size and filling in content, with two German Bratvurst, two Bavarian Weisswurst, and a giant soft pretzel that’s baked to perfection and is pull-apart delicious.

The entire temptation comes with sauerkraut (ask for it heated) and spicy brown mustard for dipping with any and all of the above. For the uninitiated, German Bratvurst is the four-inch long dark sausage that is made of pork, veal, or beef, depending on the city of origin. As for Weisswurst, it’s the sausage that’s lighter in color, a result of the spices more than the meal, and is still typically made of veal or pork. In Germany, there’s a saying that Weisswurst should never be allowed to hear the church bell’s noon chime.

Translation: they are made in the morning, and eaten in the morning. In the Bier Garden version, they are served all night, church bells not withstanding. And at $12 for the platter (that’s supposed to serve two), it’s worth every penny. The bar & grill suggests downing your platter with a bottle of König Ludwig Weissbier Dunkel, a Bavarian Dunkelweizen beer by Schloßbrauerei Kaltenberg brewery, which is always a safe bet where beer is concerned. Ordering it may take some rehearsal, but the results are superb.

The sandwich selection is quite large, and we can safely recommend any of the Garden’s specialty versions, made on an incredible rye bread. When toasted, it has a crunch and texture that delights the palette, regardless of what’s stuffed inside. In our case, we opted for the Bavarian Ruben ($8.00), which should actually be spelled “Reuben,” but who’s keeping track—in this case, with dark Bavarian bread. It involves a deliciously thin-sliced corned beef with aged Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing. Ask for extra dressing, double toasted, and hold your squeals of delight until out of shouting range, lest you embarrass yourself.

That, of course, is hard to do at Wilton’s Bier Garden, which opened a few months back, and has been an instant hit on the Drive. Special events pack the place on a regular basis—our favorites being Sunday night’s “Divas on the Drive,” starring Amanda Austin, and “Super Mug Thursdays,” on the Alfresco Patio. It is at times like those that you want to order the Jumbo Hot Dog with sauerkraut and brown mustard ($7.00). This masterpiece is a showstopper to eat, since it is a tasty foot-long all-beef frankfurter with a six-inch sour-dough roll—giving you six-inches of overhang, and endless material for puns and comments.

The Bier Garden also makes a wonderful tuna melt called the Fisherman ($8.00), which is layered with light tuna salad, sliced tomatoes, and Swiss and Provolone cheese, melted to a brown fresco over artisan bread. The real glory of Wilton’s Bier Garden is its selection of 100 bottled beers and 16 draft favorites, with a selection of unique wines from Europe, North and South America, and Africa, of all places. There are four rooms in the joint: The aforementioned Alfresco Garden Patio , the WBG Bar, the Sky Terrace Lounge, and the VIP Video Lounge. Check them all out, and remember to tell them Agenda sent you.

By RICHARD DAVID CHAMBERLAIN

There are certain things you can count on when ordering fish in Key West. First, it will be fresh. Second, it will be moist and flaky, and probably dusted with coconut, or some Jamaican conch seasoning strong enough to set your mouth ablaze. And third, it will be accompanied by many, many tropical drinks that will slur your vision, right along with your vocabulary.

At Green Fish, the newest incarnation of the intimate A-frame bar and grill at 2528 N Federal Highway, just south of Northeast 26th Street, the owners promise that Key West experience. (It says so right on a sign out front.) What they, in fact, deliver is something else entirely. Which is definitely not a bad thing. As you would expect, the mainstay at a grill called Green Fish is fish. In this case, the selection is limited to tilapia, salmon, mahi mahi, and shrimp.

Any or all of the above are prepared grilled, fried, or blackened (shrimp is only served fried). Most of the inside of the restaurant is occupied by a large bar, suggesting a local hang-out type of place. And while it’s a full bar, it’s not a complete bar. No mojitos, margaritas, pina coladas, or any other drink that requires a blender, for, according to our server, Elise, the bartender doesn’t have one. But there certainly is an adequate assortment of beers, ales, and liquors that will swamp the rat with ease.

The real surprise here is not that Green Fish serves a menu typical of many bars, but that its fish is fresh and as excellent as any we’ve tried in flavor and seasoning. The Grilled Tilapia Fish Fillet ($10.99) is offered Caribbean-style, with a perfect fire zip and a mild fish flavor. The dish comes with fries or Cajun rice, an order of cole slaw and a corn muffin. We ordered this dish blackened, and were amazed at the texture and sweet resound of the meal. True, the fries were soggy and were sent back to the kitchen, but the replacement rice was absolutely a winner.

Even though the slaw tasted like it was scooped from a Walmart vat, and the corn muffin was something you might defrost from Sara Lee, the point here remains the same. It was an amazingly well-prepared fish dish that deserves a return engagement. Ditto the Grilled Mahi Mahi. At $12.99, it’s a bargain in portion size and a taste bud delight for the unexpecting diner.

Once again, order it with rice, forget the corn muffin and slaw, and realize that you’ve found a new secret spot in town. This particular building seems to change concepts with each passing season. We remember when it was a place called Shucks on the Water, which became a place called Boo Riley’s, which then became a place called Chowderheads. And now Green Fish. Hopefully, you won’t be put off by the small front patio that borders on Federal Highway. or the dark inside bar that has just enough light to not see the spots on the glasses.

Push immediately past that and out onto the small dockspace that borders the Middle River canal. It’s not fine dining to be sure, but it is an incredible and quiet spot to discover with someone special. Get past the PVC furniture and the plastic basket holding the entrees, and prepare yourself for a fun, tasty meal by the water.

Feel free to order the Fried Conch Fritters ($7.99) or the Jerk Buffalo Wings (10 for $8.99). They won’t disappoint. And remember to say Florida Agenda sent you.

By RICHARD DAVID CHAMBERLAIN

What a mess! We just walked out of MUGS Sports Grill, and we’re still licking our fingers from the incredible BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich served with onion straws (that should be sold as a separate menu item). Like all great pork barbecue, this one was dripping with taste and was an eight-napkin slop fest of flavor. ($9.95) MUGS is known around the burg as the “Sports Bar with a Chef.” And for a very good reason. This is no simple burger joint with the usual assortment of screaming sports fans and mounds of peanuts in galvanized buckets on a bar sticky with yesterday’s margarita mix. The moment you walk into Mugs, located in a strip mall just east of Target, on East Oakland Park Boulevard, you know you’re in a special place.

First, it’s impeccably clean. The light wood floors are as scrubbed as the tables and chairs that are positioned across a large open room surrounded by 15 flat screen TVs the size of St. Louis and peppered about the place like so many poppy seeds on a muffin.

As you enter on the left, there is a crowded bar where everyone, even strangers, seem to know one another. The bartenders are friendly and keep up with the flow of orders as if working the assembly line at a Ford plant—all the while keeping up conversation on a dozen different subjects.

The menu is a varied one, thanks to the previously mentioned Chef. There are the usual burgers, of which our favorite is definitely Boosh Burger, a juicy patty of beef layered with bacon, sautéed onions, mushrooms and provolone cheese. ($12.95). The buns are locally baked and perfectly toasted and comes with fries. You can, of course, customize the plate with onion rings, tator tots, sautéed onions, mushrooms, applewood smoked bacon and avocado for an additional $1.

The sports-fans appetizers included the usual Wings that come as Buffalo, Asian Trifecta, or Barbeque. On Monday night, they go on special for 40¢ each in groups of six. The Coconut Shrimp are perfectly crisp and moist with a heaping portion serving two priced at $11.95.

The sandwich menu is an assortment of unique specialties that include Crabcake BLT (a thick cake made from jumbo lump crab, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and a superb housemade romoulde for $12.95).

The crabcakes are also available as an entrée served over a bed of sautéed garlic spinach and a loaded baked potato ($16.95).

Mugs also serves a surprising tender and flavorful Chicken Marsala with chicken breast, sautéed with mushrooms in a perfectly succulent Marsala sauce (for once not too salty), served with penne and broccoli. Clean your plate excellent ($14.95).

At lunch, this convenient grill offers $6.50 combination specials that can’t be beat for price or flavor. Choose from Buffalo Chicken Wrap, Blackened Chicken Sandwich, a Cheese Burger, the Pulled Pork Sandwich (a second yum), Chicken Quesadilla, or Caesar Salad with fries.

MUGS SPORTS GRILL 2671 E Oakland Park Blvd Fort Lauderdale FL 33306 954-566-7782

Weekly offerings include the aforementioned Monday night wings; Tuesday night $3.00 tacos in 10 flavors—our favorite was seared tuna but rumor has it that it’s been taken off the menu; and, of course, Happy Hour 4-8 p.m., take your pick of the day.

Marc Brandt is the man in charge and runs a top-flight staff and establishment that had managed to remain a hidden secret despite years in the business. It’s time for the LGBT community to swing out of your comfort zone and give this place a try. And, as always, remember to tell them, Florida Agenda sent you.

By RICHARD DAVID CHAMBERLAIN

Happiness. It’s the first thing we felt when walking through the front door of Lemongrass, the Asian fusion bistro on North Federal Highway. The host was smiling, the servers were laughing, and the sushi chef was animated in this oasis from stress. That this is a chain of restaurants (there are others in Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and Boynton Beach), makes this magical feat that much more impressive. The happiness we felt re-established itself as harmony, when we actually settled into our seats at a table under a crystal chandelier. There is a certain peace about this place, an elegant simplicity that translates smoothly into the food served here.

There is a section of the menu called “Small Plates from the Kitchen,” that actually contains several very nice portioned dishes, big enough for two. We especially enjoyed the Thai Steamed Dumpling ($7), eight healthy sized dumplings made from seasoned minced pork with a scrumptious sweet sauce and scattered sesame seeds. For something a little richer, we recommend the Lobster Shrimp Shumai ($9), Hong-Kong style, which interprets into delicious and succulent, in a paper-thin pouch.

LEMONGRASS ASIAN BISTRO 3811 N Federal Hwy Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 Bento Lunch Box 954-564-4422

One of the best bargains on the entire menu finds itself in this category as well: Miso Sea Bass ($12), a lightly grilled Chilean sea bass served with baby pickled ginger, drizzled with a miso-honey glaze. ??? m?iwèi de.

Experimenting among the offerings at the Sushi Bar, we happened upon Tuna Guacamole ($12). Admittedly we were more curious than hungry by this point. But when this dish arrived, we were soon savoring every bit of the seared Cajun tuna and Chinese guacamole served on top of fried crispy wonton, with black tobiko (cavier colored with squid ink) and jalapeno. The subtle flavors encased in Lemongrass Noodle Soup ($13) are a challenge for the palate to discern. Easily identified in this large bowl of spicy broth were shrimps, scallops, mussels, squid, scallions, tomatoes and mushrooms. The rest is a secret recipe only the chef knows and will not share. One taste of this delicious soup and you’ll know why. It takes a great Asian restaurant to deliver perfectedly prepared fish from the kitchen. In this case, we cannot speak well enough of Holy Snapper ($25), an entire boneless snapper fish, fried and topped with a sweet garlic chili sauce. Accompanied by a house salad and brown rice, this dish easily serves two, with enough remaining to take home to the cat.

Authentic Thai Curry is not easy to find, and while the version served at Lemonsgrass is not strictly old school, the lingering flavor on the taste buds after completing a plate of Red Curry with Shrimp ($16) was of sweet coconut milk. While not the best bargain on the menu, it is a huge portion, so plan according to the size of your appetite. Other curry options available include Green Curry, Panang Curry and Masaman Curry—all offered at the same price point.

Between 11:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. daily, Lemongrass Asian Bistro offers lunch specials, most running around $7.95, including a startlingly sassy Kung Pao Chicken with mixed vegetables and peanuts served on white rice.

And if your thought is take-out, imagine if you will a Bento Lunch Box, with fried gyozo, four pieces of sushi or sashimi, chicken teriyaki and a house salad for a measly $11.95. It will make you forget the nearby fast food choices, when a call in advance will have this taste-treat available for pick-up in ten minutes. Either way, tell them Guy Magazine sent you.

By RICHARD DAVID CHAMBERLAIN

Tijuana Flats on Sunrise Boulevard is a one-room joint of the placeyour- order and-wait-for-themagic- to-happen type. Around 7 p.m. on any night, the place is a chatty, crazy kind of fun where it’s likely you’ll end up becoming best friends with the folks at the next table. Everyone, from the wait staff who cashier your order, to the kitchen staff who prepare it, to the manager who may just end up serving it, likes to talk.

It’s this slap-yaon- the-back sort of camaraderie that is as intriguing as the food. We’ve eaten at Tijuana Flats maybe ten times over the past two years, so we know this menu well. It breaks down rather easily, as most things Mexican do, into burritos, chimichangas, tacos, nachos, flautas, tosdadas, enchildadas, and quesadillas. At TF’s, you not only get to choose your meal, you get to choose the size of your meal—as in the quantity of food on your plate. Burritos, for instance, come in three sizes: the Regular—about the size of Rhode Island; the Tijuana—about the size of Pennsylvania; and the Megajuana—think Texas.

Our favorite is the Blackened Chicken Burrito Tijuana Size at $6.19. For that price you get a whole-wheat tortilla, filled with the aforementioned chicken (done delightfully moist), tomatoes, lettuce, onions, jalapenos, and sour cream—with your selection of 15 different hot sauces from the “pump your own” serving bar. Hot sauces are a specialty here, with Tijuana Flats serving their own “Smack My Ass & Call Me Sally” brand in varying intensities from mild to fivealarm fire. And regardless of where on the menu you may wander, you’ll eventually end up back on the sauce, so to speak.

Tuesday nights is Taco Tuesdaze where for $4.99 you can get two large crispy tacos, with lettuce, chopped tomatoes, onions, jalepenos, plus chips and a drink—and yes, hot sauce. A deal that packs the place. On Thursday night, think Throwback Thursdaze during which $5.99 gets you a regular burrito, chips and a drink. Same fillers, same sauces.

The bargain remains in your pocketbook. Lighten your potbelly with the Norrito Bowl , a burrito without the tortilla, served in a bowl and topped with a light salsa-based rice, black beans, pico de gallo sauce, fresh guacamole and green onions. All for only $6.19. If calories are no object, then rush right over and order a Chimichanga, which are stuffed full of cheese, chicken or beef, all the toppings and lightly fried.

The Megajuana Carnitas Chimichangas go for $8.59. The chain was started just up the road in Winter Park, Florida back in 1995 by Brian Wheeler, and Brian is still at the wheel along with his pop Chester who’s CFO, and industry insider Camp Fitch (ya gotta love the name) who’s co-partner and chairman. The restaurant now numbers some seventy plus eateries, spread over several states, with Florida getting the lion’s share.

From the murals on the wall, to the funky drawings on the menus, nothing is taken too seriously at Tijauna Flats- -except the food, which is consistently great, fast, and plentiful. The company gives back to the community through its Just in Queso Foundation that to date has donated $670,000 to those in need.

Check out the action any night of the week. The restaurant is snuggled next to the Trek Bicycle Shop, so expect to see plenty of spandex in the vicinity.

And, as always, tell them Florida Agenda sent you.