Lola's on Harrison: A hidden Hollywood gem

I cannot hear the name Lola with thinking of Barry Manilow's Copacabana song.  "Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl..."
     Despite the title, I can assure you, Lola's on Harrison is definitely no showgirl.  Part of the recent revival of downtown Hollywood, Lola's on Harrison offers an intimate and classy atmosphere complete with it's own cafe-style charm.  On nice nights you can choose to sit outside and people watch, although inside has it's own cozy appeal.  Upon entering, you'll find a long bar lined with colorful bottles, and a lone television that provides the opportunity sneak a peak at the latest game's score.  Along the mirrored back wall there is a booth stretching the length of the room, with white tables placed along it, with more tables scattered throughout the room for additional seating.  It's the kind of place that is perfect for a date, but also a wonderful spot to bring friends or family.

  The menu itself changes seasonally, so while you might be able to find a couple of their classic dishes throughout the year, there is also usually a few new things to try as well.  The drink menu is no different, and on chilly (well about as cold as it can get for South Florida) nights, their hard cider is the perfect libation to warm you from the inside out.  Just enough spices and apple flavor to completely mask the taste of the alcohol!  If beer and wine is more your thing, they actually have a decent variety of offerings.  On my most recent visit I enjoyed a nice Saison Dupont and an Echte Kirekenbier.  The Saison is pretty light (a classic Belgian Farmhouse Ale that tastes kind of citrusy with a very clean finish) and pairs well with almost everything you might order, whilst the Kirekenbier (which tastes of dark cherries and vanilla) may be a bit more of an acquired taste since it is a sour.  Personally, I love that in a beer, but the pucker-worthy factor may not be for everyone.
     Throughout multiple visits I've been consistently impressed with the quality of the ingredients and execution of the dishes, all of which are exceptional versions of American comfort food. It's hard for me to pick any one favorite as I'm often in the mood for different things, but I've yet to be disappointed. As soon as you are seated they'll bring you a little cup of butter and a slice of their thick and chewy bread.  Amongst the appetizers, the crab cake is a gratifying starter, with the tangy carrot-mango slaw adding a nice punch, and the creamy tartar sauce offsetting the sweetness of the fresh crabmeat.  The baked brie is also delicious, a flaky phyllo pillow encasing gooey, melted brie, topped with a sprinkling of slivered almonds.   It comes with a black mission fig chutney and a mango-apricot glaze that lends the dish a bit of sweetness, and crisp flatbread toast squares to create your own little sandwich.  It's the kind of dish you've seen everywhere and still can't resist because no matter how many variations you've had, it's consistently tasty.  Let's face it, it's pretty hard to mess up a baked brie!

"John Alan Walker" Crab Cake (left) and the Baked Brie (right)

    As for some other alternatives, the Salmon Tartar with a sesame-lemon vinaigrette is served with crispy wontons, red tobiko caviar, black sesame seeds and jalapeno chile oil.  While I am not usually a salmon fan,  it was so fresh and paper thin, that there wasn't the typical fishy smell or taste that usually deters me.  Fantastic!  Also, the combination of flavors and textures is really spot on.  Next up, I highly recommend the mussels!  Yes, you may have had mussels before, but their broth is absolutely divine!   Served in a native lager with garlic, fresh dill, a hint of whole grain mustard and polish beef kielbasa, it is stellar. The last time I went, my dining partner and I were so enamored that we requested multiple rounds of bread to sop up every drop of the delectable goodness.  We almost ordered a second round (except that more food was already on its way).

Goat Cheese Salad

     If you're one of those girls that is on a first date and wants to pretend to be a dainty eater, or just because it's too good to resist, I'd suggest the warm goat cheese salad.  Usually I just can't pass up the chance to have a least a little bit, so we get one to share for the table.  A huge ball of melt-in-your-mouth and coat-your-tongue, creamy goat cheese takes center stage; rolled in tiny pieces of toasted pistachios, it perches like a King atop his throne of leafy arugula drizzled with  sweet raspberry-shallot vinaigrette dressing.  Gazing on adoringly from the sidelines are a smattering of whole, toasted pistachios, raspberries, and endives.  It probably loses a lot of it's nutritional merit with all of its additions, but I like to pretend that the large showing of greens somehow compensates for the rest (just like the rule that calories don't count if you're celebrating a special occasion).

Coca Cola Glazed Ribs

     Then come the entrees, among which, it's apparent they do play favorites.  Come rain, shine, and change of the menu, the Coca-Cola glazed ribs are continually present.  This ends up being incredibly fortunate as it is the dish you'd be disappointed if it wasn't there.  It is the fare that will unleash your inner caveman, with incredibly moist meat that falls right off the giant bone.  However, it is a bit like meat candy with the glaze, and if you are sweet-sensitive, I suggest going another way.  If you don't mind that sugary flavor though it is absolute perfection.  Also, it's served with a couple of giant onion rings that the buttermilk batter never seems to stay on, and a glopulent (the only word I feel adequately describes the dish is one I made up to describe a mesh of opulent and gloppy) serving of creamed corn.  Don't even think about your cholesterol and just say thank you because the saltiness of those sides is a nice break from the sweetness of those decadent ribs.

Veal "Oscar"

     Another tasty choice is the Milk Fed Veal "Oscar."  An ample portion of egg battered, bone-in, veal rib chop, it is served with garlic charred asparagus, piled with fresh crab meat, and then doused with a creamy herbed hollandaise.  Or if you're in the mood for something a little lighter, I'd highly suggest selecting the branzino with lentils.  The fish is flaky and the lentils that accompany it are absolutely phenomenal.  I'm not quite sure what they put in the sauce, other than tasting like a relative of a chimichurri, but it is out of this world!

Branzino

     I have to say the only gripe I really have is the dessert menu is never quite so tantalizing that I can't resist.  In my opinion, the savory foods really shine here, and I'd much rather fill up on those than to save room.  That being said, if you do want a bit more you can typically find a standard cheesecake, chocolate cake or the like.  On my most recent visit, my dining partner did seem to really enjoy the chocolate lava cake with espresso chip ice cream.
    I'd highly recommend venturing over to Lola's when you've got the chance.  You're sure to have a great experience!
       2032 Harrison Street  Hollywood, FL 33020
(954) 927-985
http://www.lolasonharrison.com/

 

Tudor House: This is what Dreams are made of...

As a previous South Beach resident, I would spend countless meals in search of the rare, high quality restaurant.  Like an animal stalking some elusive prey, I would try numerous disappointing tourist traps, hoping that each would somehow have that indescribable "wow" factor that actually made me want to return.  Yet with each attempt along the main drag, I would find that behind the glitz and glamor so many offered, few provided any decent substance in return.  Yes, it is another art-deco style hotel-linked restaurant, but unlike the rest, Tudor House will not serve up a mediocre meal.
     Located in the Dream hotel, the Miami outpost of Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian and co-helmed by Executive Chef Jamie DeRosa is a fantastic find on the corner of 11th and Collins.  Without even trying, it exudes classic charm and elegance.  The outdoor seating area is open and airy, with a nice breeze from the nearby ocean gently teasing the long linen curtains.  Opulent marble floors, unique wood furnishings and a classic interior that feels like what you would picture South Beach to look like during the jazz age.  Since my first visit for their weekend Rosé brunch, I've managed to continue to find myself inextricably drawn back, as I slowly manage a vain attempt to try as much as possible from the menu.  Brunch, breakfast, lunch and dinner, they're open for all meals and new dishes are constantly being added.
    Since they say that breakfast is the most important meal of the deal, it only seems fitting to start there.  Please note though that there is a lot of overlap between the courses, and the weekend brunch menu often encompasses items from both breakfast and lunch.
     A steal at $11, the Huevos Ranchos is the savory breakfast lovers dream.  Black beans, spicy chorizo, piquant salsa, creamy avocado, runny eggs and soft cheese atop a crisp corn tortilla, it's a phenomenal balance of flavors and textures.  Zesty and crunchy, I enjoy trying to get as many different components as possible in each mouthful.

   Both the stone crab claws and the Alaskan King crab are served with a large piece of meat in/on the shell, a tiny cup chock full of sweet, tender flesh abreast a mound of snow.  Sprinkled with fresh seaweed, it makes you believe it's so fresh it just came from the ocean and then somehow lovingly landed on your plate.  The dipping sauce for it is creamy and delectable, enhancing the flavor of the seafood (although never quite being on par with Joe's for me).

 If you're looking for something a bit sweeter, then the lemon ricotta pancakes are a must try!  Golden and fluffy, they're the ideal balance of sweet and tart and come served with a light misting of powdered sugar.  While you have your choice of lemon curd or cherry preserve toppings (depending on the season I've also seen strawberry), I've personally found that the curd is just enough to bring out the original lemon taste without being overkill.  I don't even end up using syrup!

During the brunch they also have a dessert cart from which you might be tempted by some of their sinful selections.  If you tend to have a sweet tooth this might be a good time to turn away, as practically everything is so tantalizing it's hard to resist!  Literally like having a moving bakery crammed in front of your eyes.  Personally, I'm completely addicted to anything with popcorn so I couldn't restrain myself from trying the caramel popcorn donut holes.  For a mere $3 per plate (each of which comes with 3 donuts) it was practically a steal!  The come piped with some kind of a cream and each bite-size morsel is adorned with a single piece of caramel popcorn.  Despite the creativity though, I have to confess I didn't really think they tasted much like popcorn.  In spite of this teensy niggle, they were still a tasty little treat and they do offer a few other flavors.

Caribbean Bloody Mary

    As for the drinks, Peggy's punch (vodka, watermelon puree and fresh basil) was incredibly refreshing and surprisingly strong, without the taste of drinking an alcoholic beverage!  The watermelon puree added a refreshing and crisp sweetness, while the basil made the perfect companion.  Furthermore, while I'm not much of a Bloody Mary fan, even I couldn't deny that the Caribbean Bloody Mary (with pineapple and coconut rum) was truly a work of art.  During brunch, the Bloody Mary cart will come table-side so the drink can be prepared in front of you, painstakingly adding each ingredient.  A great hangover cure for sure!
     While I could wax poetic about the cocktails, I'd like to note the beer list is a bit of a misstep for me.  On more than one occasion they've been out of the paltry options they have, and let me just say that the creativity in the beer selection is severely lacking.  I hope this changes, but in the meantime their other drink options are plenty satisfying!
      Straddling the boundary between brunch and lunch is the Cuban sandwich.  Unlike the bland or dry choices I've been unfortunate enough to encounter at the "authentic" cafes along Calle Ocho, TH hits it out of the park.  Drippy, gooey, melty, tangy, the tender and juicy pulled pork is offset with slivers of their homemade pickles, possibly some kind of cheese and then the whole thing is sandwiched panini-style between two slices of thin, buttered bread.  If I could try to pinpoint the dominant flavor it would be tricky as with this sandwich the combination of ingredients really meshes together to create a sum that is greater than any individual part.  Every time I've ordered it, it's been shared as part of a desire to be able to try greater variety of their delicious dishes, but this is easily sufficient as a filling meal for one.  As a sandwich lover, it might actually pain you to have to give part of it away!  Served along with the sandwich, are some crisp, spiced potato chips, that can be dipped into a very strong mustard.  Despite that they are obviously fried, they are not as greasy as you would expect either.  One complaint my dining partner had though was that he would have liked the accompanying pickle to be a bit more sour.

   Come dinner time they've got a robust offering.  While waiting for your food they bring you bite-sized pretzel rounds to snack on that come with a seriously mouth-puckering mustard dipping sauce.  Since truffle anything is another of my Achilles' Heels, I most recently tried the truffle agnolotti.  Much to my everlasting chagrin the waiter returned after placing our order to inform us they were out of truffles, but instead they had an asparagus and chanterelle agnolotti.  My slight disappointment turning to utter jubilation once the dish actually arrived.  The agnolotti were perfect light, little rectangular pillows in a flavorful sauce only enhanced by the perfectly caramelized chanterelles.  The rich whole egg (I think it was duck, but I was honestly so excited to dig in I wasn't really listening to the explanation as well as I should have), was a surprising addition for a dinner plate that worked incredibly well. 

 

I don't know quite what they did, or how they did it but the brussel sprouts side dish was the kind of thing that would actually make kids want to eat their vegetables.  A nice char and the addition of apples gave the side an extra crisp.  Unlike the places that need to drown them in sauce to mute the potentially pungent flavor, they really let the veggies shine!  I could order three of these, consider it a complete meal and still be incredibly satisfied.

Finally, for those looking for something different the popcorn milkshake is not to be missed.  Yes you read that right, they have magically managed to capture the flavor of hot buttered popcorn in a drink!  I actually first tried a sample of this during Fashion Night Out and it was the determining factor that ensured I could not under any circumstances, not try this restaurant.  I'm still not quite sure how they manage to make it so thick, luscious, and creamy, but whatever genius they use to produce such an authetntic taste it is truly incredible.  Possibly the best dessert, hands down, of any restaurant ever.  It's also served with some side snackables that play off the sweet and salty dichotomy (a candy bar sprinkled with sea salt and some homemade caramel corn), but honestly I was so enamored with the shake that they barely registered.  There is a bit of stratification in the drink itself, and while the bottom boasts a rich, velvety consistency that reminds me of eggnog, the frothy foam on top is gossamer bliss.

Overall, Tudor House is sure to surprise you with their innovative concepts and robust flavors.  I've yet to leave even slightly dissatisfied, as pretty much every time I return I find a new dish to fall in love with.  If you'd like to visit for yourself (and I highly recommend you do), you can find Tudor House at:

1111 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33139. 
305-534-8455
www.tudorhousemiami.com/

Miso hungry just thinking about Makoto...

Oh Wow! I never thought one of the best Japanese restaurants I've ever had would be within a shopping mall.  Ok, in all fairness Bal Harbour is a huge step above your typical malls, but I was still hugely skeptical that they wouldn't produce "meh" quality at a super high price tag.
   Verdict?  Well, turns out there is nothing remotely mediocre about the cuisine.   I had no idea how delightful a simple salad, notwithstanding every other aspect of their menu could be.  Everything from drinks to the food is masterfully prepared.  While the prices aren't cheap,  you get what you pay for. 
    The interior is elegant and the epitome of Zen chic.  Pathetically, the first time I went, I wasn't particularly hungry so I just tried the hotate (scallop sourced live) and a spicy tuna roll.  As simple as both sounded I was blown away with the fresh seafood.  The scallops were tender and almost silky in a way that it melted in my mouth.  The spicy tuna roll was packed with fresh meat and had just enough kick to add flavor but wasn't unbearable for a heat wimp like myself.  Really fantastic!
     The next time I visited, was for lunch with a friend.  In spite of its gorgeous, sleek interior, we opted to sit outside by the courtyard bar since it was a beautiful South Florida day.  We immediately selected two cocktails to share, a passionfruit margarita and a lemongrass cooler.  Both were divine!  Since we were seated at a table not too far from the bar we got to watch the whole process unfold, from the layering of ingredients to the careful cocktail shaking and decanting.  What we got was two completely different drinks that were each incredibly light and refreshing.  Both were easy on the palate and while I know they both had a decent quantity of alcohol, neither tasted like that was the case.

    Next we opted to share the shoftshell crab tempura roll (with tobiko, cucumber, avocado, scallion and asparagus) and a shrimp tempura bento box.  The sushi roll came out first, served atop a simple wooden plank. Immediately you could tell it was a far cry from a frozen, miniscule crab you find in lesser quality sushi restaurants.  Each slice of sushi was massive (a bit tricky to eat all together), but rightfully so since a huge component of each one was large pieces of tender and juicy crab.  The crab meat itself was incredibly succulent and fresh, and as a fantastic bonus, each piece received a very generous portion of it!  We devoured it almost as soon as it hit the table!

The shrimp bento box came next, boasting a nice clean presentation.  Inside the main compartment was a rectangle filled with tempura-ed veggies as well as two long sticks of shrimp.  It was also served with a salad and wasabi fried rice.  The tempura was light and not too heavy or greasy.  However, for me the real star of the whole meal was a salad.  It may have been the best  salad of my life, so flavorful and yet so light!  Fresh watercress, slices of chikuwa and a delicate wasabi dressing, I could become a vegetarian so long as I could eat this as a major staple of my diet.  It was really a sincere love and compassion for my dining partner that enabled me to allow him even the most miniscule forkful.  Typically I'm not too bad with sharing but I could have eaten a mini sushiboat-load of the stuff by myself.  The fried rice too was a nice surprise.  I didn't get much of the wasabi flavor, however, it was some of the least greasy and yet still flavorful, fried rice I've encountered.  This managed to fill us up pretty quickly too!  I also appreciated the bits of cooked egg in it, that were a lovely golden color and not even slightly burnt.
     Our service was quick but not rushed, and the staff were very friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful.  Furthermore, the plating and execution were superb.  While sushi restaurants might be a dime a dozen, it is far more rare to find one that can really provide dishes that will satisfy both traditional sushi purists and those looking for a bit of innovation.  In terms of quality it is certainly some of the best I've had in Miami with some uni-que offerings (sorry but I couldn't resist a little sushi punning).  Well worth checking out if you're looking for some really great Japanese!  I definitely can't wait to return prawn-to (had to get just on more in there) and to make my way through more of their menu since I have no doubt they know how to handle their seafood.
  If you would like to check it out, you can find Makoto inside the Bal Harbour shops at:
                 9700 Collins Avenue #107  Bal Harbour, FL 33154

(305) 864-8600

Nourish your appetite and satisfy your curiosity at Sustain

     Much to my embarrassment I'll admit that sheerly due to its proximity, I had mentally lumped Sustain in with the over-priced and disappointing restaurants of Mercadito and Sugarcane.  Both of which boasted a lovely ambiance but never seemed to really impress me with the actual cuisine.  Hence, a completely undeserved bias was born and it took far too long for me to finally make my way over to this charming little Midtown spot.  In spite of my hesitance, the lure of checking out the restaurant with it's rotating menu that uses quality ingredients and supports local farmers proved too hard to resist.  Accordingly, I managed to convince a friend to join me on a Monday night for dinner.

     Sleek and streamlined, it looks like a modern day deconstructed forest (sans the dirt), with a leafy metal canopy and bare wooden stems adorning the walls and sprouting out of the floor.   While there is a cozy and intimate looking seating area outside we opted to grab seats near the kitchen.  Perusing the beer list I was delighted to see a fair amount of unique offerings including Stone's "More Brown than Black" IPA, Great Divide "Hercules" 2xIPA, Cigar City "Florida Cracker," Lagunitas "Little Sumpin" Ale, among others.  Now I do love a refreshing glass of wine with a meal (and Sustain had amble offerings from around the World), but it is so hard to find restaurants that really stray outside the standard options (BudLight, Heinekin, etc. with maybe Monk in the Trunk, Purple Haze or Cigar City Maduro Brown if they are trying to claim to carry craft beers) that when I see some slightly more rare selections I jump at the opportunity.  Throughout the meal I enjoying  a Unibroue Maudite (initially tastes like cherries, plums, and figs, with hints of cinnamon, pepper and clove spice to it as well that emerges later on) and a Left hand Brewing Co.'s Sawtooth Ale ESP on tap (the nitro made it surprisingly creamy, with minimal hoppy flavor and a bit of caramel, malt and just a touch of citrus). As a Belgian beer addict, I tended to lean towards the Maudite, but I can't deny that both worked well with the food.

    As for the menu?  Divided up in your standard starters, mains, and "for the table" (sides to share), there was also a selection of favorites which included a duck poutine and a Hudson valley foie gras vanilla-braised pineapple/challah toast .  I can be immediately seduced with the words "foie gras" and vanilla," so accordingly, that was our first choice (the menu was filled with delicious sounding dishes).  I was a bit concerned the challah toast might overwhelm the other flavors and muting the luscious foie gras, but luckily it didn't compromise the other tastes and instead was every bit the crisp needed to provide a nice contrast for the creamy richness.  The vanilla flavor was a bit more subtle than I would have liked but thankfully, the pineapple was far less cloying than I had imagined.  Together,  the entire dish culminated in one perfect symphony of flavor.

   Next up we had decided to share the calabaza soup with ginger and maple glazed pecans.  Thick and hearty, it was like tasting Fall in a bowl, and they generously split it into two portions for us!  I didn't try the pecans till after they had been immersed in the soup for a bit, so I didn't really notice the maple flavor, but the roasted pecans added a nice bit of crunch.  It was the kind of soup that coats your insides and manages to maintain a bit of originality over your typical gourd variety.

   For the entree we went with the Broken Arrow Ranch Antelope with crushed chickpeas, spinach and mushrooms.  The presentation was simple, letting the huge slabs of antelope take the stage.  With two giant chunks, it looked similar in presentation to a  filet mignon, and further dissection revealed it had been prepared medium rare.   While I can be very picky about the meat I receive, there was no fat to be seen and the hint of oozing red that emerged with each cut left me more tantalized than turned off.  It was juicy and incredibly tender.  The chickpeas and spinach really highlighted the strengths of the meat, bringing out it's earthy flavor.

  The dessert menu proffered several interesting choices.  We let the waiter select for us and he returned with a play on Smores unlike any I've ever experienced.  A giant fluffy cinnamon bun style roll, stuffed with melted chocolate and topped with roasted marshmallows.  The little, fluffy clouds were piled on top and had been singed a lovely golden shade that  brought me back to Girl Scout camp-outs of my youth.  Served alongside this confectionery monstrosity was a teensy cup of silky chocolate ice cream.  While the dessert tended to have a bit more doughy flavor than I would have liked (and this is just an odd personal predilection for an emphasis on other flavors rather than bread), I can't deny the creativity and the use of quality chocolate that wasn't too sweet, which kept the dish from being too cloying.

     Even after the consumption of all that food, my dining partner was still seriously lusting after the "wet" fries with bone marrow gravy.  Since she'll be leaving the country soon (possibly for good) we decided we should go for it because hey, why leave wondering?  Even though they were drenched in the hedonistic sauce they managed to maintain a rather crispy fry.  This is not for the healthfully conscious and without a fork you've sure to make a colossal mess, but those may be the best fries a restaurant has put forth, anywhere and ever.  Served in a rustic looking little cast iron dish, they are utterly decadent and irresistible.

   Overall it was a great meal, with some very friendly, helpful and efficient staff and some really great food.  I look forward to returning to make my way through as much of the menu as possible before they change it for the next season!  If you'd like to check it out, you can find Sustain at :
            3252 Northeast 1st Avenue  Miami, FL 33137

            www.sustainmiami.com

(305) 424-9079

Fending for quality food in Jupiter: Captain Charlie's Reef Grill

After a long hiatus due to impending deadlines and my sheer inability to sit long enough to focus, it's finally time to make my way back to the internet.  Recently went to Jupiter to attend Field of Beers, and with some time to kill in the area, I wanted to find palatable and unique options for dining to make the stay more interesting for the meals I wasn't served delicious and creative perfectly planned pairings (ala FOB).
    Trying to find seafood in South Florida is about as easy as finding snowbirds in the winter (in other words, a dime a dozen).  However, trying to find fresh and flavorful seafood that is reasonably priced and well executed, is definitely makes for a rare commodity.  Thanks to the wonderful recommendation from a friend, managed to track down Captain Charlie's Reef Grill with some help from the very convenient GPS.  The quintessential hole-in-the-wall, it's easy to pass by without ever noticing it's existence in the back of a little shopping center.
    Since they don't take reservations, the wait was about 50 minutes, however they had another "waiting area" that was actually another restaurant entirely, three spots down in the shopping center.  Complete with a couple of booths and a long bar, you can choose to pass the time imbibing in a glass of wine or with a cold, frosty beer.  Even more impressive was that their wine list including selections from around the world and their beer list managed to branch out a teensy bit from the standard selections, offering Longboard and Anchor Steam among others.
   When we were seated in the main dining room, it was hard to decide from the lengthy menu of daily specials.  The room itself had typical sea-faring kitsch, including the giant taxidermized fishes on the wood plank walls.  Started the meal with a bowl of the artichoke, fennel and crab soup.  Luscious and thick, it was a splendid shade of pea green.  There was plenty of crab meat and lots of flavor.  Next was a conch carpaccio, fresh, without being gummy, the conch was thinly sliced and served on a delicate bed of mixed greens.  It was served with a light sauce that I didn't really touch much of since I felt the conch alone was substantially tasty.

For the last of the appetizers, I couldn't restrain myself from the fried green tomatoes.  This Southern staple is my absolute downfall as I am utterly powerless to resist when I see it on the menu.  That being said, it has disappointed me MANY MANY times.  As simple as it sounds, it's very easy to go horribly wrong.  Dried out, bland tomatoes, too much breading, not enough breading, I've had plenty of complaints.  Thankfully, Charlie's managed to do a pretty decent job. If I'm going to be extremely nit-picky I'll note the breading could have used a smidgen more seasoning and perhaps they should have been sliced a tad bit thinner for optimal coating:tomato ratio and ease of cutting.  That being said, they stacked them like a tower, with a creamy layer of goat cheese spread between each green tomato, and for that I salute them.  If that weren't enough to have me singing it's praises, the addition of beets and shrimp added a surprising contrast that gave the dish an extra element of freshness to combat the heavy "fried food" feeling you might get otherwise.  Bravo for an unexpected but fantastic combination!  I only wish there was a couple more shrimp so every bite could have been a little microcosm of seafood and tomatoes.

    Finally we made our way to the entree.  Among the tantalizing alternatives of fresh filets we decided to order the seafood platter to ensure the best variety.  Charlie's gave us the choice of grilled, blackened, broiled, deep fried, and being the lover of all things charred, went with the grilled option.  When the platter made it's appearance (which they had kindly split into two plates for us), I noted the lovely mountain of rice and beans lovingly situated next to some fresh vegetables, topped with a fair assortment of fresh fish, shrimp, scallops and calamari.  The fish was white, flaky and tender while the other items were grilled just enough to be cooked without every erring on the side of rubbery or dessicated.  The combination of the slight char with the delicate meat was absolute nirvana.  If that wasn't enough they even managed to prepare the veggies with the same attention, the Goldilocks equivalent of not too wilted and not to undercooked.  

   After so many superb selections it was hard to resist the opportunity to try their desserts as well.  The berry port creme brulee sounded too enticing to pass up.  Maybe our expectations were too high, or maybe it was just an off night, but this was where the meal fell just a bit short.  The vanilla and port flavors were very subtle if not non-existent.  Additionally, the absence of vanilla bean flecks suggested that perhaps real vanilla wasn't actually used and instead it was some kind of extract.  Furthermore the consistency was closer to a clumpy pudding topped with a chewy sugar layer rather than the traditional creme brulee.  After such a wonderful dining experience it was a bit disappointing. 
  Overall though, this was truly a hidden gem for basic seafood and for dishes with some innovative twists.  I'd  recommend seeking it out if you're in the area and looking for a high quality seafood meal at an affordable price.
     12846 US Highway 1
     Juno Beach, FL 33408