As a dad of two school aged boys, the summer season means a lot of running around. Be it play dates, summer camps, trips to the zoo or even weekends at the beach, I am always planning prepping or executing some plan to keep my two boys entertained. This of course leaves me with little time to sit and take a breath, let alone take in a good meal. That’s one of my favorite things to do, you see, is take in a good meal. I’m a former chef and while that means I have a passion for food, “classically trained in the culinary arts” means very little to a little boy that could eat mac and cheese as if it were coming from a life support machine and another that enjoys few things outside the realm of chicken nuggets and french fries. I have some work to do. That aside, I do find some time to indulge my senses in some of the best culinary fare the country has to offer and it’s found right here in South Florida. My most recent experience with some of the best our area has to offer was had at Big City Tavern Las Olas.
When in Ft. Lauderdale, you have many choices for dining, I’ve tried only a few and am aching to return for more. Big City Tavern has quickly become one of my favorites.
There’s charm here, there is class, there is also an immediate sense that you’re going to love this place that comes over you. You know, like when you feel like you’re already a regular? Yeah, like that. Everyone treated my girlfriend and I wonderfully. The hostess greeted us before we even stepped foot in the door. We were seated promptly and Manuel, our server, introduced himself. This guy was awesome. He attended to our every need and thought of all the little things before we did. Not once did we find ourselves asking for a napkin or for more water. Manuel was on his game that night as I’m sure he is every night. The most delicious, fluffy, heavenly bread came to the table and we really started looking forward to what was to come.
We started off with the Sliced Seared Rare Tuna Tataki with pineapple and pickled jalapeños in a sweet soy sauce that was delicious, the bit from the jalapeños was just bold enough to make you pay attention, but the cilantro cooled off the palette.
Next we had the Wood Grilled Chimichurri Chicken Wings with Chipotle-Lime Aioli . . uhm, YES! I am a big wings fan (the food, not the group) and these didn’t disappoint. I love it when I discover new ways to serve wings. These are a must try.
I want to take a moment to honor a superstar on the menu, the Butcher Shop Meatballs with San Marzano Sauce and Whipped Ricotta. This dish is simply genius. The strong, sweet taste of the San Marzano tomatoes is blanketed with the creamiest whipped Ricotta you will ever try.
For the main course my girlfriend had the Boneless Beef Short Rib Braised in Double Chocolate Stout served with Mashed Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetables. I want to say that this has got to be the best dish on the menu. From the little that I was allowed to try, I knew I would be back again to have it all to myself. The short rib was perfectly cooked, melted in your mouth but still had that pleasant texture you want from a short rib. Along with the potatoes and vegetables, this dish would make me think of my grandma’s cooking back on the farm … If I had a grandma that lived on a farm and cooked this well that is.
My choice was the Grilled Chicken Breast Paillard (think cutlets) in a lemon butter and caper sauce, also with mashed potatoes and some market vegetables. I found the golden beets included here to marry well with the smooth and buttery mashed potatoes and the citrus from the lemon butter and caper sauce. This one did not disappoint.
Even though we felt we couldn’t have another bite, we weren’t about to leave without trying something off of the dessert menu. While the Caramelized Banana Sundae in a Mason Jar caught out attention, we opted for something a bit more simple. The Red Grape Sorbet. We figured it wouldn’t be anything to write home about but were pleasantly surprised. The rich flavor of the sorbet has everything you love about red grapes minus all the stuff you want to get rid of. If you were that kid that dreamed of grapes coming pre-peeled, this sorbet is for you. I’ll be sure to visit soon to try that sundae though, not going to lie.
Overall it was a wonderful experience. Michael and Jason, the managers, were gracious hosts and we had a great time and some really terrific food. On your next visit to the Ft. Lauderdale area, make a point to stop in to see my friends at Big City Tavern. You won’t be disappointed.
