Carol K.
Yelp
Off the beaten path but definitely worth the trip!
Located in the Sailboat Bend area of Fort Lauderdale, while only a 10 minute drive from the fanciness of Las Olas, this place reminds me of a Wisconsin "townie bar" where everyone is laid back and the place serves up great food and drink at reasonable prices.
I had been to their location out in Plantation and while nice- that location lacks the charm that this place oozes. Maybe it's because of the building is an old grocery story from the 50's or maybe it's because the neighborhood that surrounds this place is established, but whatever the reason, I felt at home the minute I pulled open the door.
The premise is simple. The room is lined with beer refrigerators where you just grab what you want and sit at one of the tables to enjoy it. Need an opener? They are hanging from the posts around the room. There are also on draft specials listed on the chalkboard behind the cashier. There is a huge selection of beers or if you just want an old standby, they have those too.
Their menu is on a QR code attached to the tables so you can just scan to see what you want from their varied menu. A server comes around to take your order (the cashier) and then she also delivers the food when it's ready.
We wanted to try a range of food, knowing we would take some of it home, so we ordered a lot of food, First we had a couple of appetizers; jalapeno poppers and buffalo shrimp. Both were good but whenever is fried food bad? Ha!
Next up were the fish tacos (3 to an order) and a pizza. The tacos were great but that pizza sang to me with it's thin crispy crust, loaded with toppings and they even cut it into squares when my friend asked which made it all the better!
When you are done, you can ask for boxes for your leftovers, bring your empty bottles and cans to the cashier and she will cash you out. A great semi self service place.
If lingering is more your style, they have board games that you can play as well as a seating area with couches set up around a TV in the middle of the place. Or there is outdoor seating out front if that is more your thing. Parking is easy too as they have their own little lot, right in the middle of this cozy neighborhood.
Definitely will be back with some of my out of town friends who are always asking to go to the local spots. Riverside market definitely fits that bill!