‘Check Please, South Florida’

Which restaurants are featured as TV series returns?

Ten new episodes. Thirty restaurants. A rotating cast of regular folk sharing and comparing their favorite eateries, with convivial chef Michelle Bernstein guiding the amateur critics through a roundtable discussion. Oh, there’s wine too, to soothe jittery nerves of those not used to appearing on TV.

“Check Please, South Florida,” the popular restaurant-review show hosted by Bernstein, is back for another season on local PBS affiliates. The first of 10 new episodes airs 7:30 p.m. Monday (March 2) on WPBT-Ch. 2 and 5:30 p.m. Wednesday (March 4) on WXEL-Ch. 42. The season premiere features two Broward restaurants, Gabose Pocha (modern Korean) in Lauderhill and seafood perennial Blue Moon Fish Co., in Lauderdale-by-theSea, along with Charley’s Vegan Tacos in Wynwood.

The show repeats at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays on Ch. 2.

Bernstein, the Miami-based, James Beard Award-winning chef, has hosted the local version of the show since 2008, when it was spun off from its Chicago originator. In an era of foodobsessed diners who post pics of every meal on Instagram and gripe about every glitch on Yelp, the show has proved resilient. It features a crowd-pleasing mix of cuisines, styles and price points throughout South Florida. This season features restaurants old (73-year-old Okeechobee Steakhouse in West Palm Beach) and relatively new (Ghee Indian

Kitchen in Miami), roaming from Palmetto Bay to Fort Pierce.

“I love having the ability to shine a spotlight on such a diverse group of passionate, hard-working restaurateurs and chefs in our community,” Bernstein says in a press release.

Viewers can revisit past reviews, learn a new recipe, or apply to be a guest at the show’s website: www.checkpleasefl.com.

Below is a list of the restaurants featured on season 17 (early years featured multiple seasons):

Episode 1701 – Premiering March 2

■ Charley’s Vegan Tacos (Wynwood)

■ Gabose Pocha (Lauderhill)

■ Blue Moon Fish Company (Lauderdale-by-theSea)

Episode 1702 – March 9

■ Okeechobee Steakhouse (West Palm Beach)

■ El Tayta Peruvian Restaurant (Hallandale)

■ Lettuce & Tomato Gourmet Gastropub (North Miami)

Episode 1703 – March 16

■ Dal Contadino Trattoria (Fort Lauderdale)

■ Ceviches by Divinos (Miami Springs)

■ Jamerican Cuisine (Boynton Beach)

Episode 1704 – March 23 ■ Dune Dog (Jupiter) ■ Apeiro Kitchen & Bar (Delray)

■ Dixie Grill & Bar (West Palm Beach)

Episode 1705 – March 30 ■ Etaru (Hallandale) ■ Mr. Wright’s Gold Digger Saloon (Wynwood)

■ Mezes Greek Taverna (Pembroke Pines)

Episode 1706 – April 6

■ New York Grilled Cheese (Boca Raton)

■ Rooster in the Garden (Fort Pierce)

■ Queen of Sheeba (West Palm Beach)

Special episode – April 13

■ Tasting Tour Special Episode

Episode 1707 – April 20

■ Ristorante Fratelli Milano (Miami) ■ Bachour (Coral Gables) ■ Golden Rule Seafood (Palmetto Bay)

Episode 1708 – April 27

■ Cucina Caruso Italian Kitchen (Oakland Park).

■ Tom Jenkins BBQ (Fort Lauderdale)

■ House of Food Porn (Little Haiti)

Episode 1709 – May 4 ■ La Vie (Pompano

Beach)

■ El Mariachi (Coral Springs)

■ City Fish Market (Boca Raton)

Episode 1710 – Premiering May 11 ■ Edukos (Little Havana) ■ Ghee Indian Kitchen (Miami)

■ Ke-uh Sushi (Weston)

Mike Mayo

COURTESY WPBT-CH. 2 Chef Michelle Bernstein, second from right, is back as host for another season of the viewer restaurant-review show “Check, Please! South Florida” on local PBS stations. A new slate of 10 episodes begins at 7:30 p.m. Monday on WPBT-Ch. 2.