Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Are there inexpensive, good-quality restaurants in Tamarac-Margate-Pompano Beach area?
Q: As a single senior of modest means, I really don’t want to drive 2 0 to 2 5 miles to dine by myself, but I do enjoy an occasional good-quality and reasonably priced meal within a few miles from my home in north-central Broward. I live within a mile from the borders of Margate, Tamarac, Lauderhill, Lauderdale Lakes, Pompano Beach and North Lauderdale.
I enjoy traditional American fare like ribs, shrimp, lamb and chicken, but also enjoy Italian, Thai, Mexican and Chinese. I no longer can afford fine dining, so a $1 0 breakfast, or places where I can get a good meal a couple of times per month for under $2 0 , are hard to find but would be greatly appreciated.
— M. Craig Gelfano,
Fort Lauderdale
A: It’s tough today to find dinner entrées for less than $20, as the prices of food and staffing have gone up so much since the COVID19 pandemic came into our lives three years ago. But if you’re flexible on food types and make breakfast or lunch your meal out instead of dinner, there are actually a good number of reasonably priced restaurants in your neighborhood.
Margate and Tamarac get a bad rap sometimes as a dining wasteland, but I found several ethnic eateries and breakfast joints that are basking in excellent reviews on “Let’s Eat, South Florida,” the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s foodie Facebook page. I expanded the territory to Pompano Beach and Lighthouse Point and discovered even more.
Let me know if you try any of them and if they meet your expectations for taste, service, atmosphere and, most importantly, price.
Café Rejoice, 8001 W. McNab Road, Tamarac; 754-222-8199; cristoss.com
Open for breakfast and lunch, this Argentine café offers homemade empanadas, soups and pastries, as well as quiches, sandwiches and comfort foods. Chicken casserole or beef meatballs on rice or pasta costs $14.90, while pizza is priced at $12.90. On
“Let’s Eat, South Florida”, a patron described the restaurant as a “hidden gem.” Another said: “I had the broccoli soup and it was the best I ever had!”
Calypso Restaurant & Raw Bar,
460 S. Cypress Road, Pompano Beach; 954-942-1633; calypsorestaurant.com
Open since 1990, this Caribbean restaurant has developed a loyal following for its fresh conch, scallops, clams, oysters and other warm-water tropical fish. “Cutters” — island lingo for sandwiches — are a good deal for $9.95 with roast beef and $10.95 with smoked pork. A spicy British West Indies burger is $11.95, and lunch platters, such as jerk chicken or fried shrimp, range from $10.95 to $12.95.
Ferro Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria,
8146 N. University Drive, Tamarac; 954-722-3444; ferropizza. com
Ferro lays claim to the “best New York style pizza,” with dough made on-site. A medium cheese pie, with eight slices, costs $19. Veal, chicken and seafood entrées are all about $20 each. A large calzone with cheese, for four people to share, is also $20. Not many restaurants serve Early Bird Specials anymore, but Ferro offers pasta, chicken and fish dishes for $15.50 to $17.50, including soup, salad, rolls, soft drink and spumoni dessert, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
Fish Shack, 2460 N. Federal Highway, Lighthouse Point; 954-586-4105; fishshacklhp.com
When you walk into Fish Shack, you feel like you’ve discovered a local secret, as men and women in their construction gear or office outfits take a lunch break to dine on local seafood. Many come for Fish Shack’s Famous Conch Salad ($14.95), while others favor oysters from the raw bar ($15.95 for six). If you’re not a seafood lover, there’s always a hamburger ($12.95) or chicken wings ($13.95 for 10).
The Gem Eatery, 1043 State Road 7, Margate; 954-971-7520; gemeatery. com
Diners rave about The Gem’s Homemade Jumbo Cinnamon Buns ($6.99), but the owners make not only pastries but everything from scratch with a creative touch. A recent lunch consisted of stuffed peppers with rice and a side of griddled bread. They serve a meatball parm sub for $10.50; sandwiches and burgers range in price from $8.99 to $17.99. They post their daily specials at Facebook.com/TheGemEatery.
Kendall Kafé, 7658 N. Nob Hill Road, Tamarac; 954-366-6837; Instagram. com/kendallkafe
Egg lovers may have trouble picking among this cafe’s many omelets and egg combos, including Eggs Benedict Florentine for $7.29 and a Two Egg Breakfast with two pork sausage patties for $5.99. Lunch options include tuna melts, chicken salad sandwiches and burgers. A “Let’s Eat” reviewer gushed: “Absolutely wonderful experience. We had eggs Benedict which had the biggest eggs perfectly cooked. Wife’s hash browns and my home fries cooked to perfection. Can’t wait to try lunch next. A great addition to the area.”
La Lupe, 625 E. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach; 954-933-3491
A “Let’s Eat, South Florida” reviewer described La Lupe as “a hidden little gem serving delicious Mexican cuisine.” A steak burrito costs $11.99; a chicken fajita is $12.99. Another reviewer said: “The pork belly tacos are delicious! I work up the street so I have been a few times. The quesabirria tacos are good too!”
Old School Philly Cheesesteaks,
898 N. Federal Highway, Pompano Beach; 954-205-3700; oldschoolphilly.com
This veteran-owned and -operated restaurant serves Philly cheesesteaks on “savory bread from New Jersey.” A large Classic cheesesteak, “wit’ or witout onions,” is $11.99. For a dollar more, you can add toppings such as bacon, grilled mushrooms and sweet peppers, and every sandwich allows a choice of cheese. The site also bakes chocolate chip cookies from scratch every day for $1.99 each.
Silver Pon To Go, 5100 W. Commercial Blvd., Tamarac; 954-485-4305
There are several Chinese options in the Tamarac/Margate area, and their authenticity and quality are hotly debated on “Let’s Eat, South Florida.” But Silver Pon, which promotes its “New York style,” is many residents’ go-to. A quart of Chicken Lo Mein costs $7.15, while Hunan Beef and Scallops is priced at $11.50. Although the restaurant has “to go” in its name, there is some indoor seating available.
Vo An Vietnamese Restaurant,
1821 State
Road 7, Margate. 954-3665430; vo-an-vietnamese-restaurant.business.site
Foodies who love pho, or beef bone broth served with noodles, vegetables and protein, have been raving about Vo An, which they say offers clean, fresh flavors and excellent service. Beef pho goes for $14.95; for the adventurous, Oc Len Xao Dua, or sea snails in coconut milk, is priced at $13.75. And for those who like to eat outside, the restaurant has a large outdoor screened-in seating area. According to one Let’s Eat, South Florida reviewer: “This place is legit!”