Popular Restaurant in Santa Monica

I grew up in the Northeast, and spent many summer beach days munching on the lobster rolls, Blue Point oysters, fried clams, snapper, and other seafood ubiquitous to the East Coast. Moving to Southern California has its foodie benefits, but I’ve sorely missed the East Coast summertime crab shack atmosphere. If you’ve been to one, you know what I mean: The real deal has plastic tablecloths (if any), the morning’s catch of crabs, lobsters or clams, amazingly fresh fish, and almost no dress code. Makes sense; the best seafood joints are right by the beach after all. I hadn’t found a place in Southern California to quite fit this niche. When The Blue Plate Oysterette opened on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, I was quite hopeful. The food is really good at this restaurant, its popularity is by and large deserved.

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The surprising Creolina's, now in Davie

The first day one of my best friends found out I like to vacation in the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood area, she asked if I have ever eaten at Creolina’s.

The answer was no.

And, I’m sorry to say, even with the 10 trips I’ve made since she first brought it up, I never managed to look it up on Mapquest and drop in. I had lots of excuses: the spring breakers I was with didn’t want Creole food. I might get lost. Parking is a pain in downtown Ft. Lauderdale.

Pretty lame, huh? Especially now, after she and I were actually in Broward County together this week, and she personally drove me to Creolina’s Dixie Takeout new location in Davie for lunch. I have to admit, you could have knocked me over with a feather for the next hour.

I mean, seriously: This hole-in-the-wall strip center restaurant with an Old Western font sign too tiny to see from the frontage road is THE Creolina’s? The one the South Florida media goes nuts over? The place where the mayor eats and business people hang out? No. Way. Creolina’s is an elegant French bistro where you dress up for lunch and hope not to drop gravy on the white linen …  or so I imagined.

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Paradise Cafe's Rasta Vibe

A celebration of rasta culture and a cheeky sense of humor create an unforgettable atmosphere at the Paradise Cafe,( also called Bob Marley Cafe) on the quiet eastern coast of Cozumel.  Swaddled by the Caribbean Sea and adorned with thatched roofs and bright red, gold and green accents, the cafe offers freshly prepared food as well as stunning beach views.  Walking up to the restaurant, the first things that capture your attention are signs proclaiming:  “Rasta’s Freedom in Paradise Yeah- Man.”  The signs sum up the general feel of the cafe and the beach.  Freedom to lounge, eat, surf or sprawl in a hammock  sounds like a reasonable idea for paradise. Read More »

Best Burgers at Royal Exchange in San Francisco

Remember the movie Swingers, with a young and lanky Vince Vaughn? Remember how he used the phrase “you’re so money!”, whenever he complimented his friend Jon Favreau or just tried to boost his ego? In the 1990’s this phrase became the hippest way to tell your friend that they were cool or make them feel important.

Now think about the locations where you might find these guys hanging out. In downtown San Francisco, you would find them very likely at the Royal Exchange sitting in a booth after work smoking.

The Royal Exchange in the 1990s was  one of my favorite place for after work drinks. Lots of cute guys from the investment firms would start showing up at 2:00 after the stock market closed.  And though the prices are higher today, their happy hour is still a fun spot that I recommend to my single friends and to visitors staying at Le Méridien Hotel.

Though I am not in the area as often as I used to be, I still like to stop here for lunch whenever I can. Read More »