Chima

31 Aug 2011 Leave a Comment

by everydayeaters in A-U-C-E, Hoity Toity, Spanish, Steak

Chima Brazilian Steakhouse                                                             August 27, 2011

2400 E. Las Olas Blvd., Ste. C                                                             5:30 PM Reservations

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

www.chimasteakhouse.com

954-712-0580

Friends, we finally made it to Chima!  We had been trying to visit here for the last couple of months but life kept getting in the way.  Nothing was stopping us today, not even 96 degrees of blistering heat and humidity.

Chima is located just west of the intercoastal bridge on Las Olas Boulevard, on the south side of the road.  Blink and you’ll miss it, but look for an orange building and the valet parking sign.  Chima doesn’t have their own parking lot and public parking is scarce that far east on Las Olas so we highly recommend the $3.00 valet parking.

From the valet stand you immediately walk through this absolutely beautiful outside court yard/lounge area.  White and brown tables and chairs on top of this burnt orange tile (or was it cement?) but what really catches your eye are the 2 humongous 150 year old Banyan trees.  There is full bar service outside and on this day live music by a couple singing sexy Spanish songs. Muy Caliente!  I could stay out here all day!

Inside at the hostess stand we told the young lady we had 5:30 reservations, she immediately greeted us by our names and we were escorted to our table. (Reservations were made via Opentable.com, reservations are strongly recommended at Chima.)  On the way to our table we noticed the inside bar with it’s neat looking stools and lighting.  I also couldn’t help but notice how exceptionally clean everything is including the bathroom. From the mirrors and windows to the carpet and spotless silverware…spic and span.  At this point I would like to point out Chima’s dress policy: Business Casual.  We were dressed for casual Saturday but weren’t treated any different than our better dressed table neighbors.

Our table for 2 was covered in white linen with all the usual settings but our waiter explained to us the not so usual “Purse Hooks” under the table.  Yes, ladies, purse hooks to keep your purse off of the ground and off of the back of your chair.  The waiter asked if we would like natural or sparkling water (always a sign of an upper scale restaurant) and then proceeded to take our adult beverage order (2 white sangria’s $10 each) and sent it to the bar via his iPod Touch (kewl!).  At this point we were given 2 chips with one side black and the other side orange.  Orange side up means “bring it on” or “yes, please bring me more carved meat”.  Black side up means “I’m digesting, please go away” or “No thank you, please pass me by”.  Small plates of tiny appetizers where brought to the table: Fluffy cheese bread balls, smoked turkey dip (my personal favorite) and beef and chicken crochets.  These were replenished constantly while we were still working on the salad part of our dinner.

We’ve all been to salad bars, right?  So you’re thinking Sonny’s or Ruby Tuesdays…..BANISH THESE THOUGHTS PEOPLE.  This is probably the most elegant salad bar I’ve ever seen.  You won’t find canned pudding or warm pickle spears and you certainly won’t see them dump a plastic bag full of brown tinted lettuce into the community bowl.  There’s potato chicken salad, shrimp salad, sliced smoked salmon sliced prosciutto, fresh mozzarella balls with sliced tomatoes and this awesome vinaigrette dressing, at least 4 different lettuce types that look like they were plucked from the ground and washed that day, fruit and many other items I’ve forgotten.  Also on the salad bar are hot items like black beans and rice, soups and fresh baked bread.  The salad bar is also where you’ll find your condiments like chimichurri sauce, horseradish and steak sauces.  Once you have returned from the salad bar you’ll find your chair pulled out for you, your napkin has been refolded, and your table rid of any crumbs and your water and tiny appetizers refilled.

Time for the main event! The salad plates are whisked away and the waiter asked if we’re ready. The chips have been flipped to orange and here comes the first guy with meat on a stick.  It’s ribeye, the server asked how we take it.  Medium and well done are towards the bottom, rare and medium rare towards the top.  He sliced our selections from the skewer and you use these tiny salad tongs to grab your meat and pull it over to your plate.  The rib eye is perfect, juicy and dipping it in that homemade horseradish sauce….you will hear angels sing.  Another round of appetizer plates are delivered but this time it’s the smoothest mashed potatoes you’ve ever seen, petite fried bananas that taste just like banana pudding and what I think are fried yucca that taste like French fries.  Meat stick guy #2 arrives and he has filet mignon (if you have to ask for A-1 you may get slapped or at the very least an evil eye).  Guy #3, 4 & 5 come and go…Beef ribs, Swordfish and salmon.  UNCLE!!  I need to rest! Then remembered to flip the chip to black.  Sitting back and secretly undoing “the top button” we know there is no way we can leave yet, we still had more meats to try.  Chips flipped back to orange and we’re coming down the home stretch…pork and chicken are up next.  Everything is perfection!  There were 2 meats that we passed on and they were sausage and lamb chops.  Neither one of us are big fans of those.

Dinner plates gone and looking for the complimentary wheelchair to help our heaping butts out of there, Lissa wants desert.  She ordered a Crème Brule.  She says it’s wonderful.  I was too full to taste it but I have to admit, it looked delicious. (Lissa here.  Jennifer didn’t know what she missed.  I LOVE me some creme brule and I have to say that at Chima it was delish!  No burnt sugar taste, creamy center … stuffed or not, it was worth the over-stuffed feeling to scarf that down!)

Time for the check and some final thoughts.

2 – Rodizio Dinniers (the AUCE plan)…$49.50 each…$99.00

2 – White Sangrias (Really good)…$10.00 each….$20.00

1 – Ultimate Caipir (an expensive drink)….$14.00

1 – Crème Brule….$9.00

Total bill for us this night: $142.00, $8.52 tax……..$150.52 (Not including gratuity.)

Chima is beautifully decorated inside and out, the service is outstanding and the food is incredible.  This place has such a Sex in the City feel to it.  We think it’s the perfect date night place.  (We would not recommend bringing children here.)  If we used a star system Chima would rate 4 and ¾ stars.  Had the drink prices been a little more reasonable this would have been 5 stars, hands down.

15th Street Fisheries

07 Aug 2010 Leave a Comment

by everydayeaters in Hoity Toity, Seafood

1900 SE 15th Street Ft. Lauderdale, FL

http://www.15thstreetfisheries.com

Well, this week we decided to dress things up a bit and review our first “hoity toity” restaurant.  Jennifer and I believe that you should dress somewhat close to the price of the restaurant that you are visiting.  Meaning, we did the hair and the make-up to go out, and instead of wearing the Old Navy outfit, well, we had to break out the Banana Republic.

Parking at the restaurant isn’t bad if you valet.  Keep in mind that the restaurant is close to a marina, so parking yourself can be a chore and you may have to walk a ways (and who wants to do that in their Banana Republic?).  So, we suggest that you valet.  Valet is no cost, except what you tip them.  Very convenient.

As you walk into the restaurant, there is the Dockside Cafe and Bar downstairs.  This is a more casual atmosphere and when we walked in it was pretty crowded and loud due to happy hour.  When we came in the door, we were greeted with a friendly hostess.  We gave her our name, she pushed a couple buttons on her computer station and told us to go upstairs to be seated.  As soon as we reached the top of the stairs we were greeted by another hostess who immediately sat us.  Our table had a panoramic view of the intercoastal at the 17th Street Causeway and was set very elegantly.

After a few moments of looking at the menu and hearing the specials we were ready to order (we had previewed the menu online).  We also ordered two glasses of White Zinfandel ($7 each) from the VERY extensive wine list.  We were brought a basket of bread which was very warm and yummy.  However, the butter was very cold.  (If you can’t spread the butter then what’s the point?) I personally hate that – but I digress.

For our appetizers I ordered the Shrimp ‘n Grits ($13) and Jennifer ordered the Tuna Tartare ($12).  I thought the Shrimp ‘n Grits were outstanding!  The grits were a hundred times better than those I had the previous week at Catfish Dewey’s (and I loved those).  The whole plate tasted like a Sunday morning breakfast to me.  The grits were perfectly complimented by the trigole cheese and has a smoky flavor from the bacon on top.  The maple sauce was sweetened to the perfect level.  The shrimp were perfectly cooked and had a nice crust on the outside of them.  The only issue that I had was in the presentation of the dish.  I didn’t like the fact that the shrimp heads were left on, but that didn’t stop me from eating every bite either.  Jennifer said that the Tuna Tartare was very delicate and nicely accented with cilantro.  It had the consistency of chunky applesauce (try to image a tuna salsa) and was served with fried wonton crisps.  She liked it very much.

As soon as we finished our appetizers, our salads arrived.  I had the Fisheries Salad ($10) and Jennifer had the special, Heirloom tomato with Buffalo Mozzarella drizzled with olive oil and 25 year old balsamic vinegar ($14).  However, before we could start enjoying the salads, Mark (who we assumed was the manager) came over and checked on how we were doing. (We love it when the managers come to the table.)  He was very friendly and we later saw him helping out with another table.  Now, back to the salads.  The Fisheries salad was really good (for a salad).  The lettuce was perfectly cut into bite size pieces and accented with rock shrimp, almonds, strawberries and bacon.  The papaya chutney dressing was light and creamy.  Jennifer’s Heirloom tomato and mozzarella salad was very good aside from the garnish.  She said the green leafs on top tasted like black licorice and didn’t really enjoy that.  After she scooted those aside, the salad was better.

A few minutes after we finished the salads the main courses came.  I ordered the Seared Diver Scallops ($32) and Jennifer ordered the Slow Roasted Prime Rib ($36).  Now, a word before I comment on the scallops.  When we went to Catfish Dewey’s last week, Jennifer made me try one of her scallops – this was the first time I had tried them – and I thought it was ok.  So, when I ordered the scallops I was embracing the Everyday Eaters mission – to step out of my food comfort zone.  Well, I thought the flavors were really good and that the scallops had a nice sear on the outside with the perfect crunch.  However, it was the inside texture that got me.  Jennifer says that they were perfectly cooked and tasted like “butta.”  I don’t doubt it, I just couldn’t get past the texture – but I did eat two of them!  Jennifer’s steak was ordered and served medium-well.  She got some fresh horseradish sauce for dipping that was really creamy and a touch spicy.  The sweet potato gratin was crunchy on the outside and smooth and creamy on the inside.

After sitting for a few minutes after we finished our meals, our waiter, Ron, came over and asked if we wanted dessert.  Now, we were thinking about it and while we were he mentioned that all the desserts are made fresh in-house by a trained pastry chef from France.  As impressive as that sounded, we were down for the count.

Bottom line?  We thought 15th Street Fisheries was a great place to eat.  Our final bill came out to around $140, so it’s not somewhere you go to just “go out.”  You go there for the beautiful views of the intercoastal, the phenomenal service and food.  This is a great place to take that special someone, celebrate an anniversary, or an elegant family get together.  But please, dress nice!  No one wants to pay $30 a plate and sit next to someone in jeans and a t-shirt!

Jennifer here!…I have been to 15th Street Fisheries 5 or 6 times before.  This was Melissa’s first time.  To me something was just a little off this time.  For example: In the past your server would place a table menu  or table board (not sure what the correct wording is here) on the table top so everyone in your party could see at the same time.  Then the server would the explain the dishes to you.  Also notably missing from past visits was the bread girl.  They used to have a girl with a bread basket (think Little Red Riding Hood) full of all different kinds of home-made breads.  She would come to the table 2 or 3 times and serve you the bread of your choice from the basket.  I miss the little things like these.  To me it doesn’t matter how many times you’ve been here and seen the table menu or the bread girl.  You come back because they did these little extras that you thought were nice and different and you kind of looked forward to them.  Over all 15th Street Fisheries is still a great place to eat.  For the food, location and the service we highly recommend this place.

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