Header
Click here to visit the homepage of Mark's List, a Gay and Lesbian Entertainment and Travel site. Bookmark and Share Subscribe to email Surprising Dining Restaurant Reviews
                                  
   
     Surprising Dining on 
     Mark's List Surprising Dining 
   
 
 
 
Connect with Mark's List  
Contact Sales / Editorial  
Subscribe to Mark's List emails  
 Friends, Fans and Followers  
 
 
Restaurant Directories
Florida California
Fort Lauderdale Palm Springs
Hollywood San Diego
Miami  
Tampa Bay Area Colorado
The Keys Aspen
Orlando Denver
West Palm Beach Louisville
   
  New York
Georgia Fire Island
Atlanta Manhattan
   
Massachusetts Illinois
Boston Chicago
Provincetown  
  D.C.
Ontario Washington
Toronto  
  Washington
  Seattle
   
 
Support our Supporters!!
 
 
Mark's Listtonon Facebook
 
 
Florida's Top Sustainable Eateries
by Paul Rubio

Chef John Critchley

In line with the evolution of a more environmentally conscious and health conscious society, a select few restaurants have finally surfaced in Florida commingling the likes of natural resource conservation with hale and hearty body preservation. While scouting out organics and green products is relatively easy at a place like Whole Foods Market, Florida in general has yet to embrace the locally- sourced , farm-fresh, sustainable revolution that has taken hold in other states like California, Oregon, and Maine. Luckily for the more enlightened consumer, five South Florida restaurants have taken the situation in their own hands, supporting small organic farms and/or employing critical tools like the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s online Seafood Watch guide to sustainable seafood in creating their menus and sourcing their products. More after the jump, Sustainable.
 
 
 
 
Georgie's Alibi Wins Best Burger Award 2nd Year in a Row
Georgie's Alibi Chef

By Brad Casey

For the second year in a row, Georgie's Alibi has taken top honors in Fort Lauderdale's second annual Riverwalk Trust’s Burger Battle. The Alibi beat out the popular Capital Grille by a half point to be crowned the best tasting hamburger in Broward County.

A sold out crowd of 800 hamburger lovers jammed private yard of the Riverside Hotel on East Last Olas Boulevard last Friday night to sample hamburgers from 15 top notch eateries in Broward County. Seven distinguished judges including Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler, Chef Bill Mitchell of Publix Apron’s Cooking School and Chef Jack Kane, program director of Culinary Arts at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale were among the judges.

Restaurants that were invited to participate included Morton’s Steakhouse, Capital Grille, Pelican Landing at Pier 66, Hard Rock Café and Big City Tavern.

Last year’s win for the Alibi was a PR bonanza with the gay themed bar and café serving an estimated 250 Champ burgers a day for several weeks after the competition.

Alibi General Manager Vincent Frato said, “It’s very gratifying to see our hard work recognized at such an event and doing in back to back years says a lot for our staff and dedication to doing the best we can.”

Last year Alibi won the Best Burger Battle by a unanimous decision of the judges.
 
 
 
 
Surf 'n Turf 'n Girth - South Florida Style
by Paul Rubio
 
Surf N Turf N Girth
 
South Florida’s contemporary restaurant scene is a hit or miss of “sceney” hang outs, Northeast imports, jazzed up seafood joints, and pimped out steakhouses. Contrasting the predictability of recognizable chains and Sysco-stenching strip mall eateries, Florida’s glam revival has ushered in a new wave of more original eating establishments which merit bragging rights for both the food and the clientele. From boutique sushi counters to re-invented steakhouses to high-end Pan-Asian trendsetters that fulfill all your fat kid fantasies, below are South Florida’s best bets for fabulous sushi, bloody steaks with decadent sides, and show-stopping super-sized portions. More after the Jump, Surf.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fort Lauderdale Florida Area Restaurants
 
Link to Surprising Dining
 
 
Annual Food Events
Las Olas Food and Wine Festival
Las Olas Wine and Food Festival
Dine Out for Life
 
 
Boca Raton
Kyojin Buffet
 
Coral Springs
BurgerFi
 
 
Dania Beach
Jimmie's Chocolates
 
Deerfield Beach
Casa Maya Grill
Pizza Fusion
 
Delray Beach
Pizza Rustica
Cabana El Rey
Coffee District
Dada
 
Fort Lauderdale
Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza
Barbara Young Bake Shop
Big City Tavern
Cafe Vico
China Grill
Danny's Pizza
The Depot
The Depot
Downtowner Saloon
Fernanda's International Market
Five Guys Burgers
The Floridian
The Grateful Palate
Heart Rock
Himarshee Grille
Hi-Life Cafe
Il Mulino
Jack's Old Fashion Hamburgers
J. Mark's
Kitchenetta
Kyojin Buffet
La Bonne Crêpe
La Cantina Restaurant
Las Colinas
Le Cafe de Paris
Luigi's Coal Oven Pizza
Market 17
The Mason Jar Cafe
The Melting Pot
Mojo
Pizza Fusion
River House
Rok:Brgr
Smoothie Jungle
Stork's
Suko Thai
Sury's
Sweeter Days Bake Shop
Thai Spice
Trata Greek Taverna
Truluck's
Urban Brew Coffee (2 locations)
We Take The Cake
The Whole Enchilada
Zona Fresca
 
 
Fort Lauderdale Beach
Casablanca Cafe
Coconuts
H20
Greek Islands
Pizza Rustica
Sloppy Joe's
Steak 954 at the W Fort Lauderdale
Tokyo Blue
Trina
 
Las Olas Wine and Food Festival
The Las Olas Wine and Food Festival in downtown Fort Lauderdale was a huge hit with Wine Lovers and foodies. This year's event was sponsored by Surprising Dining here on Mark's List.
 
View Dining Out for Life Photo Gallery
Surprising Dining 
 
 
Dining Out for Life
Dining Out for Life was a huge success in South Florida with over 20 participating restaurants that included, The Manor, The Palace, Cha Cha Roosters and Steak 954
 
View Dining Out for Life Photo Gallery
Dining out for Life
 
 
Hollywood
Downtown
Argentango
Chocolada
Kilwin's
Lola's on Harrison
Mama Mia Italian Ristorante
Pizza Rustica
Red Thai and Sushi
Sage Restaurant
Spice Resto- Lounge
Sushi Room
Taverna Yiamas
Transylvania Romanian
 
Hollywood Beach:
Ben and Jerry's
Istanbul Restaurant
Latitudes
Le Petit Prince Cafe and Sandwicherie
Little Venice
Ocean Alley
O'Mallys
Sushi Thai on the Beach
 
 
Lighthouse Point
Camino Lindo
 
Oakland Park
D'Angelo's
Diner 24
Dixie Pig BBQ
La Bamba
Lemongrass Asian Bistro
Lips
Michele’s Dining Lounge
Peter Pan Diner
Portia’s
Rendez-Vous
Sunfish Grill
Tequila Sunrise
Undergrounds Coffehaus
The Wine Cellar
Zuckerello's
 
Pembroke
Jason's Deli
La Carreta
Lime
 
Pompano Beach
Checker's Old Munchen
Darrel & Oliver's Cafe Maxx
Jack's Old Fashion Hamburgers
J. Mark's
Jimmie's Chocolates and Cafe
 
Sunrise
Paul
 
Weston
Pizza Fusion
 
 
Wilton Manors
Acapulco Lindo
Bona Pizza
Bailey's Bistro
Beefcake's
 
Bill's Filling Station
Bill's Banner
Bombay Cafe
Candela
Courtyard Cafe
The Drive Cafe
Galanga
Georgie's Alibi
Gelato Station
Humpy's
Java Boys
Le Patio
Naked Grape Wine Bar
Naked Grape Wine Bar
Pink Submarine Deli
Pink Submarine Deli Wilton Manors
Rodeo
Rosie's Bar and Grill
Stork's
The Manor
Tropics
Wilton Wings
 
 

 
Miami Florida Area Restaurants
 
Miami Spice 2012

Hallelujah! It’s finally that time of year when Miami’s priciest and trendiest restaurants go “on sale,” giving us good reason to break our summer diets. Throughout all of August and September, you won’t need deep pockets to dine in style at over 100 of the city’s superlative eateries.  With set prices for fulfilling 3-course menus, it’s time to indulge and take complete advantage of Miami Spice. While there are many participants in the 2012 Miami Spice, here are some of our top picks: City Hall Restaurant, 1500 Degrees , Canyon Ranch Grill, The Forge Restaurant & Wine Bar, Fontainebleau, Jaguar Ceviche Spoon Bar & Grill, Juvia, Lantao and Sushi Samba Dromo

 
Aventura Miami Beach
Pasha's 1500 Degrees
Paul A La Folie
  Balan's
  Big Pink
Coconut Grove Blue Door
Green Street Canyon Ranch Grill
Jaguar Ceviche Spoon Bar & Grill David's Cafe
 
Pasha's 8 Oz Burger Bar
Hallandale 11th Street Diner
Thira The Forge Rest. & Wine Bar
  Front Porch
  Gem
Hialeah Hiro's Sushi Express
La Carreta  
 
Key Biscayne
La Carreta
  Ice Box
Miami Juvia
Bongos La Lupa Di Roma
City Hall the Restaurant  
Five Guys Lantao
La Carreta Lime
Mandolin Aegean Bistro Manolo
Miss Yip's Chinese Cafe Nemo
Pasha's News Cafe South Beach
Pizza Rustica Osteria del Teatro
Rosa Mexicano Palace Food Bar
Versailles
 
 
 
 
Midtowne Pasha's
  Paul
  Pizza Rustica
  Provence Grill
MiMo Rosa Mexicano
Moonchine Sushi Saigon
  Tapas y Tintos
Miramar Tap Tap
La Carreta Tudor House
  Van Dyke
South Miami YUCA
Kyojin Buffet  
Casa Larios  
   
   
North Miami  
Andiamo Brick Oven Pizza  
Bulldog Barbecue Miami North Miami Beach
Hiro's Sushi Express Yakko-San
   
Pasha's Manolo
Pizza Fusion  
Schnitzel Haus  
 
Soyka  
Woody's Famous Steak Sandwich  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 

 
Tampa Bay Area Restaurants
Bradenton St Petersburg Beach
Caragiulos Crabby Bill's
   
   
Clearwater Beach Tampa
Columbia Columbia
Crabby Bill's Crabby Bill's
  Daily Eats
Indian Rocks Beach Datz Delicatessen
Crabby Bill's Frankie's
  Five Guys
Lake Mary Jason's Deli
Dexter's Kojak's House of Ribs
  Samurai Blue
Sarasota Streetcar Charlie's
Caragiulos Swann Avenue Express
Cha Cha Coconuts Taqueria Cantina and Burrito Joint
Columbia The Lime
Five Guys Tre Amici
Honey Crust Pizza Wine Exchange
   
St Petersburg  
Central Avenue Oyster Bar Treasure Island
Cha Cha Coconuts Sloppy Joe's
Columbia  
Five Guys  
The Garden Bistro  
Joey Brooklyn's Famous Pizza  
Queenshead Restaurant & Bar  
Ratchada  
Skyway Jack's  
The Moon Under Water  
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Orlando Florida Restaurants
Celebration Orlando
Columbia Anthony's Pizzeria
  Aroma Coffee and Wine Bar
Lake Mary Cityfish
Dexter's Dexter's
  El Coqui Mexicano
St Cloud FiFi's Bistro and Patisserie
Crabby Bill's Five Guys
  Funky Monkey Wine Company
Winter Park Hamburger Mary's
Dexter's Jason's Deli
  Pom Pom's
  Wildside
   
   
 
 
 
 

 
Palm Beach Florida Area Restaurants
Boynton Beach Florida West Palm Beach Florida
Jason's Deli Cabana Las Palmas
  Howley’s
Lake Worth Florida Paul
Farmer Girl Phat's Bistro and Bar
Les Beans Sushi Groove
The Cottage  
  Wellington
  Pizza Fusion
   
 
 
 
 

 
Support Our Supporters!
 
The Florida Keys
Marathon Key West
Island Fish Co. A Taste of Greece
  B.O.'s Fish Wagon
  Camille's
  Flamingo’s Café
  Hard Rock Cafe
  Island House Restaurant
  Island House Restaurant Key West Florida
  Jack Flats
  La Te Da
  La Trattoria
  Mangia Mangia
  Pizza Joe's
   
  Sloppy Joe's
   
 
 

 
New York City Area Restaurants
Manhattan Fire Island
44 & X American Bay Bar Cafe
Bar Veloce (3 locations) Blue Whale
Billy's Bakery Cherry Grove Pizza
Cafe 50 West Island Breeze
Cafe Mogador Moroccan Jumping Jacks Seafood
Chow Bar Sweet Licks
Energy Kitchen (8 locations)  
Hard Rock Cafe  
Jekyll and Hyde Harlem
Manatus Diner Sylvia's Soul Food
Morandi Northern Italian  
Nooch Thai Japanese   
Pastis  
Rosa Mexicano (3 locations)  
'Snice Vegetarian Cafe  
Spice Market  
Uncle Nick's Greek  
Union Square Coffee Shop  
Viceroy Cafe  
Vinyl (2 locations)  
   
 
 

 
California Restaurant Reviews
Palm Springs San Diego
Amici Trattoria Baby Cakes
Azul Tapas Lounge Baja Bettys
Billy Reed's Bite
Bongo Johnny's Cafe on Park
Guacamoles Confidential
Hamburger Mary's Cowboy Star Restaurant Butcher Shop
Jake's Ready to Eat Currant
Old Creek House Gossip Grill
Peabody's Coffee Bar Hash House a Go Go
Pomme Frites Saigon on 5th
Trio Stingaree
Wangs in the Desert Taste of Italy
  Urban Grind Coffee
  Urban Moes Bar & Grill
   
   
 
 

 
Georgia Restaurant Reviews
Atlanta  
Bakeshop  
Flying Bisquit  
Front Page News  
Joe's on Juniper  
Metro Fresh  
South City Kitchen  
Spice Market  
Rosa Mexicano  
Sweet Pockets  
Tierra  
Two Urban Licks  
The Vortex  
   
 
 

 
Illinois Restaurant Reviews
Chicago  
Caribou Coffee  
Chicago Diner  
Gino's East  
Green Zebra  
Hamburger Mary's  
Kit Kat Lounge  
Jack's on Halsted  
Lou Minalti's  
Ping Pong  
Tru  
Vosges Haut-Chocolat  
Windy City Sweets  
   
 
 

 
Massachusetts Restaurant Reviews
Boston Provincetown
Aquitaine Bayside Betsy's
Bombay Club Bistro at Crowne Pointe
Clink Bubala's
Gaslight Central House
KO Prime Fanizzi's Restaurant by the Sea
Radius Napi's
Sibling Rivalry Relish
South Street Diner Ross' Grill
Stella The Lobster Pot
Summer Shack Boston  
The Ruby Room  
   
 
 

 
Washington Restaurant Reviews
Seattle  
94 Stewart Restaurant  
Broadway Grill  
Budda Ruska  
Martins off Madison  
Table 219  
Urbane  
Vivace  
   
   
 
 

 
Ontario Restaurant Reviews
Toronto  
Byzantium  
Commensal  
Fire on the East Side  
Fuzion   
Hair of the Dog  
Kaiseki Sakura  
O'Gradys  
The Old Nick  
Olympic 76 Pizza Café  
Pho Xyclo  
Zelda's  
Z-Teca  
   
   
 
 

 
DC Restaurant Reviews
Washington  
Ben's Chili Bowl  
BGR The Burger Joint  
Busboys and Poets  
Café Luna  
Posto  
Ristorante Tosca  
Rosa Mexicanos  
Sweet Green  
Trio Restaurant  
   
 
 

 
Denver Colorado Restaurant Reviews
Denver Restaurants
Beatrice & Woodsley
Blue Bonnet Cafe
Blue Bonnet
Cafe|Bar
Cafe Berlin
The Cherry Cricket
City Grille
Crave Dessert Bar
Edge Restaurant 
H Burger
Hamburger Mary's
Hamburger Mary's Denver
Jelly Cafe
Jelly Cafe Denver 
Las Margaritas
Linger
Little Man Ice Cream
Mt. Fuji Sushi & Hibachi
Okinawa Sushi
Panzano Modern Italian
Park & Co.
Racine's
Restaurant Kevin Taylor
Sam's #3
Snooze, An A.M. Eatery
Steuben's Food Service
Tag Raw Bar
Tavern Uptown
Ted's Montana Grill
 
Edge Restaurant Denver
Without even being open for a year, Edge Restaurant & Bar is quickly becoming among the favorites of those dining in downtown Denver. It is considered to be a progressive American steakhouse. Edge is primely located on the ground floor of the brand new Four Seasons Hotel on the corner of 14th St and Arapahoe St. There Surprising Diningis a large dining room as well as a separate bar section. Read the review after the Jump... Edge Restaurant and Bar at The Four Seasons Denver
 
Aspen Restaurants
Gisella
The Red Onion
The Wild Fig
 
Louisville Restaurants
The Huckleberry
 
Grillin’ In the Mile High

Surprising DiningFour Hamburgers Worthy of Your Taste Buds

by Nick Mangiapane

Although the origin of the hamburger is widely debated, the name “cheeseburger” was trademarked by the Humpty Dumpty Drive-In in Denver back in 1935. Since that time, the burger craze has heated up across the nation and Denver restaurants continue to think up new ways to perfect the recipe. Here's a list of a few local establishments that serve up exceptional burgers.
   
Hamburger Mary's Located on Colfax in Capitol Hill, the award-winning City Grille continues to wow it’s guests with incredible burgers. One burger in particular is the CityGrille Burger. This half pound sirloin burger is topped with Swiss cheese, bacon, and a creamy Caesar dressing.
City Grille Burger Getting it’s start in San Francisco back in 1972, Hamburger Mary’s restaurants are growing in popularity nationwide. Our very own Hamburger Mary’s in Denver is perfect for succulent burgers. The Queen Mary burger is one of their signatures. They start by grilling a half pound burger patty, then cover it with all sorts of goodies.
Cherry Cricket The Cherry Cricket has been a Denver hot spot since it started as “Mary Zimmerman’s Bar” in 1947. Since then, it has built its name through it’s legendary burgers in fabulous Cherry Creek. Even the hit TV show “Man vs Food” has featured this place. The Cricket Burger has a 1/2 lb base of juicy hamburger meat.
H Burger Denver Even though it is fairly new to the Mile High City, H Burger has definitely made a name for itself. It is located conveniently on Denver’s popular 16th Street Mall. One of their popular burgers is the Buffalo Burger. This beast contains one hefty portion of delicious buffalo meat, topped with hickory smoked BBQ sauce, a fried onion ring, scallions, and spicy jalapeno jack cheese. The sweet and spicy flavors intertwine gorgeously.