SouthPort Raw Bar.......Clamming Up in Fort Lauderdale
Written: Sep 12 '04 (Updated Nov 20 '05)
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Pros: Fresh oysters, clams, shrimp and so forth
Cons: This place is a bit rough around the edges as far as appearances go.....
The Bottom Line: The rating here is for the excellence of the raw bar, a favorite of many restaurant people in Fort Lauderdale. Sit on the terrace outside if it is open.
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| tombarnes's Full Review: Southport Raw Bar |
The SouthPort Raw Bar is one of those places you might never venture into if you didn't know about it beforehand. It is a bit rough around the edges, to say the least. That's not to say you shouldn't go inside, because the seafood here is as fresh as at the trendy places on Las Olas, and the prices here are a lot friendlier.
Location
The restaurant is just two blocks north of the 17th Street Causeway, on an unlikely side street near Rio Vista (mind you, the houses here are on some of the most mind-bogglingly expensive real estate in South Florida), tucked away by a small marina. The vinyl awning and generally unprepossessing exterior don't exactly betray the drab interior of the place, but try to remember that you are here for the food, and not for the looks of the place. If you want $30.00 plates of pasta and Pucci pumps. this isn't your place. You're more likely to find halter tops and huge belt buckles in here than the latest fashions from Milan. It's actually a refreshing change from the usual in Fort Lauderdale.
The Menu
We began with the shrimp, boiled and basted with Old Bay seasoning and a hint of cayenne pepper ($4.99 for half a pound). They sail to your table in a little paper basket, drowning in a vinegary red liquid. The shrimp are not peeled, so this involves a bit of work on your part. Never mind the work, as these tiny shrimp are packed with flavor. The peppery broth is almost good enough to enjoy on its own merits. One basket, though generous, wasn't enough and we had to order another.
This is a raw bar, so the thing to do is to order clams, oysters and so forth. The steamed clams are just the right size, not the enormous clams which are all muscle and no flavor. These medium sized beauties were perfect, with a lemony broth and plenty of melted butter. You could order a half dozen, but why? Go for the dozen, and I venture that you will want another (we were total pigs and ordered another dozen). The clams are offered at the market price, but we happened to be there in time for their famous happy hour, during which all raw bar items are half price. I think we paid something stupidly low like $5.95 for a dozen. You can't do this in Washington. Ever.
Our gluttony didn't stop there. We had to order a dozen oysters on the half shell as well ($4.95 for a dozen). The oysters were ice cold and tasted of the sea. There's nothing quite like a fresh oyster to remind you that you are at the seashore. Not a hint of diesel fuel either. This is a big plus.
As if this were not enough, we had to have the Buffalo Style Chicken Wings ($5.99 for ten wings) as well- even two orders. These are meaty enough and may be ordered mild, medium or HOT. We ordered them hot and liked what we got, but your taste buds may not be able to take all the heat. The bleu cheese and celery do their part to cool them off slightly.
If you must, you could order simple sandwiches like the Fried Fish Filet ($5.99), or the Corned Beef ($5.25), but why would you when the prices for great seafood are so ridiculously low?
A few types of fish are available, like Broiled or Blackened Dolphin ($8.99) or Fried Catfish ($7.99). I hear that their Crab Cakes ($6.99- try to find that in Washington--HA) are excellent as well.
Bar
A full bar is available, but this isn't really the sort of place I'd care to hang out in to drink. The reason to come here is for the food. The happy hour is from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on most nights.
Cost
The prices listed above for the seafood reflect happy hour prices. At other times, these are available at the market price, which may vary. On average, the prices should not be more than twice the prices listed above. The moral of this story? Visit during happy hour--5:00 PM to 7:30 PM on week nights.
Service
While friendly enough, I would not venture that the service is anything special. Our server did forget a couple of items, but she apologized profusely. This place can get very crowded, especially during the evening happy hour, so don't be surprised if you have to wait for a table. While the place may look a bit ragged, it caters to the boating crowd, most of whom won't put up with bad food or service for too long.
Reservations Etc.
They don't take reservations, so get here early and prepare to wait for a table if the place is crowded. Leave your cravings for white tablecloths and silver behind. Parking is available in the lot in front of the building. Mastercard and Visa are accepted gladly, but they take a dim view of personal checks.
They are open as follows:
Sunday- Thursday 11:00 AM- 2:00 AM
Friday- Saturday 11:00 AM- 3:00 AM
SouthPort Raw Bar
1536 Cordova Road
Fort Lauderdale. FL 33316
Tel. 954-525-2526
FAX 954-523-4752
Toll free (!) 877-646-9808
www.southportrawbar.com
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: No
Vegetarian Friendly: No
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations No reservations, no dress code. no pretenses whatsoever
Best Suited For: Friends
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Epinions.com ID:
tombarnes
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 - Top 200 |
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Member: Thomas Barnes
Location: Fort Lauderdale & Washington, DC
Reviews written: 688
Trusted by: 444 members
About Me:
With Barbara in Miami, 2004
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