I’m Coco For Coconuts!

I don’t know Ft. Lauderdale, not even a little bit.  As a kid, we would pile into the family car and either take the long and painful drive or, auto train it from Baltimore to Miami.  How I survived the back seat with my younger brother for all those miles without an iPad, iPod, iPhone, I don’t know but here I am today still in love with Miami enough to return year after year and sometimes, more often than that.
So, thanks to my parents and their friends who welcomed me sometimes months on end, Miami became my place, my winter haven, my teenage playground.

Now, as an adult it’s still one of my favorite spots to retreat to during cold winter months and although we continue to slowly move up the coast from South Beach, Ft. Lauderdale only pops up as a cheaper alternative to fly in and out of.
Enter an opportunity to attend a conference and a chance to explore a new piece of the Florida coast.

I must admit that it sucks to be stuck indoors when the beach and pool are right outside your door…literally.  Silver lining?  An evening of new experiences in a new city with my boys.
With just one night in Ft. Lauderdale, we wanted something waterfront, fun, casual, and delicious.  We don’t normally listen to hotel restaurant recommendations; while in Beijing 11 years ago, the concierge at the Peninsula Hotel suggested that we go to McDonald’s for dinner…xièxie but no xièxie, I’m so glad that this time, we did.
What our hotel lacked in that new hotel smell it made up for in customer service and, at the advice of our now favorite Westin staffer, we went to Coconuts.

It sounded cheesy, like some Floridian chain restaurant you might find in a strip mall but my friends, names like looks can be deceiving.
We arrived to the bustling waterside restaurant only to learn that there was a 1hr wait.  The adjacent G&B Oyster Bar however was first come first serve so, we did what we do best and stalked a table paying their check.  Success!  Within 5 minutes Jacob was picking out which East coast and West coast oysters he wanted to start with.  Gotta love this kid!

Turns out, G&B is an award-winning, sleek, upscale, modern sister restaurant connected to Coconuts.  Opened in January 2012, G&B was converted from a dive shop and features 2 garage doors that open to the outdoors for people watching and a cool bay breeze.  To take advantage of the amazing Coconuts’ water view, three flat screens sit end-to-end, connected to a camera focused on the Intercostal and marina.
The effect is amazing at sunset but even at night, it was cool to watch the action outside as we dined inside.  To top that, a mirror is mounted above the raw bar that allows you to watch the show as fresh oysters and clams are shucked and plated.  These are ours in the making…

We started with a dozen raw oysters, an order of crispy oysters, salted shrimp, steamers and the super-secret, off-the-menu ‘Scoobies’…Blue crab pinchers sautéed in olive oil, crushed red pepper, garlic, and scallions…OMG!

A bottle of rosé and another dozen oysters and we were almost ready for dessert?  Almost!
The pièce de résistance and the highlight of our dining experience, the mouthwatering Lobster Club…Wow!

Key lime pie for dessert of course and we were finally done.  Thankfully we walked to and from the hotel, at least that’s what I kept telling myself.
Their motto is ‘Be Nice’ but if you ask me, it should be ‘Be Happy’

We were and we’ll be back as we continue to move up the Florida coast!!

Alya