2/17 update

I've been pretty busy at work since returning from Denver and haven't really been to any new lunch places over the past week, but I hope to have some new posts up in the coming days. Thanks to everyone who reads this blog and please continue to post any comments or suggestions.

Tarpon Bend

I'm back from a short trip to Denver. BTW, if ever in Denver, be sure to try the hamburger at the Cherry Cricket. It was fantastic. www.cherrycricket.com

Today, we went to the Tarpon Bend, http://www.tarponbend.com/ Although people think of this place mainly as a bar, they do serve very good food and have at least 3 fresh fish selections daily. Today I got the Cobia sandwich with Tabbouleh Salad as a side $11.95. The Cobia was very fresh, cut nicely and cooked just right. The sandwich came with Tarpon Bends Key lime mayo, which is a great topping on the fish. Overall an excellent fish sandwich and the tabbouleh salad was a nice change. It is amazing how few places there are in the area where you can get a fresh piece of fish for lunch and not spend a fortune. Tarpon Bend is definately one of those places. Another person in my party got the crab cake sandwich, which he said was excellent. 8.5/10.

El Tamarindo Coal Fired Pizza 2/3

El Tamarindo Coal Fired Pizza is located at 712 Atlantic Shores Blvd, Hallandale Beach FL 33009 Btwn N Federal Hwy & NE 8th Ave.) I was down that way for business so I decided to check this place out. The same people who own the fantastic El Tamarindo on SR 84 in Fort Lauderdale across from Lesters Diner opened this outpost in Hollywood/Hallandale that serves Coal Fired Pizza's in addition to their regular El Salvadorian menu. The pizza is an obvious attempt to copy Anthony's coal fired pizza as well as their salad and wings and they do a really good job of accomplishing this. We got the large pizza with half pepperoni and half sausage. Although the sausage was crumbled as apposed to chunks or bite sizes as I prefer, it was still an excellent pizza for those that enjoy this coal fired style. The wings were also very good and compared favorably to Anthonys. The only drawbacks to this place was that 90% of the people dining there were over the age of 75 ( (I guess that is common giving the neighborhood and large portions at reasonable prices) and the service was a little slow compared to their main location. Still gets 8.0/10 for the food though.

Pollo Tropical 2/4

Just a quick, boring lunch at Pollo Tropical on Federal Hwy today. I got the Chicken with yellow rice and vegetables trop-a-chop, which is basically chopped up grilled chicken served over yellow rice with mixed vegetables. A decent, quick, and simple lunch. The curry mustard sauce on top is a necessity and probably turns an otherwise healthly lunch into an unhealthy one, but it does taste pretty good. 6.5/10

11th St. Annex

Back to the 11th St. Annex today. Reviewed a few weeks ago. Such a great place for a nice, freshly prepared sandwich in a relaxed atmosphere. Today I had the tilapia sandwich with olive tapanad and feta cheese. Very solid. Everyone in the courthouse area needs to check this place out from time to time. 8.0/10.