Manna Korean BBQ

Located almost directly across from long-established Gabose (another well-reviewed Korean BBQ restaurant), you might think it was foolish to saturate Lauderhill with more than one of the same style restaurant. Well, think again, because they are targeting entirely different clientele.

Gabose, with its nicely-decorated interior and table-side hibachi grilling, aims to target those wanting a memorable date dining on an unusual fare, but who are unwilling to leave the safety net of English-speaking servers and overpriced atmosphere.

Manna on the other hand, aims to give the discerning adventure-diner not only a more authentic experience, but also a more relaxed, casual sparsely-decorated environment (and we think their "Open Sign" is from a Quiznos!). It's like wearing a blind-fold at a wine-tasting; when deprived of stimulus to one sense, your others are enhanced. Add to this a cheaper menu overall, and a more daring presentation (read: serving whole fish to your table, with no utensils besides metal chopsticks and a spoon [forks available upon request]) Manna wins my vote every time!

The Food:
We ordered the seafood pancake appetizer, followed by the Salted Mackerel and Yellow Corvina (both served whole) and a meat dish whose name escapes me. Accompanying them to the table was rice, kimchee, sesame tofu, a rice wine sweet-chili dipping sauce, bean sprouts, plus pickled potatoes and cucumbers. Everything was fantastic, the Corvina was crispy on the outside and moist and delicious on the inside, the mackerel savory and well done. Personally, I am NOT a fan of tofu in any of its forms, but even I went back for THIRDS of it.

The Staff:
Family-owned is defined by this restaurant. The actual family in charge was present and seated at the booth behind ours, having their own casual gathering. Our waitress was attentive, and even recognized not only one of our group as having been there before, she even remembered what they had ordered previously!

The Info:
Do not dine here if you are in a hurry, if you are not open to foreign cuisine, or if you're not adventurous. If those things don't scare you off, you WILL like this restaurant.

Recommended For:
Entertaining guests, lunch, dinner, good times, unique foods, adventure dining

Contact:
Phone: (954) 748-6088

Location:
4966 N. University Dr
Lauderhill, FL 33351

Gabose Korean BBQ

UPDATE 8/27/11: See my post about Manna Korean BBQ for another Korean BBQ Experience

Gabose is an upscale Korean BBQ restaurant, with table-side hibachi as well as traditional entrees. I enjoyed my visit very much. Our night was made memorable by one of the owners joining us at our table for over half an hour, personally explaining the menu to us, and then demonstrating preparation techniques once our food arrived and the grill was lit.

I definitely enjoyed this restaurant and it's environment, and although the price point seemed a little high for the food alone (for tableside grilling you must order at least two $25 items), the personal service we received is something that literally can't be purchased at any price from many places.

The Food:
We ordered the beef and shrimp BBQ selections, which provided us with lots of food for grilling, as well as the traditional assortment of relishes and sides served at most Korean restaurants. It was more fun for me to grill table-side than fondue table-side, although the same heart-wrenching disappointment occurs when a piece of meat is lost through the grate into the coals as when it happens into a pot of oil, although with the oil it's easier to retrieve.

The Staff:
As mentioned above, absolutely outstanding. Our server spoke American English, which may affect your experience, depending on your preference for cultural immersion.

The Info:
Overall, Gabose is a safe venture into Korean cusine... there is something for even the most squeamish of dining company, and most of the truly exotic fare seems priced to appeal to only the most determined, well-heeled, and confident diners.

Recommended For:
Entertaining guests, lunch, dinner, date night, good times, unique foods, adventure dining, fine dining

Contact:
Phone: (954) 572-4800

Location:
4991 N. University Dr
Lauderhill, FL 33351

Did You Say Ethiopian Food? - Sheba Miami

Now because I'm a huge "trier of foods", when I was told there existed an Ethiopian restaurant in N. Miami Beach, I organized a group to go right away! In fact, I had to get there so fast, I rented a corvette and averaged 100mph on the way (Ok, so I actually did rent the car and get there fast, but not soley for the food)!

The Food:
For first-timers, the staff reccomends a sampler platter. Be warned, though; I went as a group of four, and we ordered both the beef and seafood platters. We were so overwhelmed by the sheer volume of food, we had to leave most of it on the table, which was sort of sad, when you think of how many Ethiopians that could have fed. You might thinkt the menu will be strange and odd, but ingredients such as eggplant, chicken, shrimp, and lamb are familiar enough to avoid any gross-out factor In fact, there's not a single unusual creature or plant on the menu. Oh, and try the "Tej Honey Wine", or an Ethiopian beer!

The Staff:
The staff is very polite, patient, and helpful, answering any menu questions without talking down to you. We were very glad we took the suggestion for the platter, because we experienced nearly the whole menu in one sitting, which is both cost-effective and allows for a more intimate group dining experience, with everyone eating from a common serving platter and sharing their impressions.

The Info:
The average plate price here is $24, without drinks (which according to a quick web search means that on the average Ethiopian income, one would have to save an entire month's salary to have dinner and a soda here). The sampler platters are closer to twice that, but can feed 3-4 people no problem. Live music is here often, and the atmosphere is upscale but not pretentious.

Recommended For:
Celebrations, Entertaining Guests, Romantic Evenings, Adventure Dining

Contact:
(305) 573-1819
http://www.shebamiami.com

Location:
Sheba
4029 N. Miami Ave
Miami, FL 33137
CLOSED FOR RELOCATION TO HOLLYWOOD!

Directions [MAP]:
N/A while resturant is relocating. See contact section above for more info!