Market 17 Ft Lauderdale

http://www.market17.net/

See also the Sun Sentinel review: http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-01-27/entertainment/fl-market17-dine-review-20110127_1_pork-loin-caramelized-monkey-bread

Located in the  Portside Yachting Center, next to the Broward County Convention Center, at the SE corner of  SE 17th Street and Eisenhower in Ft. Lauderdale, Market 17  prides itself as “a unique farm to table organic restaurant,”  or as they like to call it, ” wine country cuisine,” proudly presided over by brother and sister sommeliers, Aaron and Kirsta.

We  had been wanting to try it after some close friends had raved about the food during their anniversary dinner, so we headed over on a Saturday night, ostensibly for Cindy’s birthday. We were not disappointed.

The restaurant caters to an upscale crowd, and if you’re a “wine snob,” you’ll love their “diverse and eclectic international list,” with over 350 labels. The atmosphere is European chic.  On this Saturday evening, we found it pretty crowded and bustling, even at the relatively early hour of 7:00 pm. The lighting is just perfectly subdued, thanks to the pendant fixtures over the tables, and the soft glow from a table candle, but we found the noise a little obtrusive as the evening progressed.  A bevy of black-dressed hostesses efficiently greeted  us at the door, offered us indoor or outdoor seating, and, once at our table (we opted for indoor dining), provided a proper napkin (black or white), depending on the color of madame’s dress.

Our server, Diego, was top-notch – professional, knowledgeable, friendly, and supremely efficient. He did speak a little fast, and with the subdued lighting in the place, you needed a flashlight to read the menu. Perhaps they could change the font and make it a little easier to read. After his greeting and introduction to the restaurant,  he helped us choose our beverages. I opted for an Australian Shiraz, while Cindy started her celebration with a fine French champagne.

For starters, I tried the Chef’s Morning Pick salad, which was absolutely scrumptious, and the birthday girl went for the Duck Confit Gnocchi, which received rave reviews.  She ordered the Grilled Florida Grouper, while I, naturally, went immediately for the beef – in this case, the Grilled Grass Fed Beef Tenderloin. As for the dinner wine, she switched to the JM Boillot, Montagny, 1 er Cru, Burgundy, France 2009, while I stuck with my Shiraz.

She: This white burgundy is amazing!

He: “Grass fed beef! Seriously? Is that going to taste as good as Morton’s?

Entrees come in petite and regular sizes. My tenderloin was the latter, weighing in at 8-9 oz uncooked. The petite size is allegedly 3 oz. Cindy opted for the petite grouper, which was just right, affording her “room for dessert.”

I was not disappointed. The tenderloin was amazing! Perfectly cooked – medium rare is the way I like it- exquisitely balanced flavors, a melt-in-your-mouth texture, and just the right size. Cindy’s grouper was fresh, and produced her now-famous accolade: “My mouth is happy.”

Of course, no birthday celebration would be complete without a decadent dessert, and we vacillated between the Chocolate Chocolate Cake and the Dark Chocolate Grenache Pate, finally choosing the former. Our server had asked Cindy at the outset of our dining experience how she spelled her name, and we suspected that the chef was going to personalize her dessert treat, which turned out to be accurate, and our dessert arrived with a big “Happy Birthday, Cindy” etched in chocolate, complete with a candle. The personalization was a nice touch, and rarely seen at other establishments.

Of course, to accompany the decadent chocolate, she ordered a Black Sambuca (which, by the way, we prefer in a chilled glass, nestled in a bed of ice), and I chose a 10-year tawny port.

She: “The cake is predictable.”

He: ” Chocolate!!!!”

The dinner came to an end far too soon, it seemed. Market 17 is an experience that is meant to be enjoyed, lavishly and lovingly like a fine wine, aglow in the soft light of the restaurant, among friends and mysterious strangers, alive with the intrigue of a European cafe, affording an unforgettable, romantic evening.

GRILLED OKEECHOBEE OSTRICH FILET

Overall He&SheFood Rating: CynMor ( for Cindy and Mort) score: 9 out of 10.

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