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Last Update: Dec 8th, 2020
Even Keel Restaurant Fort Lauderdale

Even Keel Fish and Oyster

4100 N Federal Hwy
Fort Lauderdale FL, 33308

Details

Hours: Open for Dinner
Parking: Private Lot
Outside Dining: No

Description

Chef Dean Max returns as a group of partners take over this albatross space. Cibo Wine Bar built a fancy new restaurant here without bothering to get any permits; and the debacle is apparently coming to a close.

Max is a "fake" celebrity chef who manned the kitchen at the Marriot's 3030 Ocean for a decade; he's been consulting since; it not clear if he's been doing any chef'ing; nor is it clear if he's more than a consultant at this restaurant. Max doesn't even list this project on his web page.

Contractors have been working to bring this building into code and it's not clear how far along they are; but it's possible that this place could open this season.

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Administrator
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Moving to the old Station 44 in LBTS.
Administrator
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I've posted part of an actual menu along with the original, to show that they've already raised their prices, some as much as $5 a dish. so it looks like they gave up on the "reasonably priced" idea.

Still the same old seafood you can get everywhere: snapper, grouper, scallops, salmon. They have a gumbo with rock shrimp and 'crispy okra'. Where do they get this nonsense, from magazine recipes? It looks like you get a cup for $12.
Administrator
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This appears to be an ultra small portion establishment. 3 Scallops for $24.
Jay
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Hard to believe these guys have run a restaurant before. No hours. No menu.
Administrator
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Max is a hotel guy. Hotels have a captive audience.
Administrator
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The fake reviews are pouring in. "Linda" and "Chuck" from the same Address. Make it stop.
Administrator
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Now open. We have the menu with prices. You'd never guess it was a seafood restaurant. Lobster roll ($25), pizza, Burgers. A lot of scallops and "local" clams. Tuna Sandwich and the Burger are on the "Large Plate" Menu.

They seem focused on "local" seafood; the problem is local seafood sucks. Red Snapper, Tilefish. Spiny Lobster. Warm Water Shrimp. All Junk.

If the menu is going to change "daily", why are the Stone Crab Claws "Market Price"? Why not just tell us what they are so we don't have to ask? The supermarkets have been selling them for the same price all season.
Administrator
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Bad news people. This place is not going to have a fixed menu; the dreaded "evolving" menu. Which means that they'll be serving whatever they can get a deal on.

Of all the bad ideas restaurants have, the menu that changes daily is the worst of them all.
Bradley S
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So much info on this site. Well Done!
Administrator
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I question whether high end seafood has much of a market down here. First, the local choices stink. Mahi, Grouper, Pompano is all junk. Even the best restaurants offer "Chilean Sea Bass", which is also crap. Second, you can get the highest quality fish in markets for $15/lb. To pay $70/lb in a restaurant where they push some $8 sauce to go on it is just folly. The multiples have gotten too high.
Dharma
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Amen. Honesty here. Thanks.

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