The Grateful Palate

After seeing this place on Check Please I was excited to try it for a special occasion dinner.  Boy was I disappointed!  The place is comfortable, pretty inside, nice lighting, etc.  The staff was friendly and attentive, but the food left a lot to be desired.  It started out well with the lemon meringue martini ($12) and cheese board ($20).  A nice selection of cheeses and more than enough for the two of us. For entrees we ordered the diver scallops and short ribs.  It seemed to take a long time to get the entrees and once they arrived the short ribs were cold.  They had no problem returning the cold dish and bringing another, however even though this dish was warm, the short rib was dry and flavorless.  I make better at home.  The scallops were a nice portion and presented well, but were way too salty I could not finish them.  I switched plates with my partner and he could not eat the scallops either.  We weren't going to order dessert but the server Isobel (very nice) made the chocolate chip cheesecake sound inviting so we tried it.  Another mistake.  Not really a cheesecake but more of a mousse and not a chocolate chip to be found.  Not much flavor at all, but a very light dessert if you want that sort of thing.  Although I liked the place and the people, it really should be about the food.  They did the right thing and took both entrees off of the check so I have to give them kudos for good customer service.   All in all a disappointing experience.

Found this restaurant while in town for business (after seeing that everyone was giving it great reviews on OpenTable, Yelp, etc.) and was SO glad I did!  What a lovely evening... Sat at the bar with Tim and Hayley and was impressed with them throughout the entire dining experience.  They were attentive, uber-educated on the wine/food menus and gracious hosts.  I actually felt like a "regular" on my first visit, which is what I'm always in search of spending 3/4 of the year on the road.

And the food!  Wow.  Tim promised me that the salmon tartare would be the best I'd ever had and he did not lead me astray.  DO NOT miss it when you visit.  I also thoroughly enjoyed the bison sliders, which were extra delicious with crispy bits of pancetta inside.  I finished up with an assortment of sorbet, white peach being my favorite.

Needless to say, I'm looking forward to my next trip to Fort Lauderdale-- if for no other reason than to hit up The Grateful Palate again!

Such a great spot!! Had the butternut squash ravioli! Delicious! Great atmosphere, great wine, and just an amazing atmosphere. Found this place on Yelp! And I will highly recommend to someone else!!