Tropical Acres Restaurant

We took a decent sized crowd for a friends birthday last weekend.  Had not been there since the fire.  Expected major changes, but they were only very suttle.  The most important thing was the food was still super!  I had the cowboys steak, it was cooked perfectly.  Most others had prime rib...which was super tender or the NY Strip which was thick and juicy!  Again all cooked to perfection.  Even did the Pittsburgh version of Black & Blue doness (yum...is that a word?)!  Service was a tad slow at first, the joint was hoppin, but once we got started they were very attentive.  Piano player must have played Happy Birthday 8 times....we told our birthday girl that it was all of us asking indivdually, but of course it was just many celebrating.  Older piano player, so songs were elevator music, but still nice and he did take requests (oldies of course).  Dessert cart was awesome...key lime pie was so good!  Cheesecake was solid choice as well.  A great evening and a staple in the Broward community since 1949....older than ME!  Am glad they could rebound after the fire and will be back....soon than later!

P.S.--kid's menu is good deal!  Prime Rib there is as good as the regular menu!

This was my first visit to Tropical Acres since the fire and complete rebuild of the place. When I pulled up, the outside looked like the old Tropical Acres with plenty of highly visible handicapped parking. Just about everybody that goes there seems to have a handicap sticker and oddly enough, though entirely new on the inside, sort of looks like the earlier 1970's décor on the inside.

I had just finished working on a boat so I was looking somewhat scruffy, wearing shorts, a Calcutta skull and cross bones t-shirt, loafers and of course sporting my disheveled appearing hippie long down to the shoulders hair. So, I made a bet with myself, an elegant martini up if I'm seated in a prime area or a bourbon Manhattan on the rocks if seated in remote out of sight area of the restaurant. Ha! A bourbon Manhattan it was since recalling Tropical Acres as it was before the fire it was more of a sure thing than a bet. Even though it was Monday night and hardly crowded, I was immediately escorted out of prominent view to the remote rear side of the restaurant whereas others, all elderly, some wearing dated ties and sport jackets with one women should mink stole (really, she was) were seated more prominently.

Years ago I used to generally find myself the youngest person in the place and now, decades later, and presently knocking on the door of 70, I still found myself one of the younger patrons if not the youngest.

As expected, the service was impeccable and my meal, being the special of the night, demiglace bone in veal chop, couldn't have been better. The reason I made that order is that I was sure that for steak, their basic dish, they would have difficulty coming up with anything the likes of Capital Grill, Morton's' or Ruth Chris which, being pretty much able to tell meats by their looks and presentations, I visually confirmed.

Basically Tropical Acres a nice upper class darn good restaurant but with nothing really superior about it or particularly unique in its offerings. It's just a place to get a very good meal in a somewhat classy atmosphere at prices that, considering today's market, are actually rather fair. And yes, dinning there is sort of a stroll back in time; kind of back into the 70's which of course is when this restaurant first opened.

I went tonight for the first time the whole experience was ok.

The host made us wait to seat us, when the dining room had many empty tables, it was bizarre.
The chair I sat in was uncomfortable.

The bread basket they offer had a very nice selection of breads.
The waiter was slow and kept getting things wrong. And never offered to refill my drink, even when he served the entree and my drink was completely empty in front of him (I put it on the edge of the table so he'd see it), he pretended not to see the empty glass and didnt offer to refill it.
The dining room wasnt that busy, i doubt he had more than 3 tables going.

The crabcake was mediocre.
The salad was good.
I got the surf n turf, the filet mignon was good, but they didnt offer any sauce. it was dry. I had to ask for sauce. He should have asked me if I wanted any when I took the order, so I didnt have to wait a few minutes for it while my steak got cold.
The lobster tail was wonderful.

The rice pilaf was *Terrible*, like eating glue. I cant believe they serve that. Rice o Roni is 5 star compared to it.

Overall it was OK, but for the price there are much better places for the same or less money.
I doubt I'll go back.