Shireen's Favorite Things

Tap 42 at 1411 S Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316

Walking into Tap 42 is like taking a shot of party viagra! I haven’t felt so alive in months. The atmosphere is energetic and fun, to say the least. Sometimes, all work and no play makes Shireen a really dull, but fashionable girl.

Nonetheless, at the urging of my best friend (Jackie Kay), I booked a day blog (I usually do them at night) to enjoy the food, drinks and atmosphere at one of the most popular restaurants in South Florida. Not only that, it’s one of Jackie’s favorite places on Planet Earth; she’s been telling me about it for years. I just haven’t had the chance to see and taste it for myself. Until now…

With Jackie in tow, I started with three drinks: “Meet Your Maker,” (strong enough for a man, but made for a woman) with bourbon and a frothy top; the “Strawberry Cane Mojito” which is fresh, and fruity (a must-try if you’re a cocktail person) and, last but not least, I had to try one of their signature beers. I mean, it’s a beer joint. It was smooth, delicious and hearty.

The Crispy Asian Calamari arrived at the table first and was quite the sight, stacked like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It was fried to perfection and served with a sesame ginger sauce. The Korean Chicken Lettuce Wraps were picture perfect and you can have them just the way you want. I added a lot of cilantro and chili soy vinaigrette to mine. It had a nice kick and tasted healthy. Speaking of…

If you prefer something on the more nutritious side (as in, you’re on a diet,) my fave is the Grilled Salmon chopped salad (it’s to die for). It’s a generous portion of fish served with a heaping helping of colorful veggies. The Citrus & Herb Grilled Chicken served with shredded kale and a killer balsamic is a close second. Both are great if you’re watching your waistline.

If you’re living for the weekend and wanna treat yo-self, you’ve gotta try the Bacon and Sweet Corn Guacamole. It’s served with a pile of chips that remind me of Doritos on crack, but Tap 42’s are homemade. Hmmm… it’s hard to top this plate. It really appealed to my Southwestern heritage.

In the mood for a little more meat? The Drunken Goat (lamb & beef) Burger with whipped goat cheese is just as delicious. It’s so juicy, I was licking my fingers while chowing down and the side of sweet potato fries (brushed with cinnamon spice) was the perfect accoutrement. It was so yummy, Jackie practically cried when the server removed the plate from the table because she wasn’t done!

For dessert, I tried the Key Lime Pie Parfait and Chocolate Chunk Bread Pudding. The parfait was creamy and sweet, but the graham cracker crust balanced it nicely. The bread pudding? Wowza! Filled with salted caramel, dark chocolate and cinnamon, it left me drooling like a two-year-old (albeit, a chic one).

The bustling atmosphere, the beautifully presented food and the fact that it tastes great, too, makes Tap 42 one of my NEW favorite things. Cheers!

Okay, Miami-Dade peeps…you’re going to have to get out of the hood for this one. Tap 42 is located in Fort Lauderdale. It’s a quick trip on the weekend and parking is on-site (there’s even valet). Believe me, it’s worth the trip. Maybe even two — okay, three. 😁🍺

Monday-Friday 11:30am-12am, Saturday 11am-12am, Sumday 11am-11pm

www.tap42.com/ft-lauderdale/
Twitter: @Tap42Bar IG: @tap42ftl FB: Tap 42 Gastropub & Grill