Bistro Restaurant at Sonesta Hotel, Fort Lauderdale

Bistro is the full service restaurant inside the wonderful Sonesta Hotel located on the world famous Fort Lauderdatle strip, on the corner of Sunrise Blvd and A1A. The restaurant is open daily serving breakfast, lunch and a fabulous dinner. Hours are from 6:30AM to 10PM on Monday to Friday and 7AM-10PM on weekends.

The service and atmosphere is, shall I say, relaxed and contemporary. The staff is very attentive in the restaurant and you can see the same from the kitchen staff based on the presentation and quality of the food. Bistro is the perfect blend of decor and views - inside and out with its floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It has a beachy-chic look, the full-service restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner recently unveiled its redesigned space with white-washed wood floors and cool blue, leather furnishings and walls.

We had the pleasure of sampling items from the lunch and dinner menu. We started with a Ceasar salad woth a homemade dressing of shaved parmasean, creamy artichoke tapenade and perfect romaine hearts. Add a grilled chick breast and i can only imagine. The Conch Chowder was light and creamy. And the street tacos, skirt steak or Mahi-Mahi, both great options. Lest I forget the fantastic slider appetizer - grass fed beef, chef's spice and bacon onion jam on a light and fresh toasted brioche.

We tried the Vegetable Pad Thai with wild rice noodles, fresh vegetables and peanuts, a nice starter. Then out comes a Angus Beef Filet, sauteed asparagus and au-gratin potatoes all served at perfect temperture for my liking. Chef had won a gold medal for the next course while in the service. This is a butchers cut lamb rack red onion marmalade, gingered peach chutney. I can see why this entree has been served so long. Then he brings out the Osso Bucco, four hour braise, herb risotto, fried sage and natural jus - this was my personal favorite. Also served was a fine Yellow Tail Snapper sauteed and served with chive whipped potatoes and some seasonal green. Great flavor.

Now with all that, we still found some room for desert and the 4 choices found on the dinner menu are all made fresh and full of flavor - Opera (my favorite) is an almond cake soaked with espresso and chocolate ganache with a Kahlula pipette to infuse. The Apple Bourbon Crumble is served warm with well you guessed it, Bourbon Anglaise... And what would be a South Florida desert menu without a traditional Key Lime pie.

As day transitions into night, gather with your friends, family or colleagues for a drink. Pair a glass of wine with new menu features among the likes of Mojo Chicken or the Island Snapper and you're sure to impress whomever you dine with.