Pre-cruise fun info needed from pros

[zamgwar]

Greeting to all ye who Know Ft. Lauderdale,

 

It's that time again, "She who must be obeyed" & I are going on a cruise. Wooooo-Hoo!!

 

To explain what that means, every other year a gang of us old friends have been heading out February Presidents week on a vacation together. On February 19th, 38 of us will be sailing off on Celebrity's Infinity.

 

My pants are full of glee at the thought that a cruise with this gang of nuts is now less than 90 days away.

 

Now the question

 

All 38 of us will be staying at The Holiday Inn Express on the SE17th St Causeway right near the port. We got a great rate, but are aware that there may not be some important things we require for pre-cruise fun at this hotel like;

a) a bar

b) a restaurant

 

(can anyone varify this?)

 

However, I am also aware there seems to be plenty to fill the bill nearby.

 

Almost all of us will be arriving for pre-cruise on Friday, February 17th. Soooooooo, I'm counting on you pros for some info.

 

I'm looking for the names of a few Casual fun Restaurants that we can invade.

 

Nothing too fancy, because all the fancy duds will be in Suitcases. So

if there's a perfect martini, some great Italian food, a good grillin joint,or even a really good Burger place that shouldn't be missed in that general vicinity I'm taking down the info now.

 

 

So who wants to help?

 

 

Thanks in Advance,

 

 

John

Office of Anticipation

The Zamgwar Institute

[TrentS]

You're correct that there's no bar or restaurant IN the Holiday Inn Express on SE 17th Street, but there are dozens of places surrounding it. It's in a great location in the middle of everything.

 

Here's a list I posted to the same question not long ago...

 

Tara Steak & Lobster is right next door to Extended Stay America (which is next door to Holiday Inn Express)... http://www.tarasteakandlobsterhouse.com/

 

Carlos and Pepe's (Mexican) & Durty Harry's (bar with food) are in the same shopping center as Tara. There's also a small diner in that strip mall that I've been told has an excellent breakfast.

 

Einstein Bros. Bagels is across the street from Holiday Inn Express.

 

Bimini Boatyard and Bravo (great Italian restaurant) are both across the street from Holiday Inn Express, and about a block east, opposite the Renaissance Hotel... http://www.bravoitaliano.com/

 

Jack Jackson's new restaurant FISH is across the street from the Renaissance hotel, attached to the Convention Center complex at the entrance to Port Everglades... http://www.fish-fl.com/

 

Chuck's Steakhouse... http://www.chucksflorida.com/

 

And Waxy O'Connors are both across the street from Embassy Suites, a long block west of Holiday Inn Express... http://www.waxys.com/

 

Outback Steakhouse and Del Rio Tex Mex are just west of Embassy Suites, and Quarterdeck is across the street and a block north of Embassy Suites on Cordova Road, just beyond Winn-Dixie... http://www.quarterdeckrestaurant.com/

 

Kelly's Landing is a great New England style seafood place in a strip mall on Cordova Road, across the street from Winn-Dixie.

 

If you want some excellent ice cream, Aspen Ice Cream is in the large yellow strip mall across the street from Tara and Carlos and Pepe's... http://www.aspenicecream.com/

 

There are 3 large strip malls around Holiday Inn Express - More or less across the street, next door, and behind, as well as several smaller ones. There are at least a dozen other small restaurants scattered throughout those strip malls, plus a number of fast food and carry-out places in the area as well... You'll never go hungry along that section of SE 17th Street, there's something for every taste and budget.

 

Those are just the ones that you can easily walk to, if you take the Water Taxi you can easily get to dozens more. The nearest Water Taxi stop is 2 long blocks east, under the SE 17th Street Bridge, in front of the Marina Marriott hotel... http://www.watertaxi.com/FortLauderdale/FLLHome.Asp

 

Some popular places easily accessible from the Water Taxi are...

 

15th Street Fisheries... http://www.15streetfisheries.com/

 

Jackson's Steakhouse... http://www.jacksonssteakhouse.com/

 

Shirttail Charlie's... http://www.shirttailcharlies.com/

 

Fort Lauderdale Riverhouse... http://www.ftlauderdaleriverhouse.com/

 

Downtowner Saloon... http://www.downtownersaloon.com/

 

Shooter's, and at the same stop Taverna Opa... http://tavernaoparestaurant.com/

 

Charlie's Crab... http://www.muer.com/locations/chcrab-ftlaud/chcrab-ftlaud.html

 

The many many restaurants and shops along beautiful Las Olas Blvd... http://www.lasolasboulevard.com/

 

And Las Olas Riverfront... http://www.riverfrontfl.com/

[mtaylor04]

I highly recommend Carlos & Pepe's. They have a fun atmosphere and very good mexican food (IMHO). Durty Harry's is also another place to try, the bar is fun.

 

The water taxi is the way to go if you want to explore further than the area around the holiday inn.

 

I know you received a great rate at Holiday Inn but you might want to check out Embassy Suites. Great rooms with breakfast included and a managers reception each night with free drinks. Lots of fun to be had sitting around and enjoying the free drinks.

[jerrywp1955]

Hey Trent!

 

Where is the Holiday Inn Express in relation to the Pier 66??:confused:

 

Thanks in advance

Jerry

[TrentS]

Hey Trent!

 

Where is the Holiday Inn Express in relation to the Pier 66??:confused:

 

Thanks in advance

Jerry

Holiday Inn Express "Convention Center" on SE 17th Street is a block west of the 17th Street bridge on the south side of the street. Hyatt Pier 66 is across the bridge, on the north side of the street. It's walkable, but would be a good walk, perhaps 15 minutes by foot, only a couple of minutes by car.

[zamgwar]

Thank you all and if anyone else wants to chime in this is the kind of stuff I'm exactly looking for!!! It is perfect in fact. I'm printing it out. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You

 

 

John

Office of Gratitude

The Zamgwar Institute

[jerrywp1955]

Thanks for the info Trent:)

[Bequia]

No trip to Ft Lauderdale would be complete without a trip to the ElboRoom. Just a short cab ride away. http://www.elboroom.com/ :D

 

The height of popularity for the Elbo Room was definitely launched by the filming of the movie " Where the Boys Are ", with Connie Frances and George Hamilton.

[zamgwar]

Thanks for all the restaurant info- Now how about recommendations for a good Martini in the vicinity of Holiday Inn Express at the convention center.

 

John

Office of Bombay Sapphire, shaken, up, three olives

The Zamgwar Institute