JOINTS WE LOVE COURTESY OF LONA COCINA & TEQUILERIA
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BODEGA At this cool hangout, choose from a selection of 15 traditional and specialty tacos, including vegan tacos made from Impossible chorizo. If you’re looking for more, make your way through the porta-potty to enter Bodega’s speakeasy lounge for some tequila cocktails. (bodegataqueria.com)
LONA COCINA TEQUILERIA It’s Mexican with a waterfront view, as this restaurant at the Westin sits along Fort Lauderdale Beach. Opt for an alfresco table to dig into Baja fish or carne asada tacos, or treat yourself to Mexican ribs. You can also celebrate Taco Tuesday with $5 tacos and margaritas. (lonarestaurant.com)
BAR RITA TACOS ARE THE PERFECT PARTY FOOD, SO IT MAKES SENSE THAT THE OWNERS OF TAP 42 TAPPED INTO THAT MARKET WHEN THEY OPENED BAR RITA IN 2019. THE TWOSTORY RESTAURANT OFFERS TACO PLATTERS, INCLUDING DROOLWORTHY WAGYU BEEF BIRRIA AND CARNE ASADA TACOS, AS WELL AS A VEGAN-FRIENDLY IMPOSSIBLE SUPREME TACO. (BARRITAFTL.COM)
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QUVO TACOS
The go-to pairing with tacos is usually a margarita—but not at Quvo. With a suds enthusiast at the helm, this restaurant offers dozens of craft beers on tap or by the bottle. (quvo tacos.com)
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RICARDO MEJIA, RMSTUDIO
TO FOLLOW
PAULA DASILVA This James Beard “Best Chef: South” semifinalist first made her mark in Fort Lauderdale while working under chef Dean James Max at 3030 Ocean. That gig led to a spot on Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen in 2009. DaSilva finished the show as a runner-up and a fan favorite, turning her new celeb status into a job as the executive chef at 1500 Degrees at the Eden Roc Hotel in Miami Beach. But Broward soon called DaSilva home, and she returned to 3030 Ocean. For her next role, she moved up the beach, where she’s currently the director of culinary and beverage at The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale.
FORT LAUDERDALE ILLUSTRATED
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1/31/23 12:32 PM