Recently Peepaw and I spent the afternoon with friends at Gulfstream Park watching thoroughbred racing. So after making my HUGE ($2) BETS we were all HUNGRY! So on our way back to our condo we saw an interesting spot to stop for an early dinner. It was a small place…tucked away…with LOTS of cars in the parking lot on a Sunday afternoon…and the cute sign by the street advertised a water view. What’s not to love? We were intrigued with everything that led us to Historic Dockers Restaurant!
As we walked inside we quickly noticed the bar area which was filled with “locals” enjoying a Sunday afternoon Happy Hour.
A friendly staff member told us to sit where ever we wanted to, so we headed out to the glass enclosed back room. The “water view” was a little misleading since the water turned out to be a boat marina…
…but the room tastefully decorated and sparkling clean.
As soon as we seated ourselves we were warmly greeted by one of the assistant managers. (Sorry-I forgot his name-a senior moment for me!) and I asked him for an appetizer recommendation. He said the calamari was by far his favorite, so we ordered some to share with our friends.
It was not the best I’ve had. (That award goes to The Chart House in Fort Lauderdale.) This serving was cut in thick rings and was somewhat overcooked. And chewing overcooked calamari can be like chewing on tasteless rubber bands!
Anna, our skilled server, was truly one of the best servers we’ve had in recent memory. She was a gem! She took our orders and kept our drinks refilled quickly and efficiently. (If only the restaurant world had more people like her…)
As we usually do, Peepaw and I split our entree, (a cod sandwich and fries) and we each ordered a side salad to go with it. The sandwich was large (THREE big pieces of cod!)…and delicious. The cod was crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, and the lettuce and tomatoes were fresh and crisp. And that one sandwich was PLENTY to satisfy both of us, which is exactly the reason we so often share an entree or a sandwich…especially when we add a small side salad for each of us. I chose a Caesar Salad and Peepaw picked a Garden salad. Both salads were beautifully dressed…and the croutons were crunchy and perfectly seasoned. It was a wonderful meal…for TWO!
Our friends, Tom and Bev, were happy with their dinner choices as well. Tom picked a good old-fashioned hamburger, and I was anxious to see how he liked it since his father used to run an incredibly successful butcher shop/meat market back in Iowa. Tom said the burger was moist and well-cooked, and he marveled at the HUGE serving of fries. He was very happy with his choice. And his wife Bev thoroughly enjoyed her Grilled Chicken Salad. She said her salad was perfectly dressed and delicious.
All in all it was a great early dinner, and a nice ending to a fun day spent with friends. And, come to think of it, my HUGE winnings at the track ($12 wagered…$22.50 won!) were enough to help to pay for our meal! (Like I always tell Peepaw…I’m a pretty cheap date!)
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