Restaurants in Hollywood

Rochelle Koff of The Miami Herald wrote that Trata Greek Taverna "isn't the typical belly-dancing, confetti-tossing, plate-breaking Mediterranean restaurant. Its spell is more subtle, cast by a charming staff led by co-owner Dimitrios 'Jimmy the Greek' Tsiakanikas, who warmly greets patrons with a 'welcome home.'" His hearty salutations drift from a building the color of fresh artichoke leaves out onto a covered patio with flower boxes and twinkling string lights.

In the dining room, lights like glowing tulips hang over the fully stocked bar, casting a buttery glow on flame-kissed kabobs, gyros, spanakopita, and lamb chops soaked in olive oil and fresh herbs for 24 hours. Lilac napkins cover diners' laps as servers arrive with flaming cheese saganaki, the crackling flame punctuated by shouts of “opa.” Photographs of ocean-side Greek villages and stone statues on the wall give one the feeling of having landed in the sun-soaked country without constantly getting hit in the head by college kids throwing discuses.

Oakland Park Subs lines rye bread, wraps, or white and wheat rolls with more than 25 classic sandwich combinations ranging from traditional corned beef to kraut-laden hot-dog subs. All-day breakfast options cover plates with cinnamon french toast, three-egg omelets, and stuffed breakfast sandwiches. With free delivery, patrons can enjoy a piping-hot sub handed off by a loyal delivery person or launched at high speed from Oakland’s delivery catapult.

Anthony DeMaio and Domenick Falcione's culinary venture, Mojo, reflects the partners' shared ideology of providing a feast for all the senses. When Falcione isn't busy festooning the dining room's walls with his abstract mixed-media artwork, he dons an executive-chef hat and concocts the restaurant's menu of inventive international cuisine. In an interview with the Sun Sentinel, he describes his approach to art and cooking: "I believe food is a feast for your senses, eyes, nose, taste buds and your soul. For plate presentation, I use the colors and positioning of the food, which is similar to when I paint on the canvas."

Falcione creates these aesthetically pleasing dishes with organic grains and vegetables, Lock Duart salmon, free-range chicken, and local, seasonal ingredients. His entrees blend French, Italian, and Asian flavors and preparations, and his housemade desserts include the popular flourless chocolate-espresso torte.

His passion for beauty is also apparent when examining Mojo's sleek, ultramodern décor. Once guests enter the restaurant's stainless-steel doors, they're surrounded by crisp, white tables and chairs, striped teal banquettes, white orchids, and chandeliers adorned with rows of peacock feathers.

Within the tropical green walls of La Parrilla Rotisserie & Grill, cooks caringly squeeze lemon and lime wedges over fresh shrimp and octopus morsels before passing the plates off to servers who run the tangy ceviche to awaiting diners. The cooks then turn toward their flame grill where they flay tender pork to join with juicy whole chickens that they slid off the rotisserie only moments ago. Their traditional Peruvian and Dominican dishes usually hit the table alongside fluffy yellow rice, plantains, and garlic potatoes.

Bagel Hut’s simple menu of breakfast and lunch dishes catalogs comforting American dishes and Jewish deli fare. In the morning, eggs made any way—including via a scalding-hot PC hard drive—accompany kielbasa and potatoes or cradle bacon in an omelet. Bagel Hut’s eponymous bread rings sport fillings of cream cheese or clasp nova salmon, tomato, and cucumber in a deluxe morning sandwich. At lunch, the eatery's overstuffed deli sandwiches quiver under the weight of pastrami, fresh-carved turkey breast, or corned beef. Not to be outdone, club sandwiches pair turkey, egg salad, and chicken salad with crispy bacon.

In the contemporary dining room, spherical lanterns hang from silvery ceiling tiles and cast gentle glow down on curvaceous wooden chairs. Purple and pale green stools add splashes of color to the bar, where empty glasses fill with frothy beer and wine to hold over patrons as they peruse the menu of Indian favorites.

When creating their northern Mughlai–style recipes and traditional South Indian dishes, the chefs at Chutney & Pickle strive to use local seafood, free-range chicken, and local, organic produce whenever possible. Kebabs of steak and salmon marinate in ginger, garlic, and masala, then bathe in the smoke of a traditional tandoor oven. Biryani rice dishes present flavors of mint, bay leaves, black cardamom, and onion, and paneer dishes serve up comfort in the form of homemade cheese. The menu also features a full vegan section, which, unlike the other sections, was originally written in pencil rather than squid ink.