Fruit tree farmer, Darren Anselmo, says his favorite steakhouse is rooted in tradition.
With high quality meats served up at a good price. This community institution offers a throwback
dining experience, but there's a reason it's still packed with patrons who are passionate fans of the
consistent food and warm friendly service. It's in Fort Lauderdale and it's called Tropical Acres.
Jack Studiale, owner Tropical Acres Steakhouse. In 1949, my uncle was vacationing here,
and he thought this was a great place to establish a steakhouse, so he did. And it was much different
then, but it's grown. And then our family, my parents, my mom and dad came here in 64 and they
took over. And then I came in 73 after college and been here ever since with the rest of my family.
We feature Steaks, of course, and we use certified Angus beef. We don't cut corners. Our purveyors
know what we purchase and they never substitute. The customer expects it, they have to get it.
We're not the traditional new fad, we're here for the long haul. We've been here for over 70 years,
and what we're doing has been working and the customers, they prove it.
Tropical Acres is where the locals dine.
Oh, this place has been around forever.
Yes it has, and they're still on US one, if you're driving toward the airport in Denia,
they have the little neon sign with the arrow that says like "Tropical Acres"
and it's pointing that way. Yeah, it's really cool. They have a lounge when
you first walk in, to the right. Remind me of like a old mob place, you know?
So tell me what you had this last time you went.
I had the signature filet and it's wrapped in bacon.
I had that too.
You had that too?
I Liked it.
I like my bacon a little crispier, so he did that for us, it was amazing.
[Michelle] That's nice. And what else did you have?
[Darren] Well, I had onion ring, of course, wherever I go,
[Michelle] Well of course.
[Darren] I have to have the onion rings for the appetizer.
[Michelle] You're like my husband, he has to have an onion ring everywhere.
And Lillian had some as well.
I did. And well, it was, my boys ordered it as an appetizer, but not greasy. They were
not very thick, but they were just right. And we also had the fried mozzarella,
[Michelle] Were they crumbed?
[Lillian] Slightly breaded, my kids were expecting the sticks, but it was nice mozzarella.
[Michelle] It was real.
[Lillian] Yes.
So what else stuck out for you?
The service was unbelievable, I'm from South Florida and I've
heard the name Tropical Acres for years and years and it is iconic and it is an institution and I'd
never been there. Very, very festive a lot of people celebrating birthdays and anniversaries.
So it's that type of a celebratory happy place where you feel comfortable.
I'd heard of it and I had never been, the name pops up all the time,
[Michelle] Of course.
And it's an institution. So it was really fun.
[Michelle] What did you have?
Well, the Signature Filet.
[Michelle] Yep.
And then my date also had the mahi, which was
wonderfully cooked and I agree, the service, they do something where,
you know, you have a team of servers, that work in tandem to satisfy every need that you have.
Any starters?
[Roberta] We had this appetizer sampler, which comes with the fried mozzarella and grits.
Everything that's fried is really nicely done. The coconut shrimp,
fried zucchini and the stuffed mushroom caps,
which were my favorite done with a little hollandaise Sauce. It was really, really good.
Oh, I wanted to add that we had the escargot and the escargot was
out of this world and very, very reasonably priced.
What else did you have Lillian?
Well, I took a different route. I had the broiled seafood platter, the crab cake was
spot on. The shrimp was cooked just right. There was a bite of fish, I took a couple bites of Fish.
I think the dining experience overall, for what you get, is just a great, great value.
Did anybody hear the, the piano player that night?
I did. Yes I did.
I was actually videoing him and this guy that was sitting in front of him,
I guess he thought I was videoing him. And he like looked at me and gave me this crazy look and all
that. So I was like, oh, let me put it down, but he was really good. He was playing Beatles music.
Lovely, anybody have wine, to speak of?
Yeah, we had wine. I mean, the list is uh serviceable,
it's not extraordinary, but again, it's a great value.
You had a cocktail, right Lillian?
I had an old fashioned.
[Darren] Oh good, they're great.
So, who had dessert? Did all of you? I hope all of you had.
No, I didn't have any
Lillian, come on.
I'm not a dessert person either.
Gloria and I shared this apple pastry and they put
like cinnamon and brown sugar. The pastry like melts in your mouth.
Yeah.
Roberta, what'd you think of the prices, because it is basically a Steakhouse.
I thought it was an incredible value. I mean,
we had a full meal for just maybe $125. It was extraordinary and very very good.
Easy to find, easy parking?
There was a lot of cars there, but we found parking easily. When we left,
the parking lot was pretty well lit. So we felt really safe there and everything, so.
Oh good, okay.
Well Darren, Tropical Acres was your choice. Sum it up for us.
Well, great place. It's been there forever and
amazing service. And it's just a good place to go and enjoy yourself.
Lillian?
Definitely, I am part of the cult now. I can see why so many people like it. It truly is
a great value, a wonderful experience, and I would highly recommend it.
Roberta?
I think it's just amazing that some place has been around for that long,
you know, they're doing something right, and they really are.
Well, you can go back in time at South Florida's oldest Steakhouse Tropical Acres
located at 2500 Griffin Road in Fort Lauderdale. Open for dinner every day but Sunday.
Reservations are accepted and the average price for dinner without drinks is about $50.