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You’re spending your vacation in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and planning for the entire trip to be relaxing. You’re there to watch the yachts, enjoy the beach and visit some laid back attractions like the world’s largest drive-in movie theater. What you’re not there to do is get all dolled up and spend a fortune on every event that you attend and meal that you eat. Never fear; this doesn’t mean that you’ll be dining at good old Mickey D’s every day as you try to avoid the high costs of luxury dining available in Ft. Lauderdale. With over 4,000 restaurants to choose from in this city, you’re not going to have any trouble finding great casual dining restaurants that are affordable, laid back and yet unique to the area.

Here are some of the top casual dining restaurants that you may consider enjoying during your stay in Ft. Lauderdale:

• Char-Hut. This is a local Florida chain with just a few locations, one of which is in Pembroke Pines just outside of Ft. Lauderdale. The visitor who is seeking out a place to get great hot dogs and hamburgers at a low price without having to stop at a national fast food chain is going to want to take advantage of the proximity of this restaurant. The menu is simple, the food is mouth-watering and the price is absolutely right.
• Chicken Kitchen. The Fort Lauderdale visitor who is seeking out really simple meals and who happens to prefer chicken to beef will find that the basic menu at this super-low-cost restaurant will make the decision about where to eat an easy one. Order chopped chicken over rice and dig in with a big spoon because you’re going to want to make sure that you get down to the very last bite of that very full plate.
• La Spada’s Hoagies. This is a Ft. Lauderdale mini-chain restaurant with three locations to choose from and you’re going to want to make sure that you stop at one of them. The food that you’re going to get at this casual dining spot is hoagies and they’re reportedly the best hoagies you’re ever going to taste. Simple sandwiches filled with fresh ingredients and tons of flavor. It’s hard to want anything else when you’re hanging out on the beach and enjoying a casual vacation.
• Lester’s Diner. One of the best types of casual dining restaurants that you can look for in any town or city across the nation is the old-fashioned diner. Yes, there are modern chain diners to suit your dining needs but the old-fashioned diner will give you an experience along with your food. Built in the 1960’s, Lester’s Diner is the Ft. Lauderdale diner that you’re gong to want to seek out whether you’re looking for a great early breakfast or a late-night meal that hits the spot perfectly. You’ll get that great old diner coffee to go along with it.

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• Moe’s Southwest Grill. Sometimes the kind of casual dining food that you’re in the mood for is the kind that comes with a lot of spice. For a hint of the Southwest in good old Ft. Lauderdale, you can do no wrong by checking out Moe’s. Made-to-order tacos, nachos and burritos will make you glad that you made your way over here as long as you’re in the mood for some Mexican food. The whole attitude of the place is about the fun that you can have while dining there so don’t hesitate to crack a smile and have a great experience along with your meal.
• Parrot Lounge. Adults that are seeking a place to watch the game and grab a bite to eat are going to find that this Ft. Lauderdale sports bar is probably the ideal place. The crowd is appropriately rowdy, the menu is more extensive than you might at first imagine and the place is kid-friendly for those families that have to drag the wee ones along. It’s an all-around good place where you’re going to have a good meal and a good time.

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• Primanti Brothers Restaurant. There is one type of food that almost everyone in America seeks out at one time or another: pizza. If you get the hankering for a slice when you’re spending time in Ft. Lauderdale then you want to check out what these local guys have to offer. Their casual sit-down restaurant is open twenty four hours a day so it’s suitable to basically anyone that might want to wander in. If you get there and decide that pizza isn’t really what you want after all, try the sandwiches which have odd little treats thrown in (ever had French Fries inside your sandwich?) and which will wow you more than most sandwiches can.
• Roly Poly Sandwich Shop. This is just your basic sandwich shop where you can order the traditional meat-and-cheese sandwiches that you can get at delis across the nation. This is the ideal choice for someone that is looking for food that’s familiar but who doesn’t want to stop at a chain sub shop to get that comfort meal.

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• Siam Cuisine. People who are interested in not just eating traditional American casual dining food throughout their entire trip may find that their best eating experience in Ft. Lauderdale comes from a stop at this hole-in-the-wall, family-owned-and-operated Thai restaurant. The casual atmosphere is friendly, the food is tasty and different and you’ll find that the price is so good you’ll want to go back for more.
• Sublime Restaurant and Bar. For the casual diner who is interested in maintaining a healthy diet, there is no better Ft. Lauderdale restaurant choice than to eat at this all-organic, vegetarian restaurant. This isn’t going to be the kind of spot that everyone will intentionally seek out but those who end up here typically say that the food is better than expected. The attitude is laidback with an emphasis on simplicity. This is probably the fanciest of the casual dining restaurants in Ft. Lauderdale so it’s the perfect choice for someone who wants to go to a nice place but doesn’t want to get too dressed up or fork over too much money to do so.

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• Tom Jenkins BBQ. It’s difficult to get more casual than BBQ; what a mess this delectable kind of food can make and what fun you’ll have while enjoying it. Many people forget that Florida is a Southern state since it’s got such a distinct ambiance of its own but when it comes to good old fashion Southern BBQ food, there aren’t too many places in the rest of the South that can beat out this local favorite. Highly affordable, family friendly, and completely laidback, this restaurant is a terrific addition to any Ft. Lauderdale restaurant tour.

The majority of casual dining restaurants that you’re going to find in Florida are going to be family-owned places that serve American food like hot dogs, hamburgers and sub sandwiches. However, it’s also possible to find small chain restaurants, vegetarian restaurants and ethnic cuisine in a casual dining atmosphere if you know where to look. Taking the time to find the right places will offer a great treat to your dining experience and make you glad that you sought out something better to eat than just what was offered by the nationwide chains.

Tags: florida | Food | Food & Dining | Ft. Lauderdale | North America | United States