I haven't contributed to my blog in the past few weeks, so this time I thought I'd offer an up entry that is worth three in one.
Nora's Cuisine , on West Flamingo and Jones is "Triple G-Rated" because of its fine food, enjoyable atmosphere and reasonable prices. Whenever my Dad comes to visit he insists we go to Nora's.
Those of you from the East Coast know it's hard to find good Italian like you would in New York's Little Italy or Boston's North End. This is going to be your best bet. You have to go on a Friday or Saturday because those are the nights they have live jazz . Usually piano, bass, drums... and sometimes guest artists as well. The music starts at 9 pm. Be sure to make a reservation at least a few days in advance because if you don't you probably won't get in.
It's always crowded on weekends. Ask to sit on the bar side. That's where most of the fun is. You can also order food right from the bar. Nora's is a family owned business, and you know it from the moment you walk in. Owner Giovanni Mauro will sometimes sing opera with the musicians. He's fantastic. The first time I heard him it reminded me of when Uncle Junior sang on an episode of the Sopranos.
Here's what I recommend for dinner: First, you must order the warm chocolate cake. Trust me on this. It takes about an hour to prepare so you have to order it ahead of time. Try the antipasto salad, then for main course I'd go with the Frutti Di Marre (Seafood Pasta) or the Baked Ziti. I guarantee a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
