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This week's Pauly's Picks is J. Mark's Restaurant! What does this mean for you? You can get a $100 gift certificate for HALF THE PRICE of just $50! OR you can WIN one for FREE by playing Pauly's Pop Quiz with us all week at 9:35am!
Jillian went to J. Mark's for dinner last week and has not stopped raving about it since.
Here's what she has to say!
Once I walked through the door, I was welcomed with a warm and friendly smile from the host which immediately made me feel comfortable. She escorted me to my table where I was greeted by the manager, Nicole and owner, Steve, who joined me for dinner. They were extremely down to earth, pleasant and made me feel at home - something that they are committed to making all of their guests feel.
I was thoroughly impressed with their extensive menus - including their specialty cocktails (that are made with love from the bartenders), beer and wine list and of course the food menu. I was fortunate enough to be able to taste a good majority of the menu, you know, so I could give the most in depth review as possible ;) I learned that they also offer BRUNCH every Saturday + Sunday from 11-3 AND a midday menu from 2-5 daily that offers some of the most popular dishes, but smaller portions AND smaller prices. Something to keep in mind next time you want to sneak out of the office and grab a bite!
And then it was time for the appetizers...
The mussels. The sauce was TO DIE for! It was a white wine pink sauce with a grilled garlic wine reduction. It was seriously AH-mazing! I found myself eating spoonfuls of it and I was tempted to ask for a container so I could take it home with me! I also had the Egg Rolls, the house-favorite Bam Bam Shrimp and the new Crab Bites that they've recently added to the menu - all were delicious!
I had a taste of three different salads on the menu - the Seared Ahi Tuna Salad, the Pear Salad and Kale Salad. I'm a huge salad person and they all greatly satisfied my taste buds!
Then, the Filet Mignon paired with peppercorn sauce arrived... the sauce was unreal. I couldn't get enough of it. And let me tell you, the meat cut like butter. I actually asked if I could take the rest of it home because I NEEDED to have for lunch the next day.. :)
Then, they brought out the Havarti Cajun Burger. YUM! The cajun seasoning, harvarti cheese and pickles all blended SO well together and the burger was juuuicy! I don't even LIKE pickles and I loved this burger.
And then came the seafood. The Pistachio Crusted Sea Bass was out of this world. The pistachios were a unique twist that gave the fish a great texture and taste AND it was joined with jumbo asparagus that was cooked to PERFECTION! Seriously, I've never had better asparagus in my life. They also brought out the Blackened Swordfish for me to taste. I know some people aren't really fans of swordfish because they think it is too dry. Well let me tell you, that's not the case at J. Mark's! It was so moist and tender; I was pleasantly surprised. The last but DEFINITELY not least meal that I ate was the Shrimp New Orleans. WOW! I was afraid that it was going to be a bit too spicy for me, but it wasn't! At all! It was REALLLY good! Yep, brought that one home too! ;)
And finally, dessert. I closed off the meal (and my stomach) with a rich cappuccino along with a slice of key lime pie that was lined with such tasty crust that I just could not get enough of.
Overall, dining at J. Mark's was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. From the service, to the atmosphere, to the food and drinks - I would (and DO) recommend this restaurant to everyone!
They have two locations, one in Pompano Beach at 1490 NE 23rd Street and one in Fort Lauderdale at 1245 N Federal Highway.
See ya there!