Small Plates Pack A Serious Punch

If you venture into Wilton Manors on a regular basis, The Manor Complex has surely caught your eye. With a newly renovated brand and a fresher, eclectic style, The Manor has positioned itself as one of South Florida’s main staples.  In addition to being one of the major “it” places for music, DJ’s and dancing, The Manor Complex also offers a tapas-style menu with a full bar.  What’s important to note is that “tapas” refers to a way of eating—smaller plates of food that can be shared by several. 

When eating at a restaurant, deciding on what I want to eat has always been a challenge. I’m usually in the mood for several different types of food.  Is it wrong to want more than one thing?  Why choose when you can have it all?

On a recent stop in The Manor, a friend and I decided to treat ourselves to a plethora of tastes.  It had been a long week, and my taste buds were in serious need of a reward. We decided to sample the Angus Sliders: Three seasoned angus burgers, aged cheddar, crisp apple wood smoked bacon, pickle & shaved red onion; the Orange Vanilla Caramelized Shrimp: Chili seasoned shrimp, sautéed with an orange vanilla caramel glaze, served over cheddar cheese polenta in a martini glass garnished with plantain chips; an out of this world delicious Crab Mac –n– Cheese: All natural blue crab mixed with aged cheddar cheese and baked to a golden brown; and the Sugarcane Skewered Beef Tenderloin Grilled chili glazed beef tenderloin on sugarcane, served on a grilled pineapple with Asian marinated noodles and Thai peanut sauce. Each dish was elegantly presented and just enough food to satisfy my cravings.

If none of those choices tickle your fancy, try the Firewood Salmon or the Raspberry Seared Scallops, which are on the top of my list for next time. There are even more adventurous foods broken down on the menu for your convenience: Flatbreads, Sliders, Dippable Delights, From The Sea , and East Meets West.  Why not sample from each group?

In addition to our dinner, we decided to try a few “oh so sweet” treats to top of the night. First, I relaxed with an Oreo Martini: 42 Below Vodka, Kaluah, white crème d’ coca, Bailey’s Irish Cream, chocolate lined glass, fresh Oreo garnish—delicious. Continuing down the Oreo path, The Award Winning Fried Oreo’s: Panko crusted double stuffed Oreo cookies garnished with powdered sugar and a raspberry dipping sauce, was the perfect end to my experience and definitely made me remember why I love to eat.

On my next visit, I look forward to trying the Red Velvet Cake or the NYC Style Cheesecake. For those of you who enjoy Sunday Funday, The Manor offers brunch as well.