Bela Lugosi's Dead...But Vlad Dracul is Alive & Kicking (A**)

You won't get your neck bitten & no there aren't any simpering goth kids trolling this restaurant (which appears to be family owned by REAL Romanians). As you enter the restaurant, you are acutely aware that the owners are banking on the fame & kitsch associated with all-things Vlad (there is a ginormous statue of a seated Vlad Dracul to the right of the front door, complete with gold inlay). The decor is simple & yet reminiscent of family-owned restaurants. Folksy Romanian art decorates the walls & the staff are real ROMANIANS...on weekends Transylvania boasts a husband/wife duo who play instruments & sing respectively. The food is out of this world & the Romanian beer refreshing but STOUT. I had the "Gipsy Chicken Schnitzel" & BFF Benny the "Romanian Steak". Let me say, I secretly think any restaurant worth its salt mashes their own potatoes & I was not disappointed! Much to my dismay, we were unable to enjoy the Romanian Crepes (with NUTELLA filling)!!!! So, you could always speed read Bram Stoker's Dracula or meet him in person. Restaurant Transylvania: Downtown Hollywood, FL.

Pho 78: Eat it or Else

Extremely excited that the singular Pembroke Pines location of Pho 78 has branched out into a 2nd location & vamped up their website (which threatens you to try & eat something else with the "Eat Pho or Else" logo). Pho 78 has all of the best details of a truly spectacular pho shop & for those that don't know your pho, it's a staple of Vietnamese quisine. From "small-large" bowls, you can't really appreciate how filling this hearty (but also somehow light) soup is. Just a word to the wise, Benny finds the Medium a challenge. Pho comes with a lovely dish of savory/refreshing herbs from Thai basil to culantro & bean sprouts. Top it off with Sirachi chili sauce & Voila!