RESTAURANT REVIEW

Meyer's Latin Flair

If you’re local and have been here a while, you’ve probably heard of the Latin restaurant Mambo Jambo that in their hey day, was the go-to place for incredible Latin-Fusion cusine. They sold, it never was the same, it closed and with it, came the feeling something was missing. We loved that place, and the artistry and passion George and Zaida put onto every plate. We brought tons of people there who didn’t think they like “Latin” food, tried it and loved it enough to keep coming back.

And until now, the only “Latin” food so to speak, were the salsa and chips places, that really?? Aren’t exactly Latin at its finest. Well lucky for us, there’s a new go-to place in town!



“Latin cuisine,” says Meyer’s Latin Flair owner and Executive Chef, Meyer Pinchassow (a half Jewish –hence the non-Latin Meyer-- Colombian native) is not just Mexican. It’s not just Cuban. Every country has dishes in common yes, but with their own interpretation, their own flair. That’s what our restaurant is all about. Bringing the most loved comfort food of Spain, Venezuela, Columbia, ++ and fusing them with the freshest and best ingredients this country provides, and creating dishes our customers will love.” You can’t sit with this man, and his beyond lovely wife Claudia and not feel something special. What a duo. He is the artist here, the foody with a capital “F”. Classically trained, with skills lovingly honed by family recipes and traditions, with a modern and individualistic interpretation of the foods he loved and grew up with. She brings a business acumen, lovable people skills and a warmth to the table and together with their children Lauren who oft is hostess, and Caleb 5, have created an extension of their home in this sexy, almost hidden eatery adjacent to Pet Supermarket on University Drive.

They have a beautiful bar area where they make Mango Mojitos and Margueritas. Try their fruit-filled Sangria even if you don’t think you like Sangria like me. I now LOVE SANGRIA.

When I did not think I liked Ceviche, Meyer brought me a gorgeous plate piled in the center with fresh fish kissed by lime and other citrus flavors and flavorings, and I now LOVE CEVICHE. He also expanded the think-I-ate-and-saw-it-all menu in my head with a corn from Peru. FIVE times the size of our traditional corn, it’s white and he serves it on the side of the Ceviche ($13.99) 2 ways: toasted which was crunchy and nutty and blanched which was the perfect “platform” for the Ceviche. “That’s the thing,” he says, “most of our dishes, when eaten together with the other accouterments on the plate kind of burst in your mouth making everything that is good separately, a burst of perfection together.”

I tried Mofongo (from $13.99-$17.99 depending on the protein chosen) I had mine with pork chunks ($13.99). It’s lightly fried green plantain, mashed and missed with garlic and spices and served around a pillar with chicken broth for dipping. Gorgeous to look at, when you knock pieces of the plantain off and eat it with the pork lightly dipped in the broth, OMG, magic happened. And it happened again with the Seafood Paella ($20.99) which they make for one but is huge, incredible and filled with seafood. His white rice, plain old white rice was THE best I ever ate, swear. The magic continued with Fish a la Meyer’s ($18.99), a grilled Bassa, (soft, delicate white fish) in a creamy, yet light sweet red-pepper sauce, doused in shrimp, scallops, calamari, clams and mussels. Superb! I have boasted of it to everyone who’ll listen since. They have a huge selection of pork chops, sirloin, fish, chicken and salads. Their Vaca Frita ($12.99) which is fork-tender shredded beef with onions served with beans and rice is outstanding. Over a dozen appetizers including Bang Bang Shrimp ($9.99), an amazing Fried Calamari ($9.99), and their Muchos Nachos ($10.99) are outstanding and ample. This little place taught me something, that trying new things can offer an abundance of pleasure my psyche might have kept me from. “We have more people order from the plates going by,” laughed Meyer, “than the menu.”

“It looks so good, and smells so good,” added Claudia, “that people who wouldn’t try something because they don’t think they like an ingredient, see it go by and say I’ll try that and then have a new favorite. Some people just think “Latin” food means HOT. Not at all, it means flavor.”

They also have many of the known favorites like Flautas ($8.99), great guacamole, quesadillas ($7.49) fajitas ($13.99-$15.99) and even a taco salad ($8.99). There are dishes you know and love but put your trust in this brilliant and passionate chef, and he’ll expand your culinary world and present you with some magic of your own.

Even new, locals just voted this restaurant the “Best Latin American Cuisine 2011.”

Using ONLY the finest and freshest ingredients Meyer prepares everything from scratch EVERY day even the unbelievable soups, Tortilla ($5.99) and Chicken ($2.99 cup/$4.99 bowl). “We buy NOTHING pre-made.” Save room for Cuban coffees and decadent desserts.

Private function packages available for Corporate, Anniversary, Birthdays They can also cater your event at home or office, big or small. Enjoy FREE live entertainment: Spanish Tavern Nights on Thursdays at 7pm with Jazz, Tapas and Sangria; Smooth Latin Groove on Fridays at 6pm and International Night on Saturdays at 7pm. V & MC. Full bar, Wine & Beer. They sincerely make an effort to have you try their amazing little restaurant. Meyer could not be more passionate about his food, and Claudia could not treat you more special if you were dining in her kitchen. They’re in the restaurant night and day to make sure customers come away with more than a meal, but an experience they’ll savor and want to repeat. They appreciate your business and demonstrate it with robust portions and true hospitality that’s palpable.

They (and we) know when you try Myer’s Latin Flair, you’ll be blown away and will be back!

Meyer’s Latin Flair
2528 N. University Drive,
Coral Springs 33065
(NW corner of Royal Palm Blvd near Pet Supermarket)
954.780.9150
www.meyerslatinflair.com
Open 7 days a week from 11:30 am serving Lunch, Early Bird Menu and Dinner

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