Emily's Garden — Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale

If you’re looking for a sweet spot that’s got plenty of quiet ambiance, lots of love packed into every bite of simple but fresh food , and a warmth that can only come from an outdoor cafe…look no more! Emily’s Garden is ALL OF THAT and so much more. Family friendly or just going out with your friends or a sweetheart, This establishment is cozy, not crowding tables and people in like cattle, (as many places do)…Emily’s Garden gives you room to spread out, have fun or quiet conversations. It is a personal haven that gives you personal space and plenty of attention. Wait staff is kindly, exceptionally competent, and they work hand in hand with management to give you the best dining experience imaginable. No matter what you choose…farm fresh eggs that are cooked to perfection as YOU LIKE THEM, Charcuterie board that fresh and full of flavour, pizza that is simplistic but very tasty! The list is perfect, the menu quietly understated, but lends itself well to that “European Outdoor Cafe” style dining that is both relaxing, refreshing and just the sort of stress reliever for anyone’s hectic lifestyle. The Cappuccino is ahhhh-mazing and my friends and I will most definitely be back for more of the laughter and fine fare we enjoyed yesterday! You are in a garden of tranquility and don’t worry about the heat or being in the path of direct sunlight. Overhead are fans positioned for comfort as well as taut tarpaulins to create a beautiful haven of greenery. As to my use of the word “simple” in describing this oasis, it refers to the charm of small plates that look like antiques, and the rustic look of the tables, some small and round, others medium and square to the longer oblong or rectangular shapes that dot the landscape. Wrought iron that’s aged but never out of date for this incredible place. It is my fervent hope you will go there and try it. There is music playing on Saturdays and Sundays…so kindly make reservations, they fill up fast! I’m including some photos so you can get a “feel” for how it looks. A perfect place to be romantic, nostalgic or silly if your children like playing outdoors. Emily’s Garden also offers indoor dining. This is THE PLACE TO “BE”…it’s just as great as all that. High praise? Am I pouring it on a bit too thick? Nah! I’m simply letting you know…different but not so fancy schmancy food, FRESH FOOD with quick, polite and super service. There’s even a coffee bar you can order directly from if that’s your wish! But…don’t just take my word for all of this. GO NOW and...

TL;DR: Great atmosphere, especially for kids. But the service was terrible—slow and forgetful. I ended up leaving without eating because they forgot my food, so I can’t say if it’s good or not. :)

We came on a Friday around 5 PM and were promptly greeted and seated. The outdoor design is well thought out, with plenty of space and even a ball field for kids. However, after 15 minutes with no waitress checking on us, I had to go ask to place an order. She seemed surprised by my request but took the order.

The food took a while to arrive, but it did eventually. We ordered steak, and I had specifically asked for the sauce on the side because I can’t have one of the ingredients. Unfortunately, the sauce was on the steak, so I couldn’t eat it. No big deal—I figured I’d wait for the other main dish. But after 20 minutes, it still hadn’t come. I tried to find someone, as I couldn’t get a hold of our waitress, and I ended up speaking to someone who looked like the chef. He checked with the person making the tacos and told me she was plating them.

I waited another 10 minutes, but nothing came. I supposed he or the tacos person miss understood the table I was seating at. By then, it was getting late for our kid, and we had already been there for over an hour. I decided to chasse down our waitress and ask for the check. She apologized and offered an ice cream but at this point I just wanted to go home and eat a meal.

In retrospect, the staff was running around everywhere—either they were understaffed or inexperienced, but service did not run smoothly. I saw multiple customers looking annoyed, so we weren’t the only ones. After we left, my wife mentioned that the waitress had initially come to offer a straw for our kid but never actually brought it. 🤷‍♂️

We’ll give them another chance, but needless to say it was a...

I went to Emily’s Garden for breakfast today. Here’s what I thought:

Ambiance: Emily’s Garden is such a cute place. We sat in their outside garden area and it was the perfect space to enjoy a beautiful, sunny day. The garden has a bunch of different little food booth areas. It also has tons of cute seating options. This is a great place to bring your furry friends. The inside space looked cute too, but my favorite thing about Emily’s Garden was the outside space.

Restrooms: The restrooms were nice and clean. They had two single use bathrooms.

Service: This is where I have to knock down the rating. The table we sat at was visibly dirty and we had to ask our waitress to clean it for us. The waitress was super quiet and didn’t really seem to care/want to be there. She just took our orders and didn’t provide any advice on good menu options or recommendations. The owner or manager we talked too was so friendly though!

Food: We all enjoyed our food. I do wish the portions were a little bigger for the price. The coffee was delicious! I tried their ‘Millionare French Toast’ and it was surprisingly DELICIOUS. I was expecting two pieces of toast, but you only get one with a small side salad. The portion could’ve been bigger. Everyone else enjoyed their drinks and food.

If I lived in Fort Lauderdale, I would come here all the time!

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