Hurricane blows into Midtown

Madeline Marr9/16/2010

Midtown is shaping up as a primo destination for quick bites. We've got Asian (Sakaya), Mexican (Lime, Mercadito) and fab burgers (Five Guys). And now we've got quality bar grub at Hurricane Grill & Wings. Joining South Florida locations in Kendale Lakes, Plantation, Coconut Creek and Coral Springs, it's a welcoming spot with islandy, I'm-on-vacation-type decor. Not a bad place to await your order, but if you have kids, there's also a pleasant fountain outside. About those wings . . . nice. Off and on the bone, the meat was perfectly tender. Dips come in five categories (get it?), from "Mild and Sweet'' to "Seek Shelter," and you can mix and match; the bigger your order, the more you get. The rest of the menu is not to be ignored, either. I'm still thinking about the salmon Caesar salad, a good-sized piece fish seasoned with teriyaki, mojo, ginger and garlic on a bed of romaine that gets a flavor boost from Parmesan cheese. Smart combo, people!

With Five Guys so close, who would think to order a burger? But you're in good hands here, especially with the half-pound patty of Angus beef with applewood-smoked bacon and house-made kettle chips. The best sandwiches by far are Hurricane's take on a Philly cheese steak with fillings like sausage, chicken and mahi mahi as well as steak. The sausage version comes with chopped meat in a barbecue-style sauce with grilled onions and peppers in a soft, buttery hoagie roll. (Unfortunately, on a second visit, I got shortchanged on the meat.) You could also make a night of guilty pleasures like Obscenely Loaded Fries topped with chopped bacon, aged Cheddar and jalapeños. A bite of those made me want to hole up here for the next big storm.