SHADE-O-METER RATING
4 OUTTA 5 WERKS: “SHE GAVE GOOD FACE – SHE SERVED IT”
What’s Tap 42? It’s a craft-beer bar and a restaurant in the southern part of Fort Lauderdale. The “42” in the name comes from 42 beers on-tap (I counted). There are five locations throughout South Florida. Was there an age restriction? No. Come one, come all.
ADVERSTISEMENT
What was the seating like? There’s seating inside and out. They had bar seating, regular seating and seating at counter-height tables inside. There are only tables outside—no bar. Both areas were equally popular. What was the atmosphere like? Very loud! What was the crowd like? A good mix of young professionals and middle-aged people.
How was the cruising? No queens. She only served femme and butch realness. When’s happy hour? It’s from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. You get $2 off for happy hour. What libations were ordered? One Drafted Old Fashion for $12, and one Chardonnay for $9. Were they served timely? Yes.
How were the drinks? The old fashion was excellent. The drink had something in it that I couldn’t quit place, which can likely be attributed to the house-infused beer syrup. In keeping with the rustic theme, the glass that the drink was in was very thick and heavy. The Chardonnay was fine, but nothing to write home about.
What was ordered? A Basket of Crispy Fries for $6, a Frame Grilled Chicken Wings for $13.50, a side of Roasted Brussel Sprouts for $6, and the Prohibition Burger for $14.50. Was the food served timely? Si.
How was the food? Without a doubt, the standout were the wings. OMG. The closest I can compare them to is the dry-rub BBQ that’s in Memphis. The meat fell off the bone, the flavor was exquisite, and they were served with copious amounts of homemade blue cheese dressing. To die for… The fries were addictive, but a bit too salty. At first I thought that they tasted almost exactly like McDonald’s fries, but eventually it became apparent that they’re more-than-likely hand-cut. The burger and Brussel sprouts were good, but, of the two, the Brussel sprouts won—they were seasoned with maple syrup (could use a smidge less of it), mustard and thyme, and had a wonderful burnt flavor.
How was the service? Fine. And we told the server that we had to be out of there by 7:45 p.m., and she made it happen. What stands out about the place? The beer taps… And the wings!
What could be improved? The server could maybe do a better job about describing the architecture of the restaurant. The website has no information about it, but it looks like half of the building is a brewery? Also, there’s no regular parking, only valet. Even though it’s free, not really feeling this. What was surprising? The locale. There’s really not much around it, so it comes off like a hidden gem.
Tap 42 is located at 1411 South Andrews Ave., in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It’s open seven days a week from about 11:00 a.m. to about midnight (the “bar stays open based on volume”).
