DBA Cafe

To bad how sad !! This was my fav spot but short lived. They had a great thing going but it fell down hard. Good people with good intentions but lacking the effort to make it right. It’s not all about the glam it’s about making good food and being responsible. A hard nut to swallow for most which is why chain restaurants are wining. I will continue to support privately owned establishments but they have to keep up their end of the bargain.

Came recommended. Menu sounded good. Party of 4. 3 dishes were cold. Steak under cooked for the forth dish. Left off the black beans.
Told the waiter. No answer. Spoke to the manager afterwards. He took our drinks off the bill.
B for the idea. D for execution.
Meh

I’ve been here twice for brunch and the food was very good. The owner is also very nice and friendly. The beer selection is decent. Not many but what they do have is good. Prices are what you expect for a trendy Fort Lauderdale eatery. I was told of beer pairings and special events that all sounded great. What wasn’t awesome was the level of service for brunch. I understand that things happen — people not showing up, etc., but when you sit at the bar for bottomless mimosas and the bartender is never there it gets annoying. This is easily a 4 or 5 star establishment, but until I get better service it will stay at 3.
Definitely try it, it’s worth the effort.

We really had fun at this place. Good beer and wine and great food. The brussel sprout app was fantastic, even without the bacon (note to chef… great job) I had the burger special and my wife had the green curry dish. We both loved our food. The best was meeting some new friends. The couple next to our table said hi and we commented on the food, eventually led to a few extra drinks and an hour conversation with them after they joined our table. Try this place.

My wife and I had the pleasure of having found d.b.a Café kind of indirectly by running into the owner Tom at one of the local places we frequent on Las Olas and we immediately hit it off. You can usually tell a lot about someone’s business by the level of passion and detail in which they speak about it and Tom did a great job at painting the picture.
My wife and I decided to check out d.b.a since we were already headed to wholefoods and being that it is right next door and we were hungry it just made sense. We could not be happier with our decision because the place was as beautiful as the food was great. It just has that incredibly warm, inviting and at home type of feeling that we both love. The inside has exposed brick walls, perfect lighting and very unique artsy décor made from wine crates «you just have to see it yourself to appreciate it». The wine list seems to be perfected here because all the ones that we tried were magnificent and reasonable, if beer is your thing then they also have some great craft beers. As far as the food goes, everything that came out of the kitchen looked amazing in both the presentation as well as the generous portions.
My wife and I usually eat on the the lighter side because we love to enjoy our wine and or beer so we started off with the brussel sprouts and all I can say is OH MY GOD how do they get these to taste this amazing because they were just incredible, we couldn’t stop talking about them. After we let the brussel sprouts settle in we split the pizza burger which is a burger of the day that had red sauce, mozzarella and a thin crisp of parmesan cheese served on a bread that was more like a baguette than a burger bun and served with fries, it just all came together perfectly and was soooooo delicious.
This is one of those places that is a hidden jewel that everyone should visit for a great meal with an awesome atmosphere. Give it a go you won’t be disappointed!

Alternative, New Age kind of feeling. Fresh food, unusual combinations, food is good but not the best. The curry was somewhat bland the wahoo had more flavor. Super friendly staff. Nice crowd.

How has Fort Lauderdale grown since i moved out of there!
This little restaurant is a great addition to that strip mall. Now it is full with retail, Spa, stores and restaurants.
Came in with a few freinds for Sunday Funday brunch. Unlimited mimosas na dthe food was pretty solid.
The décor was eclectic and cool and we had a semi-​private booth. Not a lot of seating inside and a few tables outside.
I asked for a table outside and was seated promptly, but as i was sitting outside waiting for a friend to arrive, i started to feel a bit cold so i asked the waiter if i could have a table inside instead. He rolled his eyes and told me «we need to see what’s insode because we are getting busy», which i totally get but i did not like the attitude.
We did get the table inside and as my friends arrived, we were actually taken care of by 2 – 3 different people. All of them were super nice except the eyes rolling guy. He seriously looked like he’d rather be anywhere else than there and acted like he was doing us a favor. Not cool. I asked for his name because i knew i was going to be posting this review but unfortunately i forgot his name.
I would have given this place another star if it would not have been for the rude server.
Place has potential though, i just wished my first impression would have been better with the server. And like they say: «you NEVER get a second chance to make a first impression».

The restaurant has an inventive menu that is comprised of interesting ingredients that work so well together
It is truly a joy to dine here
I love the fact that the host visits every table to chat
It makes the experience so special
The service was superb not overbearing and very accommodating to dietary needs
I would highly recommend DBA to anyone looking for a great food experience.

Drove up here to have a Sunday Funday and brunch with some friends. I really liked the way the place looked. It had a very NYC vibe to it. People sitting around at small low to the floor tables and stools at the bar. Random art on the walls. In the booth we got (only one I think) there were cork screws placed int he wall, hundreds of them. thought that was cool. Music was playing (not sure what tho). It was busy and waiters running around and getting those waters and what not.
The menu was reasonably priced. I ordered the Omelet, the one with Chiorazzo. I didn’t eat very much, maybe a bite or two. Not that it was bad but I wasn’t feeling very well so I can’t really touch too much on the food from a personal stand point but one of my friends got the same thing and she did everything but lick the plate so I assume its good stuff. They also had bottomless Mimosas for $ 15. Even though I didn’t feel good, I got one, for no good reason at all (when in Rome) even though I didn’t even finish one glass. lol
The service was quite a bit lacking. (why I gave three stars). There were three occasions that I asked for something and it either came after asking 2 – 3 times or not at all. I barely touched my food and the waiter didn’t even ask me was everything ok, when they came to take the plates, he just took it, didn’t even ask if I wanted it to go (I didn’t but I should have been asked) and they took a while to bring refills. This is service I’m used to but I thought they did it better in Frt Laudy. lol
When in the area again, I will prolly go elsewhere. But, for pricing and atmosphere, check it out at least once.

Delicious food!
Portions huge; but perhaps a bit more beef tenderloin should be included in the Thai Green Curry?
Menu descriptions may not be adequate for all diners; ask about ingredients, sides
Allergy questions cheerfully answered
Small but interesting selection of craft beers
Patient, polite servers
Ample parking

The wifey and I ate here last night and it was absolutely scrumptious. She had the duck duck biscuit which she found delicious and I had the rigatoni sausage that was fantastic. To finish the meal she had advacado cake and I had the brownie with ice cream. The prices were reasonable and the service great. Our waiter Tom was top notch. Very funky vibe and great music.
Strongly recommend and will definitely go back.

DBA is one of those places that captures you into their relaxing yet upbeat and fun environment. The staff is nothing but amazing and always remembers us each time we come in. The inside is nice and quaint with bar and table seating; along with an outdoor patio! We always sit at the bar and feel that is the best spot in the house. The staff is always so inviting and wants to make sure you have the best dining experience.
We have dined with them a couple times for brunch and just last night for dinner! The brunch is absolutely delicious and always a good time. They offer the best bottomless mimosas and always keep your glass full! I have had the same thing both times we went for brunch because it was THAT good! But I can say each one of their brunch dishes would not disappoint. We have had their Breakfast Burrito, «Breakfast» Cubano, and the Open Faced Croque Madame and I already have my eyes on the next brunch item I want to order!
Now for dinner, as you can tell I love their brunch so I was overly excited when my husband agreed to finally have dinner here! We again sat at the bar and the employees remembered us and asked how we had been! It is a cool feeling when walking into a restaurant and can be remembered! We took a look at their specials board and the El Cubano Burger caught my husbands eye so that is what he decided on. I ordered the Duck, Duck Biscuit which is duck fat buttermilk biscuit topped with duck country gravy, duck confit, and caramelized apples. Sounds absolutely amazing right? I was sorely disappointed by my dish and my husband also was not a fan of his. I hope this was just an off night as I know they can deliver better than this.
The breakdown of the El Cubano Burger– First off it was served in a plastic outdoor dish tray which was a little weird to us since this place isn’t cheap nor unclassy but onto the actual taste of the burger. The burger itself was cooked to medium rare as ordered but had a burnt/​charred taste to it. The thick slab of cheese was not melted and wasn’t going to due to the thickness but also had an unexpected Swiss taste. However the whole grain mustard was good!
The breakdown of the Duck, Duck Biscuit– I suppose I expected a duck version of biscuits and gravy in a dinner form. What came out though was one half of a biscuit with a small amount of duck confit which I thought was a little dry and with caramelized apples on top. The apples were the best part of this dish! The gravy was good but more on the watery side. With the dryness of the duck, watered down gravy, and lack of portion size my expectations were crushed.
Although we had a not so great dinner here I can only take off one star as mentioned above this restaurant I know can deliver and hopefully we just had a fluke dinner. I highly recommend brunch! As always the staff is ever so friendly and always on point!

A must try! A must comeback. All I can say is wow… the atmosphere, the food, wine and craft beer is perfect.

updated review…
DBA’s new chef, Evan, is culinary arts trained, and pushes the limit. A whole bunch of stuff works, and every now and then, things do not work. That’s what happens when you take risks. The food is not as simple, or an inexpensive as it used to be.
Brunch is simply awesome. And they now do Saturday brunch, which seems to be a novelty in S. Florida, but is a staple in every other decent city.
Whenever my wife and I are trying to figure out a place to eat, we end up at DBA. the owner, Tom, goes out of his way to make things right.
As they have become more and more popular, thanks Unilocal!, they struggle with the same things a growing business does.
However, give them a shot. Have high expectations. And tell Tom and Evan what you think. We love it. And I am sure you will too.

Just left DBA after finding it on Unilocal.I was so excited about going because I love eclectic food.
Here’s the problem:
We ordered the NY strip steak and wanted to add a piece of the fresh wahoo to create our own surf and turf. When we got it we saw an eclectic mess on the plate. It was hard to tell what was what. After digging we found 4 thin slices of steak on the plate so I called the waiter over and asked what he thought. He said he thought it was a little odd and went back to the kitchen to find out details.
He came out with the owner or manager who told us they were running out of steak and had too many orders to fill so they tried to make it work. Basically they tried to scam everyone out of a full portion. (that is purely my opinion).
I told him I thought that was a terrible way to handle that situation and even worse that the waiter nor we, the paying customer, had the opportunity to decide what we wanted to do rather than have them try to cheat us out of our meal.
Of course after we caught him trying to cheese us out of our meal he took the entrée off the check. But I can tell you that I didn’t see him taking the cost off the other customers checks who supposedly were shorted on their portions as well.
I told the waiter I felt awful about the experience. He felt bad for us.
To top it off the owner/​manager came out after us trying to loud mouth his way out of the situation. Said he felt terrible. I told him not as terrible as we did.

Wow! I found DBA on a «Best Brunches» list. and boy am I glad I did! It’s a total hidden gem! DBA has been by far the best brunch that I’ve had in South Florida! The staff was super nice! The décor is funky, eclectic and so much fun! The food. well, that’s in a league of it’s own! Yummy sangria! And the Huevos Rancheros was absolutely to die for! From the moment I finished it, I immediately wanted it again! My mouth is watering just thinking about it!
Now. Who’s up for some yummy brunch?!

Went for brunch with my parents. They have a great craft beer selection– small but quality! Four stars for that.
Brunch was good but not as amazing as i had hoped for. We all split stuffed french toast (filled with cheesecake) which was decadent but kind of tiny. Luckily we just gir that for the table.
I had the chimichurri steak and eggs. For $ 16, i felt it should have been a little more steak. I’m not a huge appetite kind of girl, but i just felt it was small. It did have great flavor.
The ambience is great– small, quirky, and kitschy are adjectives that come to mind. The people who work here genuinely care, and it shows. Many people stopped by the table to ask how things are. They make you feel like a valued customer.
We all really want to return and try dinner… I’m really looking forward to dinner here! After that, maybe four stars will be given!

Great atmosphere. It wasn’t crowded the Thursday we visited. Thursday is half price burger night from 5 – 7 pm. I had the cheddar cheese burger. The cheese wasn’t melted. It had good flavor. It’s great with the wasabi mayo. I had the house fries. My friend had the truffle fries for extra $ 1. They were better. Service was slow considering it wasn’t busy. Wait staff was busy socializing.
I would return for the burger night. They have a new burger of the month.

Wow! DBA Café certainly has a lot of Five Star reviews, but unfortunately I can’t go over Three Stars (It’s OK), and I think even going to Three Stars is somewhat of a stretch on my part.
When I arrived there were only a few people in the place and the bartendress was seated at the bar playing on a laptop. Instead of escorting me to a seat or asking where I would like to be seated, she merely commented from across the room to «Take a seat anywhere.» I sat there a few minutes, so I got up and on my own found a menu on shelf near the doorway to peruse while I waited for her or someone to wait on my table. After a few more minutes she finally came over to my table, seemed surprised that I had already found a menu, but brought with her a wine list from which I ordered a glass of sauvignon blanc and went through the specials they had listed on their board.
When my drink arrived, it was a good wine for what there was of it because it was probably of most miserly smallest pour of a wine by the glass that I’ve ever encounter.
For food I went for their special which was a grilled grouper over a bed of rice and spinach topped with a spicy orange sauce. The fish portion was rather small but sufficient, a simple mundane everyday type of rice, but the spicy or zesty flavor sauce was really good making it an extremely tasty dish.
Oddly and to me rather annoying was the background music which was that of 1970’s «glam rock.» Though it wasn’t played all that loud, it just seemed to me to be about as unfitting as would be one of those androgynous glam rock performers if he/​she were a patron or a staff member of DBA.
For food, Three Plus. For service Two. For atmosphere Four but minus one star because of that annoying glam rock music. Hence Three Stars overall.
Please don’t think I have a thing or hang up about glam rock; I don’t. I actually like it but not with my meal, because as would a cheap Bulgarian wine, it tends to ruin the flavors.

Want something new to do to spice up your wine drinking session? Come to DBA Café Wednesday nights from 6:30 — close for their Brown Bag Wine Tasting. I’ve always wanted to blind test wines and see if I can guess the varietal. So on my Mom’s birthday I mentioned we check it out, and it was a blast. They give you four 2.5 ounce glasses of four different bottles of wine. Our night had us tasting one white and three reds. Perfect. I’m a red wine girl.
The bar tender was really friendly, and she made it really fun. Guessing was so funny. She gave us some paper to write our notes and I got around 3 of the 4 right. Huh, not bad. That Pinot noir got me confused… The wines were fantastic too. It wasn’t your cheap $ 6 bottle of wine. We had some great flavors on the table here. The Zinfandel featured was my favorite.
They are located in a large shopping plaza next to a Whole Foods. Their food looks great, and now that I’ve experienced the very relaxed, dark and moody atmosphere I can’t wait to come back.