By James Hanretta
Flavor Magazine
March 2008 Issue

Christine’s on East Oakland Park Blvd., located between Federal Highway and Bayview Drive, is a strong newcomer to the Fort Lauderdale restaurant scene and a marvelous culinary find. Resident Chefs Bill Bruening and Tom Repetti ply their trade with a talent for truly inspired juxtapositions, an obvious devotion to detail and an uncanny ability to prepare fresh fish to that ever elusive, rarely encountered, perfect state of doneness.

The ambiance is minimally modern, underpinned by blonde wood floors in a manner that encourages serious dining without mundane distractions. The pop art, the French vintage movie posters and the “W” celebrity photos arranged behind the bar nearby fade quickly from memory after you are comfortably seated at one of the well spaced tables adorned with fine Italian linens, Reidel glassware, Royal Doulton China and Villeroy & Boch silverware. Many clues hint of an impending love affair with some of the most beautifully crafted cuisine and vintage wines to be found in Fort Lauderdale.

The wine list is stellar, and replete with over one hundred vintage selections from around the world, including Louis Roederer Cristal 2000, Jarvis Winery, Napa 2002, Dominus, Napa 2003, Gruaud Larose, St. Julien 1989, and Antinori Guado al Tasso, Bolgheri 2003 from Tuscany or the coveted Gruaud Larose, St. Julien 1989. A superbly trained staff is always available to assist you, if needed, in selecting a wine that properly accompanies your chosen menu selections.

I’ve dined at Christine’s twice, once as part of a group, followed by a second visit in order to verify my initial findings. On both occasions I had the opportunity to sample a good representation of the chef’s ability, and I must admit that, as a retired Four-Star Rated Chef with over thirty years of experience, I’m not easily impressed. I heartily recommend the roasted pecan crusted goat cheese salad, the grilled Hawaiian snapper, the porcini dusted yellow tail snapper, and the herb-grilled local wahoo. The fish is always fresh and flawlessly prepared. The sauces are light, well balanced, reduced to a silken perfection, and the main menu item is usually served upon a bed of perfectly prepared accompaniments. My instinct tells me that every menu item is prepared to exacting standards, and I would expect consistency to be the rule, not the exception. It is my true belief that no better cuisine can be found anywhere in South Florida, and I make this statement in total confidence. Christine’s is a rare find indeed and an experience that should not be missed. They have raised the bar in their genre.

I heartily congratulate the owners, Messrs Rhategan and MacMillan, for a job well done. My hope is that their commitment to excellent cuisine and attentive, unpretentious service will result in the success and recognition they so rightly deserve. Please visit their website at christinesfl.com for menus and details of their upcoming grand opening. A visit to Christine’s is unforgettably memorable and strongly recommended.