by Rick Munarriz - 406 Reviews - 155 List
Some meals are meant to end in handshakes. From old school chophouses to iconic eateries that open seasonally when stone crabs are available, it's easier to broker important deals when you're surrounded by other tables doing the same thing. If you crave the buzz of negotiations, here are the places that serve it up in heaping portions.
Updated: October 21, 2009
If you're dining in Fort Lauderdale, this is the city's response to Miami's many beefy haunts. It's classy, retro and exactly what you would expect in a throwback chophouse. Just don't insult the wait staff by asking for a "well-done" steak.
If you need a little encouragement in emerging victorious, scour the walls. This is the original steak joint founded by Miami Dolphins coaching legend Don Shula. Mementos of his 1972 perfect season surround you. Plaques at the front commemorate those who have completely vanquished the chain's monster Porterhouse.
This is where deals have been going down in Coral Gables for decades. The only strike against it is that there is no actual bar to wait in before your meal, but that's never gotten in the way of some serious power brokering. If you want to light things up, order the Baked Alaska for dessert. It is fired up tableside.
When stone crabs in season, patrons will bend over backwards for a table at this landmark seafood specialist. You can't make advance reservations, so come ready to impress both the maitre d' and your guests. Sweeten the deal at the end with the restaurant's signature key lime pie dessert.
If killer vistas are all you need to get a prospective client to sign on the bottom line, this is the place for you. It's hard to beat the breathtaking views of Miami's dazzling skyline from the waterfront vantage point of this Key Biscayne eatery. It's Sunday brunch is legendary, but the postcard-perfect perspective is solid any day of the week..
If you're entertaining starry-eyed guests, this South Beach chophouse is the place to be. Celebrity sightings are a common occurrence, as the rich and famous love this modern spin on the classic steakhouse.
