Federal Highway in East Broward is a mecca for restaurants, and this summer is a perfect time to investigate some independents you may not have visited. Here are three we tried:

SICILIAN OVEN

Owner Andrew Garavuso opened Sicilian Oven on the border of Lighthouse Point and Pompano Beach less than a year ago. Business has been so strong he's looking at expansion possibilities stretching from Kendall to Fort Lauderdale. If it were closer to our home, we would certainly be regulars. But it's also worth the drive.

With its cobalt blue light fixtures and small wine bar, Sicilian Oven is more upscale than your average pizza joint. The focus is the wood-fired oven, where kids like to stand and watch the pizza being cooked.

If you're not a pizza fan, there are plenty of other choices: pastas, salads, ciabatta sandwiches and wood-fired chicken wings. The Sicilian influence is evident in the number of eggplant dishes on the menu, including a pasta-free lasagna perfect for the low-carb diner.

We loved the Stack of Sicily: three thick, perfectly fried eggplant slices layered with fresh mozzarella and tomato slices. It's finished with fresh basil leaves and a balsamic reduction, perfect for dipping.

The chicken wings were flavored with rosemary and Italian spices, then topped with grilled onions and shaved romano cheese. Even our non-wing lover gave it a thumbs up.

That's before we got to the signature wood-fired pizza with its thin, slightly blackened crust. You can design your own from an impressive selection of toppings or choose a combo. The meatballs on our pizza were huge slices of the homemade signature item. We had to force ourselves to stop eating and take some home.

That left no room for desserts, which looked good. But we'll be back.

•  Sicilian Oven, 2486 N. Federal Hwy., Lighthouse Point; 954-785-4155, thesicilianoven.com; lunch Monday-Saturday; dinner daily; wings $10-$15, Sicilian specialties $6-$14, pizza $10-$18.

FERDOS GRILL

If you're looking for a quiet night at Ferdos Grill, come during the week. On Saturday nights it's a party scene with live belly dancing.

It's a good place to come with a group because the food is perfect for sharing. Many of the small plates are enough for a light meal. If you can't decide, start with the sampler, which includes hummus, baba ghannoush (roasted eggplant spread), fatoosh (tomato and cucumber salad), grape leaves and falafel patties.

Save room for one of the signature grilled kebabs. You can get them with chicken, ground beef, steak, shrimp or veggies. The two large skewers are a huge portion. Our chicken version was perfectly marinated and incredibly flavorful, while the steak kebab was incredibly tender.

Our only disappointment was the galaba, essentially a Mediterranean stir-fry. The sauce was too heavy on the olive oil and light on the lemon.

•  Ferdos Grill, 4300 N. Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale; 954-492-5552, www.ferdosgrill.net; lunch weekdays, dinner Monday-Saturday; appetizers $4.95-$9.95, salads and sandwiches $6.95-$9.95, kebabs $12.95-$19.95.

WHOLE ENCHILADA

Fast-casual Mexican places have sprung up on almost every corner, but this independent has more personality and better quality than the average.

The atmosphere has a California surfer feel with aluminum siding on the walls, but it's also a comfortable place to hang with a flat-screen television playing movies.

The menu includes the standard burritos, quesadillas, fajitas, etc. What's nice are healthful options like whole wheat tortillas, seared tofu, fresh mahi mahi and shrimp. The salsa bar has personality, too, with varieties like mango, wood-roasted and fuego (super hot).

Hungry eaters go for the red burrito, covered with melted cheese, red sauce and sour cream. Stuffed with your choice of protein, rice, beans, salsa and guacamole, it must be eaten with knife and fork.

On the lighter side, we enjoyed the enchilada platter but wished it had another enchilada instead of the rice and beans that took up most of the plate. The chili chicken salad looked worth trying next time.

•  The Whole Fresh Enchilada Mexican Grill, 4115 N. Federal Hwy., Oakland Park; 954-561-4040; www.twefreshmex.com; lunch and dinner daily; burritos $4.29-$7.99, other dishes $6.99-$8.99.

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