Truluck's***

By Rochelle Koff

Trulick’s means “truly lucky”… how the owners felt when they launched their first restaurant in Houston … and it still fits. The first in Broward, and the 10th overall, the Galleria Mall Truluck’s has been a hot commodity since it opened two months ago, joining popular siblings in Boca Raton and Naples with a Brickell location planned for fall 2010.

Truluck’s owns and operates its own boats on Florida’s west coast, and promises the freshest stone crabs come October. Till then, there are Norht Atlantic Jonah crabs and Alaskan Red King crabs. The menu also features an array of fish steaks and chicken. Truluck’s is known for an elaborate wine system. Over 100 labels are available by 2-ounce sample. Try a suggested flight of samples or make up your own.

Ambiance

You won’t see any bibs at Truluck’s. No loud hammering or cracking, either. Rather, crab lovers are chowing down in style. The 325-seat restaurant has a classy bar, private rooms, indoor and outdoor seating and friendly, accommodating servers.

What Worked

• Seafood tower with bracing East and West coast oysters, a few tasty Jonah claws and a seafood cocktail of sweet, succulent chunks of Alaskan king crab
• Decadent, firm and sweet red king crab leg served hot with garlic butter
• Excellent lightly breaded, tender fried calamari
• Creamy corn chowder seasoned with pleasantly spicy turmeric, bacon and scallions, poured tableside over a mound of crab
• Excellent grilled Alaskan halibut topped with lobster vinaigrette
• Perfectly cooked blackened Florida grouper served with smoked tomato sauce, avocado salsa and fried green tomatoes
• Juicy steak Oscar, Niman Ranch sirloin with a creamy Béarnaise sauce
• Rich, flavorful creamed leeks elevated by nutty smoked Gouda
• Sensational signature carrot cake drizzled with butterscotch sauce
• Moist chocolate layer cake paired with an ice cream-filled candy shell

What Didn’t Work

• Jumbo lump crab cake not crisp enough outside and barely warm inside
• Hawaiian wahoo overpowered by accompanying tomato coulis
• Asparagus bisque
• Gummy Parmesan mashed potatoes

Truluck’s atThe Galleria: 2584 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-396-5656; Hours: Bar opens 4:30 p.m.; dinner 5-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 5-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Prices: A la carte seafood items $1-$12, other starters $7-$19, entrees $17-$43, sides $5-$10, desserts $8-$13, three-course “date dinner” $35.

FYI: Reservations recommended. Mall parking and complimentary valet. Full bar; no outside bottles allowed. All-you-can-eat crab Monday, half-price wine on Wednesday. Live music nightly. AX, DS, MC, VS

This story was originally published August 25, 2009 at 9:08 PM.