I don’t know about you, but I have seen WAY too many movies with happily ever after endings that have given me unrealistic expectations of life. As if I’m seriously going to go on a Bumble date that leads to a Ryan Gosling-Rachel McAdams Notebook romance. Yeah, ok. And french fries don’t have calories. You know what DOES give me (and you) the grand finale that you deserve? The Tuck Room, which is the restaurant that you can enjoy an incredible meal at before or after your movie at iPic Theatres in North Miami Beach.  I got the privilege to dine there not just once, but twice – so grab your popcorn kids, it’s gonna be a long blog post.

They have a popcorn of the day, every day. If that doesn’t show you that they care about you more than anyone else ever will, then you deserve to waste your money on some stupid romantic comedy. This is the height of love.

And talk about a lover that listens. They feature a cocktail menu that allows you to make your own drink! Whether the Tucker Gin Fizz, the Manhattan, or the Old Fashioned, you can choose your spirit and let their expert bartenders work their magic.

This may seem like the climax, but trust me, it’s only the opening credits – and it is GOOD! A grilled avocado is stuffed with shallot mousse, breadcrumbs, cojita cheese and finger lime pearls, and it is a perfect intro to a great meal.

One of my favorites of the night were the Brioche-Crusted Crab Cakes, served with Old Bay remoulade, frisée and citrus salad, topped with a yuzu vinaigrette. The Old Bay kept the dish savory while the citrus gave it a nice sweet punch. Unlike sappy romantic movies, this crab cake had no filler.

I’ve said it plenty of times on this blog – Brussels Sprouts have become as basic as Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes. So it takes a good mix of ingredients for me to even consider ordering them. The Tuck Room does theirs with caramelized apples, miso-tahini dressing, toasted cashew, shaved percorino, and togarashi. Read those ingredients over just one more time and tell me you’re not intrigued. There’s a chance you may forsake seeing your movie just to stay and order more of these.

As you may be noticing by now, one of the things that The Tuck Room really has going for them in their menu is diversity. There’s something for everyone. And for those who like to get down and dirty like me, and don’t care about looking savage AF in public, they have the Mango + Habanero BBQ Baby Back Ribs, accompanied by spicy tangy coleslaw, and honey-glazed corn bread. The definiton of finger lickin’ good. At this point I was wondering if the theatre had a wheelbarrow section.

And if I thought that the ribs couldn’t be topped, then I was wrong, because the plot thickened and along came the Buttermilk Fried Chicken. I’ve had a lot of fried chicken in my day. No brag, I’m kind of an expert. And I’ve raved about many fried chicken dishes before. But that was before this came in to my life. And before I tasted it with sides of spicy bacon maple syrup and Sriracha ranch. This chicken was so juicy. So tenderly fried. And paired so perfectly well with unique sauces. Please look away now. This is where the movie goes from R-rated to NC-17. Me and this dish need some time alone.

Speaking of which… they offer Parmesan Truffle Fries. If you can’t tell by the sassy look on my face… this will turn into a horror move REAL QUICK if you try to steal one.

Unlike movies, you don’t have to worry about a disappointing ending at The Tuck Room. Just order the chocolate S’mores cake and you’ll be fully satisfied. It comes complete with toasted meringue, graham cracker crumble, and whipped cream. Happily ever after DOES exist if you believe. And if you order this.

Just like any great movie, mine had a sequel. And unlike most sequels, this one is worth indulging in…again. and again. and again. I went with my some of my favorite gal pals and bloggers, including Shaina, to check out The Tuck Room again during Miami Spice (which btw goes until Oct 31 – so hurry!!) We got to sample more food as well as learn how to make my new favorite drink, the Mojitorico.

Full outfit by Forever 21

Want to learn how to make it? We did.

After that delicious, refreshing drink, we indulged in some apps, which included, once again, my favorite Brussels Sprouts, but also the Ahi Tuna Poke, which was not only presented as beautifully as an actress who has starved her way to perfection for awards season, but unlike most of those actresses, this dish had way more substance than looks. It’s served with soy, sweet onion, ginger, sesame, edamame, and topped with a macadamia nut crunch. (Good news, this one is part of the Miami Spice menu, along with the avocado that I mentioned earlier.)

To make it in the biz, whether restaurant or Hollywood, you have to stand out. And in a world of basic calamari, this dish is definitely a stand out. Hot Pepper Calamari Fritti – a crispy calamari with Gochujang glaze, lime, and cilantro. All of the flavor and just the right kick. And speaking of kick, you’ll be kicking yourself if you don’t try it. This was a huge favorite all around our table. Get 4 women to actually agree on something, and you’ve basically solved world peace.

You don’t have to be ready to rock, to roll. The Lobster Roll will totally rock your socks off. A generous portion of poached knuckle and claw lobster is topped with pink chili dressing and served with a side of Old Bay potato chips. It’s totally okay to be shell-fish with this one – I mean, why share something this good?

Would it be a Jill meal without some form of fries? You already know the answer to that. While the sweet potato fries were great, the impressive part of this side was the curry ketchup. CURRY KETCHUP. I’ve never tasted ketchup so good. So good that once my fries ran out, I was tempted to dip my napkin in it. Or my fingers. Or basically just my face.