Pizzeria serving pizza, pastas, subs, chicken wings and more.
The healthy fast casual concept stays true to its local supply chain philosophy by sourcing much of its produce from J&J Family of Farms in Loxahatchee and herbs from Harvest Sensations in Miami. The name’s a bit of a misnomer; Just Salad also does wraps, smoothies, “warm bowls” featuring dishes like shawarma and umami, and soups.
Park & Ocean sits in a shady grove on the southeast side of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, facing A1A and the ocean. Located in the park’s old, partially indoor beachside entrance, the place’s menu includes tacos, salads, burgers and fun bar food like the scrumptious, not-so-traditional grilled cheese sandwiches made with truffles, garlic shrimp and manchego cheese. There’s an extensive beer menu, including several local brewery favorites, as well as a good selection of wines and other beverages. You can also catch some live tunes – check the schedule, but Park & Ocean usually has live music on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. That’s not counting the music of the lapping waves while you enjoy a cool beverage.
A Caribbean-American fusion kitchen and bar, influenced by the multicultural island flavors of South Florida.
A fast-casual and traditional Italian restaurant featuring delicacies with high quality ingredients and a high level of service.
This Mexican restaurant specializes in family-style servings. Their recipes use homemade sauces and locally grown ingredients whenever possible. They’re best known for their tacos al pastor.
Thai – and Japanese – food, with a view of the ocean.
Located at the North Beach Hotel in Fort Lauderdale Beach, serving gourmet American dishes and cocktails.
The people who brought Warsaw Coffee Company to increasingly cool NE 13th Street have opened a cocktail lounge and cafe in the same building. The clubby sophistication of the well-appointed, wood-paneled space is matched by a menu of breakfast, lunch, dinner and bar bites – as well as the weekend daytime hours’ bottomless brunch. A standout cocktail menu includes treats like the Sailor to Pirate, a rum old-fashioned that transforms into a pina colada served with torched cinnamon sticks.
The Conrad’s Cornucopia is just that—a plentiful amount of fruits and vegetables all in one place. Located at the lobby, the gourmet market and bakery is ideal for a quick bite to get your day going or an evening snack right before you wind down. The morning menu includes fresh pressed juices, bacon and cheddar frittata and a huevos rancheros pizza. Finish your day with a selection of meats and cheese from the charcuterie menu or a green eggs “pizzetta.”
Located in cool, laid-back North Beach Village, the wine garden offers beachgoers a place to “wine” down after a long day in the water or on the sand. Feel the ocean breeze while indulging in pizza, pasta, dessert and wine. Their pasta choices include salmon livornesa (linguine pasta with tomato sauce, olives, capers, onions, Italian parsley and fresh diced salmon) and one of their dessert options consists of yogurt Nutella chocolate mousse.
Located on the fifth floor pool terrace of the Atlantic Hotel and Spa, SKY Bar offers the same easygoing vibe of the hotel’s restaurant, Coastal. It features a variety of appetizers and entrees, including Bimini coconut shrimp, a local mahi sandwich and a Mediterranean pita pocket. They even serve bananas Foster french toast as part of their brunch on Sundays. In addition, they partnered up with SKYY Vodka to create a specialty drink menu. The bar is open to guests and anyone with a day pass.
The Atlantic Hotel and Spa recently unleashed their newest dining concept, Wild Thyme Oceanside Eatery. With oceanside views, the inviting atmosphere is perfect for an intimate dinner setting or large parties. The food includes land and sea – from lobster to rib-eye Philly cheesesteaks to whole charred octopus, you’ll find it all here.
Located on the sixth floor of the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, Ilios is open from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Executive Chef Sean McDonald serves up Mediterranean cuisine with a Floridian influence. The Chef’s Three Course Tasting Menu showcases the restaurant’s current specialties.
YOLO on the beach (in the Hilton).
STEAK 954 is a luxury boutique steakhouse inside the W Fort Lauderdale that faces the ocean. The restaurant features dry aged beef from hand-picked ranches, Tajima Kobe from Australia, locally caught seafood, and the finest wines and spirits with selections from all over the globe.
The Wan family has been running successful Chinese restaurants in South Florida since 1966, and this outpost in the Winn-Dixie shopping plaza serves up all the classics. Christina Wan’s does it all in a relaxed atmosphere, including dumplings, slices of caramelized roast pork, and beef lo mein. A full bar is its newest draw, so you can sip cocktails with your honey garlic wings. Wood tones and white tablecloths complete the motif, and a flat-screen hangs over the bar so you can catch the big game while dining.
Famous for meatballs, Anthony’s lives up to its name by getting your meals prepared and to your table in no time. However this doesn’t mean they don’t offer made-to-order dishes. Their menu features pasta, sandwiches, burgers, pizza, wings and more.
This little pocket of Creole cooking hugs the southern end of the Victoria Park Shoppes and serves up dishes of red beans and rice and bowls of thick gumbo, as well as po’ boys: oyster, shrimp, catfish, etc. The Black N’ Voodoo Burger comes with jalapeño peppers, horseradish and voodoo sauce.
El Vez, from James Beard Award-winning restaurateur Stephen Starr, offers a menu by chef Steven Menter that features Mexican favorites such as classic guacamole, crispy Mahi Mahi, tacos al carbon and others. The 300-seat Mexican eatery is located on the first floor of the W Fort Lauderdale and includes indoor and outdoor bars and an expansive lounge area. The W’s signature artistic décor and style are present and include a unique beer can wall art installation. If art’s not your thing, there’s also cornhole and shuffleboard.
Italian food in a relaxed setting.
A familiar face on the local restaurant scene has brought a new place to Lauderdale-By-The-Sea. The name Vincent Foti will be familiar to many. Now the restaurateur behind longtime Federal Highway favorite Kitchenetta is taking his talents to East Commercial with a place that’s aiming to do something a bit different. Vinny’s by the Sea offers many of the Italian favorites that Foti’s built his reputation on. But this time, they’ll come with more American flare in a casual place where diners can have a beer, watch the game and relax Lauderdale-By-The-Sea style. In keeping with the its location just in from Anglin’s Pier, the restaurant will offer a raw bar. There’s also a pizza bar if you want to keep up on your pie as it’s being made – and a number of TVs if you’re more concerned about the Marlins’ playoff chances than your meal prep. If you need a more ample serving, the “Big Shot” menu is there for your outsize needs.
Begin with the colossal stone crab claws or homemade meatballs before choosing between lobster and shrimp Fra Diavolo and a 10 oz. barrel-cut filet mignon. Or perhaps you’d prefer apple cider-marinated pork chops. For dessert, there’s vanilla bean crème brulee and chocolate soufflé.
A casual cafe with the flair of Milan and great Italian dishes all the way through to dessert.
At Sapido, you’ll find all your favorite Italian dishes like pasta, gnocchi, lasagna, cannelloni and more. Each dish is homemade, making you feel like you just stepped into a close-knit Italian family’s Sunday dinner. The modern twist comes into play with their gourmet Italian-style sandwiches and organic coffee. The cozy atmosphere is coupled with wooden accents and a wall displaying their large collection of wines.
Who says no to good, authentic Italian food? This restaurant serves a diverse selection of pizza, paninis and more – along with a good selection of beer and wine . The Italian flavors continue into dessert, with many flavors of gelato to choose from. (For a more old fashioned American taste, they’ll also do milkshakes.) All these Old World flavors also come with some New World technology – go to the website and you can download the Dolce Salato app.
Anthony Bruno, of Runway 84, opened this pizza joint in 2002 because he couldn’t find the “well done” pizzas of his native New York here in Fort Lauderdale. The flagship location has since become a nationwide chain. Ashy flavor permeates the crust of pies like the “Paul & Young Ron,” piled with meatballs, sausage, ricotta, and hot or sweet peppers. Oven-roasted chicken wings and salads round out the menu, and beer and wine are served.
Traditional Italian cuisine in a casual atmosphere. For lunch, enjoy a selection of pastas, panini and salads. For dinner, Chilean sea bass, rack of lamb or Bistecca Alla Fiorentina (a 32 oz. USDA prime T-bone steak).
Calzone, panini, wings and – of course – pizza.
This trattoria offers authentic Italian cuisine in a romantic, candle-lit setting, complete with Italian-speaking staff. Chef/owner Michele Viscosi creates dishes inspired by his homeland, including carpaccio di manzo, lasagna tradizionale and osso buco d’Angello.
Valentino’s cheaper cousin (and occupying its former space), this warm, neighborhood place offers an array of pizzas (including prosciutto with shaved Parmesan and arugula) as well as other tempting Italian dishes. The eggplant sliced thin, fried and layered like lasagna is a popular item.
This attractive main street bistro serves more than just pasta and sandwiches. Sit on the terrace and people watch, or take a table inside under large black-and-white photographs, and enjoy pan-seared Canadian salmon or a classic eggplant parmigiana. The mozzarella is made in-house.
A coastal Italian concept by Chef Fabio Viviani, Riviera recently opened in the Hotel Maren on Fort Lauderdale Beach. From the veranda-style patio to the delectable food, the Italian authenticity is felt throughout. You can also take in the salty air and sea-and-city views as it is located on the rooftop of the hotel.
Open seven days a week since it debuted in 1989, Zuckerello’s still has its original owner and chefs in place pumping out home-style Italian. Expect to find traditional dishes like zuppa di clams, fried calamari, and house-made meatballs, along with pasta such as penne alla vodka, crab ravioli, lasagna, and linguine with clam sauce. Large booths can accommodate family-size parties, and the casual-elegant vibe will keep you lounging long after you finish eating. Red and dark gray walls adorned with lively paintings are complemented by glossy wood tabletops and chairs in a contrasting shade of wood. House specialties like veal Marsala, chicken Milanese, and panko-breaded eggplant Parmesan are affordable and come in shareable portions. Fish lovers should try the herb-crusted salmon in orange beurre blanc sauce.
Kitchenetta was opened in 2004 by chef Vincent Foti and wife Maria as a come-as-you-are casual eatery that pumps out top-notch Italian fare with a modern touch. The menu rotates seasonally and includes as many organic and local ingredients as possible. Individual and family-sized portions are offered, so you can mangia some rigatoni bolognese de medici all by yourself or share with your favorite famiglia.
Famous for meatballs, Anthony’s lives up to its name by getting your meals prepared and to your table in no time. However this doesn’t mean they don’t offer made-to-order dishes. Their menu features pasta, sandwiches, burgers, pizza, wings and more.
Owner and Chef Angelo Elia has created a South Florida restaurant empire out of his original North Federal location. His dishes are punctuated by an attention toward great ingredients, like the branzino, so fresh it needs nothing more than a light butter sauce. The outstanding antipasti includes truffle-lemon carpaccio and pancetta-wrapped tiger prawns over broccoli rabe, and the fresh pasta is made in-house. Or go big with the oak-grilled NY strip, marinated in olive oil, garlic, and rosemary.
Chef/owner Rino Cerbone opened Heritage FTL to share cooking styles from his childhood and recipes from his family. Some menu items worth trying are the Gnocchi Marsala (house-made gnocchi, wild mushrooms, peas and Marsala cream) and Squash Blossom + Cold Pulled Burrata (with hand-crushed tomatoes, olive oil and basil). The restaurant is currently open for takeout in the evenings.
Il Paesano emphasizes fresh ingredients, quality food and spreading love. There’s no set menu, only daily specials determined by the fresh ingredients that are found in the market. During the week there are about 15 to 16 different dishes. And owner Vergilio Peixoto has no freezers; from the pasta to the tomato sauce, everything is made fresh in-house. Il Paesano’s chef formerly owned Vesuvio, which was a popular Italian restaurant in Fort Lauderdale back in its heyday.
Il Paesano has a wide variety of wines and the private wine room can also be used as a more intimate setting for couples to dine. (There have been marriage proposals, Peixoto reports.) And if you want to know more about wine, Peixoto hosts a winetasting class every month. But be quick – the classes tend to fill up within minutes of being announced.
A Fort Lauderdale staple since 1982, this Italian-American eatery will bring you back to Sunday dinners at your Nana’s house – if you’re Italian, that is. Expect Sinatra to play in the background as Chianti flows and platters of shrimp oreganata, veal Francaise, and zuppa di pesce are shared family-style. Intimate meals also work inside Runway’s setting, with its low lighting and mellow atmosphere. Don’t miss the Sicilian stuffed peppers (served cold with red wine vinegar and stuffed with bread crumbs, capers, olives, anchovies, and grated cheese), and the plump meatballs with marinara. Big-time diners will want the surf and turf entree, a combination of New York strip and South African lobster tail.