With its Alice in Wonderland décor and sprawling, perfect-for-live-music beer garden, this new spot on increasingly happening NE 13th Street impresses before you even sit down to the food and drinks. But thanks to an excellent beer and wine menu and tapas, tacos and other bites that come courtesy of a food trailer at the back of the beer garden, the funky ambience isn’t the only thing you’ll remember.
Lovelee Bakeshop is the result of a dream come true for owner Lee Mazor, who previously worked as a pastry chef at a Michelin-starred Miami Beach restaurant. Located on the up-and-coming NE 13th Street, this modern bakery offers tiered cakes, cupcakes, macarons, decorated sugar cookies, chocolate chip sea salt cookies, dessert bar treats, cinnamon buns and much more.
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.
Suddenly, traditional Hawaiian poke is everywhere. The latest Fort Lauderdale entrant is Poke Lolo, which features signature poke bowls, create-your-own bowls and even poke in a waffle. Located in the MASS District, the restaurant is the perfect stop for lunch or an early dinner. Signature items include Passakos (white rice, tuna, red onion, cucumber, bean sprouts, seaweed salad, sriracha peas, jalapeno and mango wasabi sauce) and a tofu bowl.
Flagler Village’s newest addition comes in the shape of healthy smoothies, fruit bowls and avocado toasts. The beautifully Instagramable location is complimented by the healthy, organic fresh food served. JB&C also offers a modifiable menu with vegetarian and vegan options.
Fried chicken and waffles have become a brunch staple and favorite. At Chick’nCone, they took it up a notch with their handheld air‑fried chicken and waffles. Not only is their chicken good quality, but their waffle cones are hand-rolled too. Plus, you have an assortment of sauces to choose from. They also offer a Chick’nSandwich and Chick’nTenders.
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.
Roxanne’s aims to be a locals’ watering hole with classic music and a cozy cool atmosphere. The bites menu features beer-battered onion rings (cilantro lime chili or Rod’s Cajun remoulade), sliders and wings. The cocktail list includes the Cuban Chica (vanilla-infused Bacardi chinola passionfruit liqueur, orgeat and lime) and the Respect Your Elders (Old Forrester bourbon, Frangelico hazelnut liqueur and Skrewball peanut butter whiskey).
Cuban sandwiches and Cuban coffee…it’s all here.
Hip, modern Mexican place with urban cool.
Circle House Coffee was founded by retired NFL linebacker Stephen Tulloch. Menu items include quick breakfast, lunch and dinner grab-and-go options, pastries, pies, empanadas, wine, craft beer and (of course) coffee. Not only that, they also have a drive-thru for the ultimate “grab-and-go” experience.
As the name suggests, Tropical Smoothie Café is known for its plentiful selection of smoothies. The menu also features bowls, wraps, sandwiches and breakfast items. Their app includes a rewards program and also allows you to order ahead. Catering and delivery are offered as well.
The family-style eatery prides itself on serving Vietnamese home comfort food. Flavorful dishes pull from traditional recipes, some commonly known and other
passed on by Nguyen’s mother who he says taught him “every trick there is.” But What The Pho is about more than just pho, known to some as the “King of Desserts,” the menu boasts twists on the classic Thai donuts with “Pho You” and “Pho Me.”
The restaurant’s name gives a clue as to two of its specialties – champagne and oysters. But if that sounds a bit fancy, the place’s local-art-and-beach-bar vibe and décor should put people at ease. With its long bar of seats and close, cozy tables, the place offers what seems like a Florida version of the Asian concept of communal dining.
This chic, casual dining spot on Wilton Drive offers outside seating so people can enjoy a meal in true Greek village style. Big and small plates include starters from falafel, pork belly and stuffed grape leaves with hand-rolled rice and fresh herbs drizzled with lemon sauce. And if you want to go big and meaty, you came to the right place with dishes like the Greek platter for two – two lamb chops, grilled chicken, gyro, grilled kefte, pork tenderloin, rice and potatoes. Top it off with a Greek dessert such as Galakto-Fantastico, a warm custard wrapped in phyllo dough, topped with cinnamon and honey. And it wouldn’t be a Wilton Drive dining experience without a signature cocktail or two from the excellent bar.
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.
Poke (pronounced po-KAY), the increasingly popular Hawaiian fish salad dish, says aloha to Federal Highway.
Cozy coffee shop located in Victoria Park offering lattes, cappuccinos and espressos.
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.
Located in the heart of the Drive, Tulio’s Tacos & Tequila Bar brings a vibrant take on Mexican cuisine. The restaurant strives to be a place where friends and family can come together at a casual setting to enjoy top quality south-of-the-border food and handcrafted cocktails – after all, three longtime friends are behind the concept. On the menu, you’ll find the Gringo Burger (house blend of chuck, brisket and short rib served with lettuce, tomato, pickle and fries) and a grouper taco (crispy grouper with purple cabbage, pickled onion, pico de gallo and avocado jalapeño sauce).
Dockside dining is just one attraction at this eatery perched on the Intracoastal just south of Oakland Park Boulevard near A1A. The vibe is Florida-casual, and you can expect to see men in Hawaiian shirts disembarking from boats and strutting inside. Traditional bar bites, Floribbean fare, and international offerings comprise the menu, including crabcakes, fried calamari, coconut shrimp, seared ahi, and conch fritters. You can also order half-pound beef burgers, overstuffed wraps, and out-of-the-ordinary takes on fish, like the blackened mahi Reuben sandwich. Cocktails run the gamut, including fruity martinis, thick frozen margarita-like concoctions, and enormous fish bowls filled with fizzy, vodka-based drinks.
This family-owned restaurant specializes in German-American food, including seven types of schnitzel, two types of calf’s liver, bratwurst and sauerbraten. For more American meals, there are baby back ribs, steaks, and surf and turf.
A libation-lover’s paradise, this gastropub produces American-style grub and serves up frosty pints of craft beer, more brews from frozen “pour-it-yourself” beer taps, and spirits infused with sweet fruits. The decor incorporates old gas lanterns and Chicago bricks with an array of historic Life magazines. Flatbreads with barbecue chicken and marinated pork and snacks like parmesan-truffle fries and short rib sliders with bacon-onion jam pair well with darker, bold-bodied brews, while the arugula shrimp salad with toasted pecans, cranberries, and goat cheese works with lighter Belgian white beers including Hoegaarden.
The founder of Anthony’s Runway 84 and Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, Anthony Bruno teamed up with restauranteur Michelangelo Mozzicato to open a casual restaurant with a Santa Maria-style grill as the centerpiece. The menu consists of American classics with a Florida twist – appropriate for a place in the old Dirty Ernie’s building.
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.
Serving more than 15 gourmet burgers along with vegetarian options, the new burger house has a 15-step cooking process along with its proprietary blend of all natural, no-antibiotic and no-hormone beef. Add in a good selection of craft beers, specialty cocktails and an extended selection of wines by the glass, and this looks like an interesting new addition to the Las Olas restaurant and bar scene.
A part of the Ocean Manor Beach Resort, this casual spot serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. There’s brunch on Sunday, followed by a late-afternoon Caribbean pig roast buffet. Mondays are dedicated to Italian food, and parties are held whenever the moon is full.
Shrimp N’ Grits, chicken n’ waffles and pulled pork sandwiches are coming to Fort Lauderdale. Batch is bringing Southern comfort food to Flagler Village. Serving a farm-to-table menu, the kitchen gets its products from local farmers. Reservations are required for a taste of Southern, but delivery, take-out, and catering are also available.
Beehive Kitchen is creating a buzz with fresh, flavorful ingredients and an innovative approach to build-your-own-bowl dining. Dishes include a wide selection of savory vegetables, wholesome grains, proteins and made-from-scratch sauces all for customers to create their own unique bowls. If you don’t know where to begin, they offer several planned-out bowls including the Mediterranean Bowl – cranberry almond kale salad, whole grain brown rice, Parmesan, roasted broccoli, wok-seared mushrooms, rustic herb-grilled chicken and soy-charred steak-roasted pepper sauce. Fresh ingredients don’t stop there; Beehive Kitchen prepares fresh cold-pressed juices daily. Grab a bowl, eat and bee happy.
Modeled after classic taverns of New York and Chicago, BCT has high tin ceilings, wood floors, brick walls, and a patio overlooking the heart of Las Olas. The bar offers an extensive selection of libations, from California wines to locally brewed craft beers. The menu includes pan-seared Chilean sea bass with seasonal greens, and rigatoni Bolognese with Chianti-braised beef and veal topped with Grana Padano cheese. For lunch, stop in for a griddled burger with parmesan-truffle fries, or snag a stout-braised short-rib grilled cheese on sourdough with smoked maple cheddar. The late-night menu (Friday and Saturday from 11 p.m. to midnight) features pizzas, paninis, salads, and appetizers.
A tribute to classic American favorites and craft beers, BJ’s is a casual dine-in (or carryout) restaurant for self-proclaimed bacon lovers. The menu includes boxes of “sticky shrimps,” or “chicken nuggs,” and even “Chuck Norris” sandwiches that include pork, coleslaw, and melted cheddar cheese on wagyu buns . Billy Jack’s offers a large variety of drafts that change daily and range from local to international, in addition to the collection of bottles or cans.
This restaurant in the Marriott Renaissance Hotel serves up an assortment of American and French-inspired items. Early arrivers can indulge in omelets, French toast, and interesting offerings like alligator eggs Benedict with blackened alligator medallions and orange hollandaise sauce. Small plates like shredded pork sliders with pineapple barbecue and chicken lettuce wraps with sesame ginger dressing are served as midday snacks. For dinner, it’s all about the filet with port wine cherry reduction. For dessert, there’s warm bread pudding with vanilla and caramel or the Florida Key lime pie with chopped fruit and orange Grand Marnier sauce.
Enjoy the ocean view at this A1A legend.
For the better part of a decade, the bar and restaurant has been one of the go-to spots at the northeast corner of the Galleria Mall – the bit of the shopping center that’s been redeveloped into an upscale dining and nightlife hub. It’s a little spot mostly given over to upmarket national chains – Capitol Grille, Seasons 52, P.F. Chang’s. (Blue Martini is headquartered in South Florida, which is also where four of its six locations are.)
Then there’s the weekly fun, such as Wednesday-night ladies night – a fairly recent addition that includes half-off cocktails all night, $5 Tito cocktails all night for everybody and complimentary cocktails and champagne from 9 to 11 p.m.
American cuisine inspired by Florida and Caribbean flavors.
Former Miami Dolphin Kim Bokamper and partners’ latest venture is a two-story restaurant and bar located right on Fort Lauderdale Beach. The restaurant features fresh local seafood, a signature wood-fired oven, a good cocktails list and more. Oh, and did we mention two floors of ocean views?
Botanic at the Goodland is the signature dining part of the newest hotel to open in North Beach Village, The Kimpton. The restaurant features a menu influenced by Latin and Caribbean flavors. Executive chef Rashaad Abdool, a native South Floridian, designed the menu heavy on ingredients from the farms, fields and waters of Florida.
A unique concept consisting of bowling, dining and nightlife has opened in Dania Pointe. Bowlero is a blacklight bowling and retro-inspired destination with a menu that features oversized shareables and signature cocktails. Food options include the XXL Pretzel (a gigantic soft pretzel served with mustard and queso), Nacho Avalanche (corn tortilla chips layered with nacho beef, queso, jalapeños and pico de gallo, topped with sour cream) and Buffalo Chicken Melt (crispy tenders tossed in Buffalo sauce, mozzarella cheese with tomato and ranch dressing on sourdough).
Located inside the DoubleTree at Bahia Mar and open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Chef Oliver Saucy and general manager Darrel Broek have earned this restaurant distinction as one of the nation’s best, with a menu updated daily featuring the best local ingredients. Dishes include: duck confit phyllo purses with raspberry-glazed beets, pearl onions and chives; and three-peppercorn filet mignon with three-cheese potato au gratin and shallot-thyme butter.