Oceanfront meals – in the dining room or on the veranda – include Sunday brunch. Executive chef Todd Lough does Floribbean: roasted Cuban pork shank with onion mojo and natural jus, guava barbecue ribs with Latin slaw, Florida yellowtail snapper a la plancha. For lunch try the churrasco steak nachos.
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 beachside restaurant offers casual, classic Floridian breakfast, lunch and dinner.
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.
Located inside the Sonesta Fort Lauderdale, this beach-vibes restaurant combines full-service dining with cafe food items throughout the day.
Mastro’s is well-known nationally as a high-end steakhouse chain that also features a line in seafood. Their new location in Fort Lauderdale sits on the Intracoastal near Oakland Park Boulevard, an area that’s quickly becoming a go-to dining locale. Executive Chef Rocco Nankervis aims to give customers plenty of options with a menu that, alongside prime cuts of beef, offers all sorts of seafood and even a sushi menu.
Authentic Mexican restaurant offering dishes used from fresh local ingredients whenever possible.
Pizza shack serving homemade Italian entrees and artisan pizzas.
Thai – and Japanese – food, with a view of the ocean.
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.
Internationally inspired fare meticulously prepared by Chef Hector Lopez is complemented by an extensive wine bar that will have gourmands and foodistas raving. Doubling as a purveyor of gourmet yacht provisions, this restaurant boasts refined elegance in its 55-seat dining area. Dishes like pan-seared foie gras with truffle strawberry carpaccio, cherry gastrique and blinis, and grilled hanger steak with crushed rutabaga, asparagus, and red wine demi-glace make every bite memorable.
A fast-casual and traditional Italian restaurant featuring delicacies with high quality ingredients and a high level of service.
Mediterranean cuisine set across the beach.
Laurent Tasic, chef and owner of popular Federal Highway restaurant Sage French Café, recently opened blues and jazz gastropub QBar Blues & Burgers next door. The wine list looks similar to Sage’s – but that’s where the similarities end.
A French bistro with all the classics, Sage sits hidden in the Whole Foods shopping plaza. Chef Laurent Tasic’s meticulously prepared plates include roasted duck in honey-raspberry sauce, cassoulet l’Armagnac, and coquilles St. Jacques en croute, a dish of fresh scallops in puff pastry with fennel sauce. Savory crepes are also noteworthy, such as Crepe Suzanne with grilled chicken, a mix of shiitake and local mushrooms, and a light cream sauce with tarragon. Brunch is served from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday, with pain perdu (rum-flavored French toast) and versions of eggs Benedict with garlic sausage, smoked North Atlantic salmon, and artichoke bottoms with fresh mussels.
European cuisine in the form of cafe cuisine serving breakfast and lunch.
This relaxed waterfront restaurant serves up casual American fare with fresh dips, soups, sandwiches and burgers. Pull up a chair and relax with a specialty drink like Sex on the Dock or Pineapple Upside Down. Happy Hour 4-8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
Shake Shack, known for its 100-percent all-natural Angus burgers, fresh-made frozen custard and crinkle-cut fries, has finally opened in Fort Lauderdale. The East Coast rival of West Coast icon In-N-Out Burger also serves chicken sandwiches and griddled flat-top dogs (which have no hormones or antibiotics). Keeping things local, they offer brews from Wynwood Brewing Co., Due South Brewing Co. and Funky Buddha Brewery. Lucky for us, this location includes a collection of frozen custards exclusive to Fort Lauderdale: Pie OH My, S’more and Caramel Crumble (in addition to the classics).
Known for their cold-pressed juices and acai bowls, they also serve smoothies and parfaits.
Located in the Gallery ONE DoubleTree on the Intracoastal, this restaurant offers contemporary cuisine overlooking the water and hotel pool. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with seating indoors and on the 30-seat patio. Menu favorites include crab cakes, short ribs and swordfish.
A popular beachfront place serving tropical drinks and comfort foods like conch fritters and coconut shrimp. The Bimini bread is baked throughout the day and served with honey butter. With rotating drink specials, the happy hour packs the ocean-view bar.
A casual restaurant built on an interesting concept: international comfort foods. You can start with soba noodle salad or mushroom manchego toast and follow it with gumbo or pulled pork on a focaccia bun with bacon dill potato salad. A number of items come in small or large servings. There is also an excellent selection of wines and craft beers.
As the first Fort Lauderdale outpost by James Beard-nominated chef Jose Mendin, Rivertail delivers an incredible culinary experience. The seafood restaurant features outdoor seating with a covered patio overlooking the New River as well as a raw bar and Caribbean décor throughout. Menu items include Bahia-style Brazilian Stew (cod, shrimp, mussels, clams, calamari, dende oil and cashews, served with coconut milk, citrus and cilantro) and Curry Striped Bass (green curry, red curry and aromatic herb salad).
A Caribbean-American fusion kitchen and bar, influenced by the multicultural island flavors of South Florida.
Located in the Pier 66 marina, this handsome restaurant has waterfront views and a menu featuring Caribbean seafood chowder, Bahamian conch fritters, giant all-beef hot dogs and a jerk chicken sandwich. Watch the sunset while sipping a specialty drink.
A Caribbean-influenced, casual and fun waterside food and drink stop. Pets are welcome.