Scolapasta Bistro

Open since 1972, each hamburger is ground fresh and hand-pressed daily.

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).

A beautiful restaurant with a dark wood interior, high ceilings and large windows overlooking the Intracoastal. Tables on the terrace provide a more casual setting. Sweet ginger calamari comes with a chili ginger beer glaze and the filet mignon is served with chimichurri and a loaded baked potato.

This tapas-style restaurant is more casual than its sister restaurants in the growing Angelo Elia empire, but it still provides first-class elegance and healthy portions of both light and hearty Italian fare. Tapas range from familiar to exotic: buffalo mozzarella with prosciutto di Parma, tempura zucchini flowers with mozzarella, and grilled provolone over radicchio. Escarole and beans with roasted sweet Italian sausage is full of flavor, and every pizza is delicate and thin-crusted, just like you’d find in Napoli. Try the basilico bruschetta, served in traditional style with diced tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil, and pair it with a bold bottle of red Tuscan wine.

Located in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, serving authentic Italian food using fresh ingredients.

Festive Latin restaurant serving the essentials plus Spanish specialties.

Sushi and thai restaurant located just minutes from the sea.

Clean and decked out in tranquil tones, Basilic is known for its variety of fresh spring rolls, Hanoi-style noodles, and bowls of flavorful pho. For a fresh and filling lunch, order a vermicelli noodle bowl with grilled pork, shrimp, chicken, or beef and loads of carrot, cucumber, and more veggies; or go for a main course like lemongrass chicken, spiked with spicy chilies and served with slaw and steamed rice. The pho takes center stage, though, with fragrant broth, tender cuts of rare steak and brisket, miniature meatballs, and an assortment of flavor-enhancing ingredients to alter the soup to your taste, such as cilantro, Thai basil, fresh jalapenos, limes, bean sprouts, sriracha, and hoisin sauce.

This authentic Mexican restaurant will quench your hunger and satisfy your beer taste buds. It offers handcrafted Mexican delicacies such as burritos, fish tacos, shrimp ceviche tostadas and more. Their menu also features 22 different beers with local brews and happy hour starting at 3 p.m. If that’s not enough, once a month Quvo Tacos hosts a “craft beer bottle share” event where everyone’s invited to bring your own craft beer to share with others.

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.

It’s hard for Fort Lauderdale locals to imagine a summer without taking a dip in the water…well, what about their bagels? Known for a 14-step water filtration process that goes into its authentic Brooklyn-style bagels and coffee, Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. has officially opened its second Fort Lauderdale location. In addition to bagels and coffee, menu items include breakfast and deli sandwiches, baked goods, omelets and “baninis” – bagel paninis, naturally.

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.

Thai and Japanese dishes plus a “build your own burrito” option.

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.

Waterfront dining with seafood cuisine.

A casual cafe with the flair of Milan and great Italian dishes all the way through to dessert.

American food by day, German food by night.

This Gallic charmer offers an intimate dining experience where food art meets your needs for French cuisine.

For casual-elegant dining along the Intracoastal, this acclaimed eatery provides first-class fare with an art deco interior and a stunning backdrop. Offerings from the raw bar include an iced seafood tower of oysters, shrimp, ceviche, clams, tuna tartare, and Maine lobster cocktail. Togarashi-spiced local swordfish with bok choy, udon noodles and coconut curry lime broth highlight the international inspiration.

Located just 50 yards from the fishing pier, 101 Ocean takes advantage of beach breezes with an open bar that spans inside and out. It’s rare to see those bar stools empty, occupied by both tourists and locals. The menu offers a mélange of international offerings in a classy-yet-casual setting. Find a bit of everything, including pizza, pasta, flatbread, sandwiches, steaks, salads, seafood, and chops. There’s also a decadent raw bar with shrimp, mussels, oysters, and lobster tail.