Fort Lauderdale may be famous for its beaches and waterways, but thanks to a slew of restaurants that have impressed the palates of diners in 2016, the Venice of America might just be your new favorite dining destination.
Here is a guide that highlights the best Fort Lauderdale restaurants you should try this year.
Burlock Coast Seafare & Spirits
1 North Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304
It may be housed inside one of the most upscale hotels in Fort Lauderdale, but Burlock Coast Seafare & Spirits is a hip and casually sophisticated spot that redefines hotel dining and puts the elegance in beach eats. An homage to the innovative Prohibition-era rumrunners, the restaurant which occupies the first floor of the Ritz Carlton, features a Florida-inspired menu that celebrates locally-sourced ingredients and the culinary creativity of local food artisans such as Zak the Baker and Miami Smokers. The restaurant-café-market-bar serves dishes such as Artisanal cheese and Charcuterie, Chilled Crab Cocktail, Lobster Pasta and Palmetto Greek Pork Belly in their spacious dining area, as well as in their outdoor seating for hungry beachgoers. And of course, a prohibition-themed restaurant wouldn’t be complete without an indoor-outdoor bar with rum-based cocktails filling up the booze selection.
Boatyard
1555 SE 17th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316
While Boatyard technically isn’t brand new, the reinvented restaurant that was formerly the Bimini Boatyard has refreshed its interpretation of waterfront dining in Fort Lauderdale. Its nautical-themed décor featuring porthole windows, a chandelier constructed from spiralling oars, and an 80-seat dockside patio lounge complete with unobstructed views of marinas and a canal that connects to the Intracoastal Waterway, perfectly captures Fort Lauderdale’s yachting culture while providing a laidback ambience for a seafood-centric menu. Indulge in Tuna Tacos, Jumbo Lump Crab Cake and Grouper Picatta, as well as selections from their raw bar and handcrafted cocktails menu while you leisurely savor the waterfront sceneries before you.
Cibo Wine Bar
4100 N Federal Highway Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33308
The restaurant serves rustic Italian cuisine utilizing traditional methods in preparing both classic and contemporary dishes. The industrial-chic eatery features an open kitchen design where diners can watch their pasta and pizza being prepared by hand. The restaurant is also famed for its extensive wine list –a total of 2500 bottles housed in an award-winning wine room where “wine angels” glide on a hydraulic lift to retrieve the wine bottles from the cellar. Cibo also boasts of the first in-house salumeria, where a walk-in refrigerator allows for the restaurant to cure its own meats. Satisfy your Italian fare cravings with Cibo Wine Bar’s Porcini Mushroom Risotto, Pappardelle, and Frutti di Mare Pizza.
NISI
3330 E Oakland Park Blvd,Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33308
A Mediterranean escape in Fort Lauderdale, NISI upholds the traditions of Greek cuisine, but with a modern twist. Its white-washed interiors with matching white canopies and amber lighting create a relaxed ambience, reminiscent of quaint villas in Santorini. Menu offerings include: Marinated Anchovies, Spanakopita, Flamed Cheese, Watermelon and Feta Salad, Crispy Skin Faroe Island Salmon and Baklava. Their creative cocktails, colored and flavored with citrus, berries and spices –all worthy of being served poolside somewhere –will complete your delicious Greek getaway.
Market 17
1850 SE 17th Street Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316
A fantastic dining spot for farm-to-table cuisine, Market 17 offers a unique and creative menu designed after the freshest ingredients with prime sourcing. Delight your taste buds at one of our favorite restaurants in Fort Lauderdale! Their Charcuterie is all made in house and the menu changes weekly, offering tasting portion and full size entrees of dishes such as, Slow Roasted Duck Breast, Florida Royal Red Shrimp, and Grilled Antelope Filet. For those with a sweet tooth, Chocolate Cake Spheres –local coffee ice cream served with cookie crumble and salted cocoa nib brittle- are not to be missed. Diners can also partake in Happy Hour any day of the week from 4:30 – 7:00 where starters, beers and wines are all offered at 50% off.
