27 Best Restaurants in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale and Broward County

3030 Ocean's unpredictable menus are guided by award-winning chef Adrienne Grenier's perfectionist flair. Her interpretation of modern American seafood focuses on balancing complex flavors to enhance her fresh ingredients—without subtracting from their integrity. Although that may sound standard these days, she executes without fail. 3030 makes a colossal effort to source everything from Florida, and even South Florida, while it's in season. The menu is never static, but you can expect outstanding dishes like charred octopus, grilled black grouper, and sautéed Florida flounder in a stylish setting.

This Italian-American restaurant, serving hearty portions of the classics, is hard to miss thanks to the flashy cars that valet from its unassuming strip mall location. Loved by locals and sometimes even celebrities, it could be confused for a lounge after 10 pm on weekends, when owner Steve Martorano often DJs from the open kitchen's counter. Don't miss the made-to-order mozzarella and always ask about the specials of the day.

One of the best little pizza joints in South Florida, Luigi's Coal Oven Pizza runs the full gamut of pizzas, phenomenal salads with fresh dressings, classics like eggplant parmigiana, and oven-baked chicken wings. For the Margherita Napoletana, the quality and flavors of the crust, cheese, and sauce are the result of Luigi's century-old recipe from Naples. The petite eatery only has about a dozen tables, contributing to a cozy and familial vibe.

Locals can't get enough of OB House's commitment to quality; you'll find only fresh and organic ingredients here. Try cheesy grits, mega-pancakes with real Vermont maple syrup, or the free-range-egg omelets with wild-caught mahimahi. This intimate breakfast and lunch spot packs the house daily in an adaptive reuse of the old Fort Lauderdale post office.

Fresh, coastal-inspired dishes are enjoyed alfresco at this dockside restaurant, where each of the three bar areas and massive lounge get gorgeous Intracoastal views. Munch on the expected seaside starters like coconut shrimp, crispy calamari, and smoked fish dip before moving onto flatbreads, sushi, or one of the many entrées served at both lunch and dinner. The daily happy hour features half-price drinks and bites under $10. Arrive by boat or take advantage of the complimentary valet.

Village Tavern is truly a neighborhood hub for those who love good food, good wine and cocktails, and great company. The bar scene is always fun, especially on Wine Wednesday, when all the wines (even the premium labels) are half-price by the glass. As the bar fills up, the patio is a great option for drinking and dining; however, it's really hard to find a seat outside in the summer. Dogs are more than welcome to join on the terrace, and the servers are extra hospitable. The eclectic and well-rounded menu is rooted in fresh ingredients, and everything is made from scratch.

In the sports bar desert of South Florida, it's nice to know you can eat well while watching your team. American Social flaunts a seafood-mac-and-cheese skillet, shrimp-pesto flatbread, and a full spectrum of gourmet burgers with sides of Parmesan truffle fries or sweet-potato fries. The walls inside this space are adorned with magazine covers and library books, creating a setting that feels more like Boston than Fort Lauderdale.

Arrive early on weekends, as the restaurant quickly reaches capacity.

This casual Weston outpost is one of chef Angelo Elia's popular Tuscan-inspired restaurants in Broward County. Affordable small plates, salads, ceviches, and pizzas are neighborhood favorites. Kids of all ages love the rotating selection of homemade gelatos.

A must-visit Las Olas landmark, Big City Tavern mingles Asian entrées like shrimp pad Thai with Italian four-cheese ravioli and an American grilled-chicken Cobb salad. The crispy flatbread changes every day.

Big City is open late for drinks, with a special late-night food menu.

Inside this magical enclave, a Southwestern fusion of Central and South American flavors and a twist of Asian influence are on the menu. Pair the fresh seafood or wild game with a robust selection of tequilas, a few mezcals, or a bottle from the decent wine list. Cocktail lovers should start with the signature prickly-pear margarita.

This waterfront restaurant along the Himmarshee Canal offers Pan-Asian-Latin fusion dishes, including a full sushi bar and a plethora of comfort dishes like pad Thai, lo mein, and kimchi fried rice. Diners can opt to enjoy their meal as part of a gondola ride leaving from the restaurant's dock. The bar features an expansive collection of sake and Japanese whiskeys as well as creative cocktails. Each meal is finished with a massive puff of cotton candy.

The menu at this piano bar and restaurant offers a global hodgepodge of American, Mediterranean, and Asian flavors, with a specific focus on eclectic preparations of Florida fish. The food isn't particularly good, but the atmosphere at this historic home is excellent. Prepare for long waits to sit outside—it's incredibly popular for the direct views of the ocean.

No matter the hour at this classic 24-hour diner, you can order no-nonsense breakfast favorites like oversize omelets with biscuits, toast, or English muffins. Good hangover eats abound, but don't expect anything exceptional besides the location and the low prices.

When heading out to the area's western reaches, this postage-stamp–size outpost can add down-home zing to your day—if you can find it, that is. Breakfast, which includes sausage gravy and biscuits, is served 7–11 am, but the big attraction is barbecue beef, pork, or chicken, on platters or in sandwiches for lunch and dinner. Other solid options include a spicy Brunswick stew and fried jumbo shrimp. There's apple, peach, cherry, and pecan pie, and a small-fry menu. Order takeout or eat at the counter, at wooden tables, or at a half dozen or so booths.

Most days, the Italian sandwiches, specialty breads, and pastries sell out before noon at this aptly named bakery ("large oven" in Italian). Customers line up in the morning to get Gran Forno's hot artisanal breads like ciabatta (800 loaves are made a day), returning later for the decadent desserts. The eatery's second outpost (called Gran Forno Pronto) is five blocks east on Las Olas and offers a full-service menu.

The sweet smell of waffle cones wafts into the Las Olas air from this old-fashioned confectionery chain that also sells hand-paddled fudge and scoops of homemade ice cream.

The '90s are still alive and well at Lips. The hit restaurant and drag-show bar is a hot spot for groups celebrating birthdays, bachelorette parties, and other milestones requiring glitz and glamour. Watch extravagant performances while you eat, and be prepared for a few embarrassing moments—queens love to drag guests up on stage.

Locals go to Lips for Sunday's dragalicious Gospel Brunch, the only “church service" with bottomless mimosas (aka "holy water").

Old Heidelberg is like a Bavarian mirage on State Road 84, with a killer list of German specialties and beers on tap. Classics like bratwurst, knockwurst, kielbasa, and spaetzle dovetail nicely with four types of Wiener schnitzel. And the beer stein–cowbell–cuckoo-clock decor adds to the authenticity.

S3 stands for the fabulous trio of sun, surf, and sand, paying homage to its prime beachfront location. The menu features a variety of Japanese-inspired raw dishes, sushi rolls, and dishes with a New American focus. Located on the ground floor of the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, S3 flaunts a fun and fresh swagger. On any given night, you’ll find a mix of locals and tourists loving life while enjoying nightly themes, such as Wine Wednesday.

You have to take the road less traveled to find Sea Level, a haven for fresh seafood. The indoor-outdoor restaurant overlooks the ocean from sea level at Marriott's Harbor Beach Resort & Spa, and its seasonal menu wows with daily specials and cocktails featuring ingredients from the chef's organic garden.

You can't go wrong at this unpretentious dive, where seafood reigns. Feast on raw or steamed clams, raw oysters, and peel-and-eat shrimp. Sides include Bimini bread, conch fritters, beer-battered onion rings, and corn on the cob. Follow the motto here, and you'll fit right in: "Eat fish, live longer, eat oysters, love longer, eat clams, last longer."

It's not just the steaks that impress at Stephen Starr's superstar spot inside the W Fort Lauderdale, the seafood selections shine, too. Order as many dishes as possible, like the lobster and crab-coconut ceviche, the red snapper tiradito, and the Colorado lamb chops. Fancy a side of tater tots? The hyperbolic tater comes in pancake form, stuffed with sour cream. There are sweeping views of the ocean and an intimate atmosphere in the dining room. Sunday brunch is busy, so arrive early for the best views. If you have to wait for a table, at least there's a giant aquarium with a smack of bioluminescent jellyfish.

Stork's Café stands out as a friendly coffeehouse and café for gourmet sandwiches and salads. In addition to brewing eight types of coffee, Stork's has excellent baked goods that range from croissants, tortes, cakes, and pies to "monster cookies," including gingersnaps and snickerdoodles. It's open until midnight every night of the week.

Traditional Greek cuisine with a modern twist is served family-style at this bright-white restaurant, where the fish is beyond fresh and the grape leaves are stuffed to the brim. The vibrant setting is made complete with great service and a reasonably priced wine list. Popular dishes include branzino, lamb shoulder, and a collection of dips and spreads. Complimentary valet is offered.

Big portions of dripping barbecue are dispensed at this chill spot for eat-in or take-out. Dinners come with two sides from a list that includes baked beans, collards, and mac and cheese. For lunch, Tom's pork, beef, and catfish sandwiches are a shortcut to satisfaction. Leave room for sweet-potato pie or peach cobbler. Heading to a park or the beach? Tom Jenkins's family samplers have enough ribs, chicken, beef, and sides to feed six hungry people.

Situated on 1¼ acres of the city's historic New River waterfront, this nautical-themed space with communal tables and two large bars is surrounded by five local pop-up restaurants and Rivertail, by award-winning chef José Mendin. Nightly events and activities make this the go-to spot for Sunday Funday and hanging out with friends.

In the heart of Las Olas at the Riverside Hotel, this seafood restaurant and bar keeps things simple with a small menu focused on a beautiful raw bar and ever-changing preparations of diverse catches from Florida, Hawaiian, and New England waters.