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Greater Fort Lauderdale offers one of the best and most diverse dining scenes of any U.S. city its size. There are more than 4,000 eateries in Broward offering everything from new American and South American to pan-Asian cuisines. Go beyond the basics, and you'll find an endless supply of hidden gems.
At this 12,000-square-foot oceanfront restaurant, second-floor stadium seating ensures all diners have ocean views while feasting on dishes from the scratch-made kitchen and wood-fired grill. You can't go wrong with the shucked-to-order oysters, the chef's choice fresh catch, or the cilantro key-lime chicken. Much of the second story seating is lounge style, allowing for an extra relaxed setting to enjoy the ocean breeze.
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.
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 beachfront eatery is arguably Lauderdale-by-the-Sea's most famous restaurant. Aruba Beach serves Caribbean-American cuisine, with standouts like conch chowder and conch fritters. Fresh tropical salads, sandwiches, and seafood are also available, but the café is famous for its Bimini bread with Aruba glaze (think challah with doughnut glaze). There's always live music, and the Sunday breakfast buffet starts at 9 am.
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.
On an island that was once a bootlegger's haunt, this ramshackle seafood spot reached by launch has served the famous as well as the infamous, including the likes of Winston Churchill, FDR, JFK, and Al Capone. Cap was Captain Theodore Knight, born in 1871, who, with partner-in-crime Al Hasis, floated a derelict barge to the area in the '20s. Broward's oldest restaurant, built on the barge, is run by Hasis's descendants. Sesame-crusted mahimahi is served with soy-ginger sauce, flaky rolls are baked fresh, and tangy lime pie is a great finale. Clams and oysters are shucked to order, and the hearts of palm salad is made from local Okeechobee harvest.
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.
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.
The late Wayne McDonald started with a cozy one-room roadhouse in 1955 when this stretch of Dania Beach was a remote service road just west of the little airport. The still-rustic place brags that it's "still crackin'." The huge menu features garlic crabs (patrons bang crabs open with mallets on tables covered with newspapers) and peel-and-eat shrimp (either with garlic and butter or spiced and steamed). Finish off your meal with Key lime pie made from a family recipe.
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.
It's a Greek throwdown every night at this Hollywood institution. Expect a lively night of great eats (including authentic hot and cold mezes and wood-fire-grilled meats and seafood), tabletop dancing, and lots of wine. If you don't have a car, the restaurant is on the Intracoastal and accessible by Water Taxi.
