What are the Best Restaurants in Fort Lauderdale?

Today I’m sharing my list of the best restaurants in Fort Lauderdale.  Let’s face it, everyone’s taste and food preferences are different, but having lived here over 20 years and being a certified foodie I’m confident that whether you are a local or just visiting Ft Lauderdale, you’ll find some absolute gems on this list! 

All right, let’s get right into it.  I did my best to start with high end restaurants first, and then later on in this article I suggest some of the more casual places that won’t break the bank!

Top Restaurants in Fort Lauderdale 

Heritage

heritage restaurant
Enter this door and your life will change.

Whether you go for lunch or dinner, you can’t go wrong at Heritage.  Located just north of Flagler Village, the entire menu is worth celebrating.  It’s an Italian restaurant in a casual, yet trendy vibe that brings you some true New York City feels. Don’t let the fact that they have the most amazing pizza fool you, because the menu goes far beyond that.  The pasta’s are to die for, and the appetizer menu is out of this world.  

>> Read my full review and see pics of all the food!

This is where locals eat.  It’s where the Florida Panthers Roberto Luongo famously ate pasta out of the Stanley Cup.  It’s our go-to when people visit and want an authentic meal in a very cool vibe.  Another great thing about dining at Heritage is that they don’t have the crazy prices you’ll see at some of the other good restaurants in Fort Lauderdale, which makes it easier to frequent more often.  

Casa D’Angelo

casa d angelo fort lauderdale

This defines upscale dining in Fort Lauderdale and it’s been a great place for a date night for us for many years.  You will find an incredible wine list, delectable pasta, and an expansive Italian menu – all of which are the among the best food in Fort Lauderdale!  

Casa D’Angelo has over 25 years in the area and never slows down.  Enjoy the white glove service and world class cuisine on the specialist of occasions. 

>> Read my full review here

Lobster Bar Sea Grille

lobster bar sea grille
Lobster Bar

Moving away from my favorite cuisine of Italian food, I’m going to another one of my favorite food groups – seafood.  Here you can find freshly flown in lobster, a raw bar, king crabs, and fresh fish.  If that’s not your thing, they also offer a full menu of steaks and chops.  Another high end restaurant with a high price point, be prepared to spend money here.  You can start with a seafood tower or even caviar, and end with one of their out of this world desserts.  Located on Las Olas Boulevard, you can’t miss this premier dining establishment in Fort Lauerdale.

>> Read about our many visits to Lobster Bar in our full review.

Mastro’s 

mastros fort lauderdale

You know I had to include my favorite steakhouse in Ft Lauderdale in this list, right?  I’ve been to many Mastro’s locations around the USA, and I’m happy to share that the local one we have in the Oakland Park area is just as quality as the rest of them.  You can enjoy steaks, chops, seafood, and their famous butter cake at Mastro’s, which is an annual visit for us.  The lounge area and bar are always vibrant and 

> Read My Full Review 

Anthony’s Runway 84 

This iconic restaurant has been around for decades, but it recently got a massive renovation and it now resembles an 80’s Supper Club.  The decor is to the nines, and the food?  Don’t get me started.  This is the best chicken parm you’ll ever have!  I like the veal chop Danielle when it’s available as well.  You will feel like you are in a place GoodFellas was filmed at while enjoying an expansive menu of all the Italian dishes you’d expect.  Do not let the fact that I’ve listed two other Italian restaurants already on this list scare you away from this incredibly different, historic restaurant.

The Katherine

The Katherine, located on Broward Boulevard in the venue formerly belonging to Foxy Browns, is a small venue that has a very diverse menu from around the world.  Like Heritage, the vibe is that of something you’d find in New York City.  The menu celebrates the owner (Katherine), and her husbands favorite dishes from around the world.  Get the cult favorite clam chowder fries as a starter and thank me later! 

Dune by Laurent Tourondel

Located in the Auberge Beach Residences and Spa, you can get great views of the ocean from this very unique restaurant offering coastal food.  Start out with the ceviche, made from fresh local catches, and then explore the lobster fra diavolo or branzino for some high end fresh fish.  

Other Ft. Lauderdale Restaurants You Must Visit

While this list could go on and on, I had to cut it off at some point.  If you aren’t sold on any of the above or want to find something else, I can also recommend the following venues:

Restaurants Near Fort Lauderdale

I’m keeping this list localized to Ft Lauderdale, but if you are fine venturing just a few minutes south, there are some tremendously good restaurants in Hollywood.  I recommend Billy’s Stone Crabs and Sardellis as two must visit experiences.  Click the links to see full reviews.  

Top Brunch Restaurants in Ft Lauderdale

Experiencing brunch in Fort Lauderdale is an absolute must. Is there anything better than a waterfront bloody mary or mimosa?  Here’s a few places we recommend, along with links to where you can read more where we have added our full reviews.  

Lunch and Casual Cuisine in Fort Lauderdale

Now that I’ve covered a lot of the luxury restaurants in the area, let’s get down to places we visit with more frequency.  

For lunch, there’s many options that span the entire culinary world that won’t let you down.  Here’s some of our favorites along with notes.  

  • Kelly’s Landing – the best in town for New England seafood.  
  • Southport Raw Bar – a divey type bar with amazing casual seafood and ice cold drinks that pair perfect with freshly shucked oysters.
  • Rocco’s Tacos – vibrant Mexican bar and restaurant with a huge tequila selection

Looking for something in specific?  Check out my recommendations based on cuisine:

So that’s it! A short list of the best places to eat in Fort Lauderdale.  I know there are dozens, if not hundreds of restaurants that I missed, but these ones came to mind right away.  I’ll aways update this list as I come across more great Fort Lauderdale restaurants.

Despite all of these amazing restaurants we have, there aren’t currently any that are Michellin star rated in Fort Lauderdale.  

If you are looking for more casual, I also made a list of where to find food trucks in Fort Lauderdale. You can find some real gems on this list!

Summary

And there you have it, my list of what i feel like are the best restaurants in Fort Lauderdale.  We always love hearing your feedback and critiques, so please feel free to leave a comment or get in touch with any questions.

 

5/5 - (2 votes)

About 

Tim Schmidt is a 20+ year Entrepreneur and Digital Marketer. A Fort Lauderdale-based "Digital Nomad," he enjoys traveling as much as possible with family and friends. AllWorld is his escape to document all of his adventures, including being a hardcore "foodie." He has property in Costa Rica and visits several times each year and is happy to offer his expert advice for planning your trip. Make sure to download the AllWorld Travel Hacks FREE ebook.

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