November 19, 2024
Recognizing that Fort Lauderdale’s transformation was underway, Phil Marro began producing the annual Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival in 2019. Phil can see how Fort Lauderdale’s restaurant scene has become more mature and culturally evolved.
“You’re seeing a wide array of cuisines represented and also seeing well-known restauranteurs look at Fort Lauderdale and Broward County” notes Marro.
With the Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival returning bigger and better than ever in January, there has never been a better time to experience more of Fort Lauderdale’s growing culinary scene.
Patrons enjoying their meal at Livia Bar and Grill in Flagler Village
In just the past two and a half years, more than 50 new restaurants have opened in Downtown Fort Lauderdale, ranging from elevated dining concepts like Daniel’s, TIMBR, Livia, Fleming’s, and Moxies to popular neighborhood spots like The Fitz, House on the River, Café Bastille, North Italia, Pummarola, and Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza.
Chef-Inspired Concepts
Two local hot spots gave this trend new life: Heritage and The Katherine. Both chef-driven concepts are dedicated to crafting authentic experiences through exceptional food. From the uniquely Broward-inspired love story behind The Katherine to a chef's vision for an intimate Italian spot like Heritage, downtown is fast becoming a foodie destination.
To that end, Fort Lauderdale was recently ranked by WalletHub as the 19th best foodie city in the United States, ahead of destinations like Nashville, Houston, and Boston.
When Chef Rino Cerbone opened Heritage in Flagler Village in 2020, he saw an exciting opportunity to shape the neighborhood. As he shared with Venice Magazine, his vision was to 'build a neighborhood' and 'bring a higher vibe to the area.' With Heritage, Chef Rino aimed to bring a touch of Manhattan and L.A. to Fort Lauderdale—a small, charming spot with a focus on every detail.
Timon Balloo, the James Beard Semi-Finalist chef behind The Katherine, believes that Fort Lauderdale is now on the map for top chefs.
“I have had a lot of colleagues [award-winning chefs] already reach out asking what's happening in Fort Lauderdale. They wanted to know why I’m here. With all of the growth, you are starting to see Miami, New York, and other out-of-town operators coming to the city”, said Balloo.
With The Katherine earning national recognition by the New York Times as being home to one of the 23 Best American Dishes of 2023 (its Thai Red Curry Yellowtail), it’s clear that Fort Lauderdale is on the national radar.
A new arrival to the scene is Daniel’s, a Florida Steakhouse. Located just south of the US 1 Tunnel in a famed location that once housed local favorites, Daniel’s pays homage to our state’s past by introducing authentic Florida flavors and ingredients in an upscale neighborhood setting. Thomas Angelo, founder of Gioia Hospitality and a 25-year Fort Lauderdale resident, told the Sun-Sentinel that he believes that “with new apartments and condos shooting up in and around downtown… the city has room for the culinary scene to grow.”
Memorable Experiences
Residents and visitors of Downtown Fort Lauderdale now expect to have a memorable experience when dining out. The Restaurant People’s Tim Petrillo attributes the evolving dining and nightlife scene to guests searching for more authentic and diverse dining experiences.
What does it all mean? DowntownFTL’s top restaurants are serving up chef-inspired concepts and unforgettable experiences, setting a new standard that residents, employees, and visitors have come to expect as the area continues to evolve.