The 19 best restaurants in Fort Lauderdale

We know it and you know it, there is nothing better than grilled cheese. Half-hungry-half-not? Grilled cheese is the perfect lunch. Hungover AF? You’re in need of a grilled cheese. Whatever the occasion, you’re going to love this New York grilled cheese joint, where you can order everything from grilled mac & cheese to a wall street grinder melt, featuring smoked bacon, carmelized onions, scrambled egg and artisanal mayo. 

Whether you’re a die-hard Cuban food fan or you’re new to the cuisine, Padrino’s Cuban is a must-try in Fort Lauderdale, serving up beef empanadas, plantain and cubano sandwiches with some seriously lip-smacking cocktails. Padrino’s is still cooking up the same family recipes it’s been dishing out for years, passed down from the 1930s, because if it’s not broken, why fix it? The slow roast pork, served with arroz moros and yucca, is worth travelling for. 

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Since 1974, Sea Watch on the Ocean has been welcoming locals and visitors to experience Southern hospitality and fresh seafood straight from the ocean – which happens to be just 50 yards away. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, with a decadent brunch menu every Sunday. The floor to ceiling windows bring in a ton of light and offer sweeping views of the sea. While dinner is more romantic with the sun setting in the background, lunch is our favorite meal here. You can’t go wrong with the crab tostada, which starts with a corn tortilla chip base and piles on avocado, tomato, red onion, cilantro, parmesan cheese, black beans and crab.

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Hardy Park Bistro is best known for its impeccable sandwiches and salads and for using locally sourced ingredients for many of its lunch and dinner dishes. The neighborhood restaurant is a cute hang out spot after a morning spent at the beach. Cheese-lovers will enjoy the burrata salad, which comes with a beautiful ball of burrata cheese, grilled veggies, and a balsamic drizzle.

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Great coffee and a beautiful outdoor patio is what continues to bring people to The Alchemist Cafe. The little sandwich shop is known for its proprietary coffee infusion technique and its open-faced sandwiches, which are called slicers. You’ll also find everything from avocados stuffed with shrimp salad, personal-sized pizzas, and vegetable lasagna on the menu. For something sweet, ask about the waffle of the day, which usually has some type of fruit or chocolate. 

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Tom Jenkin’s BBQ started out as a trailer in 1990 and quickly became popular with locals. In 1996, the owners were able to open a brick-and-mortar restaurant, and they've been serving Fort Lauderdale bbq fanatics ever since. The restaurant specializes in fall-off-the-bone ribs, juicy chicken, succulent pork, and Texas-style brisket. You’ll also want to be sure to try Southern-style sides like macaroni and cheese and collard greens. 

Coconuts is located on the intercoastal waterways of the city, with indoor and outdoor seating where the views are only matched by the scrumptious food. And the location even offers boat docks for those who choose to get to there via water. Start your meal off with a cocktail like the Save the Whales, which combines Gray Whale gin, muddled cucumber, mint, and tonic water for a refreshing pre-dinner drink. Coconuts' loyal fans know the best time to eat here is after 5pm when the menu expands to add items like the crab empanadas and grilled oysters.

The Foxy Brown is a modern comfort food restaurant where everything feels like it was cooked in your mom's home kitchen. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner every day, along with a delightful brunch on Saturday and Sunday. Start your meal with hearts of palm fries—they’re tempura-battered and served with Sriracha aioli, and they’re a guaranteed hit. Fresh seafood is abundant on the menu with dishes like poke bowls, pan-seared scallops, and mussels prepared however the chef chooses that day.

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When it’s time for breakfast, one spot worth venturing to is Cyth & Co. The coffee shop serves traditional coffee and breakfast sandwiches for locals who are on-the-go, along with some Instagram-worthy lattes like the blackberry almond latte and the blue butterfly latte. Cyth & Co. also sells delicious breakfast sandwiches, waffles, quiches and baked goods – many of which are vegan or can be made vegan with an easy substitution. 

Doc B's Restaurant and Bar is known for its sandwiches, sharable plates, and lively atmosphere. To start off, get the sticky-sweet candied bacon (watch out: it’s got a bit of a kick from cayenne pepper). The approachable bar-style menu also includes dishes like buffalo chicken sandwiches with roasted garlic dressing, loaded burgers, and wok bowls. Don’t skip dessert, where you can order items like Cinnamon Toast Crunch cheesecake, key lime pie, and homemade oreo ice cream that's topped with a homemade chocolate shell.

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A few minutes from the Fort Lauderdale Country Club is Dar Tajine Moroccan Restaurant. The inside of the restaurant is colorful and warm thanks to the traditional cloths hanging on the walls. The menu is filled with traditional fare like a roasted eggplant dish called zaalouk, ground beef kofta and merguez sausage sandwiches. The restaurant also serves a variety of tajin dishes like lamb shank with prunes and almonds, and a half chicken with olives and preserved lemon. 

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Food halls are all the rage right now, and the favorite in Fort Lauderdale is Sistrunk Marketplace. The combination food hall and arts market is known for its cooking classes, distillery tours and retail boutiques. When hunger strikes, you can find everything from slurpable ramen and fresh tuna poke, to sweet and savory crepes and towering ice cream sundaes. You will need to make a reservation to get in, and while reserving you’ll choose if you want to sit inside or outside on the patio. 

Latin and Asian flavors are combined to make mouthwatering dishes at this popular water-front restaurant. Casa Sensei is dishing out some of the freshest sushi in town, along with Asian noodle dishes like pad Thai, and Latin favorites like mojo pork chops. For a decadent starter, be sure to try the lobster guacamole (house-made guac topped with seared lobster tail skewers). To get the best of both worlds, you’ll want to try the Korean grilled steak chimichurri, which starts out as a marinated skirt steak, topped with bright green chimichurri sauce, and served with jasmine rice and fried sweet plantains.

Steak 954 is an upscale steakhouse nestled by the water of west Fort Lauderdale. While dining on expertly cooked steaks and seafood, enjoy views of the ocean through floor-to-ceiling windows or on the spacious outdoor patio. The menu is filled with high-end classics like hand-cut beef tartare, dry-aged steaks, and Kobe strip steaks. For a truly decadent dinner, consider the $75 cheesesteak. It’s made with American wagyu, topped with truffled cheese whiz, served on a freshly baked brioche roll – and accompanied by a glass of Laurent Perrier Brut.

At Cafe Seville, you’ll feel as if you’ve been whisked away to a small village in Spain. The restaurant specializes in traditional Spanish foods like tapas and seafood entrees. Start your meal off with a shared platter of Spanish serrano ham, manchego cheese, chorizo, and stuffed olives. Another favorite is the gambas Pablo Picasso, a flavor-packed dish of steamed shrimp over yellow rice with salsa verde.

Spectacular ocean views and coastal cuisine with a Latin flair are on the menu at Dune. The signature restaurant is located inside the Auberge Beach Residences and Spa, but you don’t need to be a club member to dine here. The restaurant has three distinct dining spaces, each of which has panoramic views of the beach. You cannot go wrong ordering the roasted Atlantic octopus, which is impeccably cooked without being rubbery, or the seared diver scallops which seared to golden perfection and served with toasty brown butter.

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Blue Moon Fish Company is dishing out fresh Florida seafood with a Cajun-Louisiana flair. In fact, the restaurant is often mentioned as the best seafood place in Fort Lauderdale. We love the ceviche, which is made fresh everyday with fish and shrimp that were caught just hours before serving. For the Cajun twist, consider getting the seafood gumbo, which comes loaded with shrimp, crab, crawfish, andouille sausage, okra and file. Be sure to leave room for a slice of key lime pie that’s been topped with toasted coconut meringue. 

Situated along the waterfront of Fort Lauderdale is Lona Cocina Tequileria, a stunning Mexican restaurant that serves authentic street food with an upscale twist. Order the octopus tostada to get a taste of this high-and-low contrast—it’s served with refried beans, caramelized onions, fresh cilantro, and creamy aioli. Looking for a deal? The restaurant offers enticing specials throughout the week, but it’s hard to beat its $5 tacos and margaritas on Taco Tuesdays.

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The local hangout for weeknight drinks and weekend brunch is Milk Money Bar and Kitchen. The restaurant has an impressive list of daily happy hour specials including $5 microbrews on Monday and a bartender’s choice of shot for $3 on Friday. You’ll find some of the typical bar food like chicken wings and burgers on the menu, but you’ll also find elevated dishes like short ribs with coconut infused rice, kale and pickled vegetables, and a pork belly banh mi with all of the usual toppings.