Fantastic food and drink, great ambience, and the privacy to enjoy them as a group. The following restaurants and nightspots make it happen.
Pirate Republic Seafood & Grill is, conveniently enough, a stop on Fort Lauderdale’s Water Taxi route and serves up fresh seafood with hints of Brazil and the Caribbean. A private room can handle up to a hundred, either by buffet or ordering off the menu. “We’re close to all the meeting hotels on the beach and four or five miles from the convention center and airport,” notes manager Cindy DeMello.
Burlock Coast Seafare & Spirits is a gorgeous new restaurant and marketplace set steps from the beach at The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale. In addition to an indoor/outdoor bar and
A Fort Lauderdale Institution, the Mai-Kai offers a direct route to the South Seas, with authentic decor, a Polynesian menu and a jaw-dropping live show that includes dance, drums and fire. Private events range from dinner shows to lunch receptions and cocktail parties. “I think the fact that we have a stage that can be utilized for presentations is a big plus,” says Pia Dahlquist, director of sales and marketing.
Set in the historic Riverside Hotel in the heart of Fort Lauderdale, Wild Sea Oyster Bar & Grille offers a progressive American menu and raw bar along with a glass-enclosed wine room, a patio overlooking busy Las Olas Boulevard and a private dining room for special events.
Making its debut last fall in The Shops of Midtown Miami, the second South Florida location of Apeiro Kitchen & Bar showcases the flavors of Morocco, Italy, Greece, Spain and everywhere in between. A private room can host 30 for a seated event or 50 for cocktails. “I have several prix fixe menus as well as a create-your-own option, with people picking a few appetizers, entrees and desserts,” says Ivette Day, events coordinator.
StripSteak is celebrated chef/restaurateur Michael Mina’s new steakhouse at the iconic Fontainebleau Miami Beach. The elegant, two-story gem features a private dining room for 40 overlooking the open kitchen. “A set menu is required for groups of 15 or more,” notes Gail Karas, the Fontainebleau’s director of restaurant sales. “We have groups coming in from all locations, including from other hotels.”
