Fort Lauderdale’s dining scene is having a moment. Just one year after a wave of restaurant closures left locals wondering what the future of the city’s restaurants would look like, 10 new spots are here to reset the tone. Over the past few months, everything from intimate cafés to splashy rooftop bars have opened in Fort Lauderdale, with a lineup that feels like a statement: Fort Lauderdale isn’t just bouncing back, it’s evolving.
In Downtown Fort Lauderdale, Japanese-Peruvian hotspot Sakana opened its doors, while on Federal Highway, neighbors Zito’s and Clase Azul bring Italian and Mexican flavors to the neighborhood. In Downtown Fort Lauerdale, there was the arrival of Ukiah, a Japanese smokehouse, and Sakana Nikkei, a refined take on Peruvian-Japanese cuisine. Layer in Through The Vine, a sleek wine bar in Flagler Village, and Porfa Coffee, an Oakland Park café designed for daytime rituals, and the landscape feels more dynamic than ever…