In South Florida, now more than ever, an upscale meal can be just steps away from a pillow-top mattress and free, fancy toiletries. Whether you chalk it up to quality, service or sheer convenience, the fact of the matter is that hotel dining is on the rise.
An industry study from earlier this year noted that restaurants within hotels and resorts have been trending upward over time. According to Technomic, a global food-service data company, total spending by consumers in hotels totaled to $48.7 billion last year.
And it’s only supposed to go up in 2018. South Florida Sun Sentinel food critic Mike Mayo says that resort dining poses advantages for all parties involved.
“Because the hotels are usually attached to big corporations, the hotels are able to pay well and bring in big-name chefs,” Mayo says. “It also enables them to get better products at lower prices.”
The Technomic report also noted that local and regional offerings are more in demand. It’s something we’d safely bet our South Florida resorts have caught wind of—whether looking at JWB Prime Steak and Seafood’s fresh fish that is literally speared hours before hitting a plate at Margaritaville or Terra Mare’s cold-pressed juices at The Conrad.
To celebrate South Florida’s best fine dining establishments that are connected to luxury resorts, check out the following restaurants.
Burlock Coast SeaFare and Spirits • The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale
Where: 1 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd.
Kitchen confidential: Just footsteps away from the beach, Burlock Coast allows patrons to enter a classy restaurant, cafe, cigar shop and rum retailer all in one. From pork belly with truffle grits and smoked cheese ($28) to a classic burger-and-beer Monday special ($10), Burlock Coast aims to please everyone. And between the views and craft rum cocktails, it succeeds.
Don’t-miss dish: Don’t be fooled by the dish’s simple title. Burlock Coast’s signature lobster pasta (pictured above; $30) is a rich dish that has drawn raves (and return visits) since the restaurant opened in late 2015. Made with pappardelle pasta, a heavy bisque for the sauce, spinach and tomatoes, the entree was described by Broward New Times as “if bisque, a lobster roll, and some homemade pappardelle decided to sleep together and you caught them in the act, tangled up under a thin veil of melted, grated cheese.”
Contact: 954.302.6460, ritzcarlton.com
3030 Ocean • Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
Where: 3030 Holiday Drive, Fort Lauderdale
Kitchen confidential: The bread basket is tasty, inviting and full of variety—possibly a metaphor for the rest of the menu. The Harbor Beach Marriott restaurant sucks diners in with its baskets of warm, fresh-baked bread in different varieties. From there, executive chef Adrienne Grenier proves why she won an episode of Food Network’s “Chopped” in 2011, adding her masterful touch to such dishes as the grilled beef tenderloin ($55) and the fried snapper with kimchi and shishito peppers ($38), and making them sing.
Don’t-miss dish: Offered as part of 3030 Ocean’s three-plate tasting menu ($55) or on its own ($15), the ahi tuna poke dish bursts with vibrant flavors. The dish is topped with wakame, macadamia nuts, avocado and sambal (a hot chili pepper paste).
Contact: 954.765.3030, 3030ocean.com
Kuro • Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Where: 1 Seminole Way, Hollywood
Kitchen confidential: This high-end Asian fusion restaurant located within the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino opened in March 2015. The 9,500-square-foot restaurant was designed to resemble a theater, which is fitting, because its dishes are showstoppers. Menu items that steal the spotlight include the wagyu tacos ($16) with spicy cilantro, shallots and an aioli sauce; any of the tempura offerings; anything off the robata charcoal grills; and any of the maki or sushi selections. In fact, pretty much every artistically rendered, chef-driven option off this menu deserves an ovation.
Don’t-miss dish: The tuna crispy rice ($16) has quickly become a crowd favorite at Kuro, with piles and piles of reviews shouting the dish out by name. The starter plate features spicy tuna decorated with caviar on top. It’s a mouthwatering combo that, according to the wait staff, is one of the most-requested dishes.
Contact: 866.502.7529, seminolehardrockhollywood.com
