Sunness Supper Club (SSC) has officially opened its doors on Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. This restaurant is named in tribute to owner/operator Michael Stanley’s late grandfather and is located in a beautifully renovated space at 2465 East Sunrise Blvd., thoughtfully curated by Michael himself. Sunness Supper Club offers a delightful new dining experience, featuring soulful American cuisine, craft cocktails, and warm hospitality, all in a setting designed to provide a fine dining ambiance without the formalities.
“Sunness Supper Club is named after my grandfather so to say it’s something close to my heart is an understatement,” says Michael, who is no stranger to the industry though SSC is the first brick n’ mortar concept under his belt. “I wanted to create a space where people can come together to enjoy delicious and high-quality food and drinks with a touch of magic in the air. Mood, music and lighting are key and no detail has been overlooked in the design. I want the Sunness Supper Club to be a place where memories are made and good times are had.”
Before joining SSC, he founded and ran MK Takeaways, a ghost kitchen that provided fresh, Chef-prepared meals made from scratch, delivered directly to customers’ homes. Prior to that, he had a successful run in the food service industry as the creator of an organic baby food brand called Yummy in my Tummy. Before that role, he served as the director of operations for Tequila Ranch at The Park Sports Club.
Inspired by his childhood and the rich cultural diversity of South Florida, Michael, in partnership with James Beard Award-winning Chef Allen Susser, crafted the enticing menu for SSC. The menu seamlessly combines classic American cuisine with global flavors, highlighting thoughtfully sourced ingredients. Diners can enjoy a vibrant selection that includes fresh raw bar offerings, delicious appetizers, and main courses featuring steaks, chops, seafood, and contemporary comfort dishes.
The starting plates showcase an array of highlights, including East and West Coast Oysters, Crudo, and Jumbo Lump Blue Crab Cakes served with corn salsa and tartar sauce. A comforting French Onion Soup topped with a cheesy crouton makes a perfect starter, along with Wood Fire Blistered Elote drizzled with queso fresco and Peruvian verde. Don’t miss the Brooklyn Burrata paired with cherry tomatoes and aged balsamic, and the delightful “Table Tossed” Caesar meant for sharing.
The main menu offers enticing choices from both land and sea, such as Filet Mignon paired with red potato mash and a rich demi-glace, and a savory Wagyu Beef Skirt Steak & Frites served with chimichurri sauce. For pork enthusiasts, the Heritage Pork Chop comes with crispy red bliss potato mash, while seafood lovers will enjoy the Lobster Tail with jasmine rice and tangerine ginger butter. Be sure to try the special Catch of the Day, featuring broccolini and fire-roasted lemon.
For those seeking comfort food, classics like the Double American Cheeseburger—which combines brisket, chuck, and short rib patties topped with pickles and sautéed onions—are available. The Cabernet Braised Short Rib, served with mashed red potatoes and honey garlic carrots, is another indulgent choice, along with Shrimp & Grits that feature shallots, cheddar, and bacon.
Guests are encouraged to save room for dessert, as the restaurant’s array of dazzling sweet temptations is just as photogenic as it is indulgent. The lineup includes the S’mores Galore Brownie, which is topped with Hershey’s chocolate, graham crackers, whipped cream, and jumbo marshmallows toasted at the table, as well as the Berrylicious Shortcake, featuring a buttered biscuit adorned with fresh strawberries, a cloud of cotton candy, and a Grand Marnier strawberry drizzle poured tableside. Among several other confections, the true highlight of the dessert selection is the whimsical Wonder Wheel. This mini-Ferris wheel is filled with a variety of sweet, fruity, and chocolate treats, and it carries the added magic that a portion of each Wonder Wheel sale benefits a local charity.
While SSC benefits from prominent visibility on Sunrise Boulevard, the main entrance is located at the back of the building, conveniently next to over 75 free parking spaces. Upon arrival and check-in, guests venture down a winding hallway that feels like a hidden passage, leading them into a spacious restaurant that spans almost 6,000 square feet and accommodates 130 diners. The design is thoughtfully curated, featuring a stylish yet inviting color scheme of sage green and neutral tones, enhanced by artisanal elements of wood, marble, leather, and gold.
A striking feature of the venue is the large U-shaped marble bar, which includes hanging wood-finished wine racks and provides seating for nearly 30 patrons. Nearby, two generous banquettes can be adapted for more private gatherings. The dining area boasts a variety of seating options, including low and high tables, half-moon booths, and two long booths designed for larger groups. To create a visual divide between the bar area and dining room, an array of bottle selections is beautifully displayed in sophisticated glass and wood cabinets at the restaurant’s center. Additionally, a wood-fired oven positioned just beyond the bar adds an inviting ambiance to the space.
In the spring, the second phase of the concept, an upstairs speakeasy overlooking the dining room, will be open.
The restaurant is open daily for dinner served Sunday to Thursday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Happy Hour is offered daily from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Stay tuned for news on the launch of lunch and weekend brunch. For more information, visit www.thesunness.com. Follow on Instagram: @SunnessSupperClub
Photo Credit: Zack Perl
