Where: 601 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
Phone: 954.567.8070
Website: wildthymeoceanside.com
Call of the Wild: The director of Society 8 Hospitality Group, Steven Dapuzzo, returns to The Atlantic Hotel & Spa (where his prior restaurant, Beauty & the Feast, once occupied the space) with a fresh-dining creation buoyed by a postcard-perfect beachfront backdrop. “The restaurant is a play on two concepts,” Dapuzzo says of Wild Thyme Oceanside Eatery. “The thyme being the fresh and flavorful aspect of the food; the wild being the out-of-the-box dishes that we’ve created. It really is a wild experience.”
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Wild Cards: Wild Thyme’s menu contains a selection of small plates meant to be shared tapas-style. Rich flavors and innovative ingredient combinations distinguish the more than 20 offerings. Among the highlights: Cream of Pop Corn, with creamed corn, popcorn and jalapeño; Drunken Mussels bathed in pink vodka sauce; Maple Bourbon Bacon, accompanied by jalapeño cheddar cornbread; and a Lobster Corn Dog (featured image), paired with cucumber and avocado salad.
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Shake It Up: Alongside traditional treats (creme brulee, Key lime tart, carrot cake), Wild Thyme indulges in some serious dessert excess with its Milkshake Bar menu. Take the Reese’s Peanut Butter offering (pictured), for instance. Piled on top of a chocolate milkshake base are brownies, Reese’s peanut butter cups, whipped cream, chocolate syrup and some peanut butter M&Ms. All the featured ice cream, by the way, is made in-house.
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Come Together: In addition to a selection of large plates (entrees like seafood paella, filet mignon, and crispy chicken and thyme waffle), there’s a big sharing menu for those looking for a family-style experience. The Crispy Seafood Cone includes clams, mussels, shrimp, calamari, scallops and the fresh catch; the Butcher’s Meat Board features short rib, hanger steak and filet mignon; and the Whole Charred Octopus with fresh herbs comes with roasted tomato and fingerling potatoes.
Dinner and a show: As if the panoramic seaside views weren’t enough, Wild Thyme also offers a variety of eclectic entertainment and foodie events for guests to enjoy. The full-moon dinner party, for example, is held each month on an oceanfront terrace and includes a four-course menu, fire dancers and a guest DJ. There’s also a Saturday “boozy” brunch, local-catch specials on Thursdays, a Sunday “feast brunch” and afternoon happy hours Monday through Saturday.
