Broward County’s answer to Miami Spice is back, and the rolling feast known as Dine Out Lauderdale 2022 is firing up dozens of dining promotions in Broward County from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30.
With the amiable goal of keeping dining rooms churning during the slow summer months, the culinary bacchanal gives diners scores of deeply discounted multi-course lunches and dinners at top eateries. And it gives adventurous eaters an excuse to try new restaurants at cut-rate prices — at least, until snowbirds migrate back this fall.
There are 48 restaurants partaking this year, with prix-fixe lunches and dinners ranging from $35 to $45 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. Most restaurants live in Fort Lauderdale and coastal cities, and the discounts notably match their pre-pandemic prices, making these deals feel stronger in the age of inflation.
Curiously absent this year: All of the high-end restaurants in the orbit of Hard Rock Live (see: Kuro, Council Oak Steaks and Seafood, Marky’s Caviar, Abiaka). And at least five eateries on Dine Out Lauderdale’s webpage — such as the cozy, acclaimed Le Bistro in Lighthouse Point — have yet to unveil their specials.
Note that some restaurants exclude the deal on Fridays and Saturdays, and that multi-course meals usually include choice of appetizer, main course and dessert. Be sure to call ahead for reservations and confirm menu availability before dining out. For the full Dine Out lineup, go to VisitLauderdale.com/Restaurants.
Or, much easier: Take this list of five Dine Out Lauderdale suggestions with you.
Union Kitchen & Bar
2309 N Dixie Highway, Wilton Manors; 754-216-0143, UnionKB.com
Since opening 11 months ago near the nightlife crawl of Wilton Drive, the husband-and-wife team of Christie Tenaud and sommelier Roberto Colombi have tinkered with techniques they learned while running Michelin two-star and James Beard Award-winning kitchens. Their 150-seater’s $45 Dine Out menu is a wonderland of Italian-Peruvian delights: Begin with grilled octopus marinated in Peruvian anticucho seasoning, on a bed of corn puree and charred corn and tomato salsa. For mains, order chicken agrodolce, plated in a sweet-and-sour adobo of golden raisins, cipollini onions and white wine over creamy polenta. Conclude with fried churros bathed in dulce de leche and strawberries. (Note: The deal is available daily.)
The Cook & The Cork
9840 W Sample Road, Coral Springs; 954-227-2665, TheCookandtheCork.com
At this sumptuous dinner party of a restaurant, Dena Lowell Blauschild and her husband, Keith, have for eight years turned their 40-seater into a neighborhood stronghold for comfort food. Start the Cook’s $45 deal (which is worth at least $55 if going by restaurant menu prices) with gem lettuce gremolata drizzled in grated Parmesan and lemon-Caesar vinaigrette. Continue with KFC — that’s Korean fried chicken — plated with wasabi mashed potatoes, fresh cucumber kimchi and Asian slaw. Finish with a dark chocolate brownie topped with vanilla bean ice cream. (Note: The deal is available Wednesday-Friday only.)
The Katherine
723 E Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 754-216-0690, TheKatherineRestaurant.com
After a decade at the helm of Miami’s Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill, star chef Timon Balloo trekked north, opening this downtown restaurant named after his wife. His six-month-old eatery features cuisine infused with Balloo’s Chinese, Indian and Trinidadian roots, and the $45 deal will save diners a fair chunk of change. (The following three courses cost $57 on its current menu.) Pick steamed clam chowder fries with salsa verde for starters. For entrée, select jerk-grilled chicken thighs plated with plantains and coconut milk-braised kale. And for dessert, choose chocolate pudding with housemade cocoa krispies and fudge syrup. (Note: The deal is offered Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays only.)
Angelo Elia Pizza Bar & Tapas
Four locations in Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, Weston and Delray Beach; AngeloEliaPizza.com
One of the lone Dine Out restaurants offering a $35 dinner menu, chef Angelo Elia’s chain of pizza and small plates are a casual counterpoint to his upscale Casa d’Angelo restaurants, without losing any of Elia’s skills. For appetizer, choose chicken meatballs with escarole and cannellini beans, toasted garlic and reggiano broth. Next, pick lasagna rustica for dinner, swimming in sausage Bolognese, fresh mozzarella and ricotta. (Craving pizza instead? The Funghi comes topped with caramelized wild mushrooms, four cheeses and truffle oil.) For dessert, leave the cannoli and take the tiramisu. (Note: The deal is available daily.)
Shady Distillery
616 NW Second Ave., Fort Lauderdale; 954-869-4170, ShadyDistillery.com
Shady occupies a warm, well-appointed enclave stocked with spirits in the rear of Sistrunk Marketplace, hidden from the hullabaloo of the food hall’s foot traffic. And it happens to be the only Dine Out location touting a $45 four-course meal with cocktail pairings, which starts with a wedge salad topped with corn relish, roasted pepper and jalapeno dressing. Next comes ravioli a la vodka dressed with light-pink vodka cream sauce, pancetta and peas, followed by bourbon-braised short rib drizzled with an orange zest red wine reduction and garlic mashed potatoes. Chocolate Nutella bread pudding with walnut bourbon glaze wraps the meal. Liquor pairings, distilled on-site, include Shady Vodka Spiked Minted Lemonade, Shady Vodka Bellini, 12 Mile Rum Chocolate Old-Fashioned and 12 Mile “Sinner” Cinnamon Rum. (Note: The deal is available Tuesday-Thursday only.)
