South Florida, by its very nature, is a transient part of the world. Snowbirds -- both human and avian -- migrate south when the weather turns cold up north, and people come from all parts of the world to spend a week, a month, or a few years, then move on.
So, for a restaurant to have staying power, it must overcome this challenge by having a great location to attract both locals and tourists, good value, and delicious food. Still, a restaurant is always a gamble. The Perry Group, an international restaurant consulting firm, found that "the majority of restaurants usually fail in the first year. Of those restaurants and foodservice businesses that made it beyond a year, 70% failed within the next 3 to 5 years."
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Blue Moon Fish Company is in that small percentile of restaurants with staying power. The restaurant, located on the Intracoastal Waterway in the charming seaside town of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, just celebrated its 17th birthday this weekend, complete with seashell birthday cake, balloons, and Champagne.
Chef/owners Bryce Statham and Baron Skorish were on hand to cut the cake, a seaside-themed confection designed by Blue Moon's pastry chef, Maria Perera.
The party was open to all, and the restaurant was jammed with people enjoying the enormous Sunday brunch ($48.95 per person).
Guests sat outside on the oversized patio, sipped mimosas, and watched the boats come in between trips to the buffet to stock up on yet more fresh oysters, sushi, Louisiana gumbo, roast lamb, and other never-ending goodies.
Though the birthday may be over, the celebration brunch continues every Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. Plus, share your favorite picture or thoughts on Blue Moon on social media, using hashtag #ILoveTheMoon for a chance to win a free meal.
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