Over the past year or so, there's been a big push back to Fort Lauderdale Beach.
And no, it's not just new high-end condos; well-known local restaurateurs are establishing new concepts up and down the strip.
From the Restaurant People's S3 to the Atlantic Surf Club to upscale Asian Tsukuro, the area is blossoming into a new scene of trendy eateries.
The latest is Beauty and the Feast Bar|Kitchen. Owned and operated by Society 8 Hospitality Group, the team responsible for SoLita, it's the newest dining establishment in the base of the Atlantic Hotel & Spa.
Earlier this week, we got to check it out at a media preview.
See Also: Tsukuro Launches New Happy Hour Special and Lunch Menu
Set just off the lobby on the beach-side of the hotel, Beauty and the Feast offers hotel guests and members of the public a warm and stylish space with trendy globally inspired American menu.
The spot serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a selection of small and large plates ranging from pizza, sliders, and burgers to paella, steaks, and pasta.
Stand out small plates included the crispy chicken sliders ($11.50) covered in a spicy honey sauce with mango slaw; edamame ($6) tossed in soy, ginger, and garlic; lamb chops ($15.50) with rosemary and garlic; fried sun chokes ($8) with roasted garlic and olive oil; and mussels white ($12.50) steamed in white wine with pancetta, herbs, and toasted bread crumbs.
Large plates offer the usual selection of meats and seafood, with a few unusual selections. The seafood pizza ($16) with lobster sauce, shrimp, scallop, and boursin contains a crisp savory crust with perfectly cooked seafood atop.
The slow and low section of the bill of fare includes roasted pig ($24 per person) served table-side. Available for four or more, it is a whole or half suckling pig served with black beans, rice, and a fruity hot sauce; it requires 48 hour advance notice. A bone in rib roast is also offered.
A comfortable lounge and bar sits at the entrance of the space. With warm brick walls, secluded seating areas, and contemporary crystal chandeliers, it feels more like a northern urban lounge more than a beach-side hotel bar.
In addition to a decent selection of wines, a selection of craft cocktails are listed. Try the Dream ($12) Absolut "Elyx" with muddled grapes and basil topped with simple syrup, lemon juice, sour, and soda; Feast ($11), Beefeater gin with cucumber, simple syrup, lime, and lemon lime soda; or Rock ($12) Barenjager Honey & Bourbon with muddles cherries and oranges topped with peach puree and peach bitters.
Happy hour is offered 4 to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Brunch (7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) and lunch are served daily.
Society 8 Hospitality Group recently took over all catering operations in the beachfront hotel -- it is now in charge of room service and a more casual poolside concept, Ocean Market Grille (more information coming soon).
Beauty and the Feast is located at 601 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-567-8070, or visit society8.com.
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