Summer Menus and Specials to Try Now at Six South Florida Restaurants

Summer is officially here, and so are the summer menus.

With the advent of climbing temps, an abundance of seasonal produce, and far less-crowded bars, dining rooms, and outdoor patios, many local establishments are rolling out new menus replete with summer goodies and specials. Think of it as a way to reward the locals for all their patience throughout tourist season.

Here are six of our favorite summer specials to enjoy in the coming months across Broward and Palm Beach:
1. Weekend Brunch at Grille 401
401 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-767-0222 or visit grille401.com.
Everyone loves a good brunch. That includes Grille 401, located in Fort Lauderdale's downtown, which is launching a new weekend brunch extravaganza starting Saturday, June 11. Available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, the new weekend brunch menu will feature a number of all-new appetizers and traditional breakfast dishes, as well as some of the restaurant's best-known salads, sandwiches, and desserts. Seven new signature brunch entrees include shrimp and grits (made with jumbo shrimp, corn salsa, Smithfield ham, and asparagus in a light Creole sauce served with stone-ground white cheddar grits); Crab Cake Benedict (Maryland-style crab cakes on homemade biscuits with poached eggs, Hollandaise sauce, and grilled asparagus served with crispy home fries); or Chicken and Waffles (Southern fried chicken, made-from-scratch waffles, warm maple syrup, and stone-ground white cheddar grits). Of course, brunch wouldn't be complete without $15 bottomless mimosa and bloody mary bars, where guests can select from a variety of toppings to dress up their cocktails. In addition to regular brunch, once a month Grille 401 will also be starting its Bark N Brunch, a dog-friendly brunch sponsored by Tito’s vodka on select Sundays. All proceeds from the day's bottomless bloody mary bar sales will be donated to a local shelter, which changes monthly. Bark N Brunch will kick off on Sunday, June 12 with Paws 4 You as the benefactor. Pets will receive Tito’s branded dog goodies such as toys, bandanas, collars, and treats.
2.  Summer Happy Hour at Stout Bar & Grill
3419 N. Andrews Ave., Oakland Park. Call 754-223-5678, or visit www.facebook.com/stoutbarandgrill.
One of Fort Lauderdale's favorite Irish sports bars, Stout Bar & Grill, has kicked off the summer season with their best happy hour yet, featuring half-off drinks, appetizers, and flatbreads from 5 to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. In addition to happy hour, patrons can find nine new summer special menu items, from starters like the Banger Basket of mini Murphy’s Irish sausages (served with fries and roasted brussels sprouts with Parmesan cheese and roasted garlic) to the Buffalo Burger made with a fiery burger patty, bleu cheese celery sauce, tomatoes, lettuce, onion, and pickle. There's also an all-new veggie flat bread made with roasted vegetables, kalamata olives, and a spinach cream sauce.
3. Summer Lunch and Dinner Menus at Bistro Ten Zero One
1001 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. Call 561-833-1234, or visit bistro1001.com.
Bistro Ten Zero One recently announced the launch of its new summer lunch and dinner menus, both created by Bistro’s executive chef Christian Quiñones. For lunch, a series of light dishes offer summer seasonal ingredients and flavors from chicken wings with ginger hoisin sauce, charred pineapple, and chives to smoked beet tacos served with black beans, onion, cotija cheese, avocado, and crema. An Amatriciana flat bread is topped with pancetta, tomato sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni, while the fresh catch BLT with bacon, lettuce, tomato, and avocado on Cusano’s challah presents an entirely new take on the Florida fish sandwich; During dinner hours try the octopus anticuchos, skewers with tamarind-panda chili sauce or Florida orange and pine nut salad with field greens, cucumber, avocado, kalamata olives, and honey vinaigrette.
4. A Unique Summer Cocktail at Apothecary 330
330 Himmarshee St., Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-616-8028, or visit pizzacraftpizzeria.com.
When the temps soar to new heights across South Florida in the next few months, there's nothing like a refreshing mojito to cool you down during the dog days of summer. That's where the green tea lavender mojito at Apothecary 330 comes in, a twist on the classic concoction made with a blend of Brugal Extra Viejo, lime juice, fresh mint, a house-made green tea and lavender reduction, and fresh sugarcane juice finished with a splash of seltzer. The drink will be served on tap all summer long, along with other specialty summer cocktails like the PEAping Tom. Ideal for martini lovers, the cocktail features Old Tom English Gin, sugar snap pea sorrel syrup, fresh mint, and lemon — plus dandelion and burdock bitters, and garnished with fresh sugar snap peas.
5. Summer Specials for Happy Hour at Tryst
4 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. Call 561-921-0201, or visit 
Tryst didn't just kick-off a new happy hour available from 5 and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday — they also recently launched a series of summer specials too. Beginning June 5, Sundays will get the week rolling with Tryst’s famous fried chicken dinner and glass of prosecco for $18 per person. Mondays are "proof positive": if you are "in the biz" you’ll get 25 percent off all night. Tuesdays feature “Wine Not?” specials with 40 percent off bottled wine and $10 charcuterie and cheese boards. Wednesdays, enjoy Tryst burgers and hotdogs for $5 each. And Thursdays are for the ladies with 50 percent off drinks all night long and live entertainment beginning at 9:30 p.m. Come Friday and Saturday, late night food options are offered from 11 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., from tacos, burgers, and hot dogs, to charcuterie and cheese boards and fish dip.
6. "Locals Only" at Rok:Brgr, Himmarshee Public House, Tacocraft, and Pizzacraft
Multiple locations. Himmarshee Village, Fort Lauderdale. Visit jeygroup.com.
The JEY Hospitality Group family of restaurants is giving Fort Lauderdale locals the opportunity to save big during the summer months with the return of its "Locals Only" card. The card gives Fort Lauderdale residents 20 percent off their entire bill at participating JEY restaurants including Rok:Brgr, Himmarshee Public House, Tacocraft, and Pizzacraft until September 30. Guests can stop by any downtown Fort Lauderdale location and show their ID to a manage to receive their savings card, valid at all the Himmarshee Village Second Street locations.