When it comes to downtown Fort Lauderdale restaurants, many have come and gone. If it wasn't lack of interest, it was the recession. If that didn't kill their business, changing trends did. Point being: it's a fickle business and you have to be on top of your game to stay relevant.

In terms of the Fort Lauderdale restaurant scene, our Tastemaker number 6, is about as elite as you can get. Restauranteur Tim Petrillo runs some of the busiest bars in all of Fort Lauderdale: Tarpon Bend, a mainstay in the Himmarshee district for well over a decade, YOLO, the spot credited with bringing the life to the business district of Las Olas, Vibe, Las Olas' only upscale club, and the brand-new beach-side spot S3.