What to Order at Fort Lauderdale’s First Michelin Star Restaurant

Fort Lauderdale has officially joined the culinary big leagues. This year, the Michelin Guide expanded its South Florida coverage to include Greater Fort Lauderdale, the Palm Beaches, and St. Pete-Clearwater. After months of anticipation, the Chef's Counter at MAASS earned the city's first-ever star during the April 18, 2025, ceremony.

Located within the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Fort Lauderdale, MAASS' executive chef, Ryan Ratino, isn't new to the Michelin game. The talented chef already owns two Michelin-starred restaurants in Washington D.C. — Bresca (one star) and Jônt (two stars), which are famously housed in the same building. Now he's added a third star to his collection with the Chef's Counter at MAASS, bringing serious culinary cred to Fort Lauderdale's dining scene.

The restaurant features contemporary American cuisine with European and Japanese influences, offering an open kitchen where diners can watch the culinary team in action. The Michelin inspectors were particularly taken with chef David Brito's execution of Ratino's tasting menu, praising the "beautiful tribute to contemporary cooking with French techniques, Japanese ingredients, and a few Florida highlights."

The Must-Order Dishes at MAASS

When you snag a reservation at this newly minted Michelin-starred spot, here are the standout dishes you absolutely must try:

Avocado with Caviar and King Crab: The dish that steals the show at MAASS is undoubtedly the avocado with caviar and king crab. This meticulously crafted starter features a perfectly ripe avocado stuffed with king crab and topped with golden osetra caviar on a nori cracker. The combination of creamy avocado, sweet crab meat, and briny caviar creates an interesting mix of flavors and textures that showcase what makes MAASS special.
Foie Gras Macarons: Another signature that has diners talking is the unique "Foie Gras Macaron." This inventive bite includes strawberry, peanut, and sesame, creating a perfect balance of sweet and savory. The delicate macaron shell gives way to rich, creamy foie gras mousse for an unforgettable flavor combination that showcases Ratino's creativity and technical skill.

Crown Roast Dry-Aged Duck: For a main course, the "Dry-Aged Duck" is the showstopper. It's slow-roasted and presented tableside with asian pear, burnt sweet potato, and espresso bean. This signature dish, which appears on Ratino's other restaurant menus as well, has been adapted for South Florida with additions like kishu mandarin and foie gras sausage, creating a complex, satisfying centerpiece worthy of a special occasion.

The Chef's Counter Tasting Menus Are a Must

While ordering à la carte gives you flexibility, the true Michelin experience comes from "the Voyage," the restaurant's premier tasting menu. This more immersive journey featuring luxurious ingredients unfolds over three hours, allowing diners to experience the full range of chef Ratino's culinary vision. At $375 per person, it's a splurge, but one that delivers the complete experience of what earned the Chef's Counter its star.

The more modest "Excursion Menu" offers a shorter, but still opulent tasting menu at $195 per person.

Brunch Is Just As Impressive

MAASS doesn't just shine at dinner. The restaurant serves an impressive weekend brunch Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The brunch features plenty of carving stations, fresh seafood, à la carte classics with Petrossian caviar, Veuve Clicquot champagne, and live jazz-inspired music.

The unlimited raw bar offers shrimp and oysters, spicy marinated mussels, and savory scallops, while the carving station serves up beef short rib with bordelaise sauce. For those who love bubbles, an endless champagne add-on is available.

Whether you opt for the full tasting menu experience at the intimate 14-seat counter or select signature dishes à la carte, you're in for a meal that proves South Florida has more to offer than beach bars and seafood shacks. Just remember to make reservations well in advance—stars tend to make tables hard to come by.

MAASS. 525 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, at Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Fort Lauderdale; 954-525-4567; maassftl.com.