SMALL BITE: Located in the nostalgic Riverside Hotel, Wild Sea Oyster Bar & Grille is THE PLACE TO GO for fresh oysters from Florida, New England, Hawaii and the West Coast. It offers up great people-watching, too, as the dining room features big windows that look out onto Las Olas Boulevard, a main drag through downtown Fort Lauderdale. The BIG HONCHO in the kitchen is James Beard-acknowledged Chef Toby Joseph. Rather sit at the oyster bar? It’s entirely up to you!
SIGNATURE DISH: You would think that oysters would be the signature dish here. But instead, servers recommend the Monkfish, better known as “the poor man’s lobster,” a really firm, textured meat. DELICIOUS! Also recommended: West Florida Grouper, with Heirloom Tomatoes, Mangoes and Blackberry Drizzle (below). All fresh herbs are harvested from a local farm.
DISH FROM DINERS: “Wild Sea is absolutely the best seafood restaurant in South Florida bar none. The ambiance is chic, modern and sophisticated yet comfortable and inviting. But what really made it special was the service.” AND: “Fantastic, top quality food. Oysters were beautifully presented and half price?! Stags leap Chardonnay half off?! Happy hour is a steal (half-priced drinks and oyster specials)! Don’t waste your time or dime anywhere else.” AND: “One of the best dining experience I’ve had in a very long time! Food was exceptional and service was top-notch.”
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Check out all the impressive dining awards bestowed on Wild Sea Oyster Bar & Grille:
- 2016 “Top Ten Hottest Restaurants in Fort Lauderdale” – Wild Sea Oyster Bar & Grille (Miami Eater)
- 2016 “Ten Best Happy Hours in Fort Lauderdale” – Wild Sea Oyster Bar & Grille (New Times Broward-Palm Beach)
- 2016 “Top Ten Food Trend – Chocolate Sphere Desert” – Wild Sea Oyster Bar & Grille (Flavor & The Menu Magazine)
- 2016 “Best Overall Bite” at Las Olas Wine & Food Festival – Wild Sea Oyster Bar & Grille
- 2016 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence – Wild Sea Oyster Bar & Grille
HOURS:
Lunch: Daily, 11:00 a.m. — 3:00 p.m.
Dinner: Sunday through Thursday, 5:00 p.m. — 10:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, 5:00 p.m. — 11:00 p.m.
Happy Hour: Tuesday through Saturday, 5:00 p.m. — 7:00 p.m.
Thursdays: 50% off drinks and 50% off Chef’s Choice Oysters
For reservations, call: 954.467.2555
ABOUT RIVERSIDE HOTEL: It has the distinction of being Fort Lauderdale’s only hotel on the well-traveled Las Olas Boulevard. Decorated in Old-Florida style, the hotel is a nod to its historic roots. It was opened as Hotel Champ Carr in 1936 by Preston and John Wells, wealthy Chicagoans, who named it after a fisherman they met and adored, and who became the hotel’s first manager. The view from the 220-room hotel is unparalleled at night, with breathtaking views of the city in lights and Florida’s intracoastal waterways. Many notable guests have stayed at the Riverside Hotel through the years, including former President Ronald Reagan. Some of the guest-friendly amenities include an outdoor pool lined with palm trees, a boat dock, complimentary Wi-Fi and a fitness center.
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