Photos Courtesy of Ocean Prime Fort Lauderdale
December may mean shoveling snow for many, but for South Floridians, it marks the start of glorious weather — and the coveted chance to dine al fresco. Ocean Prime Fort Lauderdale, the upscale steakhouse and seafood restaurant that recently opened in the city’s newly developed Las Olas Marina, is where to go to embrace the season, take in the beautiful water views and dine like royalty.
‘Smoking’ Shellfish Tower
For starters, the two-story, 15,000-square-foot space offers plenty of room — whether you’re seeking a quieter indoor table or prefer a view from the waterfront patios (one on each level) overlooking the marina. The restaurant even provides instructions for reserving a boat slip, should you wish to arrive by sea.
I’ll admit, I was wary when I learned this was part of a nationwide chain, but it turned out that one of the newest additions to Cameron Mitchell Restaurants — an Ohio-based hospitality group behind more than 20 eateries in the U.S. — felt anything but corporate. With successful outposts in Tampa, Naples and Orlando, this is the first South Florida location for the brand, and it delivers in every sense.
Executive chef Charlie Tkacik creates dishes that explain why Ocean Prime Fort Lauderdale is packed every night.
Be forewarned: The menu is extensive, and the hardest part of dinner is choosing between so many tempting options.
Begin with the Warm Bread Basket, featuring a freshly baked Parker House loaf, crackers, pretzel bread and whipped butter. I recommend pairing it with one of the stellar cocktails — the Berries & Bubbles, Black Orchid or Cucumber Gimlet come to mind — for a foolproof start.
Seafood that isn’t local is flown in daily, which makes the “Smoking” Shellfish Tower, a customizable three-tiered seafood feast over dry ice, a show-stopping prelude to a decadent meal. From there, appetizers like the Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli, White Truffle Caviar Deviled Eggs, Jumbo Lump Crab Cake (with a generous helping of crab meat) and Prime Steak Tartare showcase the kitchen’s impressive range.
Sushi fans are well represented, with favorites like the Prime Roll (tempura shrimp, cream cheese, scallion and beef carpaccio) and the Ocean Roll, made with tuna, salmon, hamachi, avocado and chili- garlic oil.
For entrées, divide your attention between steak and seafood — both are expertly prepared. The Lobster Linguine, with roasted tomato butter, arugula, chili flake and Parmesan cheese, will transport you straight to Italy’s Amalfi Coast. The Grouper, plated over a creamy sauce studded with lobster, gnocchi, spring peas and lemon jus, is another standout. Chilean Sea Bass is tender and arrives with broccolini, pearl onion, potato puree and truffle vinaigrette.
Grouper
Steaks are simple and to the point: 8 oz. or 10 oz. Filet Mignon, 14 oz. New York Strip, 16 oz. Ribeye and 22 oz. Bone-In Ribeye are all delectable. Wagyu fans can indulge in a 7 oz. Wagyu Filet or a 16 oz. New York Wagyu Strip. Choose from traditional sauces like Béarnaise, Black Truffle Butter and Au Poivre, as well as elevated renditions such as Maytag Blue Cheese Crust (seared directly onto the steak) and Oscar Style (velvety béarnaise topped with lump crab meat and asparagus).
No steakhouse experience is complete without sides. At Ocean Prime Fort Lauderdale, restraint is futile.
There are seven variations of potatoes — from Jalapeño Au Gratin and Smoked Gouda Tater Tots to Roasted Garlic Mashed. The Miso-Chili Roasted Broccoli is a smart choice for those seeking a healthier, yet still flavorful, option, while the Baked Lobster Mac & Cheese, featuring a whole Maine lobster and Tillamook cheddar, is a glorious embrace of excess that’s worth every bite.
Filet Mignon
Ten Layer Carrot Cake
As delicious as everything was, my eye was on dessert from the moment I sat down and saw a Ten Layer Carrot Cake with cream cheese icing and pineapple syrup delivered to the table next to mine. It is an architectural feat, and it’s as tasty as it is gorgeous. The Warm Butter Cake, served with fresh berries, vanilla ice cream and raspberry sauce, is another winner. And for chocoholics, the Chocolate Torte — dark Valrhona chocolate ganache, flourless chocolate cake and spiced almonds — is pure, unadulterated bliss.
Beyond the cocktails, cuisine and paradisiacal setting, Ocean Prime Fort Lauderdale shines with its extensive wine list. The selection spans coveted labels from Burgundy and Napa Valley to Tuscany and Rioja, and its Coravin program offers rare wines by the glass — allowing guests to enjoy 3- or 6-oz. pours of exceptional vintages like Kosta Browne Pinot Noir (2022) and Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon (2021) without committing to a full bottle.
Ocean Prime Fort Lauderdale captures the city’s spirit; laid-back yet refined. It’s a place that invites lingering, where on a picture-perfect December evening, sunset cocktails on the patio melt into a glorious — and absolutely delicious — night that captures why we love calling South Florida home.
Ocean Prime Fort Lauderdale is located at 171 Las Olas Circle, Fort Lauderdale. For more information, call 954-302-3838 or visit ocean-prime.com.