Restaurants

Savor the View, Taste the Coast at Olive & Sea

Published

9 months ago

October 1, 2025

Coach

Olive You Need Is Sea: Where Mediterranean Bites, Breezy Vibes, and Skyline Sights Come Together for a Waterfront Experience That’s Fresh, Flavorful and Totally Fort Lauderdale.

September 27th, 2025

🌊 Olive & Sea: Mediterranean Flavors with a Waterfront Vibe

Perched atop the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina, Olive & Sea takes guests on a flavorful mini Mediterranean getaway. The rooftop looks out over the Intracoastal with boats drifting by, the Fort Lauderdale skyline in the distance and a vibe that is effortlessly lively but never over the top.

Our server, an enthusiastic and knowledgeable woman, guided us through the menu with stories and recommendations that made it feel like a curated tour of the menu. Her along with other staff members had us at “hello,” and by the end, we were hooked on every dish that was suggested.

🥗 Mezze and Sides That Pop

We kicked things off with the mezze. Freshly baked kasha bread arrived with creamy baba ganoush, tangy labneh, smooth hummus, and cool tzatziki, alongside marinated red peppers and olives. Every vibrant bite hit just right and tasted absolutely fresh and full of flavor.

The sides kept the energy going. Falafels were crisp on the outside, tender on the inside, paired with tahini and a bright Israeli salad of cucumber, tomato, charred jalapeños and parsley. The subtle heat from the jalapeños was a welcomed complement, never overpowering. Each of my colleagues had a personal favorite side, but mine was the Fried Brussels sprouts, which were tossed in a screamingly tasty harissa chili oil, but with a touch of yogurt to cool things down. Also, Fried artichokes were a crowd-pleaser as a citrusy, crunchy delight thanks to lemon-preserved aioli and a sprinkle of sumac. Each plate was colorful, bold and totally Instagram-worthy.

🍤 Mains That Make Waves

Chef Yair Acevedo brings Mediterranean classics with a modern twist, all featuring fresh, locally sourced seafood and ethically chosen spices. The Faroe Island Salmon was seared to perfection, served with roasted potatoes, tahini yogurt, citrus-pickled cucumbers, and crisp shallots. The Seafood Pasta combined clams, shrimp, and sausage in a saffron clam broth with linguine, with the smoky chorizo adding just the right pop.

The Fattoush Salad brought crispy pita, tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions tossed in bright sumac dressing and finished with creamy avocado. Lamb Kafta Skewers were packed with savory flavor, and Chicken Skewers marinated with za’atar and garlic delivered all the Mediterranean vibes.

🍕 Pizza Worth the Hype

We were too full to try the pizzas ourselves, but our server spilled the tea—they are a big deal. The Short Rib Pizza layers tender short rib, pickled onions, and a drizzle of harissa aioli for a savory kick. The Golden Cheese Pizza balances roasted nuts, truffle, and goat honey in a sweet and savory flavor mashup. It’s clear these pies are crowd favorites. You could say the buzz around them is off the crust.

🍰 Sweet Finishes

Dessert was a no-brainer. Baklava was flaky, nutty, and perfectly sweet, while pistachio gelato added a creamy, refreshing counterpoint. Every bite felt like the perfect Mediterranean mic drop.

🌅 The Olive & Sea Experience

Every dish is plated with care, finished with sprinkles of sumac, mint, or Mediterranean spices. The combination of rooftop views, lively ambiance, and attentive service makes Olive & Sea more than a meal—it’s a full-sensory experience.

Olive & Sea is open for breakfast daily from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM, happy hour from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, and dinner Sunday through Thursday from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM and Friday and Saturday until 11:00 PM. Find it at 1881 SE 17th Street, Fort Lauderdale, adjacent to the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina. Reservations are available via OpenTable or by calling 954-527-6716. Follow @OliveandSeaFTL on Instagram and Facebook for daily specials and seasonal dishes.

Olive & Sea. © South Florida Insider

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Coach

Coach is South Florida Insider's Owner, President, Webmaster, as well as a Reporter and Photographer covering events all over the world. Born in West Palm Beach, Coach continues to call the sunny Florida area home. He received his Associate degree from the University of South Florida, then transferred to the University of Florida where he received a Bachelor’s of Arts in Journalism & Communications. During his journalistic career, which has been featured in local newspapers and magazines as well as national publications, Coach has also continued his love of being an educator. It’s through both endeavors that he’s actively got students interested in following in the field of journalism. Coach loves sharing the world of entertainment with others and giving people the opportunity to step out of the everyday life.

Restaurants

Arc Culinary Where Every Bite Gives Back

Published

1 week ago

June 20, 2026

McKaela Lulic

This intimate chef-driven tasting experience in Broward blends elevated cuisine, live culinary artistry, and a mission that transforms lives.

June 20th, 2026

Not every memorable night out in South Florida happens at the trendiest Miami hotspot or the newest Fort Lauderdale restaurant. Sometimes, the most unforgettable dining experiences are hidden in places you’d least expect.

Arc Broward’s Arc Culinary is one of those rare gems.

More than just a dinner reservation, Arc Culinary delivers an immersive chef’s table experience where guests enjoy thoughtfully curated multi-course meals while watching talented chefs prepare and present each dish right in front of them. The result feels part fine dining, part live performance, and entirely unforgettable.

With limited seating and rotating themed menus, every event feels exclusive like being invited to an intimate dinner party hosted by some of South Florida’s most passionate culinary talent.

The real magic begins once the first course arrives.

At Arc Culinary, dinner becomes an experience. Instead of dishes quietly appearing from behind kitchen doors, guests get a front-row seat to the craftsmanship behind every plate. Watching the chefs work adds a level of connection and appreciation that transforms the meal into something far more interactive and personal.

For its recent Fresh SoFlo Summer Flavors dinner, Arc Culinary showcased a four-course tasting menu celebrating seasonal Florida ingredients with elevated technique and thoughtful presentation.

The evening began with a refreshing Florida blue crab starter served with avocado, ruby red grapefruit, hearts of palm, and a bright key lime vinaigrette. Light, citrusy, and beautifully balanced, it captured South Florida summer on a plate.

Course two brought a stunning pan-seared Florida snapper, perfectly crisp on the outside and paired with sweet corn purée and blistered cherry tomatoes. The standout element, however, was the sauce. A swap to miso chili oil added layers of umami, subtle spice, and richness that completely elevated the dish. It was one of those bites that makes the entire table pause.

The third course featured a beautifully cooked grilled filet mignon, served with roasted summer peppers, shaved fennel, arugula, and key lime chimichurri. Rich yet balanced, it delivered the kind of bold, satisfying flavor you hope for in a main course.

Dessert ended the evening on a classic South Florida note: a stunning key lime tart that was equal parts creamy, tart, and sweet.

While the food alone makes Arc Culinary worth visiting, what makes the experience truly special lies beyond the plate.

Founded in 1956, Arc Broward has spent nearly seven decades serving individuals with developmental disabilities and life challenges throughout Broward County. The nonprofit supports individuals from ages 1 to 91, offering programs that include education, employment services, behavioral health support, residential programs, and family resources.

Arc Culinary operates as one of Arc Broward’s most innovative social enterprises, using food as both a source of funding and a pathway to opportunity.

Proceeds from dinners, private events, catering, and culinary programming directly support Arc Broward’s life-changing services while also helping create hands-on training and workforce opportunities in hospitality and culinary arts for individuals with special needs.

In other words, this isn’t just dinner.

It’s a chance to support inclusion, independence, and meaningful opportunity—all while enjoying an exceptional meal.

That’s what makes Arc Culinary so special: you come for the chef-driven menu, the intimate atmosphere, and the creative flavors, but you leave with something deeper.

In a region filled with restaurants competing for attention, Arc Culinary offers something increasingly rare a dining experience that feels personal, purposeful, and genuinely impactful.

Because at Arc Culinary, every course tells a story and every bite gives back.

Learn more about Arc Culinary and upcoming dinners