Venice of America
Daniel’s, Ft Lauderdale listings, Catch & Cut, Tropical Acres, Vitolo, best Ft Lauderdale hotels, MORE
RESTAURANTS • First Person
Florida man
What Chef Danny Ganem and his Gioia Hospitality team created at Daniel’s is the most interesting new steakhouse concept to hit South Florida in some time. By sourcing nearly all its ingredients from the Sunshine State, and serving them in bright and inviting spaces, Daniel’s is a fine dining destination representative of all that’s great about Florida. Following the success of its 2024 debut in Fort Lauderdale, it opened a Coral Gables location last month.
The menu reads like first-day introductions from a lecture class at UF. Hello, I’m Wagyu Carpaccio from a farm on the Suwannee River. Over there is Pink Shrimp Cocktail from Key West. Baby Romaine Caesar? She’s from Loxahatchee. And meet my friend Florida Seafood Chowder, whose clams, shrimp, snapper, and lobster all represent the Treasure Coast.
Even the dishes that don’t claim specific regions wear their Sunshine State pride. The steaks are largely Florida grass-fed beef, bringing the clean, mellowed flavor we’ve come to expect from our state cattle. The braised beef short rib is best if you’re looking to share. For one, the Creekstone prime filet mignon is spectacular, especially when paired with the house-made seared foie gras and peppercorn sauce. The 32-day, dry-aged prime cowboy ribeye is hefty, good for two meals.
Of course, it wouldn’t be Florida without a few out-of-state transplants, and the Georgia Chatel Farms steaks hold their own, as do the rosemary-crusted Australian lamb chops and Margaret River NY Strip.
In Coral Gables, the former Fiola dining room has been rehabbed into a lighter space, eschewing the dark-wood steakhouse motif for something more appropriate for the subtropics.
In both spots, Ganem and company have created restaurants that showcase Florida’s agricultural bounty in a way few have before. And I’m thrilled a trip to Broward is no longer necessary to indulge Daniel’s bounty. –Matt Meltzer
→ Daniel’s (Coral Gables) • 1500 San Ignacio Ave • Mon 5-9p, Tue-Fri 12-10p, Sat 5-1030p, Sun 1130a-9p • Reserve.
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MIAMI RESTAURANT LINKS: Why Fort Lauderdale is a sleeper food city • Daniel’s team plans new Italian restaurant La Sponda in Coconut Grove next year • Are private label oysters the next restaurant trend?
REAL ESTATE • First Mover
Three for-sale properties in Fort Lauderdale, from the beach to the mainland, that came to market in the last 14 days:
→ 2925 N Atlantic Bl (Ft Lauderdale Beach, above) • 2BR/2BA, 1380 SF house • Ask: $2.895M • bungalow with beach access across from Ft Lauderdale Beach • Days on market: 2 • Annual tax: $27,177 • Agent: Julie Jones, Elliman
→ 3322 NE 16th Pl (South Middle River) • 4BR/4BA, 4245 SF house • Ask: $4.3M • 2009 Mediterranean build with private beach access • Days on market: 10 • Annual tax: $40,640 • Agent: Julie Lurie, Compass.
→ 2625 NE 29th Ct (Coral Ridge) • 5BR/5BA, 4752 SF house • Ask: $4.5M • pre-construction in Coral Ridge with 3-car garage • Days on market: 14 • Annual tax: $19,944 • Agent: Vito Labalestra, Compass.
MIAMI WORK AND PLAY LINKS: New development Ombelle Fort Lauderdale will house Broward’s first Equinox • Biscayne Bay condo fight may go to Supreme Court • Aman Residences, Miami Beach going vertical • Great bags report.
WORK • Thursday Routine
Family affair
ANDRE BIENVENU • partner & executive chef • Catch & Cut
Neighborhood you work in: Las Olas
It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
Good morning! It’s Thursday morning here at Catch & Cut, and the kitchen is already buzzing. We focus on providing a consistent, high-quality dining experience that keeps our regulars coming back. The team is reviewing menus, confirming weekend staffing, and checking inventory. We’ve got our eyes on another strong weekend ahead, and the energy throughout the restaurant reflects that momentum.
What’s on the agenda for today?
Before I even step into Catch & Cut, my day starts with family. After getting my wife and grandson up, I make coffee for her every morning and pack lunch for our grandson. I drop him off at school at 9a, then head to my other business, Dockside Foods, which my wife oversees. We go through inventory, handle whatever’s on the agenda, and I make deliveries around town before heading into Catch & Cut by 11a. It’s a full day, but every piece of it is something I love.
Any bar or restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
When I get a chance to dine out, one of my favorite spots is Tropical Acres Steakhouse in Ft. Lauderdale. It’s been around since 1949, run by the same family, and has that old-school charm I really admire. They still have a piano player, and dessert carts roll through the dining room — it’s a true throwback to classic hospitality. Jack Studiale, the owner, does a phenomenal job keeping that tradition alive. I gravitate toward those timeless, family-run restaurants, especially ones that remind me of where I grew up in New England.
How about a little leisure or culture?
Family is everything to me, especially my five-year-old grandson. We do our best to create lasting memories with him, from everyday moments to special trips. Twice a year, my wife and I take him on a grandparents-only adventure. Last year, we took him on ski trips to Park City and Loon Mountain in New Hampshire.
In the summer, we love road trips. When my son and daughter were little, we’d always take one- to two-week summer road trips across the US, usually built around amusement parks. Now, we’re passing that tradition on to our grandson. He’s just starting to really enjoy theme parks, so we’ve been introducing him to those fun experiences little by little.
Any weekend getaways?
Whenever I get the opportunity, I like to sneak away to Melbourne, Florida, where my two brothers and sister live. It’s a great reset. We also loved a recent trip to Charleston. The beaches up there were fantastic, and it gave us a new destination to explore.
I’m also a big fan of weekend trips to Rhode Island, where we have more family. I love how the culinary scene there is centered around independent, family-run restaurants. Chain restaurants are few and far between — you find everything from incredible Italian spots to traditional New England seafood joints.
GETAWAYS LINKS: At MIA, private nap rooms to debut this fall • New Hampton by Hilton Saint Thomas is first new USVI hotel in decades, more to follow • Checking in at new W Punta Cana • A wild corner of Ireland, through the eyes of Dylan Thomas.
RESTAURANTS • FOUND Table
Fort Lauderdale glam
The Backstory: Chef Anthony Vitolo, owner of New York City red sauce stalwart Emilio’s Ballato, brought his Italian fare to South Florida in 2023 with Vitolo, set inside an opulent dining room at the oceanfront Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel.
The Experience: Unlike Vitolo’s old-school, narrow NYC restaurant, there are no autographed photos of celebrities scattered on the walls here, nor a winding line down Houston Street to get in. Instead, as you pass through the Conrad lobby’s glass doors, an expansive, vaulted ceiling dining room awaits. The ornate chandeliers and white tablecloths might feel familiar, but the vibe is more Florida glam than New York grit, featuring an open kitchen and a striking deep blue back bar adorned with an antique coastal map. In the smaller dining area, a wooden bookcase is decorated with model boats, trinkets, and family photographs.
The menu consists of family recipes passed down for generations, prepared “Chef Anthony's way.” While some signature dishes made the trip from Emilio’s Ballato, like the iconic pollo al parmigiana, there are also new versions of Italian classics. Our group started with shared appetizers — antipasto, fried calamari, clams oreganata, fried zucchini, and meatballs were all excellent choices. Among the well-executed, classic pasta dishes (scampi, lobster ravioli, carbonara, bolognese, spaghetti al pomodoro), the spicy paccheri alla vodka deserves special mention for its stunning presentation — perfectly glazed pasta pieces arranged like little soldiers for a dramatic display. The charred pork chop with vinegar peppers is great. And the Vitello Antonio is a next-level veal parm — a fried, center-cut veal chop (for two) topped with vodka sauce, peas, prosciutto, and mozzarella. For dessert, tiramisu and cannolis.
Why it’s FOUND: Chef Vitolo has certainly mastered a new, more refined dance. With partner Rob Crosoli leading the front-of-house duties, the duo has forged a new gem in Fort Lauderdale Beach. –Julia Grossman
→ Vitolo (Fort Lauderdale) • 551 N Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd • Mon-Thu 4-10p, Fri 4-11p, Sat 12-11, Sun 12-10p • Reserve.
CULTURE & LEISURE • Firework
Katy Perry • Kaseya Center (Downtown) • Sat @ 7p • sec 107, $255 per ($90 lowest avail)
UB40 • Hard Rock Live (Davie) • Fri @ 8p • sec 115, $273 per
Jaguars v Dolphins • Pre-season • Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens) • Sat @ 7p • sec 118, $54 per
ASK FOUND
Three new FOUND subscriber PROMPTS for which we seek intel:
Who’s your favorite hairdresser?
Which fall restaurant opening are you most looking forward to?
What’s your go-to MIA spot for seafood towers?
Got answers or more questions? Hit reply or email found@itsfoundmiami.com.
GETAWAYS • The Nines
Hotels, Fort Lauderdale
The Nines are our roundups of the best of Miami and surrounds. Additions or subtractions? Hit reply or found@itsfoundmiami.com.
Pier Sixty-Six (Ft Lauderdale Beach), newly redeveloped 1965 landmark ushering in new era of modern glamour, plus nautical-inspired 17th-floor Pier Top lounge for 360-degree views, $404