The never-ending carousel ride that is the restaurant business in South Florida continues its journey with some new places to put on your eat-and-drink list.
Bar Rita
Due to open Oct. 29, this two-story Mexican restaurant with a rooftop bar belongs to the same folks who own Tap 42. In fact, Bar Rita is right next to the Fort Lauderdale Tap 42 location, and it stands out with black paint and white graphics.
The opening has been in progress for four years, when Sean and Blaise McMackin, Andrew Balick, Andy Yeager and Damon DeWeerdt put their plans into action. They said they took a break from Bar Rita to open more Tap 42 venues in Boca Raton, Coral Gables, Midtown Miami and Aventura Mall.
The Bar Rita menu features dishes such as fajitas, chimichurri lamb shank, build-your-own bodega bowls, tacos and more. There will be vegetarian/vegan options. The rooftop margarita bar should be popular—much like Banko Cantina’s rooftop bar in West Palm Beach. Executive Chef Balick will be joined by Chef Beatriz Saldivar.
1401 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale; 954/463-4900; facebook.com/barritaftl
Loch Bar
The Smith brothers (Alex and Eric)—of the Atlas Restaurant Group that brought you Mizner Park’s Ouzo Bay—will open Loch Bar in Mizner Park on Nov. 12. This is the second Loch Bar location, the other is in Baltimore, just like Ouzo Bay.
Loch Bar will start off with all-you-can-eat stone crabs on Monday nights, which is a nice way to welcome its new patrons. That and the 350 whiskeys offered mean a new local hangout will hopefully happen.
Mizner Park, 346 Plaza Real, Boca Raton; facebook.com/Loch-Bar-Boca-182625202280903
SOBEWFF tickets go on sale today
Today is your chance to buy the 2019 South Beach Wine & Food Festival tickets for the events you can’t miss. The festival runs from Feb. 20 to 24, 2019, and for the first time it will feature a dinner in West Palm Beach.
The first Palm Beach County dinner is a big deal, bringing some great names together: Chefs Lindsay Autry, Clay Conley and Martha Stewart. They are teaming up on Feb. 21 at Autry’s The Regional Kitchen & Public House from 7 to 10 p.m. for a dinner blending traditional Southern cooking with East Coast flavors and rustic Mediterranean accents. Tickets are $250.
There are the 100-plus events with the majority of events taking place in Miami-Dade, along with nine events in Fort Lauderdale and one in Hollywood this year, plus the West Palm Beach dinner.
The Crave Greater Fort Lauderdale Series part of SOBEWFF offers:
- Dinner with Donatella Arpaia, PJ Calapa and Michael Chavez, Feb. 20, 7 to 10 p.m., Terra Mare at Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel, tickets: $175
- Dinner with Anne Burrell and Angelo Elia, Feb. 21, 7 to 10 p.m., Casa D’Angelo Ristorante; tickets: $250
- Dinner with Elizabeth Karmel and Martina McBride, Feb. 22, 7 to 10 p.m., Township, tickets: $200
- Rock ‘n Roll hosted by Adam Richman, a late-night party, Feb. 22, 10 p.m. to Midnight, tickets: $125
- Great DOCG Wines of Italy Seminar, Feb. 23, 11 a.m. to Noon, Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel; tickets: $85
- Drag Brunch hosted by Alex Carr and Elvis Duran; Feb. 23, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., The Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale, tickets: $125
- Sunset Spritz Party hosted by Valerie Bertinelli, Feb. 23, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Gale Boutique Hotel & Residences; tickets: $85
- A Siren’s Soiree: Dinner hosted by Paula DaSilva & Friends, Feb. 23, 7 to 10 p.m., Burlock Coast, The Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale, tickets: $185
- Cajun-cooking Master Class & Lunch with Sam & Cody Carroll, Feb. 24, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., TRP Taste, tickets: $185
- Bloody Mary Brunch hosted by Jeff Mauro & Geoffrey Zakarian, Feb. 24, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., Point Royal at The Diplomat Beach Resort, tickets: $175
Hungry for more food news? Visit our food page, and subscribe to the magazine for the most delicious coverage of Boca and beyond.
