Can I just say the peeps they have employed tending the outside are great. As background, I have stayed at the attached hotel and eaten at this restaurant a handful of times over the past 6 months. Although I sit at the outside bar, I'm able to get full menu service. The outside bar is great for a couple of reasons: you can enjoy the fresh air and occasional ocean breeze, they have TV monitors with sports on, the view is of the beach, next to the bar seating is outside lounge seating with firepits for evening warmth and the great service at the bar - especially from bartender Emily (she rocks). She remembered me from my past visits (although it's been at least two months) and proceeded to point out to me that they had changed the menu slightly - both on the specialty drinks and the menu, describing the new dishes/drinks and mentioning which ones they had removed (also pointing out they still had my fave drink - the sunset sake). Had two sushi rolls - the crab and shrimp and the shrimp tempura. Both tasty and delivered pretty quickly. But it's really the great bar service I come back night after night for... this rating is for Emily's service.
(5)
Michella T.
Came for a scratch cocktail. Sat outside, which was very modern and nice. Lots of fun fresh cocktails to choose from. Saw the menu and decided to order some food. My friend got the goat cheese croquettes and I got the riceless sushi! Yum! Definitely on the pricey side, but great for foodies and fantastic atmosphere. Will DEFINITELY be back!
(4)
Brenda T.
S3 = Sun, Surf and Sand. This beachside location is on the ground floor of the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort and is brought to us by The Restaurant People, the same owners of Tarpon Bend, YOLO and Vibe. S3 is staged on several levels so diners throughout the restaurant have views of the water. The island ambience and simple, but elegant bamboo and teak furniture created an alluring atmosphere. The open air space has an indoor/outdoor main bar and outdoor seating offers couches and a fire pit overlooking the beach. While large plates are available, the menu focuses on small plates featuring cuisines from coastal areas near and far. I was surprised by this trendy 'hotel' restaurant. The prices are a bit high for small plates, but seem on par with other overpriced fare along A1A. Over the course of my stay, I sampled several dishes, all beautifully presented- *Vietnamese glazed wings with daikon radish - plump, juicy and perfectly marinated with the pungent fish sauce. A winner. *Deviled eggs - average flavors, needs an upgrade to match the atmosphere *Thai tuna sushi roll - it tasted 'pretty'..white soy paper added a visual twist, fresh tuna inside with a sliver of jalapeño, avocado and coconut. I enjoyed the roll, but next time I'll go for bolder flavors. The cuisine is above average, but the setting is the true star. David took good care of me as well. Overall, an interesting space that speaks to different needs -- the solo business traveler, happy hour, a sexy date, or girls' night.
(4)
Jennifer F.
(I'm so incredibly late posting this review... oopse!) Went to S3 for a random girls night dinner about 2 weeks ago. We actually were out at another event at a hotel down the street (they had horrible h'ordeuvres so we left) and walked down to S3 to grab something for dinner. The stars were definitely aligned because we didn't have a reservation and they were packed but we happened to get a table that fit the 6 of us near the bar area (even though we wanted to sit outside). Definitely recommend calling ahead to make a reservation! Their outside patio has really nice ambiance since it overlooks the beach and inside part of the restaurant is perfect for a date night! Their concept of having everyone order and then they bring out whatever food is ready when it's ready is non-traditional but also fun. It's not too bad if you're out with a significant other or group and everyone is ok with sharing, but if not everyone else that doesn't have food will just sitting around waiting so definitely be open to sharing. Thankfully everyone ordered something different and we all tried everyone's food! The short rib empanadas and goat cheese croquettes were AMAZE! Would definitely order those appetizers again! The goat cheese mac-and-cheese was really rich with the smoked Gouda and yummy prosciutto crumbles on top. Definitely share that as it comes in a cast iron skillet! I had a serious sushi craving so I ordered the chef special sunshine roll. It took a while for it to come out but it was well worth it. One of the other girls ordered a simple rainbow roll and for some reason it took almost an hour to get it to the table. Our server made sure to be diligent and continue to check with the kitchen on the status but for whatever reason it took a very long time to make. I recommend ordering any of the sushi first to make sure you get it at a reasonable time. Our friend actually didn't get the sushi roll delivered to the table until the rest of us were done eating so they actually ended up removing it from the bill for the inconvenience. Overall the experience was great! They have a vast drink menu and the food was fantastic! I have a feeling that the ambiance is different depending on where you sit (at the bar, outside patio, inside the restaurant, etc.) so I'll definitely be back to try them all!
(4)
Megan N.
Eaten here several times. Came here for a birthday dinner one night and didn't have the best experience. Instead of running to write a bad review I emailed the GM and promptly received an email back from the GM, Harmony. She apologized for the bad experience and invited us back for a redo. Took her up on her offer for a second chance and everything has amazing. Food was wonderful, service was amazing. Jen-the manager that night was great. So thank you S3 team and Harmony for making this right reassuring me that that one night was just a rare circumstance. See you guys soon!
(5)
Marisa R.
All I can say is WOW! Amazing service, amazing food! Cocktails are a little pricey but perfected. Signature sushi rolls are completely on point and fresh although I wish there was more low-key options (vegetarian rolls? Simple sushi?). Overall, very happy with our choice to visit S3! Update: Since our visit that this review is based on, we came back to S3 TWICE!!! Still nothing bad to say about service or quality!!
(5)
Kamini R.
I've been back several times since my 1st review and I will say, they keep getting better! Their food selections are delicious, innovative and good to share. Everything is tapas style which is great so you can try a bunch of stuff. Their drinks are crafty and nicely presented. I recommended them to a friend for their date night and they loved it!
(5)
Damla A.
Whenever I dine here I am always amazed! I love their rolls, all of them! Mojitos are the best ever. Service is fast and friendly, view is absolutely wonderful.
(5)
Karen W.
Disappointing. Average food. Many other choices with much better food and service in Fort Lauderdale.
(1)
Dwayne P.
Tapas is the way to go. Music on the beach with good food and wine. Ask your server for the secret items not on the menu:)
(4)
Joan L.
Pretty big disappointment for me after so many stellar yelp reviews. Really a 2 1/2 but the service brought it down to a two. Keep in mind, this review us only for lunch. Some items I was dying to try, like the Gnocchi, were not available. All around, the food was weak. Starving when we sat down we quickly ordered some deviled eggs and truffle fries to share while we studied the menu. Maybe not the most sophisticated choices but nevertheless, I have had better deviled eggs from Publix. I certainly have have had better fries from McDonald's or any other fast food joint The fries were overcooked and hard. The Mac & Cheese was good. I'm glad I ordered that at the last minute minute for the table to share or else I would have been very hungry. I ordered Tuna Nachos ($11) I really wondered if I received the same dish other yelpers raved about. It consisted of four of the smallest & greasiest taco chips I have ever tasted. I could barely eat them. They were topped with a mixture of tuna and spicy salmon all mushed together topped with a drizzle of sauce. Was that supposed to be the guacamole? The guacomole was really invisible to me. And let's just say I have had much better sushi and spicy fish mixtures at the sushi buffet. 9 year old did like his Shrimp and Crab Roll ($13) which was a little more filling. 11 year old did enjoy his burger, which came with a nice runny runny sunny side up egg on it. Husband got one of the specials: a short rib sandwich with grilled cheese and onions. Husband gallantly offered me some since I was still hungry after my minuscule sushi portion. Then I saw why he was so generous First of all, you could not taste any cheese on this sandwich. But more importantly, it just tasted nasty...almost rancid. I could barely get one bite down. With it's gorgeous view, S3, might have squeaked to a 3 star rating. However, the service brought it down. We had to wait way too long for the hot food and our beverages constantly remained empty. There was no exude for this when the restaurant was more than half empty. Needless to say, we will not be returning.
(2)
Dan S.
I don't get the name of this place. And I'm not a typical fan of restaurants in hotels. But this is a standalone place that deserves to be a contender for your dining choice. It came recommended by a friend in CT and didn't really disappoint. The key is sharing small plates. And get the drink sampler too. Cool concept. We loved the short rib empanadas. The special Mac and cheese was also a highlight! The ricotta spread was a big miss though. Avoid it. We also enjoyed the tuna tower and the rolls too. And tip: they have kids dishes. You just need to ask. The Burger with fries was loved by the little one. Service was very good with a desire to get things right. And sitting with an ocean side view, that attitude goes a long way. Price was very reasonable for sharing dishes between us.
(4)
Chuck K.
Everyone is so friendly at S3!!! Great service, excellent seafood! I've become a regular here... I highly recommend coming for happy hour! Great app specials!
(5)
Alexander N.
S3 has been on my radar for a few months now. After a few cancelled reservations, i finally made it, and it did not disappoint. The ambiance is incredible. The food was also pretty good. The special was the short rib empanadas which were phenomenal. The sizzled shrimp were a little underwhelming. I had to subtract a star because our mac n' cheese and brisket sliders took an hour! Our waitress was very apologetic and comped us the sliders and a free order of the brussel sprouts. After the long wait, the sliders were very underwhelming. I look forward to coming back though!
(4)
Dominic B.
I went to S3 for dinner before flying out of Fort Lauderdale Airport back to Virginia. I sat at the outside bar since it was beautiful outside. The outside bar has televisions and a nice beach view (Fort Lauderdale Beach). It gets no better than watching ESPN and eye candy. Parking was a hassle but S3 offers valet to customers. It was happy hour ,so we were able to try different appetizers on the menu. I ordered a few appetizers, sushi, and a drink. The appetizers (tomato bread, goat cheese croquettes & rosemary fritters) were good. The goat cheese croquettes were my personal favorite. They had a nice crust with a creamy goat cheese filling inside. S3 Crunchy Tuna Roll (Crab, Spicy Tuna, Mango, Avocado, Tempura Flake and Soy Paper) was good. The drinks are flavorful and strong. Our waiter was attentive at the outside bar. I loved the outside dining area ambience. It's the perfect place to relax while eating or drinking. I give S3 Restaurant Sun - Surf - Sand a 3.5 rating.
(3)
Steve K.
S3 was a bit disappointing for the price paid... It's a nice place with good atmosphere, and our server was great, but the food was hit-or-miss. Most items that weren't sushi were okay, but not great. However, the sushi that everyone seems to rave about was not very high-quality, just boring and bland. Maybe it's tough for a California guy to expect great sushi in Florida, but c'mon, for the price of these dishes, I really expected better
(3)
Carrie M.
The Thai Sushi is so delish and the berry mojito is one of the best I've had. The chef was also accommodating to friend that has a gluten intolerance. He made her a seared salmon and Brussels sprouts just as she requested. Eating with the view of the ocean makes the dining experience fantastic!
(5)
Joseph A.
Service : amazing ... On point ! 1st class service ... The entire staff Food: Sat at sushi bar and everything they prepared looked amazing ! I ordered the octopus ... Really good ... Top quality ...the shrimp tempura was also good... Didn't try however I saw the kitchen prepare a lot of the The ricotta dip, the short rib , and the brisket! Looked amazing and in high demand . Clean top quality restaurant
(5)
Lukas S.
So this so far has been my favorite place during our trip to Fort Lauderdale! We came for an afternoon bite-to-eat! We hadn't eaten lunch but weren't hungry enough for dinner so thought it'd be a nice option since they have a bar and we'd just get some light snacks! Our waitress, Tiffany, explained to us that it is tapas-style which was just what we wanted! We started with drinks...my boyfriend got the Orange Snap and I tried the Green Guisha--both hits! We started with the goat cheese croquettes and they were so good! They were like little balls of crusted, crunchy goat cheese bites with a spicy sauce! We then got the brussel sprouts which were amazing!!! The mustard sauce alone had me hooked! We also tried the crispy hominy which were tasty and different! We got the ginger thymetini and sake sunset next for drinks and were pleased with both of these as well! Loved being outside by the beach and leaving feeling satisfied but not stuffed. I think I would request our same waitress again...she had a personality that totally fits mine and was knowledgable and friendly without being overly chatty. GREAT place! We may have to go again before leaving town!! So, we came here again since we had such a great experience the day before for appetizers and drinks. Not a bad idea, but not a great one either. Once again, the food was spectacular! We got the ricotta gnocchi, tomato bread, crisp baby artichokes, akaushi bavette steak and the pork empanadas (on special that night). Our drinks were great again too, even though we opted for our own concoctions (which we appreciated their willingness to make). Our waiter was friendly but very slow. My boyfriend kept saying he was just "laid back" but I also appreciate being attended to a little bit more regularly or timely. We were seated outside on the patio and when the sun goes down you basically must rely on your cell phone to read the menu and to see the food you're eating. They really should add some sort of lighting. I was disappointed solely because our previous experience was spot-on, but I also felt like our experience was still good and we'd recommend the place.
(4)
Reixa C.
I've been here many times and every time I am satisfied with the food and the service. Their chicken salad is absolutely wonderful, so flavorful and fresh. Perfect for a lunch at the beach.
(5)
Jane M.
Came for dinner on a Thursday night and were seated outside at the bar. The bartender started by checking my ID to verify that I was over 21 to sit there. We were famished, so started by ordering our food ($45 worth) before deciding on drinks. When I had decided and asked for a drink, he stated that my license was expired and I would need to provide another form of identification. Please note that my license was expired by one day (less than 24 hours). He seemed to be either in an awful mood or incredibly pretentious, I'm not sure which. Please note: 1) I am thirty-one years of age, not twenty two. I no longer look like a teenager. 2) This was the day after my birthday, which he failed to mention or acknowledge (a "looks like you just had a birthday, happy birthday!" would have been nice.) 3) He had just checked my ID so we could sit there. Why had he allowed us to sit there if he didn't deem it valid? 4) Under Florida state law, a bartender does not necessarily need to see a current ID, but rather *believe* that someone is 21. "The appearance of the buyer or recipient was such that a prudent person would believe the buyer or recipient to be 21 years of age or older." My just-expired license should have provided sufficient proof. 5) The TSA itself accepted my expired license as sufficient identification to board the plane less than one day later. Apparently S3 thinks they need to have tighter security at their overpriced oceanfront bar than the United States government. We were about to drop $65+ on food and drinks. We cancelled our order and went to Tacocraft, which resulted in a much better time!
(1)
Frances A.
Been here 2x now... each time I've had the same sever. Each time he was terrible! But I can't let him ruin my experience. Although service was bad, the has actually been pretty good. There are big plates but the idea is shareable plates. We've had a number of dishes: fried artichoke, brussel sprouts, pork belly, mac and cheese, beef sliders, grilled octopus. From our last visit, the pork belly and sliders were the winners. Both had really good flavors. The octopus salad was good but i was missing that char. .. Hence "grilled". Haven't had a horrible meal here just service. Prices are decent. I would recommend.
(3)
Amy W.
WOW! And Wow is an understatement! S3 is by far the best place that I have found in my two short years in South Florida. The service is hit or miss but the food makes up for it.. in a BIG way! The Strawberry Mamasita is fantastic and probably the best cocktail they have to offer! As for the food.. Where do I begin?! The Wok Charred Edamame.. Absolutely Amazing.. I crave it on a daily basis! The Chicken Meatballs (on Special).. OMG! I must have these RIGHT NOW! Mac & Cheese, Skirt Steak, Gnocchi, Roasted Mushrooms! Each and every item I have eaten.. YUM-O! Haven't been there yet?! What is stopping you?? Beyond Awesome!!
(5)
Amanda I.
This place is UNREAL! The atmosphere is cozy with its lounge feel and plush couches and even fire pits outside. We started with the Wok Charred Edamame which blew my mind because clearly I have been eating boring edamame my entire life because this was SO MUCH BETTER. I had the red dragon roll, which was good but nothing special. definitely listen to the waitstaff when they tell you to order a bunch of small plates because they all are SO GOOD. and the more that you order the more you get to try! Stir Fried Brussels Sprouts- they were so good! I could have eaten the entire plate. Pork Belly- oh my god I don't even know what I was eating but it was glorious. The pork belly tasted amazing alone, but then with the added jelly beneath it, if possible, it got better. Artisan Romaine- kind of a strange concept grilling the lettuce wedge, I was worried it was going to come to us wilted but it was great! The toppings (prosciutto and beans) and the sauce that comes on the side was delicious also. Even though at this point I had no room for dessert, you probably won't either, but try the Blondie because you won't regret it!
(5)
Charlie B.
I expect a Hilton facing the beach in Fort Lauderdale to have a hip stylish see-and-be-seen sidewalk restaurant. Which this is. I did not expect a really interesting menu, nor delicious food. Which is why S3 gets 5 stars. We started with one of the name sushis, yummy and calculated to please the raw fish hater. Then 2 standouts: stir-fried Brussels sprouts (a WOw) and fried hominy (big white corn kernels). Finished with little crab and avocado tacos. One caution, the kitchen speed is a bit glacial. Just enjoy your drink and don't pig out on the first thing that arrives. Also note that portions can be bigger than expected as well as smaller - for example the B-sprouts serve 2-3. Anyway, it's a winner. In Florida, a big winner!
(5)
Holley R.
Just a little FYI: The restaurant is not associated with the Hilton, rather they rent the space. What a great atmosphere; Bartenders are so warm and welcoming you can tell they really enjoy their job. Located right across the street from the beach. The indoor seating area is still open to the outside so you don't miss out on the weather if there isn't seating outside. Since it is lent (Orthodox fast from meat every day during lent) we had the Mahi-Mahi fish sandwich special and wok seared edamame (you'll never eat edamame the same way again). The quality of the fish was excellent; nice thick slices well cooked. Cool place to come as a group or a lunch date. Worth a try for sure!
(5)
Cantor Brad H.
I was extremely pleased with fantastic service, delicious food and great atmosphere all in one place. The variety of "tapas style" dishes was inviting. The sushi and Japanese influenced foods were fresh and creative. The prices were comparable with other beach spots, but they went to the level of superior with the combinations mentioned above. A great place to be.
(5)
Brian B.
Tonight's dinner was a big step down compared to our wonderful dinner about two years ago. The sushi was OK...salmon was good...yellowtail tasted a little bitter...odd. The special LL role was extremely greasy. Yes, I know it was a deep-fried roll but I'm talking super-greasy. The server was kind enough to offer to have it removed from the bill but we declined-we ordered it and we ate half of it so we were fine paying for it. The brisket sliders sat on the counter for about 10 minutes before they brought to us...rather tough too. We had high hopes for S3 due to our previous visit but they were definitely off tonight.
(3)
Nicole V.
I've been to S3 a few times for lunch. Whenever a client wants to dine here, I jump at the opportunity. The food is good. The service is great. The view is EXCELLENT! Yesterday, a group of friends that I play trivia with had a "Brunch Crawl" which I'm trademarking! S3 was the 4th and final stop of the day and everyone in the group was pleased. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. We sat on the couches right in front as we joyously laughed and sipped cocktails. We'd already eaten at 3 previous places so we opted for brussels sprouts and artichokes. Both were delicious. Our server was patient with us as we were about 12 people with various drink orders. It's one of my top places to dine on Fort Lauderdale Beach.
(5)
Blue A.
Thanks to the wonderful series of UYEs going on (Shout out to Megan!) I was finally able to make it out to S3 for brunch. Now, this review is specifically for the brunch only - so keep that in mind. Mac & Cheese was phenomenal. They make it with smoked gouda and crispy prosciutto. DELICIOUS! Get this. Then send me a compliment because I didn't steer you wrong! Pork Belly Hash - I was SO excited for this dish and unfortunately I was a little disappointed. The pork belly was good, but the dish just...didn't blend for me. It's missing something to tie all the flavors in. The pork belly was great - by itself. The potatoes were eh. Huevos Rancheros - WHOA this thing is massive! My wife got this dish and I had the great pleasure of helping her finish it. It was good. Cocktail sampler - EHHHHH almost everyone at the table got the sampler and I must say - this was a waste of money - at least for us. None of the three were impressive, unfortunately. One was SUPER strong - which in our college days would of been a SCORE, but as we've aged we can appreciate a good, well balanced cocktail. One of them was half decent at least - I forgot which one. I'd totally skip getting the sampler. The service while somewhat quick and efficient (as quick as it could be for a big group) just wasn't there for me. The waiter had NO PERSONALITY and really didn't go above and beyond with anything. It's unfortunate because of course there was tip automatically included in there for him. All in all it was a bit pricey...but what you pay for is THE VIEW. Sitting literally across from the beach is the South Florida way of doing brunch. Photos here will make all of your Facebook friends jealous - I promise it. The sound of the waves rolling in - a nice breeze - the location is certainly one of the highlights of S3. I will come back for dinner one day!
I frequent YOLO anytime I make my way to Lauderdale so I decided to check out S3, being their sister restaurant. Had a fabulous time. My sister, Niece and I were immediately seated by extremely friendly hostesses. Server was amazing! She was very attentive, extremely knowledgable with the menu and gave great food suggestions. The woman manager came to the table a few times to check on us and small talk. The atmosphere and music was perfect. Food was phenomenal (you must try the edamame, it's not even normal how delicious it is.)
(5)
Steve B.
Good food and good ambience. Brussels sprouts are excellent. Octopus was good but needed to be chargrilled more. Sushi rolls were good. Our favorite was the sushi nachos. Sooooo good! Service was great. Cindy is awesome and very friendly. Definitely a great spot on the beach.
(4)
Barbara R.
We are blessed. We live on Fort Lauderdale Beach, right on A1A, walking distance from S3. We love S3, it's our favorite place to take visiting friends and family, local friends and family, and most importantly ourselves :) Some of our favorite dishes: Edamame..nobody does them better, Mac & cheese, spicy tuna rolls and the brisket sliders...talk about diversity cuisine with a fabulous view of the ocean. We love S3!
(5)
Yani D.
Excellent creative food, but lacks a bit a better customer service skills, but we love the ambiance!!
(4)
Patty W.
Brunch. Huh? Did someone say brunch? Oh yea. The May Broward's brunch UYE was held here hosted by the lovely Miss Megan and it was an excellent day to sit outside to enjoy the view and weather of South Florida. Let's not forget about the cocktails and the food as well. If you valet, parking is $5 right outside the restaurant. The restaurant had a table for us facing the ocean and we were in the shade. I already knew what I wanted to eat before I got there and I didn't want to start looking at the menu to change my mind again ;) However, the drink selection was indecisive at first, but I narrowed it out after making up my mind several times. I couldn't decide on one cocktail, so I went for the sampler. It consists of three samples of the signature specialty drinks that are on the menu. The orange snap was alright and the beach breeze had a little more rum than anticipated. The blackberry lychee was my preference out of the three. It was a nice touch with the sake and ginger. Everyone's food looked delicious. I settled for the banana bread french toast. I'm used to banana bread being heavy, so it was different when I took the first bite and it was surprisingly light. It was topped with candied walnuts, strawberries, and chantilly cream along with a side of syrup. Not a bite was left on my plate. The server was good and he didn't rush us at all. However, the restaurant didn't want to break up the bill since there was a group of 9 of us and we had to make sure we had cash before hand. It didn't come to no surprise when everyone puts in their portion and still comes up short. Luckily, it wasn't an issue at our table, but that's why it needs to be on separate checks for that reason. Overall, it's a beautiful place to have a meal while feeling like you're on vacation.
(4)
Sebastiana B.
The atmosphere is wonderful. Overlooking the beach it's just gorgeous l. The food was very delicious. We had the tuna nachos which were excellent it has a good amount of the tuna and Avacado topped with tobiko. Then we had the short rib empanadas, which were the special of the day. The kamakazi roll was excellent again topped with tabiko the salmon was very fresh. And the Panna cotta Omg to die for. So flavorful but not overly sweet with berries and a lemon sauce. Also had 3 samples of the specialty cocktails. Can't remember the names but they were also delicious. This is definitely a place worth checking out. I will be going back for brunch soon.
(4)
EM H.
Tonight we stumbled upon S3 after a full day on the beach. We were so happy to walk in just as happy hour started. Haff off some of the most amazing apps I have ever had and $2 off beer and wine selections. We were thrilled and after trying the spicy tuna roll, the goat cheese and the edamame we realized that we had stumbled on a gold mine. Service was amazing--Jackie was such a joy and Ron was so friendly. We felt like we were the only customers. This is a must go. Great food, great service, and awesome location!! Update! Went back tonight and you must have the sushi nachos!! Absolutely amazing!! I will be dreaming of eating here when I'm back in CO. Also Keli was our server tonight and she was phenom. :)
(5)
C. H.
We really enjoyed the food and ambiance when we ate dinner at this restaurant. We shared a number of small plates and each plate was beautifully presented and packed full of flavour. Service was a bit slow. The restaurant was busy and our server was attending to many tables that it took awhile for us to get her attention to order more food. We loved the ambiance. Definitely a trendy environment. It was nice they had a fire pit set up at the front of the restaurant. It was too bad we were not able to get a seat there. We got to sit by the kitchen area and watch staff make the food. Prices are bit higher but we expected that for the area. It is a very touristy area and many hotels lining up along the beach.
(4)
Robert H.
So much good to say about this place. First, the service was impeccable. Thank you Jane and Jackie! Then everything we tried was stellar. Love the small plate service cuz we could try many things. Sushi was great as was the empanadas. I'm picky about Bloody Mary's and they were as good as The Cardinal Club's, which is no small feat. Try the lychee Bellini if you want slightly sweet. Went for supper came back for lunch next day, it was so good!
(5)
Jennifer S.
Really great experience at S3. The restaurant has an ocean view at the bar/lounge which offers great breeze even though it's summer it was very comfortable. Great happy hour $2off cocktails/wine. Cocktails are tasty and unique. Denis was our server. He was really personable. We made mention that we were on our first date and they brought our sushi out in the shape of hearts. It's those types of details that make a place memorable.
(5)
John B.
Amazing time, great drinks and food! This place has never let me down!!! Ambiance is great and the service is outstanding!!
(5)
Christina D.
S3 on the beach is a great place to come For cocktails and small plates!! Beautiful atmosphere and great service! The cocktail server Keli gave great recommendations, was very attentive and kept a positive attitude while answering all of our Questions. As well as the bartender . Highly recommended!
(5)
Lillian A.
I would like to say 4 stars but our waiter Sirlene was rude and was rushed with us . Never gave us a smile.
(3)
Brittany S.
Great atmosphere, on the beach, great service. They have specials and a roll that a winning server has come up with. My roll was the Gator Roll and it was delish! I got the fried artichokes and tuna tower also, then I got the three cocktail sampler. All was great. Service was great as well. The vibe and atmosphere is ideal with the beach the prices are a bit steep but being on a trip it was a great sushi restaurant and bar/lounge.
(5)
Charmie P.
Awesome view, ambiance, food and drinks! What else could you ask for! I love sitting at the bar or bar tables - its a great ambiance, the restaurant is located below the Hilton hotel on A1A and overlooks the beach, and the bar has both indoor and outdoor seating. Many items on the menu are small plates for sharing and even though its a small menu there is plenty of variety. My favorite dishes: - Wok Charred Edamame - its not just plain steamed edamame, they charr it and prepare it with soy and other spices, its delicious - Crisp Baby Artichokes with Lemon Caper Aioli - its excellent - Stir Fried Brussels Sprouts - it has Pork, Mint, Puffed Rice and Peanuts - its so good! - Vietnamese Chicken Wings with Green Papaya Slaw - awesome - Buratta - Arugula salad with buratta, its very good - Charcuterie board - served with brown mustard - small but good They have a nice list of specialty drinks, my favorite is the Ginger Thymetini which consists of Hangar 1 Citrus, thyme, ginger and Pom Juice. If you are not drinking, try the regular Ice Tea, its excellent, it's like a fresh fruity blend from similar to Teavana's.
(4)
Genie M.
Great service and very cool scene. Good vibes with good music on a Saturday night. We were seated within 15 minutes without a reservation, and we thought it was the best seat in the house. It was an Oceanfront view with the moon reflecting over the ocean. We were so content. The food was good. My husband got the tuna tower. He said it was good, but not great. He loves tuna but he wasn't particularly crazy about this prepared tuna, and he said there was too much rice. I had the shrimp tempura. It was like many others I've had in the past. Mac 'n cheese was really good. Goat cheese croquettes were good. The steak on plantains was alright. The plantains were very dry but the steak had a nice taste to it. This is one dish they should work on because it has potential.
(4)
Bea M.
This place is right across the beach. We are hotel guests. They have an indoor and outdoor area. We wanted to be seated outside since we're wearing swimsuits. We are dry. I'm wearing a sarong , my husband is wearing a rash guard with his board shorts and my two young daughters are wearing their suits with rash guards. The friendly host gave us a nice table outside. After we were seated, the manager, her name is Harmony came over and said that we can't eat there because my girls weren't wearing shorts. She was less than friendly. I understand that you have to enforce the dress code but that can be done in a nicer way... you should really rethink your dress code at least outside since you're a beachside restaurant called S3 - Sun, Surf, Sand.
(1)
Nik M.
Pros: beach view, open air seating, a/c, sushi bar, creative food, occasional live music Cons: music can be too loud at times, mixed drinks pushing the price envelope This place has a nice atmosphere. The food is solid. You can see the ocean from most tables. I tried a few mixed drinks. Some were great but others were just too sweet. This place is sophisticated for a beachside FTL spot, they should tone down the sugary teeny-bopper mix on some of the $12 drinks. No complaints about the service.
(4)
Dianna T.
This restaurant sits right on the beach. The outside area has fire pits where you can sit which makes for a really nice atmosphere. They have really good drinks and food. The food is on the small side and a bit pricy although. My favorite dish is the edamame. It is amazing!
Went for brunch(had reservations for a table). We sat outside and had an awesome view of the beach. The staff was very friendly (hostess, waiters, bartenders). Food was delish and came out fast. I had a the burger and fries which was so huge and juicy. Friends had the chicken sandwich, the fish sandwich and the chicken and waffles. I had a belini which was small but good. The bloody Marys were a pretty decent size. You can valet ($5) or do metered parking. Will be back again for sure.
(5)
Sherry W.
Free valet m-f for lunch thru yelp check-in. Went on a Saturday night to hang at the bar and then after waiting 1:45 hour for a table sat down and ordered many plates the share. The food is high quality, but higher priced. OF course you are paying the price for being in a beautiful restaurant with ocean front views. I liked the drink sampler. For $14 you get to try 3 samples sized drinks of their specialty cocktails. It's a great way to figure out which one you like to order a full size. Bar service was slow and you had to grab the bartenders attention to get a drink. I thought this was annoying since the drinks are higher priced, I would have thought the service would be better.
(3)
Andrew S.
Very good food, sushi rolls and Brussels for lunch, perfect view. Nice, attentive staff.
(4)
Sharon E.
I had actually checked this restaurant out by myself one night around dinner time. My hotel was only a block away and I couldn't resist the awesome vibes it gave me. As I went in I seated myself on the deck/patio/fire-pit area. First of all, you are right across from the beach with nothing to block your view and the location offered an awesome breeze so the ambiance itself is just an amazing location to hang out in. Not to mention, they have these seats across the wall that are so comfy and padded that you really can just unwind and relax in them. My waitress Sarah was very polite and efficient. I ordered a rainbow roll, the cucumber green tea martini, as well as a 2-piece sushi. The restaurant seems to be fairly priced to me. They don't gouge you for sushi rolls or drinks, and the rolls were delicious. Now the drink, how refreshing! I love how their drink menu offers a wide variety of unique/healthy options (well as healthy as any vodka drink can be!). I would recommend this place for dinner and I definitely would also recommend the bar if you're just going out in the evening.
(5)
Jennifer C.
We had a great lunch here yesterday to kick off my friend's bachelorette weekend! To start, we shared a bunch of small plates: octopus, Vietnamese wings, goat cheese croquettes, rosemary French fries, and a tuna tar tar tower. Of these items my favorite was definitely the tuna tower (one of the best I've encountered), followed by the octopus (which was served with fava/gigante beans). I found the wings a bit too salty. For a main, I split 2 sandwiches with my friend. The chicken (with fontina/avocado) and the special fish (which was mahi mahi). The server recommended the fish, but we much preferred the chicken. Overall a lovely meal!
(4)
Mike Z.
Love Love Love!!!! Indoor outdoor bar and sushi. We chose to sit outside right near the beach. Our waitress was awesome. She was so friendly and funny and just a pleasure to talk to. We ordered a bunch of sushi and appetizers and liked everything. I Loved the tuna tar tar and dont remember the names of the rolls that I ordered, but everything was good. This was my 3rd time here and cant wait to come back.
(5)
Lauren L.
Great food, great location. Awful service. Hardly anyone here. 30 minutes after placing our order, we had to request the server, Braegan, to check on the food. Every time we needed a refill on tea or soda, we had to request it. Even then, it took her way too long to bring it back. She was not knowledgable about menu items.
(2)
S L.
We had family in town and thought breakfast on the beach would be fun. The food was good as a matter if fact the Yogurt Parfaits were delicious. The problem I had was with our waiter. He had quite the attitude. We had to ask for coffee and water refills. As we thanked him.. He did not ever acknowledge When the bill arrived there was an 18% service charge included. I guess good service doesn't matter because the tip will be there regardless. We will never go back and I suggest others stay away as well. Extremely disappointed.
(2)
Brenda P.
Sexy Splendid Scrumptious I finally made it out to S3 yesterday. On a whim, I made a reservation for an early dinner. It was a gorgeous day and proved to be an equally beautiful night. I am not sure how S3 makes it livable the rest of the year (and the heat), but on nights like these no other restaurant on the strip compares. Their location is PRIME! There was a jazz live band playing, the fire pits were going, and the sun was setting. We chose to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful ocean view. Our waitress promptly came over with the menu and took our drink order. S3 is mostly a tapas style restaurant. It is best enjoyed by getting a lot of small plates. These are the ones we tried: Goat Cheese Croquettes: Almond crusted with red chili guava. One of the ways to my heart is through GUAVA. This was a winner before I even had it. Not only was the guava the perfect combination for this, but the croquettes are cheese heavy. The cheese is soft but there's a lot of it. I only wish there was more of the guava to dip them. Note to self: request it next time. Sushi Nacho: With tuna, spicy salmon, guacamole and tobiko. One bite and I was hooked. Did I really need to share these? The crunch of the nacho against the freshness and coolness of the tuna/salmon combo was very nice. I could not get enough. Spicy Salmon Roll: with hot chili sauce drizzle. These were very simple but fresh and full of flavor. With so many other things on the menu though, I would not order these again. Mac & Cheese: smoked Gouda, prosciutto. It does not look like much on film (check out my photos) but make sure to order this. The gouda gives it a little saltiness which I loved. It comes boiling hot. I recommend letting it sit and having it last when the flavors have sunk in. Delicious. Ricotta Gnocchi: fennel leek fondue, peas, baby shiitake, truffle. I did not taste the truffle at all but this was still the winning dish for me. The gnocchi were small pillows of creamy, soft ricotta. The mix of the peas, leek and mushrooms was sensational. Next time, there will be zero sharing of this one. Lump Crab Cakes: blue crab and avocado cream. I wanted to love this but it was the most underwhelming of all. The outside felt barely sealed and it fell apart too easily. Grilled Octopus: in a salsa verde and gigande beans. Had the gnocchi not taken all of my attention, this would have been my top choice. The octopus was exactly as it should be. The texture was perfect, nicely juicy and not a tad bit gummy! I was left wanting more. Dulce de Leche Chocolate Cake: salted caramel ice cream. One of my pet peeves anywhere: caramel is not dulce de leche people! If you name something DULCE DE LECHE there better be some in there. This was basically an OK chocolate cake with some lightly sweetened icing with a side of ice cream that might or might not have had caramel in it. Didn't finish it as it was not worth the calories. Overall, S3 was a great experience and I look forward to returning. The later it got, the darker it got. Tables were truly being lit only by the candles on the table. That made it extremely dark. While I enjoyed the sultriness it brought along with the ocean breeze, everyone around us (like us) kept using their phones to see the menus and their dishes better. Their corkage fee is $20 and validated, convenient valet parking was just $5. S3, consider me a fan!
(4)
Tommy P.
wife and i were in ft.lauderdale for 3 nights. place was next to our hotel. BEST food we had on our trip. Sushi, macaroni, steak, and blackberry lychee were great. It was so good we went there 2 out of 3 nights so we could get one more trip in before we left. i only wish they had one in new york.
(5)
Danny Z.
Went there last night and overall experience was less than expected. While the ambiance is nice be prepared to sweat while eating your meal! They open all the doors to the restaurant to the outside Florida sun so even eating at 9:30 at night made for a very uncomfortable meal. Dressing up for a Saturday night date night only to have to constantly being using your napkin to keep the sweat off of you isn't my idea of a nice restaurant. Most of the food was just ok but the portions were very small.
(2)
Heidi B.
Amazing food, service and view! Delicious vegetarian options available. Been here twice now and can't wait to come back!
(5)
Stefanie K.
Seriously the best food! Every single thing we ordered was perfection! Tyler was our waiter but everyone was so pleasant. Highly recommend!
(5)
Michelle J.
Absolutely love the view from the outside couches and the fire pit came in handy on a chilly Fl night. All small plates we ordered were very tasty. I was partial to the crab cakes and would definitely order them again. Table service was good, but the var service is slow. Great place to take out of towners.
(3)
Kevin W.
Delicious tapas style. Courses on courses on deck. Like, they keep brining out stuff its really cool. Beachside, well across the street but you can see the ocean clearly from inside. Cool scene - get the edamame, or however u spell it.
(4)
Arthur G.
Very similar vibe to YOLO in las olas. It's nice and relaxed, enjoyed the outdoor seating. Parking cost more than I expected.
(3)
Vikki D.
Always amazing food. Great ambience ,right on the beach and our waiter Matt was fantastic!! Highly recommend this restaurant to take your out-of-town guests! The sushi rolls are super fresh..
(5)
Liz A.
Worst service EVER! never have I been treated so bad. I felt rushed by my waitress that I wasn't even able to get her name. She kept hovering over the table waiting on us to order, and in the end she brought my check before my food came out. I understand there might be more people coming in but I'm a paying customer too. The food wasn't even all that good anyways and she's lucky the tip was included.
(1)
Robin B.
My partner ordered the cheeseburger and I ordered the eel sushi roll. My sushi roll was a tad small but good. Not as good as Sozo in Wilton Manors but good. My partner said if his cheeseburger was more "charred" it would be "great". Big burger. Hot crispy fries. We sat outside on Memorial Day Weekend. Very nice place. I love the atmosphere. Cold beers. Good service. Fun on the beach. Fashion house music playing. Beautiful clean bathrooms. I dig it.
(4)
sara s.
Besides for the long long lines to get a table this place is amazing. I decided to sit at the bar. I loved the ambiance. The servers are friendly. The food is spectacular! So fresh and tasty. I had salmon and a sushi roll, delicious. They had a nice selection of wine.
(5)
Jason S.
had an amazing meal here. one of the best places to eat in a hotel. the view was incredible. i had the octopus and was made to perfection. a must visit spot when in ft. lauderdale.
(4)
Alex G.
Hip, fun place for darn good food and cocktails. Tapas-style, with sharing a number of dishes brought out when ready. My teenage son is not a fan of sharing; he prefers ordering a dish that you eat alone. For the rest of us, we enjoyed trying a number of dishes, from octopus to buratta, and from sashimi to spicy tuna toast. Wok charred edamame was flavorful and different, and the mussels perfectly prepared. While not a gourmet dining experience, this place is packed and super chill. Service was attentive if not top level. We also got sat in the back, clearly because we had kids (not happy with that). Overall, this is a new "hot spot," and we will certainly return with friends.
(4)
Melissa S.
To start, the drink I ordered was warm and not shaken enough, so when I finally got it 15 minutes later, it was already separated. Sadly, it was the best thing I had. Every menu item seems to have one superfluous ingredient that makes me not want to order it, and what I did order, I wish I hadn't. But the view is nice.
(2)
Elissa H.
This place is amazing! The entire staff is so accommodating and friendly. The hostesses helped me plan the perfect birthday dinner. Jessica was our waitress and she seemed like the genuinely enjoys her job and she's full of smiles. She knew the menu really well and recommended the best dishes. We had a spicy tuna roll, skirt steak (unbelievable), jerk chicken (not so great..but I get the tropical theme they were trying. Chicken was cooked perfectly but the sauce tastes like medicine, and the kamikaze roll is DELISH (spicy!!). We finished the dinner with the chocolate cake and two long islands! The bartender rocks! I will be back here a million more times!!
(5)
Ariana J.
Love the atmosphere of the bar with the indoor/outdoor seating. Very friendly staff, the bartender that waited on us was exceptional he was very knowledgeable and made great suggestions. Delicious food Top picks: Crab & Shrimp Roll Brisket Sliders Grilled Octopus
(5)
Jonathan A.
Place is great. I finally got to try it out with my wife and friends. In a nutshell here is what we ordered and loved it all. Brussel Sprouts, Thai tuna roll, kamikaze roll, veggie roll, skirt steak over yuca, wok seared edamame, crispy artichokes. I washed it all down with 4 drinks called the Gin Tickle. Great ambiance especially on a cool breezy night out front by the fire pits. Looking forward to coming back real soon.
(5)
Katie F.
Food: I would give you 5 stars. I went for lunch, so the prices were not sky high. I had the burger and I added avocado and a fried egg. By far one of the best burgers I have had in a LONG time. Ordered medium rare, it was perfectly cooked, juicy and the meat was tender. It was huge, so I took half home and where they really get 5 stars is when I reheated it in the microwave - minus the bun it was a tad soggy from the juice and egg yolk - the taste was just as fresh - not that stale ground beef taste we all know and dislike. The pickles are homemade and divine! I could have eaten a whole bowl of them...next time I KNOW to order an extra side of them. BEER: I saw people on here complain about the lack of beer choices, but here is my point of view. Growing up in Chicago, you love Goose Island. The 312 Goose Island was on the menu. 'Nuff Said. Looking at the rest of the beer choices, they were a majority of citrusy and light beers, which is nice when you are at a beach front restaurant. $6 for a bottle isn't bad in a beach town, and MUCH better then the $12-$15 cocktails they had. I'll stick to beer. SERVICE: This is were you lost a star. Service was pleasant. It was just slow. Refills on my husband's coke took FOREVER (they should just give him a pitcher with a straw anyways!!!). It was about a 10 minute wait for the beer - and it was just a bottle...which I poured into my own glass....so no way it should have taken 10 minutes. We had to ASK for glasses of water - it is not offered to you. Now if the place was packed, I would have understood, but it was 3pm on a Wednesday afternoon...there were maybe 4 other tables full at the time. Overall if I am in the market for a banging burger and a great beachfront view, I'll come here.
(4)
Jodi C.
Ambiance was great. Service was superb. Food was pretty good. We had the tomato bread which was full of flavor. Scallops with Asian risotto, scallops were seared on 1 side but not the other & chewyish in the middle. Lamp chops were delicious with a side of chick pea salad that I LOVED. Crab & shrimp roll was good but kind of plain but the very best dish was the tuna tower...amazing!!!
(4)
Chris L.
Was hear a few weeks ago on a Friday night and we were able to sit outside, of course with heaters, and I must admit I really enjoy this place. The atmosphere as well as the food is incredible. The fact you can sit outside with fire pits and enjoy a glass of wine makes it even better.
(4)
Karin B.
Visiting from San Diego, stayed at the Hilton where this restaurant is located on the beach. Couldnt get it the first night as we were last minute, large group and the place was packed but on my birthday we got a reservation. We loved it!!! The bar is looking out the beach, great cocktails, nice bartenders. Moved into a table and ordered a ton of sushi,. Im a big foodie and very picky with Sushi, this was awesome!! It was very, very good. Great service too. The tequila shots were very expensive and sushi kinda pricey as well but it always is if you want the good stuff. Fun, trendy, cool place. Definitely recommend!
(5)
Frieda L.
I'm from Texas and this was one of the best restaurants I've been to. Everything is so flavorful.
(5)
Shannon G.
the first time I went here was for brunch... The two items I wanted were no longer available (sold out) so I ended getting sushi which was alright... the2nd time same thing & was appalled that they charge $10 for a mimosa, really?
(2)
Jaime S.
My wife and I have eaten here several times before and had excellent service with excellent food. The last couple of times have been awful. The service is very slow. It takes forever for a waiter to come back to you. The last time we where there, the waiter couldn't get one sushi roll correct when I asked it to be soy paper wrap instead of seaweed wrap. After the second time of getting it wrong and waiting forever, I said forget about it. This is the first time I didn't have my spicy tuna roll when eating sushi. We will never return. The place has gone down hill. The only thing going for the restaurant is the location and bartenders.
(1)
S P.
We had the grilled romaine salad and grilled octopus--both were delicious! Great for a light lunch. There is 31 craft beer selection and large list of various wines. Great ambiance. Would go back again!
(5)
Rob H.
Excellent! The service, food and seeing were outstanding. The dishes were all unique and tasty. The waitress was quite nice and accommodating.
(5)
C L.
Small Plates which I love. Deviled Eggs, a perfect salad (i forget which one), Tuna avocado something or another, Short Ribs no matter what you get at this place. it's going to be good!!! The desserts are delicious also. My two friends loved the doughnuts and I loved the cookie-ish cake dessert. This place has a wonderful setting and great cocktails also. The only thing I'm upset about is that I only went here one night that I was in Ft. Lauderdale, I should've stopped in again!!!! I can't wait to go back!! I must sit outside this time! :)
(5)
Eileen S.
Great location and every bite of every app or meal is a tasty delight!! Many entrees are offered in small portions perfect for sharing a taste. Order as many items as possible. Salads are great also. Excellent service all the way around. I've been here twice in three days and hope to squeeze in another visit.
I took an old friend here to catch up and we were both blown away. I'll start off with the good. The restaurant is gorgeous, the crowd was amazing. The staff was super friendly. We each shared sushi rolls, both were very good. S3 was super packed therefore the wait was a little over an hour so I suggest you make a reservation. While waiting you can sit on the outside terrace by the fireplace. The night we went was gorgeous, it made the wait not seem as bad. Staff seemed to be slow. I'll give them a pass since the place was packed. I definitely recommend.
(4)
Ann-Gelina T.
Excellent , the food was just the right amount of flavor . The staff was very pleasant and informative . I would highly recommend and continue to come here ! Must have the chicken melt and blueberry mojito!
(4)
Keith A.
As others have said, they have excellent food! They offer family style eating with small dishes ordered for sharing. In the end, the price was far higher than I would expect due to the number of small dishes ordered. Enjoyed the unusual dishes. I would knock off another 1/2 star because we had a vegan eating with us, which had very little that they could offer her to eat off the menu, as even the menu options that look like they should be vegan were not. They weren't willing to make a custom vegan meal with ingredients on hand, which most other restaurants will accommodate.
(4)
Mike R.
We come to Ft Lauderdale on vacation yearly, sometimes more. It's an easy spot to get to with good beaches, hotels and restaurants. This time we tried S3, in the Hilton, since it was close and had a very varied menu. We probably couldn't have made a better choice. When we sat down, the waitress started off telling us that whatever we order comes out as its prepared, so family style ordering was preferred. Their menu supports this with snack bites, small plates, entrees and sushi rolls. A special that night was short rib empanadas. Crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside with solid flavor throughout. The goat cheese balls followed the same pattern - texture that augmented the flavors. Everything was spot on from food to service. S3 will definitely be added into our rotation on future trips.
(5)
Tyoko B.
What a sexy spot to stop by for the evening. The lights are so low, it's hard to see the menu but who cares. You can hear the waves from the ocean rolling in and people watch. I celebrated a milestone birthday here and the tapas: tomato bread, sushi and shrimp features were delish. Washing that down with their real strawberry daiquiri was such a good choice. That was weeks ago and "fresh" comes to mind when I think about their food and drinks. Service was good and very attentive as well. The only dislike was the flight of mini mixed drinks. I'm not a drinker and tend to stick with wine or a prissy drink every now and then but wanted to be a big girl that night. They just weren't good to me and after 1 sip, I realized it was a mistake. So strong with flavors that just didn't go together. They removed it from my bill after noticing I wasn't drinking them. I appreciate them even noticing. Another birthday along with some changes in my life were worth spending my time here for a couple hours laughing being thankful and truly happy. Come here, let your hair down and take it all in.
(4)
Vee V.
I came for the view, then I ate, and I wasn't disappointed. If you don't like family style then suck it up or find someplace else. This is the perfect place off the beach. You get the fresh ocean breeze, oceanfront view, and you can people watch. I think I saw a meth head on the street. The menu is small, which is great when you're indecisive like me. It's best to order family style because everything comes out when it's ready. You also get to enjoy different items off the menu, so sharing works best. No one goes hungry, or bitches about service this way. We ordered a couple of sushi rolls, goat cheese croquettes, chicken salad, tuna tartar nachos. Sushi rolls were good, average, but I'd order it again. The goat cheese croquettes were nicely fried and gooey on the inside. It's a bit heavy, so one is more than enough. The salad was refreshing, and much needed on a hot day. Tuna tartare nachos gets its own paragraph. Melt your pants off good. Okay, I don't know how that would work, but that's how I felt. Crispy, light, and flavorful. That's the magic combination. Service was great! We had the most adorable 2 year old having lunch with us and she needed a few extras, which the server was more than accommodating. I'd definitely recommend this place!
(4)
Jeanne M.
This was a great location for meeting with a new business group. Sun, sand and surf is always a nice combination of ingredients for meeting and mixing with new people. This was a cocktail and app get together with about 30 people. We were given a very nice area by the bar with a good view of the ocean. It was relatively quiet, so it wasn't difficult to talk and get to know people. The decor was warm and relaxing. I started with a drink, the berry mojito. It was a smooth combination of Bacardi Wolfberry, with fresh strawberries, blueberries, lime and mint. It was refreshing but needed a bit more kick. The glass was fairly small and a lot of the space was taken up with berries, so it wasn't a great value. Happy hour is $3 off of the usual $12 price, so it's not the best happy hour value. There were a number of different apps served. I sampled 3 types of hummus with pita wedges. All were nicely seasoned. There was a wok charred edamame with soy, togarishi and smoked salt. It was messy to eat, but really delicious. We were also offered several different sliders, so I went with one that was a roast chicken and another that was a spicy beef. While I couldn't say exactly what was on either of them, both were very good. The beef was especially flavorful and had a fairly significant amount of heat. Overall, it was a very nice experience. I'd like to go back and try the full menu. :)
(4)
Bobbi R.
Don't even think about it !! Seriously!! Trust me on this !!Get the Tuna Tower, the Edamame, and the Chocolate Chip Blondie!! You can thank me later!!!
(5)
Angelea E.
Great location great food a little pricy but you're on the beach so that's to be expected in all I think it's a great place to go to
(4)
Brittany E.
The grilled octopus was excellent, along with the goat cheese balls, but goat cheese on or in anything is . Bloody Mary sampler . The sushi rolls are all pretty good, the ambiance is great, kind of dark and romantic for dinner, but also great for a night out with friends.
(4)
Angie S.
Came to S3 for dinner on a Thursday night with a group of 6. We really wanted to sit outside but were told it was an hour wait; but, they were able to sit us immediately at a table in the bar area. Our server explained the concept behind the restaurant - the food is meant to be shared and comes out in waves as it's ready. We totally understood this but everyone wanted to order their own dish and some appetizers to share. We ended up ordering a variety including three things on special. The list consisted of a sushi dish with mango, shrimp on corn cakes (3 orders) and short rib empanadas, a rainbow roll, mac n cheese and goat cheese croquettes. The empanadas, nachos and croquettes came out first. All three were really good. The red chili guava sauce served with the croquettes mellowed out the richness of the goat cheese. We actually finished two orders of them because the kitchen made an extra on accident and they let us have it for free. Next out was the mac n cheese, followed a few minutes later by the mango sushi dish. Again we loved both dishes. The mac n cheese has smoked gouda and prosciutto served in a little cast iron skillet. Really creamy and delicious. At this point the only thing left was the rainbow roll, which was someone's main dish. Everyone else had been served and were finished with their meals. We asked our server about it and she explained that they were hand crafted when ordered and that sushi usually took a little longer. We completely understood but we were going on an hour waiting for her dish. We had received sushi ordered at the same time and the table beside us, which sat down 20 minutes after us, had received their sushi. Finally the roll came out and she said it was just average. Not worth waiting an hour for. They did remove it from the bill since it took so long. All in all the food was great, service was really good (not the waitress's fault it took so long) and the decor is beautiful. I would return and sit outside to take advantage of the beach view in the future. Just not sure if I'd order sushi again.
(3)
Emily C.
Fabulous dining experience - especially for a group of ten! As a CT local, I didn't expect to be dining outside in the complete dark because of turtle nesting season (ya learn something new every day) but the candles made for a lovely dinner party ambiance... and dining oceanside makes it all worth it! Ever the indecisive diner, I loved being able to order a sampler of S3's signature cocktails and chose the Thai coconut crush, berry mojito, and green geisha (cucumber vodka, green tea, lemongrass and basil). All so summery and lovely. For dinner, we nibbled on a variety of apps and shared entrees - standouts included the lemon ricotta spread (soooo good), tuna tower with wasabi guacamole, and pork belly. Despite the number in our party, service was fine (and helpful in splitting checks) and price was about what I expected.
(5)
Courtney C.
Great place for drinks and sushi. Brought some friends here for just that and had a great time. The rolls we ordered were all delicious and fresh-- must try's are the Gator roll and eel roll. They have an extensive speciality cocktail list too with lots of fun drinks to try---the High & Rye, Green Geisha, and the Ginger Thymetini were all fabulous. Definitely sit outside if you can, you really can't beat the huge cozy patio just steps from the sand.
(4)
Jerry C.
Situated in the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, S3 Sun Surf Sand has a perfect perch right across the street from Ft Lauderdale Beach, overlooking the Atlantic. My relaxing lunch was accompanied by warm ocean breezes. Evenings must be super nice. Along with its open-to-the-street bar, S3 serves tapa small plates, salads and sushi rolls. I tried their rotisserie chicken salad with goat cheese, avocado and bacon. It's not a very big bowl for costing $14, but it was so tasty! Their passion fruit iced tea was refreshing on a sunny spring afternoon where the temperature was over 85F. Service was good. I'd come back again, because surprisingly there aren't a lot of open air beachfront restaurants on this part of the strip. Maybe because each block is a hotel resort.
(4)
Thomas P.
S3 is the bomb! My wife and I were staying at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort and walked down to S3 for lunch...so glad we did! We actually stayed at the Hilton 3 years ago as part of an extension of our honey moon, but we didn't dine at S3. I guess we had no idea until recently! We started with the wood fired grilled octopus; simply amazing! It was served with a medley of gigande beans (basically giant white beans), cherry tomatoes, marinated red onions, some leafy salad greens and was tossed in a salsa verde sauce! We could have eaten at least 3 orders of this dish because it was that good! The octopus was extremely tender and had a superb smoky taste and just blended together harmoniously with the other ingredients! A must have if you dine here! :-) Next, we ordered the Fish Tacos! Super delicious and fresh tasting! They were served in corn tortillas with jalapeño slaw and topped with avocado pepper salsa! The fish was moist, delicate and delicious! After that we tried the brisket sliders-another slam dunk! The bread appears to be tough from the outside, but once you take your first bite you'll be amazed at how light and airy it is! The mustard BBQ and chow chow worked nicely. The last item I chose to order was the Pork Sandwich "Cuban Style." From the presentation to the flavor-it was excellent! 5 Stars with no second thought! Service and food was superb! The huge outdoor patio is spacious and romantic as well! We'll definitely be back!
(5)
Sylvia B.
We were at the Restaurante in the passed few weeks with family and loved it, our server was Rochelle and she made our experience with our family visiting from California very happy. Tonight we went back with friends and even though the quality of the food was still there, excellent , our server Taylor, was awful. Took three times to ask for water to finally get it. When we order another round of drinks without finishing the first round, instead of bringing new glasses of wines he just added to the not yet finished glasses so we got half a pour . When we question him about it his response was " I have to pour to a certain line on the glass ", really so you can give me half a glass and still charge me for a full glass. Anyways, food is very good but they need to train their servers better and get rid off the bad ones. I will give the restaurant another chance as long as we get a good server. Sylvia B - ft LAUDERDALE
(3)
Shawn W.
I'm not always a fan of the "small plate" concept, especially when I've never been there before. Whether your group is small, or larger, it isn't always clear how much to order and I often error on the side of too much..which can get pricey. We really liked S3, though. The menu is kind of a mixed bag..mostly Asian inspired dishes, with an occasional detour to more traditional American comfort food. I found their small plates to be on the "medium" side, which was good. We had a table for five and with most dishes we each got to snag a reasonable portion from the plate. Loved the Brussels sprouts, the fried edamame, the chicken salad, the short ribs, and the peppers (I'm certain that I'm forgetting some). We also shared a Thai inspired sushi roll that was great.. I was also pleasantly surprised when I got the bill. Service was very well coordinated and properly paced. If I didn't live 3000 miles away, I would go back in a heartbeat.
(4)
Carrie H.
This is by far my favorite restaurant in Fort Lauderdale !!! The ambiance is fantastic and it's right across the street from the beach . They have an outdoor bar and a fire pit outside where u can sit and eat it just enjoy your cocktail. The service is spectacular ... We had Matt as our server who was on top of it with our food and drinks . His recommendations were perfect !! They serve small plates there so we ended up getting about 7 plates for my husband and I (which ranged from about 10-15.00 each ). Our favorites included the mac and cheese and gnocchi. Matt recommended a blackberry lychee as a drink and it was as always .. Perfect! This is a great place for a date night or night out with the girls . During the day on Sundays they have a great brunch but it gets crowded so make a reservation !!!
(5)
Chaz S.
So where to start? 1. It's hot inside... Now, not quite as hot as say Dante's 4th Inner Ring ... more something along the lines of a Martha Stewart off-shore sweat shop. 1a. The waitress, a helpful gal, suggested they were having problems with the A/C unit. 1b. Sorry, I'm not buying it. Feel sorry for the those taking in a dog-days-of-summer dinner. Bring a squeegee for your forehead. 2. Oh, did I mention I had a fly (and fly parts) in my artichoke appetizer? Yeah, can't post a picture here, but no doubt it was a fly. In all of it's deep-fried glory. Staff was attentive, took it off the menu, but kinda flipped out my date. Apparently, she's not into the whole "bug is protein" idea. 3. Did I mention it was hot? It was right about now I'm starting to develop a slight case of swamp ass. 4. Dinner is served as it comes out from the kitchen ... okay, I suppose, but don't order the cioppino -- arrives about 10-15m after everyone else is done eating ... I know good cioppino (visit San Fran to learn more) ... this wasn't, well, good cioppino. Pricey like cioppino but lack any decent curbside appeal. 4a. I suppose my dinner guests were hoping I'd hurry up eating my cioppino, but since my glasses were fogged up from the sweat pouring from my forehead, I was blissfully unaware of their furrowed brow. 5. Not sure if Flygate scared away our waitress, but her once attentive service fizzled at the end. Yeah, I get she's not cooking the food, but she's supposed to check back -- one helpful hint -- when my iced tea is no longer iced, consider a refill. So, to sum up. If you like it hot, like a deep-fried fly, and willing to be ignored, then this place is for you. PS Like always, I still tipped n excess of 20%.
(1)
Ivan B.
G-3 surf, sand, sun needs to have another s for sensational. The food was wonderful The service was spotty but good The atmosphere was warm and comfortable The widows and patio over look the ocean. The brisket sliders were my favorite. The shrimp tempura roll outstanding The flatbread you can skip. Just flat bread with what tasted like caned sauce. The brisket sliders are amazing The grilled shrimp was perfect and served on a small pancake. Triple chocolate cake made you feel guilty just for ordering it and it was triple delicious. The fried donuts were ok but disappointing. The service was spotty in the beginning great but it slowed as the evening progressed. Loved the open kitchen. They do take and honor reservations. When you go, and you should, try for a table outside over looking the beach and ocean
(5)
Fidel C.
This place is stunning-- undoubtedly. There is both indoor and outdoor seating available which is great as it is overlooking the beach. I arrived around 7:30 and there was a mixed crowd of very elegant and very casually dressed diners. My waitress was phenomenal, a red-head whose name I did not catch, but she was eager and attentive. Very knowledgeable of their menu and detailed in descriptions of every plate. My boyfriend and I ordered four plates, and they are all meant for sharing. They are small plates that come out in random order, depending on what order they are ready-- as each is prepared in a different station. The short rib empanadas were GREAT! The mac & cheese with prosciutto bits were also amazing. The gouda cheese on that plate was very rich and flavorful. The shrimp was not so great, served on a flapjack-like thing, but they tasted like plain shrimp-- not much flavor there. Our final dish was the brisket sliders which took FOREVER to come out. The waitress and manager came over at different times to apologize for the inconvenience and gave it to us on the house, which was lovely. Right before our dessert came out, they also gave us the brussel sprouts on the house, which we did not order but it was great nonetheless. Not crispy enough, but free always tastes great so we enjoyed them. The icky sticky toffee dessert (not sure of the actual name) was sub-par. I have definitely had better and we definitely could have done without it. As far as how we felt after-- we both agreed we would definitely be back! Especially now being more knowledgeable about what to order and how their portions are. We were stuffed! Definitely a place to check out. Amazing date night.
(4)
Elizabeth C.
Such an amazing place. My boyfriend and I were staying at the Hilton for the week and basically stumbled upon this place and we weren't disappoint. We started chatting up with on of the bartenders Jim, he was awesome, helped navigate us through the dinner and drink menu. He made some spectacular drinks as well. The edamame is a must try, so soooo good. Great food, ambience and service!
(5)
Rod Z.
Food is great and served pretty quickly. Outside seating is very nice for evening dinner. Wait staff seems to be in a bit of a hurry...otherwise 5 stars...
(4)
Gina P.
On July 4th me and the BF rode our bikes down to the beach to watch the fireworks. We got there with much time to kill and s3 has been on my brunch radar since they opened so we figured to check it out with some bevs and apps at the bar for a late lunch. The place was very full at the bar due to the soccer game being on tv. They have these couple high top tables just to the left of the bar and when asking the waitress if we could sit there she said it was only eligible for people having a full meal. Kind of obnoxious considering they had plenty of available tables inside (we were there at an odd hour in between dinner-lunch). Eventually a couple seats freed up and I got a fresh berry mojito which was amazing. I was between rating them 3 or 4 stars and the berry mojito deserved the round up it so freaking good. The BF got a beer and we got apps of the tuna nachos and the skirt steak. Both apps were on a smallish size but tasty. The steak (which was under large plates) was like about 6 small strips of steak each one on a bed of yucca. Flavorful but not really worth 20. The tuna nachos were really great and I would order again. The service was good at the bar they were well staffed for a holiday crowd. I will definitely go back and and try their brunch as I can't resist a flight of bloody Mary's and sangrias!
(4)
Nadia S.
Pros: Amazing fresh food Great environment Outside couch seating with firepits Friendly and fast staff Walking distance to shopping and bar hopping Cons: A bit pricey Loud for an upscale restaurant/bar
(5)
PaiDay D.
Fort Lauderdale Beach has been in dire need of a spot like S3 for some time. If you're looking for a hip, cool, fun & deliciously good place I highly recommend it! Here are the items I tried: Let's start with drinks. On another occasion I tried one, possibly 4 speciality drinks... all were high quality refreshing drinks with plenty of liquor! This time I had their Bridlewood, Pinot Noir which for $31 a bottle is not too bad. Its hard not to be impressed from their vast wine selection. Apps: Stir Fried Brussels Sprouts: Mint ~ Puffed Rice ~ Peanuts - I ordered it without the pork and these brussels sprouts are pretty amazing! Short Ribs: Smoked Calabaza Puree ~ Roasted Root Vegetable ~ Cress - OK... These short ribs MELT in your mouth. My friend thought they were a bit too salty but I thought they were perfect. I would order this up in heart beat! Potato Skins: Yukon Gold ~ Cave Aged Cheddar ~ Chive Cream ~ Nueskes Bacon - Ordered this without bacon. I hope to duplicate this at home because they knocked my socks off - great job S3! Asparagus: Grilled Radicchio ~ Oregon Blue ~ Pecans ~ Orange Sherry Vinaigrette - I'm not a big fan of blue cheese but I wanted to try it the way it comes. The cheese and all other ingredients combined give your palate 2 thumbs up :) Dinner: They had a Mahi fish dish special which again just melted in your mouth and the flavors are fresh and dynamite! Dessert: Okay, so at this point its hard to think about dessert but the waiter (I would have bought a car from this guy) convinced us to try the bread pudding... YEAHHH not too shabby! Cheers everyone :)
(5)
Melissa V.
Last minute decision on where to go and I'm glad we went here! Some of the best sushi rolls ice ever had. The crunchy tuna roll, the Gator Roll and the Red Dragon. All the flavors were well balanced. Just enough of a sweet pop, a nice spice kick that isn't too spicy and the rice was awesome! Short rib empanadas were a daily special and they were bad ass. Shredded beef in a soft, flaky empanada shell with a unique orange sauce drizzled on top. After having this I will ALWAYS shred my short rib beef. The macaroni on the menu is also very good. It's rich so it's best to order it with more than one person. Creamy, small macaroni shells, prosciutto flakes on top. Mmmmmm!!! Recommend this place to anyone in the area. Unique atmosphere & drinks. Fire-pits & lounge couches outside. Awesome.
(4)
Alexandra M.
Made reservation for my birthday. Sushi across from the ocean is the best way to spend it with friends! Chantel was our server and she was very attentive,informative,and friendly, even when the gratuity was automatically added since we had 8 to our party. Its more of a small plate/sharing concept so its a great way to try different things. Will definitely be returning!
(4)
Venus V.
This is one of my fav spots in town. Great views when sitting outside. Good for apps, the drinks are excellent. Try the green geisha!
(5)
Cassie M.
Here it is, July 20th and I can't stop thinking about our S3 experience in June. We ended up at S3 for dinner by chance on June 6 and it was a packed, full house but that didn't stop this awesome staff from treating us like we were the only ones in the restaurant. We sat in the only available seats at the sushi bar and found it to be absolutely fascinating! The way this team works together bringing the menu to life with incredible artistic flare made our seats the best place to be. Each small plate we ordered blew us away. From the sushi rolls to the chicken salad and mac 'n cheese...each one a hit. We were only in town for two short days but loved S3 so much that we invited friends to join us there the next day for lunch...AND dinner!! Yes, we thoroughly enjoyed S3 and dined with them 3 times in two days. I'd gladly go back and only wish we had this treat in Atlanta. Enjoy!
(5)
stephanie f.
I had been to S3 numerous times for drinks with friends and each time said that I needed to try the food. So after a much too long wait, I finally rounded up some friends to go for dinner. And it was good. Like, really really good. There were 4 of us and we ordered a mashup of small plates and every plate was good. There wasn't a single one that was meh. And that, is very very rare. We ordered: Brussel Sprouts: Tasty and well prepared Croquettes: God I love croquettes Tuna Tower: Really really good and fresh. Shrimp & Crab Tostada: So much tasty here Short Rib: comes with mashed taters. Really good here. Crab n' Shrimp Roll: Really good. Do I sound like a broken record? Thai Tuna: I've never had coconut in my roll. I'd like to have it more often. Gnocci: same story guys. it was good. Everything was good. Go Now. Order Food. You won't be disappointed. So I think I've communicated that the food was good, but the ambiance / location / decor is pretty awesome too. The indoor dining room is great, but their outdoor dining option is hard to beat with lounge area, firepit, and an outdoor bar. There's also a secretish back bar and lounge area that I discovered last night that I had never seen before. Clearly my previous "drinking" trips were full of drinking.
(5)
Jeighsen C.
Very loud with the drummers and showgirl dancing on patio. Not able to order the steaks and several other large plate items because we were told by server that they had a kitchen fire. The story just didn't make a lot sense. I thought it was pretty expensive for tapas. The sushi, brussels sprouts and edamame were pretty good. Short rib also nicely done but nothing special. Again serving what was listed on the menu for example filet or ribeye would have made this a better dining experience. Service was attentive but hard to have conversation with server or my guest due to dance club like atmosphere.
(2)
Erick O.
This month's UYE was at S3 Sun Surf Sand. I was excited and looking forward to this restaurant since it's near the water and the menu looked very appealing. The restaurant is part of the Hilton Hotel on the beach. It's a corner venue across the street from the water. If you sit out side the view is beautiful. Sunday was a gorgeous day for outside dining. It was sunny and breezy and the weather held up the entire stay. We sat outside at a large table that was waiting for us facing the ocean. Such a beautiful site, something's you need to be grateful we live in a place people come to vacation too. Your view of the beach and sand along with traffic is really nice and this alone is a major plus and one reason to consider this spot for brunch or early evening dining. Several things caught my eye on the menu. They have assortments of brunch plates, specialty rolls, small plates and sandwiches. The menu had good diversity and wasn't really consumed with useless items. Everything was priced right was well. Wasn't overly expensive and seemed very reasonable. We elected to go with the following: Shrimp & Grits : Good presentation. Dish came in with the shrimp on the top of the plate along with a poached egg on the top. Have I every told you how I love poached eggs? It's something that has stuck with me since I was a little man, popping the egg with my fork and watching the yolk just drip down, very very flavorful The cheesy grits were just right the texture was spot on. I hate it when grits either come out too hard and it feels like your eating raw rice or to soggy like if it were mash potato, didn't have that problem here. The shrimps were grilled yet were very soft on the inside and they were made with either paprika or some other type of spice that was added to the entire dish which was amazing. That was one of the best parts about the craft of this dish because the kick it has can catch you off guard. It's not overpowering at all, it's just right. There were also roasted peppers in the dish that added to that kung foo kick I told you about before. Well made... Crab n' Shrimp: The girlfriend ordered the crab and shrimp rolls which were excellent. She gets full fast which is also a blessing for a foodie like me. Seafood was soft and fresh and there was an added refreshing flavor to the roll. The Asian pear was just right on this roll, it can get kind of boring with the same repetitive cucumber or carrots regular placed use. The pear soften the roll up and eliminated that fishy taste. Topped with spicy mayo sauce and noodles on top, it was a refreshing delight. Goat Cheese Croquettes: Loved this dish!! These golf ball sized croquettes were fired to perfection and were so creamy on the inside. The guava sauce paired perfectly with the croquettes as well making your taste buds want to explode inside. Especially if you take the sauce and place it inside the with the cheese. Orgasmic! Mimosa: Average really, nothing really that you can do with a Mimosa in my eyes, when you think about it. It was good, wasn't bad. Blackberry Lychee Bellini's: Great texture on the cocktail. Wasn't overpowering and wasn't too juicy either. If you like tart,, tangy style drinks this is a good choice. Very good and noticeable taste on the cocktail especially the blackberry which standout. In addition, you can find small pieces of lychee and black berry pulp inside the drink. Very refreshing! All in all it was a very good dining experience and I would love to come back and try some of the other items I was looking forward to try such as the sweet potato waffle with chicken, pork belly hash, huevos ranchero and the mac & cheese.
I've been here a couple of times. Love the atmosphere and view of the beach. They have an inside bar and outside bar as well as plenty of inside and outside seating for dining. The food was excellent and the service is always great.
(5)
Melissa P.
Fantastic views and tasty small plates! I would recommend this place if you want some great drinks and ambiance. My boyfriend and I came here for brunch on our recent Ft. Lauderdale vacation and enjoyed it. I recommend getting the cocktail flight so you can try a few of their delicious concoctions.
(4)
Chris G.
Great atmosphere. Great food. Sushi. Wings and fish are all stellar. Not a wide range of food to choose from but still a place I would return to
(4)
Cheryl K.
Update to my earlier review.... Returned here about 2 weeks ago for dinner and drinks. I made a reservation and requested an ocean view inside seat which was honored without a problem. The service from the hostess to the waitress to the management was impeccable and the food was as good as the first time I dined here. This time we had the sushi nachos which were still fantastic, the macaroni and cheese (incredibly rich, a little too heavy for my taste but exactly what mac and cheese is supposed to be), duck lettuce wraps (a special that evening and delicious) and the scallops, which were perfect. I had a mixed berry mojito which was great. At the end of our meal, the manager came over and gave me his card, apologized for my past experience and even bought us drinks to make up for the past. Thanks S3 - you've made me a true fan! Whenever I'm in the Ft Lauderdale beach area I am here for drinks and will be back again, and again for dinner....
(5)
Honest R.
Food was great but espresso was what nightmares are made of and I'm 99% sure when we asked for cream for it, we were given cold skim milk in a really chic little container which made it much worse. Service was pretty good though. Except that the table next to ours had to take pictures of everything which meant a terrifying, other-worldly flash every few minutes. Not the restaurant's fault though. I would say it was a little overpriced for what you get. $4 per slice of sashimi is a little on the high side. I frequent katsuya one of the best sushi spots in LA & they're not nearly this overpriced. I got really stoked when "work out" by j cole started playing but it was interrupted by some crap rap after like a few notes. This remix played like way too loudly all night with some good songs, just too loud & too quick to skip to the next song. Waiters were cute and polite though so there's that.
(4)
Lisa S.
The brussels sprouts and the short ribs are to die for! Such a cool place for someone who likes to sample a little bit of everything
(5)
Joshua B.
Hip beach front view restaurant.Service was excellent. Mixed drinks were small but packed a punch and had great flavors. Food was more upscale bar food but great tasting
(4)
Charles S.
S3 provides some of the best ambiance, service, food and views in Ft. Lauderdale. Our waitress was like a mind-reader. Every time I thought of something I needed or wanted, she would magically appear to take care of it. The food was phenomenal. We had sushi, chicken wings, pulled pork sandwiches and appetizers at our table and everything was high quality and ultra delicious. We sat outside, with a beautiful view of the ocean. Everything was exquisite!
(5)
Ron B.
Very nice new edition to the Lauderdale beach landscape...which is welcome, given the lack of quality venues available with ocean views. The YOLO folks have outdone themselves, at least in terms of the decor and the setting. The entire restaurant straddles an interior space and an expansive patio, fully taking advantage of the ocean breezes and sweeping vistas. The food is fun...I've been for app's a few times, but was with a group for dinner recently...and was pleased with the offering and its executiion. We ate sushi rolls (dragon and spicy tuna), sashimi (assorted), wok-charred edamame, stir-fry brussel sprouts (yum!), coffee-rubbed skirt steak with yucca...and there wasn't a dud amongst them. In fact, most things were very good or better! Beverage was better than average...the wine list is decent, and some prices are surprisingly reasonable...given the setting, I'd say more than fair! (Kim Crawford SB for $10 - as good as most other places) I like the staff...they look good and are friendly...what else can you ask for?! The place looks great...and I'm finding it a nice place to wrap up a beach day (albeit, upscale style), hit an occasional beach-y happy hour or even dine, particularly with out of town guest in tow...the views make for lasting memories! One hint...valet. If you park down the street, you have to pass through some very unpleasant odors on the Hilton's back loading dock (you all really should clean that up!!)
(4)
Carol K.
Love when a local tells you where to go to try out the "hot spot" in town. And while I was initially a bit put off that this is in the Hilton hotel (after all- who wants hotel food?) have no worries for this place is as far from hotel food as you can get! If you go- make a reservation as this place is jumping! I went on a Friday night and while there are plenty of amazing seating areas both indoors and out- without a reservation you may find yourself seated at the sushi bar, which while functional- is really not where the fun is! I ended up finding a seat at one of the other bars indoors and had a great time! If you enter through the hotel, you will actually be entering the restaurant from the back so head up to the side facing the ocean as that is where the hostess stand is. I was warmly greeted when I came in this way and shown to the proper place. The ambiance is cool and contemporary with great clusters of couches and tables outside and more traditional seating indoors. They make full use of their space and it is a wonderful space with ocean views and plenty of people watching opportunities. I ordered simply- some of their sauteed edamame and some sushi rolls. The edamame was unusual as I usually have it steamed so it had an entirely different mouth feel to it this way. My rolls were also quite good with the kamikaze roll having just the right amount of bite! The staff was super friendly- a big shout out to bartender Jane who kept my glass full and put up with an entire bar full of yelling men who had been drinking all day. If you drive- valet park at the hotel(enter on the side street) and get your ticket validated. At $5- it's the best parking deal in town! Go for the sun, go for the surf or go for the sand,, but most importantly go for the specialness of this place. For once you go- you'll want to go back!
(5)
Blake W.
This should of been posted a long time ago but I just forgot about it. I just wanted to say that I went here just for a casual lunch during my spring break with my girlfriend. Only I ate here but they served us both waters and the waiter was very nice. I just ordered a hamburger. They took a long time to make it but I figured it was worth it. Plus they view was awesome and the atmosphere was very relaxed. Once I got the burger they told me they are gonna put it on the house cause it took so long. So that was awesome and very nice of them to do so. I would definitely return for a meal if I was ever in the area again. I highly recommend. Plus if you like sushi, I recommend you look at a place called sushi rock cafe in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Best sushi I have ever had. A hidden gem.
(5)
Eli S.
Pretty views of the ocean but slow service and when asked about the status of our food a cocky bar tender Jared gave some strange explanation that we had to wait because this place was popular. (note post lunch and place half empty). We waited for 30 min to get appetizers. Apparently food was to arrive as it was prepared but the food runner brought it all at once. Just an fyi to the manager.
(2)
Jennifer T.
I recently took some clients to S3. Our server Chelsea was fantastic. She knew the menu front to back and offered great drink pairings to go with the food we ordered. She was beyond professional and was able to interact with the table to make our experience beyond excellent. With the size group we had, I was able to taste a good portion of the menu. I wouldn't consider myself an octopus fan, but the octopus here is amazing. It's grilled and you can taste the smoke off the fire... The texture of this meat is better than lobster, which you might not expect if you've had rubbery octopus before. It's served with a buttery bean salad... honestly you have to try this plate, you won't regret it. For the less adventurous, try the mac and cheese plate (heavy, but super good) or the tuna tower. I plan on going back the next time I'm in town to try the pork belly. If you get to it before I do, let me know if it's good. This place truly has 5 star service, food and atmosphere.
(5)
Isaac G.
It always makes me sad when a beautiful and tasty meal gives me food poisoning. It also disturbed me that since it's corporate ( Hilton) my server was required to wear arm sleeves over his tattoos. I had crabcake Benedict with spinach, a lemony hollandaise and some beautifully roasted potatoes, and a bloody Mary, traditional. My date had the banana bread French toast. We both liked the Oceanview, and the guests were okay, but when I looked into the kitchen it was easy to see how we got poisoned. It was truly a jumbled mess. Cross another South Florida restaurant off the list.
(2)
Rich B.
One of the greatest restaurants I've ever been to. Amazing food, service, ambiance, scenery, etc.. the sushi rolls in particular are to die for. I can't wait to go back next time I'm in town!
(5)
Peter B.
Atmosphere with the ocean breeze was great, food was ok
(1)
Faith H.
Came on a Thursday night. What great service, food & drinks. Bartenders are amazing and attentive!! Been looking for good sushi and this is the place!!! Drinks are made to perfection. This is def a must go to!!! Worth the $.
(5)
Savani D.
I came here on a Friday night after 11p, I was pleasantly surprised to find quality dining in this area around that time. Luckily, they stop serving food at midnight. I ordered the Seafood Paella, perfect if you're eating light. But if you're a foodie like myself, you'll end up ordering more food as I did. After reading all the rave reviews about the Thai Tuna Roll, had to order it. Yelp never leads me astray! This dish was delicioso! I would have given 5 stars if the food portions were bigger. Other than that this place is highly recommended.
(4)
Bob A.
Last minute choice tonight worked out really well. Based on trip advisor and our location we picked this restaurant located at the Hilton. We sat at the sushi bar which was great as the chef working four tapas out of the wood fired oven was very friendly while cooking. We split six dishes between the three of us which ended up being a least one to many. Each dish was well crafted, well presented and very tasty. Service was timely and pleasant. Dinner with one bottle of wine was just over a hundred, very reasonable for the quality and atmosphere.
(5)
Roro K.
I frequent S3, because I live nearby and for the outdoor beachfront location. I have several favorites- the brisket sliders, the grilled octopus and beans, the specials, and above all the brussel sprouts (and many more). Today I had a craving for the b. sprouts however, I was disappointed to find they have changed recipe eliminating pancetta, crumbled nuts and rice crisps. They are still ok with the new veg. accompaniments, but not fantastic like before. I will give five stars because of the excellent service and still great menu in hopes that the prior b sprouts recipe will resurrect.
(5)
Nikoletta K.
Great place, beautiful view and good food
(4)
Rose W.
If you like Small Plates that are mouth watering and a view of our beautiful of Ft Lauderdale Beach you must go to S3. The grilled octopus was done to perfection and the pork belly melted in your mouth! And don't forget to try their sushi bar and a very "well stocked" wine list. The service for a busy restaurant was outstanding and our server delightful .... As first timers we didn't know where to begin and she guided us through an unforgettable evening with friends. High on my list of culinary experience .... Foodie Heaven!!!
(5)
Jessica N.
Fantastic brunch! Was not overly crowded for a Sunday so we were able to get an outside table facing the beach with no problem. I had the Shrimp and Grits and my husband had the Chicken and Sweet Potato Waffle and we were thoroughly impressed. Awesome drink flights too!
(5)
Nikki S.
Their menu was something I had never seen before a mix of sushi and comfort foods. I ordered the California roll and the gnocchi. Both had excellent presentation and flavors were top notch. The view of the ocean across the street and the openness of the restaurant were fabulous. Not bad at all.
(4)
Steve T.
Great place with a good variety to chose from Asian to Spanish to American. The same goes for the drinks. We had their wok-charred edamame, short rib empanadas, pork belly, shrimp toast, and mac-n-cheese. The blackberry-lychee cocktail wasn't too strong or sweet but not worth $15. The food was fantastic. My only complaint was seeing a sushi preparer text on his phone with his gloves on then going back to making sushi without changing them! That is why we didn't order any sushi.
(4)
Jane K.
Awesome view,drinks,and food :) right across from the beach.
(5)
Lyza L.
This spot is fun for people watching and being part of a scene, but the food is nothing special, it's loud and on the expensive side. However, I love the outdoor area (partly because you can actually have a conversation with your dinner companions without shouting.) And service has always been very nice. This property is part of the restaurant group that brought you YOLO in downtown Fort Lauderdale, and attracts much the same crowd: beautiful people who want to see and be seen. Nothing wrong with that, but if you want great food, there are lots of other places I'd recommend first.
(2)
Mariam D.
A belated "welcome to Ft. Lauderdale S3." A welcome hot spot for tapas al fresco. Choose from typical trending favorites such as vegetable plates, chicken wings, sushi, tuna, edamame, goat cheese, and others all prepared and presented beautifully. Courteous service, nice wine list and some tasty craft cocktails, and an intimate setting in the evening for a beachside bite and epic ocean views. Dress up a bit and head here for a relaxing date night dinner or lunch with clients and friends.
(4)
Kevin H.
Great restaurant, food was really good. Lots of small portions and we love it made it lots of fun and the food just kept coming!! Group consensus was that the sushi is the best part of the menu (we ate off all of it) Staff was nice, although they got busy and we didn't see our server for a while, thus the 4 stars. If you can get a chance to sit and eat by the firepits, that looked the most fun and will be requesting that next time.
(4)
Chris F.
Reservation issues My only complaint about S3 was they took our reservation via Open Table but when we arrived they wanted to stick us at a bar like table right next to the kitchen on stools. This was not a "real" table that they should assign reservations to. There were also several other open regular tables. Eventually the manager came and sat us at a regular table. Other than this, it was a good night with good food and drinks.
We loved S3. Food was great - sushi, steak and salads crossed our table and everyone raved about the meal. Service was nice, fun atmosphere. Nice change from the "norm" in Ft Lauderdale.
(5)
Janice M.
Had dinner with three co-workers here last Thursday. A great spot to people watch and enjoy the ocean breeze. There were quite a few intoxicated college students enjoying spring break which was entertaining to watch while we had dinner! The wine and cocktail list is impressive. Beautiful restaurant with open kitchen. Staff is obvioulsy chosen for their looks and hipness, as I didn't see one unattractive server in the place! The food..... We shared: Goat Cheese Croquettes - Amazing and very rich Tuna Tower - a bit bland but the tuna very fresh Rainbow Roll - good but not the best sushi I've had Scallops - perfectly seared and the sauce was so good we ordered another. Luscious Brussel Sprouts - my favorite veg and these did not disappoint. Perfectly roasted and carmelized. YUM Mac and Cheese -TO DIE FOR! Cheesy goodness with crispy pancetta. Brought this out last and we were so full we had trouble finishing it Travel to Ft Lauderdale often for work and this is my new favorite spot. Highly recommend for small plates and people watching.
(4)
Drew D.
After having returned here twice (once for brunch and once for dinner) with out of town friends, I am happy to be able to bump my review up to a solid 4-stars! Every subsequent dining experience here has been happy and tasty. Yes, tables are very hard to come by so make reservations well in advance. Enjoy some creative cocktails and soak up the trendy atmosphere while enjoying well prepared food!
(4)
Carol L.
I and my friend came here for dinner last weekend. We ordered a buffalo wing with honey sauce. It was so amazing taste. Not like ones we often eat in Hooter. Crunchy and salty sweet, a little sour... Later we order Tuna and steak serve with rice. Both these meal tasted so good and fresh like a wild caught tuna i usually buy in farm fresh market. So delicious. We will definitely come back next time for trying other meals.
Ok place, lots of smoke inside the restaurant due its wood oven, crab cake sandwich is a good choice
(3)
Ana B.
Eveything here still great besides the over price in my opinion. I just tried they're small portion for Ribs and Gnocchi, absolutly AMAZING! They have DJ on weekends with a 'Sobe' detail, the amazing saxophonist playing with the music. Great vibe!
(4)
JJ J.
Great food and service. Top place to eat at Ft Lauderdale beach. Great drink selection as well.
(5)
Danielle R.
Went yesterday after a very LONG day at the beach, coupled with beer, and we were finally ready to eat some food (thank sweet baby Jesus). They have a $5 valet, do this instead of trying to find parking for 10 mins like we did. My one friend had been the night before and she loved it so much she wanted to go back. In fact, she said when they first got there there was nothing but open tables, but they were told those were all reserved and if they wanted they could sit up at the sushi bar (which is also pretty cool). She said about 30 mins after they sat (at the sushi bar) all of those tables were taken. Additionally, we actually tried to grab drinks here on the prior Friday night around 7 ish but there wasn't an open seat to be had!!! So make a RESERVATION if you plan on going here. It also appears they take rezzies for the outside cocktail tables, which on a nice South Florida night can't be beat! The views here are SPECTACULAR and almost all of the seating (save the sushi bar) are pointed towards the water. We got a seat outside and immediately ordered bottle #1 of wine (Kim Crawford priced at $35). We also ordered the wok seared edamame and the mixed olives w/ Marcona almonds (see pix both were delicious). All of us were impressed w/ the wide variety of selections on the menu, if you can't find something to eat here, you can't find it anywhere. We ordered bottle #2 of the Kim Crawford. It is on the slower side, so this place is perfect for a lazy Sunday dinner, IF you are on a tight time frame I would skip this place and try it another time. We ordered the Thai Tuna Roll, which I loved, and the Rainbow Roll, both were delicious. We also ordered the Green Goddess Tomato Heirloom salad (which is one of the most amazing dishes ever), the grilled eggplant (my least favorite), and the stuffed Brussels Sprouts (ask for a side of wasabi for these for some reason it pairs nicely). Somewhere during this round of food we ordered bottle #3 of wine, only to have the waitress return and tell us they were out!!! OH NO! However, instead of just saying they were out they offered the next bottle up for the same price (savings of $6 but still a very fair and happy gesture). And we accepted. I think we were here for 2 hours, maybe more, and we would've stayed longer if we didn't have TrueBlood to watch that night. Oh and by the time we left they had live music complete with Cuban drums! I honestly can't wait to go back...
(5)
Brian G.
My son and I went there for dinner last night. Great location - bit either park at the Galleria Mall (free) and walk maybe 3/4 of a mile along he beach or A1A, or use valet - you won't find parking nearby for sure. Atmosphere is great, our server was very good, the sake was cold, nice ambience. We sat at the sushi bar and watched it being prepared. Menu is limited (very limited) but service is prompt because of that.
(4)
Cindy S.
I've been to S3 a few times for lunch and dinner. The food is great, they have smaller portions so everyone may share. The service is excellant. They serve a variety of sushi, beef and fish. The server Brandon was my favorite, if you have difficulty making a discision he makes great recommendations. I also recommend Rachelle too! The view is EXCELLENT! This place has great food, service and a beautiful view! They have something for everyone!
My favorite restaurant by far! Always amazing service, great drinks and unbeatable dishes!! Edamama is out of this world and the heirloom tomato salad is to die for!!! To top it all off, you can't beat the atmosphere and the ocean breeze!
(5)
Steve C.
I am a lucky guy, I was invited here as a birthday dinner present from sweet Karin, and the entire experience ROCKED, here's why: * The company! * Jamie, our waiter, was fantastic without hovering, he represents the brand well and has great energy * Tapas / sharing sized portions mainly * Beachfront view * Cool layout and decor * Fairly priced We drank a delish bottle of Tyku Black (cold) Sake. Mmmmmmmmm, Yummo! We also tried their Sake Sunset Cocktails, made with sake and Grey Goose ($12 bucks each). Awesome. We ate: * Kamikaze Roll (HIT!) * Brussel Sprouts (HIT!) * Short Ribs with mac-n-cheese (HIT!) * Paella * Scallops * Panna Cotta for dessert Wow. Score. Coming back. Sooner. Before you. Cabeza BLESSED!
(5)
Anthony K.
The view is definitely worth the entire experience. The menu is is more suited for those who are out to enjoy a meal surrounded by delicious drinks. The small plates are delicious, try as many as you can! The ocean breeze is just phenomenal when enjoying their outside seating. A1A is always non stop with people and cars always going by. The ocean and the restaurant are separated by an island in-between a two way street, get passed that and the oceans waves will do the rest for you. Talk a walk down A1A after and enjoy what Fort Lauderdale Florida has to offer!
(5)
Kayla M.
Came to S3 for Sunday brunch. The service was HORRIBLE but the food was AMAZING! We sat at the outside bar and had Jane and Anna as a servers. Ann was nice and just seemed busy but Jane seemed bothered by "tourist" she requested that we provide her with a CC to hold but never requested one from the "locals" who sat down right next to us at the same exact time. 2 more "tourist" lady were also rudely asked to provide their CC and they too were not happy with the service and left. We were only checked on once and once things slowed down Anna took over at the end and we actually left with a smile. The food was very good so with that I'll say I might return in hopes to get a different waitress!
(3)
Tara H.
Oh holy hamachi and pork belly! Cooper is awesome but the whole staff including the GM kicks ass!! Oh and the great company and fabulous wine helps too!! Try it you'll love it!
(4)
Kimberley C.
Every concierge service on the beach is going to recommend this restaurant. They serve food & cocktails pretty consistently all day long and up till 11:30 approx. Not bad. So if you are on an irregular food schedule and you want some food, you're in luck. Food: Average, slightly better than average Service: Excellent Decor: Comfortable, inviting, warm wood colors People: All tourists of every shape & size Parking: Street or Valet This is the Hilton overlooking Fort Lauderdale beach. Good view. Comfortable seating. Much much better than hanging out on the patio of the W Hotel Fort Lauderdale. Very cool arrangement. The bartenders, as it gets late into the night are funny, charming and really take care of you. I've been here 4 times now, by default. A restaurant decision that you can make last minute without worrying about the outcome, unlike the Atlantic Hotel or the W.
(3)
Leah K.
This place is beyond amazing. If you like good, quality food, come here. Some of the best food I have ever tasted.
(5)
Jocelyn J.
Wow! This place is soooooo good. I came here on a Thursday night with some girlfriends and we ordered a bunch of their small plates, namely: Marinated olives Sushi nacho Spicy tuna Crab and shrimp rolls Mac n cheese Ricotta gnocchi Short ribs Shrimp toast Asparagus salad Akaushi bavette steak The sushi items (sushi nacho, crab and shrimp rolls) were fresh and delicious. The sushi nacho was similar to a tuna tartare on a crispy tortilla. The crab and shrimp rolls use REAL crab which was a surprising delight! All the cooked dishes were also very good - not one dish left our table without being empty. Those that we truly loved were ordered AGAIN because they were so delicious! But the standouts on this menu - unanimously decided by our table of 8 - were definitely the Mac-n-cheese and ricotta gnocchi. They were AMAZING. The Mac and cheese was creamy and gooey with a generous sprinkling of crispy prosciutto crumbles. The ricotta gnocchi had a sublime truffle smell and flavor that I can't even describe in words - you just have to taste it for yourself. Oh and for dessert you have to try the Icky Sticky Toffee Pudding....HEAVEN on a plate!! Service was prompt and very friendly. The restaurant has a chic but low key vibe with a wonderful view and firepits outside. I can't wait to go back for a date night with my husband!
(4)
Amanda F.
I'll give this restaurant 5 stars for the quality of food. But waiter was slightly pushy, hostess had an attitude, they are very stingy on alcohol. Delicious and fresh. I love the option of small plates/snacks. Nice view of the water across the street. I wanted to sit by the fire pit and I had requested it over he phone. I was told it was first come first serve, okay I understand but then she says but I'll try to sit you somewhere near it. Okay that's fine, we get there got told the same thing with an attitude and were told "well if you can find a seat near it" what?? I had no idea what she was even saying.. Real professional thats why your a hostess. Got sat no where near the fire pit. They need more ambiance lighting outside if I can't get near the fire pit, I can't see my food or the menu. GET SOME LIGHTS OR TIKI TORCHES IF YOUR GONNA HAVE OUTDOOR SEATING. I can see where the money is going to.. (Fake candles) haha real fancy. Anyway the waiter was pushy saying we had to put in all the orders now bc they will start to get busy.. Umm I don't mind waiting so stop, we usually order 1 or 2 tapas at a time while drinking then keep the menu on the side so stop rushing me. Actually couldn't even get tipsy here bc the $12 "specialty" drink I ordered; Sake Sunset consisting of grey goose plum sake cranberry pineapple juice right you think ooo grey goose it's gonna be a nice strong drink for $12!!!! nope... Tasted like just pineapple juice, although my bf got a don Julio Margarita with a grand mariner floater for $15 which was really good, damn it should have gotten that to at least get a buzz on when your spending that much $. Sushi rolls were delicious and fresh filled with fish but very little avocado. This place is great during the day for tapas or an entree, would not recommend going to drink, save your money and pick a cheaper bar that has happy hour with decent strong drinks.
(4)
Patrick F.
Great food, great environment, great service! Definitely recommend the sushi!
(5)
Indya R.
You saw that right. Three stars. How is that possible, you ask? Let me first start off by saying that this place is GORGEOUS. If I still lived in the Miami area, it wold most definitely be my new go-to spot. Anytime I visit, which is quite frequently, I will make it my business to come here. Somehow, this place is set up so that every table you sit at you can see the ocean. Initially when I arrived, I asked for a table outside. I did not realize how silly that request was without a reservation. So to my dismay, we sat at a table closest to the kitchen, which was open. Now don't get me wrong. I loved the place. I REPEAT I LOVED THE PLACE AND WILL DEFINITELY BE BACK. Here's the thing. There is absolutely no excuse a place this damn nice to have a sub par menu. Yes, I am a very picky eater, but I can manage to find something on every menu. All I can suggest is the macaroni and cheese. It was delicious. Perhaps I am a bit biased because I hate tapas, but this place was tapas. No more tapas! No more tapas! No more tapas! I am a growing girl! I am an adult! I have keys to an apartment, and I DEMAND you not trick me with tapas! No more tapas! Now that that's out of the way, the other reason I knocked off a star is because of the service. Our server was perfectly pleasant, but frequently absent. I was always looking for her. They were not that busy when we got there. I considered maybe she got busy with other tables, or they were understaffed, but I think she was very new, as in it was her first job as a server, or she just just negligent. Again, this restaurant is on the ocean. Absolutely beautiful interior. I WISH I had the opportunity to sit outside. There is also a firepit out there! So romantic! The ocean view is nice, but when it comes down to it I went there to eat and have dinner with a friend. Next time, I will just eat before and have drinks or dessert here. I really wish they would serve regular portion food here, Mighta got 5 stars out of me. S3, I shall see you soon! Oh as we were leaving, there were dancers dressed in feathers giving a performance. I think I would have enjoyed that. P.S. ladies bring a sweater if you run cold. After the champagne we warmed up.
(3)
Tyler S.
Moving from the northeast to live on the ocean just a few miles north from the strips of hotels , I wanted to only eat at restaurants where you could see the ocean and I wanted to take all of my visitors here to show off how "cool" Fort Lauderdale is. The restaurant is very pretty , the drinks are expensive but good , and the food is above average but on my third visit is when I noticed that this is not the place for me. Here's why, I like a good view but this restaurant is full of tourists, wannabes, and what I'm pretty sure were Baltic prostitutes. It's a tapas menu and most of the dishes we ordered were good but every time I come back I don't see anything on the menu that makes me shout " oh, I need that again!" If you're visiting Ft Lauderdale and staying at a hotel on the beach : go here, it's ok , you're allowed, you're a tourist. I on the other hand have passed my 6 month mark of Florida living and would be embarrassed to be spotted drinking a cocktail by a fire pit next to Svetlana.
(3)
Savanna M.
Dinner - 4 stars The Short Story: I'm going to start off with a quick summary because I feel like this review is going to get lengthy. Long story short, S3 is good, the ambiance is nice, the view of the ocean would be great if you're here for lunch/early evening, and the food is good. I definitely think the asian side of the menu is much, much better than the non-asian items, so stick to those items. The Long Story: We came here for a birthday dinner. I made reservations for 5 people at 6pm, which I had pretty much forgotten about until we rolled in at 6:45pm. Luckily it was still early and we were sat immediately. By the time we left at 8:30pm (on a Wednesday) the place was packed, so either come early, or make a reservation. We were given a great table, half booth, half seats with an amazing view of the ocean (had daylight savings been working with us we might have seen it). Our waiter was quick and attentive and seemed to handle our indecisive/confused nature well. Sadly it can be difficult for a group of 5 to handle a tapas menu well. Thankfully we staggered our ordering quite well and managed to always have a full table, but not one overflowing uncomfortably with food. We tried a lot of the menu: *Goat cheese croquettes - good and worth the cheap price tag *Stuffed dates - a special for the night. Overly sweet and definitely far from the best stuffed dates I've ever had. *Tuna Tower - think tuna tartare with some rice mixed it. Extremely good and everyone loved it. *Shrimp n'Crab roll - good. I loved the hint of sweetness from the pear. *Red Dragon roll - also good. Different without seaweed, and everyone enjoyed. *Mac n' Cheese - not my favorite. The bacon had a fake taste to it. *Short Ribs - pretty good. I was rather full by the time these came out so they didn't get my full attention. There was a side of pasta that was good. *Steamed Mussels - loved them. The broth was great. *Lettuce wraps - I thought they were only ok, others raved about them. *Paella - didn't get to try it, but it looked amazing. *Grilled Octopus - not my favorite as it seemed salty, but the octopus itself was well cooked and had a nice grilled taste. *Jerked Pork Belly - yeah no. I appreciate the idea, but the mint sauce on top was all wrong. Don't bother trying. *Fish of the Day - mahi/mahi. I didn't get to try it but no one else was that impressed. Lessons learned - again, stick to the sushi/asian items. Large plates a overly expensive and not that great. We did order a bottle of wine, which I found to be fairly priced. We also did a drink sampler with the Thai Coconut Crush, Insani Tea and the Blackberry Lychee. Get the Blackberry Lychee - it was awesome!! All in all, we'll be back. The view can't be beat. The service was great. But I'll be sticking to the asian side of the menu. Brunch: 2.5stars We've recently been back for brunch. I'll keep this one short, but we didn't have the best of times. The view and seating outside of course was beautiful, but our food was so/so and our waiter kept going missing for long periods of time and it was hard to get refills, ask for syrup etc. Out of all the things we tried (there were 4 of us so we tried a lot) I would only go back for the banana bread french toast. Definitely skip the pork-belly hash.
(4)
Stacy A.
Absolutely divine!! The grilled octopus and stuffed date appetizer are absolutely to die for. Fantastic ambience, too. Would come back in a heartbeat!
(5)
Lina J.
Great place! starting with the amazing location abs the fact that you can see the ocean from almost every table , the great outdoor seating is a great plus. They have small plates so is pefect for sharing so you can try all their yummy options, the mac a cheese is too good, the steak on top of the yucca delightful. the sushi pretty good too. If you want to have a couple coctails their sampler is a food ootions, some of their drink are great some are not... I loved the sake and the blackberry lychee too.
(5)
Adam J.
I'm sure this is a better restaurant than our experience, but..... Atmosphere was pretty cool, at least until they seated us at a table inside with zero view and zero ambience. Disappointing. As for the sushi, it didn't live up to the hype. Not even close. Average at best, small portions, and definitely overpriced. I would go back to sit on the patio or at the bar to have a drink. But if I were hungry, I'd go elsewhere.
(2)
Lawrence P.
Well hello S3!!!!! Unlike Miami, Fort Lauderdale is not yet known for tapas style (small bites) dining. Enter S3!!!! We valet sat outside with a view to the Atlantic Ocean. It was a nice day... not too hot. For colder nights, they have a nice fire pit as well and, from what we were told, they also have live music on Fridays and Saturdays!!! This night there was a jazz band playing and the fire pit was rolling as well. Very relaxing atmosphere... perfect Florida night dining!!! So, talking about the small plates, we had a few... just a few. The Goat Cheese Croquettes were perfect. They were accompanied by an almond crusted red chili guava which the wifey enjoyed very much. The Sushi Nacho which was basically tuna, spicy salmon, guacamole and tobiko was PHENOMENAL! We also had the Spicy Salmon Roll which was good. We also ordered the Mac & Cheese with smoked Gouda, my favorite. It even had prosciutto. WOW! The Ricotta Gnocchi... yes we ordered those too... had baby shiitake mushrooms and truffle. Best dish of the night!!!!! We had the Lump Crab Cakes and Grilled Octopus to boot. Both good! After we finished our wine (corkage fee is only $20), we ordered the Dulce de Leche Chocolate Cake. DON'T JUDGE!!!! The salted caramel ice cream that came with it was perfect. The only negative. It wasn't dulce de leche. Why advertise it as such and then use caramel???? It was ok at best. The ice cream was the best part. Loved S3!!! We will be returning often. For lunch, for dinner... for... whatever.
(4)
Chris S.
Good food and a fun show if you sit at the sushi bar. Kimchee hamachi and brisket sliders were both excellent. Skirt steak took a long time as there was trouble getting it medium rare, but the manager came over, explained the problem, comp'd not only the skirt steak but also a beer, as a nicely appreciated extra touch. Once it finally came out, it was cooked perfectly and was also excellent. Potato skins and the blonde dessert were both good, but a clear step down from the other dishes. The craft beer list is decent, definitely not a highlight. Apart from the excellent handling of the slow skirt steak, service overall was good. I'll likely return to try more dishes from the lengthy list of interesting options.
(4)
Lacey C.
Now I'm not up in Broward very often. But when my husband's long-time absent friend says he's in town for business and would like to pay for dinner--we scramble to get some nicer shoes on and make something happen. I found the first Yelp-approved sushi place close to their (Chad and his pal Scott) hotel and headed up North. I regret nothing. Service so good you'll freak--after we waited thirty minutes for drinks, and before we complained, a manager came over to apologize and buy us another round. Waiter opened the wine and poured it from the bottle at my table. I know that's supposed to be the standard, but how often is that actually delivered? To top it off food and ambiance was incredible. Everything was perfect. We ate caramelized brussel sprouts, grilled octopus, spare ribs with black pepper spatzel. Everything was finished off with even more booze, and Thai donuts with birthday candles. Highly recommended. And enjoy the patio.
(4)
Roberta A.
S3 is one of my top 3 fave restaurants in Ft. Lauderdale. I love the concept of sharing small plates. We ordered the ricotta dip which is excellent, it's light and not heavy at all. The tuna tower has a great visual presentation and the guacamole in it is super yummy. The Mac & Cheese is always spectacular and is a MUST HAVE, I pretty much lick the plate and always contemplate getting one more order of it. The shrimp toast was very delicious, it tasted very fresh. The skirt steak with yuca is great but they should not serve the steak right on top of that yuca because the yuca ends up getting soggy every time I've ordered it here. But the steak was tender and very well seasoned. My favorite dish of the night was an actual special that isn't normally on the menu. Short ribs beef empanada equals heaven in your mouth. I hope a miracle happens and they add it to the menu permanently!!
(5)
Brian R.
Went here last night for the first time. Great food, excellent Sushi and amazing ambience. If you are in Fort Lauderdale definitely be sure to check out S3!
(4)
Jeanne T.
Just had a wonderful lunch at the this restaurant. The chicken salad was amazing. My mother had a crab and shrimp sushi roll she enjoyed. Parking was easy. We got a spot on the north side of the building on the street. Fantastic view on a beautiful day. Service was nice too. Prices were reasonable for beachfront awesomeness. If I recall my chicken salad $13.00 and the sushi roll was $15.00. Almost forgot to mention the wonderful dessert. Can't recall exactly what they called the dessert, creme fresh (something) yum! We will return. The bar was very chic looking and made me long for a drink but I had to drive. Boo.
(5)
Diana B.
This is a great place to go for dinner. It is close to the hotels, cool, hip environment, and food is great! The wait for a table for 2 on a Fri night was almost an hour but I found a place at the bar and had dinner there. I tried the drinks sampler, which I recommend. You can pick 3 drinks and get a 'half glass' so you get to have a nice sample of a few! I tried 6 in total and loved them all! My fav things were the gnocci-bigger than I am used to but interesting and rich! The sliders were delicious, and brussel sprouts were so loaded and savory! Def an great dinner spot on the strip!
(5)
Beth M.
So, if you haven't warmed to the idea of small plates yet, there are options. There are entrees and sushi. You'll be fine. However, if you are up to an adventure, then be brave and go small. This is the place to do it. The food is incredible. There wasn't a dish or bite that I didn't want to eat all by myself. However, to be polite to my guests (we were sharing), and to make sure I had room for dessert, I refrained. We got 5 of the "snacks" -- the stand outs being the goat cheese croquettes and Wok Charred Edamame (which the waiter highly recommeded - thank goodness - there were as amazing as he promised they would be). We then moved on to the small plates. All were execptional. The Mac & Cheese made with Smoked Gouda (& Crispy Prosciutto on the side) was so addicting I was craving it for days and the beet salad had a unique blend of flavors that stood out from any beet salad I had experienced before. My meat-eating friends got the grilled octopus and Akaushi Bavette Steak from the woodfired section, while I completely enjoyed my Artisan Romaine ~ Pecorino ~ Prosciutto ~ Lemon ~ White Bean dish. Desert (sigh) was some type of sticky toffee, a blondie something or other and a light pannacotta type of thing. My food coma had set in so I'm fuzzy on what exactly it was but it was all worth it. The good thing about small plates is that even after 12 (ish) plates, the bill for the 4 of us was reasonable. The LOCATION - Perfect. Enjoy!
(5)
Brandon S.
Amazing drinks.. delicious food... great spot to share yummy small plates with friends... its right by the beach.. the views are beautiful...
(5)
Lucy W.
Love the patio set up...great ocean view, and comfy, cushy lounge chairs and tables. I stopped by on a sunny morning for brunch, and sat on a cushy lounge sofa on the patio, overlooking the ocean. They have different champagne cocktails...I tried the lychee but it was kind of bitter tasting. Service is a little lacking and brusque...almost ruined my chill vibe. Almost. I had the decadent banana bread French toast...delicious but I could feel myself going into a sugar coma from eating it. Good thing all I was doing afterward was hanging out on the beach and by the pool.
(4)
Gabby Z.
The mahi sandwich was ok, by the time it got to me the bread was all soggy. I'm an expert with fish sandwiches I get them all the time. I would not go.back to S3.
(3)
Tollie E.
1. Long delay on order. 2. Waitress spills water on one of the party and instead of apologizing, says "It's just water." 3. After a 30 minute wait, they tell us they're out of one of our ordered items. As a person who worked as a waiter through college at high end restaurants, this was a bad joke at an effort to be a legitimate restaurant. I wouldn't recommend this as a first choice. EVER
(1)
James S.
Love this place, the view is awesome and food and service are great too, a little on the pricey side but it's tapas , so your bill does go up quickly,
(5)
Gary M.
Taking its home in the Hilton hotel on the seafront, S3 is in a prime location and its outdoor seating offers fantastic views. The food options are good with a mixture of sushi and small plates making up our order. We tried to goat cheese croquettes (tasty), rainbow roll (great, fresh), short rib (had a little it of a strange smell to it) potato skins (small but tasty) and shrimp toast (lots of flavor). Dishes are a little on the pricey side but you are paying for location at all of the seafront hotel restaurants in FT Lauderdale. Also, bring your flashlight if you are sitting outside as you will not be able to read the menu the place is very dimly lit (maybe for the turtles?!)
(4)
Lauren B.
From the makers of YOLO comes....another terrific spot! Great location across the road from the beach, awesome ambiance outside with sexy dim lighting, banquet seating and firepits. Nice cocktails, great sushi...everything we ordered was mad tasty. Tip: try the edamame!! As a smoker, I was saddened to learn that the outdoor section is completely smoke-free. But if you're a non-smoker, my tragedy is your good fortune!
(4)
Chris E.
Good food and drinks. Great atmosphere. And a great view. Right on A1A across from the beach. Highly Recommend.
(4)
Beatrice Z.
Love this place. Food is consistently good and service is great. My only complaint is that since I live right right around the corner, I've been coming here since they opened at least once per week. Manager never acknowledges me or the fact that I bring them so many people. Otherwise I like this place.
(4)
Patrick P.
Good food and great service. Great decor and love the the open kitchen I always sit at the outside bar while I try all the tapas I recommend: Charred octopuses Tuna tower Pork belly Beet salad Braised short rib Staff and bartenders are really friendly and the Manager Jennifer White is amazing!!:)
(5)
Mizz V.
I've been here several times now and can confidently say that the food and service are consistently good. Actually "good" is an understatement - the food is consistently delicious and the service is attentive without being over-bearing or rushed; a plus in my book. Add a spectacular view and what more can you ask for? Some of the smaller plates can be a bit pricey, but the quality is always there so I can't complain. Check them out on weekends when they have live music, dancers and the fire pits glowing.
(4)
Elaine C.
Delicious food, delicious drinks, gorgeous view of the ocean. The servers are pleasant and efficient. Too bad you have to use metered beach parking if you're not a hotel guest. I'd visit much more if parking wasn't such a pain!
(3)
Alexii N.
One of my local go-tos. This restaurant is one of my usual spots in the Fort Lauderdale area. Beautiful interior, great outside bar by the ocean, yummy cocktails, and very tasty food. Basically everything I am looking for. Most of the dishes are tapas-style and come out when they are ready. Some of my favorites are: goat cheese croquettes, crab and shrimp roll, red dragon roll, Thai tuna roll, Mac and cheese, and short ribs.
(5)
Robert S.
Our first time here. Great food , wonderful wine selection and the ocean. But add the fact that Cindy C is now pert of the team. Phenomenal. We will be regulars often.
(5)
Janessa H.
I really wanted to like this place after hearing so many good things and reading some of the reviews. It may have been just this specific experience but unfortunately that's what this review is based on and any future visits, which are unlikely. The hostess was nice. My husband thinks the server is hung over. He forgot to bring our waters for the longest time and we had already begun to eat our food so we really needed it but he never even came to check to see if the first plate was ok. We had to ask the food runner for water and a different server for a menu bc one of our food items came out wrong. The manager was talking to the table next to us for quite sometime and it was clear that she knew the people but she never once stopped talking to turn and ask if everything was good with our food...which it was not. My husband got the shrimp and grits which was a bowl of decadent mess, too rich for our taste and the shrimp tasted funny...like chlorine or something, as strange as that sounds. We got the chicken salad for an appetizer which was delicious. I ordered the red dragon roll which was ok. I didn't find it to be anything worth a return visit or an excellent review, there are a lot of better sushi places that charge less. For dessert we got the sticky icky, which was good. Overall, this experience wasn't worth the time or money unfortunately and we will not be returning.
(2)
Robin T.
Great outdoor dining with an ocean view. Love small plates. However, 2 out of the 3 dishes arrived at our table cold. The waitress raved about the date toffee dessert but it was mediocre.
(4)
Mayank R.
This place is so awesome. We hung out at the bar twice after swimming in the ocean right in the front of the bar. The drinks are great, friendly bartenders and great food. The sampler cocktails are great. And edamame n octopus were so perfectly cooked and flavorful. Yummy. And the view is just amazing.
(4)
Ed B.
Wow. Love this place. First is the atmosphere very cool chill with house music playing in the background. Nice location on the beach. Place is for sharing which is very cool and allows to get different dishes. We started with tomato bread with manchego cheese. Then goat cheese croquettes wow!! Next we split a filet, Mac n cheese and corn. Amazing don't believe me I'll punch you in the face;)... Finished with a great dessert some sort of creme fresh thing. Really good!! Drinks were the only down side but could have been off night. All in all would absolutely return and recommend
(5)
Steve S.
The only reason I gave this place 4 stars and not 5 is because they told me a half hour wait and it ended up being an hour and half. With that being said the food here is amazing, it's all served in in small portions so four to five plates is perfect for 2 people. The service I was great too
Staff was friendly for the most part but my sushi roll came out first and I waited for my girlfriend to receive her mahi mahi for 5 minutes. After 10 more minutes, our waiter was no where to be found and my sushi was finished when she received her lunch. No apology for the delay. The bottle beer I had was also 6 months old, which should usually be cycled out. Not worth the price.
(2)
Brian x.
Fantastic! Had a 8:15 reservation but got to restaurant 30min early on a packed Friday night and they were able to seat us early. Service, FOOD and atmosphere were perfect. Thanks S3 for a really enjoyable meal. Our server Lauren was great!!
(5)
Carolyn B.
Celebrated birthday dinner. Party of 6. Food was great. Service great. Table was awful! We made a reservation 3 weeks in advance and we got a table by the front door. This is not acceptable. Food is eclectic and trendy. Sitting on the end there were guests and hosts on top of us. The other 2 tables at the window were not occupied when we got there. We didn't complain. But for almost $500. - you would hope they could've made a better accommodation. Matt our server was excellent!!!
(3)
Laura H.
This place just opened a few months ago. It is on the Hilton property. Started out with drinks turning into dinner splitting three small plates. Shrimp bruschetta then seven spice scallops following with Mac n cheese. Best part is they break up the experience bringing one plate after the next spacing them out. Bar is awesome. Plenty of seating half in half outside. Huge wine selection. Staff is really good. Bathroom clean. This is NOT a Hilton establishment where you earn multiplier points as a Hilton Honors member. They share the property. Big difference. Nice job!
(4)
Jessica C.
I had the opportunity to come to brunch here because my boyfriend is an avid yelper and he wanted to meet his fellow yelp friends. I had heard from co-workers this place had great drinks and appetizers for happy hour during the week. Upon walking up the view itself gets a 4 star it's in a great location at the hilton hotel (was not exactly psyched about supporting the competition but whatever) the day was beautiful and we had a table outside overlooking the ocean. For drinks I started off with a mimosa. I have to say it wasn't the best mimosa I've had. It was a little on the bitter side for me. It tasted like the champagne wasn't the best quality which caused the bitterness in taste. For my selections, I chose the goat cheese croquettes. And they were delicious! They had the perfect balance of tartness and flavor and they had a guava sauce on the Plate to scrape your croquette with. I have to say guava can have a distinct taste and many would consider it an acquired taste. I enjoyed this dish. My only complaint is I wish it could've been hotter when it arrived. For my main dish, I ordered the shrimp and crab roll. I never order sushi because 99.9% of rolls are made with avocado and I'm extremely allergic. To my surprise this roll didn't contain avocado and was prepared with my 2 favorite things, crab and shrimp. This roll was delicious. It had the perfect balance of flavors and certainly did not taste like the typical roll. Overall, I enjoyed my experience, it wasn't my best meal, but it earned 4 stars because of its location and view. In my opinion, the lunch and dinner menus looked more appealing. I will definitely be back.
(4)
SayYesToTheDress N.
Went here for a birthday dinner last night, and had a wonderful time. Great staff. Our waitress, Hannah was terrific! Food was on point. Drinks were ok. Ambiance was perfect. I was so impressed, I'm thinking about coming back to try S3 out for lunch!
(5)
S K.
Yesterday my boyfriend and I went to brunch at S3. I had made a reservation using OpenTable. As far as accessibility, I wish parking was easier; however, I know it is spring in Fort Lauderdale, so I can't fault the restaurant. I wonder if they have parking validation through the hotel?? Anyway, we were immediately sat down at a booth/table. The seating was a little low for the table, but very comfortable, and of course the view was great. The ambiance could not be better. The server came relatively quickly to take our drink order, and while we were at it, we ordered the small plate of fried goat cheese. The food came before our drinks, and we did need to remind our server of our water. I was downgrading them at this point to auto 4 starts because I was sensing the service would not be at my expectations.. however, read on and you'll find out why I had to give them 5 stars. While we were at S3 for brunch, I ordered a Thai Coconut Tuna roll thing. My boyfriend ordered the huevos rancheros. Both were delightful, and the sushi quality was exceptional. We also ordered more than a few cocktails - all of which had a nice pour, weren't too weak, and were very tasty. I liked the Beach Breeze most. Finally, we ordered some edamame. This was the best edamame dish I have had! It is seasoned well and very flavorful. The service was on par and our server was very attentive! Our tab came to just over $100, and I wanted to leave a cash tip. I thought I did... but I walked away without doing so, only to remember about 30 minutes later and see that the gratuity I intended to leave was still in my wallet. Quickly, we returned to give our server his due tip. And that is how I gave back the extra star to S3.... we all make mistakes.
(5)
Gizel A.
Beautiful atmosphere, great food (best edemames ever), great drinks. Have gone many times and can't wait to go back.
(5)
Jill R.
I came with my girlfriends for a late dinner. This restaurant is part of the Hilton Fort Lauderdale right on the beach. It was such a beautiful spot. We sat outside near the fire pits. The tables and outside furniture created a beautiful beachside ambiance. We shared a few tapas and ordered 2 bottles of Grafigna Pinot Grigio.My favorite tapas were the goat cheese croquettes and the sushi nacho! Service was great! I would definitely recommend this hot spot to people visiting the downtown Fort Lauderdale area!
(5)
Jessica L.
If I had to describe this place in 3 words, they would be outstanding, sexy, and refreshing. It's nice to finally have a great place to eat on the beach with an amazing view. The tuna tower was absolutely fresh and delicious. Brussels sprouts are better than mine and that's some pretty stiff competition! Service was up to perfection, staff very knowledgeable. I recommend this to anyone local or on vacation looking for amazing food with quality and love!
(5)
Joshua M.
I'm giving S3 5 stars because of the incredibly detailed and strategic method/preparation of the honey mustard. Dylan has done it again!!!!
(5)
Erich M.
Just joined yelp and found my favorite place in FLL would be great for my first review. S3 is set in a great location with great ocean views/ breezes, reasonably priced and full of beautiful people for those who like to people watch. Drinks are awesome if you know what you like. The food ... consistently good. Try the tuna tower and the pomme frites with parmesan aioli and your date I am sure will have one of those special moments.
(5)
Suzi C.
We arrive at 7:30ish and were told by the hostesses that there is a wait of 45 minutes. I proceed to go online and make a reservation via open table in 15 minutes, hostesses seem confused and somewhat annoyed when I tell them we actually have a reservation now. Cocktails were pretty yummy, I had a thymetini. The bartender was friendly and honest about what drinks to order. As for the food, it is just okay. The Brussels sprouts were the highlight, but we did not order any meat, which was probably a mistake since the kitchen did smell like a campfire. Oh and be prepared that if you sit outside to eat, which is the best part of this restaurant, drunk patrons will smoke and the staff will ignore it, even if you complain. Only a non-smoker like myself will be annoyed by this.
(2)
Gracey M.
Love this place. Great for happy hour. The only reason I didn't give this place 5 stars is because I was not happy with the wine selection by the glass. By the bottle selections were ok. The tuna roll is delicious.
(4)
Maria E.
I live in Fort Lauderdale, and S3 is my go-to place for taking either business or personal visitors who need the "eat on the beach" experience. The food is good quality, the sushi/fish is very fresh, the menu has a wide variety of reasonably priced options and the outside area is beautiful. Solid choice. They don't get my 5 because there are definitely better options in the city. The music can be quite loud unless you're lucky enough to get a seat outside in the cocktail area, but service is a bit spotty out there. Execution isn't always consistent, and sometimes plates come out sloppy- whether it's the fault of a rushed kitchen or a forgetful cocktail waitress. Some of the dishes are a bit lack-luster. Valet parking is annoying. These are pretty minor issues, though, and I've had many great experiences here with guests who are consistently pleased with the food and atmosphere.
(4)
Krystal O.
I was at S3 this past saturday for a cocktail - had the orange snap and it was very good. Unfortunately it was raining while I was there but I'd be excited to go back for a dinner here. The menu looked really good and restaurant is beautiful - would make for a sexy date night.
(4)
Scott P.
Great place to enjoy the ambiance of Ft. Lauderdale Beach. We sat outside on a full moon night and enjoyed the outside entertainment offered on a monthly basis. This time it was a great salsa band with professional dancers. Service was attentive and diligent. My date and I shared a wonderful rainbow roll (sushi), great mac and cheese, and awesome Grilled Shrimp toast. Food was really tasty. Would definitely be back. Great place for a semi-casual dinner date.
(4)
Ani J.
This place was just a few blocks away from our hotel, so we decided to give it a try. We didnt have any reservations, but they were able to seat us inside. All the outdoor seats were taken. They do have a bar area, but the tables are too small for the tapas style food. The waiter was very friendly and promptly took our order. We ordered the following: - Wok Charred Edamame: OMG....sooo good!!! I have never had Edamame that tasted so good. Its spicy and so flavorful. Just order this. - Rosemary Frittes: Warm and flavorful - Zellwood Corn: Delicious - Veggie Sushi Roll: Decent....nothing great. - Cookie with some ice-cream and caramel sauce: They dont have a dessert menu, so when the waiter was giving us the options, this one sounded the best. It was a little too sweet for my taste, but worth trying. Overall, this place has delicious food and great ambiance. If you get outdoor seating, you eat while staring at the ocean. Thumbs Up from me!!
(4)
Tiffany G.
Great ambience and great food! We sat outdoors, and really enjoyed the view! The grilled octopus was the most tender octopus I have ever had, and very tasty! The deviled eggs were very flavorful, and the Mac n cheese was rich, but good! My friend ordered sushi and really enjoyed it! I was pregnant still when I was here, so will have to try their sushi next trip! I definitely recommend this place for an enjoyable beach day lunch or dinner!!
(4)
Sarah M.
My hubby and I had dinner here before setting out for a cruise, and it was just fabulous. We enjoyed everything, from the Brussels sprouts to the sushi. I got the cocktail flight, and it was great to sample different flavors in smaller quantities. It has an open feel, and you can see the beach past the patio.
Everyone needs to come here and splurge a little! The food was amazing. My favorites were the ricotta gnocchi's and the heirloom tomatoes! The presentations are amazing and the tastes are like no restaurant I've been to before.
(5)
Sarah B.
As a local, I've been waiting to try this place ever since I started to see initial construction months ago. I tried it today for brunch and was not disappointed! After looking at their menu online, I knew they had a sangria sampler that I was excited to try. However our waitress said that they were trying a new sampler of their specialties drinks, so I picked out three delicious drinks and found my new favorite: the blackberry lychee! It had freshly muddled blackberries and was perfect for a Sunday afternoon. My mom ordered the Bloody Mary sampler and she enjoyed tasting the different varieties they offered. On to the food, we ordered two apps. The Brussels Sprouts (which were to die for) and the donuts (because after all, it was brunch!). I highly recommend the Brussels Sprouts even for those who are not fans. As one of my family sayings goes, "It tasted like candy!". For our lunch dishes, I ordered the pork belly benedict. It came on a biscuit and was topped with collard greens (YUM), the pork belly and a mustard hollandaise sauce. The eggs were cooked perfect, and there was just the right amount of pork belly and hollandaise sauce. My mom had the Kamikaze roll which was pretty good, but I didn't think it was rolled tight enough. Lastly my cousin had the shrimp and grits. The shrimp were great. However being from the south and having my Nana make shrimp and grits at home, we were disappointed in the tasso gravy that was served on the dish. It was full of tomatoes, which I believe a tasso cream sauce usually does not have. I do appreciate a restaurant putting their own spin on a dish, however sometimes the classics shouldn't be messed with. We had wonderful, quick, and knowledgeable service from Amanda. She was extremely attentive and had great recommendations for our table of people that had never been there. Ask for her to be your waitress! One down side was parking. I don't mind valeting my car at all, and usually that is what I prefer (I didn't even paying the fee). However, the valet was extremely slow in getting our car. I understand that S3 is located on a busy side street on A1A, but the valet guys didn't even seem to hustle as we were waiting over 5 minutes for our car. I know this isn't the restaurants fault, and believe me I still plan on being a regular here. I do suggest valeting, just be prepared to wait if your car wasn't parked on the first level of the parking garage. I look forward to going back and trying dinner and other drinks! Go and you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Kristin R.
Can't beat the beachfront location. Lovely environment offering ample menu offerings and creative drinks. Happy hour is right on and the drinks taste great. Service is on point and the fire pits in the evening offer a tranquil setting everyone can enjoy. This restaurant is located at the bottom level of the Hilton beach hotel. One of my local favorites.
(4)
Cara S.
Looking for a great places for small plates and good vino. This is it. Went there tonight with our little one. Awesome night. Fancy enough for a night out with the girls/boys but still cosy enough for a family night out. Our waiter was Chris, he was perfect. He was exactly what you want on a night out. Almost like your best friend serving you dinner. As for the the food. Extremely well priced for the amazing quality. The steak was to die for. You in Ft Lauderdale, come here. 5 star service and food without the 5 star price and pretentious BS. Thank you for an amazing evening.
(5)
Katie M.
Yelpers, you didn't let me down! The hubs and I were in Fort Lauderdale for a wedding and were looking for a spot close to our hotel to eat dinner when we stumbled upon the reviews for S3. The speciality drinks flights was a fun way to start the meal...the grilled octopus was ammmmmazing...heck, the entire meal was so incredible that we were tempted to visit two nights in a row for dinner. (We still regret our decision to choose a different restaurant for dinner night 2) Helpful hint: we called the restaurant for a reservation and were told that there was nothing available. We logged onto OpenTable and were able to reserve a table within 15 mins of our desired reservation time!
(5)
Duana M.
The food here is amazing! If you're not a big fan of tapas at least give S3 a chance and please try their macaroni.
(5)
Lindsay M.
Great service! We sat at the bar during happy hour and enjoyed some great appetizers and drinks! It was a rainy day but the view was still nice. We will definitely be returning the next time we visit Fort Lauderdale!
(5)
Susan T.
been here for lunch, brunch and dinner. Great place to enjoy some good food/drinks while on the beach. Great service, relaxing... hard not to enjoy yourself here. Love that it's tapas style so you eat a little of many things.
(4)
A N.
THE GOOD: - I'm trying my best to be nice before I get into the areas of concern. I will start by saying I had really high hopes for this place, given reviews. - Waiter appeared nice & attentive initially, offered to take the brussel sprouts off my bill. - Head host also came over to apologize for the brussel sprouts. THE BAD: - Brussel sprouts were way too salty and had to completely stop eating them. - The octopus and mac 'n' cheese were a little on the salty side, as well. Maybe more so, because I already started with salty brussels that inundated my taste buds. And trust me, I love salt, so if I think a dish is too salty, that is a FIRST! - The sorbet was somewhat icy so it was tough cutting into it. Once I waited ~5min to melt a little, it was creamier. THE UGLY: - The service got quite a bit slower and it's not like there were that many people in the restaurant as it was after 9pm on a weeknight. - I don't know if I may have pissed someone off for the brussel sprouts, but I received the check and in a line item, it subtracted $9 with the description, "NO LIKE FOOD". I'm Asian, and I was greatly offended as it implied that is how I speak, that I used broken English to describe what happened with the sprouts. Could have been an honest mistake by the person who typed it in and not some intentional typo. But seems insensitive even if it were a coincidence. I am not looking for an apology, but wanted to bring this up as something that the restaurant or any place should be mindful of when serving Asians.
(1)
Edward H.
DINNER FOOD: GOOD SERVICE: POOR Ocean views from just about every table gives this restaurant an advantage over others on Fort Lauderdale beach. It is located inside The Hilton Hotel but operated by The Restaurant People, who own and operate at least 5 restaurants and bars. Their success is the result of hard work by founder Tim Petrillo, Chef Peter Bouloukos and developer Alan Hooper. Whether you sit inside or outside the interior design and views give a perceived value,but the food and beverage prices at dinner are moderate to expensive. We ordered Brussels sprouts that were seasoned with pork, mint and peanuts, grilled octopus tossed with green herbs and navy beans, Snapper Kimchee with avocado and yuzu and grilled artichokes as starters. All were delicious but I think the artichokes were better without the heavy Remoulade. We paused to savor the flavors, drink wine and have laughs before choosing our entrees. The Large Plate section on the menu is considered entree portions. I noticed that most of the protein offerings had a designation except for the marinated Lamb chops and the Ribeye steak. I was interested in the Lamb Chops so I asked the waitress where they were from, she didn't know. I asked her to enquire and returns with news they were from New Zealand. I prefer Colorado Lamb but two of us ordered them anyway because the Mediterranean preparation sounded appealing. It was served with garbanzo beans, feta cheese and cherry tomatoes which was delicious but the Lamb was grizzly,fatty and only yielded 40% meat. Although the Mahi Rice & Beans with Mango Chutney was excellent. The waitress didn't return to the table until we were finished eating dinner and said nothing as she cleared away 60% of the Lamb that remained on our plates.I would hope being as successful as The Restaurant People are there is protocol for servers to follow when noticing unfinished meals.If this restaurant has protocol this waitress did not follow it. I am not a tourist and will return to sample other menu items, just not the New Zealand Lamb Chops. And hope the service is more attentive when I do.
(3)
Max T.
good food, nice atmosphere, but fairly non existent service. i wanted to order more but my server didnt stop by once in the 45 minutes i was there so i just grabbed my check and left instead.
(4)
Kristen D.
We didn't eat here butt enjoyed the live entertainment and music on a Sunday night. There was a fire dancing guy and salsa dancer. Breeze was beautiful. Lots of outdoor seating. Such a fun night. We actually had our kids with us and another family did too!
(5)
Tobias S.
Great Restaurant me and my cousin have literally dinned there 5 times. Always a great experience. Just wish they had a better dessert menu. Love the sliders, gnocchi ugh everything.
(5)
Brad D.
Would definitely be a five star but for our experience with the server. Food: Awesome; Atmosphere: Awesome; Location: Awesome; Server: she'd fit right in with the fast food chain restaurants (heck, they wouldn't even have to train her). All said and done, definitely a place to try again, but definitely not with that Denny's server. Update: must have been an off day for the server. We've returned to S3 several times during our stay for lunches and dinners (yes, it's that addictive). Each time service was spot on and the food was fantastic. The tapas/small plate approach worked wonderful, giving the opportunity to try several of their dishes. Their Edamame is awesome, Wok grilled with sesame and a hint of hot spices. It's a combination of all the previous Edamame we've tried and liked, all rolled into one. S3 is a definite must try on the beach.
(5)
L D.
Rarely do you find a restaurant that has the trifecta of excellent food, service and atmosphere. S3 has it all! The setting is fantastic, with inside/outside seating across the street from the beach! We sat at the bar and the bar tender was immediately attentive. Fantastic drink menu. We were seated for dinner outside with an overhead roof. Our server Kelly, was attentive and gave us suggestions on what to order. We shared small and big plates. The food was outstanding! We met one of the managers, Jenn, whom could not have done more to make us feel welcome. The great thing about this place is it is versatile. We could bring our kids (on the earlier side), clients, friends and if we had a private event, this place would be an excellent venue. We highly recommend S3 for a fun and delicious night out! Leila & Steve D.,
(5)
Nicole S.
I personally know the owner and I can say this place has awesome food. As a high school friend of the owner, I would recommend this place to anyone looking for delicious food in an upscale atmosphere
(5)
Trey H.
Great atmosphere for a quick lunch or a night out with friends!!! The food is the real reason to keep coming back... Try the Brisket Sliders ; )
(4)
Jessica B.
The scenery was pretty great as was the edamame. The sushi could stand for serious improvement. I'll find another place for sushi.
(3)
Rocki R.
i was pleasantly surprised how fun and good this place was. We went on a friday night and they had a live dj playing. They serve both tapa style, sushi and Main plates here. It fits every taste with land and sea options. My man got the Filet, it was a bit under cooked for him but it was tender and tastefully done, came with finger potatoes. Fish was fresh in the 2 sushi rolls, Gnnochi was a little on the salty side but flavor was still really good. Goat cheese balls (4 in a order) and fried artichoke hearts. Wood fired steak tapa and the mac and cheese was my fav. Mac and cheese was the best ive ever had.
(4)
Monique C.
Been over two years since I moved from Ft. Lauderdale to Brooklyn, and I wanted to eat on the beach. My girly and I were actually looking for a different fish restaurant, but ran into S3 first, so this was the spot for us and our hungry bellies. I get edamame all the time just to eat while I'm waiting on my food, but THIS EADAMAME is SO GOOD! Flavorful with some kinda soy glaze. We were sad it was gone. I have to get crab cakes everywhere I go. Mandatory. If it's on the menu, I'm eating it. These were really nice, quality crab meat. Delicious. Sushi was good, not the best I've ever had, but not disappointing. Above average. Overall, a really good meal with an amazing view (eat outdoors, no matter the temp) and great service. Throw in good company and this is a definite beach destination worth the trip.
(5)
Claudia J.
The view is unbelievably awesome!!!.... want have some time overlooking the beach?? go to S3!!! it has seating outside and inside, lots of people coming here... and I think the view has to do with it also... well... plus the food. Had the Banh Mi Sandwich, which was yummy!!... the baguette a bit way too toasty, but the flavor was just right! good ambiance, nice staff, and great view, can you ask for more????
(4)
Jeremy B.
2.5 stars generously rounded up to 3. S3 is a new place on Fort Lauderdale Beach. It's owned by the same group that owns Yolo and basically looks like Yolo overlooking the beach. The outside patio is nice place to hang out because you get the ocean breeze. The interior looks nice (better inside than outside) and they are trying to emit an upscale, trendy vibe. Food is not cheap but not surprising given the location, The service is still definitely working out the kinks. I hope they get better. I was smart and ordered drinks straight from the bar. My friends that attempted to have a server bring their drinks had to wait forever each time. My wife and her friends were hungry and ordered a sushi tray and it took like 45 minutes - 1 hour to come out. They did say the sushi was really good and I tried one piece and agreed. Cocktails are $12-$15 apiece and not very strong. Of course I asked for a craft beer. The only thing they have craft are beers by Florida Beer Co such as Florida Lager and Key West Sunset Ale. These are better than Miller/Bud/Corona/Heineken but still nothing special. They should get some higher end brands, as their selection does not reflect that of an upscale restaurant. Just compare the menu to that of Steak 954 next door at the W. But overall I can't hate on a nice looking spot right on the beach and it I were staying at the Hilton or Atlantic hotels, this is a nicer spot to go than McSorley's, Sandbar and Parrot down the street.
(3)
Dom D.
Went Saturday night. 930 reservation and it was still packed. Perfect table out side looking at a1a. Food was so good! Top five sushi rolls I've had, great small plates! Short ribs, scallops, Brussel sprouts (as good as craft in NYC) and many others. Only knock were drinks we had at bar far better then at table. Time was spent making drinks at bar, at table they were thrown together. The thyme tini was light color at bar and nearly black at table. GM did table visit and was super friendly and working the restaurant well. Still 5 stars despite drink.
(5)
Douglas C.
Had some friends in town from Chicago who are dealing with dreadfully cold weather and decided that trying S3 and eating outdoors on Fort Lauderdale beach would be a nice change of pace for them. Even through it was dark by the time we ate, its still a great location across from the beach. I had been wanting to try this place for a while. I made a reservation through Open Table and S3 called to confirm my reservation the day of, and asked if I had a seating preference. Nice touch. Showed up at the restaurant on a Thursday night and the place was busy but there were a few open tables. We were able to chose our table, which is a nice accommodation for a busy restaurant. The restaurant is much larger than I had expected so it looks like they can seat a lot of people and be really busy. The outdoor bar area has some nice big screen televisions, seating area, fire pits. Modern decor but not overly fancy. A very comfortable ambiance. Service was excellent the entire night. Our waitress was training, but was nice, friendly and eager to serve us, and the waitress training our waitress was with her practically the whole night, helping to fill in any gaps in menu descriptions, ordering advice and answer questions. No service complaints whatsoever. Food for the most part was very good. This is a tapas style place with some larger dishes so you do need to develop a game plan for ordering. They just bring out the dishes (in what appears to be order of plate size) with the "large plates" appearing last. We had the soy glazed edamame which was a uniquely salty and tasty dish. Sun roll sushi which was good, a seafoood tower that was awesome containing crab meat tuna and a fried wonton cracker. We had the scallops which were recommended by our trainer waitress which were in a very richly flavored sauce. We had lambchops which were excellent but did come out a bit rarer than we had ordered. We also had the mac and cheese which was creamy goodness, the rotisserie chicken which was tender tasty and excellent (the ratatouille served with the chicken was also great), and a grouper special which underwhelmed. The grouper was the only dish of the night that got a thumbs down. A bit too salty, fishy and overcooked. For dessert a layer cake that got increaingly better with each bite served a long with some ducle de leche ice cream. As for drinks, we did not order specialty drinks but rather wine, beer, gin and whiskey. All pours were generous. Dinner was pricey but we did order some pricey items and was not outrageous. The menu is rather large with a lot of enticing items. I plan to return to try some more of them.
(4)
Elizabet V.
My boyfriend and I frequent S3. The food is exquisite. Always well presented and very tasty. Good to go with a group as the food comes out in small plates to share so you get a chance to savor a few dishes appose to a couple. And the atmosphere is great during the day you look onto the ocean. At night they have fire pits out front which is pretty cool. Love it!!! Try it you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Dana M.
My co-worker recommended this restaurant and raved about how good it was. I am so glad I took her advice! I will be back for sure! Great views and I love how the restaurant has an open feel. We sat inside but felt like we were outside. Perfect combination especially if it's hot. We decided to try the mac & cheese based on the other reviews...it did not disappoint. We also did the trio of drinks which makes so much sense to do because you get to try an array of different drinks and the price isn't bad either $14 for 3. On the brunch menu we had the crabcake benedict... so delish and the special the had for the day. You will not be disappointed!
(4)
Tim N.
This place is a must do if only for the views! (Which are amazing) The menu is very eclectic which is what this owner does with most of his restaurants so plan on seeing everything from mac & cheese to sushi (not together though :-) Anyway I'm a grazer by nature so this works well for me. S3 = all good.
(4)
Dee B.
This is our "go to" place within walking distance to entertain our friends visiting us on the beach. It is dynamic, modern, elegant, and non pretentious at the same time somehow. You'll see large groups with families with youngsters, and you'll see hipsters hanging out with lots of glam and bling simultaneously. I love it. And the food, like someone else said, is definitely worth the price here on fickle-food-ft-loddy-beach. We have been several times since S3 opened and the food quality has not wavered. Its far enough away from the clamor and trifle of beach place, but still a great location for tourists and locals alike. We love sharing the small plates--a bruschetta take, skirt steak on yuca sticks, a designer bowl of Mac n cheese with ham pieces, an octopus dish, a shrimp tempura roll, rosemary frittes, it was all presented lovely and tasted phenomenal. I can't rave enough about the edamame wood grilled with some soy sesame seed mixture. The variety of the menu is not overwhelming, its just right. There is pretty much something for many tastes, and at least to try without committing to a huge entree, which are also fabulous and available. The chocolate chip cookie thing with ice cream has gotten even better......the scoop was bigger this time! Our server was extremely attentive. He was patient and made great suggestions. Everyone we take always wants go back as soon as possible. Yay S3!
(5)
SB S.
I'm iffy about spots on the beach. They tend to be over priced and touristy. This was definitely over priced but the food was great. Fresh sushi, and very tasty. The farro salad was just scrumptious. Definitely try it. That's about all I tried here but I'd go back for sure. Oh, they validate for the parking valet during lunch. I wish the waiter was kind enough to offer to do that for me instead of me finding out when I asked for my car all the way back at valet. It's small things like that that plus hVe gotten this place an extra star
(3)
H M.
Amazing atmosphere. Great food. Was even great with kids! Recommend it to everyone. Such a cool place!
(5)
Steve R.
S3 may have just taken the lead as our favorite restaurant on the beach. The decor is impressive and the bar lounge area is set up in such a way that you can see yourself spending the day there (if you can afford it!). The layout provides for ample indoor or outdoor seating. The views are quite nice but probably not that much better than other beach restaurants. Overall though, the ambiance is pretty impressive. The service is pretty good. The staff can probably be a bit warmer but they are professional enough. Something feels just a bit stuffy about them. But for a newer restaurant, service is pretty solid. The food is really good and some items are excellent. Of all we've tried in our visits, we found the dragon roll and the chocolate layer cake just OK. The croquettes, short rib, mac and cheese, and beet salad were very good. And the sushi nacho, octopus, scallops and the warm blondie cookie were outstanding. The sushi taco was probably the most impressive and surprising over all. It is prepared like a tuna tartare with guacamole and is served on a fried wonton. It was great. The prices are a bit high but there are some reasonably priced glasses of wine on the menu. Overall, our meals have been great. With a little more friendly service and maybe a few lesser priced items, I think we could comfortably give S3 5 stars. For now, we think they deserve a strong 4. We'll definitely be back, often.
(4)
Chuck Z.
Very nice location with a great view of the beach.... Wide open windows/doors allow for an awesome breeze. Food was good, we had sushi and small plates of which I liked the paella the best. Sushi was a bit bland, perhaps it was the rolls and sashimi we ordered? A bit pricey but not unreasonable for where we were at. Check it out if you are close and need a nice bite.
(4)
Jose N.
What a terrible experience. Had a reservation for 9:15 PM for a party of eight people. Got here early, And was told that our table would be ready in five minutes. About an hour later, it seems they gave away our table to someone else and made us wait even longer. All they kept telling us was that we had to continue waiting. Meanwhile, they seated many parties ahead of us That got here well after we did. This is the first and last time I will come to this place.
(1)
Leighanne L.
Great spot! Thanks again to Yelp! The ambiance, the service and the food were all fantastic. Started with shrimp tempura sushi roll and sparkling saki yummy! We had the crab cakes, delicious The brussels sprouts Seasoned wonderfully The beef short ribs so tender they fall apart. All in all it was time well spent, we will come back when we are in town!
(4)
Heather B.
Everything we ate here was amazing!!!! Pork belly, Mac n cheese, sushi, sliders and doughnuts for dessert. Wait staff was very friendly and attentive as was the chef we were seated in front of (Steve, maybe?). We can't wait to come back again soon! Thanks for a great dining experience!
I'm completely in love with the baby tomato hairloom salad, a MUST try!!!! And the service is incredible. I love this pplace
(5)
Morgan B.
In my opinion, the best restaurant on the beach. Various menu options from sushi to mac and cheese, excellent tapas and beachfront view. A little pricey, but fair in comparison to other beach restaurants. Happy hour during the week, great atmosphere.
(4)
Donna P.
The first time at S3 was a spontaneous moment as we were on a walk with our 2 dogs and stopped in. We had a great nite on the patio/lounge. The 2 gas fireplaces make the outdoor area charming warm, the view of the ocean/palm trees -- it's really nice. The food and service -- the rosary fries - fabulous, the mac and cheese delicious, salads, artichokes, sushi ..... not a complaint from our group - we enjoyed everything. The patio/lounge service can be slow - there is usually 1 server during the week and if busy -- she's running from table to table. The view and food -- won't disappoint.
(4)
John S.
This is the third(ish?) time we have been here, and it was absolutely the best. We got goat cheese croquettes that we immediately wanted a second order of, short rib sliders we also wanted seconds of, scallops that were perfect and delicious and wonderful, and Mac and cheese for dessert. Best dinner yet. Can't stop obsessing. Gin tickle is the best drink. Boyfriend had diablo cervesa (craft man cocktail). So good. So fat. So happy. Irene was a great server. Written by Stefanie S.
(4)
Virdina M.
I had some type of sushi there but honestly wasn't impressed with it. However, their pork belly, warm salad thing, skirt steak, shrimp bread were all delicious. They have great options. Berry mojito was good. They had one drink that had a foam on top of it that was frankly gross. They should print a dessert menu. The waiter recited 5 different desserts and expected us to remember them....no. Just print a menu. It's weird. We ordered the blondie, donuts and their chocolate cake or something. Their desserts are yummy.
(4)
Allan S.
The night we had dinner here the waitress suggested that we try the cookie dessert. I instead opted for something else that turned out to be a disappointment. Last night we stopped by for drinks and dessert; again we asked the server what she recommended .. "the cookie dessert" she replied. So the cookie dessert it was; and it was OUTSTANDING! Along with the espresso.
(5)
Noreen B.
I live in Fort Lauderdale and met a friend there that came in from out-of-town.the location on the beach is great. We only ordered two things. We ordered the macaroni and cheese and the skirt steak. We got the macaroni and cheese right away, but waited for ever for the skirt steak. We were offered a free dessert but we did not want anything. I would've thought they would comp something on the bill from having waited so long. I guess the only reason I would go back there, is if I want to take a friend to eat somewhere on the beach. But there are other options as well.
(3)
Sara G.
Sushi was delicious. Location is amazing, right on the beach. Get a spot on the patio if you can. We didn't have a reservation so we sat inside but it was still awesome. Great wine. Amazing atmosphere. Apparently owned by the same people that own YOLO. If you like YOLO, you'll like S3. Service was a little slow on a Saturday night, but we had time...
(5)
Susan B.
We arrived at s3 I'm am a locale and have been there numerous times,I love the food! Now upon our arrival the valet which has always been free with a validated ticket told us to validate ticket as we did after A horrible dinner service food awesome service the worst I asked for a wine list at the beginning and did not receive it until the end if dinner. The waiter could not hear me either I had to repeat twice time hear my food order. Then we walked out to the valley where they wanted 7 dollars and a tip. They usually ask for 5 dollars. They told me 14 dollars to park. I'm a local and was furious. Nobody was there I can't believe they did this.
(1)
Ted S.
Not happy with service. Hard time to get waited on. Suggest they put more help on I walked out never to return
(1)
Andy C.
S3 has an awesome vibe! It's so Fort Lauderdale. Great beach breeze, cool lighting and fun places to sit and enjoy the views. The food is awesome. Love the small plate menu as you can share a bunch of tasty items with your fellow diners at your table. Drinks are good too. Make reservations as this place is often packed.
(5)
Natasha M.
Fabulous in every way possible. We went on a late Saturday night and had no problems with seating. Location perfect. Service great, we had mike and he did as requested and spaced out our plates at appropriate intervals. Food was excellent. Ceviche, eel roll were both good, the skirt steak was amazing, spare ribs, pork belly and Brussels sprouts were all good as well. Edamame were also made with a fun, spicy twist. Highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Virginie L.
I went here in my Birthday!' Everything was perfect, the food, drinks and ambience. I would highly recommend this place. Everything we ordered was great/)
(4)
Kenton L.
This is beautiful restaurant for couples who want to do something romantic. The severs are professional and beautiful. The restaurant offers good food and drink with a nice view of the ocean. The DJ played many of the new house mix. But the big plus about this restaurant is the location. Also, It's very convenient if you happen to stay in the Hilton Hotel because it's located in front of the hotel.
(5)
John F.
FINALLY- a restaurant on the beach that can justify their price tag!!! Thank goodness. Had lunch today- very good, creative, and fresh. Delicious coffee. Buratta salad, with giardiniera was awesome, fresh chicken salad was great, as well. Delicious dressings, fresh ingredients. Had a sushi roll with tuna, coconut, jalapeno, and macadamia nuts, wrapped in rice, then soy paper. Sweet, delicate flavor. Great location, in the Hilton, across from the beach. We will be back for dinner.
(4)
Lauren C.
Pros: Great location/view on the beach on Las Olas. Cool outdoor bar area with fire pits and couches. Food is served tapas style so it comes out at all random times, which is ok if you're in the mood for that. The grilled octopus and the roasted Brussels sprouts were the two highlights of the dozen or so things out table ordered. Those were delicious. Cons: They offered to let me taste two wines before I ordered the glass I wanted, which I thought was great -- but then they charged me for two glasses! (one, which I did not order) Once we got the check, it was too busy and loud to communicate this to the server so I just paid for the glass I never got. They also won't split up checks for large parties -- boo. Not to sound like a complainer, but it is really loud in there too, you can't really hear anyone across the table from you.
(4)
c l.
Best octopus I've ever had. I want to return just to get more of that grilled octopus. The sushi roll was very good, too, but I can't remember the name. Pork belly dish was good but not great. Tuna tower was okay. Overall, though, very good. Nice service. Nice atmosphere except a little heavy on the air conditioning.
(4)
Chris S.
This place is an extremely nice and high class restaurant. Went with a friend and had no clue what to expect. The ambiance was amazing. We sat at the bar and ha excellent service and the food was excellent. Great scenery walking around and the beach was good too. I recommend getting some sushi. We really enjoyed the way things are served there. The food comes out as its ready instead of all at once. So there's a good break between food items. Excellent. I definitely recommend going there.
(5)
Angela L.
Came here for lunch and had an awesome time! The mac and cheese was delicious!
(4)
Keith G.
Everything was delicious! Octopus and croquettes and crab cakes, oh my! Fantastic service - attentive without being overbearing. Great place to try a bunch of different things. Will definitely be back! If you go, you must have the octopus!!!
(5)
Tammy S.
One good meal and one bad meal. But the bad meal was a grouper that was not completely cooked. I sent that back and they gave me another that tasted ok. Then it just did not sit right in my stomach, had my doubts about the quality of the fish. Oddly, the sushi was great the night before.
(3)
Scott A.
This place has an amazing setting! Water view and great patio area. Food is pretty good. Edamame is great. Chicken wings are why I rate only a 4 star, they where only ehh. Overall good. Server was good too.
(4)
Kevin S.
Continue to be more than impressed with this place. Top to bottom this is probably the best restaurant in Fort Lauderdale (also check out lobster grille). S3 has some of the best items I have had. And definitely the best Mac and Cheese ever. Also get the edamame, short ribs, sliders, pretty much everything is great. Good drinks too, this place is a can't miss.
(5)
Rachael S.
OK the stuffed peppers are one of the greatest things I have ever eaten, in my life. True story. Husband and I went for lunch and sat outside, absolutely beautiful. A true hidden treasure. Would be wonderful for large group dinners. We definitely want to go back with couples. You must sit outside, really lovely, relaxing beach view with great service.
(5)
Phoebe R.
S3 is hands down in our top 2 beach restaurants. Most locals don't dine by the beach because there aren't great options but I'm so glad we found S3 because we always want something to eat when we go to the beach! It's menu is set up tapas style and each dish is appropriately priced for it's tasting portion. Their sushi is good but I wouldn't just stick with it alone because there are other great options. We got a shrimp tempura roll, tuna tower, goat cheese croquettes, Vietnamese wings and doughnuts. All were great but my boyfriend LOVED the tuna tower (it looked great but I don't eat fish so I can't say for myself) and we both wanted a few more doughnuts because they were so good. The water is mint (I think?) infused and it's a refreshing palate cleanser between bites. Surprisingly no cocktails were ordered but as I peeked at the ones near us I noticed that they looked very nice! Joseph was our waiter and he was friendly and attentive. The ambiance is lovely and who could complain about the perfect beach view? Another perk, comp valet for lunch! The bill for the two of us getting all of those items was just under $60 before tip so it's a pretty good value! We both work at area hotels and will definitely send guests to S3!
(5)
J B.
Came in from NC and being a fan of YOLO, I wanted to try their newest restaurant. It did not disappoint! Something different with the small plate menus, I had a chance to try a lot of different dishes. Thai Tuna roll, Mac and cheese, and Sushi Nachos were my favorites. Also Goat Cheese Croquettes and Deviled Eggs were excellent. Setting was awesome, right on the beach. Definitely will be back. Give this place a try for something new and fresh.
(5)
Jerry P.
Pleasantly surprised. Never know what you get when you have a restaurant connected to a hotel but Wow is all I can say. Apps were excellent, esp loved the tomato bread and Edemame. Nice selection of sushi rolls and the kids loved the Mac and cheese, with bacon how can it miss? Great view and open outdoor seating, excellent overall
(5)
Kathy S.
First, the location here is prime and it's just so relaxing to sit by the water enjoying some delicious, flavorful food with a drink of choice. My personal favorite that they make at S3 is the Gin Tickle. (At least that's what I think it's called.) Our server was super knowledgeable about the menu and helped us in making sure we didn't over or under order food for the table. We had sushi, fish, steak, chicken, and the brussel sprouts! The sprouts were so delicious!! I highly recommend them. Their sushi was super fresh. Food was brought to the table quickly. We went around dinner time so the view was beautiful with the night sky falling and the ocean view.
(4)
Lucy L.
Came here last weekend for cocktails with a friend. Highly recommend the 3 samplers: Blue Berry Lychee with Sake, Gin Tickle and Blue Berry Strawberry mojito. All were Delicious and beautifully garnished. Skip the Thai Coconut Mint one. I also had the Churrasco Steak with Yuca and mango bits--AMAZEBALLS. (keep in mind its Tapas style so you might need to order more than one dish.) Beautiful outdoor, indoor ambiance, right near the water, palm trees blowing. I highly recommend taking all out of town guests or visits for special occasions. Bartenders were hot and exotic looking, be sure to compliment them on their lipstick-they like that, lol. I will return, probably next weekend.
(5)
Miranda B.
Very Good=Goat Cheese Croquettes & Orange Drop cocktail Great=Mac & Cheese & Chicken Salad & sitting outside at fire pit
(4)
Gina M.
Wonderful food, drinks atmosphere. We had the filet mignon, fresh toasted tuna rolls, octopus, mac n chz with panchetta, everything was perfect. Definitely will be back.
(5)
Sheila S.
1st timer to S3. I came here on a Tuesday evening with two friends. We had reservations and got right in. We had a round of signature cocktails that were delicious. The beverage/wine list was pretty expansive. Favorites were Mac n cheese, brussel sprouts and signature sushi rolls. The menu is pretty diverse and the prices were reasonable. The deserts were not amazing compared to the rest of the menu. Our only reason for 4 stars is our server, while efficient and not pushy, had little personality and didn't really seem like she wanted to be there. The manager on duty also came to check the table and was really personable. Overall experience was amazing and a nice addition to A1A!!
(4)
Jenny V.
Awesome place. I'm glad we took a tip from our hotel concierge and ate here. The ambience is sleek and swanky but casual at the same time. The drinks and food were great. Service was wonderful. If the weather is nice as to sit outside.
(5)
Lindy N.
My girlfriend and I finally decided to give this place try last wkend for lunch. The drinks were amazeeeee balls! haha..excuse my language! :) They were strong but bursting with flavor!!! We tried the crispy rice cake(yum yum delish!), thai tuna roll(good not my fave), Chilled seafood salad( great smoky flavor, but was expecting a refreshing zingy citrus dressing), and the grilled romaine(loved this one, romaine was still crisp)
(4)
Gretchen A.
WHATEVER YOU DO GET THE SHORT RIBS! Absolutely to die for. The coffee rubbed flank steak with yucca was excellent as well. Everything we ordered was tasty and a good portion size. We came on a Monday night and it was packed which speaks to the quality of food here. Great selection of dishes- if you choose to eat here you will not regret it!
(5)
Steven R.
Huge restaurant in the Hilton Hotel. Lots of outdoor seating, although who knows why in 78F weather they need to have gas fires near lots of the seating. Music was very loud indeed and generally detracted from the evening. Why can't they turn it down or switch it off. Service was generally poor. I'm European and not one to complain about the all-too-present service one finds in the US but these waiters were just nowhere to be seen a lot of the time. They were all very young and probably not terribly experienced at eating out without their parents. Ordering took forever as did delivery of the first course. The veggie rolls were poor. They were so shoddily made that I couldn't pick up half of them with my chopsticks as they weren't whole or complete. After an age, the chicken arrived. It was fine. Lukewarm but fine. Nothing else to say about it. Wine was reasonably priced for the choices available. Dessert was okay. It wasn't too expensive for what we had but I was seriously underwhelmed. The place was huge and pretty packed but somehow I'm not sure they were there for the food but rather the ambience. I can't believe they have a lot of repeat business based on the food quality. I know Fort Lauderdale is a big tourist town and a bit hit with the 20 plus crowd trying to get really drunk but this restaurant was aiming for a trendy and upscale vibe. They failed. You'd have to drag me back there to eat, kicking and screaming. There must be better places than this around, surely.
(2)
Kevin C.
Great food. Awful service. I'm a young guy, went in once before when not busy and was great. Went in last night and did not get served well. More attention set on other diners who wore suits and dresses. Pretty insulting. I feel as though if I wore my business attire and expensive shoes, I would have been treated properly. Only spent $47 and left still very hungry. Decided to stop somewhere else for dinner on the way home. It's a shame because food was good. Make sure you wear your high end suits and have your wives bring expensive handbags to get attention from server.
(2)
Cesar C.
Had a million things. Lollipop sushi taste like the air outside... Super bland. Octopus - more beans and tomato than anything and missing the chard grill taste. Again, bland. Best item was shrimp toast. Awesome atmosphere but super normal food. Nothing is close to being out of this world... Then again everything is pretty much less than $12. Value matches quality.
(3)
Sam H.
Great atmosphere. Drinks lacked amount of alcohol but had great flavors. Awesome food. Nothing better than the desserts. What more can I say. I am a fan.
(4)
Robin W.
Located in the Hilton with a view of the ocean sits this extremely noisy and expensive restaurant. The food for the four of us with the exception of a spicey edamame dish was exceptional. The service was only fair as the waiter forgot about our water request and the reorder of the edamame dish that never came. It was my birthday and we wrote it on the reservation request. We spent $169.00 in food but that wasn't enough to warrant a candle or dessert to celebrate. Per the manager, you must buy a dessert to warrant a candle. We traveled for 50 minutes to eat here! What a disappointment!
(3)
Brian R.
Beautiful place on the beach.
(3)
Mike S.
I was pleasantly surprised. Most of the 'beach establishments' in the area are known for bad service and even worse food. The dishes here, though are packed with flavor and tickle the taste buds. We had many of the tapas. Some of the stand-outs were the tangy Brussels sprouts and the special shrimp pad Thai. I didn't care for the mussels (too sandy) or skirt steak (too bland), but the shrimp toast and fresh deviled eggs more than made up for it. Also, our server was exceptionally friendly and helpful. All in all, this is a chic spot where you can bring your friends or a nice romantic date. S3 is a keeper!
(4)
Allison J.
Organized a little surprise dinner here for my boyfriend. Everything from the food (quality & presentation) to the service to the pricing to the ambiance is 5-star! LOVED their specialty cocktails!!! Everyone who joined us had nothing but positive raves :) I've heard a lot about their brunch... looks like I'll be trying that today!
(5)
Joe L.
These good reviews must have been written by employees. 1. A wine pour the size of a thimble 2. Attitude by the waiter. Had to ask 3 different people for water 3. Generally marginal food and we had 5 different items. Spend a couple of dollars more and go to the W next door or even try Timpano or Kitchentta. All are by far better.
(1)
Wade M.
BEAUTIFUL - GOOD SERVICE - MEDIOCRE FOOD. The decor is beautiful and interesting. The service was very attentive. I left full. Now, why 3 stars? I don't know what this place wants to be. Sushi, macaroni and cheese, and a hodgepodge of other stuff on the same menu? What's the theme? Asian? I ordered an heirloom tomato salad, and just the words 'heirloom tomato' declare the middle of summer, and make my mouth water... but then instead of the plate of heirlooms with a little balsamic and olive oil, and perhaps some basil, I got a pile of arugula, goat cheese, some grain, and 2 Publix cherry tomatoes on top. What a disappointment. I left full, but nothing I had was worth going back for. My suggestion to S3 is to find a chef that is as talented as your decorator. Also, the logo should be readable, and again, be consistent with the restaurant's theme -- once it's determined.
(3)
Jim M.
My wife and I were staying at the Hilton for our anniversary this weekend. On Thursday we ate at S3 and were amazed out how good everything was. We had a mix match of sushi, Brussel sprouts, and short ribs all of them outstanding. With that being said we had to go back for seconds on Friday and they blew us away even more. The frittes had just the right seasoning, the brisket slider were outstanding with a sweet heat taste, the Grouper was the BEST prepared fish I ever had!! Compliments to all three chefs!! I can't say enough besides will we be back for 3rd's???
(4)
Tom L.
Had a great time. Restaurant has a real "vibe." Great background music. Beautiful people. Nice decor. Good service. Delicious food and drinks, reasonably priced. Make a reservation. Sit outdoors if you can.
(4)
T N.
This place so amazing! I loved every dish we ordered. The only down fall is the portion is so small. The ambience is magnificent and the drinks. I absolutely love this place!! Would highly recommend it.
(5)
Blake T.
I have a mixed review for S3...the the servers seem very busy but not accomplishing much. (Seemed like a lack of training or inexperience). My server was not versed on the menu and knew even less about the sushi. The berry mojito was very good and lots of fruit. I ordered several sushi items and they came as sashimi. When I pointed his out it was brought back and they placed rice under each piece. The raw fish was very fresh but the rice was one step above minute rice..Top quality rice well prepared is the difference between great sushi and fast food sushi...we sat at the sushi bar and watched the chefs preparing the sushi and these guys are not superstars..The server never returned and I had an empty drink for most of the meal...I would give the place a second shot but would try some other items on the menu...
(2)
Amy F.
Juan is the best! If you eat here ask for him. And the grilled romain salad is fabulous! I ha trouble choosing. Everything on the menu looked delicious! Filet was perfect.
(5)
Robin B.
Beautiful restaurant overlooking the ocean. we went for sunday brunch. we each ordered drink sampler(s). I had the Bloody Mary Sampler..very tasty and the others ordered martini samplers. great way to taste their different drinks and order your favorite later on. Our server Amanda was delightful, she knew the menu front to back. you can't go wrong with the brussels sprouts. We also ordered the pork belly benedict (great choice). I'm from the south and the shrimp and grits were not my favorite, the shrimp was fresh, but i thought the tasso gravy sauce had too much tomato. We also enjoyed one of their sushi rolls. I love the concept of sharing foods. This is a wonderful restaurant and we will go back for more.
(4)
Chrissy T.
One of my favorite spots to dine in Ft Lauderdale! Food is always tasty, location is perfect and the service is friendly and on point. We had Sheila as our waitress for our last visit. She was attentive, very knowledgable of the menu and made us feel like we were her only table. Food and drinks were fabulous, would highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Anne T.
This place really has it all. Great view, great staff and the most interesting menu on the beach. I have been 3 times already because when I think of going somewhere else I compare it with their menu and I have to go back. The Edamame dish is the best I ever had. The quality of the ingredients in the tomatoe bread allows you to savor the every taste. The brisket sliders are delicious. We saw the man next to us order them and watched his face at the first taste. He moaned with delight. The cinamon donuts dipped in Creme Anglais make an excellent finish. Nice beer and wine selection too. Don't miss it!
(5)
Anwar H.
Great food and fantastic service. The location is nice and by the beach. We were a group of four - they did a great job of recommending items and serving our table. The spicy tuna bread is fantastic.
(5)
Amy S.
My girlfriend and I came here rather late after our flight in. It was one of the only places still serving food that we could find. The drinks were amazing and the food was exceptional! I had a roasted chicken and it was so tender and juicy that I just couldn't stop eating it. Service was ok but they were busy. Would come here again!
(5)
Dennis P.
The food was good, server was very friendly, the environment was was nicely decorated, the prices were very fair as well. You do not get a lot of these restaurants in Fort Lauderdale. I recommend this place.
(5)
Hector M.
I had stopped writing reviews here as Yelp "filters" reviews so what is the point?!!...yet I decided I needed to tell the world about one of the best new restaurants in the Fort Lauderdale Beach area. The menu is very adventurous and offers great options. All sea food dishes are to die for. Great wine list and sexy cocktails. Amazing ocean view and the breeze... Genuinely friendly and gorgeous staff. Make sure to stop by whether you are a local or vacationing in the area as you will not be disappointed. Leave it now to Yelp to filter this review and then this will be the LAST review I ever write...Wish there was a place to review Yelp - yelp the site itself is not even deserving of a one star rating...
(5)
Brooke K.
Went here with some friends last week, and had a few Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc's. It was a walk away from our hotel (Ritz Carlton) so it was really convenient for us. The bartender was attentive, the ambiance and location were amazing. Nice decor, and clean restrooms (I'm a stickler for cleanliness). We will definitely be returning!
(4)
Shehnaz H.
Im so happy this place is here! It has a great variety of food flavors and cuisine. Sitting outside is soooo relaxing with view of the beach. But the inside is nice too because they have a wood burning oven that smells of sweet wood which gives the food an unforgettable flavor. They have sushi, Spanish tapas, and much more. We LOVE the sushi nachos and brisket sliders. We order 2 orders of each every time bc my bf and I do not want to share it. Haha toooo yummy!
(4)
Steph K.
I went here for lunch back in June while in Ft. Laurderdale for a Bachelorette party. We were seated very quickly and had a wonderful view of the ocean. They have a great selection of tapas so I ordered a burger and a sushi roll. Both were super fresh and had great flavor. To drink, I had a margarita on the rocks with salt. My only complaint with that was the drink was EXTREMELY salty. It almost tasted like it was made with salt water. Other than that, the lunch was very nice and I would reccomend this place for lunch.
(4)
Lee E.
Went here on a Saturday night recently and enjoyed it. The food that we had was good; not great by any means but not bad. I know not very encouraging but what it lacks in the food dept it makes up in ambiance and location, right on the beach. We sat outside and it was beautiful, decorated really nice and overall a great atmosphere. Has very nice outside bar as well with large sitting area. I would go back for the atmosphere alone.
(3)
Jeff D.
Great atmosphere and location on the beach. The service was very good and helpful. The food was excellent and was not overpriced. The drinks were good but were a tad too weak for my taste. Overall I enjoyed S3 and will definitely dine there again.
(4)
My D.
The food, serves were amazing, and the portion was perfect ....must try Vietnamese chicken wings.
(5)
Jarret S.
I must admit, this restaurant is gorgeous inside and outside. The view is remarkable and the overall look/feel of the restaurant are excellent. Unfortunately, both the food and service are sub-par especially at the prices. I had the chicken and sweet potato waffle and my wife had the Banana Bread French Toast. Both were served with cold pancake syrup (Should be warm). The chicken on my waffle was very tasty but there wasn't much of it. As for the waffle, it seemed to lack any sort of real sweet potato taste and was very thin. Additionally, it was not very fluffy and was not very hot either. My wife's French toast again was just OK. The "French toast" seemed to just be griddled banana bread. It didn't have any of the candied walnuts described on the menu and was room temperature at best. The whipped Chantilly cream on top was delicious. Service was very mediocre. Our server wasn't very attentive and took a long time to get our bill. Additionally, my wife's peach Bellini lacked any peach flavor at all and was like a small glass of champagne for $13. My coffee was sub-par and disappointing. This restaurant has a lot of potential given it's prime real estate and overall ambiance but the food and service need much more attention from upper management.
(2)
Curtis K.
I remember seeing about this place on chan. 7 ....wanted a nice beach experience without having to drive all the way to south beach. Decided I'd finally look up directions and see what this place was about. I must say this place is a winner, great job Fort Lauderdale! The service was good, people were chill and pleasant & the food was great... you absolutely get what you pay for here. Night time seems like the best time to go, whether dining inside or outside you still get to enjoy the ocean smell & breeze. I'll just say this, I downloaded Yelp JUST so I could leave a review on this place, I thoroughly enjoyed myself, the experience & the food. I will def be back soon.. there's so much to choose from that I must come again and try a whole new side of the menu. Pretty excited about this place and I love that it's local, I think I found my new fav spot, we'll see how the second experience is. If I could, I would give it 10 stars solely based on my first experience itself.
(5)
Chris F.
I've been to S3 about 6 times since it opened. Great indoor/outdoor ambiance. Consistently good food and drinks. I have to knock off 2 stars because of something awful they're doing now. Took a date there the other day and requested a table outside so we could enjoy the full moon, which came up shortly after we were seated (gorgeous!) Then right after we ordered a cocktail four guys started banging their drums and some type of Brazilian carnival show started with three dancers. No way we could carry on a conversation. It was a horrible experience and it went on the whole time we were there. I honestly don't know why they think they need something like this. With their great view of the ocean, perfect lighting, and gorgeous design, that's all you need. I won't go back until they get rid of the "entertainment". So when making a reservation, beware and ask if the drum banging will be happening.
(3)
Kristi B.
We came in while on vacation and it was amazing! From the decor inside to the view outside, we automatically fell in love. It's a beautiful place. It's an interesting concept with the small plates and we were a little hesitant at first. Our server helped us through every step though. The wok charred edamame - BEST we've ever had. We ended up craving it for days after. We got quite a bit of sushi which was all great. Don't even get me started on the macaroni. It's so rich and delicious. I can't even remember all the other things we ordered. All we know is that every bite was wonderful. I will definitely be back in on my next visit to Fort Lauderdale!
(5)
Elijah S.
Super cool space with great views. The food is very good. However, the service is typically lacking. Have visited 4 times and only received great service when the Managers were involved. Everything from getting a table, to placing an order, getting food on a timely basis, etc can be a big issue and might ruin your experience. Unfortunately, service is not a top priority. The day the fix this they will easily earn 5 star status. Hope they fix this soon because I won't go back until they do and I happen to really like this place.
(3)
Carly S.
Good atmosphere. Visited for brunch on Sunday. You HAVE to sit outside to get the full effect. Take in the ocean and the sky and breeze and its all worth it. The food was very tasty but I am more impressed with the location and overall feeling of the place. Server was friendly.
(4)
MIchael R.
Good:food quality and presentation,innovative cuisine,location and outdoor space,attentiveness of wait staff Not so good/room for improvement:food quantity and pricing Fun place to hang out at.,good in -and outdoor seating,somewhat limited choices for lunch,definitely aggressive pricing for both food and drinks for Fort Lauderdale and just about anywhere else other than London and Tokio.. Would go back with clients but somewhat hesitant on my own dime..
(4)
Tom L.
Very disappointing and over rated. Was expecting much more since I have always loved YOLO. Expensive poorly prepared small plates. Had two very small crab cakes - little crab, all filler - for $16. Rosemary fries were fries with a sprig of rosemary on top- really? - try using some rosemary infused oil or minced rosemary. Left hungry after a couple small plates and drinks and a $100 plus bill. The only star was for location - across from beach.
(1)
Mark S.
Awesome food with great atmosphere. Sashimi was delicious as was the chicken wings. Our pay of 8 tried a number of starters which we enjoyed so much that we kept on ordering more. Will definitely go back again.
(5)
Walter R.
Wow. Great place all-around. Awesome location and atmosphere. Very chic with indoor/outdoor seating and music. Superbly trained staff as well--friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating. Food was very good, and the salmon dish and beet salad proved exceptional. In addition to a great local place, this restaurant is a definite must for all of your out-of-town guests (you're sure to impress them here!) Reminding us of some trendy places found on South Beach, it's obvious the Hilton knows how to do it right!
(4)
Rosemarie M.
The food was delicious . Staff wasvery helpful. My only complaint was the noise level. But otherwise i am a fan and will return.
(5)
Shannah S.
Great restaurant and great food. We liked everything we ordered. Favorites are the chicken wings and the skirt steak. He loved the frittes. I still dream of the dessert donuts. We will come back anytime we are in Fort Lauderdale. The outdoor seating is nice especially at sunset.
(5)
Trevin B.
I rarely use this word in a review - WOW! I dined at S3 with a party of 5, and every single dish was absolutely WOW worthy. And we had many dishes. This restaurant serves small plates that are very shareable and the large plates work well for sharing, too. We had sushi, grilled vegetables, various meat dishes, appetizers, and dessert. I think we ordered around 15 dishes and everything was spectacular. Even the beet salad was extraordinary for a non-beet lover like myself. I was the only one drinking wine, and the wine list by the glass is also very complete. I wish I could criticize something to give this review more credibility but I cannot. The only thing that could have made the experience more enjoyable was if we could have sat outside. But the reservation was made late and I can't fault the host staff for having a full patio. If you are visiting Fort Lauderdale, this restaurant is a must.
(5)
Elizabeth A.
Amazing seafood salad. The sampler drink is a must as well- very yummy and strong drinks!
(4)
Sarah P.
Delicious delicious delicious. We walked over to S3 from the W and had to come in because of the views and reviews. Eclectic menu but the food will not disappoint! Try the Thai Tuna roll, brisket sliders, or Tuna Nachos. All were excellent. Atmosphere is great, very comfortable and unbeatable ocean views.
(5)
Christina R.
I stayed at the Hilton Beach Resort for work, and went to S3 for dinner and had an AMAZING experience. The food was to die for. Probably the best edamame I've ever had. I also had the kamikaze roll, rainbow roll, brussel sprouts, lettuce wraps, and crab cakes. All equally as amazing. The view from our table looked right out onto the ocean. I can't wait to go here again!
(5)
David H.
Lucky us. Tim Petrillo invited us to a friends and family opening of his new restaurant, S3 (long explanation, something like Sun, Surf, Sand or Steak, Seafood, something else). Tried everything and everything was great. Plus, and this is a big plus, it's right on the beach in Ft. Lauderdale, at the Hilton, and plus, it's a really nice looking design, and plus, I don't know how he does it but the service people are terrific. No B.S., This is worth a visit.
(4)
Meg S.
Good food, good atmosphere, great out door bar. S3 has a lot great attributes except the service with the exception of Dan the bartender. My boyfriend and I rolled up to the out door bar, had a seat, got somewhat of a smile from one of the female bartenders and she walked away. We figured she would be back shortly, she wasn't. She walked away and started to do something with her phone (guessing text messages). So we gave her the benefit of the doubt and we waited about 5 minutes while she was on her phone. and waited about another 2 minutes. We got up and left to go to the W. Came back later that night and Dan served us right away with great service.
(3)
Jomary J.
I will start by saying that I had grown sick of Broward and would gladly indulge in Miami traffic if it meant ambiance and great food were the end results. I had heard the hype of S3 and after seeing a certain Macaroni item on the menu, decided to spend Friday night there. My night began at 9:30 and the place seemed pretty packed but getting a table outside by the fire pit literally only took 20 minutes! First thumbs up. Btw, we were texted that our table was ready and the hostess was infectiously bubbly. After looking over the menu and having a tough time deciding, we went with the Duck Lettuce Wraps (a delicious special), Red Dragon Roll (another special which included mango), Macaroni with smoked gouda and prosciutto and the Grilled Skirt Steak which was coffee and spiced rubbed on top of crispy yucca, drizzled with mango chimichurri. Sigh. EVERYTHING WAS AMAZING! Not good. Not Great. AMAZING. The Macaroni dish, as much as I tried to be courteous and share, I couldn't get enough of. The crispy prosciutto and extreme amount of gouda made an epic combo. The grilled skirt steak was just like we ordered it (medium rare) which is weird from what I have experienced at some Fort Lauderdale favorites.Oh and everything was shareable.Except the bill. Cheap enough for one ;)
(5)
Roe P.
Great small bites and plates, enjoyed the ambiance and service on a slower weeknight. Avoid the coctail counch area, the coctail waitresses werent as nice as the servers table side. Mac and Cheese is awesome, sushi is on point- get the rice cakes, the terryake wings were really good too. Valet park at the hotel, parking can be nuts there
(4)
Lauren T.
Great menu, fun atmosphere. We are definitely coming back for the full moon party! The only complaint (and not really a complaint) was our server had zero personality and never smiled. We were able to sample so many items - great concept.
(4)
Kareen B.
Finally a really nice place with a great vibe on the beach. The options are endless: sit outside by the firepit for drinks or dine inside or outside. Beautiful decor and good, friendly service. They have two indoor bars and a huge outdoor bar. The concept is small plates so sharing is part of the fun. The food presentation is lovely and the quality and taste are just as good. I loved the octopus salad!! Great for all ages.
(5)
vinny o.
Was in fort lauderdale the week of july 4th,heard it was fairly new and since i was staying at the hilton we decided to try it out. There are many options,tried the spicy tuna,steak,vege rolls,pork and chicken rotisserie,ALL were amazing best flavors ive ever had,to make a long story short we ate there 5 nights because if u head down the "strip"the prices are basically the same WITHOUT alcohol and the food is not quality at all! Im still dreaming about this restaurant,if i can point out 1 small suggestion,theyre 2 hostess stands and usually theres only 1 at the other end,if u walk in the hotel way u would have to go to the other side to get seated,but that would never detour me from coming to this place again. This is by far the best restaurant there is on that strip! I love love loved it! Thank you!
(5)
Jules P.
The Thai Tuna Roll deserves 10 stars. My 4 year old had the kid menu's cheese burger and fries. I've never seen him eat so much. The skirt skate was delicious. The special, paella, was okay. The service was wonderful. We didn't make reservations so we had indoor seating but we still had a great view of the ocean.
(4)
Raquel C.
First time trying S3 and I love it! staff was friendly and welcoming. This isn't the place for you if you are in a rush, I see a lot of reviews saying the service is slow and that cant be further from the truth. Its the perfect atmosphere to unwind, enjoy the view, and the great food. Everything was delicious sushi, specialty drinks and desserts!! I highly recommend S3 to everyone!!1
(4)
Lesley M.
We had a great lunch here with an attentive waitress. I ate a tomato and orzo salad and the vegetable sushi roll. The food was very fresh and filling. My husband ate the fish sandwich and the tuna rice cakes, and he quickly devoured both. He said his meal was absolutely excellent. I recommend checking out this restaurant.
(5)
Julie T.
The ambiance and decor of this restaurant are great as is the happy hour. The view is fantastic, the service is great, and the food is good. I was actually really surprised at how fresh and delicious the sushi was. The tomato bread wasn't too remarkable. The crispy artichokes were just okay - salty and fried. The first cocktail I ordered called the pom pom crush was too tart and fruity. So thank goodness I got the Tickle cocktail. I really want to come back here again and try some more dishes.
(4)
Donna H.
We are locals and have fun trying all the beach venues, as they open, close, open as something else, close again, etc. That being said, this new place seemed like a perfect new favorite spot. The location and view is amazing - even makes us locals feel like we are on vacation for the night. But unfortunately not such a great dining experience - we ordered a bottle of champagne, took way too long to be served, and then it was not nearly as cold as it should be. The stemless glasses just hasten the temperature, very disappointing. We ordered 3 different types of sushi rolls, and waited over an hour. I was starving and asked the clueless barmaid if I could get a side salad in the meantime. "You mean chicken salad?" No, a small lettuce side salad. "you mean seafood salad?" No, a small plate of lettuce and dressing. And on and on. Comical. Finally she said "oh, you want a salad?" Yes. It really was a few pieces of lettuce, nothing to rave about. They kept making excuses about being down one chef, but no one around us was eating much of anything, so not sure how the kitchen was backed up. When the sushi finally came out, we were almost finished with the warm champagne and refused the food. The manager took care of the check, but we had to go somewhere else to find some food. We won't be going back anytime soon, and I certainly wouldn't recommend it to anyone else. There are too many excellent, fun restaurants in town, with good food, service, and location.
(2)
Cindy B.
There is so much hype on this place and reviews are glowing. We had been looking forward to our visit visit with great expectations. 5 stars for ambiance, atmosphere & decor. This place is classy gorgeous! 2 stars for food & service. We sat at the bar on a Saturday afternoon. Service was friendly but extremely inattentive. Attractive young female bartenders greeted us with terms of endearment (Really?!?) and they were more interested in chatting among themselves than focusing on customer service. There was one bar patron that was obviously drunk, loud and profane and clearly offensive to others at the bar. The staff had no control over that situation whatsoever as Bar patrons were leaving Due to his disorderly conduct. We ordered a variety of tapas plates non of which were remarkable. Sashimi was sliced so thin that the portion was visibly scant. Hopefully, they will train their staff & bring their menu up to the standard befitting the location and ambiance of the restaurant. We won't be back anytime soon.
(3)
Shenelle A.
Came here for a girls night out on a Saturday . Food was great and so was the music. ambiance was beautiful and romantic looking right across from the beach . The waitress was attentive and pleasant. I had the steak which was cooked perfectly. The menu is majority small plate tapa style and few large plate options. I recommend this restaurant. Great place to hang out with the girls or on a date.
(5)
Katie O.
Excellent! We loved the food everything was great especially the sushi and not to mention our great waitress Talia!
(5)
Carrie S.
5 Stars it is for this new restaurant on Ft. Lauderdale Beach. The food is amazing, atmosphere is fabulous and the design of the interior is beautiful! The layout of the restaurant affords almost every table a view of the ocean! However, what amazed me most about this new restaurant at the Hilton Hotel was the level of service and hospitality they provided, which a lot of restaurants overlook when the food and location are top notch! I had recommended this restaurant to a close friend of mine who was asking for a nice restaurant to celebrate her husband's birthday. Of course, S3 Restaurant was the first restaurant that came to mind and it did not disappoint! I called the restaurant to inquire if I could purchase dessert for my friends and have it sent over to them after dinner as a surprise for his birthday. I had the pleasure to speak to Ana Gajardo, event coordinator for the restaurant, who kindly emailed me the credit card authorization form and said it would not be problem. Unfortunately, I was having computer problems and could not print the form. When Ana called me to follow-up on my initial request, I expressed to her my trouble and she offered to go ahead and take care of his birthday dessert on my behalf. I have to tell you that I was very impressed with the level of personal service and her kind gesture especially being that this restaurant is fairly new and, in most cases, restaurants are still trying to iron out certain kinks. Let me just finsih this review by saying that S3 Restaurant has no kinks and nailed all three aspects of an amazing restaurant: Great food, amazing location and fabulous service. I will definitely be returning to S3 Restaurant very soon!
(5)
Steve O.
Ok, had been talking about going here for months, today seemed like a good day to check our S3. Hooked up with friends and arrived about 1:30, asked valet about motorcycle parking and he told us to go to garage where we could park no charge. Arrived at garage, waited at garage gate which never went up!, fortunately the valet manager came by and opened the gate.mhe (Artem) escorted us to bike parking and said bikes were $5 each! We said we were told no charge if we were eating at S3 so he "comped" the parking and politely escorted us to the restaurant. Bit of a disappointment but they made it right. Went to the bar, great service by Brooke and Rick, great drinks, great food, definitely go and enjoy the beachside ambiance. it's a great place and hopefully the parking gets sorted out
(4)
Scott H.
Really fun on Full Moon Sundays 6-10! Live music, great weather, and REALLY good food. Get the short ribs, crispy artichokes, and jalapeno infused vodka drinks.
(5)
Rich S.
Came for brunch. Had the s3 drink sampler wasn't that good at all. The waffles and chicken wasn't exactly what we expected. It was a sweet Thai chicken that were small Chunks. The waffle was rather unflattering. The pork belly hash was ok not as flavorful as I wanted.
(3)
Rachel S.
Joined some friends here for happy hour a couple of weeks ago. The atmosphere (across from the beach )is beautiful. The restaurant is beautiful as well. We enjoyed: S3-Sexy Summer Seduction-beautiful and tasty Mojitos Wine (Savignon Blanc) 3 drink sampler (just fair) Tomato bread (fresh, tasty) Crisp Baby Artichokes- very nice texture and flavor, went well with the lemon caper aioli dipping sauce Spicy tuna roll- came with dab of chili sauce on the side. Fresh. Unremarkable. Wok seared edamame- excellent flavor, colors, and texture. We found this to be our favorite dish. Tuna nachos-nicely presented. Tasted too fishy even though the sauces tried to disguise that. I sent it back with no problems. Goat cheese croquetas- I didn't try, but my friend said it was very tasty. Overall it was a lovely experience. We enjoyed the beach side atmosphere and the live DJ that began playing a couple of hours later. One tip: We found it odd that the bartenders were reluctant to let us know about the happy hour specials for drinks and had to be prodded to divulge the happy hour food specials. Make sure you ask.
(4)
Beverly G.
Fantastic! The service is great, but the food it better. The goat cheese croquettes are amazing, so is the octopus! Best bloody mary flights I've ever had. There's this toffee desert that I'd request on my death bed. Highly recommend it! Two tumbs way up.
(5)
Julia P.
Pros: *Great Waitress named Talia always checking in and what not *Delicious food and sushi to die for - so fresh *Everything we ordered (6 dishes) was delicious *Good Atmosphere Cons: *Bummed all the outside seats were taken but we still had a great time
(5)
Peter P.
Excellent atmosphere. Great view of the ocean. Awesome small plated food. The server was informative, all the drinks were unique, and the food was delicious.
(4)
Jeremy K.
I ate here recently with my family - - If you're hunting around in Fort Lauderdale for good food you may have realized by now that decent restaurants are few and far between down there. S3 was a pleasant reprieve...the menu is fun and creative and our server was great. (I did feel a bit bad that the table of women next to ours were all wasted and groped him...oh to witness female-on-male sexual harassment in progress).. Anyway back to the food - it was pretty good, we had one issue that the fish of the day we ordered was inedible...but the waiter and chef apologized profusely and quickly fired out a replacement dish that was great. (Based on what they told us - sometimes the fish of the day can be a gamble based on what the chef can find at the market and we ate there on a day that the chef was forced to buy a fish they weren't in love with)... In an ideal world the chef would have figured something else out other than serving a fish they don't think is a good fish and for that I'll keep this review to four stars..but I will definitely go back and try it again.
Great place! starting with the amazing location abs the fact that you can see the ocean from almost every table , the great outdoor seating is a great plus. They have small plates so is pefect for sharing so you can try all their yummy options, the mac a cheese is too good, the steak on top of the yucca delightful. the sushi pretty good too. If you want to have a couple coctails their sampler is a food ootions, some of their drink are great some are not... I loved the sake and the blackberry lychee too.
(5)
Adam J.
I'm sure this is a better restaurant than our experience, but..... Atmosphere was pretty cool, at least until they seated us at a table inside with zero view and zero ambience. Disappointing. As for the sushi, it didn't live up to the hype. Not even close. Average at best, small portions, and definitely overpriced. I would go back to sit on the patio or at the bar to have a drink. But if I were hungry, I'd go elsewhere.
(2)
Laura H.
This place just opened a few months ago. It is on the Hilton property. Started out with drinks turning into dinner splitting three small plates. Shrimp bruschetta then seven spice scallops following with Mac n cheese. Best part is they break up the experience bringing one plate after the next spacing them out. Bar is awesome. Plenty of seating half in half outside. Huge wine selection. Staff is really good. Bathroom clean. This is NOT a Hilton establishment where you earn multiplier points as a Hilton Honors member. They share the property. Big difference. Nice job!
(4)
Jeanne T.
Just had a wonderful lunch at the this restaurant. The chicken salad was amazing. My mother had a crab and shrimp sushi roll she enjoyed. Parking was easy. We got a spot on the north side of the building on the street. Fantastic view on a beautiful day. Service was nice too. Prices were reasonable for beachfront awesomeness. If I recall my chicken salad $13.00 and the sushi roll was $15.00. Almost forgot to mention the wonderful dessert. Can't recall exactly what they called the dessert, creme fresh (something) yum! We will return. The bar was very chic looking and made me long for a drink but I had to drive. Boo.
(5)
Robert S.
Our first time here. Great food , wonderful wine selection and the ocean. But add the fact that Cindy C is now pert of the team. Phenomenal. We will be regulars often.
(5)
Nik M.
Pros: beach view, open air seating, a/c, sushi bar, creative food, occasional live music Cons: music can be too loud at times, mixed drinks pushing the price envelope This place has a nice atmosphere. The food is solid. You can see the ocean from most tables. I tried a few mixed drinks. Some were great but others were just too sweet. This place is sophisticated for a beachside FTL spot, they should tone down the sugary teeny-bopper mix on some of the $12 drinks. No complaints about the service.
Went for brunch(had reservations for a table). We sat outside and had an awesome view of the beach. The staff was very friendly (hostess, waiters, bartenders). Food was delish and came out fast. I had a the burger and fries which was so huge and juicy. Friends had the chicken sandwich, the fish sandwich and the chicken and waffles. I had a belini which was small but good. The bloody Marys were a pretty decent size. You can valet ($5) or do metered parking. Will be back again for sure.
(5)
Sherry W.
Free valet m-f for lunch thru yelp check-in. Went on a Saturday night to hang at the bar and then after waiting 1:45 hour for a table sat down and ordered many plates the share. The food is high quality, but higher priced. OF course you are paying the price for being in a beautiful restaurant with ocean front views. I liked the drink sampler. For $14 you get to try 3 samples sized drinks of their specialty cocktails. It's a great way to figure out which one you like to order a full size. Bar service was slow and you had to grab the bartenders attention to get a drink. I thought this was annoying since the drinks are higher priced, I would have thought the service would be better.
(3)
Andrew S.
Very good food, sushi rolls and Brussels for lunch, perfect view. Nice, attentive staff.
(4)
Nikki S.
Their menu was something I had never seen before a mix of sushi and comfort foods. I ordered the California roll and the gnocchi. Both had excellent presentation and flavors were top notch. The view of the ocean across the street and the openness of the restaurant were fabulous. Not bad at all.
(4)
Steve T.
Great place with a good variety to chose from Asian to Spanish to American. The same goes for the drinks. We had their wok-charred edamame, short rib empanadas, pork belly, shrimp toast, and mac-n-cheese. The blackberry-lychee cocktail wasn't too strong or sweet but not worth $15. The food was fantastic. My only complaint was seeing a sushi preparer text on his phone with his gloves on then going back to making sushi without changing them! That is why we didn't order any sushi.
(4)
Sharon E.
I had actually checked this restaurant out by myself one night around dinner time. My hotel was only a block away and I couldn't resist the awesome vibes it gave me. As I went in I seated myself on the deck/patio/fire-pit area. First of all, you are right across from the beach with nothing to block your view and the location offered an awesome breeze so the ambiance itself is just an amazing location to hang out in. Not to mention, they have these seats across the wall that are so comfy and padded that you really can just unwind and relax in them. My waitress Sarah was very polite and efficient. I ordered a rainbow roll, the cucumber green tea martini, as well as a 2-piece sushi. The restaurant seems to be fairly priced to me. They don't gouge you for sushi rolls or drinks, and the rolls were delicious. Now the drink, how refreshing! I love how their drink menu offers a wide variety of unique/healthy options (well as healthy as any vodka drink can be!). I would recommend this place for dinner and I definitely would also recommend the bar if you're just going out in the evening.
(5)
Jennifer C.
We had a great lunch here yesterday to kick off my friend's bachelorette weekend! To start, we shared a bunch of small plates: octopus, Vietnamese wings, goat cheese croquettes, rosemary French fries, and a tuna tar tar tower. Of these items my favorite was definitely the tuna tower (one of the best I've encountered), followed by the octopus (which was served with fava/gigante beans). I found the wings a bit too salty. For a main, I split 2 sandwiches with my friend. The chicken (with fontina/avocado) and the special fish (which was mahi mahi). The server recommended the fish, but we much preferred the chicken. Overall a lovely meal!
(4)
Mike Z.
Love Love Love!!!! Indoor outdoor bar and sushi. We chose to sit outside right near the beach. Our waitress was awesome. She was so friendly and funny and just a pleasure to talk to. We ordered a bunch of sushi and appetizers and liked everything. I Loved the tuna tar tar and dont remember the names of the rolls that I ordered, but everything was good. This was my 3rd time here and cant wait to come back.
(5)
Mariam D.
A belated "welcome to Ft. Lauderdale S3." A welcome hot spot for tapas al fresco. Choose from typical trending favorites such as vegetable plates, chicken wings, sushi, tuna, edamame, goat cheese, and others all prepared and presented beautifully. Courteous service, nice wine list and some tasty craft cocktails, and an intimate setting in the evening for a beachside bite and epic ocean views. Dress up a bit and head here for a relaxing date night dinner or lunch with clients and friends.
(4)
Kevin H.
Great restaurant, food was really good. Lots of small portions and we love it made it lots of fun and the food just kept coming!! Group consensus was that the sushi is the best part of the menu (we ate off all of it) Staff was nice, although they got busy and we didn't see our server for a while, thus the 4 stars. If you can get a chance to sit and eat by the firepits, that looked the most fun and will be requesting that next time.
(4)
Brenda P.
Sexy Splendid Scrumptious I finally made it out to S3 yesterday. On a whim, I made a reservation for an early dinner. It was a gorgeous day and proved to be an equally beautiful night. I am not sure how S3 makes it livable the rest of the year (and the heat), but on nights like these no other restaurant on the strip compares. Their location is PRIME! There was a jazz live band playing, the fire pits were going, and the sun was setting. We chose to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful ocean view. Our waitress promptly came over with the menu and took our drink order. S3 is mostly a tapas style restaurant. It is best enjoyed by getting a lot of small plates. These are the ones we tried: Goat Cheese Croquettes: Almond crusted with red chili guava. One of the ways to my heart is through GUAVA. This was a winner before I even had it. Not only was the guava the perfect combination for this, but the croquettes are cheese heavy. The cheese is soft but there's a lot of it. I only wish there was more of the guava to dip them. Note to self: request it next time. Sushi Nacho: With tuna, spicy salmon, guacamole and tobiko. One bite and I was hooked. Did I really need to share these? The crunch of the nacho against the freshness and coolness of the tuna/salmon combo was very nice. I could not get enough. Spicy Salmon Roll: with hot chili sauce drizzle. These were very simple but fresh and full of flavor. With so many other things on the menu though, I would not order these again. Mac & Cheese: smoked Gouda, prosciutto. It does not look like much on film (check out my photos) but make sure to order this. The gouda gives it a little saltiness which I loved. It comes boiling hot. I recommend letting it sit and having it last when the flavors have sunk in. Delicious. Ricotta Gnocchi: fennel leek fondue, peas, baby shiitake, truffle. I did not taste the truffle at all but this was still the winning dish for me. The gnocchi were small pillows of creamy, soft ricotta. The mix of the peas, leek and mushrooms was sensational. Next time, there will be zero sharing of this one. Lump Crab Cakes: blue crab and avocado cream. I wanted to love this but it was the most underwhelming of all. The outside felt barely sealed and it fell apart too easily. Grilled Octopus: in a salsa verde and gigande beans. Had the gnocchi not taken all of my attention, this would have been my top choice. The octopus was exactly as it should be. The texture was perfect, nicely juicy and not a tad bit gummy! I was left wanting more. Dulce de Leche Chocolate Cake: salted caramel ice cream. One of my pet peeves anywhere: caramel is not dulce de leche people! If you name something DULCE DE LECHE there better be some in there. This was basically an OK chocolate cake with some lightly sweetened icing with a side of ice cream that might or might not have had caramel in it. Didn't finish it as it was not worth the calories. Overall, S3 was a great experience and I look forward to returning. The later it got, the darker it got. Tables were truly being lit only by the candles on the table. That made it extremely dark. While I enjoyed the sultriness it brought along with the ocean breeze, everyone around us (like us) kept using their phones to see the menus and their dishes better. Their corkage fee is $20 and validated, convenient valet parking was just $5. S3, consider me a fan!
(4)
Steve O.
Ok, had been talking about going here for months, today seemed like a good day to check our S3. Hooked up with friends and arrived about 1:30, asked valet about motorcycle parking and he told us to go to garage where we could park no charge. Arrived at garage, waited at garage gate which never went up!, fortunately the valet manager came by and opened the gate.mhe (Artem) escorted us to bike parking and said bikes were $5 each! We said we were told no charge if we were eating at S3 so he "comped" the parking and politely escorted us to the restaurant. Bit of a disappointment but they made it right. Went to the bar, great service by Brooke and Rick, great drinks, great food, definitely go and enjoy the beachside ambiance. it's a great place and hopefully the parking gets sorted out
(4)
Scott H.
Really fun on Full Moon Sundays 6-10! Live music, great weather, and REALLY good food. Get the short ribs, crispy artichokes, and jalapeno infused vodka drinks.
(5)
Vee V.
I came for the view, then I ate, and I wasn't disappointed. If you don't like family style then suck it up or find someplace else. This is the perfect place off the beach. You get the fresh ocean breeze, oceanfront view, and you can people watch. I think I saw a meth head on the street. The menu is small, which is great when you're indecisive like me. It's best to order family style because everything comes out when it's ready. You also get to enjoy different items off the menu, so sharing works best. No one goes hungry, or bitches about service this way. We ordered a couple of sushi rolls, goat cheese croquettes, chicken salad, tuna tartar nachos. Sushi rolls were good, average, but I'd order it again. The goat cheese croquettes were nicely fried and gooey on the inside. It's a bit heavy, so one is more than enough. The salad was refreshing, and much needed on a hot day. Tuna tartare nachos gets its own paragraph. Melt your pants off good. Okay, I don't know how that would work, but that's how I felt. Crispy, light, and flavorful. That's the magic combination. Service was great! We had the most adorable 2 year old having lunch with us and she needed a few extras, which the server was more than accommodating. I'd definitely recommend this place!
(4)
Jane K.
Awesome view,drinks,and food :) right across from the beach.
(5)
Lyza L.
This spot is fun for people watching and being part of a scene, but the food is nothing special, it's loud and on the expensive side. However, I love the outdoor area (partly because you can actually have a conversation with your dinner companions without shouting.) And service has always been very nice. This property is part of the restaurant group that brought you YOLO in downtown Fort Lauderdale, and attracts much the same crowd: beautiful people who want to see and be seen. Nothing wrong with that, but if you want great food, there are lots of other places I'd recommend first.
(2)
Jeanne M.
This was a great location for meeting with a new business group. Sun, sand and surf is always a nice combination of ingredients for meeting and mixing with new people. This was a cocktail and app get together with about 30 people. We were given a very nice area by the bar with a good view of the ocean. It was relatively quiet, so it wasn't difficult to talk and get to know people. The decor was warm and relaxing. I started with a drink, the berry mojito. It was a smooth combination of Bacardi Wolfberry, with fresh strawberries, blueberries, lime and mint. It was refreshing but needed a bit more kick. The glass was fairly small and a lot of the space was taken up with berries, so it wasn't a great value. Happy hour is $3 off of the usual $12 price, so it's not the best happy hour value. There were a number of different apps served. I sampled 3 types of hummus with pita wedges. All were nicely seasoned. There was a wok charred edamame with soy, togarishi and smoked salt. It was messy to eat, but really delicious. We were also offered several different sliders, so I went with one that was a roast chicken and another that was a spicy beef. While I couldn't say exactly what was on either of them, both were very good. The beef was especially flavorful and had a fairly significant amount of heat. Overall, it was a very nice experience. I'd like to go back and try the full menu. :)
(4)
Angie S.
Came to S3 for dinner on a Thursday night with a group of 6. We really wanted to sit outside but were told it was an hour wait; but, they were able to sit us immediately at a table in the bar area. Our server explained the concept behind the restaurant - the food is meant to be shared and comes out in waves as it's ready. We totally understood this but everyone wanted to order their own dish and some appetizers to share. We ended up ordering a variety including three things on special. The list consisted of a sushi dish with mango, shrimp on corn cakes (3 orders) and short rib empanadas, a rainbow roll, mac n cheese and goat cheese croquettes. The empanadas, nachos and croquettes came out first. All three were really good. The red chili guava sauce served with the croquettes mellowed out the richness of the goat cheese. We actually finished two orders of them because the kitchen made an extra on accident and they let us have it for free. Next out was the mac n cheese, followed a few minutes later by the mango sushi dish. Again we loved both dishes. The mac n cheese has smoked gouda and prosciutto served in a little cast iron skillet. Really creamy and delicious. At this point the only thing left was the rainbow roll, which was someone's main dish. Everyone else had been served and were finished with their meals. We asked our server about it and she explained that they were hand crafted when ordered and that sushi usually took a little longer. We completely understood but we were going on an hour waiting for her dish. We had received sushi ordered at the same time and the table beside us, which sat down 20 minutes after us, had received their sushi. Finally the roll came out and she said it was just average. Not worth waiting an hour for. They did remove it from the bill since it took so long. All in all the food was great, service was really good (not the waitress's fault it took so long) and the decor is beautiful. I would return and sit outside to take advantage of the beach view in the future. Just not sure if I'd order sushi again.
(3)
Emily C.
Fabulous dining experience - especially for a group of ten! As a CT local, I didn't expect to be dining outside in the complete dark because of turtle nesting season (ya learn something new every day) but the candles made for a lovely dinner party ambiance... and dining oceanside makes it all worth it! Ever the indecisive diner, I loved being able to order a sampler of S3's signature cocktails and chose the Thai coconut crush, berry mojito, and green geisha (cucumber vodka, green tea, lemongrass and basil). All so summery and lovely. For dinner, we nibbled on a variety of apps and shared entrees - standouts included the lemon ricotta spread (soooo good), tuna tower with wasabi guacamole, and pork belly. Despite the number in our party, service was fine (and helpful in splitting checks) and price was about what I expected.
(5)
Courtney C.
Great place for drinks and sushi. Brought some friends here for just that and had a great time. The rolls we ordered were all delicious and fresh-- must try's are the Gator roll and eel roll. They have an extensive speciality cocktail list too with lots of fun drinks to try---the High & Rye, Green Geisha, and the Ginger Thymetini were all fabulous. Definitely sit outside if you can, you really can't beat the huge cozy patio just steps from the sand.
(4)
Jerry C.
Situated in the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, S3 Sun Surf Sand has a perfect perch right across the street from Ft Lauderdale Beach, overlooking the Atlantic. My relaxing lunch was accompanied by warm ocean breezes. Evenings must be super nice. Along with its open-to-the-street bar, S3 serves tapa small plates, salads and sushi rolls. I tried their rotisserie chicken salad with goat cheese, avocado and bacon. It's not a very big bowl for costing $14, but it was so tasty! Their passion fruit iced tea was refreshing on a sunny spring afternoon where the temperature was over 85F. Service was good. I'd come back again, because surprisingly there aren't a lot of open air beachfront restaurants on this part of the strip. Maybe because each block is a hotel resort.
(4)
Melissa P.
Fantastic views and tasty small plates! I would recommend this place if you want some great drinks and ambiance. My boyfriend and I came here for brunch on our recent Ft. Lauderdale vacation and enjoyed it. I recommend getting the cocktail flight so you can try a few of their delicious concoctions.
(4)
Chris G.
Great atmosphere. Great food. Sushi. Wings and fish are all stellar. Not a wide range of food to choose from but still a place I would return to
(4)
Thomas P.
S3 is the bomb! My wife and I were staying at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort and walked down to S3 for lunch...so glad we did! We actually stayed at the Hilton 3 years ago as part of an extension of our honey moon, but we didn't dine at S3. I guess we had no idea until recently! We started with the wood fired grilled octopus; simply amazing! It was served with a medley of gigande beans (basically giant white beans), cherry tomatoes, marinated red onions, some leafy salad greens and was tossed in a salsa verde sauce! We could have eaten at least 3 orders of this dish because it was that good! The octopus was extremely tender and had a superb smoky taste and just blended together harmoniously with the other ingredients! A must have if you dine here! :-) Next, we ordered the Fish Tacos! Super delicious and fresh tasting! They were served in corn tortillas with jalapeño slaw and topped with avocado pepper salsa! The fish was moist, delicate and delicious! After that we tried the brisket sliders-another slam dunk! The bread appears to be tough from the outside, but once you take your first bite you'll be amazed at how light and airy it is! The mustard BBQ and chow chow worked nicely. The last item I chose to order was the Pork Sandwich "Cuban Style." From the presentation to the flavor-it was excellent! 5 Stars with no second thought! Service and food was superb! The huge outdoor patio is spacious and romantic as well! We'll definitely be back!
(5)
Sylvia B.
We were at the Restaurante in the passed few weeks with family and loved it, our server was Rochelle and she made our experience with our family visiting from California very happy. Tonight we went back with friends and even though the quality of the food was still there, excellent , our server Taylor, was awful. Took three times to ask for water to finally get it. When we order another round of drinks without finishing the first round, instead of bringing new glasses of wines he just added to the not yet finished glasses so we got half a pour . When we question him about it his response was " I have to pour to a certain line on the glass ", really so you can give me half a glass and still charge me for a full glass. Anyways, food is very good but they need to train their servers better and get rid off the bad ones. I will give the restaurant another chance as long as we get a good server. Sylvia B - ft LAUDERDALE
(3)
Shawn W.
I'm not always a fan of the "small plate" concept, especially when I've never been there before. Whether your group is small, or larger, it isn't always clear how much to order and I often error on the side of too much..which can get pricey. We really liked S3, though. The menu is kind of a mixed bag..mostly Asian inspired dishes, with an occasional detour to more traditional American comfort food. I found their small plates to be on the "medium" side, which was good. We had a table for five and with most dishes we each got to snag a reasonable portion from the plate. Loved the Brussels sprouts, the fried edamame, the chicken salad, the short ribs, and the peppers (I'm certain that I'm forgetting some). We also shared a Thai inspired sushi roll that was great.. I was also pleasantly surprised when I got the bill. Service was very well coordinated and properly paced. If I didn't live 3000 miles away, I would go back in a heartbeat.
(4)
Carrie H.
This is by far my favorite restaurant in Fort Lauderdale !!! The ambiance is fantastic and it's right across the street from the beach . They have an outdoor bar and a fire pit outside where u can sit and eat it just enjoy your cocktail. The service is spectacular ... We had Matt as our server who was on top of it with our food and drinks . His recommendations were perfect !! They serve small plates there so we ended up getting about 7 plates for my husband and I (which ranged from about 10-15.00 each ). Our favorites included the mac and cheese and gnocchi. Matt recommended a blackberry lychee as a drink and it was as always .. Perfect! This is a great place for a date night or night out with the girls . During the day on Sundays they have a great brunch but it gets crowded so make a reservation !!!
(5)
Rich S.
Came for brunch. Had the s3 drink sampler wasn't that good at all. The waffles and chicken wasn't exactly what we expected. It was a sweet Thai chicken that were small Chunks. The waffle was rather unflattering. The pork belly hash was ok not as flavorful as I wanted.
(3)
Rachel S.
Joined some friends here for happy hour a couple of weeks ago. The atmosphere (across from the beach )is beautiful. The restaurant is beautiful as well. We enjoyed: S3-Sexy Summer Seduction-beautiful and tasty Mojitos Wine (Savignon Blanc) 3 drink sampler (just fair) Tomato bread (fresh, tasty) Crisp Baby Artichokes- very nice texture and flavor, went well with the lemon caper aioli dipping sauce Spicy tuna roll- came with dab of chili sauce on the side. Fresh. Unremarkable. Wok seared edamame- excellent flavor, colors, and texture. We found this to be our favorite dish. Tuna nachos-nicely presented. Tasted too fishy even though the sauces tried to disguise that. I sent it back with no problems. Goat cheese croquetas- I didn't try, but my friend said it was very tasty. Overall it was a lovely experience. We enjoyed the beach side atmosphere and the live DJ that began playing a couple of hours later. One tip: We found it odd that the bartenders were reluctant to let us know about the happy hour specials for drinks and had to be prodded to divulge the happy hour food specials. Make sure you ask.
(4)
Beverly G.
Fantastic! The service is great, but the food it better. The goat cheese croquettes are amazing, so is the octopus! Best bloody mary flights I've ever had. There's this toffee desert that I'd request on my death bed. Highly recommend it! Two tumbs way up.
(5)
Julia P.
Pros: *Great Waitress named Talia always checking in and what not *Delicious food and sushi to die for - so fresh *Everything we ordered (6 dishes) was delicious *Good Atmosphere Cons: *Bummed all the outside seats were taken but we still had a great time
(5)
Peter P.
Excellent atmosphere. Great view of the ocean. Awesome small plated food. The server was informative, all the drinks were unique, and the food was delicious.
(4)
Jeremy K.
I ate here recently with my family - - If you're hunting around in Fort Lauderdale for good food you may have realized by now that decent restaurants are few and far between down there. S3 was a pleasant reprieve...the menu is fun and creative and our server was great. (I did feel a bit bad that the table of women next to ours were all wasted and groped him...oh to witness female-on-male sexual harassment in progress).. Anyway back to the food - it was pretty good, we had one issue that the fish of the day we ordered was inedible...but the waiter and chef apologized profusely and quickly fired out a replacement dish that was great. (Based on what they told us - sometimes the fish of the day can be a gamble based on what the chef can find at the market and we ate there on a day that the chef was forced to buy a fish they weren't in love with)... In an ideal world the chef would have figured something else out other than serving a fish they don't think is a good fish and for that I'll keep this review to four stars..but I will definitely go back and try it again.
On July 4th me and the BF rode our bikes down to the beach to watch the fireworks. We got there with much time to kill and s3 has been on my brunch radar since they opened so we figured to check it out with some bevs and apps at the bar for a late lunch. The place was very full at the bar due to the soccer game being on tv. They have these couple high top tables just to the left of the bar and when asking the waitress if we could sit there she said it was only eligible for people having a full meal. Kind of obnoxious considering they had plenty of available tables inside (we were there at an odd hour in between dinner-lunch). Eventually a couple seats freed up and I got a fresh berry mojito which was amazing. I was between rating them 3 or 4 stars and the berry mojito deserved the round up it so freaking good. The BF got a beer and we got apps of the tuna nachos and the skirt steak. Both apps were on a smallish size but tasty. The steak (which was under large plates) was like about 6 small strips of steak each one on a bed of yucca. Flavorful but not really worth 20. The tuna nachos were really great and I would order again. The service was good at the bar they were well staffed for a holiday crowd. I will definitely go back and and try their brunch as I can't resist a flight of bloody Mary's and sangrias!
(4)
Nadia S.
Pros: Amazing fresh food Great environment Outside couch seating with firepits Friendly and fast staff Walking distance to shopping and bar hopping Cons: A bit pricey Loud for an upscale restaurant/bar
(5)
Shenelle A.
Came here for a girls night out on a Saturday . Food was great and so was the music. ambiance was beautiful and romantic looking right across from the beach . The waitress was attentive and pleasant. I had the steak which was cooked perfectly. The menu is majority small plate tapa style and few large plate options. I recommend this restaurant. Great place to hang out with the girls or on a date.
(5)
Katie O.
Excellent! We loved the food everything was great especially the sushi and not to mention our great waitress Talia!
(5)
PaiDay D.
Fort Lauderdale Beach has been in dire need of a spot like S3 for some time. If you're looking for a hip, cool, fun & deliciously good place I highly recommend it! Here are the items I tried: Let's start with drinks. On another occasion I tried one, possibly 4 speciality drinks... all were high quality refreshing drinks with plenty of liquor! This time I had their Bridlewood, Pinot Noir which for $31 a bottle is not too bad. Its hard not to be impressed from their vast wine selection. Apps: Stir Fried Brussels Sprouts: Mint ~ Puffed Rice ~ Peanuts - I ordered it without the pork and these brussels sprouts are pretty amazing! Short Ribs: Smoked Calabaza Puree ~ Roasted Root Vegetable ~ Cress - OK... These short ribs MELT in your mouth. My friend thought they were a bit too salty but I thought they were perfect. I would order this up in heart beat! Potato Skins: Yukon Gold ~ Cave Aged Cheddar ~ Chive Cream ~ Nueskes Bacon - Ordered this without bacon. I hope to duplicate this at home because they knocked my socks off - great job S3! Asparagus: Grilled Radicchio ~ Oregon Blue ~ Pecans ~ Orange Sherry Vinaigrette - I'm not a big fan of blue cheese but I wanted to try it the way it comes. The cheese and all other ingredients combined give your palate 2 thumbs up :) Dinner: They had a Mahi fish dish special which again just melted in your mouth and the flavors are fresh and dynamite! Dessert: Okay, so at this point its hard to think about dessert but the waiter (I would have bought a car from this guy) convinced us to try the bread pudding... YEAHHH not too shabby! Cheers everyone :)
(5)
Melissa V.
Last minute decision on where to go and I'm glad we went here! Some of the best sushi rolls ice ever had. The crunchy tuna roll, the Gator Roll and the Red Dragon. All the flavors were well balanced. Just enough of a sweet pop, a nice spice kick that isn't too spicy and the rice was awesome! Short rib empanadas were a daily special and they were bad ass. Shredded beef in a soft, flaky empanada shell with a unique orange sauce drizzled on top. After having this I will ALWAYS shred my short rib beef. The macaroni on the menu is also very good. It's rich so it's best to order it with more than one person. Creamy, small macaroni shells, prosciutto flakes on top. Mmmmmm!!! Recommend this place to anyone in the area. Unique atmosphere & drinks. Fire-pits & lounge couches outside. Awesome.
(4)
Alexandra M.
Made reservation for my birthday. Sushi across from the ocean is the best way to spend it with friends! Chantel was our server and she was very attentive,informative,and friendly, even when the gratuity was automatically added since we had 8 to our party. Its more of a small plate/sharing concept so its a great way to try different things. Will definitely be returning!
(4)
Venus V.
This is one of my fav spots in town. Great views when sitting outside. Good for apps, the drinks are excellent. Try the green geisha!
(5)
Cassie M.
Here it is, July 20th and I can't stop thinking about our S3 experience in June. We ended up at S3 for dinner by chance on June 6 and it was a packed, full house but that didn't stop this awesome staff from treating us like we were the only ones in the restaurant. We sat in the only available seats at the sushi bar and found it to be absolutely fascinating! The way this team works together bringing the menu to life with incredible artistic flare made our seats the best place to be. Each small plate we ordered blew us away. From the sushi rolls to the chicken salad and mac 'n cheese...each one a hit. We were only in town for two short days but loved S3 so much that we invited friends to join us there the next day for lunch...AND dinner!! Yes, we thoroughly enjoyed S3 and dined with them 3 times in two days. I'd gladly go back and only wish we had this treat in Atlanta. Enjoy!
(5)
Erick O.
This month's UYE was at S3 Sun Surf Sand. I was excited and looking forward to this restaurant since it's near the water and the menu looked very appealing. The restaurant is part of the Hilton Hotel on the beach. It's a corner venue across the street from the water. If you sit out side the view is beautiful. Sunday was a gorgeous day for outside dining. It was sunny and breezy and the weather held up the entire stay. We sat outside at a large table that was waiting for us facing the ocean. Such a beautiful site, something's you need to be grateful we live in a place people come to vacation too. Your view of the beach and sand along with traffic is really nice and this alone is a major plus and one reason to consider this spot for brunch or early evening dining. Several things caught my eye on the menu. They have assortments of brunch plates, specialty rolls, small plates and sandwiches. The menu had good diversity and wasn't really consumed with useless items. Everything was priced right was well. Wasn't overly expensive and seemed very reasonable. We elected to go with the following: Shrimp & Grits : Good presentation. Dish came in with the shrimp on the top of the plate along with a poached egg on the top. Have I every told you how I love poached eggs? It's something that has stuck with me since I was a little man, popping the egg with my fork and watching the yolk just drip down, very very flavorful The cheesy grits were just right the texture was spot on. I hate it when grits either come out too hard and it feels like your eating raw rice or to soggy like if it were mash potato, didn't have that problem here. The shrimps were grilled yet were very soft on the inside and they were made with either paprika or some other type of spice that was added to the entire dish which was amazing. That was one of the best parts about the craft of this dish because the kick it has can catch you off guard. It's not overpowering at all, it's just right. There were also roasted peppers in the dish that added to that kung foo kick I told you about before. Well made... Crab n' Shrimp: The girlfriend ordered the crab and shrimp rolls which were excellent. She gets full fast which is also a blessing for a foodie like me. Seafood was soft and fresh and there was an added refreshing flavor to the roll. The Asian pear was just right on this roll, it can get kind of boring with the same repetitive cucumber or carrots regular placed use. The pear soften the roll up and eliminated that fishy taste. Topped with spicy mayo sauce and noodles on top, it was a refreshing delight. Goat Cheese Croquettes: Loved this dish!! These golf ball sized croquettes were fired to perfection and were so creamy on the inside. The guava sauce paired perfectly with the croquettes as well making your taste buds want to explode inside. Especially if you take the sauce and place it inside the with the cheese. Orgasmic! Mimosa: Average really, nothing really that you can do with a Mimosa in my eyes, when you think about it. It was good, wasn't bad. Blackberry Lychee Bellini's: Great texture on the cocktail. Wasn't overpowering and wasn't too juicy either. If you like tart,, tangy style drinks this is a good choice. Very good and noticeable taste on the cocktail especially the blackberry which standout. In addition, you can find small pieces of lychee and black berry pulp inside the drink. Very refreshing! All in all it was a very good dining experience and I would love to come back and try some of the other items I was looking forward to try such as the sweet potato waffle with chicken, pork belly hash, huevos ranchero and the mac & cheese.
(5)
stephanie f.
I had been to S3 numerous times for drinks with friends and each time said that I needed to try the food. So after a much too long wait, I finally rounded up some friends to go for dinner. And it was good. Like, really really good. There were 4 of us and we ordered a mashup of small plates and every plate was good. There wasn't a single one that was meh. And that, is very very rare. We ordered: Brussel Sprouts: Tasty and well prepared Croquettes: God I love croquettes Tuna Tower: Really really good and fresh. Shrimp & Crab Tostada: So much tasty here Short Rib: comes with mashed taters. Really good here. Crab n' Shrimp Roll: Really good. Do I sound like a broken record? Thai Tuna: I've never had coconut in my roll. I'd like to have it more often. Gnocci: same story guys. it was good. Everything was good. Go Now. Order Food. You won't be disappointed. So I think I've communicated that the food was good, but the ambiance / location / decor is pretty awesome too. The indoor dining room is great, but their outdoor dining option is hard to beat with lounge area, firepit, and an outdoor bar. There's also a secretish back bar and lounge area that I discovered last night that I had never seen before. Clearly my previous "drinking" trips were full of drinking.
(5)
Jeighsen C.
Very loud with the drummers and showgirl dancing on patio. Not able to order the steaks and several other large plate items because we were told by server that they had a kitchen fire. The story just didn't make a lot sense. I thought it was pretty expensive for tapas. The sushi, brussels sprouts and edamame were pretty good. Short rib also nicely done but nothing special. Again serving what was listed on the menu for example filet or ribeye would have made this a better dining experience. Service was attentive but hard to have conversation with server or my guest due to dance club like atmosphere.
I've been here a couple of times. Love the atmosphere and view of the beach. They have an inside bar and outside bar as well as plenty of inside and outside seating for dining. The food was excellent and the service is always great.
(5)
Lillian A.
I would like to say 4 stars but our waiter Sirlene was rude and was rushed with us . Never gave us a smile.
(3)
Barbara R.
We are blessed. We live on Fort Lauderdale Beach, right on A1A, walking distance from S3. We love S3, it's our favorite place to take visiting friends and family, local friends and family, and most importantly ourselves :) Some of our favorite dishes: Edamame..nobody does them better, Mac & cheese, spicy tuna rolls and the brisket sliders...talk about diversity cuisine with a fabulous view of the ocean. We love S3!
(5)
Yani D.
Excellent creative food, but lacks a bit a better customer service skills, but we love the ambiance!!
(4)
Charmie P.
Awesome view, ambiance, food and drinks! What else could you ask for! I love sitting at the bar or bar tables - its a great ambiance, the restaurant is located below the Hilton hotel on A1A and overlooks the beach, and the bar has both indoor and outdoor seating. Many items on the menu are small plates for sharing and even though its a small menu there is plenty of variety. My favorite dishes: - Wok Charred Edamame - its not just plain steamed edamame, they charr it and prepare it with soy and other spices, its delicious - Crisp Baby Artichokes with Lemon Caper Aioli - its excellent - Stir Fried Brussels Sprouts - it has Pork, Mint, Puffed Rice and Peanuts - its so good! - Vietnamese Chicken Wings with Green Papaya Slaw - awesome - Buratta - Arugula salad with buratta, its very good - Charcuterie board - served with brown mustard - small but good They have a nice list of specialty drinks, my favorite is the Ginger Thymetini which consists of Hangar 1 Citrus, thyme, ginger and Pom Juice. If you are not drinking, try the regular Ice Tea, its excellent, it's like a fresh fruity blend from similar to Teavana's.
(4)
Genie M.
Great service and very cool scene. Good vibes with good music on a Saturday night. We were seated within 15 minutes without a reservation, and we thought it was the best seat in the house. It was an Oceanfront view with the moon reflecting over the ocean. We were so content. The food was good. My husband got the tuna tower. He said it was good, but not great. He loves tuna but he wasn't particularly crazy about this prepared tuna, and he said there was too much rice. I had the shrimp tempura. It was like many others I've had in the past. Mac 'n cheese was really good. Goat cheese croquettes were good. The steak on plantains was alright. The plantains were very dry but the steak had a nice taste to it. This is one dish they should work on because it has potential.
(4)
Bea M.
This place is right across the beach. We are hotel guests. They have an indoor and outdoor area. We wanted to be seated outside since we're wearing swimsuits. We are dry. I'm wearing a sarong , my husband is wearing a rash guard with his board shorts and my two young daughters are wearing their suits with rash guards. The friendly host gave us a nice table outside. After we were seated, the manager, her name is Harmony came over and said that we can't eat there because my girls weren't wearing shorts. She was less than friendly. I understand that you have to enforce the dress code but that can be done in a nicer way... you should really rethink your dress code at least outside since you're a beachside restaurant called S3 - Sun, Surf, Sand.
(1)
Cheryl K.
Update to my earlier review.... Returned here about 2 weeks ago for dinner and drinks. I made a reservation and requested an ocean view inside seat which was honored without a problem. The service from the hostess to the waitress to the management was impeccable and the food was as good as the first time I dined here. This time we had the sushi nachos which were still fantastic, the macaroni and cheese (incredibly rich, a little too heavy for my taste but exactly what mac and cheese is supposed to be), duck lettuce wraps (a special that evening and delicious) and the scallops, which were perfect. I had a mixed berry mojito which was great. At the end of our meal, the manager came over and gave me his card, apologized for my past experience and even bought us drinks to make up for the past. Thanks S3 - you've made me a true fan! Whenever I'm in the Ft Lauderdale beach area I am here for drinks and will be back again, and again for dinner....
(5)
Honest R.
Food was great but espresso was what nightmares are made of and I'm 99% sure when we asked for cream for it, we were given cold skim milk in a really chic little container which made it much worse. Service was pretty good though. Except that the table next to ours had to take pictures of everything which meant a terrifying, other-worldly flash every few minutes. Not the restaurant's fault though. I would say it was a little overpriced for what you get. $4 per slice of sashimi is a little on the high side. I frequent katsuya one of the best sushi spots in LA & they're not nearly this overpriced. I got really stoked when "work out" by j cole started playing but it was interrupted by some crap rap after like a few notes. This remix played like way too loudly all night with some good songs, just too loud & too quick to skip to the next song. Waiters were cute and polite though so there's that.
(4)
Lisa S.
The brussels sprouts and the short ribs are to die for! Such a cool place for someone who likes to sample a little bit of everything
(5)
Joshua B.
Hip beach front view restaurant.Service was excellent. Mixed drinks were small but packed a punch and had great flavors. Food was more upscale bar food but great tasting
(4)
Charles S.
S3 provides some of the best ambiance, service, food and views in Ft. Lauderdale. Our waitress was like a mind-reader. Every time I thought of something I needed or wanted, she would magically appear to take care of it. The food was phenomenal. We had sushi, chicken wings, pulled pork sandwiches and appetizers at our table and everything was high quality and ultra delicious. We sat outside, with a beautiful view of the ocean. Everything was exquisite!
(5)
Ron B.
Very nice new edition to the Lauderdale beach landscape...which is welcome, given the lack of quality venues available with ocean views. The YOLO folks have outdone themselves, at least in terms of the decor and the setting. The entire restaurant straddles an interior space and an expansive patio, fully taking advantage of the ocean breezes and sweeping vistas. The food is fun...I've been for app's a few times, but was with a group for dinner recently...and was pleased with the offering and its executiion. We ate sushi rolls (dragon and spicy tuna), sashimi (assorted), wok-charred edamame, stir-fry brussel sprouts (yum!), coffee-rubbed skirt steak with yucca...and there wasn't a dud amongst them. In fact, most things were very good or better! Beverage was better than average...the wine list is decent, and some prices are surprisingly reasonable...given the setting, I'd say more than fair! (Kim Crawford SB for $10 - as good as most other places) I like the staff...they look good and are friendly...what else can you ask for?! The place looks great...and I'm finding it a nice place to wrap up a beach day (albeit, upscale style), hit an occasional beach-y happy hour or even dine, particularly with out of town guest in tow...the views make for lasting memories! One hint...valet. If you park down the street, you have to pass through some very unpleasant odors on the Hilton's back loading dock (you all really should clean that up!!)
(4)
Lesley M.
We had a great lunch here with an attentive waitress. I ate a tomato and orzo salad and the vegetable sushi roll. The food was very fresh and filling. My husband ate the fish sandwich and the tuna rice cakes, and he quickly devoured both. He said his meal was absolutely excellent. I recommend checking out this restaurant.
(5)
Julie T.
The ambiance and decor of this restaurant are great as is the happy hour. The view is fantastic, the service is great, and the food is good. I was actually really surprised at how fresh and delicious the sushi was. The tomato bread wasn't too remarkable. The crispy artichokes were just okay - salty and fried. The first cocktail I ordered called the pom pom crush was too tart and fruity. So thank goodness I got the Tickle cocktail. I really want to come back here again and try some more dishes.
(4)
Rose W.
If you like Small Plates that are mouth watering and a view of our beautiful of Ft Lauderdale Beach you must go to S3. The grilled octopus was done to perfection and the pork belly melted in your mouth! And don't forget to try their sushi bar and a very "well stocked" wine list. The service for a busy restaurant was outstanding and our server delightful .... As first timers we didn't know where to begin and she guided us through an unforgettable evening with friends. High on my list of culinary experience .... Foodie Heaven!!!
(5)
Jessica N.
Fantastic brunch! Was not overly crowded for a Sunday so we were able to get an outside table facing the beach with no problem. I had the Shrimp and Grits and my husband had the Chicken and Sweet Potato Waffle and we were thoroughly impressed. Awesome drink flights too!
(5)
Carol K.
Love when a local tells you where to go to try out the "hot spot" in town. And while I was initially a bit put off that this is in the Hilton hotel (after all- who wants hotel food?) have no worries for this place is as far from hotel food as you can get! If you go- make a reservation as this place is jumping! I went on a Friday night and while there are plenty of amazing seating areas both indoors and out- without a reservation you may find yourself seated at the sushi bar, which while functional- is really not where the fun is! I ended up finding a seat at one of the other bars indoors and had a great time! If you enter through the hotel, you will actually be entering the restaurant from the back so head up to the side facing the ocean as that is where the hostess stand is. I was warmly greeted when I came in this way and shown to the proper place. The ambiance is cool and contemporary with great clusters of couches and tables outside and more traditional seating indoors. They make full use of their space and it is a wonderful space with ocean views and plenty of people watching opportunities. I ordered simply- some of their sauteed edamame and some sushi rolls. The edamame was unusual as I usually have it steamed so it had an entirely different mouth feel to it this way. My rolls were also quite good with the kamikaze roll having just the right amount of bite! The staff was super friendly- a big shout out to bartender Jane who kept my glass full and put up with an entire bar full of yelling men who had been drinking all day. If you drive- valet park at the hotel(enter on the side street) and get your ticket validated. At $5- it's the best parking deal in town! Go for the sun, go for the surf or go for the sand,, but most importantly go for the specialness of this place. For once you go- you'll want to go back!
(5)
Blake W.
This should of been posted a long time ago but I just forgot about it. I just wanted to say that I went here just for a casual lunch during my spring break with my girlfriend. Only I ate here but they served us both waters and the waiter was very nice. I just ordered a hamburger. They took a long time to make it but I figured it was worth it. Plus they view was awesome and the atmosphere was very relaxed. Once I got the burger they told me they are gonna put it on the house cause it took so long. So that was awesome and very nice of them to do so. I would definitely return for a meal if I was ever in the area again. I highly recommend. Plus if you like sushi, I recommend you look at a place called sushi rock cafe in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Best sushi I have ever had. A hidden gem.
(5)
Eli S.
Pretty views of the ocean but slow service and when asked about the status of our food a cocky bar tender Jared gave some strange explanation that we had to wait because this place was popular. (note post lunch and place half empty). We waited for 30 min to get appetizers. Apparently food was to arrive as it was prepared but the food runner brought it all at once. Just an fyi to the manager.
(2)
Jennifer T.
I recently took some clients to S3. Our server Chelsea was fantastic. She knew the menu front to back and offered great drink pairings to go with the food we ordered. She was beyond professional and was able to interact with the table to make our experience beyond excellent. With the size group we had, I was able to taste a good portion of the menu. I wouldn't consider myself an octopus fan, but the octopus here is amazing. It's grilled and you can taste the smoke off the fire... The texture of this meat is better than lobster, which you might not expect if you've had rubbery octopus before. It's served with a buttery bean salad... honestly you have to try this plate, you won't regret it. For the less adventurous, try the mac and cheese plate (heavy, but super good) or the tuna tower. I plan on going back the next time I'm in town to try the pork belly. If you get to it before I do, let me know if it's good. This place truly has 5 star service, food and atmosphere.
(5)
Isaac G.
It always makes me sad when a beautiful and tasty meal gives me food poisoning. It also disturbed me that since it's corporate ( Hilton) my server was required to wear arm sleeves over his tattoos. I had crabcake Benedict with spinach, a lemony hollandaise and some beautifully roasted potatoes, and a bloody Mary, traditional. My date had the banana bread French toast. We both liked the Oceanview, and the guests were okay, but when I looked into the kitchen it was easy to see how we got poisoned. It was truly a jumbled mess. Cross another South Florida restaurant off the list.
(2)
Rich B.
One of the greatest restaurants I've ever been to. Amazing food, service, ambiance, scenery, etc.. the sushi rolls in particular are to die for. I can't wait to go back next time I'm in town!
(5)
Peter B.
Atmosphere with the ocean breeze was great, food was ok
(1)
Faith H.
Came on a Thursday night. What great service, food & drinks. Bartenders are amazing and attentive!! Been looking for good sushi and this is the place!!! Drinks are made to perfection. This is def a must go to!!! Worth the $.
(5)
Savani D.
I came here on a Friday night after 11p, I was pleasantly surprised to find quality dining in this area around that time. Luckily, they stop serving food at midnight. I ordered the Seafood Paella, perfect if you're eating light. But if you're a foodie like myself, you'll end up ordering more food as I did. After reading all the rave reviews about the Thai Tuna Roll, had to order it. Yelp never leads me astray! This dish was delicioso! I would have given 5 stars if the food portions were bigger. Other than that this place is highly recommended.
(4)
Nikoletta K.
Great place, beautiful view and good food
(4)
Janice M.
Had dinner with three co-workers here last Thursday. A great spot to people watch and enjoy the ocean breeze. There were quite a few intoxicated college students enjoying spring break which was entertaining to watch while we had dinner! The wine and cocktail list is impressive. Beautiful restaurant with open kitchen. Staff is obvioulsy chosen for their looks and hipness, as I didn't see one unattractive server in the place! The food..... We shared: Goat Cheese Croquettes - Amazing and very rich Tuna Tower - a bit bland but the tuna very fresh Rainbow Roll - good but not the best sushi I've had Scallops - perfectly seared and the sauce was so good we ordered another. Luscious Brussel Sprouts - my favorite veg and these did not disappoint. Perfectly roasted and carmelized. YUM Mac and Cheese -TO DIE FOR! Cheesy goodness with crispy pancetta. Brought this out last and we were so full we had trouble finishing it Travel to Ft Lauderdale often for work and this is my new favorite spot. Highly recommend for small plates and people watching.
(4)
Drew D.
After having returned here twice (once for brunch and once for dinner) with out of town friends, I am happy to be able to bump my review up to a solid 4-stars! Every subsequent dining experience here has been happy and tasty. Yes, tables are very hard to come by so make reservations well in advance. Enjoy some creative cocktails and soak up the trendy atmosphere while enjoying well prepared food!
(4)
Carol L.
I and my friend came here for dinner last weekend. We ordered a buffalo wing with honey sauce. It was so amazing taste. Not like ones we often eat in Hooter. Crunchy and salty sweet, a little sour... Later we order Tuna and steak serve with rice. Both these meal tasted so good and fresh like a wild caught tuna i usually buy in farm fresh market. So delicious. We will definitely come back next time for trying other meals.
We loved S3. Food was great - sushi, steak and salads crossed our table and everyone raved about the meal. Service was nice, fun atmosphere. Nice change from the "norm" in Ft Lauderdale.
(5)
Danielle R.
Went yesterday after a very LONG day at the beach, coupled with beer, and we were finally ready to eat some food (thank sweet baby Jesus). They have a $5 valet, do this instead of trying to find parking for 10 mins like we did. My one friend had been the night before and she loved it so much she wanted to go back. In fact, she said when they first got there there was nothing but open tables, but they were told those were all reserved and if they wanted they could sit up at the sushi bar (which is also pretty cool). She said about 30 mins after they sat (at the sushi bar) all of those tables were taken. Additionally, we actually tried to grab drinks here on the prior Friday night around 7 ish but there wasn't an open seat to be had!!! So make a RESERVATION if you plan on going here. It also appears they take rezzies for the outside cocktail tables, which on a nice South Florida night can't be beat! The views here are SPECTACULAR and almost all of the seating (save the sushi bar) are pointed towards the water. We got a seat outside and immediately ordered bottle #1 of wine (Kim Crawford priced at $35). We also ordered the wok seared edamame and the mixed olives w/ Marcona almonds (see pix both were delicious). All of us were impressed w/ the wide variety of selections on the menu, if you can't find something to eat here, you can't find it anywhere. We ordered bottle #2 of the Kim Crawford. It is on the slower side, so this place is perfect for a lazy Sunday dinner, IF you are on a tight time frame I would skip this place and try it another time. We ordered the Thai Tuna Roll, which I loved, and the Rainbow Roll, both were delicious. We also ordered the Green Goddess Tomato Heirloom salad (which is one of the most amazing dishes ever), the grilled eggplant (my least favorite), and the stuffed Brussels Sprouts (ask for a side of wasabi for these for some reason it pairs nicely). Somewhere during this round of food we ordered bottle #3 of wine, only to have the waitress return and tell us they were out!!! OH NO! However, instead of just saying they were out they offered the next bottle up for the same price (savings of $6 but still a very fair and happy gesture). And we accepted. I think we were here for 2 hours, maybe more, and we would've stayed longer if we didn't have TrueBlood to watch that night. Oh and by the time we left they had live music complete with Cuban drums! I honestly can't wait to go back...
(5)
Brian G.
My son and I went there for dinner last night. Great location - bit either park at the Galleria Mall (free) and walk maybe 3/4 of a mile along he beach or A1A, or use valet - you won't find parking nearby for sure. Atmosphere is great, our server was very good, the sake was cold, nice ambience. We sat at the sushi bar and watched it being prepared. Menu is limited (very limited) but service is prompt because of that.
(4)
Cindy S.
I've been to S3 a few times for lunch and dinner. The food is great, they have smaller portions so everyone may share. The service is excellant. They serve a variety of sushi, beef and fish. The server Brandon was my favorite, if you have difficulty making a discision he makes great recommendations. I also recommend Rachelle too! The view is EXCELLENT! This place has great food, service and a beautiful view! They have something for everyone!
My favorite restaurant by far! Always amazing service, great drinks and unbeatable dishes!! Edamama is out of this world and the heirloom tomato salad is to die for!!! To top it all off, you can't beat the atmosphere and the ocean breeze!
(5)
Steve C.
I am a lucky guy, I was invited here as a birthday dinner present from sweet Karin, and the entire experience ROCKED, here's why: * The company! * Jamie, our waiter, was fantastic without hovering, he represents the brand well and has great energy * Tapas / sharing sized portions mainly * Beachfront view * Cool layout and decor * Fairly priced We drank a delish bottle of Tyku Black (cold) Sake. Mmmmmmmmm, Yummo! We also tried their Sake Sunset Cocktails, made with sake and Grey Goose ($12 bucks each). Awesome. We ate: * Kamikaze Roll (HIT!) * Brussel Sprouts (HIT!) * Short Ribs with mac-n-cheese (HIT!) * Paella * Scallops * Panna Cotta for dessert Wow. Score. Coming back. Sooner. Before you. Cabeza BLESSED!
(5)
Kayla M.
Came to S3 for Sunday brunch. The service was HORRIBLE but the food was AMAZING! We sat at the outside bar and had Jane and Anna as a servers. Ann was nice and just seemed busy but Jane seemed bothered by "tourist" she requested that we provide her with a CC to hold but never requested one from the "locals" who sat down right next to us at the same exact time. 2 more "tourist" lady were also rudely asked to provide their CC and they too were not happy with the service and left. We were only checked on once and once things slowed down Anna took over at the end and we actually left with a smile. The food was very good so with that I'll say I might return in hopes to get a different waitress!
(3)
Tara H.
Oh holy hamachi and pork belly! Cooper is awesome but the whole staff including the GM kicks ass!! Oh and the great company and fabulous wine helps too!! Try it you'll love it!
(4)
Kimberley C.
Every concierge service on the beach is going to recommend this restaurant. They serve food & cocktails pretty consistently all day long and up till 11:30 approx. Not bad. So if you are on an irregular food schedule and you want some food, you're in luck. Food: Average, slightly better than average Service: Excellent Decor: Comfortable, inviting, warm wood colors People: All tourists of every shape & size Parking: Street or Valet This is the Hilton overlooking Fort Lauderdale beach. Good view. Comfortable seating. Much much better than hanging out on the patio of the W Hotel Fort Lauderdale. Very cool arrangement. The bartenders, as it gets late into the night are funny, charming and really take care of you. I've been here 4 times now, by default. A restaurant decision that you can make last minute without worrying about the outcome, unlike the Atlantic Hotel or the W.
(3)
Jocelyn J.
Wow! This place is soooooo good. I came here on a Thursday night with some girlfriends and we ordered a bunch of their small plates, namely: Marinated olives Sushi nacho Spicy tuna Crab and shrimp rolls Mac n cheese Ricotta gnocchi Short ribs Shrimp toast Asparagus salad Akaushi bavette steak The sushi items (sushi nacho, crab and shrimp rolls) were fresh and delicious. The sushi nacho was similar to a tuna tartare on a crispy tortilla. The crab and shrimp rolls use REAL crab which was a surprising delight! All the cooked dishes were also very good - not one dish left our table without being empty. Those that we truly loved were ordered AGAIN because they were so delicious! But the standouts on this menu - unanimously decided by our table of 8 - were definitely the Mac-n-cheese and ricotta gnocchi. They were AMAZING. The Mac and cheese was creamy and gooey with a generous sprinkling of crispy prosciutto crumbles. The ricotta gnocchi had a sublime truffle smell and flavor that I can't even describe in words - you just have to taste it for yourself. Oh and for dessert you have to try the Icky Sticky Toffee Pudding....HEAVEN on a plate!! Service was prompt and very friendly. The restaurant has a chic but low key vibe with a wonderful view and firepits outside. I can't wait to go back for a date night with my husband!
(4)
Amanda F.
I'll give this restaurant 5 stars for the quality of food. But waiter was slightly pushy, hostess had an attitude, they are very stingy on alcohol. Delicious and fresh. I love the option of small plates/snacks. Nice view of the water across the street. I wanted to sit by the fire pit and I had requested it over he phone. I was told it was first come first serve, okay I understand but then she says but I'll try to sit you somewhere near it. Okay that's fine, we get there got told the same thing with an attitude and were told "well if you can find a seat near it" what?? I had no idea what she was even saying.. Real professional thats why your a hostess. Got sat no where near the fire pit. They need more ambiance lighting outside if I can't get near the fire pit, I can't see my food or the menu. GET SOME LIGHTS OR TIKI TORCHES IF YOUR GONNA HAVE OUTDOOR SEATING. I can see where the money is going to.. (Fake candles) haha real fancy. Anyway the waiter was pushy saying we had to put in all the orders now bc they will start to get busy.. Umm I don't mind waiting so stop, we usually order 1 or 2 tapas at a time while drinking then keep the menu on the side so stop rushing me. Actually couldn't even get tipsy here bc the $12 "specialty" drink I ordered; Sake Sunset consisting of grey goose plum sake cranberry pineapple juice right you think ooo grey goose it's gonna be a nice strong drink for $12!!!! nope... Tasted like just pineapple juice, although my bf got a don Julio Margarita with a grand mariner floater for $15 which was really good, damn it should have gotten that to at least get a buzz on when your spending that much $. Sushi rolls were delicious and fresh filled with fish but very little avocado. This place is great during the day for tapas or an entree, would not recommend going to drink, save your money and pick a cheaper bar that has happy hour with decent strong drinks.
(4)
Patrick F.
Great food, great environment, great service! Definitely recommend the sushi!
(5)
Leah K.
This place is beyond amazing. If you like good, quality food, come here. Some of the best food I have ever tasted.
(5)
Jill R.
I came with my girlfriends for a late dinner. This restaurant is part of the Hilton Fort Lauderdale right on the beach. It was such a beautiful spot. We sat outside near the fire pits. The tables and outside furniture created a beautiful beachside ambiance. We shared a few tapas and ordered 2 bottles of Grafigna Pinot Grigio.My favorite tapas were the goat cheese croquettes and the sushi nacho! Service was great! I would definitely recommend this hot spot to people visiting the downtown Fort Lauderdale area!
(5)
Jessica L.
If I had to describe this place in 3 words, they would be outstanding, sexy, and refreshing. It's nice to finally have a great place to eat on the beach with an amazing view. The tuna tower was absolutely fresh and delicious. Brussels sprouts are better than mine and that's some pretty stiff competition! Service was up to perfection, staff very knowledgeable. I recommend this to anyone local or on vacation looking for amazing food with quality and love!
(5)
Indya R.
You saw that right. Three stars. How is that possible, you ask? Let me first start off by saying that this place is GORGEOUS. If I still lived in the Miami area, it wold most definitely be my new go-to spot. Anytime I visit, which is quite frequently, I will make it my business to come here. Somehow, this place is set up so that every table you sit at you can see the ocean. Initially when I arrived, I asked for a table outside. I did not realize how silly that request was without a reservation. So to my dismay, we sat at a table closest to the kitchen, which was open. Now don't get me wrong. I loved the place. I REPEAT I LOVED THE PLACE AND WILL DEFINITELY BE BACK. Here's the thing. There is absolutely no excuse a place this damn nice to have a sub par menu. Yes, I am a very picky eater, but I can manage to find something on every menu. All I can suggest is the macaroni and cheese. It was delicious. Perhaps I am a bit biased because I hate tapas, but this place was tapas. No more tapas! No more tapas! No more tapas! I am a growing girl! I am an adult! I have keys to an apartment, and I DEMAND you not trick me with tapas! No more tapas! Now that that's out of the way, the other reason I knocked off a star is because of the service. Our server was perfectly pleasant, but frequently absent. I was always looking for her. They were not that busy when we got there. I considered maybe she got busy with other tables, or they were understaffed, but I think she was very new, as in it was her first job as a server, or she just just negligent. Again, this restaurant is on the ocean. Absolutely beautiful interior. I WISH I had the opportunity to sit outside. There is also a firepit out there! So romantic! The ocean view is nice, but when it comes down to it I went there to eat and have dinner with a friend. Next time, I will just eat before and have drinks or dessert here. I really wish they would serve regular portion food here, Mighta got 5 stars out of me. S3, I shall see you soon! Oh as we were leaving, there were dancers dressed in feathers giving a performance. I think I would have enjoyed that. P.S. ladies bring a sweater if you run cold. After the champagne we warmed up.
(3)
Tyler S.
Moving from the northeast to live on the ocean just a few miles north from the strips of hotels , I wanted to only eat at restaurants where you could see the ocean and I wanted to take all of my visitors here to show off how "cool" Fort Lauderdale is. The restaurant is very pretty , the drinks are expensive but good , and the food is above average but on my third visit is when I noticed that this is not the place for me. Here's why, I like a good view but this restaurant is full of tourists, wannabes, and what I'm pretty sure were Baltic prostitutes. It's a tapas menu and most of the dishes we ordered were good but every time I come back I don't see anything on the menu that makes me shout " oh, I need that again!" If you're visiting Ft Lauderdale and staying at a hotel on the beach : go here, it's ok , you're allowed, you're a tourist. I on the other hand have passed my 6 month mark of Florida living and would be embarrassed to be spotted drinking a cocktail by a fire pit next to Svetlana.
(3)
Savanna M.
Dinner - 4 stars The Short Story: I'm going to start off with a quick summary because I feel like this review is going to get lengthy. Long story short, S3 is good, the ambiance is nice, the view of the ocean would be great if you're here for lunch/early evening, and the food is good. I definitely think the asian side of the menu is much, much better than the non-asian items, so stick to those items. The Long Story: We came here for a birthday dinner. I made reservations for 5 people at 6pm, which I had pretty much forgotten about until we rolled in at 6:45pm. Luckily it was still early and we were sat immediately. By the time we left at 8:30pm (on a Wednesday) the place was packed, so either come early, or make a reservation. We were given a great table, half booth, half seats with an amazing view of the ocean (had daylight savings been working with us we might have seen it). Our waiter was quick and attentive and seemed to handle our indecisive/confused nature well. Sadly it can be difficult for a group of 5 to handle a tapas menu well. Thankfully we staggered our ordering quite well and managed to always have a full table, but not one overflowing uncomfortably with food. We tried a lot of the menu: *Goat cheese croquettes - good and worth the cheap price tag *Stuffed dates - a special for the night. Overly sweet and definitely far from the best stuffed dates I've ever had. *Tuna Tower - think tuna tartare with some rice mixed it. Extremely good and everyone loved it. *Shrimp n'Crab roll - good. I loved the hint of sweetness from the pear. *Red Dragon roll - also good. Different without seaweed, and everyone enjoyed. *Mac n' Cheese - not my favorite. The bacon had a fake taste to it. *Short Ribs - pretty good. I was rather full by the time these came out so they didn't get my full attention. There was a side of pasta that was good. *Steamed Mussels - loved them. The broth was great. *Lettuce wraps - I thought they were only ok, others raved about them. *Paella - didn't get to try it, but it looked amazing. *Grilled Octopus - not my favorite as it seemed salty, but the octopus itself was well cooked and had a nice grilled taste. *Jerked Pork Belly - yeah no. I appreciate the idea, but the mint sauce on top was all wrong. Don't bother trying. *Fish of the Day - mahi/mahi. I didn't get to try it but no one else was that impressed. Lessons learned - again, stick to the sushi/asian items. Large plates a overly expensive and not that great. We did order a bottle of wine, which I found to be fairly priced. We also did a drink sampler with the Thai Coconut Crush, Insani Tea and the Blackberry Lychee. Get the Blackberry Lychee - it was awesome!! All in all, we'll be back. The view can't be beat. The service was great. But I'll be sticking to the asian side of the menu. Brunch: 2.5stars We've recently been back for brunch. I'll keep this one short, but we didn't have the best of times. The view and seating outside of course was beautiful, but our food was so/so and our waiter kept going missing for long periods of time and it was hard to get refills, ask for syrup etc. Out of all the things we tried (there were 4 of us so we tried a lot) I would only go back for the banana bread french toast. Definitely skip the pork-belly hash.
(4)
Stacy A.
Absolutely divine!! The grilled octopus and stuffed date appetizer are absolutely to die for. Fantastic ambience, too. Would come back in a heartbeat!
(5)
Lawrence P.
Well hello S3!!!!! Unlike Miami, Fort Lauderdale is not yet known for tapas style (small bites) dining. Enter S3!!!! We valet sat outside with a view to the Atlantic Ocean. It was a nice day... not too hot. For colder nights, they have a nice fire pit as well and, from what we were told, they also have live music on Fridays and Saturdays!!! This night there was a jazz band playing and the fire pit was rolling as well. Very relaxing atmosphere... perfect Florida night dining!!! So, talking about the small plates, we had a few... just a few. The Goat Cheese Croquettes were perfect. They were accompanied by an almond crusted red chili guava which the wifey enjoyed very much. The Sushi Nacho which was basically tuna, spicy salmon, guacamole and tobiko was PHENOMENAL! We also had the Spicy Salmon Roll which was good. We also ordered the Mac & Cheese with smoked Gouda, my favorite. It even had prosciutto. WOW! The Ricotta Gnocchi... yes we ordered those too... had baby shiitake mushrooms and truffle. Best dish of the night!!!!! We had the Lump Crab Cakes and Grilled Octopus to boot. Both good! After we finished our wine (corkage fee is only $20), we ordered the Dulce de Leche Chocolate Cake. DON'T JUDGE!!!! The salted caramel ice cream that came with it was perfect. The only negative. It wasn't dulce de leche. Why advertise it as such and then use caramel???? It was ok at best. The ice cream was the best part. Loved S3!!! We will be returning often. For lunch, for dinner... for... whatever.
(4)
Chris S.
Good food and a fun show if you sit at the sushi bar. Kimchee hamachi and brisket sliders were both excellent. Skirt steak took a long time as there was trouble getting it medium rare, but the manager came over, explained the problem, comp'd not only the skirt steak but also a beer, as a nicely appreciated extra touch. Once it finally came out, it was cooked perfectly and was also excellent. Potato skins and the blonde dessert were both good, but a clear step down from the other dishes. The craft beer list is decent, definitely not a highlight. Apart from the excellent handling of the slow skirt steak, service overall was good. I'll likely return to try more dishes from the lengthy list of interesting options.
(4)
Lacey C.
Now I'm not up in Broward very often. But when my husband's long-time absent friend says he's in town for business and would like to pay for dinner--we scramble to get some nicer shoes on and make something happen. I found the first Yelp-approved sushi place close to their (Chad and his pal Scott) hotel and headed up North. I regret nothing. Service so good you'll freak--after we waited thirty minutes for drinks, and before we complained, a manager came over to apologize and buy us another round. Waiter opened the wine and poured it from the bottle at my table. I know that's supposed to be the standard, but how often is that actually delivered? To top it off food and ambiance was incredible. Everything was perfect. We ate caramelized brussel sprouts, grilled octopus, spare ribs with black pepper spatzel. Everything was finished off with even more booze, and Thai donuts with birthday candles. Highly recommended. And enjoy the patio.
(4)
Roberta A.
S3 is one of my top 3 fave restaurants in Ft. Lauderdale. I love the concept of sharing small plates. We ordered the ricotta dip which is excellent, it's light and not heavy at all. The tuna tower has a great visual presentation and the guacamole in it is super yummy. The Mac & Cheese is always spectacular and is a MUST HAVE, I pretty much lick the plate and always contemplate getting one more order of it. The shrimp toast was very delicious, it tasted very fresh. The skirt steak with yuca is great but they should not serve the steak right on top of that yuca because the yuca ends up getting soggy every time I've ordered it here. But the steak was tender and very well seasoned. My favorite dish of the night was an actual special that isn't normally on the menu. Short ribs beef empanada equals heaven in your mouth. I hope a miracle happens and they add it to the menu permanently!!
(5)
Brian R.
Went here last night for the first time. Great food, excellent Sushi and amazing ambience. If you are in Fort Lauderdale definitely be sure to check out S3!
(4)
Beth M.
So, if you haven't warmed to the idea of small plates yet, there are options. There are entrees and sushi. You'll be fine. However, if you are up to an adventure, then be brave and go small. This is the place to do it. The food is incredible. There wasn't a dish or bite that I didn't want to eat all by myself. However, to be polite to my guests (we were sharing), and to make sure I had room for dessert, I refrained. We got 5 of the "snacks" -- the stand outs being the goat cheese croquettes and Wok Charred Edamame (which the waiter highly recommeded - thank goodness - there were as amazing as he promised they would be). We then moved on to the small plates. All were execptional. The Mac & Cheese made with Smoked Gouda (& Crispy Prosciutto on the side) was so addicting I was craving it for days and the beet salad had a unique blend of flavors that stood out from any beet salad I had experienced before. My meat-eating friends got the grilled octopus and Akaushi Bavette Steak from the woodfired section, while I completely enjoyed my Artisan Romaine ~ Pecorino ~ Prosciutto ~ Lemon ~ White Bean dish. Desert (sigh) was some type of sticky toffee, a blondie something or other and a light pannacotta type of thing. My food coma had set in so I'm fuzzy on what exactly it was but it was all worth it. The good thing about small plates is that even after 12 (ish) plates, the bill for the 4 of us was reasonable. The LOCATION - Perfect. Enjoy!
(5)
Brandon S.
Amazing drinks.. delicious food... great spot to share yummy small plates with friends... its right by the beach.. the views are beautiful...
(5)
Lucy W.
Love the patio set up...great ocean view, and comfy, cushy lounge chairs and tables. I stopped by on a sunny morning for brunch, and sat on a cushy lounge sofa on the patio, overlooking the ocean. They have different champagne cocktails...I tried the lychee but it was kind of bitter tasting. Service is a little lacking and brusque...almost ruined my chill vibe. Almost. I had the decadent banana bread French toast...delicious but I could feel myself going into a sugar coma from eating it. Good thing all I was doing afterward was hanging out on the beach and by the pool.
(4)
Janessa H.
I really wanted to like this place after hearing so many good things and reading some of the reviews. It may have been just this specific experience but unfortunately that's what this review is based on and any future visits, which are unlikely. The hostess was nice. My husband thinks the server is hung over. He forgot to bring our waters for the longest time and we had already begun to eat our food so we really needed it but he never even came to check to see if the first plate was ok. We had to ask the food runner for water and a different server for a menu bc one of our food items came out wrong. The manager was talking to the table next to us for quite sometime and it was clear that she knew the people but she never once stopped talking to turn and ask if everything was good with our food...which it was not. My husband got the shrimp and grits which was a bowl of decadent mess, too rich for our taste and the shrimp tasted funny...like chlorine or something, as strange as that sounds. We got the chicken salad for an appetizer which was delicious. I ordered the red dragon roll which was ok. I didn't find it to be anything worth a return visit or an excellent review, there are a lot of better sushi places that charge less. For dessert we got the sticky icky, which was good. Overall, this experience wasn't worth the time or money unfortunately and we will not be returning.
(2)
Robin T.
Great outdoor dining with an ocean view. Love small plates. However, 2 out of the 3 dishes arrived at our table cold. The waitress raved about the date toffee dessert but it was mediocre.
(4)
Mayank R.
This place is so awesome. We hung out at the bar twice after swimming in the ocean right in the front of the bar. The drinks are great, friendly bartenders and great food. The sampler cocktails are great. And edamame n octopus were so perfectly cooked and flavorful. Yummy. And the view is just amazing.
(4)
Ed B.
Wow. Love this place. First is the atmosphere very cool chill with house music playing in the background. Nice location on the beach. Place is for sharing which is very cool and allows to get different dishes. We started with tomato bread with manchego cheese. Then goat cheese croquettes wow!! Next we split a filet, Mac n cheese and corn. Amazing don't believe me I'll punch you in the face;)... Finished with a great dessert some sort of creme fresh thing. Really good!! Drinks were the only down side but could have been off night. All in all would absolutely return and recommend
(5)
Steve S.
The only reason I gave this place 4 stars and not 5 is because they told me a half hour wait and it ended up being an hour and half. With that being said the food here is amazing, it's all served in in small portions so four to five plates is perfect for 2 people. The service I was great too
Staff was friendly for the most part but my sushi roll came out first and I waited for my girlfriend to receive her mahi mahi for 5 minutes. After 10 more minutes, our waiter was no where to be found and my sushi was finished when she received her lunch. No apology for the delay. The bottle beer I had was also 6 months old, which should usually be cycled out. Not worth the price.
(2)
Brian x.
Fantastic! Had a 8:15 reservation but got to restaurant 30min early on a packed Friday night and they were able to seat us early. Service, FOOD and atmosphere were perfect. Thanks S3 for a really enjoyable meal. Our server Lauren was great!!
(5)
Carolyn B.
Celebrated birthday dinner. Party of 6. Food was great. Service great. Table was awful! We made a reservation 3 weeks in advance and we got a table by the front door. This is not acceptable. Food is eclectic and trendy. Sitting on the end there were guests and hosts on top of us. The other 2 tables at the window were not occupied when we got there. We didn't complain. But for almost $500. - you would hope they could've made a better accommodation. Matt our server was excellent!!!
(3)
Jessica C.
I had the opportunity to come to brunch here because my boyfriend is an avid yelper and he wanted to meet his fellow yelp friends. I had heard from co-workers this place had great drinks and appetizers for happy hour during the week. Upon walking up the view itself gets a 4 star it's in a great location at the hilton hotel (was not exactly psyched about supporting the competition but whatever) the day was beautiful and we had a table outside overlooking the ocean. For drinks I started off with a mimosa. I have to say it wasn't the best mimosa I've had. It was a little on the bitter side for me. It tasted like the champagne wasn't the best quality which caused the bitterness in taste. For my selections, I chose the goat cheese croquettes. And they were delicious! They had the perfect balance of tartness and flavor and they had a guava sauce on the Plate to scrape your croquette with. I have to say guava can have a distinct taste and many would consider it an acquired taste. I enjoyed this dish. My only complaint is I wish it could've been hotter when it arrived. For my main dish, I ordered the shrimp and crab roll. I never order sushi because 99.9% of rolls are made with avocado and I'm extremely allergic. To my surprise this roll didn't contain avocado and was prepared with my 2 favorite things, crab and shrimp. This roll was delicious. It had the perfect balance of flavors and certainly did not taste like the typical roll. Overall, I enjoyed my experience, it wasn't my best meal, but it earned 4 stars because of its location and view. In my opinion, the lunch and dinner menus looked more appealing. I will definitely be back.
(4)
S K.
Yesterday my boyfriend and I went to brunch at S3. I had made a reservation using OpenTable. As far as accessibility, I wish parking was easier; however, I know it is spring in Fort Lauderdale, so I can't fault the restaurant. I wonder if they have parking validation through the hotel?? Anyway, we were immediately sat down at a booth/table. The seating was a little low for the table, but very comfortable, and of course the view was great. The ambiance could not be better. The server came relatively quickly to take our drink order, and while we were at it, we ordered the small plate of fried goat cheese. The food came before our drinks, and we did need to remind our server of our water. I was downgrading them at this point to auto 4 starts because I was sensing the service would not be at my expectations.. however, read on and you'll find out why I had to give them 5 stars. While we were at S3 for brunch, I ordered a Thai Coconut Tuna roll thing. My boyfriend ordered the huevos rancheros. Both were delightful, and the sushi quality was exceptional. We also ordered more than a few cocktails - all of which had a nice pour, weren't too weak, and were very tasty. I liked the Beach Breeze most. Finally, we ordered some edamame. This was the best edamame dish I have had! It is seasoned well and very flavorful. The service was on par and our server was very attentive! Our tab came to just over $100, and I wanted to leave a cash tip. I thought I did... but I walked away without doing so, only to remember about 30 minutes later and see that the gratuity I intended to leave was still in my wallet. Quickly, we returned to give our server his due tip. And that is how I gave back the extra star to S3.... we all make mistakes.
(5)
Gizel A.
Beautiful atmosphere, great food (best edemames ever), great drinks. Have gone many times and can't wait to go back.
(5)
Erich M.
Just joined yelp and found my favorite place in FLL would be great for my first review. S3 is set in a great location with great ocean views/ breezes, reasonably priced and full of beautiful people for those who like to people watch. Drinks are awesome if you know what you like. The food ... consistently good. Try the tuna tower and the pomme frites with parmesan aioli and your date I am sure will have one of those special moments.
(5)
Suzi C.
We arrive at 7:30ish and were told by the hostesses that there is a wait of 45 minutes. I proceed to go online and make a reservation via open table in 15 minutes, hostesses seem confused and somewhat annoyed when I tell them we actually have a reservation now. Cocktails were pretty yummy, I had a thymetini. The bartender was friendly and honest about what drinks to order. As for the food, it is just okay. The Brussels sprouts were the highlight, but we did not order any meat, which was probably a mistake since the kitchen did smell like a campfire. Oh and be prepared that if you sit outside to eat, which is the best part of this restaurant, drunk patrons will smoke and the staff will ignore it, even if you complain. Only a non-smoker like myself will be annoyed by this.
(2)
Gracey M.
Love this place. Great for happy hour. The only reason I didn't give this place 5 stars is because I was not happy with the wine selection by the glass. By the bottle selections were ok. The tuna roll is delicious.
(4)
Maria E.
I live in Fort Lauderdale, and S3 is my go-to place for taking either business or personal visitors who need the "eat on the beach" experience. The food is good quality, the sushi/fish is very fresh, the menu has a wide variety of reasonably priced options and the outside area is beautiful. Solid choice. They don't get my 5 because there are definitely better options in the city. The music can be quite loud unless you're lucky enough to get a seat outside in the cocktail area, but service is a bit spotty out there. Execution isn't always consistent, and sometimes plates come out sloppy- whether it's the fault of a rushed kitchen or a forgetful cocktail waitress. Some of the dishes are a bit lack-luster. Valet parking is annoying. These are pretty minor issues, though, and I've had many great experiences here with guests who are consistently pleased with the food and atmosphere.
(4)
Cara S.
Looking for a great places for small plates and good vino. This is it. Went there tonight with our little one. Awesome night. Fancy enough for a night out with the girls/boys but still cosy enough for a family night out. Our waiter was Chris, he was perfect. He was exactly what you want on a night out. Almost like your best friend serving you dinner. As for the the food. Extremely well priced for the amazing quality. The steak was to die for. You in Ft Lauderdale, come here. 5 star service and food without the 5 star price and pretentious BS. Thank you for an amazing evening.
(5)
Edward H.
DINNER FOOD: GOOD SERVICE: POOR Ocean views from just about every table gives this restaurant an advantage over others on Fort Lauderdale beach. It is located inside The Hilton Hotel but operated by The Restaurant People, who own and operate at least 5 restaurants and bars. Their success is the result of hard work by founder Tim Petrillo, Chef Peter Bouloukos and developer Alan Hooper. Whether you sit inside or outside the interior design and views give a perceived value,but the food and beverage prices at dinner are moderate to expensive. We ordered Brussels sprouts that were seasoned with pork, mint and peanuts, grilled octopus tossed with green herbs and navy beans, Snapper Kimchee with avocado and yuzu and grilled artichokes as starters. All were delicious but I think the artichokes were better without the heavy Remoulade. We paused to savor the flavors, drink wine and have laughs before choosing our entrees. The Large Plate section on the menu is considered entree portions. I noticed that most of the protein offerings had a designation except for the marinated Lamb chops and the Ribeye steak. I was interested in the Lamb Chops so I asked the waitress where they were from, she didn't know. I asked her to enquire and returns with news they were from New Zealand. I prefer Colorado Lamb but two of us ordered them anyway because the Mediterranean preparation sounded appealing. It was served with garbanzo beans, feta cheese and cherry tomatoes which was delicious but the Lamb was grizzly,fatty and only yielded 40% meat. Although the Mahi Rice & Beans with Mango Chutney was excellent. The waitress didn't return to the table until we were finished eating dinner and said nothing as she cleared away 60% of the Lamb that remained on our plates.I would hope being as successful as The Restaurant People are there is protocol for servers to follow when noticing unfinished meals.If this restaurant has protocol this waitress did not follow it. I am not a tourist and will return to sample other menu items, just not the New Zealand Lamb Chops. And hope the service is more attentive when I do.
(3)
Max T.
good food, nice atmosphere, but fairly non existent service. i wanted to order more but my server didnt stop by once in the 45 minutes i was there so i just grabbed my check and left instead.
(4)
Kristen D.
We didn't eat here butt enjoyed the live entertainment and music on a Sunday night. There was a fire dancing guy and salsa dancer. Breeze was beautiful. Lots of outdoor seating. Such a fun night. We actually had our kids with us and another family did too!
(5)
Tobias S.
Great Restaurant me and my cousin have literally dinned there 5 times. Always a great experience. Just wish they had a better dessert menu. Love the sliders, gnocchi ugh everything.
(5)
Brad D.
Would definitely be a five star but for our experience with the server. Food: Awesome; Atmosphere: Awesome; Location: Awesome; Server: she'd fit right in with the fast food chain restaurants (heck, they wouldn't even have to train her). All said and done, definitely a place to try again, but definitely not with that Denny's server. Update: must have been an off day for the server. We've returned to S3 several times during our stay for lunches and dinners (yes, it's that addictive). Each time service was spot on and the food was fantastic. The tapas/small plate approach worked wonderful, giving the opportunity to try several of their dishes. Their Edamame is awesome, Wok grilled with sesame and a hint of hot spices. It's a combination of all the previous Edamame we've tried and liked, all rolled into one. S3 is a definite must try on the beach.
(5)
L D.
Rarely do you find a restaurant that has the trifecta of excellent food, service and atmosphere. S3 has it all! The setting is fantastic, with inside/outside seating across the street from the beach! We sat at the bar and the bar tender was immediately attentive. Fantastic drink menu. We were seated for dinner outside with an overhead roof. Our server Kelly, was attentive and gave us suggestions on what to order. We shared small and big plates. The food was outstanding! We met one of the managers, Jenn, whom could not have done more to make us feel welcome. The great thing about this place is it is versatile. We could bring our kids (on the earlier side), clients, friends and if we had a private event, this place would be an excellent venue. We highly recommend S3 for a fun and delicious night out! Leila & Steve D.,
(5)
Nicole S.
I personally know the owner and I can say this place has awesome food. As a high school friend of the owner, I would recommend this place to anyone looking for delicious food in an upscale atmosphere
(5)
Trey H.
Great atmosphere for a quick lunch or a night out with friends!!! The food is the real reason to keep coming back... Try the Brisket Sliders ; )
(4)
Jessica B.
The scenery was pretty great as was the edamame. The sushi could stand for serious improvement. I'll find another place for sushi.
(3)
Rocki R.
i was pleasantly surprised how fun and good this place was. We went on a friday night and they had a live dj playing. They serve both tapa style, sushi and Main plates here. It fits every taste with land and sea options. My man got the Filet, it was a bit under cooked for him but it was tender and tastefully done, came with finger potatoes. Fish was fresh in the 2 sushi rolls, Gnnochi was a little on the salty side but flavor was still really good. Goat cheese balls (4 in a order) and fried artichoke hearts. Wood fired steak tapa and the mac and cheese was my fav. Mac and cheese was the best ive ever had.
(4)
Monique C.
Been over two years since I moved from Ft. Lauderdale to Brooklyn, and I wanted to eat on the beach. My girly and I were actually looking for a different fish restaurant, but ran into S3 first, so this was the spot for us and our hungry bellies. I get edamame all the time just to eat while I'm waiting on my food, but THIS EADAMAME is SO GOOD! Flavorful with some kinda soy glaze. We were sad it was gone. I have to get crab cakes everywhere I go. Mandatory. If it's on the menu, I'm eating it. These were really nice, quality crab meat. Delicious. Sushi was good, not the best I've ever had, but not disappointing. Above average. Overall, a really good meal with an amazing view (eat outdoors, no matter the temp) and great service. Throw in good company and this is a definite beach destination worth the trip.
(5)
Claudia J.
The view is unbelievably awesome!!!.... want have some time overlooking the beach?? go to S3!!! it has seating outside and inside, lots of people coming here... and I think the view has to do with it also... well... plus the food. Had the Banh Mi Sandwich, which was yummy!!... the baguette a bit way too toasty, but the flavor was just right! good ambiance, nice staff, and great view, can you ask for more????
(4)
Jeremy B.
2.5 stars generously rounded up to 3. S3 is a new place on Fort Lauderdale Beach. It's owned by the same group that owns Yolo and basically looks like Yolo overlooking the beach. The outside patio is nice place to hang out because you get the ocean breeze. The interior looks nice (better inside than outside) and they are trying to emit an upscale, trendy vibe. Food is not cheap but not surprising given the location, The service is still definitely working out the kinks. I hope they get better. I was smart and ordered drinks straight from the bar. My friends that attempted to have a server bring their drinks had to wait forever each time. My wife and her friends were hungry and ordered a sushi tray and it took like 45 minutes - 1 hour to come out. They did say the sushi was really good and I tried one piece and agreed. Cocktails are $12-$15 apiece and not very strong. Of course I asked for a craft beer. The only thing they have craft are beers by Florida Beer Co such as Florida Lager and Key West Sunset Ale. These are better than Miller/Bud/Corona/Heineken but still nothing special. They should get some higher end brands, as their selection does not reflect that of an upscale restaurant. Just compare the menu to that of Steak 954 next door at the W. But overall I can't hate on a nice looking spot right on the beach and it I were staying at the Hilton or Atlantic hotels, this is a nicer spot to go than McSorley's, Sandbar and Parrot down the street.
(3)
Diana B.
This is a great place to go for dinner. It is close to the hotels, cool, hip environment, and food is great! The wait for a table for 2 on a Fri night was almost an hour but I found a place at the bar and had dinner there. I tried the drinks sampler, which I recommend. You can pick 3 drinks and get a 'half glass' so you get to have a nice sample of a few! I tried 6 in total and loved them all! My fav things were the gnocci-bigger than I am used to but interesting and rich! The sliders were delicious, and brussel sprouts were so loaded and savory! Def an great dinner spot on the strip!
(5)
James S.
Love this place, the view is awesome and food and service are great too, a little on the pricey side but it's tapas , so your bill does go up quickly,
(5)
Gary M.
Taking its home in the Hilton hotel on the seafront, S3 is in a prime location and its outdoor seating offers fantastic views. The food options are good with a mixture of sushi and small plates making up our order. We tried to goat cheese croquettes (tasty), rainbow roll (great, fresh), short rib (had a little it of a strange smell to it) potato skins (small but tasty) and shrimp toast (lots of flavor). Dishes are a little on the pricey side but you are paying for location at all of the seafront hotel restaurants in FT Lauderdale. Also, bring your flashlight if you are sitting outside as you will not be able to read the menu the place is very dimly lit (maybe for the turtles?!)
(4)
Lauren B.
From the makers of YOLO comes....another terrific spot! Great location across the road from the beach, awesome ambiance outside with sexy dim lighting, banquet seating and firepits. Nice cocktails, great sushi...everything we ordered was mad tasty. Tip: try the edamame!! As a smoker, I was saddened to learn that the outdoor section is completely smoke-free. But if you're a non-smoker, my tragedy is your good fortune!
(4)
Chris E.
Good food and drinks. Great atmosphere. And a great view. Right on A1A across from the beach. Highly Recommend.
(4)
Beatrice Z.
Love this place. Food is consistently good and service is great. My only complaint is that since I live right right around the corner, I've been coming here since they opened at least once per week. Manager never acknowledges me or the fact that I bring them so many people. Otherwise I like this place.
(4)
Patrick P.
Good food and great service. Great decor and love the the open kitchen I always sit at the outside bar while I try all the tapas I recommend: Charred octopuses Tuna tower Pork belly Beet salad Braised short rib Staff and bartenders are really friendly and the Manager Jennifer White is amazing!!:)
(5)
Mizz V.
I've been here several times now and can confidently say that the food and service are consistently good. Actually "good" is an understatement - the food is consistently delicious and the service is attentive without being over-bearing or rushed; a plus in my book. Add a spectacular view and what more can you ask for? Some of the smaller plates can be a bit pricey, but the quality is always there so I can't complain. Check them out on weekends when they have live music, dancers and the fire pits glowing.
(4)
Elaine C.
Delicious food, delicious drinks, gorgeous view of the ocean. The servers are pleasant and efficient. Too bad you have to use metered beach parking if you're not a hotel guest. I'd visit much more if parking wasn't such a pain!
(3)
Alexii N.
One of my local go-tos. This restaurant is one of my usual spots in the Fort Lauderdale area. Beautiful interior, great outside bar by the ocean, yummy cocktails, and very tasty food. Basically everything I am looking for. Most of the dishes are tapas-style and come out when they are ready. Some of my favorites are: goat cheese croquettes, crab and shrimp roll, red dragon roll, Thai tuna roll, Mac and cheese, and short ribs.
(5)
Leighanne L.
Great spot! Thanks again to Yelp! The ambiance, the service and the food were all fantastic. Started with shrimp tempura sushi roll and sparkling saki yummy! We had the crab cakes, delicious The brussels sprouts Seasoned wonderfully The beef short ribs so tender they fall apart. All in all it was time well spent, we will come back when we are in town!
(4)
Heather B.
Everything we ate here was amazing!!!! Pork belly, Mac n cheese, sushi, sliders and doughnuts for dessert. Wait staff was very friendly and attentive as was the chef we were seated in front of (Steve, maybe?). We can't wait to come back again soon! Thanks for a great dining experience!
(5)
Dom D.
Went Saturday night. 930 reservation and it was still packed. Perfect table out side looking at a1a. Food was so good! Top five sushi rolls I've had, great small plates! Short ribs, scallops, Brussel sprouts (as good as craft in NYC) and many others. Only knock were drinks we had at bar far better then at table. Time was spent making drinks at bar, at table they were thrown together. The thyme tini was light color at bar and nearly black at table. GM did table visit and was super friendly and working the restaurant well. Still 5 stars despite drink.
(5)
SB S.
I'm iffy about spots on the beach. They tend to be over priced and touristy. This was definitely over priced but the food was great. Fresh sushi, and very tasty. The farro salad was just scrumptious. Definitely try it. That's about all I tried here but I'd go back for sure. Oh, they validate for the parking valet during lunch. I wish the waiter was kind enough to offer to do that for me instead of me finding out when I asked for my car all the way back at valet. It's small things like that that plus hVe gotten this place an extra star
(3)
H M.
Amazing atmosphere. Great food. Was even great with kids! Recommend it to everyone. Such a cool place!
I'm completely in love with the baby tomato hairloom salad, a MUST try!!!! And the service is incredible. I love this pplace
(5)
Morgan B.
In my opinion, the best restaurant on the beach. Various menu options from sushi to mac and cheese, excellent tapas and beachfront view. A little pricey, but fair in comparison to other beach restaurants. Happy hour during the week, great atmosphere.
(4)
Donna P.
The first time at S3 was a spontaneous moment as we were on a walk with our 2 dogs and stopped in. We had a great nite on the patio/lounge. The 2 gas fireplaces make the outdoor area charming warm, the view of the ocean/palm trees -- it's really nice. The food and service -- the rosary fries - fabulous, the mac and cheese delicious, salads, artichokes, sushi ..... not a complaint from our group - we enjoyed everything. The patio/lounge service can be slow - there is usually 1 server during the week and if busy -- she's running from table to table. The view and food -- won't disappoint.
(4)
John S.
This is the third(ish?) time we have been here, and it was absolutely the best. We got goat cheese croquettes that we immediately wanted a second order of, short rib sliders we also wanted seconds of, scallops that were perfect and delicious and wonderful, and Mac and cheese for dessert. Best dinner yet. Can't stop obsessing. Gin tickle is the best drink. Boyfriend had diablo cervesa (craft man cocktail). So good. So fat. So happy. Irene was a great server. Written by Stefanie S.
(4)
Virdina M.
I had some type of sushi there but honestly wasn't impressed with it. However, their pork belly, warm salad thing, skirt steak, shrimp bread were all delicious. They have great options. Berry mojito was good. They had one drink that had a foam on top of it that was frankly gross. They should print a dessert menu. The waiter recited 5 different desserts and expected us to remember them....no. Just print a menu. It's weird. We ordered the blondie, donuts and their chocolate cake or something. Their desserts are yummy.
(4)
Allan S.
The night we had dinner here the waitress suggested that we try the cookie dessert. I instead opted for something else that turned out to be a disappointment. Last night we stopped by for drinks and dessert; again we asked the server what she recommended .. "the cookie dessert" she replied. So the cookie dessert it was; and it was OUTSTANDING! Along with the espresso.
(5)
Noreen B.
I live in Fort Lauderdale and met a friend there that came in from out-of-town.the location on the beach is great. We only ordered two things. We ordered the macaroni and cheese and the skirt steak. We got the macaroni and cheese right away, but waited for ever for the skirt steak. We were offered a free dessert but we did not want anything. I would've thought they would comp something on the bill from having waited so long. I guess the only reason I would go back there, is if I want to take a friend to eat somewhere on the beach. But there are other options as well.
(3)
Sara G.
Sushi was delicious. Location is amazing, right on the beach. Get a spot on the patio if you can. We didn't have a reservation so we sat inside but it was still awesome. Great wine. Amazing atmosphere. Apparently owned by the same people that own YOLO. If you like YOLO, you'll like S3. Service was a little slow on a Saturday night, but we had time...
(5)
Susan B.
We arrived at s3 I'm am a locale and have been there numerous times,I love the food! Now upon our arrival the valet which has always been free with a validated ticket told us to validate ticket as we did after A horrible dinner service food awesome service the worst I asked for a wine list at the beginning and did not receive it until the end if dinner. The waiter could not hear me either I had to repeat twice time hear my food order. Then we walked out to the valley where they wanted 7 dollars and a tip. They usually ask for 5 dollars. They told me 14 dollars to park. I'm a local and was furious. Nobody was there I can't believe they did this.
(1)
Ted S.
Not happy with service. Hard time to get waited on. Suggest they put more help on I walked out never to return
(1)
Andy C.
S3 has an awesome vibe! It's so Fort Lauderdale. Great beach breeze, cool lighting and fun places to sit and enjoy the views. The food is awesome. Love the small plate menu as you can share a bunch of tasty items with your fellow diners at your table. Drinks are good too. Make reservations as this place is often packed.
(5)
Natasha M.
Fabulous in every way possible. We went on a late Saturday night and had no problems with seating. Location perfect. Service great, we had mike and he did as requested and spaced out our plates at appropriate intervals. Food was excellent. Ceviche, eel roll were both good, the skirt steak was amazing, spare ribs, pork belly and Brussels sprouts were all good as well. Edamame were also made with a fun, spicy twist. Highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Virginie L.
I went here in my Birthday!' Everything was perfect, the food, drinks and ambience. I would highly recommend this place. Everything we ordered was great/)
(4)
Kenton L.
This is beautiful restaurant for couples who want to do something romantic. The severs are professional and beautiful. The restaurant offers good food and drink with a nice view of the ocean. The DJ played many of the new house mix. But the big plus about this restaurant is the location. Also, It's very convenient if you happen to stay in the Hilton Hotel because it's located in front of the hotel.
(5)
John F.
FINALLY- a restaurant on the beach that can justify their price tag!!! Thank goodness. Had lunch today- very good, creative, and fresh. Delicious coffee. Buratta salad, with giardiniera was awesome, fresh chicken salad was great, as well. Delicious dressings, fresh ingredients. Had a sushi roll with tuna, coconut, jalapeno, and macadamia nuts, wrapped in rice, then soy paper. Sweet, delicate flavor. Great location, in the Hilton, across from the beach. We will be back for dinner.
(4)
Lauren C.
Pros: Great location/view on the beach on Las Olas. Cool outdoor bar area with fire pits and couches. Food is served tapas style so it comes out at all random times, which is ok if you're in the mood for that. The grilled octopus and the roasted Brussels sprouts were the two highlights of the dozen or so things out table ordered. Those were delicious. Cons: They offered to let me taste two wines before I ordered the glass I wanted, which I thought was great -- but then they charged me for two glasses! (one, which I did not order) Once we got the check, it was too busy and loud to communicate this to the server so I just paid for the glass I never got. They also won't split up checks for large parties -- boo. Not to sound like a complainer, but it is really loud in there too, you can't really hear anyone across the table from you.
(4)
c l.
Best octopus I've ever had. I want to return just to get more of that grilled octopus. The sushi roll was very good, too, but I can't remember the name. Pork belly dish was good but not great. Tuna tower was okay. Overall, though, very good. Nice service. Nice atmosphere except a little heavy on the air conditioning.
(4)
Chris S.
This place is an extremely nice and high class restaurant. Went with a friend and had no clue what to expect. The ambiance was amazing. We sat at the bar and ha excellent service and the food was excellent. Great scenery walking around and the beach was good too. I recommend getting some sushi. We really enjoyed the way things are served there. The food comes out as its ready instead of all at once. So there's a good break between food items. Excellent. I definitely recommend going there.
(5)
Angela L.
Came here for lunch and had an awesome time! The mac and cheese was delicious!
(4)
Keith G.
Everything was delicious! Octopus and croquettes and crab cakes, oh my! Fantastic service - attentive without being overbearing. Great place to try a bunch of different things. Will definitely be back! If you go, you must have the octopus!!!
(5)
Tammy S.
One good meal and one bad meal. But the bad meal was a grouper that was not completely cooked. I sent that back and they gave me another that tasted ok. Then it just did not sit right in my stomach, had my doubts about the quality of the fish. Oddly, the sushi was great the night before.
(3)
Scott A.
This place has an amazing setting! Water view and great patio area. Food is pretty good. Edamame is great. Chicken wings are why I rate only a 4 star, they where only ehh. Overall good. Server was good too.
(4)
Kevin S.
Continue to be more than impressed with this place. Top to bottom this is probably the best restaurant in Fort Lauderdale (also check out lobster grille). S3 has some of the best items I have had. And definitely the best Mac and Cheese ever. Also get the edamame, short ribs, sliders, pretty much everything is great. Good drinks too, this place is a can't miss.
(5)
Rachael S.
OK the stuffed peppers are one of the greatest things I have ever eaten, in my life. True story. Husband and I went for lunch and sat outside, absolutely beautiful. A true hidden treasure. Would be wonderful for large group dinners. We definitely want to go back with couples. You must sit outside, really lovely, relaxing beach view with great service.
(5)
Phoebe R.
S3 is hands down in our top 2 beach restaurants. Most locals don't dine by the beach because there aren't great options but I'm so glad we found S3 because we always want something to eat when we go to the beach! It's menu is set up tapas style and each dish is appropriately priced for it's tasting portion. Their sushi is good but I wouldn't just stick with it alone because there are other great options. We got a shrimp tempura roll, tuna tower, goat cheese croquettes, Vietnamese wings and doughnuts. All were great but my boyfriend LOVED the tuna tower (it looked great but I don't eat fish so I can't say for myself) and we both wanted a few more doughnuts because they were so good. The water is mint (I think?) infused and it's a refreshing palate cleanser between bites. Surprisingly no cocktails were ordered but as I peeked at the ones near us I noticed that they looked very nice! Joseph was our waiter and he was friendly and attentive. The ambiance is lovely and who could complain about the perfect beach view? Another perk, comp valet for lunch! The bill for the two of us getting all of those items was just under $60 before tip so it's a pretty good value! We both work at area hotels and will definitely send guests to S3!
(5)
J B.
Came in from NC and being a fan of YOLO, I wanted to try their newest restaurant. It did not disappoint! Something different with the small plate menus, I had a chance to try a lot of different dishes. Thai Tuna roll, Mac and cheese, and Sushi Nachos were my favorites. Also Goat Cheese Croquettes and Deviled Eggs were excellent. Setting was awesome, right on the beach. Definitely will be back. Give this place a try for something new and fresh.
(5)
Jerry P.
Pleasantly surprised. Never know what you get when you have a restaurant connected to a hotel but Wow is all I can say. Apps were excellent, esp loved the tomato bread and Edemame. Nice selection of sushi rolls and the kids loved the Mac and cheese, with bacon how can it miss? Great view and open outdoor seating, excellent overall
(5)
Kathy S.
First, the location here is prime and it's just so relaxing to sit by the water enjoying some delicious, flavorful food with a drink of choice. My personal favorite that they make at S3 is the Gin Tickle. (At least that's what I think it's called.) Our server was super knowledgeable about the menu and helped us in making sure we didn't over or under order food for the table. We had sushi, fish, steak, chicken, and the brussel sprouts! The sprouts were so delicious!! I highly recommend them. Their sushi was super fresh. Food was brought to the table quickly. We went around dinner time so the view was beautiful with the night sky falling and the ocean view.
(4)
Lucy L.
Came here last weekend for cocktails with a friend. Highly recommend the 3 samplers: Blue Berry Lychee with Sake, Gin Tickle and Blue Berry Strawberry mojito. All were Delicious and beautifully garnished. Skip the Thai Coconut Mint one. I also had the Churrasco Steak with Yuca and mango bits--AMAZEBALLS. (keep in mind its Tapas style so you might need to order more than one dish.) Beautiful outdoor, indoor ambiance, right near the water, palm trees blowing. I highly recommend taking all out of town guests or visits for special occasions. Bartenders were hot and exotic looking, be sure to compliment them on their lipstick-they like that, lol. I will return, probably next weekend.
(5)
Miranda B.
Very Good=Goat Cheese Croquettes & Orange Drop cocktail Great=Mac & Cheese & Chicken Salad & sitting outside at fire pit
(4)
Gina M.
Wonderful food, drinks atmosphere. We had the filet mignon, fresh toasted tuna rolls, octopus, mac n chz with panchetta, everything was perfect. Definitely will be back.
(5)
Sheila S.
1st timer to S3. I came here on a Tuesday evening with two friends. We had reservations and got right in. We had a round of signature cocktails that were delicious. The beverage/wine list was pretty expansive. Favorites were Mac n cheese, brussel sprouts and signature sushi rolls. The menu is pretty diverse and the prices were reasonable. The deserts were not amazing compared to the rest of the menu. Our only reason for 4 stars is our server, while efficient and not pushy, had little personality and didn't really seem like she wanted to be there. The manager on duty also came to check the table and was really personable. Overall experience was amazing and a nice addition to A1A!!
(4)
Jenny V.
Awesome place. I'm glad we took a tip from our hotel concierge and ate here. The ambience is sleek and swanky but casual at the same time. The drinks and food were great. Service was wonderful. If the weather is nice as to sit outside.
(5)
Lindy N.
My girlfriend and I finally decided to give this place try last wkend for lunch. The drinks were amazeeeee balls! haha..excuse my language! :) They were strong but bursting with flavor!!! We tried the crispy rice cake(yum yum delish!), thai tuna roll(good not my fave), Chilled seafood salad( great smoky flavor, but was expecting a refreshing zingy citrus dressing), and the grilled romaine(loved this one, romaine was still crisp)
(4)
Douglas C.
Had some friends in town from Chicago who are dealing with dreadfully cold weather and decided that trying S3 and eating outdoors on Fort Lauderdale beach would be a nice change of pace for them. Even through it was dark by the time we ate, its still a great location across from the beach. I had been wanting to try this place for a while. I made a reservation through Open Table and S3 called to confirm my reservation the day of, and asked if I had a seating preference. Nice touch. Showed up at the restaurant on a Thursday night and the place was busy but there were a few open tables. We were able to chose our table, which is a nice accommodation for a busy restaurant. The restaurant is much larger than I had expected so it looks like they can seat a lot of people and be really busy. The outdoor bar area has some nice big screen televisions, seating area, fire pits. Modern decor but not overly fancy. A very comfortable ambiance. Service was excellent the entire night. Our waitress was training, but was nice, friendly and eager to serve us, and the waitress training our waitress was with her practically the whole night, helping to fill in any gaps in menu descriptions, ordering advice and answer questions. No service complaints whatsoever. Food for the most part was very good. This is a tapas style place with some larger dishes so you do need to develop a game plan for ordering. They just bring out the dishes (in what appears to be order of plate size) with the "large plates" appearing last. We had the soy glazed edamame which was a uniquely salty and tasty dish. Sun roll sushi which was good, a seafoood tower that was awesome containing crab meat tuna and a fried wonton cracker. We had the scallops which were recommended by our trainer waitress which were in a very richly flavored sauce. We had lambchops which were excellent but did come out a bit rarer than we had ordered. We also had the mac and cheese which was creamy goodness, the rotisserie chicken which was tender tasty and excellent (the ratatouille served with the chicken was also great), and a grouper special which underwhelmed. The grouper was the only dish of the night that got a thumbs down. A bit too salty, fishy and overcooked. For dessert a layer cake that got increaingly better with each bite served a long with some ducle de leche ice cream. As for drinks, we did not order specialty drinks but rather wine, beer, gin and whiskey. All pours were generous. Dinner was pricey but we did order some pricey items and was not outrageous. The menu is rather large with a lot of enticing items. I plan to return to try some more of them.
(4)
Elizabet V.
My boyfriend and I frequent S3. The food is exquisite. Always well presented and very tasty. Good to go with a group as the food comes out in small plates to share so you get a chance to savor a few dishes appose to a couple. And the atmosphere is great during the day you look onto the ocean. At night they have fire pits out front which is pretty cool. Love it!!! Try it you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Dana M.
My co-worker recommended this restaurant and raved about how good it was. I am so glad I took her advice! I will be back for sure! Great views and I love how the restaurant has an open feel. We sat inside but felt like we were outside. Perfect combination especially if it's hot. We decided to try the mac & cheese based on the other reviews...it did not disappoint. We also did the trio of drinks which makes so much sense to do because you get to try an array of different drinks and the price isn't bad either $14 for 3. On the brunch menu we had the crabcake benedict... so delish and the special the had for the day. You will not be disappointed!
(4)
Tim N.
This place is a must do if only for the views! (Which are amazing) The menu is very eclectic which is what this owner does with most of his restaurants so plan on seeing everything from mac & cheese to sushi (not together though :-) Anyway I'm a grazer by nature so this works well for me. S3 = all good.
(4)
Dee B.
This is our "go to" place within walking distance to entertain our friends visiting us on the beach. It is dynamic, modern, elegant, and non pretentious at the same time somehow. You'll see large groups with families with youngsters, and you'll see hipsters hanging out with lots of glam and bling simultaneously. I love it. And the food, like someone else said, is definitely worth the price here on fickle-food-ft-loddy-beach. We have been several times since S3 opened and the food quality has not wavered. Its far enough away from the clamor and trifle of beach place, but still a great location for tourists and locals alike. We love sharing the small plates--a bruschetta take, skirt steak on yuca sticks, a designer bowl of Mac n cheese with ham pieces, an octopus dish, a shrimp tempura roll, rosemary frittes, it was all presented lovely and tasted phenomenal. I can't rave enough about the edamame wood grilled with some soy sesame seed mixture. The variety of the menu is not overwhelming, its just right. There is pretty much something for many tastes, and at least to try without committing to a huge entree, which are also fabulous and available. The chocolate chip cookie thing with ice cream has gotten even better......the scoop was bigger this time! Our server was extremely attentive. He was patient and made great suggestions. Everyone we take always wants go back as soon as possible. Yay S3!
(5)
S L.
We had family in town and thought breakfast on the beach would be fun. The food was good as a matter if fact the Yogurt Parfaits were delicious. The problem I had was with our waiter. He had quite the attitude. We had to ask for coffee and water refills. As we thanked him.. He did not ever acknowledge When the bill arrived there was an 18% service charge included. I guess good service doesn't matter because the tip will be there regardless. We will never go back and I suggest others stay away as well. Extremely disappointed.
(2)
Steve R.
S3 may have just taken the lead as our favorite restaurant on the beach. The decor is impressive and the bar lounge area is set up in such a way that you can see yourself spending the day there (if you can afford it!). The layout provides for ample indoor or outdoor seating. The views are quite nice but probably not that much better than other beach restaurants. Overall though, the ambiance is pretty impressive. The service is pretty good. The staff can probably be a bit warmer but they are professional enough. Something feels just a bit stuffy about them. But for a newer restaurant, service is pretty solid. The food is really good and some items are excellent. Of all we've tried in our visits, we found the dragon roll and the chocolate layer cake just OK. The croquettes, short rib, mac and cheese, and beet salad were very good. And the sushi nacho, octopus, scallops and the warm blondie cookie were outstanding. The sushi taco was probably the most impressive and surprising over all. It is prepared like a tuna tartare with guacamole and is served on a fried wonton. It was great. The prices are a bit high but there are some reasonably priced glasses of wine on the menu. Overall, our meals have been great. With a little more friendly service and maybe a few lesser priced items, I think we could comfortably give S3 5 stars. For now, we think they deserve a strong 4. We'll definitely be back, often.
(4)
Chuck Z.
Very nice location with a great view of the beach.... Wide open windows/doors allow for an awesome breeze. Food was good, we had sushi and small plates of which I liked the paella the best. Sushi was a bit bland, perhaps it was the rolls and sashimi we ordered? A bit pricey but not unreasonable for where we were at. Check it out if you are close and need a nice bite.
(4)
Jose N.
What a terrible experience. Had a reservation for 9:15 PM for a party of eight people. Got here early, And was told that our table would be ready in five minutes. About an hour later, it seems they gave away our table to someone else and made us wait even longer. All they kept telling us was that we had to continue waiting. Meanwhile, they seated many parties ahead of us That got here well after we did. This is the first and last time I will come to this place.
(1)
Tommy P.
wife and i were in ft.lauderdale for 3 nights. place was next to our hotel. BEST food we had on our trip. Sushi, macaroni, steak, and blackberry lychee were great. It was so good we went there 2 out of 3 nights so we could get one more trip in before we left. i only wish they had one in new york.
(5)
Lauren L.
Great food, great location. Awful service. Hardly anyone here. 30 minutes after placing our order, we had to request the server, Braegan, to check on the food. Every time we needed a refill on tea or soda, we had to request it. Even then, it took her way too long to bring it back. She was not knowledgable about menu items.
(2)
Danny Z.
Went there last night and overall experience was less than expected. While the ambiance is nice be prepared to sweat while eating your meal! They open all the doors to the restaurant to the outside Florida sun so even eating at 9:30 at night made for a very uncomfortable meal. Dressing up for a Saturday night date night only to have to constantly being using your napkin to keep the sweat off of you isn't my idea of a nice restaurant. Most of the food was just ok but the portions were very small.
(2)
Heidi B.
Amazing food, service and view! Delicious vegetarian options available. Been here twice now and can't wait to come back!
(5)
Stefanie K.
Seriously the best food! Every single thing we ordered was perfection! Tyler was our waiter but everyone was so pleasant. Highly recommend!
(5)
Michelle J.
Absolutely love the view from the outside couches and the fire pit came in handy on a chilly Fl night. All small plates we ordered were very tasty. I was partial to the crab cakes and would definitely order them again. Table service was good, but the var service is slow. Great place to take out of towners.
(3)
Kevin W.
Delicious tapas style. Courses on courses on deck. Like, they keep brining out stuff its really cool. Beachside, well across the street but you can see the ocean clearly from inside. Cool scene - get the edamame, or however u spell it.
(4)
Arthur G.
Very similar vibe to YOLO in las olas. It's nice and relaxed, enjoyed the outdoor seating. Parking cost more than I expected.
(3)
Vikki D.
Always amazing food. Great ambience ,right on the beach and our waiter Matt was fantastic!! Highly recommend this restaurant to take your out-of-town guests! The sushi rolls are super fresh..
(5)
Liz A.
Worst service EVER! never have I been treated so bad. I felt rushed by my waitress that I wasn't even able to get her name. She kept hovering over the table waiting on us to order, and in the end she brought my check before my food came out. I understand there might be more people coming in but I'm a paying customer too. The food wasn't even all that good anyways and she's lucky the tip was included.
(1)
Robin B.
My partner ordered the cheeseburger and I ordered the eel sushi roll. My sushi roll was a tad small but good. Not as good as Sozo in Wilton Manors but good. My partner said if his cheeseburger was more "charred" it would be "great". Big burger. Hot crispy fries. We sat outside on Memorial Day Weekend. Very nice place. I love the atmosphere. Cold beers. Good service. Fun on the beach. Fashion house music playing. Beautiful clean bathrooms. I dig it.
(4)
sara s.
Besides for the long long lines to get a table this place is amazing. I decided to sit at the bar. I loved the ambiance. The servers are friendly. The food is spectacular! So fresh and tasty. I had salmon and a sushi roll, delicious. They had a nice selection of wine.
(5)
Jason S.
had an amazing meal here. one of the best places to eat in a hotel. the view was incredible. i had the octopus and was made to perfection. a must visit spot when in ft. lauderdale.
(4)
Alex G.
Hip, fun place for darn good food and cocktails. Tapas-style, with sharing a number of dishes brought out when ready. My teenage son is not a fan of sharing; he prefers ordering a dish that you eat alone. For the rest of us, we enjoyed trying a number of dishes, from octopus to buratta, and from sashimi to spicy tuna toast. Wok charred edamame was flavorful and different, and the mussels perfectly prepared. While not a gourmet dining experience, this place is packed and super chill. Service was attentive if not top level. We also got sat in the back, clearly because we had kids (not happy with that). Overall, this is a new "hot spot," and we will certainly return with friends.
(4)
Melissa S.
To start, the drink I ordered was warm and not shaken enough, so when I finally got it 15 minutes later, it was already separated. Sadly, it was the best thing I had. Every menu item seems to have one superfluous ingredient that makes me not want to order it, and what I did order, I wish I hadn't. But the view is nice.
(2)
Elissa H.
This place is amazing! The entire staff is so accommodating and friendly. The hostesses helped me plan the perfect birthday dinner. Jessica was our waitress and she seemed like the genuinely enjoys her job and she's full of smiles. She knew the menu really well and recommended the best dishes. We had a spicy tuna roll, skirt steak (unbelievable), jerk chicken (not so great..but I get the tropical theme they were trying. Chicken was cooked perfectly but the sauce tastes like medicine, and the kamikaze roll is DELISH (spicy!!). We finished the dinner with the chocolate cake and two long islands! The bartender rocks! I will be back here a million more times!!
(5)
Ariana J.
Love the atmosphere of the bar with the indoor/outdoor seating. Very friendly staff, the bartender that waited on us was exceptional he was very knowledgeable and made great suggestions. Delicious food Top picks: Crab & Shrimp Roll Brisket Sliders Grilled Octopus
(5)
Jonathan A.
Place is great. I finally got to try it out with my wife and friends. In a nutshell here is what we ordered and loved it all. Brussel Sprouts, Thai tuna roll, kamikaze roll, veggie roll, skirt steak over yuca, wok seared edamame, crispy artichokes. I washed it all down with 4 drinks called the Gin Tickle. Great ambiance especially on a cool breezy night out front by the fire pits. Looking forward to coming back real soon.
(5)
Katie F.
Food: I would give you 5 stars. I went for lunch, so the prices were not sky high. I had the burger and I added avocado and a fried egg. By far one of the best burgers I have had in a LONG time. Ordered medium rare, it was perfectly cooked, juicy and the meat was tender. It was huge, so I took half home and where they really get 5 stars is when I reheated it in the microwave - minus the bun it was a tad soggy from the juice and egg yolk - the taste was just as fresh - not that stale ground beef taste we all know and dislike. The pickles are homemade and divine! I could have eaten a whole bowl of them...next time I KNOW to order an extra side of them. BEER: I saw people on here complain about the lack of beer choices, but here is my point of view. Growing up in Chicago, you love Goose Island. The 312 Goose Island was on the menu. 'Nuff Said. Looking at the rest of the beer choices, they were a majority of citrusy and light beers, which is nice when you are at a beach front restaurant. $6 for a bottle isn't bad in a beach town, and MUCH better then the $12-$15 cocktails they had. I'll stick to beer. SERVICE: This is were you lost a star. Service was pleasant. It was just slow. Refills on my husband's coke took FOREVER (they should just give him a pitcher with a straw anyways!!!). It was about a 10 minute wait for the beer - and it was just a bottle...which I poured into my own glass....so no way it should have taken 10 minutes. We had to ASK for glasses of water - it is not offered to you. Now if the place was packed, I would have understood, but it was 3pm on a Wednesday afternoon...there were maybe 4 other tables full at the time. Overall if I am in the market for a banging burger and a great beachfront view, I'll come here.
(4)
Jodi C.
Ambiance was great. Service was superb. Food was pretty good. We had the tomato bread which was full of flavor. Scallops with Asian risotto, scallops were seared on 1 side but not the other & chewyish in the middle. Lamp chops were delicious with a side of chick pea salad that I LOVED. Crab & shrimp roll was good but kind of plain but the very best dish was the tuna tower...amazing!!!
(4)
Chris L.
Was hear a few weeks ago on a Friday night and we were able to sit outside, of course with heaters, and I must admit I really enjoy this place. The atmosphere as well as the food is incredible. The fact you can sit outside with fire pits and enjoy a glass of wine makes it even better.
(4)
Karin B.
Visiting from San Diego, stayed at the Hilton where this restaurant is located on the beach. Couldnt get it the first night as we were last minute, large group and the place was packed but on my birthday we got a reservation. We loved it!!! The bar is looking out the beach, great cocktails, nice bartenders. Moved into a table and ordered a ton of sushi,. Im a big foodie and very picky with Sushi, this was awesome!! It was very, very good. Great service too. The tequila shots were very expensive and sushi kinda pricey as well but it always is if you want the good stuff. Fun, trendy, cool place. Definitely recommend!
(5)
Frieda L.
I'm from Texas and this was one of the best restaurants I've been to. Everything is so flavorful.
(5)
Shannon G.
the first time I went here was for brunch... The two items I wanted were no longer available (sold out) so I ended getting sushi which was alright... the2nd time same thing & was appalled that they charge $10 for a mimosa, really?
(2)
Jaime S.
My wife and I have eaten here several times before and had excellent service with excellent food. The last couple of times have been awful. The service is very slow. It takes forever for a waiter to come back to you. The last time we where there, the waiter couldn't get one sushi roll correct when I asked it to be soy paper wrap instead of seaweed wrap. After the second time of getting it wrong and waiting forever, I said forget about it. This is the first time I didn't have my spicy tuna roll when eating sushi. We will never return. The place has gone down hill. The only thing going for the restaurant is the location and bartenders.
(1)
S P.
We had the grilled romaine salad and grilled octopus--both were delicious! Great for a light lunch. There is 31 craft beer selection and large list of various wines. Great ambiance. Would go back again!
(5)
Rob H.
Excellent! The service, food and seeing were outstanding. The dishes were all unique and tasty. The waitress was quite nice and accommodating.
(5)
C L.
Small Plates which I love. Deviled Eggs, a perfect salad (i forget which one), Tuna avocado something or another, Short Ribs no matter what you get at this place. it's going to be good!!! The desserts are delicious also. My two friends loved the doughnuts and I loved the cookie-ish cake dessert. This place has a wonderful setting and great cocktails also. The only thing I'm upset about is that I only went here one night that I was in Ft. Lauderdale, I should've stopped in again!!!! I can't wait to go back!! I must sit outside this time! :)
(5)
Eileen S.
Great location and every bite of every app or meal is a tasty delight!! Many entrees are offered in small portions perfect for sharing a taste. Order as many items as possible. Salads are great also. Excellent service all the way around. I've been here twice in three days and hope to squeeze in another visit.
I took an old friend here to catch up and we were both blown away. I'll start off with the good. The restaurant is gorgeous, the crowd was amazing. The staff was super friendly. We each shared sushi rolls, both were very good. S3 was super packed therefore the wait was a little over an hour so I suggest you make a reservation. While waiting you can sit on the outside terrace by the fireplace. The night we went was gorgeous, it made the wait not seem as bad. Staff seemed to be slow. I'll give them a pass since the place was packed. I definitely recommend.
(4)
Ann-Gelina T.
Excellent , the food was just the right amount of flavor . The staff was very pleasant and informative . I would highly recommend and continue to come here ! Must have the chicken melt and blueberry mojito!
(4)
Keith A.
As others have said, they have excellent food! They offer family style eating with small dishes ordered for sharing. In the end, the price was far higher than I would expect due to the number of small dishes ordered. Enjoyed the unusual dishes. I would knock off another 1/2 star because we had a vegan eating with us, which had very little that they could offer her to eat off the menu, as even the menu options that look like they should be vegan were not. They weren't willing to make a custom vegan meal with ingredients on hand, which most other restaurants will accommodate.
(4)
Gretchen A.
WHATEVER YOU DO GET THE SHORT RIBS! Absolutely to die for. The coffee rubbed flank steak with yucca was excellent as well. Everything we ordered was tasty and a good portion size. We came on a Monday night and it was packed which speaks to the quality of food here. Great selection of dishes- if you choose to eat here you will not regret it!
(5)
Steven R.
Huge restaurant in the Hilton Hotel. Lots of outdoor seating, although who knows why in 78F weather they need to have gas fires near lots of the seating. Music was very loud indeed and generally detracted from the evening. Why can't they turn it down or switch it off. Service was generally poor. I'm European and not one to complain about the all-too-present service one finds in the US but these waiters were just nowhere to be seen a lot of the time. They were all very young and probably not terribly experienced at eating out without their parents. Ordering took forever as did delivery of the first course. The veggie rolls were poor. They were so shoddily made that I couldn't pick up half of them with my chopsticks as they weren't whole or complete. After an age, the chicken arrived. It was fine. Lukewarm but fine. Nothing else to say about it. Wine was reasonably priced for the choices available. Dessert was okay. It wasn't too expensive for what we had but I was seriously underwhelmed. The place was huge and pretty packed but somehow I'm not sure they were there for the food but rather the ambience. I can't believe they have a lot of repeat business based on the food quality. I know Fort Lauderdale is a big tourist town and a bit hit with the 20 plus crowd trying to get really drunk but this restaurant was aiming for a trendy and upscale vibe. They failed. You'd have to drag me back there to eat, kicking and screaming. There must be better places than this around, surely.
(2)
Kevin C.
Great food. Awful service. I'm a young guy, went in once before when not busy and was great. Went in last night and did not get served well. More attention set on other diners who wore suits and dresses. Pretty insulting. I feel as though if I wore my business attire and expensive shoes, I would have been treated properly. Only spent $47 and left still very hungry. Decided to stop somewhere else for dinner on the way home. It's a shame because food was good. Make sure you wear your high end suits and have your wives bring expensive handbags to get attention from server.
(2)
Cesar C.
Had a million things. Lollipop sushi taste like the air outside... Super bland. Octopus - more beans and tomato than anything and missing the chard grill taste. Again, bland. Best item was shrimp toast. Awesome atmosphere but super normal food. Nothing is close to being out of this world... Then again everything is pretty much less than $12. Value matches quality.
(3)
Sam H.
Great atmosphere. Drinks lacked amount of alcohol but had great flavors. Awesome food. Nothing better than the desserts. What more can I say. I am a fan.
(4)
Robin W.
Located in the Hilton with a view of the ocean sits this extremely noisy and expensive restaurant. The food for the four of us with the exception of a spicey edamame dish was exceptional. The service was only fair as the waiter forgot about our water request and the reorder of the edamame dish that never came. It was my birthday and we wrote it on the reservation request. We spent $169.00 in food but that wasn't enough to warrant a candle or dessert to celebrate. Per the manager, you must buy a dessert to warrant a candle. We traveled for 50 minutes to eat here! What a disappointment!
(3)
Allison J.
Organized a little surprise dinner here for my boyfriend. Everything from the food (quality & presentation) to the service to the pricing to the ambiance is 5-star! LOVED their specialty cocktails!!! Everyone who joined us had nothing but positive raves :) I've heard a lot about their brunch... looks like I'll be trying that today!
(5)
Joe L.
These good reviews must have been written by employees. 1. A wine pour the size of a thimble 2. Attitude by the waiter. Had to ask 3 different people for water 3. Generally marginal food and we had 5 different items. Spend a couple of dollars more and go to the W next door or even try Timpano or Kitchentta. All are by far better.
(1)
Wade M.
BEAUTIFUL - GOOD SERVICE - MEDIOCRE FOOD. The decor is beautiful and interesting. The service was very attentive. I left full. Now, why 3 stars? I don't know what this place wants to be. Sushi, macaroni and cheese, and a hodgepodge of other stuff on the same menu? What's the theme? Asian? I ordered an heirloom tomato salad, and just the words 'heirloom tomato' declare the middle of summer, and make my mouth water... but then instead of the plate of heirlooms with a little balsamic and olive oil, and perhaps some basil, I got a pile of arugula, goat cheese, some grain, and 2 Publix cherry tomatoes on top. What a disappointment. I left full, but nothing I had was worth going back for. My suggestion to S3 is to find a chef that is as talented as your decorator. Also, the logo should be readable, and again, be consistent with the restaurant's theme -- once it's determined.
(3)
Jim M.
My wife and I were staying at the Hilton for our anniversary this weekend. On Thursday we ate at S3 and were amazed out how good everything was. We had a mix match of sushi, Brussel sprouts, and short ribs all of them outstanding. With that being said we had to go back for seconds on Friday and they blew us away even more. The frittes had just the right seasoning, the brisket slider were outstanding with a sweet heat taste, the Grouper was the BEST prepared fish I ever had!! Compliments to all three chefs!! I can't say enough besides will we be back for 3rd's???
(4)
Tom L.
Had a great time. Restaurant has a real "vibe." Great background music. Beautiful people. Nice decor. Good service. Delicious food and drinks, reasonably priced. Make a reservation. Sit outdoors if you can.
(4)
T N.
This place so amazing! I loved every dish we ordered. The only down fall is the portion is so small. The ambience is magnificent and the drinks. I absolutely love this place!! Would highly recommend it.
(5)
Blake T.
I have a mixed review for S3...the the servers seem very busy but not accomplishing much. (Seemed like a lack of training or inexperience). My server was not versed on the menu and knew even less about the sushi. The berry mojito was very good and lots of fruit. I ordered several sushi items and they came as sashimi. When I pointed his out it was brought back and they placed rice under each piece. The raw fish was very fresh but the rice was one step above minute rice..Top quality rice well prepared is the difference between great sushi and fast food sushi...we sat at the sushi bar and watched the chefs preparing the sushi and these guys are not superstars..The server never returned and I had an empty drink for most of the meal...I would give the place a second shot but would try some other items on the menu...
(2)
Amy F.
Juan is the best! If you eat here ask for him. And the grilled romain salad is fabulous! I ha trouble choosing. Everything on the menu looked delicious! Filet was perfect.
(5)
Robin B.
Beautiful restaurant overlooking the ocean. we went for sunday brunch. we each ordered drink sampler(s). I had the Bloody Mary Sampler..very tasty and the others ordered martini samplers. great way to taste their different drinks and order your favorite later on. Our server Amanda was delightful, she knew the menu front to back. you can't go wrong with the brussels sprouts. We also ordered the pork belly benedict (great choice). I'm from the south and the shrimp and grits were not my favorite, the shrimp was fresh, but i thought the tasso gravy sauce had too much tomato. We also enjoyed one of their sushi rolls. I love the concept of sharing foods. This is a wonderful restaurant and we will go back for more.
(4)
Chrissy T.
One of my favorite spots to dine in Ft Lauderdale! Food is always tasty, location is perfect and the service is friendly and on point. We had Sheila as our waitress for our last visit. She was attentive, very knowledgable of the menu and made us feel like we were her only table. Food and drinks were fabulous, would highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Anne T.
This place really has it all. Great view, great staff and the most interesting menu on the beach. I have been 3 times already because when I think of going somewhere else I compare it with their menu and I have to go back. The Edamame dish is the best I ever had. The quality of the ingredients in the tomatoe bread allows you to savor the every taste. The brisket sliders are delicious. We saw the man next to us order them and watched his face at the first taste. He moaned with delight. The cinamon donuts dipped in Creme Anglais make an excellent finish. Nice beer and wine selection too. Don't miss it!
(5)
Anwar H.
Great food and fantastic service. The location is nice and by the beach. We were a group of four - they did a great job of recommending items and serving our table. The spicy tuna bread is fantastic.
(5)
Amy S.
My girlfriend and I came here rather late after our flight in. It was one of the only places still serving food that we could find. The drinks were amazing and the food was exceptional! I had a roasted chicken and it was so tender and juicy that I just couldn't stop eating it. Service was ok but they were busy. Would come here again!
(5)
Dennis P.
The food was good, server was very friendly, the environment was was nicely decorated, the prices were very fair as well. You do not get a lot of these restaurants in Fort Lauderdale. I recommend this place.
(5)
Hector M.
I had stopped writing reviews here as Yelp "filters" reviews so what is the point?!!...yet I decided I needed to tell the world about one of the best new restaurants in the Fort Lauderdale Beach area. The menu is very adventurous and offers great options. All sea food dishes are to die for. Great wine list and sexy cocktails. Amazing ocean view and the breeze... Genuinely friendly and gorgeous staff. Make sure to stop by whether you are a local or vacationing in the area as you will not be disappointed. Leave it now to Yelp to filter this review and then this will be the LAST review I ever write...Wish there was a place to review Yelp - yelp the site itself is not even deserving of a one star rating...
(5)
Brooke K.
Went here with some friends last week, and had a few Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc's. It was a walk away from our hotel (Ritz Carlton) so it was really convenient for us. The bartender was attentive, the ambiance and location were amazing. Nice decor, and clean restrooms (I'm a stickler for cleanliness). We will definitely be returning!
(4)
Shehnaz H.
Im so happy this place is here! It has a great variety of food flavors and cuisine. Sitting outside is soooo relaxing with view of the beach. But the inside is nice too because they have a wood burning oven that smells of sweet wood which gives the food an unforgettable flavor. They have sushi, Spanish tapas, and much more. We LOVE the sushi nachos and brisket sliders. We order 2 orders of each every time bc my bf and I do not want to share it. Haha toooo yummy!
(4)
Steph K.
I went here for lunch back in June while in Ft. Laurderdale for a Bachelorette party. We were seated very quickly and had a wonderful view of the ocean. They have a great selection of tapas so I ordered a burger and a sushi roll. Both were super fresh and had great flavor. To drink, I had a margarita on the rocks with salt. My only complaint with that was the drink was EXTREMELY salty. It almost tasted like it was made with salt water. Other than that, the lunch was very nice and I would reccomend this place for lunch.
(4)
Lee E.
Went here on a Saturday night recently and enjoyed it. The food that we had was good; not great by any means but not bad. I know not very encouraging but what it lacks in the food dept it makes up in ambiance and location, right on the beach. We sat outside and it was beautiful, decorated really nice and overall a great atmosphere. Has very nice outside bar as well with large sitting area. I would go back for the atmosphere alone.
(3)
Jeff D.
Great atmosphere and location on the beach. The service was very good and helpful. The food was excellent and was not overpriced. The drinks were good but were a tad too weak for my taste. Overall I enjoyed S3 and will definitely dine there again.
(4)
My D.
The food, serves were amazing, and the portion was perfect ....must try Vietnamese chicken wings.
(5)
Jarret S.
I must admit, this restaurant is gorgeous inside and outside. The view is remarkable and the overall look/feel of the restaurant are excellent. Unfortunately, both the food and service are sub-par especially at the prices. I had the chicken and sweet potato waffle and my wife had the Banana Bread French Toast. Both were served with cold pancake syrup (Should be warm). The chicken on my waffle was very tasty but there wasn't much of it. As for the waffle, it seemed to lack any sort of real sweet potato taste and was very thin. Additionally, it was not very fluffy and was not very hot either. My wife's French toast again was just OK. The "French toast" seemed to just be griddled banana bread. It didn't have any of the candied walnuts described on the menu and was room temperature at best. The whipped Chantilly cream on top was delicious. Service was very mediocre. Our server wasn't very attentive and took a long time to get our bill. Additionally, my wife's peach Bellini lacked any peach flavor at all and was like a small glass of champagne for $13. My coffee was sub-par and disappointing. This restaurant has a lot of potential given it's prime real estate and overall ambiance but the food and service need much more attention from upper management.
(2)
Curtis K.
I remember seeing about this place on chan. 7 ....wanted a nice beach experience without having to drive all the way to south beach. Decided I'd finally look up directions and see what this place was about. I must say this place is a winner, great job Fort Lauderdale! The service was good, people were chill and pleasant & the food was great... you absolutely get what you pay for here. Night time seems like the best time to go, whether dining inside or outside you still get to enjoy the ocean smell & breeze. I'll just say this, I downloaded Yelp JUST so I could leave a review on this place, I thoroughly enjoyed myself, the experience & the food. I will def be back soon.. there's so much to choose from that I must come again and try a whole new side of the menu. Pretty excited about this place and I love that it's local, I think I found my new fav spot, we'll see how the second experience is. If I could, I would give it 10 stars solely based on my first experience itself.
(5)
Chris F.
I've been to S3 about 6 times since it opened. Great indoor/outdoor ambiance. Consistently good food and drinks. I have to knock off 2 stars because of something awful they're doing now. Took a date there the other day and requested a table outside so we could enjoy the full moon, which came up shortly after we were seated (gorgeous!) Then right after we ordered a cocktail four guys started banging their drums and some type of Brazilian carnival show started with three dancers. No way we could carry on a conversation. It was a horrible experience and it went on the whole time we were there. I honestly don't know why they think they need something like this. With their great view of the ocean, perfect lighting, and gorgeous design, that's all you need. I won't go back until they get rid of the "entertainment". So when making a reservation, beware and ask if the drum banging will be happening.
(3)
Kristi B.
We came in while on vacation and it was amazing! From the decor inside to the view outside, we automatically fell in love. It's a beautiful place. It's an interesting concept with the small plates and we were a little hesitant at first. Our server helped us through every step though. The wok charred edamame - BEST we've ever had. We ended up craving it for days after. We got quite a bit of sushi which was all great. Don't even get me started on the macaroni. It's so rich and delicious. I can't even remember all the other things we ordered. All we know is that every bite was wonderful. I will definitely be back in on my next visit to Fort Lauderdale!
(5)
Elijah S.
Super cool space with great views. The food is very good. However, the service is typically lacking. Have visited 4 times and only received great service when the Managers were involved. Everything from getting a table, to placing an order, getting food on a timely basis, etc can be a big issue and might ruin your experience. Unfortunately, service is not a top priority. The day the fix this they will easily earn 5 star status. Hope they fix this soon because I won't go back until they do and I happen to really like this place.
(3)
Carly S.
Good atmosphere. Visited for brunch on Sunday. You HAVE to sit outside to get the full effect. Take in the ocean and the sky and breeze and its all worth it. The food was very tasty but I am more impressed with the location and overall feeling of the place. Server was friendly.
(4)
MIchael R.
Good:food quality and presentation,innovative cuisine,location and outdoor space,attentiveness of wait staff Not so good/room for improvement:food quantity and pricing Fun place to hang out at.,good in -and outdoor seating,somewhat limited choices for lunch,definitely aggressive pricing for both food and drinks for Fort Lauderdale and just about anywhere else other than London and Tokio.. Would go back with clients but somewhat hesitant on my own dime..
(4)
Tom L.
Very disappointing and over rated. Was expecting much more since I have always loved YOLO. Expensive poorly prepared small plates. Had two very small crab cakes - little crab, all filler - for $16. Rosemary fries were fries with a sprig of rosemary on top- really? - try using some rosemary infused oil or minced rosemary. Left hungry after a couple small plates and drinks and a $100 plus bill. The only star was for location - across from beach.
(1)
Mark S.
Awesome food with great atmosphere. Sashimi was delicious as was the chicken wings. Our pay of 8 tried a number of starters which we enjoyed so much that we kept on ordering more. Will definitely go back again.
(5)
Walter R.
Wow. Great place all-around. Awesome location and atmosphere. Very chic with indoor/outdoor seating and music. Superbly trained staff as well--friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating. Food was very good, and the salmon dish and beet salad proved exceptional. In addition to a great local place, this restaurant is a definite must for all of your out-of-town guests (you're sure to impress them here!) Reminding us of some trendy places found on South Beach, it's obvious the Hilton knows how to do it right!
(4)
Rosemarie M.
The food was delicious . Staff wasvery helpful. My only complaint was the noise level. But otherwise i am a fan and will return.
(5)
Shannah S.
Great restaurant and great food. We liked everything we ordered. Favorites are the chicken wings and the skirt steak. He loved the frittes. I still dream of the dessert donuts. We will come back anytime we are in Fort Lauderdale. The outdoor seating is nice especially at sunset.
(5)
Trevin B.
I rarely use this word in a review - WOW! I dined at S3 with a party of 5, and every single dish was absolutely WOW worthy. And we had many dishes. This restaurant serves small plates that are very shareable and the large plates work well for sharing, too. We had sushi, grilled vegetables, various meat dishes, appetizers, and dessert. I think we ordered around 15 dishes and everything was spectacular. Even the beet salad was extraordinary for a non-beet lover like myself. I was the only one drinking wine, and the wine list by the glass is also very complete. I wish I could criticize something to give this review more credibility but I cannot. The only thing that could have made the experience more enjoyable was if we could have sat outside. But the reservation was made late and I can't fault the host staff for having a full patio. If you are visiting Fort Lauderdale, this restaurant is a must.
(5)
Elizabeth A.
Amazing seafood salad. The sampler drink is a must as well- very yummy and strong drinks!
(4)
Sarah P.
Delicious delicious delicious. We walked over to S3 from the W and had to come in because of the views and reviews. Eclectic menu but the food will not disappoint! Try the Thai Tuna roll, brisket sliders, or Tuna Nachos. All were excellent. Atmosphere is great, very comfortable and unbeatable ocean views.
(5)
Christina R.
I stayed at the Hilton Beach Resort for work, and went to S3 for dinner and had an AMAZING experience. The food was to die for. Probably the best edamame I've ever had. I also had the kamikaze roll, rainbow roll, brussel sprouts, lettuce wraps, and crab cakes. All equally as amazing. The view from our table looked right out onto the ocean. I can't wait to go here again!
(5)
David H.
Lucky us. Tim Petrillo invited us to a friends and family opening of his new restaurant, S3 (long explanation, something like Sun, Surf, Sand or Steak, Seafood, something else). Tried everything and everything was great. Plus, and this is a big plus, it's right on the beach in Ft. Lauderdale, at the Hilton, and plus, it's a really nice looking design, and plus, I don't know how he does it but the service people are terrific. No B.S., This is worth a visit.
(4)
Meg S.
Good food, good atmosphere, great out door bar. S3 has a lot great attributes except the service with the exception of Dan the bartender. My boyfriend and I rolled up to the out door bar, had a seat, got somewhat of a smile from one of the female bartenders and she walked away. We figured she would be back shortly, she wasn't. She walked away and started to do something with her phone (guessing text messages). So we gave her the benefit of the doubt and we waited about 5 minutes while she was on her phone. and waited about another 2 minutes. We got up and left to go to the W. Came back later that night and Dan served us right away with great service.
(3)
Jomary J.
I will start by saying that I had grown sick of Broward and would gladly indulge in Miami traffic if it meant ambiance and great food were the end results. I had heard the hype of S3 and after seeing a certain Macaroni item on the menu, decided to spend Friday night there. My night began at 9:30 and the place seemed pretty packed but getting a table outside by the fire pit literally only took 20 minutes! First thumbs up. Btw, we were texted that our table was ready and the hostess was infectiously bubbly. After looking over the menu and having a tough time deciding, we went with the Duck Lettuce Wraps (a delicious special), Red Dragon Roll (another special which included mango), Macaroni with smoked gouda and prosciutto and the Grilled Skirt Steak which was coffee and spiced rubbed on top of crispy yucca, drizzled with mango chimichurri. Sigh. EVERYTHING WAS AMAZING! Not good. Not Great. AMAZING. The Macaroni dish, as much as I tried to be courteous and share, I couldn't get enough of. The crispy prosciutto and extreme amount of gouda made an epic combo. The grilled skirt steak was just like we ordered it (medium rare) which is weird from what I have experienced at some Fort Lauderdale favorites.Oh and everything was shareable.Except the bill. Cheap enough for one ;)
(5)
Roe P.
Great small bites and plates, enjoyed the ambiance and service on a slower weeknight. Avoid the coctail counch area, the coctail waitresses werent as nice as the servers table side. Mac and Cheese is awesome, sushi is on point- get the rice cakes, the terryake wings were really good too. Valet park at the hotel, parking can be nuts there
(4)
Lauren T.
Great menu, fun atmosphere. We are definitely coming back for the full moon party! The only complaint (and not really a complaint) was our server had zero personality and never smiled. We were able to sample so many items - great concept.
(4)
Kareen B.
Finally a really nice place with a great vibe on the beach. The options are endless: sit outside by the firepit for drinks or dine inside or outside. Beautiful decor and good, friendly service. They have two indoor bars and a huge outdoor bar. The concept is small plates so sharing is part of the fun. The food presentation is lovely and the quality and taste are just as good. I loved the octopus salad!! Great for all ages.
(5)
vinny o.
Was in fort lauderdale the week of july 4th,heard it was fairly new and since i was staying at the hilton we decided to try it out. There are many options,tried the spicy tuna,steak,vege rolls,pork and chicken rotisserie,ALL were amazing best flavors ive ever had,to make a long story short we ate there 5 nights because if u head down the "strip"the prices are basically the same WITHOUT alcohol and the food is not quality at all! Im still dreaming about this restaurant,if i can point out 1 small suggestion,theyre 2 hostess stands and usually theres only 1 at the other end,if u walk in the hotel way u would have to go to the other side to get seated,but that would never detour me from coming to this place again. This is by far the best restaurant there is on that strip! I love love loved it! Thank you!
(5)
Jules P.
The Thai Tuna Roll deserves 10 stars. My 4 year old had the kid menu's cheese burger and fries. I've never seen him eat so much. The skirt skate was delicious. The special, paella, was okay. The service was wonderful. We didn't make reservations so we had indoor seating but we still had a great view of the ocean.
(4)
Raquel C.
First time trying S3 and I love it! staff was friendly and welcoming. This isn't the place for you if you are in a rush, I see a lot of reviews saying the service is slow and that cant be further from the truth. Its the perfect atmosphere to unwind, enjoy the view, and the great food. Everything was delicious sushi, specialty drinks and desserts!! I highly recommend S3 to everyone!!1
(4)
Roro K.
I frequent S3, because I live nearby and for the outdoor beachfront location. I have several favorites- the brisket sliders, the grilled octopus and beans, the specials, and above all the brussel sprouts (and many more). Today I had a craving for the b. sprouts however, I was disappointed to find they have changed recipe eliminating pancetta, crumbled nuts and rice crisps. They are still ok with the new veg. accompaniments, but not fantastic like before. I will give five stars because of the excellent service and still great menu in hopes that the prior b sprouts recipe will resurrect.
(5)
Donna H.
We are locals and have fun trying all the beach venues, as they open, close, open as something else, close again, etc. That being said, this new place seemed like a perfect new favorite spot. The location and view is amazing - even makes us locals feel like we are on vacation for the night. But unfortunately not such a great dining experience - we ordered a bottle of champagne, took way too long to be served, and then it was not nearly as cold as it should be. The stemless glasses just hasten the temperature, very disappointing. We ordered 3 different types of sushi rolls, and waited over an hour. I was starving and asked the clueless barmaid if I could get a side salad in the meantime. "You mean chicken salad?" No, a small lettuce side salad. "you mean seafood salad?" No, a small plate of lettuce and dressing. And on and on. Comical. Finally she said "oh, you want a salad?" Yes. It really was a few pieces of lettuce, nothing to rave about. They kept making excuses about being down one chef, but no one around us was eating much of anything, so not sure how the kitchen was backed up. When the sushi finally came out, we were almost finished with the warm champagne and refused the food. The manager took care of the check, but we had to go somewhere else to find some food. We won't be going back anytime soon, and I certainly wouldn't recommend it to anyone else. There are too many excellent, fun restaurants in town, with good food, service, and location.
(2)
Cindy B.
There is so much hype on this place and reviews are glowing. We had been looking forward to our visit visit with great expectations. 5 stars for ambiance, atmosphere & decor. This place is classy gorgeous! 2 stars for food & service. We sat at the bar on a Saturday afternoon. Service was friendly but extremely inattentive. Attractive young female bartenders greeted us with terms of endearment (Really?!?) and they were more interested in chatting among themselves than focusing on customer service. There was one bar patron that was obviously drunk, loud and profane and clearly offensive to others at the bar. The staff had no control over that situation whatsoever as Bar patrons were leaving Due to his disorderly conduct. We ordered a variety of tapas plates non of which were remarkable. Sashimi was sliced so thin that the portion was visibly scant. Hopefully, they will train their staff & bring their menu up to the standard befitting the location and ambiance of the restaurant. We won't be back anytime soon.
(3)
Carrie S.
5 Stars it is for this new restaurant on Ft. Lauderdale Beach. The food is amazing, atmosphere is fabulous and the design of the interior is beautiful! The layout of the restaurant affords almost every table a view of the ocean! However, what amazed me most about this new restaurant at the Hilton Hotel was the level of service and hospitality they provided, which a lot of restaurants overlook when the food and location are top notch! I had recommended this restaurant to a close friend of mine who was asking for a nice restaurant to celebrate her husband's birthday. Of course, S3 Restaurant was the first restaurant that came to mind and it did not disappoint! I called the restaurant to inquire if I could purchase dessert for my friends and have it sent over to them after dinner as a surprise for his birthday. I had the pleasure to speak to Ana Gajardo, event coordinator for the restaurant, who kindly emailed me the credit card authorization form and said it would not be problem. Unfortunately, I was having computer problems and could not print the form. When Ana called me to follow-up on my initial request, I expressed to her my trouble and she offered to go ahead and take care of his birthday dessert on my behalf. I have to tell you that I was very impressed with the level of personal service and her kind gesture especially being that this restaurant is fairly new and, in most cases, restaurants are still trying to iron out certain kinks. Let me just finsih this review by saying that S3 Restaurant has no kinks and nailed all three aspects of an amazing restaurant: Great food, amazing location and fabulous service. I will definitely be returning to S3 Restaurant very soon!
(5)
Brian R.
Beautiful place on the beach.
(3)
Mike S.
I was pleasantly surprised. Most of the 'beach establishments' in the area are known for bad service and even worse food. The dishes here, though are packed with flavor and tickle the taste buds. We had many of the tapas. Some of the stand-outs were the tangy Brussels sprouts and the special shrimp pad Thai. I didn't care for the mussels (too sandy) or skirt steak (too bland), but the shrimp toast and fresh deviled eggs more than made up for it. Also, our server was exceptionally friendly and helpful. All in all, this is a chic spot where you can bring your friends or a nice romantic date. S3 is a keeper!
(4)
Bob A.
Last minute choice tonight worked out really well. Based on trip advisor and our location we picked this restaurant located at the Hilton. We sat at the sushi bar which was great as the chef working four tapas out of the wood fired oven was very friendly while cooking. We split six dishes between the three of us which ended up being a least one to many. Each dish was well crafted, well presented and very tasty. Service was timely and pleasant. Dinner with one bottle of wine was just over a hundred, very reasonable for the quality and atmosphere.
(5)
Gabby Z.
The mahi sandwich was ok, by the time it got to me the bread was all soggy. I'm an expert with fish sandwiches I get them all the time. I would not go.back to S3.
(3)
Tollie E.
1. Long delay on order. 2. Waitress spills water on one of the party and instead of apologizing, says "It's just water." 3. After a 30 minute wait, they tell us they're out of one of our ordered items. As a person who worked as a waiter through college at high end restaurants, this was a bad joke at an effort to be a legitimate restaurant. I wouldn't recommend this as a first choice. EVER
(1)
Krystal O.
I was at S3 this past saturday for a cocktail - had the orange snap and it was very good. Unfortunately it was raining while I was there but I'd be excited to go back for a dinner here. The menu looked really good and restaurant is beautiful - would make for a sexy date night.
(4)
Scott P.
Great place to enjoy the ambiance of Ft. Lauderdale Beach. We sat outside on a full moon night and enjoyed the outside entertainment offered on a monthly basis. This time it was a great salsa band with professional dancers. Service was attentive and diligent. My date and I shared a wonderful rainbow roll (sushi), great mac and cheese, and awesome Grilled Shrimp toast. Food was really tasty. Would definitely be back. Great place for a semi-casual dinner date.
(4)
Ani J.
This place was just a few blocks away from our hotel, so we decided to give it a try. We didnt have any reservations, but they were able to seat us inside. All the outdoor seats were taken. They do have a bar area, but the tables are too small for the tapas style food. The waiter was very friendly and promptly took our order. We ordered the following: - Wok Charred Edamame: OMG....sooo good!!! I have never had Edamame that tasted so good. Its spicy and so flavorful. Just order this. - Rosemary Frittes: Warm and flavorful - Zellwood Corn: Delicious - Veggie Sushi Roll: Decent....nothing great. - Cookie with some ice-cream and caramel sauce: They dont have a dessert menu, so when the waiter was giving us the options, this one sounded the best. It was a little too sweet for my taste, but worth trying. Overall, this place has delicious food and great ambiance. If you get outdoor seating, you eat while staring at the ocean. Thumbs Up from me!!
(4)
Tiffany G.
Great ambience and great food! We sat outdoors, and really enjoyed the view! The grilled octopus was the most tender octopus I have ever had, and very tasty! The deviled eggs were very flavorful, and the Mac n cheese was rich, but good! My friend ordered sushi and really enjoyed it! I was pregnant still when I was here, so will have to try their sushi next trip! I definitely recommend this place for an enjoyable beach day lunch or dinner!!
(4)
Sarah M.
My hubby and I had dinner here before setting out for a cruise, and it was just fabulous. We enjoyed everything, from the Brussels sprouts to the sushi. I got the cocktail flight, and it was great to sample different flavors in smaller quantities. It has an open feel, and you can see the beach past the patio.
Everyone needs to come here and splurge a little! The food was amazing. My favorites were the ricotta gnocchi's and the heirloom tomatoes! The presentations are amazing and the tastes are like no restaurant I've been to before.
(5)
Sarah B.
As a local, I've been waiting to try this place ever since I started to see initial construction months ago. I tried it today for brunch and was not disappointed! After looking at their menu online, I knew they had a sangria sampler that I was excited to try. However our waitress said that they were trying a new sampler of their specialties drinks, so I picked out three delicious drinks and found my new favorite: the blackberry lychee! It had freshly muddled blackberries and was perfect for a Sunday afternoon. My mom ordered the Bloody Mary sampler and she enjoyed tasting the different varieties they offered. On to the food, we ordered two apps. The Brussels Sprouts (which were to die for) and the donuts (because after all, it was brunch!). I highly recommend the Brussels Sprouts even for those who are not fans. As one of my family sayings goes, "It tasted like candy!". For our lunch dishes, I ordered the pork belly benedict. It came on a biscuit and was topped with collard greens (YUM), the pork belly and a mustard hollandaise sauce. The eggs were cooked perfect, and there was just the right amount of pork belly and hollandaise sauce. My mom had the Kamikaze roll which was pretty good, but I didn't think it was rolled tight enough. Lastly my cousin had the shrimp and grits. The shrimp were great. However being from the south and having my Nana make shrimp and grits at home, we were disappointed in the tasso gravy that was served on the dish. It was full of tomatoes, which I believe a tasso cream sauce usually does not have. I do appreciate a restaurant putting their own spin on a dish, however sometimes the classics shouldn't be messed with. We had wonderful, quick, and knowledgeable service from Amanda. She was extremely attentive and had great recommendations for our table of people that had never been there. Ask for her to be your waitress! One down side was parking. I don't mind valeting my car at all, and usually that is what I prefer (I didn't even paying the fee). However, the valet was extremely slow in getting our car. I understand that S3 is located on a busy side street on A1A, but the valet guys didn't even seem to hustle as we were waiting over 5 minutes for our car. I know this isn't the restaurants fault, and believe me I still plan on being a regular here. I do suggest valeting, just be prepared to wait if your car wasn't parked on the first level of the parking garage. I look forward to going back and trying dinner and other drinks! Go and you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Kristin R.
Can't beat the beachfront location. Lovely environment offering ample menu offerings and creative drinks. Happy hour is right on and the drinks taste great. Service is on point and the fire pits in the evening offer a tranquil setting everyone can enjoy. This restaurant is located at the bottom level of the Hilton beach hotel. One of my local favorites.
(4)
Katie M.
Yelpers, you didn't let me down! The hubs and I were in Fort Lauderdale for a wedding and were looking for a spot close to our hotel to eat dinner when we stumbled upon the reviews for S3. The speciality drinks flights was a fun way to start the meal...the grilled octopus was ammmmmazing...heck, the entire meal was so incredible that we were tempted to visit two nights in a row for dinner. (We still regret our decision to choose a different restaurant for dinner night 2) Helpful hint: we called the restaurant for a reservation and were told that there was nothing available. We logged onto OpenTable and were able to reserve a table within 15 mins of our desired reservation time!
(5)
Duana M.
The food here is amazing! If you're not a big fan of tapas at least give S3 a chance and please try their macaroni.
(5)
Lindsay M.
Great service! We sat at the bar during happy hour and enjoyed some great appetizers and drinks! It was a rainy day but the view was still nice. We will definitely be returning the next time we visit Fort Lauderdale!
(5)
Susan T.
been here for lunch, brunch and dinner. Great place to enjoy some good food/drinks while on the beach. Great service, relaxing... hard not to enjoy yourself here. Love that it's tapas style so you eat a little of many things.
(4)
A N.
THE GOOD: - I'm trying my best to be nice before I get into the areas of concern. I will start by saying I had really high hopes for this place, given reviews. - Waiter appeared nice & attentive initially, offered to take the brussel sprouts off my bill. - Head host also came over to apologize for the brussel sprouts. THE BAD: - Brussel sprouts were way too salty and had to completely stop eating them. - The octopus and mac 'n' cheese were a little on the salty side, as well. Maybe more so, because I already started with salty brussels that inundated my taste buds. And trust me, I love salt, so if I think a dish is too salty, that is a FIRST! - The sorbet was somewhat icy so it was tough cutting into it. Once I waited ~5min to melt a little, it was creamier. THE UGLY: - The service got quite a bit slower and it's not like there were that many people in the restaurant as it was after 9pm on a weeknight. - I don't know if I may have pissed someone off for the brussel sprouts, but I received the check and in a line item, it subtracted $9 with the description, "NO LIKE FOOD". I'm Asian, and I was greatly offended as it implied that is how I speak, that I used broken English to describe what happened with the sprouts. Could have been an honest mistake by the person who typed it in and not some intentional typo. But seems insensitive even if it were a coincidence. I am not looking for an apology, but wanted to bring this up as something that the restaurant or any place should be mindful of when serving Asians.
(1)
Charlie B.
I expect a Hilton facing the beach in Fort Lauderdale to have a hip stylish see-and-be-seen sidewalk restaurant. Which this is. I did not expect a really interesting menu, nor delicious food. Which is why S3 gets 5 stars. We started with one of the name sushis, yummy and calculated to please the raw fish hater. Then 2 standouts: stir-fried Brussels sprouts (a WOw) and fried hominy (big white corn kernels). Finished with little crab and avocado tacos. One caution, the kitchen speed is a bit glacial. Just enjoy your drink and don't pig out on the first thing that arrives. Also note that portions can be bigger than expected as well as smaller - for example the B-sprouts serve 2-3. Anyway, it's a winner. In Florida, a big winner!
(5)
Holley R.
Just a little FYI: The restaurant is not associated with the Hilton, rather they rent the space. What a great atmosphere; Bartenders are so warm and welcoming you can tell they really enjoy their job. Located right across the street from the beach. The indoor seating area is still open to the outside so you don't miss out on the weather if there isn't seating outside. Since it is lent (Orthodox fast from meat every day during lent) we had the Mahi-Mahi fish sandwich special and wok seared edamame (you'll never eat edamame the same way again). The quality of the fish was excellent; nice thick slices well cooked. Cool place to come as a group or a lunch date. Worth a try for sure!
(5)
Cantor Brad H.
I was extremely pleased with fantastic service, delicious food and great atmosphere all in one place. The variety of "tapas style" dishes was inviting. The sushi and Japanese influenced foods were fresh and creative. The prices were comparable with other beach spots, but they went to the level of superior with the combinations mentioned above. A great place to be.
(5)
Nicole V.
I've been to S3 a few times for lunch. Whenever a client wants to dine here, I jump at the opportunity. The food is good. The service is great. The view is EXCELLENT! Yesterday, a group of friends that I play trivia with had a "Brunch Crawl" which I'm trademarking! S3 was the 4th and final stop of the day and everyone in the group was pleased. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. We sat on the couches right in front as we joyously laughed and sipped cocktails. We'd already eaten at 3 previous places so we opted for brussels sprouts and artichokes. Both were delicious. Our server was patient with us as we were about 12 people with various drink orders. It's one of my top places to dine on Fort Lauderdale Beach.
(5)
Blue A.
Thanks to the wonderful series of UYEs going on (Shout out to Megan!) I was finally able to make it out to S3 for brunch. Now, this review is specifically for the brunch only - so keep that in mind. Mac & Cheese was phenomenal. They make it with smoked gouda and crispy prosciutto. DELICIOUS! Get this. Then send me a compliment because I didn't steer you wrong! Pork Belly Hash - I was SO excited for this dish and unfortunately I was a little disappointed. The pork belly was good, but the dish just...didn't blend for me. It's missing something to tie all the flavors in. The pork belly was great - by itself. The potatoes were eh. Huevos Rancheros - WHOA this thing is massive! My wife got this dish and I had the great pleasure of helping her finish it. It was good. Cocktail sampler - EHHHHH almost everyone at the table got the sampler and I must say - this was a waste of money - at least for us. None of the three were impressive, unfortunately. One was SUPER strong - which in our college days would of been a SCORE, but as we've aged we can appreciate a good, well balanced cocktail. One of them was half decent at least - I forgot which one. I'd totally skip getting the sampler. The service while somewhat quick and efficient (as quick as it could be for a big group) just wasn't there for me. The waiter had NO PERSONALITY and really didn't go above and beyond with anything. It's unfortunate because of course there was tip automatically included in there for him. All in all it was a bit pricey...but what you pay for is THE VIEW. Sitting literally across from the beach is the South Florida way of doing brunch. Photos here will make all of your Facebook friends jealous - I promise it. The sound of the waves rolling in - a nice breeze - the location is certainly one of the highlights of S3. I will come back for dinner one day!
(3)
Brittany S.
Great atmosphere, on the beach, great service. They have specials and a roll that a winning server has come up with. My roll was the Gator Roll and it was delish! I got the fried artichokes and tuna tower also, then I got the three cocktail sampler. All was great. Service was great as well. The vibe and atmosphere is ideal with the beach the prices are a bit steep but being on a trip it was a great sushi restaurant and bar/lounge.
I frequent YOLO anytime I make my way to Lauderdale so I decided to check out S3, being their sister restaurant. Had a fabulous time. My sister, Niece and I were immediately seated by extremely friendly hostesses. Server was amazing! She was very attentive, extremely knowledgable with the menu and gave great food suggestions. The woman manager came to the table a few times to check on us and small talk. The atmosphere and music was perfect. Food was phenomenal (you must try the edamame, it's not even normal how delicious it is.)
(5)
Steve B.
Good food and good ambience. Brussels sprouts are excellent. Octopus was good but needed to be chargrilled more. Sushi rolls were good. Our favorite was the sushi nachos. Sooooo good! Service was great. Cindy is awesome and very friendly. Definitely a great spot on the beach.
(4)
Dianna T.
This restaurant sits right on the beach. The outside area has fire pits where you can sit which makes for a really nice atmosphere. They have really good drinks and food. The food is on the small side and a bit pricy although. My favorite dish is the edamame. It is amazing!
(4)
Patty W.
Brunch. Huh? Did someone say brunch? Oh yea. The May Broward's brunch UYE was held here hosted by the lovely Miss Megan and it was an excellent day to sit outside to enjoy the view and weather of South Florida. Let's not forget about the cocktails and the food as well. If you valet, parking is $5 right outside the restaurant. The restaurant had a table for us facing the ocean and we were in the shade. I already knew what I wanted to eat before I got there and I didn't want to start looking at the menu to change my mind again ;) However, the drink selection was indecisive at first, but I narrowed it out after making up my mind several times. I couldn't decide on one cocktail, so I went for the sampler. It consists of three samples of the signature specialty drinks that are on the menu. The orange snap was alright and the beach breeze had a little more rum than anticipated. The blackberry lychee was my preference out of the three. It was a nice touch with the sake and ginger. Everyone's food looked delicious. I settled for the banana bread french toast. I'm used to banana bread being heavy, so it was different when I took the first bite and it was surprisingly light. It was topped with candied walnuts, strawberries, and chantilly cream along with a side of syrup. Not a bite was left on my plate. The server was good and he didn't rush us at all. However, the restaurant didn't want to break up the bill since there was a group of 9 of us and we had to make sure we had cash before hand. It didn't come to no surprise when everyone puts in their portion and still comes up short. Luckily, it wasn't an issue at our table, but that's why it needs to be on separate checks for that reason. Overall, it's a beautiful place to have a meal while feeling like you're on vacation.
(4)
Sebastiana B.
The atmosphere is wonderful. Overlooking the beach it's just gorgeous l. The food was very delicious. We had the tuna nachos which were excellent it has a good amount of the tuna and Avacado topped with tobiko. Then we had the short rib empanadas, which were the special of the day. The kamakazi roll was excellent again topped with tabiko the salmon was very fresh. And the Panna cotta Omg to die for. So flavorful but not overly sweet with berries and a lemon sauce. Also had 3 samples of the specialty cocktails. Can't remember the names but they were also delicious. This is definitely a place worth checking out. I will be going back for brunch soon.
(4)
EM H.
Tonight we stumbled upon S3 after a full day on the beach. We were so happy to walk in just as happy hour started. Haff off some of the most amazing apps I have ever had and $2 off beer and wine selections. We were thrilled and after trying the spicy tuna roll, the goat cheese and the edamame we realized that we had stumbled on a gold mine. Service was amazing--Jackie was such a joy and Ron was so friendly. We felt like we were the only customers. This is a must go. Great food, great service, and awesome location!! Update! Went back tonight and you must have the sushi nachos!! Absolutely amazing!! I will be dreaming of eating here when I'm back in CO. Also Keli was our server tonight and she was phenom. :)
(5)
C. H.
We really enjoyed the food and ambiance when we ate dinner at this restaurant. We shared a number of small plates and each plate was beautifully presented and packed full of flavour. Service was a bit slow. The restaurant was busy and our server was attending to many tables that it took awhile for us to get her attention to order more food. We loved the ambiance. Definitely a trendy environment. It was nice they had a fire pit set up at the front of the restaurant. It was too bad we were not able to get a seat there. We got to sit by the kitchen area and watch staff make the food. Prices are bit higher but we expected that for the area. It is a very touristy area and many hotels lining up along the beach.
(4)
Robert H.
So much good to say about this place. First, the service was impeccable. Thank you Jane and Jackie! Then everything we tried was stellar. Love the small plate service cuz we could try many things. Sushi was great as was the empanadas. I'm picky about Bloody Mary's and they were as good as The Cardinal Club's, which is no small feat. Try the lychee Bellini if you want slightly sweet. Went for supper came back for lunch next day, it was so good!
(5)
Jennifer S.
Really great experience at S3. The restaurant has an ocean view at the bar/lounge which offers great breeze even though it's summer it was very comfortable. Great happy hour $2off cocktails/wine. Cocktails are tasty and unique. Denis was our server. He was really personable. We made mention that we were on our first date and they brought our sushi out in the shape of hearts. It's those types of details that make a place memorable.
(5)
John B.
Amazing time, great drinks and food! This place has never let me down!!! Ambiance is great and the service is outstanding!!
(5)
Christina D.
S3 on the beach is a great place to come For cocktails and small plates!! Beautiful atmosphere and great service! The cocktail server Keli gave great recommendations, was very attentive and kept a positive attitude while answering all of our Questions. As well as the bartender . Highly recommended!
(5)
Alexander N.
S3 has been on my radar for a few months now. After a few cancelled reservations, i finally made it, and it did not disappoint. The ambiance is incredible. The food was also pretty good. The special was the short rib empanadas which were phenomenal. The sizzled shrimp were a little underwhelming. I had to subtract a star because our mac n' cheese and brisket sliders took an hour! Our waitress was very apologetic and comped us the sliders and a free order of the brussel sprouts. After the long wait, the sliders were very underwhelming. I look forward to coming back though!
(4)
Ana B.
Eveything here still great besides the over price in my opinion. I just tried they're small portion for Ribs and Gnocchi, absolutly AMAZING! They have DJ on weekends with a 'Sobe' detail, the amazing saxophonist playing with the music. Great vibe!
(4)
JJ J.
Great food and service. Top place to eat at Ft Lauderdale beach. Great drink selection as well.
(5)
Kamini R.
I've been back several times since my 1st review and I will say, they keep getting better! Their food selections are delicious, innovative and good to share. Everything is tapas style which is great so you can try a bunch of stuff. Their drinks are crafty and nicely presented. I recommended them to a friend for their date night and they loved it!
(5)
Damla A.
Whenever I dine here I am always amazed! I love their rolls, all of them! Mojitos are the best ever. Service is fast and friendly, view is absolutely wonderful.
(5)
Karen W.
Disappointing. Average food. Many other choices with much better food and service in Fort Lauderdale.
(1)
Dwayne P.
Tapas is the way to go. Music on the beach with good food and wine. Ask your server for the secret items not on the menu:)
(4)
Mike R.
We come to Ft Lauderdale on vacation yearly, sometimes more. It's an easy spot to get to with good beaches, hotels and restaurants. This time we tried S3, in the Hilton, since it was close and had a very varied menu. We probably couldn't have made a better choice. When we sat down, the waitress started off telling us that whatever we order comes out as its prepared, so family style ordering was preferred. Their menu supports this with snack bites, small plates, entrees and sushi rolls. A special that night was short rib empanadas. Crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside with solid flavor throughout. The goat cheese balls followed the same pattern - texture that augmented the flavors. Everything was spot on from food to service. S3 will definitely be added into our rotation on future trips.
(5)
Tyoko B.
What a sexy spot to stop by for the evening. The lights are so low, it's hard to see the menu but who cares. You can hear the waves from the ocean rolling in and people watch. I celebrated a milestone birthday here and the tapas: tomato bread, sushi and shrimp features were delish. Washing that down with their real strawberry daiquiri was such a good choice. That was weeks ago and "fresh" comes to mind when I think about their food and drinks. Service was good and very attentive as well. The only dislike was the flight of mini mixed drinks. I'm not a drinker and tend to stick with wine or a prissy drink every now and then but wanted to be a big girl that night. They just weren't good to me and after 1 sip, I realized it was a mistake. So strong with flavors that just didn't go together. They removed it from my bill after noticing I wasn't drinking them. I appreciate them even noticing. Another birthday along with some changes in my life were worth spending my time here for a couple hours laughing being thankful and truly happy. Come here, let your hair down and take it all in.
(4)
Anthony K.
The view is definitely worth the entire experience. The menu is is more suited for those who are out to enjoy a meal surrounded by delicious drinks. The small plates are delicious, try as many as you can! The ocean breeze is just phenomenal when enjoying their outside seating. A1A is always non stop with people and cars always going by. The ocean and the restaurant are separated by an island in-between a two way street, get passed that and the oceans waves will do the rest for you. Talk a walk down A1A after and enjoy what Fort Lauderdale Florida has to offer!
(5)
Chaz S.
So where to start? 1. It's hot inside... Now, not quite as hot as say Dante's 4th Inner Ring ... more something along the lines of a Martha Stewart off-shore sweat shop. 1a. The waitress, a helpful gal, suggested they were having problems with the A/C unit. 1b. Sorry, I'm not buying it. Feel sorry for the those taking in a dog-days-of-summer dinner. Bring a squeegee for your forehead. 2. Oh, did I mention I had a fly (and fly parts) in my artichoke appetizer? Yeah, can't post a picture here, but no doubt it was a fly. In all of it's deep-fried glory. Staff was attentive, took it off the menu, but kinda flipped out my date. Apparently, she's not into the whole "bug is protein" idea. 3. Did I mention it was hot? It was right about now I'm starting to develop a slight case of swamp ass. 4. Dinner is served as it comes out from the kitchen ... okay, I suppose, but don't order the cioppino -- arrives about 10-15m after everyone else is done eating ... I know good cioppino (visit San Fran to learn more) ... this wasn't, well, good cioppino. Pricey like cioppino but lack any decent curbside appeal. 4a. I suppose my dinner guests were hoping I'd hurry up eating my cioppino, but since my glasses were fogged up from the sweat pouring from my forehead, I was blissfully unaware of their furrowed brow. 5. Not sure if Flygate scared away our waitress, but her once attentive service fizzled at the end. Yeah, I get she's not cooking the food, but she's supposed to check back -- one helpful hint -- when my iced tea is no longer iced, consider a refill. So, to sum up. If you like it hot, like a deep-fried fly, and willing to be ignored, then this place is for you. PS Like always, I still tipped n excess of 20%.
(1)
Ivan B.
G-3 surf, sand, sun needs to have another s for sensational. The food was wonderful The service was spotty but good The atmosphere was warm and comfortable The widows and patio over look the ocean. The brisket sliders were my favorite. The shrimp tempura roll outstanding The flatbread you can skip. Just flat bread with what tasted like caned sauce. The brisket sliders are amazing The grilled shrimp was perfect and served on a small pancake. Triple chocolate cake made you feel guilty just for ordering it and it was triple delicious. The fried donuts were ok but disappointing. The service was spotty in the beginning great but it slowed as the evening progressed. Loved the open kitchen. They do take and honor reservations. When you go, and you should, try for a table outside over looking the beach and ocean
(5)
Joshua M.
I'm giving S3 5 stars because of the incredibly detailed and strategic method/preparation of the honey mustard. Dylan has done it again!!!!
(5)
SayYesToTheDress N.
Went here for a birthday dinner last night, and had a wonderful time. Great staff. Our waitress, Hannah was terrific! Food was on point. Drinks were ok. Ambiance was perfect. I was so impressed, I'm thinking about coming back to try S3 out for lunch!
(5)
Fidel C.
This place is stunning-- undoubtedly. There is both indoor and outdoor seating available which is great as it is overlooking the beach. I arrived around 7:30 and there was a mixed crowd of very elegant and very casually dressed diners. My waitress was phenomenal, a red-head whose name I did not catch, but she was eager and attentive. Very knowledgeable of their menu and detailed in descriptions of every plate. My boyfriend and I ordered four plates, and they are all meant for sharing. They are small plates that come out in random order, depending on what order they are ready-- as each is prepared in a different station. The short rib empanadas were GREAT! The mac & cheese with prosciutto bits were also amazing. The gouda cheese on that plate was very rich and flavorful. The shrimp was not so great, served on a flapjack-like thing, but they tasted like plain shrimp-- not much flavor there. Our final dish was the brisket sliders which took FOREVER to come out. The waitress and manager came over at different times to apologize for the inconvenience and gave it to us on the house, which was lovely. Right before our dessert came out, they also gave us the brussel sprouts on the house, which we did not order but it was great nonetheless. Not crispy enough, but free always tastes great so we enjoyed them. The icky sticky toffee dessert (not sure of the actual name) was sub-par. I have definitely had better and we definitely could have done without it. As far as how we felt after-- we both agreed we would definitely be back! Especially now being more knowledgeable about what to order and how their portions are. We were stuffed! Definitely a place to check out. Amazing date night.
(4)
Elizabeth C.
Such an amazing place. My boyfriend and I were staying at the Hilton for the week and basically stumbled upon this place and we weren't disappoint. We started chatting up with on of the bartenders Jim, he was awesome, helped navigate us through the dinner and drink menu. He made some spectacular drinks as well. The edamame is a must try, so soooo good. Great food, ambience and service!
(5)
Rod Z.
Food is great and served pretty quickly. Outside seating is very nice for evening dinner. Wait staff seems to be in a bit of a hurry...otherwise 5 stars...
(4)
Bobbi R.
Don't even think about it !! Seriously!! Trust me on this !!Get the Tuna Tower, the Edamame, and the Chocolate Chip Blondie!! You can thank me later!!!
(5)
Angelea E.
Great location great food a little pricy but you're on the beach so that's to be expected in all I think it's a great place to go to
(4)
Brittany E.
The grilled octopus was excellent, along with the goat cheese balls, but goat cheese on or in anything is . Bloody Mary sampler . The sushi rolls are all pretty good, the ambiance is great, kind of dark and romantic for dinner, but also great for a night out with friends.
(4)
Shannon L.
Can I just say the peeps they have employed tending the outside are great. As background, I have stayed at the attached hotel and eaten at this restaurant a handful of times over the past 6 months. Although I sit at the outside bar, I'm able to get full menu service. The outside bar is great for a couple of reasons: you can enjoy the fresh air and occasional ocean breeze, they have TV monitors with sports on, the view is of the beach, next to the bar seating is outside lounge seating with firepits for evening warmth and the great service at the bar - especially from bartender Emily (she rocks). She remembered me from my past visits (although it's been at least two months) and proceeded to point out to me that they had changed the menu slightly - both on the specialty drinks and the menu, describing the new dishes/drinks and mentioning which ones they had removed (also pointing out they still had my fave drink - the sunset sake). Had two sushi rolls - the crab and shrimp and the shrimp tempura. Both tasty and delivered pretty quickly. But it's really the great bar service I come back night after night for... this rating is for Emily's service.
(5)
Michella T.
Came for a scratch cocktail. Sat outside, which was very modern and nice. Lots of fun fresh cocktails to choose from. Saw the menu and decided to order some food. My friend got the goat cheese croquettes and I got the riceless sushi! Yum! Definitely on the pricey side, but great for foodies and fantastic atmosphere. Will DEFINITELY be back!
(4)
Brenda T.
S3 = Sun, Surf and Sand. This beachside location is on the ground floor of the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort and is brought to us by The Restaurant People, the same owners of Tarpon Bend, YOLO and Vibe. S3 is staged on several levels so diners throughout the restaurant have views of the water. The island ambience and simple, but elegant bamboo and teak furniture created an alluring atmosphere. The open air space has an indoor/outdoor main bar and outdoor seating offers couches and a fire pit overlooking the beach. While large plates are available, the menu focuses on small plates featuring cuisines from coastal areas near and far. I was surprised by this trendy 'hotel' restaurant. The prices are a bit high for small plates, but seem on par with other overpriced fare along A1A. Over the course of my stay, I sampled several dishes, all beautifully presented- *Vietnamese glazed wings with daikon radish - plump, juicy and perfectly marinated with the pungent fish sauce. A winner. *Deviled eggs - average flavors, needs an upgrade to match the atmosphere *Thai tuna sushi roll - it tasted 'pretty'..white soy paper added a visual twist, fresh tuna inside with a sliver of jalapeño, avocado and coconut. I enjoyed the roll, but next time I'll go for bolder flavors. The cuisine is above average, but the setting is the true star. David took good care of me as well. Overall, an interesting space that speaks to different needs -- the solo business traveler, happy hour, a sexy date, or girls' night.
(4)
Jennifer F.
(I'm so incredibly late posting this review... oopse!) Went to S3 for a random girls night dinner about 2 weeks ago. We actually were out at another event at a hotel down the street (they had horrible h'ordeuvres so we left) and walked down to S3 to grab something for dinner. The stars were definitely aligned because we didn't have a reservation and they were packed but we happened to get a table that fit the 6 of us near the bar area (even though we wanted to sit outside). Definitely recommend calling ahead to make a reservation! Their outside patio has really nice ambiance since it overlooks the beach and inside part of the restaurant is perfect for a date night! Their concept of having everyone order and then they bring out whatever food is ready when it's ready is non-traditional but also fun. It's not too bad if you're out with a significant other or group and everyone is ok with sharing, but if not everyone else that doesn't have food will just sitting around waiting so definitely be open to sharing. Thankfully everyone ordered something different and we all tried everyone's food! The short rib empanadas and goat cheese croquettes were AMAZE! Would definitely order those appetizers again! The goat cheese mac-and-cheese was really rich with the smoked Gouda and yummy prosciutto crumbles on top. Definitely share that as it comes in a cast iron skillet! I had a serious sushi craving so I ordered the chef special sunshine roll. It took a while for it to come out but it was well worth it. One of the other girls ordered a simple rainbow roll and for some reason it took almost an hour to get it to the table. Our server made sure to be diligent and continue to check with the kitchen on the status but for whatever reason it took a very long time to make. I recommend ordering any of the sushi first to make sure you get it at a reasonable time. Our friend actually didn't get the sushi roll delivered to the table until the rest of us were done eating so they actually ended up removing it from the bill for the inconvenience. Overall the experience was great! They have a vast drink menu and the food was fantastic! I have a feeling that the ambiance is different depending on where you sit (at the bar, outside patio, inside the restaurant, etc.) so I'll definitely be back to try them all!
(4)
Megan N.
Eaten here several times. Came here for a birthday dinner one night and didn't have the best experience. Instead of running to write a bad review I emailed the GM and promptly received an email back from the GM, Harmony. She apologized for the bad experience and invited us back for a redo. Took her up on her offer for a second chance and everything has amazing. Food was wonderful, service was amazing. Jen-the manager that night was great. So thank you S3 team and Harmony for making this right reassuring me that that one night was just a rare circumstance. See you guys soon!
(5)
Marisa R.
All I can say is WOW! Amazing service, amazing food! Cocktails are a little pricey but perfected. Signature sushi rolls are completely on point and fresh although I wish there was more low-key options (vegetarian rolls? Simple sushi?). Overall, very happy with our choice to visit S3! Update: Since our visit that this review is based on, we came back to S3 TWICE!!! Still nothing bad to say about service or quality!!
(5)
Joan L.
Pretty big disappointment for me after so many stellar yelp reviews. Really a 2 1/2 but the service brought it down to a two. Keep in mind, this review us only for lunch. Some items I was dying to try, like the Gnocchi, were not available. All around, the food was weak. Starving when we sat down we quickly ordered some deviled eggs and truffle fries to share while we studied the menu. Maybe not the most sophisticated choices but nevertheless, I have had better deviled eggs from Publix. I certainly have have had better fries from McDonald's or any other fast food joint The fries were overcooked and hard. The Mac & Cheese was good. I'm glad I ordered that at the last minute minute for the table to share or else I would have been very hungry. I ordered Tuna Nachos ($11) I really wondered if I received the same dish other yelpers raved about. It consisted of four of the smallest & greasiest taco chips I have ever tasted. I could barely eat them. They were topped with a mixture of tuna and spicy salmon all mushed together topped with a drizzle of sauce. Was that supposed to be the guacamole? The guacomole was really invisible to me. And let's just say I have had much better sushi and spicy fish mixtures at the sushi buffet. 9 year old did like his Shrimp and Crab Roll ($13) which was a little more filling. 11 year old did enjoy his burger, which came with a nice runny runny sunny side up egg on it. Husband got one of the specials: a short rib sandwich with grilled cheese and onions. Husband gallantly offered me some since I was still hungry after my minuscule sushi portion. Then I saw why he was so generous First of all, you could not taste any cheese on this sandwich. But more importantly, it just tasted nasty...almost rancid. I could barely get one bite down. With it's gorgeous view, S3, might have squeaked to a 3 star rating. However, the service brought it down. We had to wait way too long for the hot food and our beverages constantly remained empty. There was no exude for this when the restaurant was more than half empty. Needless to say, we will not be returning.
(2)
Dan S.
I don't get the name of this place. And I'm not a typical fan of restaurants in hotels. But this is a standalone place that deserves to be a contender for your dining choice. It came recommended by a friend in CT and didn't really disappoint. The key is sharing small plates. And get the drink sampler too. Cool concept. We loved the short rib empanadas. The special Mac and cheese was also a highlight! The ricotta spread was a big miss though. Avoid it. We also enjoyed the tuna tower and the rolls too. And tip: they have kids dishes. You just need to ask. The Burger with fries was loved by the little one. Service was very good with a desire to get things right. And sitting with an ocean side view, that attitude goes a long way. Price was very reasonable for sharing dishes between us.
(4)
Chuck K.
Everyone is so friendly at S3!!! Great service, excellent seafood! I've become a regular here... I highly recommend coming for happy hour! Great app specials!
(5)
Dominic B.
I went to S3 for dinner before flying out of Fort Lauderdale Airport back to Virginia. I sat at the outside bar since it was beautiful outside. The outside bar has televisions and a nice beach view (Fort Lauderdale Beach). It gets no better than watching ESPN and eye candy. Parking was a hassle but S3 offers valet to customers. It was happy hour ,so we were able to try different appetizers on the menu. I ordered a few appetizers, sushi, and a drink. The appetizers (tomato bread, goat cheese croquettes & rosemary fritters) were good. The goat cheese croquettes were my personal favorite. They had a nice crust with a creamy goat cheese filling inside. S3 Crunchy Tuna Roll (Crab, Spicy Tuna, Mango, Avocado, Tempura Flake and Soy Paper) was good. The drinks are flavorful and strong. Our waiter was attentive at the outside bar. I loved the outside dining area ambience. It's the perfect place to relax while eating or drinking. I give S3 Restaurant Sun - Surf - Sand a 3.5 rating.
(3)
Steve K.
S3 was a bit disappointing for the price paid... It's a nice place with good atmosphere, and our server was great, but the food was hit-or-miss. Most items that weren't sushi were okay, but not great. However, the sushi that everyone seems to rave about was not very high-quality, just boring and bland. Maybe it's tough for a California guy to expect great sushi in Florida, but c'mon, for the price of these dishes, I really expected better
(3)
Carrie M.
The Thai Sushi is so delish and the berry mojito is one of the best I've had. The chef was also accommodating to friend that has a gluten intolerance. He made her a seared salmon and Brussels sprouts just as she requested. Eating with the view of the ocean makes the dining experience fantastic!
(5)
Joseph A.
Service : amazing ... On point ! 1st class service ... The entire staff Food: Sat at sushi bar and everything they prepared looked amazing ! I ordered the octopus ... Really good ... Top quality ...the shrimp tempura was also good... Didn't try however I saw the kitchen prepare a lot of the The ricotta dip, the short rib , and the brisket! Looked amazing and in high demand . Clean top quality restaurant
(5)
Chris F.
Reservation issues My only complaint about S3 was they took our reservation via Open Table but when we arrived they wanted to stick us at a bar like table right next to the kitchen on stools. This was not a "real" table that they should assign reservations to. There were also several other open regular tables. Eventually the manager came and sat us at a regular table. Other than this, it was a good night with good food and drinks.
(3)
Lukas S.
So this so far has been my favorite place during our trip to Fort Lauderdale! We came for an afternoon bite-to-eat! We hadn't eaten lunch but weren't hungry enough for dinner so thought it'd be a nice option since they have a bar and we'd just get some light snacks! Our waitress, Tiffany, explained to us that it is tapas-style which was just what we wanted! We started with drinks...my boyfriend got the Orange Snap and I tried the Green Guisha--both hits! We started with the goat cheese croquettes and they were so good! They were like little balls of crusted, crunchy goat cheese bites with a spicy sauce! We then got the brussel sprouts which were amazing!!! The mustard sauce alone had me hooked! We also tried the crispy hominy which were tasty and different! We got the ginger thymetini and sake sunset next for drinks and were pleased with both of these as well! Loved being outside by the beach and leaving feeling satisfied but not stuffed. I think I would request our same waitress again...she had a personality that totally fits mine and was knowledgable and friendly without being overly chatty. GREAT place! We may have to go again before leaving town!! So, we came here again since we had such a great experience the day before for appetizers and drinks. Not a bad idea, but not a great one either. Once again, the food was spectacular! We got the ricotta gnocchi, tomato bread, crisp baby artichokes, akaushi bavette steak and the pork empanadas (on special that night). Our drinks were great again too, even though we opted for our own concoctions (which we appreciated their willingness to make). Our waiter was friendly but very slow. My boyfriend kept saying he was just "laid back" but I also appreciate being attended to a little bit more regularly or timely. We were seated outside on the patio and when the sun goes down you basically must rely on your cell phone to read the menu and to see the food you're eating. They really should add some sort of lighting. I was disappointed solely because our previous experience was spot-on, but I also felt like our experience was still good and we'd recommend the place.
(4)
Reixa C.
I've been here many times and every time I am satisfied with the food and the service. Their chicken salad is absolutely wonderful, so flavorful and fresh. Perfect for a lunch at the beach.
(5)
Brian B.
Tonight's dinner was a big step down compared to our wonderful dinner about two years ago. The sushi was OK...salmon was good...yellowtail tasted a little bitter...odd. The special LL role was extremely greasy. Yes, I know it was a deep-fried roll but I'm talking super-greasy. The server was kind enough to offer to have it removed from the bill but we declined-we ordered it and we ate half of it so we were fine paying for it. The brisket sliders sat on the counter for about 10 minutes before they brought to us...rather tough too. We had high hopes for S3 due to our previous visit but they were definitely off tonight.
(3)
Jane M.
Came for dinner on a Thursday night and were seated outside at the bar. The bartender started by checking my ID to verify that I was over 21 to sit there. We were famished, so started by ordering our food ($45 worth) before deciding on drinks. When I had decided and asked for a drink, he stated that my license was expired and I would need to provide another form of identification. Please note that my license was expired by one day (less than 24 hours). He seemed to be either in an awful mood or incredibly pretentious, I'm not sure which. Please note: 1) I am thirty-one years of age, not twenty two. I no longer look like a teenager. 2) This was the day after my birthday, which he failed to mention or acknowledge (a "looks like you just had a birthday, happy birthday!" would have been nice.) 3) He had just checked my ID so we could sit there. Why had he allowed us to sit there if he didn't deem it valid? 4) Under Florida state law, a bartender does not necessarily need to see a current ID, but rather *believe* that someone is 21. "The appearance of the buyer or recipient was such that a prudent person would believe the buyer or recipient to be 21 years of age or older." My just-expired license should have provided sufficient proof. 5) The TSA itself accepted my expired license as sufficient identification to board the plane less than one day later. Apparently S3 thinks they need to have tighter security at their overpriced oceanfront bar than the United States government. We were about to drop $65+ on food and drinks. We cancelled our order and went to Tacocraft, which resulted in a much better time!
(1)
Frances A.
Been here 2x now... each time I've had the same sever. Each time he was terrible! But I can't let him ruin my experience. Although service was bad, the has actually been pretty good. There are big plates but the idea is shareable plates. We've had a number of dishes: fried artichoke, brussel sprouts, pork belly, mac and cheese, beef sliders, grilled octopus. From our last visit, the pork belly and sliders were the winners. Both had really good flavors. The octopus salad was good but i was missing that char. .. Hence "grilled". Haven't had a horrible meal here just service. Prices are decent. I would recommend.
(3)
Amy W.
WOW! And Wow is an understatement! S3 is by far the best place that I have found in my two short years in South Florida. The service is hit or miss but the food makes up for it.. in a BIG way! The Strawberry Mamasita is fantastic and probably the best cocktail they have to offer! As for the food.. Where do I begin?! The Wok Charred Edamame.. Absolutely Amazing.. I crave it on a daily basis! The Chicken Meatballs (on Special).. OMG! I must have these RIGHT NOW! Mac & Cheese, Skirt Steak, Gnocchi, Roasted Mushrooms! Each and every item I have eaten.. YUM-O! Haven't been there yet?! What is stopping you?? Beyond Awesome!!
(5)
Amanda I.
This place is UNREAL! The atmosphere is cozy with its lounge feel and plush couches and even fire pits outside. We started with the Wok Charred Edamame which blew my mind because clearly I have been eating boring edamame my entire life because this was SO MUCH BETTER. I had the red dragon roll, which was good but nothing special. definitely listen to the waitstaff when they tell you to order a bunch of small plates because they all are SO GOOD. and the more that you order the more you get to try! Stir Fried Brussels Sprouts- they were so good! I could have eaten the entire plate. Pork Belly- oh my god I don't even know what I was eating but it was glorious. The pork belly tasted amazing alone, but then with the added jelly beneath it, if possible, it got better. Artisan Romaine- kind of a strange concept grilling the lettuce wedge, I was worried it was going to come to us wilted but it was great! The toppings (prosciutto and beans) and the sauce that comes on the side was delicious also. Even though at this point I had no room for dessert, you probably won't either, but try the Blondie because you won't regret it!
(5)
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Address :505 N Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd
Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33304
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Parking : Valet Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Shannon L.
Can I just say the peeps they have employed tending the outside are great. As background, I have stayed at the attached hotel and eaten at this restaurant a handful of times over the past 6 months. Although I sit at the outside bar, I'm able to get full menu service. The outside bar is great for a couple of reasons: you can enjoy the fresh air and occasional ocean breeze, they have TV monitors with sports on, the view is of the beach, next to the bar seating is outside lounge seating with firepits for evening warmth and the great service at the bar - especially from bartender Emily (she rocks). She remembered me from my past visits (although it's been at least two months) and proceeded to point out to me that they had changed the menu slightly - both on the specialty drinks and the menu, describing the new dishes/drinks and mentioning which ones they had removed (also pointing out they still had my fave drink - the sunset sake). Had two sushi rolls - the crab and shrimp and the shrimp tempura. Both tasty and delivered pretty quickly. But it's really the great bar service I come back night after night for... this rating is for Emily's service.
(5)Michella T.
Came for a scratch cocktail. Sat outside, which was very modern and nice. Lots of fun fresh cocktails to choose from. Saw the menu and decided to order some food. My friend got the goat cheese croquettes and I got the riceless sushi! Yum! Definitely on the pricey side, but great for foodies and fantastic atmosphere. Will DEFINITELY be back!
(4)Brenda T.
S3 = Sun, Surf and Sand. This beachside location is on the ground floor of the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort and is brought to us by The Restaurant People, the same owners of Tarpon Bend, YOLO and Vibe. S3 is staged on several levels so diners throughout the restaurant have views of the water. The island ambience and simple, but elegant bamboo and teak furniture created an alluring atmosphere. The open air space has an indoor/outdoor main bar and outdoor seating offers couches and a fire pit overlooking the beach. While large plates are available, the menu focuses on small plates featuring cuisines from coastal areas near and far. I was surprised by this trendy 'hotel' restaurant. The prices are a bit high for small plates, but seem on par with other overpriced fare along A1A. Over the course of my stay, I sampled several dishes, all beautifully presented- *Vietnamese glazed wings with daikon radish - plump, juicy and perfectly marinated with the pungent fish sauce. A winner. *Deviled eggs - average flavors, needs an upgrade to match the atmosphere *Thai tuna sushi roll - it tasted 'pretty'..white soy paper added a visual twist, fresh tuna inside with a sliver of jalapeño, avocado and coconut. I enjoyed the roll, but next time I'll go for bolder flavors. The cuisine is above average, but the setting is the true star. David took good care of me as well. Overall, an interesting space that speaks to different needs -- the solo business traveler, happy hour, a sexy date, or girls' night.
(4)Jennifer F.
(I'm so incredibly late posting this review... oopse!) Went to S3 for a random girls night dinner about 2 weeks ago. We actually were out at another event at a hotel down the street (they had horrible h'ordeuvres so we left) and walked down to S3 to grab something for dinner. The stars were definitely aligned because we didn't have a reservation and they were packed but we happened to get a table that fit the 6 of us near the bar area (even though we wanted to sit outside). Definitely recommend calling ahead to make a reservation! Their outside patio has really nice ambiance since it overlooks the beach and inside part of the restaurant is perfect for a date night! Their concept of having everyone order and then they bring out whatever food is ready when it's ready is non-traditional but also fun. It's not too bad if you're out with a significant other or group and everyone is ok with sharing, but if not everyone else that doesn't have food will just sitting around waiting so definitely be open to sharing. Thankfully everyone ordered something different and we all tried everyone's food! The short rib empanadas and goat cheese croquettes were AMAZE! Would definitely order those appetizers again! The goat cheese mac-and-cheese was really rich with the smoked Gouda and yummy prosciutto crumbles on top. Definitely share that as it comes in a cast iron skillet! I had a serious sushi craving so I ordered the chef special sunshine roll. It took a while for it to come out but it was well worth it. One of the other girls ordered a simple rainbow roll and for some reason it took almost an hour to get it to the table. Our server made sure to be diligent and continue to check with the kitchen on the status but for whatever reason it took a very long time to make. I recommend ordering any of the sushi first to make sure you get it at a reasonable time. Our friend actually didn't get the sushi roll delivered to the table until the rest of us were done eating so they actually ended up removing it from the bill for the inconvenience. Overall the experience was great! They have a vast drink menu and the food was fantastic! I have a feeling that the ambiance is different depending on where you sit (at the bar, outside patio, inside the restaurant, etc.) so I'll definitely be back to try them all!
(4)Megan N.
Eaten here several times. Came here for a birthday dinner one night and didn't have the best experience. Instead of running to write a bad review I emailed the GM and promptly received an email back from the GM, Harmony. She apologized for the bad experience and invited us back for a redo. Took her up on her offer for a second chance and everything has amazing. Food was wonderful, service was amazing. Jen-the manager that night was great. So thank you S3 team and Harmony for making this right reassuring me that that one night was just a rare circumstance. See you guys soon!
(5)Marisa R.
All I can say is WOW! Amazing service, amazing food! Cocktails are a little pricey but perfected. Signature sushi rolls are completely on point and fresh although I wish there was more low-key options (vegetarian rolls? Simple sushi?). Overall, very happy with our choice to visit S3! Update: Since our visit that this review is based on, we came back to S3 TWICE!!! Still nothing bad to say about service or quality!!
(5)Kamini R.
I've been back several times since my 1st review and I will say, they keep getting better! Their food selections are delicious, innovative and good to share. Everything is tapas style which is great so you can try a bunch of stuff. Their drinks are crafty and nicely presented. I recommended them to a friend for their date night and they loved it!
(5)Damla A.
Whenever I dine here I am always amazed! I love their rolls, all of them! Mojitos are the best ever. Service is fast and friendly, view is absolutely wonderful.
(5)Karen W.
Disappointing. Average food. Many other choices with much better food and service in Fort Lauderdale.
(1)Dwayne P.
Tapas is the way to go. Music on the beach with good food and wine. Ask your server for the secret items not on the menu:)
(4)Joan L.
Pretty big disappointment for me after so many stellar yelp reviews. Really a 2 1/2 but the service brought it down to a two. Keep in mind, this review us only for lunch. Some items I was dying to try, like the Gnocchi, were not available. All around, the food was weak. Starving when we sat down we quickly ordered some deviled eggs and truffle fries to share while we studied the menu. Maybe not the most sophisticated choices but nevertheless, I have had better deviled eggs from Publix. I certainly have have had better fries from McDonald's or any other fast food joint The fries were overcooked and hard. The Mac & Cheese was good. I'm glad I ordered that at the last minute minute for the table to share or else I would have been very hungry. I ordered Tuna Nachos ($11) I really wondered if I received the same dish other yelpers raved about. It consisted of four of the smallest & greasiest taco chips I have ever tasted. I could barely eat them. They were topped with a mixture of tuna and spicy salmon all mushed together topped with a drizzle of sauce. Was that supposed to be the guacamole? The guacomole was really invisible to me. And let's just say I have had much better sushi and spicy fish mixtures at the sushi buffet. 9 year old did like his Shrimp and Crab Roll ($13) which was a little more filling. 11 year old did enjoy his burger, which came with a nice runny runny sunny side up egg on it. Husband got one of the specials: a short rib sandwich with grilled cheese and onions. Husband gallantly offered me some since I was still hungry after my minuscule sushi portion. Then I saw why he was so generous First of all, you could not taste any cheese on this sandwich. But more importantly, it just tasted nasty...almost rancid. I could barely get one bite down. With it's gorgeous view, S3, might have squeaked to a 3 star rating. However, the service brought it down. We had to wait way too long for the hot food and our beverages constantly remained empty. There was no exude for this when the restaurant was more than half empty. Needless to say, we will not be returning.
(2)Dan S.
I don't get the name of this place. And I'm not a typical fan of restaurants in hotels. But this is a standalone place that deserves to be a contender for your dining choice. It came recommended by a friend in CT and didn't really disappoint. The key is sharing small plates. And get the drink sampler too. Cool concept. We loved the short rib empanadas. The special Mac and cheese was also a highlight! The ricotta spread was a big miss though. Avoid it. We also enjoyed the tuna tower and the rolls too. And tip: they have kids dishes. You just need to ask. The Burger with fries was loved by the little one. Service was very good with a desire to get things right. And sitting with an ocean side view, that attitude goes a long way. Price was very reasonable for sharing dishes between us.
(4)Chuck K.
Everyone is so friendly at S3!!! Great service, excellent seafood! I've become a regular here... I highly recommend coming for happy hour! Great app specials!
(5)Alexander N.
S3 has been on my radar for a few months now. After a few cancelled reservations, i finally made it, and it did not disappoint. The ambiance is incredible. The food was also pretty good. The special was the short rib empanadas which were phenomenal. The sizzled shrimp were a little underwhelming. I had to subtract a star because our mac n' cheese and brisket sliders took an hour! Our waitress was very apologetic and comped us the sliders and a free order of the brussel sprouts. After the long wait, the sliders were very underwhelming. I look forward to coming back though!
(4)Dominic B.
I went to S3 for dinner before flying out of Fort Lauderdale Airport back to Virginia. I sat at the outside bar since it was beautiful outside. The outside bar has televisions and a nice beach view (Fort Lauderdale Beach). It gets no better than watching ESPN and eye candy. Parking was a hassle but S3 offers valet to customers. It was happy hour ,so we were able to try different appetizers on the menu. I ordered a few appetizers, sushi, and a drink. The appetizers (tomato bread, goat cheese croquettes & rosemary fritters) were good. The goat cheese croquettes were my personal favorite. They had a nice crust with a creamy goat cheese filling inside. S3 Crunchy Tuna Roll (Crab, Spicy Tuna, Mango, Avocado, Tempura Flake and Soy Paper) was good. The drinks are flavorful and strong. Our waiter was attentive at the outside bar. I loved the outside dining area ambience. It's the perfect place to relax while eating or drinking. I give S3 Restaurant Sun - Surf - Sand a 3.5 rating.
(3)Steve K.
S3 was a bit disappointing for the price paid... It's a nice place with good atmosphere, and our server was great, but the food was hit-or-miss. Most items that weren't sushi were okay, but not great. However, the sushi that everyone seems to rave about was not very high-quality, just boring and bland. Maybe it's tough for a California guy to expect great sushi in Florida, but c'mon, for the price of these dishes, I really expected better
(3)Carrie M.
The Thai Sushi is so delish and the berry mojito is one of the best I've had. The chef was also accommodating to friend that has a gluten intolerance. He made her a seared salmon and Brussels sprouts just as she requested. Eating with the view of the ocean makes the dining experience fantastic!
(5)Joseph A.
Service : amazing ... On point ! 1st class service ... The entire staff Food: Sat at sushi bar and everything they prepared looked amazing ! I ordered the octopus ... Really good ... Top quality ...the shrimp tempura was also good... Didn't try however I saw the kitchen prepare a lot of the The ricotta dip, the short rib , and the brisket! Looked amazing and in high demand . Clean top quality restaurant
(5)Lukas S.
So this so far has been my favorite place during our trip to Fort Lauderdale! We came for an afternoon bite-to-eat! We hadn't eaten lunch but weren't hungry enough for dinner so thought it'd be a nice option since they have a bar and we'd just get some light snacks! Our waitress, Tiffany, explained to us that it is tapas-style which was just what we wanted! We started with drinks...my boyfriend got the Orange Snap and I tried the Green Guisha--both hits! We started with the goat cheese croquettes and they were so good! They were like little balls of crusted, crunchy goat cheese bites with a spicy sauce! We then got the brussel sprouts which were amazing!!! The mustard sauce alone had me hooked! We also tried the crispy hominy which were tasty and different! We got the ginger thymetini and sake sunset next for drinks and were pleased with both of these as well! Loved being outside by the beach and leaving feeling satisfied but not stuffed. I think I would request our same waitress again...she had a personality that totally fits mine and was knowledgable and friendly without being overly chatty. GREAT place! We may have to go again before leaving town!! So, we came here again since we had such a great experience the day before for appetizers and drinks. Not a bad idea, but not a great one either. Once again, the food was spectacular! We got the ricotta gnocchi, tomato bread, crisp baby artichokes, akaushi bavette steak and the pork empanadas (on special that night). Our drinks were great again too, even though we opted for our own concoctions (which we appreciated their willingness to make). Our waiter was friendly but very slow. My boyfriend kept saying he was just "laid back" but I also appreciate being attended to a little bit more regularly or timely. We were seated outside on the patio and when the sun goes down you basically must rely on your cell phone to read the menu and to see the food you're eating. They really should add some sort of lighting. I was disappointed solely because our previous experience was spot-on, but I also felt like our experience was still good and we'd recommend the place.
(4)Reixa C.
I've been here many times and every time I am satisfied with the food and the service. Their chicken salad is absolutely wonderful, so flavorful and fresh. Perfect for a lunch at the beach.
(5)Jane M.
Came for dinner on a Thursday night and were seated outside at the bar. The bartender started by checking my ID to verify that I was over 21 to sit there. We were famished, so started by ordering our food ($45 worth) before deciding on drinks. When I had decided and asked for a drink, he stated that my license was expired and I would need to provide another form of identification. Please note that my license was expired by one day (less than 24 hours). He seemed to be either in an awful mood or incredibly pretentious, I'm not sure which. Please note: 1) I am thirty-one years of age, not twenty two. I no longer look like a teenager. 2) This was the day after my birthday, which he failed to mention or acknowledge (a "looks like you just had a birthday, happy birthday!" would have been nice.) 3) He had just checked my ID so we could sit there. Why had he allowed us to sit there if he didn't deem it valid? 4) Under Florida state law, a bartender does not necessarily need to see a current ID, but rather *believe* that someone is 21. "The appearance of the buyer or recipient was such that a prudent person would believe the buyer or recipient to be 21 years of age or older." My just-expired license should have provided sufficient proof. 5) The TSA itself accepted my expired license as sufficient identification to board the plane less than one day later. Apparently S3 thinks they need to have tighter security at their overpriced oceanfront bar than the United States government. We were about to drop $65+ on food and drinks. We cancelled our order and went to Tacocraft, which resulted in a much better time!
(1)Frances A.
Been here 2x now... each time I've had the same sever. Each time he was terrible! But I can't let him ruin my experience. Although service was bad, the has actually been pretty good. There are big plates but the idea is shareable plates. We've had a number of dishes: fried artichoke, brussel sprouts, pork belly, mac and cheese, beef sliders, grilled octopus. From our last visit, the pork belly and sliders were the winners. Both had really good flavors. The octopus salad was good but i was missing that char. .. Hence "grilled". Haven't had a horrible meal here just service. Prices are decent. I would recommend.
(3)Amy W.
WOW! And Wow is an understatement! S3 is by far the best place that I have found in my two short years in South Florida. The service is hit or miss but the food makes up for it.. in a BIG way! The Strawberry Mamasita is fantastic and probably the best cocktail they have to offer! As for the food.. Where do I begin?! The Wok Charred Edamame.. Absolutely Amazing.. I crave it on a daily basis! The Chicken Meatballs (on Special).. OMG! I must have these RIGHT NOW! Mac & Cheese, Skirt Steak, Gnocchi, Roasted Mushrooms! Each and every item I have eaten.. YUM-O! Haven't been there yet?! What is stopping you?? Beyond Awesome!!
(5)Amanda I.
This place is UNREAL! The atmosphere is cozy with its lounge feel and plush couches and even fire pits outside. We started with the Wok Charred Edamame which blew my mind because clearly I have been eating boring edamame my entire life because this was SO MUCH BETTER. I had the red dragon roll, which was good but nothing special. definitely listen to the waitstaff when they tell you to order a bunch of small plates because they all are SO GOOD. and the more that you order the more you get to try! Stir Fried Brussels Sprouts- they were so good! I could have eaten the entire plate. Pork Belly- oh my god I don't even know what I was eating but it was glorious. The pork belly tasted amazing alone, but then with the added jelly beneath it, if possible, it got better. Artisan Romaine- kind of a strange concept grilling the lettuce wedge, I was worried it was going to come to us wilted but it was great! The toppings (prosciutto and beans) and the sauce that comes on the side was delicious also. Even though at this point I had no room for dessert, you probably won't either, but try the Blondie because you won't regret it!
(5)Charlie B.
I expect a Hilton facing the beach in Fort Lauderdale to have a hip stylish see-and-be-seen sidewalk restaurant. Which this is. I did not expect a really interesting menu, nor delicious food. Which is why S3 gets 5 stars. We started with one of the name sushis, yummy and calculated to please the raw fish hater. Then 2 standouts: stir-fried Brussels sprouts (a WOw) and fried hominy (big white corn kernels). Finished with little crab and avocado tacos. One caution, the kitchen speed is a bit glacial. Just enjoy your drink and don't pig out on the first thing that arrives. Also note that portions can be bigger than expected as well as smaller - for example the B-sprouts serve 2-3. Anyway, it's a winner. In Florida, a big winner!
(5)Holley R.
Just a little FYI: The restaurant is not associated with the Hilton, rather they rent the space. What a great atmosphere; Bartenders are so warm and welcoming you can tell they really enjoy their job. Located right across the street from the beach. The indoor seating area is still open to the outside so you don't miss out on the weather if there isn't seating outside. Since it is lent (Orthodox fast from meat every day during lent) we had the Mahi-Mahi fish sandwich special and wok seared edamame (you'll never eat edamame the same way again). The quality of the fish was excellent; nice thick slices well cooked. Cool place to come as a group or a lunch date. Worth a try for sure!
(5)Cantor Brad H.
I was extremely pleased with fantastic service, delicious food and great atmosphere all in one place. The variety of "tapas style" dishes was inviting. The sushi and Japanese influenced foods were fresh and creative. The prices were comparable with other beach spots, but they went to the level of superior with the combinations mentioned above. A great place to be.
(5)Brian B.
Tonight's dinner was a big step down compared to our wonderful dinner about two years ago. The sushi was OK...salmon was good...yellowtail tasted a little bitter...odd. The special LL role was extremely greasy. Yes, I know it was a deep-fried roll but I'm talking super-greasy. The server was kind enough to offer to have it removed from the bill but we declined-we ordered it and we ate half of it so we were fine paying for it. The brisket sliders sat on the counter for about 10 minutes before they brought to us...rather tough too. We had high hopes for S3 due to our previous visit but they were definitely off tonight.
(3)Nicole V.
I've been to S3 a few times for lunch. Whenever a client wants to dine here, I jump at the opportunity. The food is good. The service is great. The view is EXCELLENT! Yesterday, a group of friends that I play trivia with had a "Brunch Crawl" which I'm trademarking! S3 was the 4th and final stop of the day and everyone in the group was pleased. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. We sat on the couches right in front as we joyously laughed and sipped cocktails. We'd already eaten at 3 previous places so we opted for brussels sprouts and artichokes. Both were delicious. Our server was patient with us as we were about 12 people with various drink orders. It's one of my top places to dine on Fort Lauderdale Beach.
(5)Blue A.
Thanks to the wonderful series of UYEs going on (Shout out to Megan!) I was finally able to make it out to S3 for brunch. Now, this review is specifically for the brunch only - so keep that in mind. Mac & Cheese was phenomenal. They make it with smoked gouda and crispy prosciutto. DELICIOUS! Get this. Then send me a compliment because I didn't steer you wrong! Pork Belly Hash - I was SO excited for this dish and unfortunately I was a little disappointed. The pork belly was good, but the dish just...didn't blend for me. It's missing something to tie all the flavors in. The pork belly was great - by itself. The potatoes were eh. Huevos Rancheros - WHOA this thing is massive! My wife got this dish and I had the great pleasure of helping her finish it. It was good. Cocktail sampler - EHHHHH almost everyone at the table got the sampler and I must say - this was a waste of money - at least for us. None of the three were impressive, unfortunately. One was SUPER strong - which in our college days would of been a SCORE, but as we've aged we can appreciate a good, well balanced cocktail. One of them was half decent at least - I forgot which one. I'd totally skip getting the sampler. The service while somewhat quick and efficient (as quick as it could be for a big group) just wasn't there for me. The waiter had NO PERSONALITY and really didn't go above and beyond with anything. It's unfortunate because of course there was tip automatically included in there for him. All in all it was a bit pricey...but what you pay for is THE VIEW. Sitting literally across from the beach is the South Florida way of doing brunch. Photos here will make all of your Facebook friends jealous - I promise it. The sound of the waves rolling in - a nice breeze - the location is certainly one of the highlights of S3. I will come back for dinner one day!
(3)Diane N.
I went with my husband to the UYE brunch at S3, (Sun-Surf-Sand). We sat outside on their beautiful patio which faces the ocean. It was a perfect day with a cool breeze blowing. That was my first visit to S3. I really enjoyed the food and great company. My husband and I started out with an order of their edamame. It tasted smoky and was delicious. For drinks we shared the bloody Mary sampler. The sampler consisted of three glasses of bloody Marys, each with different spices. I usually don't order bloody Marys, but my husband likes them, and since there were three in the sampler we decided to share. These were delicious. They were the best bloody Mary's I've ever had. For my entrée I ordered the special omelet of the day, which was a lox omelet. It came with a side order of potatoes. My husband had shrimp and cheddar grits. I enjoyed my lox omelet. It was fairly large with plenty of lox in it. I asked our server if bread came with the omelet and he said it would have to be ordered as a side order. I enjoyed my omelet, but I think a $13.00 omelet should come with a bagel, toast and jelly, or some other bread. My husband enjoyed his order of shrimp and cheddar grits. It had tasso gravy and was topped with a poached egg. Everyone at our table seemed to get their food at different times. Although we all ordered at about the same time, one person was finished when the other person got his food. I think that's the way they serve food there, since they serve small plates to share. It probably works most of the time, but it seemed a little awkward since everyone had ordered their own food. Thank you Megan for setting up this brunch. I love trying new places. It was a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to the next brunch in June.
(4)Lorin G.
I frequent YOLO anytime I make my way to Lauderdale so I decided to check out S3, being their sister restaurant. Had a fabulous time. My sister, Niece and I were immediately seated by extremely friendly hostesses. Server was amazing! She was very attentive, extremely knowledgable with the menu and gave great food suggestions. The woman manager came to the table a few times to check on us and small talk. The atmosphere and music was perfect. Food was phenomenal (you must try the edamame, it's not even normal how delicious it is.)
(5)Steve B.
Good food and good ambience. Brussels sprouts are excellent. Octopus was good but needed to be chargrilled more. Sushi rolls were good. Our favorite was the sushi nachos. Sooooo good! Service was great. Cindy is awesome and very friendly. Definitely a great spot on the beach.
(4)Barbara R.
We are blessed. We live on Fort Lauderdale Beach, right on A1A, walking distance from S3. We love S3, it's our favorite place to take visiting friends and family, local friends and family, and most importantly ourselves :) Some of our favorite dishes: Edamame..nobody does them better, Mac & cheese, spicy tuna rolls and the brisket sliders...talk about diversity cuisine with a fabulous view of the ocean. We love S3!
(5)Yani D.
Excellent creative food, but lacks a bit a better customer service skills, but we love the ambiance!!
(4)Patty W.
Brunch. Huh? Did someone say brunch? Oh yea. The May Broward's brunch UYE was held here hosted by the lovely Miss Megan and it was an excellent day to sit outside to enjoy the view and weather of South Florida. Let's not forget about the cocktails and the food as well. If you valet, parking is $5 right outside the restaurant. The restaurant had a table for us facing the ocean and we were in the shade. I already knew what I wanted to eat before I got there and I didn't want to start looking at the menu to change my mind again ;) However, the drink selection was indecisive at first, but I narrowed it out after making up my mind several times. I couldn't decide on one cocktail, so I went for the sampler. It consists of three samples of the signature specialty drinks that are on the menu. The orange snap was alright and the beach breeze had a little more rum than anticipated. The blackberry lychee was my preference out of the three. It was a nice touch with the sake and ginger. Everyone's food looked delicious. I settled for the banana bread french toast. I'm used to banana bread being heavy, so it was different when I took the first bite and it was surprisingly light. It was topped with candied walnuts, strawberries, and chantilly cream along with a side of syrup. Not a bite was left on my plate. The server was good and he didn't rush us at all. However, the restaurant didn't want to break up the bill since there was a group of 9 of us and we had to make sure we had cash before hand. It didn't come to no surprise when everyone puts in their portion and still comes up short. Luckily, it wasn't an issue at our table, but that's why it needs to be on separate checks for that reason. Overall, it's a beautiful place to have a meal while feeling like you're on vacation.
(4)Sebastiana B.
The atmosphere is wonderful. Overlooking the beach it's just gorgeous l. The food was very delicious. We had the tuna nachos which were excellent it has a good amount of the tuna and Avacado topped with tobiko. Then we had the short rib empanadas, which were the special of the day. The kamakazi roll was excellent again topped with tabiko the salmon was very fresh. And the Panna cotta Omg to die for. So flavorful but not overly sweet with berries and a lemon sauce. Also had 3 samples of the specialty cocktails. Can't remember the names but they were also delicious. This is definitely a place worth checking out. I will be going back for brunch soon.
(4)EM H.
Tonight we stumbled upon S3 after a full day on the beach. We were so happy to walk in just as happy hour started. Haff off some of the most amazing apps I have ever had and $2 off beer and wine selections. We were thrilled and after trying the spicy tuna roll, the goat cheese and the edamame we realized that we had stumbled on a gold mine. Service was amazing--Jackie was such a joy and Ron was so friendly. We felt like we were the only customers. This is a must go. Great food, great service, and awesome location!! Update! Went back tonight and you must have the sushi nachos!! Absolutely amazing!! I will be dreaming of eating here when I'm back in CO. Also Keli was our server tonight and she was phenom. :)
(5)C. H.
We really enjoyed the food and ambiance when we ate dinner at this restaurant. We shared a number of small plates and each plate was beautifully presented and packed full of flavour. Service was a bit slow. The restaurant was busy and our server was attending to many tables that it took awhile for us to get her attention to order more food. We loved the ambiance. Definitely a trendy environment. It was nice they had a fire pit set up at the front of the restaurant. It was too bad we were not able to get a seat there. We got to sit by the kitchen area and watch staff make the food. Prices are bit higher but we expected that for the area. It is a very touristy area and many hotels lining up along the beach.
(4)Robert H.
So much good to say about this place. First, the service was impeccable. Thank you Jane and Jackie! Then everything we tried was stellar. Love the small plate service cuz we could try many things. Sushi was great as was the empanadas. I'm picky about Bloody Mary's and they were as good as The Cardinal Club's, which is no small feat. Try the lychee Bellini if you want slightly sweet. Went for supper came back for lunch next day, it was so good!
(5)Jennifer S.
Really great experience at S3. The restaurant has an ocean view at the bar/lounge which offers great breeze even though it's summer it was very comfortable. Great happy hour $2off cocktails/wine. Cocktails are tasty and unique. Denis was our server. He was really personable. We made mention that we were on our first date and they brought our sushi out in the shape of hearts. It's those types of details that make a place memorable.
(5)John B.
Amazing time, great drinks and food! This place has never let me down!!! Ambiance is great and the service is outstanding!!
(5)Christina D.
S3 on the beach is a great place to come For cocktails and small plates!! Beautiful atmosphere and great service! The cocktail server Keli gave great recommendations, was very attentive and kept a positive attitude while answering all of our Questions. As well as the bartender . Highly recommended!
(5)Lillian A.
I would like to say 4 stars but our waiter Sirlene was rude and was rushed with us . Never gave us a smile.
(3)Brittany S.
Great atmosphere, on the beach, great service. They have specials and a roll that a winning server has come up with. My roll was the Gator Roll and it was delish! I got the fried artichokes and tuna tower also, then I got the three cocktail sampler. All was great. Service was great as well. The vibe and atmosphere is ideal with the beach the prices are a bit steep but being on a trip it was a great sushi restaurant and bar/lounge.
(5)Charmie P.
Awesome view, ambiance, food and drinks! What else could you ask for! I love sitting at the bar or bar tables - its a great ambiance, the restaurant is located below the Hilton hotel on A1A and overlooks the beach, and the bar has both indoor and outdoor seating. Many items on the menu are small plates for sharing and even though its a small menu there is plenty of variety. My favorite dishes: - Wok Charred Edamame - its not just plain steamed edamame, they charr it and prepare it with soy and other spices, its delicious - Crisp Baby Artichokes with Lemon Caper Aioli - its excellent - Stir Fried Brussels Sprouts - it has Pork, Mint, Puffed Rice and Peanuts - its so good! - Vietnamese Chicken Wings with Green Papaya Slaw - awesome - Buratta - Arugula salad with buratta, its very good - Charcuterie board - served with brown mustard - small but good They have a nice list of specialty drinks, my favorite is the Ginger Thymetini which consists of Hangar 1 Citrus, thyme, ginger and Pom Juice. If you are not drinking, try the regular Ice Tea, its excellent, it's like a fresh fruity blend from similar to Teavana's.
(4)Genie M.
Great service and very cool scene. Good vibes with good music on a Saturday night. We were seated within 15 minutes without a reservation, and we thought it was the best seat in the house. It was an Oceanfront view with the moon reflecting over the ocean. We were so content. The food was good. My husband got the tuna tower. He said it was good, but not great. He loves tuna but he wasn't particularly crazy about this prepared tuna, and he said there was too much rice. I had the shrimp tempura. It was like many others I've had in the past. Mac 'n cheese was really good. Goat cheese croquettes were good. The steak on plantains was alright. The plantains were very dry but the steak had a nice taste to it. This is one dish they should work on because it has potential.
(4)Bea M.
This place is right across the beach. We are hotel guests. They have an indoor and outdoor area. We wanted to be seated outside since we're wearing swimsuits. We are dry. I'm wearing a sarong , my husband is wearing a rash guard with his board shorts and my two young daughters are wearing their suits with rash guards. The friendly host gave us a nice table outside. After we were seated, the manager, her name is Harmony came over and said that we can't eat there because my girls weren't wearing shorts. She was less than friendly. I understand that you have to enforce the dress code but that can be done in a nicer way... you should really rethink your dress code at least outside since you're a beachside restaurant called S3 - Sun, Surf, Sand.
(1)Nik M.
Pros: beach view, open air seating, a/c, sushi bar, creative food, occasional live music Cons: music can be too loud at times, mixed drinks pushing the price envelope This place has a nice atmosphere. The food is solid. You can see the ocean from most tables. I tried a few mixed drinks. Some were great but others were just too sweet. This place is sophisticated for a beachside FTL spot, they should tone down the sugary teeny-bopper mix on some of the $12 drinks. No complaints about the service.
(4)Dianna T.
This restaurant sits right on the beach. The outside area has fire pits where you can sit which makes for a really nice atmosphere. They have really good drinks and food. The food is on the small side and a bit pricy although. My favorite dish is the edamame. It is amazing!
(4)Andrew L.
Despite my sister have a less than stellar meal here the night before, we decided to try what seemed to be a fantastic menu. And it did not disappoint. But let's start at the beginning. The ambiance is superb, being right on the water, with the open air bar and cocktail area with the fire pits. We had to wait a few minutes for a table and both the hostess and the bartender where we waited were great. Once we were seated, Brandin (yes, "with an i"), was great from the get go. He was funny, personable and led us through the menu really well. And the food was a solid four stars, the fifth being for the staff and ambiance. The edamame is the best I've ever had, the short rib empanadas were my fiancé's favorite and the ricotta dip was delicious! The octopus was pretty good, but the sushi was pretty outrageous. Obviously fresh and made with care. We'll be back!
(5)Holly S.
Went for brunch(had reservations for a table). We sat outside and had an awesome view of the beach. The staff was very friendly (hostess, waiters, bartenders). Food was delish and came out fast. I had a the burger and fries which was so huge and juicy. Friends had the chicken sandwich, the fish sandwich and the chicken and waffles. I had a belini which was small but good. The bloody Marys were a pretty decent size. You can valet ($5) or do metered parking. Will be back again for sure.
(5)Sherry W.
Free valet m-f for lunch thru yelp check-in. Went on a Saturday night to hang at the bar and then after waiting 1:45 hour for a table sat down and ordered many plates the share. The food is high quality, but higher priced. OF course you are paying the price for being in a beautiful restaurant with ocean front views. I liked the drink sampler. For $14 you get to try 3 samples sized drinks of their specialty cocktails. It's a great way to figure out which one you like to order a full size. Bar service was slow and you had to grab the bartenders attention to get a drink. I thought this was annoying since the drinks are higher priced, I would have thought the service would be better.
(3)Andrew S.
Very good food, sushi rolls and Brussels for lunch, perfect view. Nice, attentive staff.
(4)Sharon E.
I had actually checked this restaurant out by myself one night around dinner time. My hotel was only a block away and I couldn't resist the awesome vibes it gave me. As I went in I seated myself on the deck/patio/fire-pit area. First of all, you are right across from the beach with nothing to block your view and the location offered an awesome breeze so the ambiance itself is just an amazing location to hang out in. Not to mention, they have these seats across the wall that are so comfy and padded that you really can just unwind and relax in them. My waitress Sarah was very polite and efficient. I ordered a rainbow roll, the cucumber green tea martini, as well as a 2-piece sushi. The restaurant seems to be fairly priced to me. They don't gouge you for sushi rolls or drinks, and the rolls were delicious. Now the drink, how refreshing! I love how their drink menu offers a wide variety of unique/healthy options (well as healthy as any vodka drink can be!). I would recommend this place for dinner and I definitely would also recommend the bar if you're just going out in the evening.
(5)Jennifer C.
We had a great lunch here yesterday to kick off my friend's bachelorette weekend! To start, we shared a bunch of small plates: octopus, Vietnamese wings, goat cheese croquettes, rosemary French fries, and a tuna tar tar tower. Of these items my favorite was definitely the tuna tower (one of the best I've encountered), followed by the octopus (which was served with fava/gigante beans). I found the wings a bit too salty. For a main, I split 2 sandwiches with my friend. The chicken (with fontina/avocado) and the special fish (which was mahi mahi). The server recommended the fish, but we much preferred the chicken. Overall a lovely meal!
(4)Mike Z.
Love Love Love!!!! Indoor outdoor bar and sushi. We chose to sit outside right near the beach. Our waitress was awesome. She was so friendly and funny and just a pleasure to talk to. We ordered a bunch of sushi and appetizers and liked everything. I Loved the tuna tar tar and dont remember the names of the rolls that I ordered, but everything was good. This was my 3rd time here and cant wait to come back.
(5)Lauren L.
Great food, great location. Awful service. Hardly anyone here. 30 minutes after placing our order, we had to request the server, Braegan, to check on the food. Every time we needed a refill on tea or soda, we had to request it. Even then, it took her way too long to bring it back. She was not knowledgable about menu items.
(2)S L.
We had family in town and thought breakfast on the beach would be fun. The food was good as a matter if fact the Yogurt Parfaits were delicious. The problem I had was with our waiter. He had quite the attitude. We had to ask for coffee and water refills. As we thanked him.. He did not ever acknowledge When the bill arrived there was an 18% service charge included. I guess good service doesn't matter because the tip will be there regardless. We will never go back and I suggest others stay away as well. Extremely disappointed.
(2)Brenda P.
Sexy Splendid Scrumptious I finally made it out to S3 yesterday. On a whim, I made a reservation for an early dinner. It was a gorgeous day and proved to be an equally beautiful night. I am not sure how S3 makes it livable the rest of the year (and the heat), but on nights like these no other restaurant on the strip compares. Their location is PRIME! There was a jazz live band playing, the fire pits were going, and the sun was setting. We chose to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful ocean view. Our waitress promptly came over with the menu and took our drink order. S3 is mostly a tapas style restaurant. It is best enjoyed by getting a lot of small plates. These are the ones we tried: Goat Cheese Croquettes: Almond crusted with red chili guava. One of the ways to my heart is through GUAVA. This was a winner before I even had it. Not only was the guava the perfect combination for this, but the croquettes are cheese heavy. The cheese is soft but there's a lot of it. I only wish there was more of the guava to dip them. Note to self: request it next time. Sushi Nacho: With tuna, spicy salmon, guacamole and tobiko. One bite and I was hooked. Did I really need to share these? The crunch of the nacho against the freshness and coolness of the tuna/salmon combo was very nice. I could not get enough. Spicy Salmon Roll: with hot chili sauce drizzle. These were very simple but fresh and full of flavor. With so many other things on the menu though, I would not order these again. Mac & Cheese: smoked Gouda, prosciutto. It does not look like much on film (check out my photos) but make sure to order this. The gouda gives it a little saltiness which I loved. It comes boiling hot. I recommend letting it sit and having it last when the flavors have sunk in. Delicious. Ricotta Gnocchi: fennel leek fondue, peas, baby shiitake, truffle. I did not taste the truffle at all but this was still the winning dish for me. The gnocchi were small pillows of creamy, soft ricotta. The mix of the peas, leek and mushrooms was sensational. Next time, there will be zero sharing of this one. Lump Crab Cakes: blue crab and avocado cream. I wanted to love this but it was the most underwhelming of all. The outside felt barely sealed and it fell apart too easily. Grilled Octopus: in a salsa verde and gigande beans. Had the gnocchi not taken all of my attention, this would have been my top choice. The octopus was exactly as it should be. The texture was perfect, nicely juicy and not a tad bit gummy! I was left wanting more. Dulce de Leche Chocolate Cake: salted caramel ice cream. One of my pet peeves anywhere: caramel is not dulce de leche people! If you name something DULCE DE LECHE there better be some in there. This was basically an OK chocolate cake with some lightly sweetened icing with a side of ice cream that might or might not have had caramel in it. Didn't finish it as it was not worth the calories. Overall, S3 was a great experience and I look forward to returning. The later it got, the darker it got. Tables were truly being lit only by the candles on the table. That made it extremely dark. While I enjoyed the sultriness it brought along with the ocean breeze, everyone around us (like us) kept using their phones to see the menus and their dishes better. Their corkage fee is $20 and validated, convenient valet parking was just $5. S3, consider me a fan!
(4)Tommy P.
wife and i were in ft.lauderdale for 3 nights. place was next to our hotel. BEST food we had on our trip. Sushi, macaroni, steak, and blackberry lychee were great. It was so good we went there 2 out of 3 nights so we could get one more trip in before we left. i only wish they had one in new york.
(5)Danny Z.
Went there last night and overall experience was less than expected. While the ambiance is nice be prepared to sweat while eating your meal! They open all the doors to the restaurant to the outside Florida sun so even eating at 9:30 at night made for a very uncomfortable meal. Dressing up for a Saturday night date night only to have to constantly being using your napkin to keep the sweat off of you isn't my idea of a nice restaurant. Most of the food was just ok but the portions were very small.
(2)Heidi B.
Amazing food, service and view! Delicious vegetarian options available. Been here twice now and can't wait to come back!
(5)Stefanie K.
Seriously the best food! Every single thing we ordered was perfection! Tyler was our waiter but everyone was so pleasant. Highly recommend!
(5)Michelle J.
Absolutely love the view from the outside couches and the fire pit came in handy on a chilly Fl night. All small plates we ordered were very tasty. I was partial to the crab cakes and would definitely order them again. Table service was good, but the var service is slow. Great place to take out of towners.
(3)Kevin W.
Delicious tapas style. Courses on courses on deck. Like, they keep brining out stuff its really cool. Beachside, well across the street but you can see the ocean clearly from inside. Cool scene - get the edamame, or however u spell it.
(4)Arthur G.
Very similar vibe to YOLO in las olas. It's nice and relaxed, enjoyed the outdoor seating. Parking cost more than I expected.
(3)Vikki D.
Always amazing food. Great ambience ,right on the beach and our waiter Matt was fantastic!! Highly recommend this restaurant to take your out-of-town guests! The sushi rolls are super fresh..
(5)Liz A.
Worst service EVER! never have I been treated so bad. I felt rushed by my waitress that I wasn't even able to get her name. She kept hovering over the table waiting on us to order, and in the end she brought my check before my food came out. I understand there might be more people coming in but I'm a paying customer too. The food wasn't even all that good anyways and she's lucky the tip was included.
(1)Robin B.
My partner ordered the cheeseburger and I ordered the eel sushi roll. My sushi roll was a tad small but good. Not as good as Sozo in Wilton Manors but good. My partner said if his cheeseburger was more "charred" it would be "great". Big burger. Hot crispy fries. We sat outside on Memorial Day Weekend. Very nice place. I love the atmosphere. Cold beers. Good service. Fun on the beach. Fashion house music playing. Beautiful clean bathrooms. I dig it.
(4)sara s.
Besides for the long long lines to get a table this place is amazing. I decided to sit at the bar. I loved the ambiance. The servers are friendly. The food is spectacular! So fresh and tasty. I had salmon and a sushi roll, delicious. They had a nice selection of wine.
(5)Jason S.
had an amazing meal here. one of the best places to eat in a hotel. the view was incredible. i had the octopus and was made to perfection. a must visit spot when in ft. lauderdale.
(4)Alex G.
Hip, fun place for darn good food and cocktails. Tapas-style, with sharing a number of dishes brought out when ready. My teenage son is not a fan of sharing; he prefers ordering a dish that you eat alone. For the rest of us, we enjoyed trying a number of dishes, from octopus to buratta, and from sashimi to spicy tuna toast. Wok charred edamame was flavorful and different, and the mussels perfectly prepared. While not a gourmet dining experience, this place is packed and super chill. Service was attentive if not top level. We also got sat in the back, clearly because we had kids (not happy with that). Overall, this is a new "hot spot," and we will certainly return with friends.
(4)Melissa S.
To start, the drink I ordered was warm and not shaken enough, so when I finally got it 15 minutes later, it was already separated. Sadly, it was the best thing I had. Every menu item seems to have one superfluous ingredient that makes me not want to order it, and what I did order, I wish I hadn't. But the view is nice.
(2)Elissa H.
This place is amazing! The entire staff is so accommodating and friendly. The hostesses helped me plan the perfect birthday dinner. Jessica was our waitress and she seemed like the genuinely enjoys her job and she's full of smiles. She knew the menu really well and recommended the best dishes. We had a spicy tuna roll, skirt steak (unbelievable), jerk chicken (not so great..but I get the tropical theme they were trying. Chicken was cooked perfectly but the sauce tastes like medicine, and the kamikaze roll is DELISH (spicy!!). We finished the dinner with the chocolate cake and two long islands! The bartender rocks! I will be back here a million more times!!
(5)Ariana J.
Love the atmosphere of the bar with the indoor/outdoor seating. Very friendly staff, the bartender that waited on us was exceptional he was very knowledgeable and made great suggestions. Delicious food Top picks: Crab & Shrimp Roll Brisket Sliders Grilled Octopus
(5)Jonathan A.
Place is great. I finally got to try it out with my wife and friends. In a nutshell here is what we ordered and loved it all. Brussel Sprouts, Thai tuna roll, kamikaze roll, veggie roll, skirt steak over yuca, wok seared edamame, crispy artichokes. I washed it all down with 4 drinks called the Gin Tickle. Great ambiance especially on a cool breezy night out front by the fire pits. Looking forward to coming back real soon.
(5)Katie F.
Food: I would give you 5 stars. I went for lunch, so the prices were not sky high. I had the burger and I added avocado and a fried egg. By far one of the best burgers I have had in a LONG time. Ordered medium rare, it was perfectly cooked, juicy and the meat was tender. It was huge, so I took half home and where they really get 5 stars is when I reheated it in the microwave - minus the bun it was a tad soggy from the juice and egg yolk - the taste was just as fresh - not that stale ground beef taste we all know and dislike. The pickles are homemade and divine! I could have eaten a whole bowl of them...next time I KNOW to order an extra side of them. BEER: I saw people on here complain about the lack of beer choices, but here is my point of view. Growing up in Chicago, you love Goose Island. The 312 Goose Island was on the menu. 'Nuff Said. Looking at the rest of the beer choices, they were a majority of citrusy and light beers, which is nice when you are at a beach front restaurant. $6 for a bottle isn't bad in a beach town, and MUCH better then the $12-$15 cocktails they had. I'll stick to beer. SERVICE: This is were you lost a star. Service was pleasant. It was just slow. Refills on my husband's coke took FOREVER (they should just give him a pitcher with a straw anyways!!!). It was about a 10 minute wait for the beer - and it was just a bottle...which I poured into my own glass....so no way it should have taken 10 minutes. We had to ASK for glasses of water - it is not offered to you. Now if the place was packed, I would have understood, but it was 3pm on a Wednesday afternoon...there were maybe 4 other tables full at the time. Overall if I am in the market for a banging burger and a great beachfront view, I'll come here.
(4)Jodi C.
Ambiance was great. Service was superb. Food was pretty good. We had the tomato bread which was full of flavor. Scallops with Asian risotto, scallops were seared on 1 side but not the other & chewyish in the middle. Lamp chops were delicious with a side of chick pea salad that I LOVED. Crab & shrimp roll was good but kind of plain but the very best dish was the tuna tower...amazing!!!
(4)Chris L.
Was hear a few weeks ago on a Friday night and we were able to sit outside, of course with heaters, and I must admit I really enjoy this place. The atmosphere as well as the food is incredible. The fact you can sit outside with fire pits and enjoy a glass of wine makes it even better.
(4)Karin B.
Visiting from San Diego, stayed at the Hilton where this restaurant is located on the beach. Couldnt get it the first night as we were last minute, large group and the place was packed but on my birthday we got a reservation. We loved it!!! The bar is looking out the beach, great cocktails, nice bartenders. Moved into a table and ordered a ton of sushi,. Im a big foodie and very picky with Sushi, this was awesome!! It was very, very good. Great service too. The tequila shots were very expensive and sushi kinda pricey as well but it always is if you want the good stuff. Fun, trendy, cool place. Definitely recommend!
(5)Frieda L.
I'm from Texas and this was one of the best restaurants I've been to. Everything is so flavorful.
(5)Shannon G.
the first time I went here was for brunch... The two items I wanted were no longer available (sold out) so I ended getting sushi which was alright... the2nd time same thing & was appalled that they charge $10 for a mimosa, really?
(2)Jaime S.
My wife and I have eaten here several times before and had excellent service with excellent food. The last couple of times have been awful. The service is very slow. It takes forever for a waiter to come back to you. The last time we where there, the waiter couldn't get one sushi roll correct when I asked it to be soy paper wrap instead of seaweed wrap. After the second time of getting it wrong and waiting forever, I said forget about it. This is the first time I didn't have my spicy tuna roll when eating sushi. We will never return. The place has gone down hill. The only thing going for the restaurant is the location and bartenders.
(1)S P.
We had the grilled romaine salad and grilled octopus--both were delicious! Great for a light lunch. There is 31 craft beer selection and large list of various wines. Great ambiance. Would go back again!
(5)Rob H.
Excellent! The service, food and seeing were outstanding. The dishes were all unique and tasty. The waitress was quite nice and accommodating.
(5)C L.
Small Plates which I love. Deviled Eggs, a perfect salad (i forget which one), Tuna avocado something or another, Short Ribs no matter what you get at this place. it's going to be good!!! The desserts are delicious also. My two friends loved the doughnuts and I loved the cookie-ish cake dessert. This place has a wonderful setting and great cocktails also. The only thing I'm upset about is that I only went here one night that I was in Ft. Lauderdale, I should've stopped in again!!!! I can't wait to go back!! I must sit outside this time! :)
(5)Eileen S.
Great location and every bite of every app or meal is a tasty delight!! Many entrees are offered in small portions perfect for sharing a taste. Order as many items as possible. Salads are great also. Excellent service all the way around. I've been here twice in three days and hope to squeeze in another visit.
(5)Angelina F.
Located just across the shores of the beach, the atmosphere at S3 is totally beach chic and upscale. You can expect a trendy fashionable crowd here. The tropical inspired drinks are refreshing and delicious . For an appetizer , their sushi is a good choice. We tried the dragon roll which was fresh and mouth watering. For the main entrée, I order steak and the Yukon gold - it is so good. Highly recommend. This is a MUST DINE option.
(4)Pascal M.
I took an old friend here to catch up and we were both blown away. I'll start off with the good. The restaurant is gorgeous, the crowd was amazing. The staff was super friendly. We each shared sushi rolls, both were very good. S3 was super packed therefore the wait was a little over an hour so I suggest you make a reservation. While waiting you can sit on the outside terrace by the fireplace. The night we went was gorgeous, it made the wait not seem as bad. Staff seemed to be slow. I'll give them a pass since the place was packed. I definitely recommend.
(4)Ann-Gelina T.
Excellent , the food was just the right amount of flavor . The staff was very pleasant and informative . I would highly recommend and continue to come here ! Must have the chicken melt and blueberry mojito!
(4)Keith A.
As others have said, they have excellent food! They offer family style eating with small dishes ordered for sharing. In the end, the price was far higher than I would expect due to the number of small dishes ordered. Enjoyed the unusual dishes. I would knock off another 1/2 star because we had a vegan eating with us, which had very little that they could offer her to eat off the menu, as even the menu options that look like they should be vegan were not. They weren't willing to make a custom vegan meal with ingredients on hand, which most other restaurants will accommodate.
(4)Mike R.
We come to Ft Lauderdale on vacation yearly, sometimes more. It's an easy spot to get to with good beaches, hotels and restaurants. This time we tried S3, in the Hilton, since it was close and had a very varied menu. We probably couldn't have made a better choice. When we sat down, the waitress started off telling us that whatever we order comes out as its prepared, so family style ordering was preferred. Their menu supports this with snack bites, small plates, entrees and sushi rolls. A special that night was short rib empanadas. Crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside with solid flavor throughout. The goat cheese balls followed the same pattern - texture that augmented the flavors. Everything was spot on from food to service. S3 will definitely be added into our rotation on future trips.
(5)Tyoko B.
What a sexy spot to stop by for the evening. The lights are so low, it's hard to see the menu but who cares. You can hear the waves from the ocean rolling in and people watch. I celebrated a milestone birthday here and the tapas: tomato bread, sushi and shrimp features were delish. Washing that down with their real strawberry daiquiri was such a good choice. That was weeks ago and "fresh" comes to mind when I think about their food and drinks. Service was good and very attentive as well. The only dislike was the flight of mini mixed drinks. I'm not a drinker and tend to stick with wine or a prissy drink every now and then but wanted to be a big girl that night. They just weren't good to me and after 1 sip, I realized it was a mistake. So strong with flavors that just didn't go together. They removed it from my bill after noticing I wasn't drinking them. I appreciate them even noticing. Another birthday along with some changes in my life were worth spending my time here for a couple hours laughing being thankful and truly happy. Come here, let your hair down and take it all in.
(4)Vee V.
I came for the view, then I ate, and I wasn't disappointed. If you don't like family style then suck it up or find someplace else. This is the perfect place off the beach. You get the fresh ocean breeze, oceanfront view, and you can people watch. I think I saw a meth head on the street. The menu is small, which is great when you're indecisive like me. It's best to order family style because everything comes out when it's ready. You also get to enjoy different items off the menu, so sharing works best. No one goes hungry, or bitches about service this way. We ordered a couple of sushi rolls, goat cheese croquettes, chicken salad, tuna tartar nachos. Sushi rolls were good, average, but I'd order it again. The goat cheese croquettes were nicely fried and gooey on the inside. It's a bit heavy, so one is more than enough. The salad was refreshing, and much needed on a hot day. Tuna tartare nachos gets its own paragraph. Melt your pants off good. Okay, I don't know how that would work, but that's how I felt. Crispy, light, and flavorful. That's the magic combination. Service was great! We had the most adorable 2 year old having lunch with us and she needed a few extras, which the server was more than accommodating. I'd definitely recommend this place!
(4)Jeanne M.
This was a great location for meeting with a new business group. Sun, sand and surf is always a nice combination of ingredients for meeting and mixing with new people. This was a cocktail and app get together with about 30 people. We were given a very nice area by the bar with a good view of the ocean. It was relatively quiet, so it wasn't difficult to talk and get to know people. The decor was warm and relaxing. I started with a drink, the berry mojito. It was a smooth combination of Bacardi Wolfberry, with fresh strawberries, blueberries, lime and mint. It was refreshing but needed a bit more kick. The glass was fairly small and a lot of the space was taken up with berries, so it wasn't a great value. Happy hour is $3 off of the usual $12 price, so it's not the best happy hour value. There were a number of different apps served. I sampled 3 types of hummus with pita wedges. All were nicely seasoned. There was a wok charred edamame with soy, togarishi and smoked salt. It was messy to eat, but really delicious. We were also offered several different sliders, so I went with one that was a roast chicken and another that was a spicy beef. While I couldn't say exactly what was on either of them, both were very good. The beef was especially flavorful and had a fairly significant amount of heat. Overall, it was a very nice experience. I'd like to go back and try the full menu. :)
(4)Bobbi R.
Don't even think about it !! Seriously!! Trust me on this !!Get the Tuna Tower, the Edamame, and the Chocolate Chip Blondie!! You can thank me later!!!
(5)Angelea E.
Great location great food a little pricy but you're on the beach so that's to be expected in all I think it's a great place to go to
(4)Brittany E.
The grilled octopus was excellent, along with the goat cheese balls, but goat cheese on or in anything is . Bloody Mary sampler . The sushi rolls are all pretty good, the ambiance is great, kind of dark and romantic for dinner, but also great for a night out with friends.
(4)Angie S.
Came to S3 for dinner on a Thursday night with a group of 6. We really wanted to sit outside but were told it was an hour wait; but, they were able to sit us immediately at a table in the bar area. Our server explained the concept behind the restaurant - the food is meant to be shared and comes out in waves as it's ready. We totally understood this but everyone wanted to order their own dish and some appetizers to share. We ended up ordering a variety including three things on special. The list consisted of a sushi dish with mango, shrimp on corn cakes (3 orders) and short rib empanadas, a rainbow roll, mac n cheese and goat cheese croquettes. The empanadas, nachos and croquettes came out first. All three were really good. The red chili guava sauce served with the croquettes mellowed out the richness of the goat cheese. We actually finished two orders of them because the kitchen made an extra on accident and they let us have it for free. Next out was the mac n cheese, followed a few minutes later by the mango sushi dish. Again we loved both dishes. The mac n cheese has smoked gouda and prosciutto served in a little cast iron skillet. Really creamy and delicious. At this point the only thing left was the rainbow roll, which was someone's main dish. Everyone else had been served and were finished with their meals. We asked our server about it and she explained that they were hand crafted when ordered and that sushi usually took a little longer. We completely understood but we were going on an hour waiting for her dish. We had received sushi ordered at the same time and the table beside us, which sat down 20 minutes after us, had received their sushi. Finally the roll came out and she said it was just average. Not worth waiting an hour for. They did remove it from the bill since it took so long. All in all the food was great, service was really good (not the waitress's fault it took so long) and the decor is beautiful. I would return and sit outside to take advantage of the beach view in the future. Just not sure if I'd order sushi again.
(3)Emily C.
Fabulous dining experience - especially for a group of ten! As a CT local, I didn't expect to be dining outside in the complete dark because of turtle nesting season (ya learn something new every day) but the candles made for a lovely dinner party ambiance... and dining oceanside makes it all worth it! Ever the indecisive diner, I loved being able to order a sampler of S3's signature cocktails and chose the Thai coconut crush, berry mojito, and green geisha (cucumber vodka, green tea, lemongrass and basil). All so summery and lovely. For dinner, we nibbled on a variety of apps and shared entrees - standouts included the lemon ricotta spread (soooo good), tuna tower with wasabi guacamole, and pork belly. Despite the number in our party, service was fine (and helpful in splitting checks) and price was about what I expected.
(5)Courtney C.
Great place for drinks and sushi. Brought some friends here for just that and had a great time. The rolls we ordered were all delicious and fresh-- must try's are the Gator roll and eel roll. They have an extensive speciality cocktail list too with lots of fun drinks to try---the High & Rye, Green Geisha, and the Ginger Thymetini were all fabulous. Definitely sit outside if you can, you really can't beat the huge cozy patio just steps from the sand.
(4)Jerry C.
Situated in the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, S3 Sun Surf Sand has a perfect perch right across the street from Ft Lauderdale Beach, overlooking the Atlantic. My relaxing lunch was accompanied by warm ocean breezes. Evenings must be super nice. Along with its open-to-the-street bar, S3 serves tapa small plates, salads and sushi rolls. I tried their rotisserie chicken salad with goat cheese, avocado and bacon. It's not a very big bowl for costing $14, but it was so tasty! Their passion fruit iced tea was refreshing on a sunny spring afternoon where the temperature was over 85F. Service was good. I'd come back again, because surprisingly there aren't a lot of open air beachfront restaurants on this part of the strip. Maybe because each block is a hotel resort.
(4)Thomas P.
S3 is the bomb! My wife and I were staying at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort and walked down to S3 for lunch...so glad we did! We actually stayed at the Hilton 3 years ago as part of an extension of our honey moon, but we didn't dine at S3. I guess we had no idea until recently! We started with the wood fired grilled octopus; simply amazing! It was served with a medley of gigande beans (basically giant white beans), cherry tomatoes, marinated red onions, some leafy salad greens and was tossed in a salsa verde sauce! We could have eaten at least 3 orders of this dish because it was that good! The octopus was extremely tender and had a superb smoky taste and just blended together harmoniously with the other ingredients! A must have if you dine here! :-) Next, we ordered the Fish Tacos! Super delicious and fresh tasting! They were served in corn tortillas with jalapeño slaw and topped with avocado pepper salsa! The fish was moist, delicate and delicious! After that we tried the brisket sliders-another slam dunk! The bread appears to be tough from the outside, but once you take your first bite you'll be amazed at how light and airy it is! The mustard BBQ and chow chow worked nicely. The last item I chose to order was the Pork Sandwich "Cuban Style." From the presentation to the flavor-it was excellent! 5 Stars with no second thought! Service and food was superb! The huge outdoor patio is spacious and romantic as well! We'll definitely be back!
(5)Sylvia B.
We were at the Restaurante in the passed few weeks with family and loved it, our server was Rochelle and she made our experience with our family visiting from California very happy. Tonight we went back with friends and even though the quality of the food was still there, excellent , our server Taylor, was awful. Took three times to ask for water to finally get it. When we order another round of drinks without finishing the first round, instead of bringing new glasses of wines he just added to the not yet finished glasses so we got half a pour . When we question him about it his response was " I have to pour to a certain line on the glass ", really so you can give me half a glass and still charge me for a full glass. Anyways, food is very good but they need to train their servers better and get rid off the bad ones. I will give the restaurant another chance as long as we get a good server. Sylvia B - ft LAUDERDALE
(3)Shawn W.
I'm not always a fan of the "small plate" concept, especially when I've never been there before. Whether your group is small, or larger, it isn't always clear how much to order and I often error on the side of too much..which can get pricey. We really liked S3, though. The menu is kind of a mixed bag..mostly Asian inspired dishes, with an occasional detour to more traditional American comfort food. I found their small plates to be on the "medium" side, which was good. We had a table for five and with most dishes we each got to snag a reasonable portion from the plate. Loved the Brussels sprouts, the fried edamame, the chicken salad, the short ribs, and the peppers (I'm certain that I'm forgetting some). We also shared a Thai inspired sushi roll that was great.. I was also pleasantly surprised when I got the bill. Service was very well coordinated and properly paced. If I didn't live 3000 miles away, I would go back in a heartbeat.
(4)Carrie H.
This is by far my favorite restaurant in Fort Lauderdale !!! The ambiance is fantastic and it's right across the street from the beach . They have an outdoor bar and a fire pit outside where u can sit and eat it just enjoy your cocktail. The service is spectacular ... We had Matt as our server who was on top of it with our food and drinks . His recommendations were perfect !! They serve small plates there so we ended up getting about 7 plates for my husband and I (which ranged from about 10-15.00 each ). Our favorites included the mac and cheese and gnocchi. Matt recommended a blackberry lychee as a drink and it was as always .. Perfect! This is a great place for a date night or night out with the girls . During the day on Sundays they have a great brunch but it gets crowded so make a reservation !!!
(5)Chaz S.
So where to start? 1. It's hot inside... Now, not quite as hot as say Dante's 4th Inner Ring ... more something along the lines of a Martha Stewart off-shore sweat shop. 1a. The waitress, a helpful gal, suggested they were having problems with the A/C unit. 1b. Sorry, I'm not buying it. Feel sorry for the those taking in a dog-days-of-summer dinner. Bring a squeegee for your forehead. 2. Oh, did I mention I had a fly (and fly parts) in my artichoke appetizer? Yeah, can't post a picture here, but no doubt it was a fly. In all of it's deep-fried glory. Staff was attentive, took it off the menu, but kinda flipped out my date. Apparently, she's not into the whole "bug is protein" idea. 3. Did I mention it was hot? It was right about now I'm starting to develop a slight case of swamp ass. 4. Dinner is served as it comes out from the kitchen ... okay, I suppose, but don't order the cioppino -- arrives about 10-15m after everyone else is done eating ... I know good cioppino (visit San Fran to learn more) ... this wasn't, well, good cioppino. Pricey like cioppino but lack any decent curbside appeal. 4a. I suppose my dinner guests were hoping I'd hurry up eating my cioppino, but since my glasses were fogged up from the sweat pouring from my forehead, I was blissfully unaware of their furrowed brow. 5. Not sure if Flygate scared away our waitress, but her once attentive service fizzled at the end. Yeah, I get she's not cooking the food, but she's supposed to check back -- one helpful hint -- when my iced tea is no longer iced, consider a refill. So, to sum up. If you like it hot, like a deep-fried fly, and willing to be ignored, then this place is for you. PS Like always, I still tipped n excess of 20%.
(1)Ivan B.
G-3 surf, sand, sun needs to have another s for sensational. The food was wonderful The service was spotty but good The atmosphere was warm and comfortable The widows and patio over look the ocean. The brisket sliders were my favorite. The shrimp tempura roll outstanding The flatbread you can skip. Just flat bread with what tasted like caned sauce. The brisket sliders are amazing The grilled shrimp was perfect and served on a small pancake. Triple chocolate cake made you feel guilty just for ordering it and it was triple delicious. The fried donuts were ok but disappointing. The service was spotty in the beginning great but it slowed as the evening progressed. Loved the open kitchen. They do take and honor reservations. When you go, and you should, try for a table outside over looking the beach and ocean
(5)Fidel C.
This place is stunning-- undoubtedly. There is both indoor and outdoor seating available which is great as it is overlooking the beach. I arrived around 7:30 and there was a mixed crowd of very elegant and very casually dressed diners. My waitress was phenomenal, a red-head whose name I did not catch, but she was eager and attentive. Very knowledgeable of their menu and detailed in descriptions of every plate. My boyfriend and I ordered four plates, and they are all meant for sharing. They are small plates that come out in random order, depending on what order they are ready-- as each is prepared in a different station. The short rib empanadas were GREAT! The mac & cheese with prosciutto bits were also amazing. The gouda cheese on that plate was very rich and flavorful. The shrimp was not so great, served on a flapjack-like thing, but they tasted like plain shrimp-- not much flavor there. Our final dish was the brisket sliders which took FOREVER to come out. The waitress and manager came over at different times to apologize for the inconvenience and gave it to us on the house, which was lovely. Right before our dessert came out, they also gave us the brussel sprouts on the house, which we did not order but it was great nonetheless. Not crispy enough, but free always tastes great so we enjoyed them. The icky sticky toffee dessert (not sure of the actual name) was sub-par. I have definitely had better and we definitely could have done without it. As far as how we felt after-- we both agreed we would definitely be back! Especially now being more knowledgeable about what to order and how their portions are. We were stuffed! Definitely a place to check out. Amazing date night.
(4)Elizabeth C.
Such an amazing place. My boyfriend and I were staying at the Hilton for the week and basically stumbled upon this place and we weren't disappoint. We started chatting up with on of the bartenders Jim, he was awesome, helped navigate us through the dinner and drink menu. He made some spectacular drinks as well. The edamame is a must try, so soooo good. Great food, ambience and service!
(5)Rod Z.
Food is great and served pretty quickly. Outside seating is very nice for evening dinner. Wait staff seems to be in a bit of a hurry...otherwise 5 stars...
(4)Gina P.
On July 4th me and the BF rode our bikes down to the beach to watch the fireworks. We got there with much time to kill and s3 has been on my brunch radar since they opened so we figured to check it out with some bevs and apps at the bar for a late lunch. The place was very full at the bar due to the soccer game being on tv. They have these couple high top tables just to the left of the bar and when asking the waitress if we could sit there she said it was only eligible for people having a full meal. Kind of obnoxious considering they had plenty of available tables inside (we were there at an odd hour in between dinner-lunch). Eventually a couple seats freed up and I got a fresh berry mojito which was amazing. I was between rating them 3 or 4 stars and the berry mojito deserved the round up it so freaking good. The BF got a beer and we got apps of the tuna nachos and the skirt steak. Both apps were on a smallish size but tasty. The steak (which was under large plates) was like about 6 small strips of steak each one on a bed of yucca. Flavorful but not really worth 20. The tuna nachos were really great and I would order again. The service was good at the bar they were well staffed for a holiday crowd. I will definitely go back and and try their brunch as I can't resist a flight of bloody Mary's and sangrias!
(4)Nadia S.
Pros: Amazing fresh food Great environment Outside couch seating with firepits Friendly and fast staff Walking distance to shopping and bar hopping Cons: A bit pricey Loud for an upscale restaurant/bar
(5)PaiDay D.
Fort Lauderdale Beach has been in dire need of a spot like S3 for some time. If you're looking for a hip, cool, fun & deliciously good place I highly recommend it! Here are the items I tried: Let's start with drinks. On another occasion I tried one, possibly 4 speciality drinks... all were high quality refreshing drinks with plenty of liquor! This time I had their Bridlewood, Pinot Noir which for $31 a bottle is not too bad. Its hard not to be impressed from their vast wine selection. Apps: Stir Fried Brussels Sprouts: Mint ~ Puffed Rice ~ Peanuts - I ordered it without the pork and these brussels sprouts are pretty amazing! Short Ribs: Smoked Calabaza Puree ~ Roasted Root Vegetable ~ Cress - OK... These short ribs MELT in your mouth. My friend thought they were a bit too salty but I thought they were perfect. I would order this up in heart beat! Potato Skins: Yukon Gold ~ Cave Aged Cheddar ~ Chive Cream ~ Nueskes Bacon - Ordered this without bacon. I hope to duplicate this at home because they knocked my socks off - great job S3! Asparagus: Grilled Radicchio ~ Oregon Blue ~ Pecans ~ Orange Sherry Vinaigrette - I'm not a big fan of blue cheese but I wanted to try it the way it comes. The cheese and all other ingredients combined give your palate 2 thumbs up :) Dinner: They had a Mahi fish dish special which again just melted in your mouth and the flavors are fresh and dynamite! Dessert: Okay, so at this point its hard to think about dessert but the waiter (I would have bought a car from this guy) convinced us to try the bread pudding... YEAHHH not too shabby! Cheers everyone :)
(5)Melissa V.
Last minute decision on where to go and I'm glad we went here! Some of the best sushi rolls ice ever had. The crunchy tuna roll, the Gator Roll and the Red Dragon. All the flavors were well balanced. Just enough of a sweet pop, a nice spice kick that isn't too spicy and the rice was awesome! Short rib empanadas were a daily special and they were bad ass. Shredded beef in a soft, flaky empanada shell with a unique orange sauce drizzled on top. After having this I will ALWAYS shred my short rib beef. The macaroni on the menu is also very good. It's rich so it's best to order it with more than one person. Creamy, small macaroni shells, prosciutto flakes on top. Mmmmmm!!! Recommend this place to anyone in the area. Unique atmosphere & drinks. Fire-pits & lounge couches outside. Awesome.
(4)Alexandra M.
Made reservation for my birthday. Sushi across from the ocean is the best way to spend it with friends! Chantel was our server and she was very attentive,informative,and friendly, even when the gratuity was automatically added since we had 8 to our party. Its more of a small plate/sharing concept so its a great way to try different things. Will definitely be returning!
(4)Venus V.
This is one of my fav spots in town. Great views when sitting outside. Good for apps, the drinks are excellent. Try the green geisha!
(5)Cassie M.
Here it is, July 20th and I can't stop thinking about our S3 experience in June. We ended up at S3 for dinner by chance on June 6 and it was a packed, full house but that didn't stop this awesome staff from treating us like we were the only ones in the restaurant. We sat in the only available seats at the sushi bar and found it to be absolutely fascinating! The way this team works together bringing the menu to life with incredible artistic flare made our seats the best place to be. Each small plate we ordered blew us away. From the sushi rolls to the chicken salad and mac 'n cheese...each one a hit. We were only in town for two short days but loved S3 so much that we invited friends to join us there the next day for lunch...AND dinner!! Yes, we thoroughly enjoyed S3 and dined with them 3 times in two days. I'd gladly go back and only wish we had this treat in Atlanta. Enjoy!
(5)stephanie f.
I had been to S3 numerous times for drinks with friends and each time said that I needed to try the food. So after a much too long wait, I finally rounded up some friends to go for dinner. And it was good. Like, really really good. There were 4 of us and we ordered a mashup of small plates and every plate was good. There wasn't a single one that was meh. And that, is very very rare. We ordered: Brussel Sprouts: Tasty and well prepared Croquettes: God I love croquettes Tuna Tower: Really really good and fresh. Shrimp & Crab Tostada: So much tasty here Short Rib: comes with mashed taters. Really good here. Crab n' Shrimp Roll: Really good. Do I sound like a broken record? Thai Tuna: I've never had coconut in my roll. I'd like to have it more often. Gnocci: same story guys. it was good. Everything was good. Go Now. Order Food. You won't be disappointed. So I think I've communicated that the food was good, but the ambiance / location / decor is pretty awesome too. The indoor dining room is great, but their outdoor dining option is hard to beat with lounge area, firepit, and an outdoor bar. There's also a secretish back bar and lounge area that I discovered last night that I had never seen before. Clearly my previous "drinking" trips were full of drinking.
(5)Jeighsen C.
Very loud with the drummers and showgirl dancing on patio. Not able to order the steaks and several other large plate items because we were told by server that they had a kitchen fire. The story just didn't make a lot sense. I thought it was pretty expensive for tapas. The sushi, brussels sprouts and edamame were pretty good. Short rib also nicely done but nothing special. Again serving what was listed on the menu for example filet or ribeye would have made this a better dining experience. Service was attentive but hard to have conversation with server or my guest due to dance club like atmosphere.
(2)Erick O.
This month's UYE was at S3 Sun Surf Sand. I was excited and looking forward to this restaurant since it's near the water and the menu looked very appealing. The restaurant is part of the Hilton Hotel on the beach. It's a corner venue across the street from the water. If you sit out side the view is beautiful. Sunday was a gorgeous day for outside dining. It was sunny and breezy and the weather held up the entire stay. We sat outside at a large table that was waiting for us facing the ocean. Such a beautiful site, something's you need to be grateful we live in a place people come to vacation too. Your view of the beach and sand along with traffic is really nice and this alone is a major plus and one reason to consider this spot for brunch or early evening dining. Several things caught my eye on the menu. They have assortments of brunch plates, specialty rolls, small plates and sandwiches. The menu had good diversity and wasn't really consumed with useless items. Everything was priced right was well. Wasn't overly expensive and seemed very reasonable. We elected to go with the following: Shrimp & Grits : Good presentation. Dish came in with the shrimp on the top of the plate along with a poached egg on the top. Have I every told you how I love poached eggs? It's something that has stuck with me since I was a little man, popping the egg with my fork and watching the yolk just drip down, very very flavorful The cheesy grits were just right the texture was spot on. I hate it when grits either come out too hard and it feels like your eating raw rice or to soggy like if it were mash potato, didn't have that problem here. The shrimps were grilled yet were very soft on the inside and they were made with either paprika or some other type of spice that was added to the entire dish which was amazing. That was one of the best parts about the craft of this dish because the kick it has can catch you off guard. It's not overpowering at all, it's just right. There were also roasted peppers in the dish that added to that kung foo kick I told you about before. Well made... Crab n' Shrimp: The girlfriend ordered the crab and shrimp rolls which were excellent. She gets full fast which is also a blessing for a foodie like me. Seafood was soft and fresh and there was an added refreshing flavor to the roll. The Asian pear was just right on this roll, it can get kind of boring with the same repetitive cucumber or carrots regular placed use. The pear soften the roll up and eliminated that fishy taste. Topped with spicy mayo sauce and noodles on top, it was a refreshing delight. Goat Cheese Croquettes: Loved this dish!! These golf ball sized croquettes were fired to perfection and were so creamy on the inside. The guava sauce paired perfectly with the croquettes as well making your taste buds want to explode inside. Especially if you take the sauce and place it inside the with the cheese. Orgasmic! Mimosa: Average really, nothing really that you can do with a Mimosa in my eyes, when you think about it. It was good, wasn't bad. Blackberry Lychee Bellini's: Great texture on the cocktail. Wasn't overpowering and wasn't too juicy either. If you like tart,, tangy style drinks this is a good choice. Very good and noticeable taste on the cocktail especially the blackberry which standout. In addition, you can find small pieces of lychee and black berry pulp inside the drink. Very refreshing! All in all it was a very good dining experience and I would love to come back and try some of the other items I was looking forward to try such as the sweet potato waffle with chicken, pork belly hash, huevos ranchero and the mac & cheese.
(5)Jon K.
My first visit to S3 this past Friday night for a birthday celebration. Note that they have a separate valet for the restaurant than from the hotel, but I wouldn't have known that if my friend hadn't been there before. Had a reservation and we were seated immediately. The décor is very Florida and nice. The place is a mixed club/bar/restaurant, so it was crowded and loud. A good vibe though. Our group of 4 split a bunch of the appetizers and small plates, including the short empanadas, mac and cheese, a couple of sushi rolls, and a few other things. We also split 2 desserts, the blondie/cookie and the date cake. We enjoyed pretty much everything, but the empanadas and mac and cheese were the standouts. Plus the blondie dessert. Service was friendly and attentive. Your bill will add up as you order more and more plates, but for a special occasion it is totally worth it.
(4)Jeremy C.
I've been here a couple of times. Love the atmosphere and view of the beach. They have an inside bar and outside bar as well as plenty of inside and outside seating for dining. The food was excellent and the service is always great.
(5)Melissa P.
Fantastic views and tasty small plates! I would recommend this place if you want some great drinks and ambiance. My boyfriend and I came here for brunch on our recent Ft. Lauderdale vacation and enjoyed it. I recommend getting the cocktail flight so you can try a few of their delicious concoctions.
(4)Chris G.
Great atmosphere. Great food. Sushi. Wings and fish are all stellar. Not a wide range of food to choose from but still a place I would return to
(4)Cheryl K.
Update to my earlier review.... Returned here about 2 weeks ago for dinner and drinks. I made a reservation and requested an ocean view inside seat which was honored without a problem. The service from the hostess to the waitress to the management was impeccable and the food was as good as the first time I dined here. This time we had the sushi nachos which were still fantastic, the macaroni and cheese (incredibly rich, a little too heavy for my taste but exactly what mac and cheese is supposed to be), duck lettuce wraps (a special that evening and delicious) and the scallops, which were perfect. I had a mixed berry mojito which was great. At the end of our meal, the manager came over and gave me his card, apologized for my past experience and even bought us drinks to make up for the past. Thanks S3 - you've made me a true fan! Whenever I'm in the Ft Lauderdale beach area I am here for drinks and will be back again, and again for dinner....
(5)Honest R.
Food was great but espresso was what nightmares are made of and I'm 99% sure when we asked for cream for it, we were given cold skim milk in a really chic little container which made it much worse. Service was pretty good though. Except that the table next to ours had to take pictures of everything which meant a terrifying, other-worldly flash every few minutes. Not the restaurant's fault though. I would say it was a little overpriced for what you get. $4 per slice of sashimi is a little on the high side. I frequent katsuya one of the best sushi spots in LA & they're not nearly this overpriced. I got really stoked when "work out" by j cole started playing but it was interrupted by some crap rap after like a few notes. This remix played like way too loudly all night with some good songs, just too loud & too quick to skip to the next song. Waiters were cute and polite though so there's that.
(4)Lisa S.
The brussels sprouts and the short ribs are to die for! Such a cool place for someone who likes to sample a little bit of everything
(5)Joshua B.
Hip beach front view restaurant.Service was excellent. Mixed drinks were small but packed a punch and had great flavors. Food was more upscale bar food but great tasting
(4)Charles S.
S3 provides some of the best ambiance, service, food and views in Ft. Lauderdale. Our waitress was like a mind-reader. Every time I thought of something I needed or wanted, she would magically appear to take care of it. The food was phenomenal. We had sushi, chicken wings, pulled pork sandwiches and appetizers at our table and everything was high quality and ultra delicious. We sat outside, with a beautiful view of the ocean. Everything was exquisite!
(5)Ron B.
Very nice new edition to the Lauderdale beach landscape...which is welcome, given the lack of quality venues available with ocean views. The YOLO folks have outdone themselves, at least in terms of the decor and the setting. The entire restaurant straddles an interior space and an expansive patio, fully taking advantage of the ocean breezes and sweeping vistas. The food is fun...I've been for app's a few times, but was with a group for dinner recently...and was pleased with the offering and its executiion. We ate sushi rolls (dragon and spicy tuna), sashimi (assorted), wok-charred edamame, stir-fry brussel sprouts (yum!), coffee-rubbed skirt steak with yucca...and there wasn't a dud amongst them. In fact, most things were very good or better! Beverage was better than average...the wine list is decent, and some prices are surprisingly reasonable...given the setting, I'd say more than fair! (Kim Crawford SB for $10 - as good as most other places) I like the staff...they look good and are friendly...what else can you ask for?! The place looks great...and I'm finding it a nice place to wrap up a beach day (albeit, upscale style), hit an occasional beach-y happy hour or even dine, particularly with out of town guest in tow...the views make for lasting memories! One hint...valet. If you park down the street, you have to pass through some very unpleasant odors on the Hilton's back loading dock (you all really should clean that up!!)
(4)Carol K.
Love when a local tells you where to go to try out the "hot spot" in town. And while I was initially a bit put off that this is in the Hilton hotel (after all- who wants hotel food?) have no worries for this place is as far from hotel food as you can get! If you go- make a reservation as this place is jumping! I went on a Friday night and while there are plenty of amazing seating areas both indoors and out- without a reservation you may find yourself seated at the sushi bar, which while functional- is really not where the fun is! I ended up finding a seat at one of the other bars indoors and had a great time! If you enter through the hotel, you will actually be entering the restaurant from the back so head up to the side facing the ocean as that is where the hostess stand is. I was warmly greeted when I came in this way and shown to the proper place. The ambiance is cool and contemporary with great clusters of couches and tables outside and more traditional seating indoors. They make full use of their space and it is a wonderful space with ocean views and plenty of people watching opportunities. I ordered simply- some of their sauteed edamame and some sushi rolls. The edamame was unusual as I usually have it steamed so it had an entirely different mouth feel to it this way. My rolls were also quite good with the kamikaze roll having just the right amount of bite! The staff was super friendly- a big shout out to bartender Jane who kept my glass full and put up with an entire bar full of yelling men who had been drinking all day. If you drive- valet park at the hotel(enter on the side street) and get your ticket validated. At $5- it's the best parking deal in town! Go for the sun, go for the surf or go for the sand,, but most importantly go for the specialness of this place. For once you go- you'll want to go back!
(5)Blake W.
This should of been posted a long time ago but I just forgot about it. I just wanted to say that I went here just for a casual lunch during my spring break with my girlfriend. Only I ate here but they served us both waters and the waiter was very nice. I just ordered a hamburger. They took a long time to make it but I figured it was worth it. Plus they view was awesome and the atmosphere was very relaxed. Once I got the burger they told me they are gonna put it on the house cause it took so long. So that was awesome and very nice of them to do so. I would definitely return for a meal if I was ever in the area again. I highly recommend. Plus if you like sushi, I recommend you look at a place called sushi rock cafe in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Best sushi I have ever had. A hidden gem.
(5)Eli S.
Pretty views of the ocean but slow service and when asked about the status of our food a cocky bar tender Jared gave some strange explanation that we had to wait because this place was popular. (note post lunch and place half empty). We waited for 30 min to get appetizers. Apparently food was to arrive as it was prepared but the food runner brought it all at once. Just an fyi to the manager.
(2)Jennifer T.
I recently took some clients to S3. Our server Chelsea was fantastic. She knew the menu front to back and offered great drink pairings to go with the food we ordered. She was beyond professional and was able to interact with the table to make our experience beyond excellent. With the size group we had, I was able to taste a good portion of the menu. I wouldn't consider myself an octopus fan, but the octopus here is amazing. It's grilled and you can taste the smoke off the fire... The texture of this meat is better than lobster, which you might not expect if you've had rubbery octopus before. It's served with a buttery bean salad... honestly you have to try this plate, you won't regret it. For the less adventurous, try the mac and cheese plate (heavy, but super good) or the tuna tower. I plan on going back the next time I'm in town to try the pork belly. If you get to it before I do, let me know if it's good. This place truly has 5 star service, food and atmosphere.
(5)Isaac G.
It always makes me sad when a beautiful and tasty meal gives me food poisoning. It also disturbed me that since it's corporate ( Hilton) my server was required to wear arm sleeves over his tattoos. I had crabcake Benedict with spinach, a lemony hollandaise and some beautifully roasted potatoes, and a bloody Mary, traditional. My date had the banana bread French toast. We both liked the Oceanview, and the guests were okay, but when I looked into the kitchen it was easy to see how we got poisoned. It was truly a jumbled mess. Cross another South Florida restaurant off the list.
(2)Rich B.
One of the greatest restaurants I've ever been to. Amazing food, service, ambiance, scenery, etc.. the sushi rolls in particular are to die for. I can't wait to go back next time I'm in town!
(5)Peter B.
Atmosphere with the ocean breeze was great, food was ok
(1)Faith H.
Came on a Thursday night. What great service, food & drinks. Bartenders are amazing and attentive!! Been looking for good sushi and this is the place!!! Drinks are made to perfection. This is def a must go to!!! Worth the $.
(5)Savani D.
I came here on a Friday night after 11p, I was pleasantly surprised to find quality dining in this area around that time. Luckily, they stop serving food at midnight. I ordered the Seafood Paella, perfect if you're eating light. But if you're a foodie like myself, you'll end up ordering more food as I did. After reading all the rave reviews about the Thai Tuna Roll, had to order it. Yelp never leads me astray! This dish was delicioso! I would have given 5 stars if the food portions were bigger. Other than that this place is highly recommended.
(4)Bob A.
Last minute choice tonight worked out really well. Based on trip advisor and our location we picked this restaurant located at the Hilton. We sat at the sushi bar which was great as the chef working four tapas out of the wood fired oven was very friendly while cooking. We split six dishes between the three of us which ended up being a least one to many. Each dish was well crafted, well presented and very tasty. Service was timely and pleasant. Dinner with one bottle of wine was just over a hundred, very reasonable for the quality and atmosphere.
(5)Roro K.
I frequent S3, because I live nearby and for the outdoor beachfront location. I have several favorites- the brisket sliders, the grilled octopus and beans, the specials, and above all the brussel sprouts (and many more). Today I had a craving for the b. sprouts however, I was disappointed to find they have changed recipe eliminating pancetta, crumbled nuts and rice crisps. They are still ok with the new veg. accompaniments, but not fantastic like before. I will give five stars because of the excellent service and still great menu in hopes that the prior b sprouts recipe will resurrect.
(5)Nikoletta K.
Great place, beautiful view and good food
(4)Rose W.
If you like Small Plates that are mouth watering and a view of our beautiful of Ft Lauderdale Beach you must go to S3. The grilled octopus was done to perfection and the pork belly melted in your mouth! And don't forget to try their sushi bar and a very "well stocked" wine list. The service for a busy restaurant was outstanding and our server delightful .... As first timers we didn't know where to begin and she guided us through an unforgettable evening with friends. High on my list of culinary experience .... Foodie Heaven!!!
(5)Jessica N.
Fantastic brunch! Was not overly crowded for a Sunday so we were able to get an outside table facing the beach with no problem. I had the Shrimp and Grits and my husband had the Chicken and Sweet Potato Waffle and we were thoroughly impressed. Awesome drink flights too!
(5)Nikki S.
Their menu was something I had never seen before a mix of sushi and comfort foods. I ordered the California roll and the gnocchi. Both had excellent presentation and flavors were top notch. The view of the ocean across the street and the openness of the restaurant were fabulous. Not bad at all.
(4)Steve T.
Great place with a good variety to chose from Asian to Spanish to American. The same goes for the drinks. We had their wok-charred edamame, short rib empanadas, pork belly, shrimp toast, and mac-n-cheese. The blackberry-lychee cocktail wasn't too strong or sweet but not worth $15. The food was fantastic. My only complaint was seeing a sushi preparer text on his phone with his gloves on then going back to making sushi without changing them! That is why we didn't order any sushi.
(4)Jane K.
Awesome view,drinks,and food :) right across from the beach.
(5)Lyza L.
This spot is fun for people watching and being part of a scene, but the food is nothing special, it's loud and on the expensive side. However, I love the outdoor area (partly because you can actually have a conversation with your dinner companions without shouting.) And service has always been very nice. This property is part of the restaurant group that brought you YOLO in downtown Fort Lauderdale, and attracts much the same crowd: beautiful people who want to see and be seen. Nothing wrong with that, but if you want great food, there are lots of other places I'd recommend first.
(2)Mariam D.
A belated "welcome to Ft. Lauderdale S3." A welcome hot spot for tapas al fresco. Choose from typical trending favorites such as vegetable plates, chicken wings, sushi, tuna, edamame, goat cheese, and others all prepared and presented beautifully. Courteous service, nice wine list and some tasty craft cocktails, and an intimate setting in the evening for a beachside bite and epic ocean views. Dress up a bit and head here for a relaxing date night dinner or lunch with clients and friends.
(4)Kevin H.
Great restaurant, food was really good. Lots of small portions and we love it made it lots of fun and the food just kept coming!! Group consensus was that the sushi is the best part of the menu (we ate off all of it) Staff was nice, although they got busy and we didn't see our server for a while, thus the 4 stars. If you can get a chance to sit and eat by the firepits, that looked the most fun and will be requesting that next time.
(4)Chris F.
Reservation issues My only complaint about S3 was they took our reservation via Open Table but when we arrived they wanted to stick us at a bar like table right next to the kitchen on stools. This was not a "real" table that they should assign reservations to. There were also several other open regular tables. Eventually the manager came and sat us at a regular table. Other than this, it was a good night with good food and drinks.
(3)Kristin A.
I love the décor and atmosphere. This was our first stop to drink before heading to the downtown bar areas. My drink was pretty basic but totally did the trick. This is a kool bar to met up and have drinks at and best of all right across from the beach!!! There was also a really good band playing.
(5)Sarah B.
We loved S3. Food was great - sushi, steak and salads crossed our table and everyone raved about the meal. Service was nice, fun atmosphere. Nice change from the "norm" in Ft Lauderdale.
(5)Janice M.
Had dinner with three co-workers here last Thursday. A great spot to people watch and enjoy the ocean breeze. There were quite a few intoxicated college students enjoying spring break which was entertaining to watch while we had dinner! The wine and cocktail list is impressive. Beautiful restaurant with open kitchen. Staff is obvioulsy chosen for their looks and hipness, as I didn't see one unattractive server in the place! The food..... We shared: Goat Cheese Croquettes - Amazing and very rich Tuna Tower - a bit bland but the tuna very fresh Rainbow Roll - good but not the best sushi I've had Scallops - perfectly seared and the sauce was so good we ordered another. Luscious Brussel Sprouts - my favorite veg and these did not disappoint. Perfectly roasted and carmelized. YUM Mac and Cheese -TO DIE FOR! Cheesy goodness with crispy pancetta. Brought this out last and we were so full we had trouble finishing it Travel to Ft Lauderdale often for work and this is my new favorite spot. Highly recommend for small plates and people watching.
(4)Drew D.
After having returned here twice (once for brunch and once for dinner) with out of town friends, I am happy to be able to bump my review up to a solid 4-stars! Every subsequent dining experience here has been happy and tasty. Yes, tables are very hard to come by so make reservations well in advance. Enjoy some creative cocktails and soak up the trendy atmosphere while enjoying well prepared food!
(4)Carol L.
I and my friend came here for dinner last weekend. We ordered a buffalo wing with honey sauce. It was so amazing taste. Not like ones we often eat in Hooter. Crunchy and salty sweet, a little sour... Later we order Tuna and steak serve with rice. Both these meal tasted so good and fresh like a wild caught tuna i usually buy in farm fresh market. So delicious. We will definitely come back next time for trying other meals.
(5)Maria M.
Great great place. My fiancé and I were staying at the Hilton Hotel and wanted to eat some place by the water, when we walked towards Las Olas blvd and tried 2 different places we were dissapointed before we even ordered so we left. Nobody even brought us water, we decided to try S3 since it is conveniently attached to the hotel. OMG best decision ever.......service, food, ambiance... All great!!!! Every single dish was perfect!!! :)
(5)Isidro P.
Ok place, lots of smoke inside the restaurant due its wood oven, crab cake sandwich is a good choice
(3)Ana B.
Eveything here still great besides the over price in my opinion. I just tried they're small portion for Ribs and Gnocchi, absolutly AMAZING! They have DJ on weekends with a 'Sobe' detail, the amazing saxophonist playing with the music. Great vibe!
(4)JJ J.
Great food and service. Top place to eat at Ft Lauderdale beach. Great drink selection as well.
(5)Danielle R.
Went yesterday after a very LONG day at the beach, coupled with beer, and we were finally ready to eat some food (thank sweet baby Jesus). They have a $5 valet, do this instead of trying to find parking for 10 mins like we did. My one friend had been the night before and she loved it so much she wanted to go back. In fact, she said when they first got there there was nothing but open tables, but they were told those were all reserved and if they wanted they could sit up at the sushi bar (which is also pretty cool). She said about 30 mins after they sat (at the sushi bar) all of those tables were taken. Additionally, we actually tried to grab drinks here on the prior Friday night around 7 ish but there wasn't an open seat to be had!!! So make a RESERVATION if you plan on going here. It also appears they take rezzies for the outside cocktail tables, which on a nice South Florida night can't be beat! The views here are SPECTACULAR and almost all of the seating (save the sushi bar) are pointed towards the water. We got a seat outside and immediately ordered bottle #1 of wine (Kim Crawford priced at $35). We also ordered the wok seared edamame and the mixed olives w/ Marcona almonds (see pix both were delicious). All of us were impressed w/ the wide variety of selections on the menu, if you can't find something to eat here, you can't find it anywhere. We ordered bottle #2 of the Kim Crawford. It is on the slower side, so this place is perfect for a lazy Sunday dinner, IF you are on a tight time frame I would skip this place and try it another time. We ordered the Thai Tuna Roll, which I loved, and the Rainbow Roll, both were delicious. We also ordered the Green Goddess Tomato Heirloom salad (which is one of the most amazing dishes ever), the grilled eggplant (my least favorite), and the stuffed Brussels Sprouts (ask for a side of wasabi for these for some reason it pairs nicely). Somewhere during this round of food we ordered bottle #3 of wine, only to have the waitress return and tell us they were out!!! OH NO! However, instead of just saying they were out they offered the next bottle up for the same price (savings of $6 but still a very fair and happy gesture). And we accepted. I think we were here for 2 hours, maybe more, and we would've stayed longer if we didn't have TrueBlood to watch that night. Oh and by the time we left they had live music complete with Cuban drums! I honestly can't wait to go back...
(5)Brian G.
My son and I went there for dinner last night. Great location - bit either park at the Galleria Mall (free) and walk maybe 3/4 of a mile along he beach or A1A, or use valet - you won't find parking nearby for sure. Atmosphere is great, our server was very good, the sake was cold, nice ambience. We sat at the sushi bar and watched it being prepared. Menu is limited (very limited) but service is prompt because of that.
(4)Cindy S.
I've been to S3 a few times for lunch and dinner. The food is great, they have smaller portions so everyone may share. The service is excellant. They serve a variety of sushi, beef and fish. The server Brandon was my favorite, if you have difficulty making a discision he makes great recommendations. I also recommend Rachelle too! The view is EXCELLENT! This place has great food, service and a beautiful view! They have something for everyone!
(5)Marqus R.
S3, located in the Hilton Hotel, supposedly stands for Sun, Sand & Surf. It's a restaurant run by the same people who operate YOLO (You Only Live Once) on Los Olas in downtown Fort Lauderdale which some refer to as YOLO's on the beach. As with YOLO, all of their dishes have certain unique culinary twists about them rarely found elsewhere, all being somewhat trendy and on the cutting edge of "what's in" within trendy world of culinary arts. All of the portions are rather small, mid-priced but if you really eat a full size meal, you'll find out that the prices add up rather quickly. I went for the grilled octopus ($13.00) which not only came with some of the most tender, delicious slices of octopus (not your typical pile of bland Greek tentacles) I've ever had accompanied by a fresh small cut vegetable melody of corn, tomato, and a mash and of other very flavorful ingredients they refer to as being a gigande bean with a verde sauce. I also had the grilled Japanese eggplant with a miso sake and sesame glaze ($7.00) which though flavorful, really didn't amount to much. They also have a coffee rubbed skirt steak ($14.00) accompanied by a yucca along with a tangy, tasty mango based chimichurri that I found most delightful, but as far as their larger Creekstone Filet, you can do much better at Capital Grill for the price. As for atmosphere, it's tough to beat with nice views of the beach along with an interior décor into which it is obvious that a lot of money was invested. However, more than that is that they have incorporated a thoughtful sound barrier baffling throughout the ceilings which clearly cuts down on any noise, affording one to engage in pleasant dinning conversation. To wash it all down I also had a couple of their Patron margaritas which were rather good but at $15.00 each they darn well should have been. The service was top notch professional but as with YOLO, if you are dinning alone you'll have to speak up about your seating because even when practically empty they tend to seat single dinners in the worst of locations reserving their better seating in the event of an unexpected larger groups of customers. All in all, S3 is a vast improvement to the Hilton though I would say still somewhat lingers behind what is offered at the next door W with its Steak 954 restaurant.
(4)May M.
My favorite restaurant by far! Always amazing service, great drinks and unbeatable dishes!! Edamama is out of this world and the heirloom tomato salad is to die for!!! To top it all off, you can't beat the atmosphere and the ocean breeze!
(5)Steve C.
I am a lucky guy, I was invited here as a birthday dinner present from sweet Karin, and the entire experience ROCKED, here's why: * The company! * Jamie, our waiter, was fantastic without hovering, he represents the brand well and has great energy * Tapas / sharing sized portions mainly * Beachfront view * Cool layout and decor * Fairly priced We drank a delish bottle of Tyku Black (cold) Sake. Mmmmmmmmm, Yummo! We also tried their Sake Sunset Cocktails, made with sake and Grey Goose ($12 bucks each). Awesome. We ate: * Kamikaze Roll (HIT!) * Brussel Sprouts (HIT!) * Short Ribs with mac-n-cheese (HIT!) * Paella * Scallops * Panna Cotta for dessert Wow. Score. Coming back. Sooner. Before you. Cabeza BLESSED!
(5)Anthony K.
The view is definitely worth the entire experience. The menu is is more suited for those who are out to enjoy a meal surrounded by delicious drinks. The small plates are delicious, try as many as you can! The ocean breeze is just phenomenal when enjoying their outside seating. A1A is always non stop with people and cars always going by. The ocean and the restaurant are separated by an island in-between a two way street, get passed that and the oceans waves will do the rest for you. Talk a walk down A1A after and enjoy what Fort Lauderdale Florida has to offer!
(5)Kayla M.
Came to S3 for Sunday brunch. The service was HORRIBLE but the food was AMAZING! We sat at the outside bar and had Jane and Anna as a servers. Ann was nice and just seemed busy but Jane seemed bothered by "tourist" she requested that we provide her with a CC to hold but never requested one from the "locals" who sat down right next to us at the same exact time. 2 more "tourist" lady were also rudely asked to provide their CC and they too were not happy with the service and left. We were only checked on once and once things slowed down Anna took over at the end and we actually left with a smile. The food was very good so with that I'll say I might return in hopes to get a different waitress!
(3)Tara H.
Oh holy hamachi and pork belly! Cooper is awesome but the whole staff including the GM kicks ass!! Oh and the great company and fabulous wine helps too!! Try it you'll love it!
(4)Kimberley C.
Every concierge service on the beach is going to recommend this restaurant. They serve food & cocktails pretty consistently all day long and up till 11:30 approx. Not bad. So if you are on an irregular food schedule and you want some food, you're in luck. Food: Average, slightly better than average Service: Excellent Decor: Comfortable, inviting, warm wood colors People: All tourists of every shape & size Parking: Street or Valet This is the Hilton overlooking Fort Lauderdale beach. Good view. Comfortable seating. Much much better than hanging out on the patio of the W Hotel Fort Lauderdale. Very cool arrangement. The bartenders, as it gets late into the night are funny, charming and really take care of you. I've been here 4 times now, by default. A restaurant decision that you can make last minute without worrying about the outcome, unlike the Atlantic Hotel or the W.
(3)Leah K.
This place is beyond amazing. If you like good, quality food, come here. Some of the best food I have ever tasted.
(5)Jocelyn J.
Wow! This place is soooooo good. I came here on a Thursday night with some girlfriends and we ordered a bunch of their small plates, namely: Marinated olives Sushi nacho Spicy tuna Crab and shrimp rolls Mac n cheese Ricotta gnocchi Short ribs Shrimp toast Asparagus salad Akaushi bavette steak The sushi items (sushi nacho, crab and shrimp rolls) were fresh and delicious. The sushi nacho was similar to a tuna tartare on a crispy tortilla. The crab and shrimp rolls use REAL crab which was a surprising delight! All the cooked dishes were also very good - not one dish left our table without being empty. Those that we truly loved were ordered AGAIN because they were so delicious! But the standouts on this menu - unanimously decided by our table of 8 - were definitely the Mac-n-cheese and ricotta gnocchi. They were AMAZING. The Mac and cheese was creamy and gooey with a generous sprinkling of crispy prosciutto crumbles. The ricotta gnocchi had a sublime truffle smell and flavor that I can't even describe in words - you just have to taste it for yourself. Oh and for dessert you have to try the Icky Sticky Toffee Pudding....HEAVEN on a plate!! Service was prompt and very friendly. The restaurant has a chic but low key vibe with a wonderful view and firepits outside. I can't wait to go back for a date night with my husband!
(4)Amanda F.
I'll give this restaurant 5 stars for the quality of food. But waiter was slightly pushy, hostess had an attitude, they are very stingy on alcohol. Delicious and fresh. I love the option of small plates/snacks. Nice view of the water across the street. I wanted to sit by the fire pit and I had requested it over he phone. I was told it was first come first serve, okay I understand but then she says but I'll try to sit you somewhere near it. Okay that's fine, we get there got told the same thing with an attitude and were told "well if you can find a seat near it" what?? I had no idea what she was even saying.. Real professional thats why your a hostess. Got sat no where near the fire pit. They need more ambiance lighting outside if I can't get near the fire pit, I can't see my food or the menu. GET SOME LIGHTS OR TIKI TORCHES IF YOUR GONNA HAVE OUTDOOR SEATING. I can see where the money is going to.. (Fake candles) haha real fancy. Anyway the waiter was pushy saying we had to put in all the orders now bc they will start to get busy.. Umm I don't mind waiting so stop, we usually order 1 or 2 tapas at a time while drinking then keep the menu on the side so stop rushing me. Actually couldn't even get tipsy here bc the $12 "specialty" drink I ordered; Sake Sunset consisting of grey goose plum sake cranberry pineapple juice right you think ooo grey goose it's gonna be a nice strong drink for $12!!!! nope... Tasted like just pineapple juice, although my bf got a don Julio Margarita with a grand mariner floater for $15 which was really good, damn it should have gotten that to at least get a buzz on when your spending that much $. Sushi rolls were delicious and fresh filled with fish but very little avocado. This place is great during the day for tapas or an entree, would not recommend going to drink, save your money and pick a cheaper bar that has happy hour with decent strong drinks.
(4)Patrick F.
Great food, great environment, great service! Definitely recommend the sushi!
(5)Indya R.
You saw that right. Three stars. How is that possible, you ask? Let me first start off by saying that this place is GORGEOUS. If I still lived in the Miami area, it wold most definitely be my new go-to spot. Anytime I visit, which is quite frequently, I will make it my business to come here. Somehow, this place is set up so that every table you sit at you can see the ocean. Initially when I arrived, I asked for a table outside. I did not realize how silly that request was without a reservation. So to my dismay, we sat at a table closest to the kitchen, which was open. Now don't get me wrong. I loved the place. I REPEAT I LOVED THE PLACE AND WILL DEFINITELY BE BACK. Here's the thing. There is absolutely no excuse a place this damn nice to have a sub par menu. Yes, I am a very picky eater, but I can manage to find something on every menu. All I can suggest is the macaroni and cheese. It was delicious. Perhaps I am a bit biased because I hate tapas, but this place was tapas. No more tapas! No more tapas! No more tapas! I am a growing girl! I am an adult! I have keys to an apartment, and I DEMAND you not trick me with tapas! No more tapas! Now that that's out of the way, the other reason I knocked off a star is because of the service. Our server was perfectly pleasant, but frequently absent. I was always looking for her. They were not that busy when we got there. I considered maybe she got busy with other tables, or they were understaffed, but I think she was very new, as in it was her first job as a server, or she just just negligent. Again, this restaurant is on the ocean. Absolutely beautiful interior. I WISH I had the opportunity to sit outside. There is also a firepit out there! So romantic! The ocean view is nice, but when it comes down to it I went there to eat and have dinner with a friend. Next time, I will just eat before and have drinks or dessert here. I really wish they would serve regular portion food here, Mighta got 5 stars out of me. S3, I shall see you soon! Oh as we were leaving, there were dancers dressed in feathers giving a performance. I think I would have enjoyed that. P.S. ladies bring a sweater if you run cold. After the champagne we warmed up.
(3)Tyler S.
Moving from the northeast to live on the ocean just a few miles north from the strips of hotels , I wanted to only eat at restaurants where you could see the ocean and I wanted to take all of my visitors here to show off how "cool" Fort Lauderdale is. The restaurant is very pretty , the drinks are expensive but good , and the food is above average but on my third visit is when I noticed that this is not the place for me. Here's why, I like a good view but this restaurant is full of tourists, wannabes, and what I'm pretty sure were Baltic prostitutes. It's a tapas menu and most of the dishes we ordered were good but every time I come back I don't see anything on the menu that makes me shout " oh, I need that again!" If you're visiting Ft Lauderdale and staying at a hotel on the beach : go here, it's ok , you're allowed, you're a tourist. I on the other hand have passed my 6 month mark of Florida living and would be embarrassed to be spotted drinking a cocktail by a fire pit next to Svetlana.
(3)Savanna M.
Dinner - 4 stars The Short Story: I'm going to start off with a quick summary because I feel like this review is going to get lengthy. Long story short, S3 is good, the ambiance is nice, the view of the ocean would be great if you're here for lunch/early evening, and the food is good. I definitely think the asian side of the menu is much, much better than the non-asian items, so stick to those items. The Long Story: We came here for a birthday dinner. I made reservations for 5 people at 6pm, which I had pretty much forgotten about until we rolled in at 6:45pm. Luckily it was still early and we were sat immediately. By the time we left at 8:30pm (on a Wednesday) the place was packed, so either come early, or make a reservation. We were given a great table, half booth, half seats with an amazing view of the ocean (had daylight savings been working with us we might have seen it). Our waiter was quick and attentive and seemed to handle our indecisive/confused nature well. Sadly it can be difficult for a group of 5 to handle a tapas menu well. Thankfully we staggered our ordering quite well and managed to always have a full table, but not one overflowing uncomfortably with food. We tried a lot of the menu: *Goat cheese croquettes - good and worth the cheap price tag *Stuffed dates - a special for the night. Overly sweet and definitely far from the best stuffed dates I've ever had. *Tuna Tower - think tuna tartare with some rice mixed it. Extremely good and everyone loved it. *Shrimp n'Crab roll - good. I loved the hint of sweetness from the pear. *Red Dragon roll - also good. Different without seaweed, and everyone enjoyed. *Mac n' Cheese - not my favorite. The bacon had a fake taste to it. *Short Ribs - pretty good. I was rather full by the time these came out so they didn't get my full attention. There was a side of pasta that was good. *Steamed Mussels - loved them. The broth was great. *Lettuce wraps - I thought they were only ok, others raved about them. *Paella - didn't get to try it, but it looked amazing. *Grilled Octopus - not my favorite as it seemed salty, but the octopus itself was well cooked and had a nice grilled taste. *Jerked Pork Belly - yeah no. I appreciate the idea, but the mint sauce on top was all wrong. Don't bother trying. *Fish of the Day - mahi/mahi. I didn't get to try it but no one else was that impressed. Lessons learned - again, stick to the sushi/asian items. Large plates a overly expensive and not that great. We did order a bottle of wine, which I found to be fairly priced. We also did a drink sampler with the Thai Coconut Crush, Insani Tea and the Blackberry Lychee. Get the Blackberry Lychee - it was awesome!! All in all, we'll be back. The view can't be beat. The service was great. But I'll be sticking to the asian side of the menu. Brunch: 2.5stars We've recently been back for brunch. I'll keep this one short, but we didn't have the best of times. The view and seating outside of course was beautiful, but our food was so/so and our waiter kept going missing for long periods of time and it was hard to get refills, ask for syrup etc. Out of all the things we tried (there were 4 of us so we tried a lot) I would only go back for the banana bread french toast. Definitely skip the pork-belly hash.
(4)Stacy A.
Absolutely divine!! The grilled octopus and stuffed date appetizer are absolutely to die for. Fantastic ambience, too. Would come back in a heartbeat!
(5)Lina J.
Great place! starting with the amazing location abs the fact that you can see the ocean from almost every table , the great outdoor seating is a great plus. They have small plates so is pefect for sharing so you can try all their yummy options, the mac a cheese is too good, the steak on top of the yucca delightful. the sushi pretty good too. If you want to have a couple coctails their sampler is a food ootions, some of their drink are great some are not... I loved the sake and the blackberry lychee too.
(5)Adam J.
I'm sure this is a better restaurant than our experience, but..... Atmosphere was pretty cool, at least until they seated us at a table inside with zero view and zero ambience. Disappointing. As for the sushi, it didn't live up to the hype. Not even close. Average at best, small portions, and definitely overpriced. I would go back to sit on the patio or at the bar to have a drink. But if I were hungry, I'd go elsewhere.
(2)Lawrence P.
Well hello S3!!!!! Unlike Miami, Fort Lauderdale is not yet known for tapas style (small bites) dining. Enter S3!!!! We valet sat outside with a view to the Atlantic Ocean. It was a nice day... not too hot. For colder nights, they have a nice fire pit as well and, from what we were told, they also have live music on Fridays and Saturdays!!! This night there was a jazz band playing and the fire pit was rolling as well. Very relaxing atmosphere... perfect Florida night dining!!! So, talking about the small plates, we had a few... just a few. The Goat Cheese Croquettes were perfect. They were accompanied by an almond crusted red chili guava which the wifey enjoyed very much. The Sushi Nacho which was basically tuna, spicy salmon, guacamole and tobiko was PHENOMENAL! We also had the Spicy Salmon Roll which was good. We also ordered the Mac & Cheese with smoked Gouda, my favorite. It even had prosciutto. WOW! The Ricotta Gnocchi... yes we ordered those too... had baby shiitake mushrooms and truffle. Best dish of the night!!!!! We had the Lump Crab Cakes and Grilled Octopus to boot. Both good! After we finished our wine (corkage fee is only $20), we ordered the Dulce de Leche Chocolate Cake. DON'T JUDGE!!!! The salted caramel ice cream that came with it was perfect. The only negative. It wasn't dulce de leche. Why advertise it as such and then use caramel???? It was ok at best. The ice cream was the best part. Loved S3!!! We will be returning often. For lunch, for dinner... for... whatever.
(4)Chris S.
Good food and a fun show if you sit at the sushi bar. Kimchee hamachi and brisket sliders were both excellent. Skirt steak took a long time as there was trouble getting it medium rare, but the manager came over, explained the problem, comp'd not only the skirt steak but also a beer, as a nicely appreciated extra touch. Once it finally came out, it was cooked perfectly and was also excellent. Potato skins and the blonde dessert were both good, but a clear step down from the other dishes. The craft beer list is decent, definitely not a highlight. Apart from the excellent handling of the slow skirt steak, service overall was good. I'll likely return to try more dishes from the lengthy list of interesting options.
(4)Lacey C.
Now I'm not up in Broward very often. But when my husband's long-time absent friend says he's in town for business and would like to pay for dinner--we scramble to get some nicer shoes on and make something happen. I found the first Yelp-approved sushi place close to their (Chad and his pal Scott) hotel and headed up North. I regret nothing. Service so good you'll freak--after we waited thirty minutes for drinks, and before we complained, a manager came over to apologize and buy us another round. Waiter opened the wine and poured it from the bottle at my table. I know that's supposed to be the standard, but how often is that actually delivered? To top it off food and ambiance was incredible. Everything was perfect. We ate caramelized brussel sprouts, grilled octopus, spare ribs with black pepper spatzel. Everything was finished off with even more booze, and Thai donuts with birthday candles. Highly recommended. And enjoy the patio.
(4)Roberta A.
S3 is one of my top 3 fave restaurants in Ft. Lauderdale. I love the concept of sharing small plates. We ordered the ricotta dip which is excellent, it's light and not heavy at all. The tuna tower has a great visual presentation and the guacamole in it is super yummy. The Mac & Cheese is always spectacular and is a MUST HAVE, I pretty much lick the plate and always contemplate getting one more order of it. The shrimp toast was very delicious, it tasted very fresh. The skirt steak with yuca is great but they should not serve the steak right on top of that yuca because the yuca ends up getting soggy every time I've ordered it here. But the steak was tender and very well seasoned. My favorite dish of the night was an actual special that isn't normally on the menu. Short ribs beef empanada equals heaven in your mouth. I hope a miracle happens and they add it to the menu permanently!!
(5)Brian R.
Went here last night for the first time. Great food, excellent Sushi and amazing ambience. If you are in Fort Lauderdale definitely be sure to check out S3!
(4)Jeanne T.
Just had a wonderful lunch at the this restaurant. The chicken salad was amazing. My mother had a crab and shrimp sushi roll she enjoyed. Parking was easy. We got a spot on the north side of the building on the street. Fantastic view on a beautiful day. Service was nice too. Prices were reasonable for beachfront awesomeness. If I recall my chicken salad $13.00 and the sushi roll was $15.00. Almost forgot to mention the wonderful dessert. Can't recall exactly what they called the dessert, creme fresh (something) yum! We will return. The bar was very chic looking and made me long for a drink but I had to drive. Boo.
(5)Diana B.
This is a great place to go for dinner. It is close to the hotels, cool, hip environment, and food is great! The wait for a table for 2 on a Fri night was almost an hour but I found a place at the bar and had dinner there. I tried the drinks sampler, which I recommend. You can pick 3 drinks and get a 'half glass' so you get to have a nice sample of a few! I tried 6 in total and loved them all! My fav things were the gnocci-bigger than I am used to but interesting and rich! The sliders were delicious, and brussel sprouts were so loaded and savory! Def an great dinner spot on the strip!
(5)Beth M.
So, if you haven't warmed to the idea of small plates yet, there are options. There are entrees and sushi. You'll be fine. However, if you are up to an adventure, then be brave and go small. This is the place to do it. The food is incredible. There wasn't a dish or bite that I didn't want to eat all by myself. However, to be polite to my guests (we were sharing), and to make sure I had room for dessert, I refrained. We got 5 of the "snacks" -- the stand outs being the goat cheese croquettes and Wok Charred Edamame (which the waiter highly recommeded - thank goodness - there were as amazing as he promised they would be). We then moved on to the small plates. All were execptional. The Mac & Cheese made with Smoked Gouda (& Crispy Prosciutto on the side) was so addicting I was craving it for days and the beet salad had a unique blend of flavors that stood out from any beet salad I had experienced before. My meat-eating friends got the grilled octopus and Akaushi Bavette Steak from the woodfired section, while I completely enjoyed my Artisan Romaine ~ Pecorino ~ Prosciutto ~ Lemon ~ White Bean dish. Desert (sigh) was some type of sticky toffee, a blondie something or other and a light pannacotta type of thing. My food coma had set in so I'm fuzzy on what exactly it was but it was all worth it. The good thing about small plates is that even after 12 (ish) plates, the bill for the 4 of us was reasonable. The LOCATION - Perfect. Enjoy!
(5)Brandon S.
Amazing drinks.. delicious food... great spot to share yummy small plates with friends... its right by the beach.. the views are beautiful...
(5)Lucy W.
Love the patio set up...great ocean view, and comfy, cushy lounge chairs and tables. I stopped by on a sunny morning for brunch, and sat on a cushy lounge sofa on the patio, overlooking the ocean. They have different champagne cocktails...I tried the lychee but it was kind of bitter tasting. Service is a little lacking and brusque...almost ruined my chill vibe. Almost. I had the decadent banana bread French toast...delicious but I could feel myself going into a sugar coma from eating it. Good thing all I was doing afterward was hanging out on the beach and by the pool.
(4)Gabby Z.
The mahi sandwich was ok, by the time it got to me the bread was all soggy. I'm an expert with fish sandwiches I get them all the time. I would not go.back to S3.
(3)Tollie E.
1. Long delay on order. 2. Waitress spills water on one of the party and instead of apologizing, says "It's just water." 3. After a 30 minute wait, they tell us they're out of one of our ordered items. As a person who worked as a waiter through college at high end restaurants, this was a bad joke at an effort to be a legitimate restaurant. I wouldn't recommend this as a first choice. EVER
(1)James S.
Love this place, the view is awesome and food and service are great too, a little on the pricey side but it's tapas , so your bill does go up quickly,
(5)Gary M.
Taking its home in the Hilton hotel on the seafront, S3 is in a prime location and its outdoor seating offers fantastic views. The food options are good with a mixture of sushi and small plates making up our order. We tried to goat cheese croquettes (tasty), rainbow roll (great, fresh), short rib (had a little it of a strange smell to it) potato skins (small but tasty) and shrimp toast (lots of flavor). Dishes are a little on the pricey side but you are paying for location at all of the seafront hotel restaurants in FT Lauderdale. Also, bring your flashlight if you are sitting outside as you will not be able to read the menu the place is very dimly lit (maybe for the turtles?!)
(4)Lauren B.
From the makers of YOLO comes....another terrific spot! Great location across the road from the beach, awesome ambiance outside with sexy dim lighting, banquet seating and firepits. Nice cocktails, great sushi...everything we ordered was mad tasty. Tip: try the edamame!! As a smoker, I was saddened to learn that the outdoor section is completely smoke-free. But if you're a non-smoker, my tragedy is your good fortune!
(4)Chris E.
Good food and drinks. Great atmosphere. And a great view. Right on A1A across from the beach. Highly Recommend.
(4)Beatrice Z.
Love this place. Food is consistently good and service is great. My only complaint is that since I live right right around the corner, I've been coming here since they opened at least once per week. Manager never acknowledges me or the fact that I bring them so many people. Otherwise I like this place.
(4)Patrick P.
Good food and great service. Great decor and love the the open kitchen I always sit at the outside bar while I try all the tapas I recommend: Charred octopuses Tuna tower Pork belly Beet salad Braised short rib Staff and bartenders are really friendly and the Manager Jennifer White is amazing!!:)
(5)Mizz V.
I've been here several times now and can confidently say that the food and service are consistently good. Actually "good" is an understatement - the food is consistently delicious and the service is attentive without being over-bearing or rushed; a plus in my book. Add a spectacular view and what more can you ask for? Some of the smaller plates can be a bit pricey, but the quality is always there so I can't complain. Check them out on weekends when they have live music, dancers and the fire pits glowing.
(4)Elaine C.
Delicious food, delicious drinks, gorgeous view of the ocean. The servers are pleasant and efficient. Too bad you have to use metered beach parking if you're not a hotel guest. I'd visit much more if parking wasn't such a pain!
(3)Alexii N.
One of my local go-tos. This restaurant is one of my usual spots in the Fort Lauderdale area. Beautiful interior, great outside bar by the ocean, yummy cocktails, and very tasty food. Basically everything I am looking for. Most of the dishes are tapas-style and come out when they are ready. Some of my favorites are: goat cheese croquettes, crab and shrimp roll, red dragon roll, Thai tuna roll, Mac and cheese, and short ribs.
(5)Robert S.
Our first time here. Great food , wonderful wine selection and the ocean. But add the fact that Cindy C is now pert of the team. Phenomenal. We will be regulars often.
(5)Janessa H.
I really wanted to like this place after hearing so many good things and reading some of the reviews. It may have been just this specific experience but unfortunately that's what this review is based on and any future visits, which are unlikely. The hostess was nice. My husband thinks the server is hung over. He forgot to bring our waters for the longest time and we had already begun to eat our food so we really needed it but he never even came to check to see if the first plate was ok. We had to ask the food runner for water and a different server for a menu bc one of our food items came out wrong. The manager was talking to the table next to us for quite sometime and it was clear that she knew the people but she never once stopped talking to turn and ask if everything was good with our food...which it was not. My husband got the shrimp and grits which was a bowl of decadent mess, too rich for our taste and the shrimp tasted funny...like chlorine or something, as strange as that sounds. We got the chicken salad for an appetizer which was delicious. I ordered the red dragon roll which was ok. I didn't find it to be anything worth a return visit or an excellent review, there are a lot of better sushi places that charge less. For dessert we got the sticky icky, which was good. Overall, this experience wasn't worth the time or money unfortunately and we will not be returning.
(2)Robin T.
Great outdoor dining with an ocean view. Love small plates. However, 2 out of the 3 dishes arrived at our table cold. The waitress raved about the date toffee dessert but it was mediocre.
(4)Mayank R.
This place is so awesome. We hung out at the bar twice after swimming in the ocean right in the front of the bar. The drinks are great, friendly bartenders and great food. The sampler cocktails are great. And edamame n octopus were so perfectly cooked and flavorful. Yummy. And the view is just amazing.
(4)Ed B.
Wow. Love this place. First is the atmosphere very cool chill with house music playing in the background. Nice location on the beach. Place is for sharing which is very cool and allows to get different dishes. We started with tomato bread with manchego cheese. Then goat cheese croquettes wow!! Next we split a filet, Mac n cheese and corn. Amazing don't believe me I'll punch you in the face;)... Finished with a great dessert some sort of creme fresh thing. Really good!! Drinks were the only down side but could have been off night. All in all would absolutely return and recommend
(5)Steve S.
The only reason I gave this place 4 stars and not 5 is because they told me a half hour wait and it ended up being an hour and half. With that being said the food here is amazing, it's all served in in small portions so four to five plates is perfect for 2 people. The service I was great too
(4)Erika M.
4.5 stars S3 is located inside the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach. We went there for an impromptu birthday gathering on a Wednesday night. We were able to reserve an outdoor area for a large party with no problem on the same day. The restaurant is simply beautiful. The hostess area is located in the middle of the restaurant, so we were confused on what to do for a minute. We asked the bartender and he lead us the way. (I wonder how many times he gets asked that!) We were lead to our "table". It was a large booth that overlooked the ocean. Breathtaking! There was a beautiful fire pit that just added to the romantic ambience. My husband ordered me a blackberry lychee mojito. It was delicious! Just the perfect combo of sweet and strong! We couldn't read the menus without the help of our iPhones but survived. They had a ton of small plates (my fav!). Here's what we ordered: - Seven spice seared scallops with Asian risotto, edamame purée and truffle vinaigrette: Orgasmic! (Can I say that on here?) - Chicken Salad with goat cheese, almonds, avocado, bacon and apple: Great! - Marinated lamb chops: I did not try these but my husband ate them all - Short Ribs with roasted tomato and black pepper spaetzle: I don't know what the heck spaetzle is but these were damn good! - Mac & Cheese with Gouda cheese and prosciutto: it was delicious! Not best I've ever had but delicious - Corn with chili aioli and queso cojita: the messiest and best thing (besides the scallops) I wish I would have remembered to take photos but I was having the best time! I will definitely come back with just my husband for a romantic dinner under the stars!
(4)Jon W.
Staff was friendly for the most part but my sushi roll came out first and I waited for my girlfriend to receive her mahi mahi for 5 minutes. After 10 more minutes, our waiter was no where to be found and my sushi was finished when she received her lunch. No apology for the delay. The bottle beer I had was also 6 months old, which should usually be cycled out. Not worth the price.
(2)Brian x.
Fantastic! Had a 8:15 reservation but got to restaurant 30min early on a packed Friday night and they were able to seat us early. Service, FOOD and atmosphere were perfect. Thanks S3 for a really enjoyable meal. Our server Lauren was great!!
(5)Carolyn B.
Celebrated birthday dinner. Party of 6. Food was great. Service great. Table was awful! We made a reservation 3 weeks in advance and we got a table by the front door. This is not acceptable. Food is eclectic and trendy. Sitting on the end there were guests and hosts on top of us. The other 2 tables at the window were not occupied when we got there. We didn't complain. But for almost $500. - you would hope they could've made a better accommodation. Matt our server was excellent!!!
(3)Laura H.
This place just opened a few months ago. It is on the Hilton property. Started out with drinks turning into dinner splitting three small plates. Shrimp bruschetta then seven spice scallops following with Mac n cheese. Best part is they break up the experience bringing one plate after the next spacing them out. Bar is awesome. Plenty of seating half in half outside. Huge wine selection. Staff is really good. Bathroom clean. This is NOT a Hilton establishment where you earn multiplier points as a Hilton Honors member. They share the property. Big difference. Nice job!
(4)Jessica C.
I had the opportunity to come to brunch here because my boyfriend is an avid yelper and he wanted to meet his fellow yelp friends. I had heard from co-workers this place had great drinks and appetizers for happy hour during the week. Upon walking up the view itself gets a 4 star it's in a great location at the hilton hotel (was not exactly psyched about supporting the competition but whatever) the day was beautiful and we had a table outside overlooking the ocean. For drinks I started off with a mimosa. I have to say it wasn't the best mimosa I've had. It was a little on the bitter side for me. It tasted like the champagne wasn't the best quality which caused the bitterness in taste. For my selections, I chose the goat cheese croquettes. And they were delicious! They had the perfect balance of tartness and flavor and they had a guava sauce on the Plate to scrape your croquette with. I have to say guava can have a distinct taste and many would consider it an acquired taste. I enjoyed this dish. My only complaint is I wish it could've been hotter when it arrived. For my main dish, I ordered the shrimp and crab roll. I never order sushi because 99.9% of rolls are made with avocado and I'm extremely allergic. To my surprise this roll didn't contain avocado and was prepared with my 2 favorite things, crab and shrimp. This roll was delicious. It had the perfect balance of flavors and certainly did not taste like the typical roll. Overall, I enjoyed my experience, it wasn't my best meal, but it earned 4 stars because of its location and view. In my opinion, the lunch and dinner menus looked more appealing. I will definitely be back.
(4)SayYesToTheDress N.
Went here for a birthday dinner last night, and had a wonderful time. Great staff. Our waitress, Hannah was terrific! Food was on point. Drinks were ok. Ambiance was perfect. I was so impressed, I'm thinking about coming back to try S3 out for lunch!
(5)S K.
Yesterday my boyfriend and I went to brunch at S3. I had made a reservation using OpenTable. As far as accessibility, I wish parking was easier; however, I know it is spring in Fort Lauderdale, so I can't fault the restaurant. I wonder if they have parking validation through the hotel?? Anyway, we were immediately sat down at a booth/table. The seating was a little low for the table, but very comfortable, and of course the view was great. The ambiance could not be better. The server came relatively quickly to take our drink order, and while we were at it, we ordered the small plate of fried goat cheese. The food came before our drinks, and we did need to remind our server of our water. I was downgrading them at this point to auto 4 starts because I was sensing the service would not be at my expectations.. however, read on and you'll find out why I had to give them 5 stars. While we were at S3 for brunch, I ordered a Thai Coconut Tuna roll thing. My boyfriend ordered the huevos rancheros. Both were delightful, and the sushi quality was exceptional. We also ordered more than a few cocktails - all of which had a nice pour, weren't too weak, and were very tasty. I liked the Beach Breeze most. Finally, we ordered some edamame. This was the best edamame dish I have had! It is seasoned well and very flavorful. The service was on par and our server was very attentive! Our tab came to just over $100, and I wanted to leave a cash tip. I thought I did... but I walked away without doing so, only to remember about 30 minutes later and see that the gratuity I intended to leave was still in my wallet. Quickly, we returned to give our server his due tip. And that is how I gave back the extra star to S3.... we all make mistakes.
(5)Gizel A.
Beautiful atmosphere, great food (best edemames ever), great drinks. Have gone many times and can't wait to go back.
(5)Jill R.
I came with my girlfriends for a late dinner. This restaurant is part of the Hilton Fort Lauderdale right on the beach. It was such a beautiful spot. We sat outside near the fire pits. The tables and outside furniture created a beautiful beachside ambiance. We shared a few tapas and ordered 2 bottles of Grafigna Pinot Grigio.My favorite tapas were the goat cheese croquettes and the sushi nacho! Service was great! I would definitely recommend this hot spot to people visiting the downtown Fort Lauderdale area!
(5)Jessica L.
If I had to describe this place in 3 words, they would be outstanding, sexy, and refreshing. It's nice to finally have a great place to eat on the beach with an amazing view. The tuna tower was absolutely fresh and delicious. Brussels sprouts are better than mine and that's some pretty stiff competition! Service was up to perfection, staff very knowledgeable. I recommend this to anyone local or on vacation looking for amazing food with quality and love!
(5)Joshua M.
I'm giving S3 5 stars because of the incredibly detailed and strategic method/preparation of the honey mustard. Dylan has done it again!!!!
(5)Erich M.
Just joined yelp and found my favorite place in FLL would be great for my first review. S3 is set in a great location with great ocean views/ breezes, reasonably priced and full of beautiful people for those who like to people watch. Drinks are awesome if you know what you like. The food ... consistently good. Try the tuna tower and the pomme frites with parmesan aioli and your date I am sure will have one of those special moments.
(5)Suzi C.
We arrive at 7:30ish and were told by the hostesses that there is a wait of 45 minutes. I proceed to go online and make a reservation via open table in 15 minutes, hostesses seem confused and somewhat annoyed when I tell them we actually have a reservation now. Cocktails were pretty yummy, I had a thymetini. The bartender was friendly and honest about what drinks to order. As for the food, it is just okay. The Brussels sprouts were the highlight, but we did not order any meat, which was probably a mistake since the kitchen did smell like a campfire. Oh and be prepared that if you sit outside to eat, which is the best part of this restaurant, drunk patrons will smoke and the staff will ignore it, even if you complain. Only a non-smoker like myself will be annoyed by this.
(2)Gracey M.
Love this place. Great for happy hour. The only reason I didn't give this place 5 stars is because I was not happy with the wine selection by the glass. By the bottle selections were ok. The tuna roll is delicious.
(4)Maria E.
I live in Fort Lauderdale, and S3 is my go-to place for taking either business or personal visitors who need the "eat on the beach" experience. The food is good quality, the sushi/fish is very fresh, the menu has a wide variety of reasonably priced options and the outside area is beautiful. Solid choice. They don't get my 5 because there are definitely better options in the city. The music can be quite loud unless you're lucky enough to get a seat outside in the cocktail area, but service is a bit spotty out there. Execution isn't always consistent, and sometimes plates come out sloppy- whether it's the fault of a rushed kitchen or a forgetful cocktail waitress. Some of the dishes are a bit lack-luster. Valet parking is annoying. These are pretty minor issues, though, and I've had many great experiences here with guests who are consistently pleased with the food and atmosphere.
(4)Krystal O.
I was at S3 this past saturday for a cocktail - had the orange snap and it was very good. Unfortunately it was raining while I was there but I'd be excited to go back for a dinner here. The menu looked really good and restaurant is beautiful - would make for a sexy date night.
(4)Scott P.
Great place to enjoy the ambiance of Ft. Lauderdale Beach. We sat outside on a full moon night and enjoyed the outside entertainment offered on a monthly basis. This time it was a great salsa band with professional dancers. Service was attentive and diligent. My date and I shared a wonderful rainbow roll (sushi), great mac and cheese, and awesome Grilled Shrimp toast. Food was really tasty. Would definitely be back. Great place for a semi-casual dinner date.
(4)Ani J.
This place was just a few blocks away from our hotel, so we decided to give it a try. We didnt have any reservations, but they were able to seat us inside. All the outdoor seats were taken. They do have a bar area, but the tables are too small for the tapas style food. The waiter was very friendly and promptly took our order. We ordered the following: - Wok Charred Edamame: OMG....sooo good!!! I have never had Edamame that tasted so good. Its spicy and so flavorful. Just order this. - Rosemary Frittes: Warm and flavorful - Zellwood Corn: Delicious - Veggie Sushi Roll: Decent....nothing great. - Cookie with some ice-cream and caramel sauce: They dont have a dessert menu, so when the waiter was giving us the options, this one sounded the best. It was a little too sweet for my taste, but worth trying. Overall, this place has delicious food and great ambiance. If you get outdoor seating, you eat while staring at the ocean. Thumbs Up from me!!
(4)Tiffany G.
Great ambience and great food! We sat outdoors, and really enjoyed the view! The grilled octopus was the most tender octopus I have ever had, and very tasty! The deviled eggs were very flavorful, and the Mac n cheese was rich, but good! My friend ordered sushi and really enjoyed it! I was pregnant still when I was here, so will have to try their sushi next trip! I definitely recommend this place for an enjoyable beach day lunch or dinner!!
(4)Sarah M.
My hubby and I had dinner here before setting out for a cruise, and it was just fabulous. We enjoyed everything, from the Brussels sprouts to the sushi. I got the cocktail flight, and it was great to sample different flavors in smaller quantities. It has an open feel, and you can see the beach past the patio.
(5)Mark W.
Went last night for dinner - atmosphere sitting outside, was perfect. It was 65-68 degrees low humidity - DJ mixing music good bar scene. Breezy on Ft. Lauderdale beach was picturesque. The staff was helpful to get the table we wanted. Dinner was a combination of small plates - sushi items - short rib - tasted like Grandma's well braised beef. A nice burrata salad - edamame sautéed with garlic were really tasty. The deep fried artichoke with Aoli was just ok. The Grilled Octopus was excellent. It was a fun night - Don Julio on the rocks & lime - kept me from taking pictures of the plates.
(5)Natalie R.
Everyone needs to come here and splurge a little! The food was amazing. My favorites were the ricotta gnocchi's and the heirloom tomatoes! The presentations are amazing and the tastes are like no restaurant I've been to before.
(5)Sarah B.
As a local, I've been waiting to try this place ever since I started to see initial construction months ago. I tried it today for brunch and was not disappointed! After looking at their menu online, I knew they had a sangria sampler that I was excited to try. However our waitress said that they were trying a new sampler of their specialties drinks, so I picked out three delicious drinks and found my new favorite: the blackberry lychee! It had freshly muddled blackberries and was perfect for a Sunday afternoon. My mom ordered the Bloody Mary sampler and she enjoyed tasting the different varieties they offered. On to the food, we ordered two apps. The Brussels Sprouts (which were to die for) and the donuts (because after all, it was brunch!). I highly recommend the Brussels Sprouts even for those who are not fans. As one of my family sayings goes, "It tasted like candy!". For our lunch dishes, I ordered the pork belly benedict. It came on a biscuit and was topped with collard greens (YUM), the pork belly and a mustard hollandaise sauce. The eggs were cooked perfect, and there was just the right amount of pork belly and hollandaise sauce. My mom had the Kamikaze roll which was pretty good, but I didn't think it was rolled tight enough. Lastly my cousin had the shrimp and grits. The shrimp were great. However being from the south and having my Nana make shrimp and grits at home, we were disappointed in the tasso gravy that was served on the dish. It was full of tomatoes, which I believe a tasso cream sauce usually does not have. I do appreciate a restaurant putting their own spin on a dish, however sometimes the classics shouldn't be messed with. We had wonderful, quick, and knowledgeable service from Amanda. She was extremely attentive and had great recommendations for our table of people that had never been there. Ask for her to be your waitress! One down side was parking. I don't mind valeting my car at all, and usually that is what I prefer (I didn't even paying the fee). However, the valet was extremely slow in getting our car. I understand that S3 is located on a busy side street on A1A, but the valet guys didn't even seem to hustle as we were waiting over 5 minutes for our car. I know this isn't the restaurants fault, and believe me I still plan on being a regular here. I do suggest valeting, just be prepared to wait if your car wasn't parked on the first level of the parking garage. I look forward to going back and trying dinner and other drinks! Go and you won't be disappointed.
(4)Kristin R.
Can't beat the beachfront location. Lovely environment offering ample menu offerings and creative drinks. Happy hour is right on and the drinks taste great. Service is on point and the fire pits in the evening offer a tranquil setting everyone can enjoy. This restaurant is located at the bottom level of the Hilton beach hotel. One of my local favorites.
(4)Cara S.
Looking for a great places for small plates and good vino. This is it. Went there tonight with our little one. Awesome night. Fancy enough for a night out with the girls/boys but still cosy enough for a family night out. Our waiter was Chris, he was perfect. He was exactly what you want on a night out. Almost like your best friend serving you dinner. As for the the food. Extremely well priced for the amazing quality. The steak was to die for. You in Ft Lauderdale, come here. 5 star service and food without the 5 star price and pretentious BS. Thank you for an amazing evening.
(5)Katie M.
Yelpers, you didn't let me down! The hubs and I were in Fort Lauderdale for a wedding and were looking for a spot close to our hotel to eat dinner when we stumbled upon the reviews for S3. The speciality drinks flights was a fun way to start the meal...the grilled octopus was ammmmmazing...heck, the entire meal was so incredible that we were tempted to visit two nights in a row for dinner. (We still regret our decision to choose a different restaurant for dinner night 2) Helpful hint: we called the restaurant for a reservation and were told that there was nothing available. We logged onto OpenTable and were able to reserve a table within 15 mins of our desired reservation time!
(5)Duana M.
The food here is amazing! If you're not a big fan of tapas at least give S3 a chance and please try their macaroni.
(5)Lindsay M.
Great service! We sat at the bar during happy hour and enjoyed some great appetizers and drinks! It was a rainy day but the view was still nice. We will definitely be returning the next time we visit Fort Lauderdale!
(5)Susan T.
been here for lunch, brunch and dinner. Great place to enjoy some good food/drinks while on the beach. Great service, relaxing... hard not to enjoy yourself here. Love that it's tapas style so you eat a little of many things.
(4)A N.
THE GOOD: - I'm trying my best to be nice before I get into the areas of concern. I will start by saying I had really high hopes for this place, given reviews. - Waiter appeared nice & attentive initially, offered to take the brussel sprouts off my bill. - Head host also came over to apologize for the brussel sprouts. THE BAD: - Brussel sprouts were way too salty and had to completely stop eating them. - The octopus and mac 'n' cheese were a little on the salty side, as well. Maybe more so, because I already started with salty brussels that inundated my taste buds. And trust me, I love salt, so if I think a dish is too salty, that is a FIRST! - The sorbet was somewhat icy so it was tough cutting into it. Once I waited ~5min to melt a little, it was creamier. THE UGLY: - The service got quite a bit slower and it's not like there were that many people in the restaurant as it was after 9pm on a weeknight. - I don't know if I may have pissed someone off for the brussel sprouts, but I received the check and in a line item, it subtracted $9 with the description, "NO LIKE FOOD". I'm Asian, and I was greatly offended as it implied that is how I speak, that I used broken English to describe what happened with the sprouts. Could have been an honest mistake by the person who typed it in and not some intentional typo. But seems insensitive even if it were a coincidence. I am not looking for an apology, but wanted to bring this up as something that the restaurant or any place should be mindful of when serving Asians.
(1)Edward H.
DINNER FOOD: GOOD SERVICE: POOR Ocean views from just about every table gives this restaurant an advantage over others on Fort Lauderdale beach. It is located inside The Hilton Hotel but operated by The Restaurant People, who own and operate at least 5 restaurants and bars. Their success is the result of hard work by founder Tim Petrillo, Chef Peter Bouloukos and developer Alan Hooper. Whether you sit inside or outside the interior design and views give a perceived value,but the food and beverage prices at dinner are moderate to expensive. We ordered Brussels sprouts that were seasoned with pork, mint and peanuts, grilled octopus tossed with green herbs and navy beans, Snapper Kimchee with avocado and yuzu and grilled artichokes as starters. All were delicious but I think the artichokes were better without the heavy Remoulade. We paused to savor the flavors, drink wine and have laughs before choosing our entrees. The Large Plate section on the menu is considered entree portions. I noticed that most of the protein offerings had a designation except for the marinated Lamb chops and the Ribeye steak. I was interested in the Lamb Chops so I asked the waitress where they were from, she didn't know. I asked her to enquire and returns with news they were from New Zealand. I prefer Colorado Lamb but two of us ordered them anyway because the Mediterranean preparation sounded appealing. It was served with garbanzo beans, feta cheese and cherry tomatoes which was delicious but the Lamb was grizzly,fatty and only yielded 40% meat. Although the Mahi Rice & Beans with Mango Chutney was excellent. The waitress didn't return to the table until we were finished eating dinner and said nothing as she cleared away 60% of the Lamb that remained on our plates.I would hope being as successful as The Restaurant People are there is protocol for servers to follow when noticing unfinished meals.If this restaurant has protocol this waitress did not follow it. I am not a tourist and will return to sample other menu items, just not the New Zealand Lamb Chops. And hope the service is more attentive when I do.
(3)Max T.
good food, nice atmosphere, but fairly non existent service. i wanted to order more but my server didnt stop by once in the 45 minutes i was there so i just grabbed my check and left instead.
(4)Kristen D.
We didn't eat here butt enjoyed the live entertainment and music on a Sunday night. There was a fire dancing guy and salsa dancer. Breeze was beautiful. Lots of outdoor seating. Such a fun night. We actually had our kids with us and another family did too!
(5)Tobias S.
Great Restaurant me and my cousin have literally dinned there 5 times. Always a great experience. Just wish they had a better dessert menu. Love the sliders, gnocchi ugh everything.
(5)Brad D.
Would definitely be a five star but for our experience with the server. Food: Awesome; Atmosphere: Awesome; Location: Awesome; Server: she'd fit right in with the fast food chain restaurants (heck, they wouldn't even have to train her). All said and done, definitely a place to try again, but definitely not with that Denny's server. Update: must have been an off day for the server. We've returned to S3 several times during our stay for lunches and dinners (yes, it's that addictive). Each time service was spot on and the food was fantastic. The tapas/small plate approach worked wonderful, giving the opportunity to try several of their dishes. Their Edamame is awesome, Wok grilled with sesame and a hint of hot spices. It's a combination of all the previous Edamame we've tried and liked, all rolled into one. S3 is a definite must try on the beach.
(5)L D.
Rarely do you find a restaurant that has the trifecta of excellent food, service and atmosphere. S3 has it all! The setting is fantastic, with inside/outside seating across the street from the beach! We sat at the bar and the bar tender was immediately attentive. Fantastic drink menu. We were seated for dinner outside with an overhead roof. Our server Kelly, was attentive and gave us suggestions on what to order. We shared small and big plates. The food was outstanding! We met one of the managers, Jenn, whom could not have done more to make us feel welcome. The great thing about this place is it is versatile. We could bring our kids (on the earlier side), clients, friends and if we had a private event, this place would be an excellent venue. We highly recommend S3 for a fun and delicious night out! Leila & Steve D.,
(5)Nicole S.
I personally know the owner and I can say this place has awesome food. As a high school friend of the owner, I would recommend this place to anyone looking for delicious food in an upscale atmosphere
(5)Trey H.
Great atmosphere for a quick lunch or a night out with friends!!! The food is the real reason to keep coming back... Try the Brisket Sliders ; )
(4)Jessica B.
The scenery was pretty great as was the edamame. The sushi could stand for serious improvement. I'll find another place for sushi.
(3)Rocki R.
i was pleasantly surprised how fun and good this place was. We went on a friday night and they had a live dj playing. They serve both tapa style, sushi and Main plates here. It fits every taste with land and sea options. My man got the Filet, it was a bit under cooked for him but it was tender and tastefully done, came with finger potatoes. Fish was fresh in the 2 sushi rolls, Gnnochi was a little on the salty side but flavor was still really good. Goat cheese balls (4 in a order) and fried artichoke hearts. Wood fired steak tapa and the mac and cheese was my fav. Mac and cheese was the best ive ever had.
(4)Monique C.
Been over two years since I moved from Ft. Lauderdale to Brooklyn, and I wanted to eat on the beach. My girly and I were actually looking for a different fish restaurant, but ran into S3 first, so this was the spot for us and our hungry bellies. I get edamame all the time just to eat while I'm waiting on my food, but THIS EADAMAME is SO GOOD! Flavorful with some kinda soy glaze. We were sad it was gone. I have to get crab cakes everywhere I go. Mandatory. If it's on the menu, I'm eating it. These were really nice, quality crab meat. Delicious. Sushi was good, not the best I've ever had, but not disappointing. Above average. Overall, a really good meal with an amazing view (eat outdoors, no matter the temp) and great service. Throw in good company and this is a definite beach destination worth the trip.
(5)Claudia J.
The view is unbelievably awesome!!!.... want have some time overlooking the beach?? go to S3!!! it has seating outside and inside, lots of people coming here... and I think the view has to do with it also... well... plus the food. Had the Banh Mi Sandwich, which was yummy!!... the baguette a bit way too toasty, but the flavor was just right! good ambiance, nice staff, and great view, can you ask for more????
(4)Jeremy B.
2.5 stars generously rounded up to 3. S3 is a new place on Fort Lauderdale Beach. It's owned by the same group that owns Yolo and basically looks like Yolo overlooking the beach. The outside patio is nice place to hang out because you get the ocean breeze. The interior looks nice (better inside than outside) and they are trying to emit an upscale, trendy vibe. Food is not cheap but not surprising given the location, The service is still definitely working out the kinks. I hope they get better. I was smart and ordered drinks straight from the bar. My friends that attempted to have a server bring their drinks had to wait forever each time. My wife and her friends were hungry and ordered a sushi tray and it took like 45 minutes - 1 hour to come out. They did say the sushi was really good and I tried one piece and agreed. Cocktails are $12-$15 apiece and not very strong. Of course I asked for a craft beer. The only thing they have craft are beers by Florida Beer Co such as Florida Lager and Key West Sunset Ale. These are better than Miller/Bud/Corona/Heineken but still nothing special. They should get some higher end brands, as their selection does not reflect that of an upscale restaurant. Just compare the menu to that of Steak 954 next door at the W. But overall I can't hate on a nice looking spot right on the beach and it I were staying at the Hilton or Atlantic hotels, this is a nicer spot to go than McSorley's, Sandbar and Parrot down the street.
(3)Dom D.
Went Saturday night. 930 reservation and it was still packed. Perfect table out side looking at a1a. Food was so good! Top five sushi rolls I've had, great small plates! Short ribs, scallops, Brussel sprouts (as good as craft in NYC) and many others. Only knock were drinks we had at bar far better then at table. Time was spent making drinks at bar, at table they were thrown together. The thyme tini was light color at bar and nearly black at table. GM did table visit and was super friendly and working the restaurant well. Still 5 stars despite drink.
(5)Douglas C.
Had some friends in town from Chicago who are dealing with dreadfully cold weather and decided that trying S3 and eating outdoors on Fort Lauderdale beach would be a nice change of pace for them. Even through it was dark by the time we ate, its still a great location across from the beach. I had been wanting to try this place for a while. I made a reservation through Open Table and S3 called to confirm my reservation the day of, and asked if I had a seating preference. Nice touch. Showed up at the restaurant on a Thursday night and the place was busy but there were a few open tables. We were able to chose our table, which is a nice accommodation for a busy restaurant. The restaurant is much larger than I had expected so it looks like they can seat a lot of people and be really busy. The outdoor bar area has some nice big screen televisions, seating area, fire pits. Modern decor but not overly fancy. A very comfortable ambiance. Service was excellent the entire night. Our waitress was training, but was nice, friendly and eager to serve us, and the waitress training our waitress was with her practically the whole night, helping to fill in any gaps in menu descriptions, ordering advice and answer questions. No service complaints whatsoever. Food for the most part was very good. This is a tapas style place with some larger dishes so you do need to develop a game plan for ordering. They just bring out the dishes (in what appears to be order of plate size) with the "large plates" appearing last. We had the soy glazed edamame which was a uniquely salty and tasty dish. Sun roll sushi which was good, a seafoood tower that was awesome containing crab meat tuna and a fried wonton cracker. We had the scallops which were recommended by our trainer waitress which were in a very richly flavored sauce. We had lambchops which were excellent but did come out a bit rarer than we had ordered. We also had the mac and cheese which was creamy goodness, the rotisserie chicken which was tender tasty and excellent (the ratatouille served with the chicken was also great), and a grouper special which underwhelmed. The grouper was the only dish of the night that got a thumbs down. A bit too salty, fishy and overcooked. For dessert a layer cake that got increaingly better with each bite served a long with some ducle de leche ice cream. As for drinks, we did not order specialty drinks but rather wine, beer, gin and whiskey. All pours were generous. Dinner was pricey but we did order some pricey items and was not outrageous. The menu is rather large with a lot of enticing items. I plan to return to try some more of them.
(4)Elizabet V.
My boyfriend and I frequent S3. The food is exquisite. Always well presented and very tasty. Good to go with a group as the food comes out in small plates to share so you get a chance to savor a few dishes appose to a couple. And the atmosphere is great during the day you look onto the ocean. At night they have fire pits out front which is pretty cool. Love it!!! Try it you won't be disappointed.
(5)Dana M.
My co-worker recommended this restaurant and raved about how good it was. I am so glad I took her advice! I will be back for sure! Great views and I love how the restaurant has an open feel. We sat inside but felt like we were outside. Perfect combination especially if it's hot. We decided to try the mac & cheese based on the other reviews...it did not disappoint. We also did the trio of drinks which makes so much sense to do because you get to try an array of different drinks and the price isn't bad either $14 for 3. On the brunch menu we had the crabcake benedict... so delish and the special the had for the day. You will not be disappointed!
(4)Tim N.
This place is a must do if only for the views! (Which are amazing) The menu is very eclectic which is what this owner does with most of his restaurants so plan on seeing everything from mac & cheese to sushi (not together though :-) Anyway I'm a grazer by nature so this works well for me. S3 = all good.
(4)Dee B.
This is our "go to" place within walking distance to entertain our friends visiting us on the beach. It is dynamic, modern, elegant, and non pretentious at the same time somehow. You'll see large groups with families with youngsters, and you'll see hipsters hanging out with lots of glam and bling simultaneously. I love it. And the food, like someone else said, is definitely worth the price here on fickle-food-ft-loddy-beach. We have been several times since S3 opened and the food quality has not wavered. Its far enough away from the clamor and trifle of beach place, but still a great location for tourists and locals alike. We love sharing the small plates--a bruschetta take, skirt steak on yuca sticks, a designer bowl of Mac n cheese with ham pieces, an octopus dish, a shrimp tempura roll, rosemary frittes, it was all presented lovely and tasted phenomenal. I can't rave enough about the edamame wood grilled with some soy sesame seed mixture. The variety of the menu is not overwhelming, its just right. There is pretty much something for many tastes, and at least to try without committing to a huge entree, which are also fabulous and available. The chocolate chip cookie thing with ice cream has gotten even better......the scoop was bigger this time! Our server was extremely attentive. He was patient and made great suggestions. Everyone we take always wants go back as soon as possible. Yay S3!
(5)SB S.
I'm iffy about spots on the beach. They tend to be over priced and touristy. This was definitely over priced but the food was great. Fresh sushi, and very tasty. The farro salad was just scrumptious. Definitely try it. That's about all I tried here but I'd go back for sure. Oh, they validate for the parking valet during lunch. I wish the waiter was kind enough to offer to do that for me instead of me finding out when I asked for my car all the way back at valet. It's small things like that that plus hVe gotten this place an extra star
(3)H M.
Amazing atmosphere. Great food. Was even great with kids! Recommend it to everyone. Such a cool place!
(5)Steve R.
S3 may have just taken the lead as our favorite restaurant on the beach. The decor is impressive and the bar lounge area is set up in such a way that you can see yourself spending the day there (if you can afford it!). The layout provides for ample indoor or outdoor seating. The views are quite nice but probably not that much better than other beach restaurants. Overall though, the ambiance is pretty impressive. The service is pretty good. The staff can probably be a bit warmer but they are professional enough. Something feels just a bit stuffy about them. But for a newer restaurant, service is pretty solid. The food is really good and some items are excellent. Of all we've tried in our visits, we found the dragon roll and the chocolate layer cake just OK. The croquettes, short rib, mac and cheese, and beet salad were very good. And the sushi nacho, octopus, scallops and the warm blondie cookie were outstanding. The sushi taco was probably the most impressive and surprising over all. It is prepared like a tuna tartare with guacamole and is served on a fried wonton. It was great. The prices are a bit high but there are some reasonably priced glasses of wine on the menu. Overall, our meals have been great. With a little more friendly service and maybe a few lesser priced items, I think we could comfortably give S3 5 stars. For now, we think they deserve a strong 4. We'll definitely be back, often.
(4)Chuck Z.
Very nice location with a great view of the beach.... Wide open windows/doors allow for an awesome breeze. Food was good, we had sushi and small plates of which I liked the paella the best. Sushi was a bit bland, perhaps it was the rolls and sashimi we ordered? A bit pricey but not unreasonable for where we were at. Check it out if you are close and need a nice bite.
(4)Jose N.
What a terrible experience. Had a reservation for 9:15 PM for a party of eight people. Got here early, And was told that our table would be ready in five minutes. About an hour later, it seems they gave away our table to someone else and made us wait even longer. All they kept telling us was that we had to continue waiting. Meanwhile, they seated many parties ahead of us That got here well after we did. This is the first and last time I will come to this place.
(1)Leighanne L.
Great spot! Thanks again to Yelp! The ambiance, the service and the food were all fantastic. Started with shrimp tempura sushi roll and sparkling saki yummy! We had the crab cakes, delicious The brussels sprouts Seasoned wonderfully The beef short ribs so tender they fall apart. All in all it was time well spent, we will come back when we are in town!
(4)Heather B.
Everything we ate here was amazing!!!! Pork belly, Mac n cheese, sushi, sliders and doughnuts for dessert. Wait staff was very friendly and attentive as was the chef we were seated in front of (Steve, maybe?). We can't wait to come back again soon! Thanks for a great dining experience!
(5)G S.
Wonderful location, ocean views from the outdoor lounge and bar. Nice place to hangout with friends. Thankfully we made reservations, it was a Thu night (7/31) and the place filled up immediately after getting seated. Perfect spot by the window facing the ocean. We were a party of 6 we placed our orders and shared everything! Regret not taking a picture of All the food we ate! Specialty drinks were pretty good, refreshing, the server helped us decide. Hamachi Kimchee, Tuna Tower, Red Dragon-Rainbow & Riceless Rolls, Grilled Octopus, crisp baby artichoke, asparagus, seared scallops, grilled mahi, Mac & cheese. Our dishes were fresh, perfectly grilled, rich & delicious. The Grilled Octopus w/salsa verde was so tender perfectly seasoned we got 2 orders and the Mac & cheese with the smoked Gouda & crispy prosciutto was so rich, it had to be shared. Creme brûlée and ice cream, nice ending to our wonderful evening. You won't regret bringing your guests here or having a romantic evening with your loved one. S3 did a great job taking care of us.
(5)Desiree S.
I'm completely in love with the baby tomato hairloom salad, a MUST try!!!! And the service is incredible. I love this pplace
(5)Morgan B.
In my opinion, the best restaurant on the beach. Various menu options from sushi to mac and cheese, excellent tapas and beachfront view. A little pricey, but fair in comparison to other beach restaurants. Happy hour during the week, great atmosphere.
(4)Donna P.
The first time at S3 was a spontaneous moment as we were on a walk with our 2 dogs and stopped in. We had a great nite on the patio/lounge. The 2 gas fireplaces make the outdoor area charming warm, the view of the ocean/palm trees -- it's really nice. The food and service -- the rosary fries - fabulous, the mac and cheese delicious, salads, artichokes, sushi ..... not a complaint from our group - we enjoyed everything. The patio/lounge service can be slow - there is usually 1 server during the week and if busy -- she's running from table to table. The view and food -- won't disappoint.
(4)John S.
This is the third(ish?) time we have been here, and it was absolutely the best. We got goat cheese croquettes that we immediately wanted a second order of, short rib sliders we also wanted seconds of, scallops that were perfect and delicious and wonderful, and Mac and cheese for dessert. Best dinner yet. Can't stop obsessing. Gin tickle is the best drink. Boyfriend had diablo cervesa (craft man cocktail). So good. So fat. So happy. Irene was a great server. Written by Stefanie S.
(4)Virdina M.
I had some type of sushi there but honestly wasn't impressed with it. However, their pork belly, warm salad thing, skirt steak, shrimp bread were all delicious. They have great options. Berry mojito was good. They had one drink that had a foam on top of it that was frankly gross. They should print a dessert menu. The waiter recited 5 different desserts and expected us to remember them....no. Just print a menu. It's weird. We ordered the blondie, donuts and their chocolate cake or something. Their desserts are yummy.
(4)Allan S.
The night we had dinner here the waitress suggested that we try the cookie dessert. I instead opted for something else that turned out to be a disappointment. Last night we stopped by for drinks and dessert; again we asked the server what she recommended .. "the cookie dessert" she replied. So the cookie dessert it was; and it was OUTSTANDING! Along with the espresso.
(5)Noreen B.
I live in Fort Lauderdale and met a friend there that came in from out-of-town.the location on the beach is great. We only ordered two things. We ordered the macaroni and cheese and the skirt steak. We got the macaroni and cheese right away, but waited for ever for the skirt steak. We were offered a free dessert but we did not want anything. I would've thought they would comp something on the bill from having waited so long. I guess the only reason I would go back there, is if I want to take a friend to eat somewhere on the beach. But there are other options as well.
(3)Sara G.
Sushi was delicious. Location is amazing, right on the beach. Get a spot on the patio if you can. We didn't have a reservation so we sat inside but it was still awesome. Great wine. Amazing atmosphere. Apparently owned by the same people that own YOLO. If you like YOLO, you'll like S3. Service was a little slow on a Saturday night, but we had time...
(5)Susan B.
We arrived at s3 I'm am a locale and have been there numerous times,I love the food! Now upon our arrival the valet which has always been free with a validated ticket told us to validate ticket as we did after A horrible dinner service food awesome service the worst I asked for a wine list at the beginning and did not receive it until the end if dinner. The waiter could not hear me either I had to repeat twice time hear my food order. Then we walked out to the valley where they wanted 7 dollars and a tip. They usually ask for 5 dollars. They told me 14 dollars to park. I'm a local and was furious. Nobody was there I can't believe they did this.
(1)Ted S.
Not happy with service. Hard time to get waited on. Suggest they put more help on I walked out never to return
(1)Andy C.
S3 has an awesome vibe! It's so Fort Lauderdale. Great beach breeze, cool lighting and fun places to sit and enjoy the views. The food is awesome. Love the small plate menu as you can share a bunch of tasty items with your fellow diners at your table. Drinks are good too. Make reservations as this place is often packed.
(5)Natasha M.
Fabulous in every way possible. We went on a late Saturday night and had no problems with seating. Location perfect. Service great, we had mike and he did as requested and spaced out our plates at appropriate intervals. Food was excellent. Ceviche, eel roll were both good, the skirt steak was amazing, spare ribs, pork belly and Brussels sprouts were all good as well. Edamame were also made with a fun, spicy twist. Highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Virginie L.
I went here in my Birthday!' Everything was perfect, the food, drinks and ambience. I would highly recommend this place. Everything we ordered was great/)
(4)Kenton L.
This is beautiful restaurant for couples who want to do something romantic. The severs are professional and beautiful. The restaurant offers good food and drink with a nice view of the ocean. The DJ played many of the new house mix. But the big plus about this restaurant is the location. Also, It's very convenient if you happen to stay in the Hilton Hotel because it's located in front of the hotel.
(5)John F.
FINALLY- a restaurant on the beach that can justify their price tag!!! Thank goodness. Had lunch today- very good, creative, and fresh. Delicious coffee. Buratta salad, with giardiniera was awesome, fresh chicken salad was great, as well. Delicious dressings, fresh ingredients. Had a sushi roll with tuna, coconut, jalapeno, and macadamia nuts, wrapped in rice, then soy paper. Sweet, delicate flavor. Great location, in the Hilton, across from the beach. We will be back for dinner.
(4)Lauren C.
Pros: Great location/view on the beach on Las Olas. Cool outdoor bar area with fire pits and couches. Food is served tapas style so it comes out at all random times, which is ok if you're in the mood for that. The grilled octopus and the roasted Brussels sprouts were the two highlights of the dozen or so things out table ordered. Those were delicious. Cons: They offered to let me taste two wines before I ordered the glass I wanted, which I thought was great -- but then they charged me for two glasses! (one, which I did not order) Once we got the check, it was too busy and loud to communicate this to the server so I just paid for the glass I never got. They also won't split up checks for large parties -- boo. Not to sound like a complainer, but it is really loud in there too, you can't really hear anyone across the table from you.
(4)c l.
Best octopus I've ever had. I want to return just to get more of that grilled octopus. The sushi roll was very good, too, but I can't remember the name. Pork belly dish was good but not great. Tuna tower was okay. Overall, though, very good. Nice service. Nice atmosphere except a little heavy on the air conditioning.
(4)Chris S.
This place is an extremely nice and high class restaurant. Went with a friend and had no clue what to expect. The ambiance was amazing. We sat at the bar and ha excellent service and the food was excellent. Great scenery walking around and the beach was good too. I recommend getting some sushi. We really enjoyed the way things are served there. The food comes out as its ready instead of all at once. So there's a good break between food items. Excellent. I definitely recommend going there.
(5)Angela L.
Came here for lunch and had an awesome time! The mac and cheese was delicious!
(4)Keith G.
Everything was delicious! Octopus and croquettes and crab cakes, oh my! Fantastic service - attentive without being overbearing. Great place to try a bunch of different things. Will definitely be back! If you go, you must have the octopus!!!
(5)Tammy S.
One good meal and one bad meal. But the bad meal was a grouper that was not completely cooked. I sent that back and they gave me another that tasted ok. Then it just did not sit right in my stomach, had my doubts about the quality of the fish. Oddly, the sushi was great the night before.
(3)Scott A.
This place has an amazing setting! Water view and great patio area. Food is pretty good. Edamame is great. Chicken wings are why I rate only a 4 star, they where only ehh. Overall good. Server was good too.
(4)Kevin S.
Continue to be more than impressed with this place. Top to bottom this is probably the best restaurant in Fort Lauderdale (also check out lobster grille). S3 has some of the best items I have had. And definitely the best Mac and Cheese ever. Also get the edamame, short ribs, sliders, pretty much everything is great. Good drinks too, this place is a can't miss.
(5)Rachael S.
OK the stuffed peppers are one of the greatest things I have ever eaten, in my life. True story. Husband and I went for lunch and sat outside, absolutely beautiful. A true hidden treasure. Would be wonderful for large group dinners. We definitely want to go back with couples. You must sit outside, really lovely, relaxing beach view with great service.
(5)Phoebe R.
S3 is hands down in our top 2 beach restaurants. Most locals don't dine by the beach because there aren't great options but I'm so glad we found S3 because we always want something to eat when we go to the beach! It's menu is set up tapas style and each dish is appropriately priced for it's tasting portion. Their sushi is good but I wouldn't just stick with it alone because there are other great options. We got a shrimp tempura roll, tuna tower, goat cheese croquettes, Vietnamese wings and doughnuts. All were great but my boyfriend LOVED the tuna tower (it looked great but I don't eat fish so I can't say for myself) and we both wanted a few more doughnuts because they were so good. The water is mint (I think?) infused and it's a refreshing palate cleanser between bites. Surprisingly no cocktails were ordered but as I peeked at the ones near us I noticed that they looked very nice! Joseph was our waiter and he was friendly and attentive. The ambiance is lovely and who could complain about the perfect beach view? Another perk, comp valet for lunch! The bill for the two of us getting all of those items was just under $60 before tip so it's a pretty good value! We both work at area hotels and will definitely send guests to S3!
(5)J B.
Came in from NC and being a fan of YOLO, I wanted to try their newest restaurant. It did not disappoint! Something different with the small plate menus, I had a chance to try a lot of different dishes. Thai Tuna roll, Mac and cheese, and Sushi Nachos were my favorites. Also Goat Cheese Croquettes and Deviled Eggs were excellent. Setting was awesome, right on the beach. Definitely will be back. Give this place a try for something new and fresh.
(5)Jerry P.
Pleasantly surprised. Never know what you get when you have a restaurant connected to a hotel but Wow is all I can say. Apps were excellent, esp loved the tomato bread and Edemame. Nice selection of sushi rolls and the kids loved the Mac and cheese, with bacon how can it miss? Great view and open outdoor seating, excellent overall
(5)Kathy S.
First, the location here is prime and it's just so relaxing to sit by the water enjoying some delicious, flavorful food with a drink of choice. My personal favorite that they make at S3 is the Gin Tickle. (At least that's what I think it's called.) Our server was super knowledgeable about the menu and helped us in making sure we didn't over or under order food for the table. We had sushi, fish, steak, chicken, and the brussel sprouts! The sprouts were so delicious!! I highly recommend them. Their sushi was super fresh. Food was brought to the table quickly. We went around dinner time so the view was beautiful with the night sky falling and the ocean view.
(4)Lucy L.
Came here last weekend for cocktails with a friend. Highly recommend the 3 samplers: Blue Berry Lychee with Sake, Gin Tickle and Blue Berry Strawberry mojito. All were Delicious and beautifully garnished. Skip the Thai Coconut Mint one. I also had the Churrasco Steak with Yuca and mango bits--AMAZEBALLS. (keep in mind its Tapas style so you might need to order more than one dish.) Beautiful outdoor, indoor ambiance, right near the water, palm trees blowing. I highly recommend taking all out of town guests or visits for special occasions. Bartenders were hot and exotic looking, be sure to compliment them on their lipstick-they like that, lol. I will return, probably next weekend.
(5)Miranda B.
Very Good=Goat Cheese Croquettes & Orange Drop cocktail Great=Mac & Cheese & Chicken Salad & sitting outside at fire pit
(4)Gina M.
Wonderful food, drinks atmosphere. We had the filet mignon, fresh toasted tuna rolls, octopus, mac n chz with panchetta, everything was perfect. Definitely will be back.
(5)Sheila S.
1st timer to S3. I came here on a Tuesday evening with two friends. We had reservations and got right in. We had a round of signature cocktails that were delicious. The beverage/wine list was pretty expansive. Favorites were Mac n cheese, brussel sprouts and signature sushi rolls. The menu is pretty diverse and the prices were reasonable. The deserts were not amazing compared to the rest of the menu. Our only reason for 4 stars is our server, while efficient and not pushy, had little personality and didn't really seem like she wanted to be there. The manager on duty also came to check the table and was really personable. Overall experience was amazing and a nice addition to A1A!!
(4)Jenny V.
Awesome place. I'm glad we took a tip from our hotel concierge and ate here. The ambience is sleek and swanky but casual at the same time. The drinks and food were great. Service was wonderful. If the weather is nice as to sit outside.
(5)Lindy N.
My girlfriend and I finally decided to give this place try last wkend for lunch. The drinks were amazeeeee balls! haha..excuse my language! :) They were strong but bursting with flavor!!! We tried the crispy rice cake(yum yum delish!), thai tuna roll(good not my fave), Chilled seafood salad( great smoky flavor, but was expecting a refreshing zingy citrus dressing), and the grilled romaine(loved this one, romaine was still crisp)
(4)Gretchen A.
WHATEVER YOU DO GET THE SHORT RIBS! Absolutely to die for. The coffee rubbed flank steak with yucca was excellent as well. Everything we ordered was tasty and a good portion size. We came on a Monday night and it was packed which speaks to the quality of food here. Great selection of dishes- if you choose to eat here you will not regret it!
(5)Steven R.
Huge restaurant in the Hilton Hotel. Lots of outdoor seating, although who knows why in 78F weather they need to have gas fires near lots of the seating. Music was very loud indeed and generally detracted from the evening. Why can't they turn it down or switch it off. Service was generally poor. I'm European and not one to complain about the all-too-present service one finds in the US but these waiters were just nowhere to be seen a lot of the time. They were all very young and probably not terribly experienced at eating out without their parents. Ordering took forever as did delivery of the first course. The veggie rolls were poor. They were so shoddily made that I couldn't pick up half of them with my chopsticks as they weren't whole or complete. After an age, the chicken arrived. It was fine. Lukewarm but fine. Nothing else to say about it. Wine was reasonably priced for the choices available. Dessert was okay. It wasn't too expensive for what we had but I was seriously underwhelmed. The place was huge and pretty packed but somehow I'm not sure they were there for the food but rather the ambience. I can't believe they have a lot of repeat business based on the food quality. I know Fort Lauderdale is a big tourist town and a bit hit with the 20 plus crowd trying to get really drunk but this restaurant was aiming for a trendy and upscale vibe. They failed. You'd have to drag me back there to eat, kicking and screaming. There must be better places than this around, surely.
(2)Kevin C.
Great food. Awful service. I'm a young guy, went in once before when not busy and was great. Went in last night and did not get served well. More attention set on other diners who wore suits and dresses. Pretty insulting. I feel as though if I wore my business attire and expensive shoes, I would have been treated properly. Only spent $47 and left still very hungry. Decided to stop somewhere else for dinner on the way home. It's a shame because food was good. Make sure you wear your high end suits and have your wives bring expensive handbags to get attention from server.
(2)Cesar C.
Had a million things. Lollipop sushi taste like the air outside... Super bland. Octopus - more beans and tomato than anything and missing the chard grill taste. Again, bland. Best item was shrimp toast. Awesome atmosphere but super normal food. Nothing is close to being out of this world... Then again everything is pretty much less than $12. Value matches quality.
(3)Sam H.
Great atmosphere. Drinks lacked amount of alcohol but had great flavors. Awesome food. Nothing better than the desserts. What more can I say. I am a fan.
(4)Robin W.
Located in the Hilton with a view of the ocean sits this extremely noisy and expensive restaurant. The food for the four of us with the exception of a spicey edamame dish was exceptional. The service was only fair as the waiter forgot about our water request and the reorder of the edamame dish that never came. It was my birthday and we wrote it on the reservation request. We spent $169.00 in food but that wasn't enough to warrant a candle or dessert to celebrate. Per the manager, you must buy a dessert to warrant a candle. We traveled for 50 minutes to eat here! What a disappointment!
(3)Brian R.
Beautiful place on the beach.
(3)Mike S.
I was pleasantly surprised. Most of the 'beach establishments' in the area are known for bad service and even worse food. The dishes here, though are packed with flavor and tickle the taste buds. We had many of the tapas. Some of the stand-outs were the tangy Brussels sprouts and the special shrimp pad Thai. I didn't care for the mussels (too sandy) or skirt steak (too bland), but the shrimp toast and fresh deviled eggs more than made up for it. Also, our server was exceptionally friendly and helpful. All in all, this is a chic spot where you can bring your friends or a nice romantic date. S3 is a keeper!
(4)Allison J.
Organized a little surprise dinner here for my boyfriend. Everything from the food (quality & presentation) to the service to the pricing to the ambiance is 5-star! LOVED their specialty cocktails!!! Everyone who joined us had nothing but positive raves :) I've heard a lot about their brunch... looks like I'll be trying that today!
(5)Joe L.
These good reviews must have been written by employees. 1. A wine pour the size of a thimble 2. Attitude by the waiter. Had to ask 3 different people for water 3. Generally marginal food and we had 5 different items. Spend a couple of dollars more and go to the W next door or even try Timpano or Kitchentta. All are by far better.
(1)Wade M.
BEAUTIFUL - GOOD SERVICE - MEDIOCRE FOOD. The decor is beautiful and interesting. The service was very attentive. I left full. Now, why 3 stars? I don't know what this place wants to be. Sushi, macaroni and cheese, and a hodgepodge of other stuff on the same menu? What's the theme? Asian? I ordered an heirloom tomato salad, and just the words 'heirloom tomato' declare the middle of summer, and make my mouth water... but then instead of the plate of heirlooms with a little balsamic and olive oil, and perhaps some basil, I got a pile of arugula, goat cheese, some grain, and 2 Publix cherry tomatoes on top. What a disappointment. I left full, but nothing I had was worth going back for. My suggestion to S3 is to find a chef that is as talented as your decorator. Also, the logo should be readable, and again, be consistent with the restaurant's theme -- once it's determined.
(3)Jim M.
My wife and I were staying at the Hilton for our anniversary this weekend. On Thursday we ate at S3 and were amazed out how good everything was. We had a mix match of sushi, Brussel sprouts, and short ribs all of them outstanding. With that being said we had to go back for seconds on Friday and they blew us away even more. The frittes had just the right seasoning, the brisket slider were outstanding with a sweet heat taste, the Grouper was the BEST prepared fish I ever had!! Compliments to all three chefs!! I can't say enough besides will we be back for 3rd's???
(4)Tom L.
Had a great time. Restaurant has a real "vibe." Great background music. Beautiful people. Nice decor. Good service. Delicious food and drinks, reasonably priced. Make a reservation. Sit outdoors if you can.
(4)T N.
This place so amazing! I loved every dish we ordered. The only down fall is the portion is so small. The ambience is magnificent and the drinks. I absolutely love this place!! Would highly recommend it.
(5)Blake T.
I have a mixed review for S3...the the servers seem very busy but not accomplishing much. (Seemed like a lack of training or inexperience). My server was not versed on the menu and knew even less about the sushi. The berry mojito was very good and lots of fruit. I ordered several sushi items and they came as sashimi. When I pointed his out it was brought back and they placed rice under each piece. The raw fish was very fresh but the rice was one step above minute rice..Top quality rice well prepared is the difference between great sushi and fast food sushi...we sat at the sushi bar and watched the chefs preparing the sushi and these guys are not superstars..The server never returned and I had an empty drink for most of the meal...I would give the place a second shot but would try some other items on the menu...
(2)Amy F.
Juan is the best! If you eat here ask for him. And the grilled romain salad is fabulous! I ha trouble choosing. Everything on the menu looked delicious! Filet was perfect.
(5)Robin B.
Beautiful restaurant overlooking the ocean. we went for sunday brunch. we each ordered drink sampler(s). I had the Bloody Mary Sampler..very tasty and the others ordered martini samplers. great way to taste their different drinks and order your favorite later on. Our server Amanda was delightful, she knew the menu front to back. you can't go wrong with the brussels sprouts. We also ordered the pork belly benedict (great choice). I'm from the south and the shrimp and grits were not my favorite, the shrimp was fresh, but i thought the tasso gravy sauce had too much tomato. We also enjoyed one of their sushi rolls. I love the concept of sharing foods. This is a wonderful restaurant and we will go back for more.
(4)Chrissy T.
One of my favorite spots to dine in Ft Lauderdale! Food is always tasty, location is perfect and the service is friendly and on point. We had Sheila as our waitress for our last visit. She was attentive, very knowledgable of the menu and made us feel like we were her only table. Food and drinks were fabulous, would highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Anne T.
This place really has it all. Great view, great staff and the most interesting menu on the beach. I have been 3 times already because when I think of going somewhere else I compare it with their menu and I have to go back. The Edamame dish is the best I ever had. The quality of the ingredients in the tomatoe bread allows you to savor the every taste. The brisket sliders are delicious. We saw the man next to us order them and watched his face at the first taste. He moaned with delight. The cinamon donuts dipped in Creme Anglais make an excellent finish. Nice beer and wine selection too. Don't miss it!
(5)Anwar H.
Great food and fantastic service. The location is nice and by the beach. We were a group of four - they did a great job of recommending items and serving our table. The spicy tuna bread is fantastic.
(5)Amy S.
My girlfriend and I came here rather late after our flight in. It was one of the only places still serving food that we could find. The drinks were amazing and the food was exceptional! I had a roasted chicken and it was so tender and juicy that I just couldn't stop eating it. Service was ok but they were busy. Would come here again!
(5)Dennis P.
The food was good, server was very friendly, the environment was was nicely decorated, the prices were very fair as well. You do not get a lot of these restaurants in Fort Lauderdale. I recommend this place.
(5)Hector M.
I had stopped writing reviews here as Yelp "filters" reviews so what is the point?!!...yet I decided I needed to tell the world about one of the best new restaurants in the Fort Lauderdale Beach area. The menu is very adventurous and offers great options. All sea food dishes are to die for. Great wine list and sexy cocktails. Amazing ocean view and the breeze... Genuinely friendly and gorgeous staff. Make sure to stop by whether you are a local or vacationing in the area as you will not be disappointed. Leave it now to Yelp to filter this review and then this will be the LAST review I ever write...Wish there was a place to review Yelp - yelp the site itself is not even deserving of a one star rating...
(5)Brooke K.
Went here with some friends last week, and had a few Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc's. It was a walk away from our hotel (Ritz Carlton) so it was really convenient for us. The bartender was attentive, the ambiance and location were amazing. Nice decor, and clean restrooms (I'm a stickler for cleanliness). We will definitely be returning!
(4)Shehnaz H.
Im so happy this place is here! It has a great variety of food flavors and cuisine. Sitting outside is soooo relaxing with view of the beach. But the inside is nice too because they have a wood burning oven that smells of sweet wood which gives the food an unforgettable flavor. They have sushi, Spanish tapas, and much more. We LOVE the sushi nachos and brisket sliders. We order 2 orders of each every time bc my bf and I do not want to share it. Haha toooo yummy!
(4)Steph K.
I went here for lunch back in June while in Ft. Laurderdale for a Bachelorette party. We were seated very quickly and had a wonderful view of the ocean. They have a great selection of tapas so I ordered a burger and a sushi roll. Both were super fresh and had great flavor. To drink, I had a margarita on the rocks with salt. My only complaint with that was the drink was EXTREMELY salty. It almost tasted like it was made with salt water. Other than that, the lunch was very nice and I would reccomend this place for lunch.
(4)Lee E.
Went here on a Saturday night recently and enjoyed it. The food that we had was good; not great by any means but not bad. I know not very encouraging but what it lacks in the food dept it makes up in ambiance and location, right on the beach. We sat outside and it was beautiful, decorated really nice and overall a great atmosphere. Has very nice outside bar as well with large sitting area. I would go back for the atmosphere alone.
(3)Jeff D.
Great atmosphere and location on the beach. The service was very good and helpful. The food was excellent and was not overpriced. The drinks were good but were a tad too weak for my taste. Overall I enjoyed S3 and will definitely dine there again.
(4)My D.
The food, serves were amazing, and the portion was perfect ....must try Vietnamese chicken wings.
(5)Jarret S.
I must admit, this restaurant is gorgeous inside and outside. The view is remarkable and the overall look/feel of the restaurant are excellent. Unfortunately, both the food and service are sub-par especially at the prices. I had the chicken and sweet potato waffle and my wife had the Banana Bread French Toast. Both were served with cold pancake syrup (Should be warm). The chicken on my waffle was very tasty but there wasn't much of it. As for the waffle, it seemed to lack any sort of real sweet potato taste and was very thin. Additionally, it was not very fluffy and was not very hot either. My wife's French toast again was just OK. The "French toast" seemed to just be griddled banana bread. It didn't have any of the candied walnuts described on the menu and was room temperature at best. The whipped Chantilly cream on top was delicious. Service was very mediocre. Our server wasn't very attentive and took a long time to get our bill. Additionally, my wife's peach Bellini lacked any peach flavor at all and was like a small glass of champagne for $13. My coffee was sub-par and disappointing. This restaurant has a lot of potential given it's prime real estate and overall ambiance but the food and service need much more attention from upper management.
(2)Curtis K.
I remember seeing about this place on chan. 7 ....wanted a nice beach experience without having to drive all the way to south beach. Decided I'd finally look up directions and see what this place was about. I must say this place is a winner, great job Fort Lauderdale! The service was good, people were chill and pleasant & the food was great... you absolutely get what you pay for here. Night time seems like the best time to go, whether dining inside or outside you still get to enjoy the ocean smell & breeze. I'll just say this, I downloaded Yelp JUST so I could leave a review on this place, I thoroughly enjoyed myself, the experience & the food. I will def be back soon.. there's so much to choose from that I must come again and try a whole new side of the menu. Pretty excited about this place and I love that it's local, I think I found my new fav spot, we'll see how the second experience is. If I could, I would give it 10 stars solely based on my first experience itself.
(5)Chris F.
I've been to S3 about 6 times since it opened. Great indoor/outdoor ambiance. Consistently good food and drinks. I have to knock off 2 stars because of something awful they're doing now. Took a date there the other day and requested a table outside so we could enjoy the full moon, which came up shortly after we were seated (gorgeous!) Then right after we ordered a cocktail four guys started banging their drums and some type of Brazilian carnival show started with three dancers. No way we could carry on a conversation. It was a horrible experience and it went on the whole time we were there. I honestly don't know why they think they need something like this. With their great view of the ocean, perfect lighting, and gorgeous design, that's all you need. I won't go back until they get rid of the "entertainment". So when making a reservation, beware and ask if the drum banging will be happening.
(3)Kristi B.
We came in while on vacation and it was amazing! From the decor inside to the view outside, we automatically fell in love. It's a beautiful place. It's an interesting concept with the small plates and we were a little hesitant at first. Our server helped us through every step though. The wok charred edamame - BEST we've ever had. We ended up craving it for days after. We got quite a bit of sushi which was all great. Don't even get me started on the macaroni. It's so rich and delicious. I can't even remember all the other things we ordered. All we know is that every bite was wonderful. I will definitely be back in on my next visit to Fort Lauderdale!
(5)Elijah S.
Super cool space with great views. The food is very good. However, the service is typically lacking. Have visited 4 times and only received great service when the Managers were involved. Everything from getting a table, to placing an order, getting food on a timely basis, etc can be a big issue and might ruin your experience. Unfortunately, service is not a top priority. The day the fix this they will easily earn 5 star status. Hope they fix this soon because I won't go back until they do and I happen to really like this place.
(3)Carly S.
Good atmosphere. Visited for brunch on Sunday. You HAVE to sit outside to get the full effect. Take in the ocean and the sky and breeze and its all worth it. The food was very tasty but I am more impressed with the location and overall feeling of the place. Server was friendly.
(4)MIchael R.
Good:food quality and presentation,innovative cuisine,location and outdoor space,attentiveness of wait staff Not so good/room for improvement:food quantity and pricing Fun place to hang out at.,good in -and outdoor seating,somewhat limited choices for lunch,definitely aggressive pricing for both food and drinks for Fort Lauderdale and just about anywhere else other than London and Tokio.. Would go back with clients but somewhat hesitant on my own dime..
(4)Tom L.
Very disappointing and over rated. Was expecting much more since I have always loved YOLO. Expensive poorly prepared small plates. Had two very small crab cakes - little crab, all filler - for $16. Rosemary fries were fries with a sprig of rosemary on top- really? - try using some rosemary infused oil or minced rosemary. Left hungry after a couple small plates and drinks and a $100 plus bill. The only star was for location - across from beach.
(1)Mark S.
Awesome food with great atmosphere. Sashimi was delicious as was the chicken wings. Our pay of 8 tried a number of starters which we enjoyed so much that we kept on ordering more. Will definitely go back again.
(5)Walter R.
Wow. Great place all-around. Awesome location and atmosphere. Very chic with indoor/outdoor seating and music. Superbly trained staff as well--friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating. Food was very good, and the salmon dish and beet salad proved exceptional. In addition to a great local place, this restaurant is a definite must for all of your out-of-town guests (you're sure to impress them here!) Reminding us of some trendy places found on South Beach, it's obvious the Hilton knows how to do it right!
(4)Rosemarie M.
The food was delicious . Staff wasvery helpful. My only complaint was the noise level. But otherwise i am a fan and will return.
(5)Shannah S.
Great restaurant and great food. We liked everything we ordered. Favorites are the chicken wings and the skirt steak. He loved the frittes. I still dream of the dessert donuts. We will come back anytime we are in Fort Lauderdale. The outdoor seating is nice especially at sunset.
(5)Trevin B.
I rarely use this word in a review - WOW! I dined at S3 with a party of 5, and every single dish was absolutely WOW worthy. And we had many dishes. This restaurant serves small plates that are very shareable and the large plates work well for sharing, too. We had sushi, grilled vegetables, various meat dishes, appetizers, and dessert. I think we ordered around 15 dishes and everything was spectacular. Even the beet salad was extraordinary for a non-beet lover like myself. I was the only one drinking wine, and the wine list by the glass is also very complete. I wish I could criticize something to give this review more credibility but I cannot. The only thing that could have made the experience more enjoyable was if we could have sat outside. But the reservation was made late and I can't fault the host staff for having a full patio. If you are visiting Fort Lauderdale, this restaurant is a must.
(5)Elizabeth A.
Amazing seafood salad. The sampler drink is a must as well- very yummy and strong drinks!
(4)Sarah P.
Delicious delicious delicious. We walked over to S3 from the W and had to come in because of the views and reviews. Eclectic menu but the food will not disappoint! Try the Thai Tuna roll, brisket sliders, or Tuna Nachos. All were excellent. Atmosphere is great, very comfortable and unbeatable ocean views.
(5)Christina R.
I stayed at the Hilton Beach Resort for work, and went to S3 for dinner and had an AMAZING experience. The food was to die for. Probably the best edamame I've ever had. I also had the kamikaze roll, rainbow roll, brussel sprouts, lettuce wraps, and crab cakes. All equally as amazing. The view from our table looked right out onto the ocean. I can't wait to go here again!
(5)David H.
Lucky us. Tim Petrillo invited us to a friends and family opening of his new restaurant, S3 (long explanation, something like Sun, Surf, Sand or Steak, Seafood, something else). Tried everything and everything was great. Plus, and this is a big plus, it's right on the beach in Ft. Lauderdale, at the Hilton, and plus, it's a really nice looking design, and plus, I don't know how he does it but the service people are terrific. No B.S., This is worth a visit.
(4)Meg S.
Good food, good atmosphere, great out door bar. S3 has a lot great attributes except the service with the exception of Dan the bartender. My boyfriend and I rolled up to the out door bar, had a seat, got somewhat of a smile from one of the female bartenders and she walked away. We figured she would be back shortly, she wasn't. She walked away and started to do something with her phone (guessing text messages). So we gave her the benefit of the doubt and we waited about 5 minutes while she was on her phone. and waited about another 2 minutes. We got up and left to go to the W. Came back later that night and Dan served us right away with great service.
(3)Jomary J.
I will start by saying that I had grown sick of Broward and would gladly indulge in Miami traffic if it meant ambiance and great food were the end results. I had heard the hype of S3 and after seeing a certain Macaroni item on the menu, decided to spend Friday night there. My night began at 9:30 and the place seemed pretty packed but getting a table outside by the fire pit literally only took 20 minutes! First thumbs up. Btw, we were texted that our table was ready and the hostess was infectiously bubbly. After looking over the menu and having a tough time deciding, we went with the Duck Lettuce Wraps (a delicious special), Red Dragon Roll (another special which included mango), Macaroni with smoked gouda and prosciutto and the Grilled Skirt Steak which was coffee and spiced rubbed on top of crispy yucca, drizzled with mango chimichurri. Sigh. EVERYTHING WAS AMAZING! Not good. Not Great. AMAZING. The Macaroni dish, as much as I tried to be courteous and share, I couldn't get enough of. The crispy prosciutto and extreme amount of gouda made an epic combo. The grilled skirt steak was just like we ordered it (medium rare) which is weird from what I have experienced at some Fort Lauderdale favorites.Oh and everything was shareable.Except the bill. Cheap enough for one ;)
(5)Roe P.
Great small bites and plates, enjoyed the ambiance and service on a slower weeknight. Avoid the coctail counch area, the coctail waitresses werent as nice as the servers table side. Mac and Cheese is awesome, sushi is on point- get the rice cakes, the terryake wings were really good too. Valet park at the hotel, parking can be nuts there
(4)Lauren T.
Great menu, fun atmosphere. We are definitely coming back for the full moon party! The only complaint (and not really a complaint) was our server had zero personality and never smiled. We were able to sample so many items - great concept.
(4)Kareen B.
Finally a really nice place with a great vibe on the beach. The options are endless: sit outside by the firepit for drinks or dine inside or outside. Beautiful decor and good, friendly service. They have two indoor bars and a huge outdoor bar. The concept is small plates so sharing is part of the fun. The food presentation is lovely and the quality and taste are just as good. I loved the octopus salad!! Great for all ages.
(5)vinny o.
Was in fort lauderdale the week of july 4th,heard it was fairly new and since i was staying at the hilton we decided to try it out. There are many options,tried the spicy tuna,steak,vege rolls,pork and chicken rotisserie,ALL were amazing best flavors ive ever had,to make a long story short we ate there 5 nights because if u head down the "strip"the prices are basically the same WITHOUT alcohol and the food is not quality at all! Im still dreaming about this restaurant,if i can point out 1 small suggestion,theyre 2 hostess stands and usually theres only 1 at the other end,if u walk in the hotel way u would have to go to the other side to get seated,but that would never detour me from coming to this place again. This is by far the best restaurant there is on that strip! I love love loved it! Thank you!
(5)Jules P.
The Thai Tuna Roll deserves 10 stars. My 4 year old had the kid menu's cheese burger and fries. I've never seen him eat so much. The skirt skate was delicious. The special, paella, was okay. The service was wonderful. We didn't make reservations so we had indoor seating but we still had a great view of the ocean.
(4)Raquel C.
First time trying S3 and I love it! staff was friendly and welcoming. This isn't the place for you if you are in a rush, I see a lot of reviews saying the service is slow and that cant be further from the truth. Its the perfect atmosphere to unwind, enjoy the view, and the great food. Everything was delicious sushi, specialty drinks and desserts!! I highly recommend S3 to everyone!!1
(4)Lesley M.
We had a great lunch here with an attentive waitress. I ate a tomato and orzo salad and the vegetable sushi roll. The food was very fresh and filling. My husband ate the fish sandwich and the tuna rice cakes, and he quickly devoured both. He said his meal was absolutely excellent. I recommend checking out this restaurant.
(5)Julie T.
The ambiance and decor of this restaurant are great as is the happy hour. The view is fantastic, the service is great, and the food is good. I was actually really surprised at how fresh and delicious the sushi was. The tomato bread wasn't too remarkable. The crispy artichokes were just okay - salty and fried. The first cocktail I ordered called the pom pom crush was too tart and fruity. So thank goodness I got the Tickle cocktail. I really want to come back here again and try some more dishes.
(4)Donna H.
We are locals and have fun trying all the beach venues, as they open, close, open as something else, close again, etc. That being said, this new place seemed like a perfect new favorite spot. The location and view is amazing - even makes us locals feel like we are on vacation for the night. But unfortunately not such a great dining experience - we ordered a bottle of champagne, took way too long to be served, and then it was not nearly as cold as it should be. The stemless glasses just hasten the temperature, very disappointing. We ordered 3 different types of sushi rolls, and waited over an hour. I was starving and asked the clueless barmaid if I could get a side salad in the meantime. "You mean chicken salad?" No, a small lettuce side salad. "you mean seafood salad?" No, a small plate of lettuce and dressing. And on and on. Comical. Finally she said "oh, you want a salad?" Yes. It really was a few pieces of lettuce, nothing to rave about. They kept making excuses about being down one chef, but no one around us was eating much of anything, so not sure how the kitchen was backed up. When the sushi finally came out, we were almost finished with the warm champagne and refused the food. The manager took care of the check, but we had to go somewhere else to find some food. We won't be going back anytime soon, and I certainly wouldn't recommend it to anyone else. There are too many excellent, fun restaurants in town, with good food, service, and location.
(2)Cindy B.
There is so much hype on this place and reviews are glowing. We had been looking forward to our visit visit with great expectations. 5 stars for ambiance, atmosphere & decor. This place is classy gorgeous! 2 stars for food & service. We sat at the bar on a Saturday afternoon. Service was friendly but extremely inattentive. Attractive young female bartenders greeted us with terms of endearment (Really?!?) and they were more interested in chatting among themselves than focusing on customer service. There was one bar patron that was obviously drunk, loud and profane and clearly offensive to others at the bar. The staff had no control over that situation whatsoever as Bar patrons were leaving Due to his disorderly conduct. We ordered a variety of tapas plates non of which were remarkable. Sashimi was sliced so thin that the portion was visibly scant. Hopefully, they will train their staff & bring their menu up to the standard befitting the location and ambiance of the restaurant. We won't be back anytime soon.
(3)Shenelle A.
Came here for a girls night out on a Saturday . Food was great and so was the music. ambiance was beautiful and romantic looking right across from the beach . The waitress was attentive and pleasant. I had the steak which was cooked perfectly. The menu is majority small plate tapa style and few large plate options. I recommend this restaurant. Great place to hang out with the girls or on a date.
(5)Katie O.
Excellent! We loved the food everything was great especially the sushi and not to mention our great waitress Talia!
(5)Carrie S.
5 Stars it is for this new restaurant on Ft. Lauderdale Beach. The food is amazing, atmosphere is fabulous and the design of the interior is beautiful! The layout of the restaurant affords almost every table a view of the ocean! However, what amazed me most about this new restaurant at the Hilton Hotel was the level of service and hospitality they provided, which a lot of restaurants overlook when the food and location are top notch! I had recommended this restaurant to a close friend of mine who was asking for a nice restaurant to celebrate her husband's birthday. Of course, S3 Restaurant was the first restaurant that came to mind and it did not disappoint! I called the restaurant to inquire if I could purchase dessert for my friends and have it sent over to them after dinner as a surprise for his birthday. I had the pleasure to speak to Ana Gajardo, event coordinator for the restaurant, who kindly emailed me the credit card authorization form and said it would not be problem. Unfortunately, I was having computer problems and could not print the form. When Ana called me to follow-up on my initial request, I expressed to her my trouble and she offered to go ahead and take care of his birthday dessert on my behalf. I have to tell you that I was very impressed with the level of personal service and her kind gesture especially being that this restaurant is fairly new and, in most cases, restaurants are still trying to iron out certain kinks. Let me just finsih this review by saying that S3 Restaurant has no kinks and nailed all three aspects of an amazing restaurant: Great food, amazing location and fabulous service. I will definitely be returning to S3 Restaurant very soon!
(5)Steve O.
Ok, had been talking about going here for months, today seemed like a good day to check our S3. Hooked up with friends and arrived about 1:30, asked valet about motorcycle parking and he told us to go to garage where we could park no charge. Arrived at garage, waited at garage gate which never went up!, fortunately the valet manager came by and opened the gate.mhe (Artem) escorted us to bike parking and said bikes were $5 each! We said we were told no charge if we were eating at S3 so he "comped" the parking and politely escorted us to the restaurant. Bit of a disappointment but they made it right. Went to the bar, great service by Brooke and Rick, great drinks, great food, definitely go and enjoy the beachside ambiance. it's a great place and hopefully the parking gets sorted out
(4)Scott H.
Really fun on Full Moon Sundays 6-10! Live music, great weather, and REALLY good food. Get the short ribs, crispy artichokes, and jalapeno infused vodka drinks.
(5)Rich S.
Came for brunch. Had the s3 drink sampler wasn't that good at all. The waffles and chicken wasn't exactly what we expected. It was a sweet Thai chicken that were small Chunks. The waffle was rather unflattering. The pork belly hash was ok not as flavorful as I wanted.
(3)Rachel S.
Joined some friends here for happy hour a couple of weeks ago. The atmosphere (across from the beach )is beautiful. The restaurant is beautiful as well. We enjoyed: S3-Sexy Summer Seduction-beautiful and tasty Mojitos Wine (Savignon Blanc) 3 drink sampler (just fair) Tomato bread (fresh, tasty) Crisp Baby Artichokes- very nice texture and flavor, went well with the lemon caper aioli dipping sauce Spicy tuna roll- came with dab of chili sauce on the side. Fresh. Unremarkable. Wok seared edamame- excellent flavor, colors, and texture. We found this to be our favorite dish. Tuna nachos-nicely presented. Tasted too fishy even though the sauces tried to disguise that. I sent it back with no problems. Goat cheese croquetas- I didn't try, but my friend said it was very tasty. Overall it was a lovely experience. We enjoyed the beach side atmosphere and the live DJ that began playing a couple of hours later. One tip: We found it odd that the bartenders were reluctant to let us know about the happy hour specials for drinks and had to be prodded to divulge the happy hour food specials. Make sure you ask.
(4)Beverly G.
Fantastic! The service is great, but the food it better. The goat cheese croquettes are amazing, so is the octopus! Best bloody mary flights I've ever had. There's this toffee desert that I'd request on my death bed. Highly recommend it! Two tumbs way up.
(5)Julia P.
Pros: *Great Waitress named Talia always checking in and what not *Delicious food and sushi to die for - so fresh *Everything we ordered (6 dishes) was delicious *Good Atmosphere Cons: *Bummed all the outside seats were taken but we still had a great time
(5)Peter P.
Excellent atmosphere. Great view of the ocean. Awesome small plated food. The server was informative, all the drinks were unique, and the food was delicious.
(4)Jeremy K.
I ate here recently with my family - - If you're hunting around in Fort Lauderdale for good food you may have realized by now that decent restaurants are few and far between down there. S3 was a pleasant reprieve...the menu is fun and creative and our server was great. (I did feel a bit bad that the table of women next to ours were all wasted and groped him...oh to witness female-on-male sexual harassment in progress).. Anyway back to the food - it was pretty good, we had one issue that the fish of the day we ordered was inedible...but the waiter and chef apologized profusely and quickly fired out a replacement dish that was great. (Based on what they told us - sometimes the fish of the day can be a gamble based on what the chef can find at the market and we ate there on a day that the chef was forced to buy a fish they weren't in love with)... In an ideal world the chef would have figured something else out other than serving a fish they don't think is a good fish and for that I'll keep this review to four stars..but I will definitely go back and try it again.
(4)Damien T.
S3 has a perfect location. It's right across from the beach, so that already put you in a relaxed mindset. The decor and lighting helps a great deal! I really liked the decor and the fire pit at the entrance. If you valet your car and get the ticket validated, it will only cost you $5.00; that will take the stress out of looking for a parking spot in this busy area. S3 is a great dining experience,The service and food presentation are really great. I didn't know too much about this place going into it, but once I got here I realized really quick that this was a foodies paradise. They allow you to order several combination of small plates of food in a tapas style setting. They also have a wide array of specialty drinks.I had a Thai coconut crush and I can honestly it was one of the best mixed drinks I've had in a while. When ordering your entrée, I would suggest the short ribs. They were perfect and had great flavor. It left me wanting more. I will get that again next time I'm here. Empanadas are also a must! The crispy shell and the sauce on top light up your taste buds. I'm not sure what the meat was inside of it, but it tastes really really yummy. Mac and cheese, YUM! That's the best mac and cheese I've ever had (I use to think my Mac and cheese was the ish) but S3's Mac and cheese is the Lebron of mac and cheese. It has everything; great flavor, texture and consistency. You have to get the Mac and cheese if you're having dinner here. Skip the seafood paella, it's not worth $16. The shrimp and scallops don't mesh well with the couscous and the serving size is not enough for you to really enjoy the dish. Everything else is fairly priced.
(4)Lina J.
Great place! starting with the amazing location abs the fact that you can see the ocean from almost every table , the great outdoor seating is a great plus. They have small plates so is pefect for sharing so you can try all their yummy options, the mac a cheese is too good, the steak on top of the yucca delightful. the sushi pretty good too. If you want to have a couple coctails their sampler is a food ootions, some of their drink are great some are not... I loved the sake and the blackberry lychee too.
(5)Adam J.
I'm sure this is a better restaurant than our experience, but..... Atmosphere was pretty cool, at least until they seated us at a table inside with zero view and zero ambience. Disappointing. As for the sushi, it didn't live up to the hype. Not even close. Average at best, small portions, and definitely overpriced. I would go back to sit on the patio or at the bar to have a drink. But if I were hungry, I'd go elsewhere.
(2)Laura H.
This place just opened a few months ago. It is on the Hilton property. Started out with drinks turning into dinner splitting three small plates. Shrimp bruschetta then seven spice scallops following with Mac n cheese. Best part is they break up the experience bringing one plate after the next spacing them out. Bar is awesome. Plenty of seating half in half outside. Huge wine selection. Staff is really good. Bathroom clean. This is NOT a Hilton establishment where you earn multiplier points as a Hilton Honors member. They share the property. Big difference. Nice job!
(4)Jeanne T.
Just had a wonderful lunch at the this restaurant. The chicken salad was amazing. My mother had a crab and shrimp sushi roll she enjoyed. Parking was easy. We got a spot on the north side of the building on the street. Fantastic view on a beautiful day. Service was nice too. Prices were reasonable for beachfront awesomeness. If I recall my chicken salad $13.00 and the sushi roll was $15.00. Almost forgot to mention the wonderful dessert. Can't recall exactly what they called the dessert, creme fresh (something) yum! We will return. The bar was very chic looking and made me long for a drink but I had to drive. Boo.
(5)Robert S.
Our first time here. Great food , wonderful wine selection and the ocean. But add the fact that Cindy C is now pert of the team. Phenomenal. We will be regulars often.
(5)Nik M.
Pros: beach view, open air seating, a/c, sushi bar, creative food, occasional live music Cons: music can be too loud at times, mixed drinks pushing the price envelope This place has a nice atmosphere. The food is solid. You can see the ocean from most tables. I tried a few mixed drinks. Some were great but others were just too sweet. This place is sophisticated for a beachside FTL spot, they should tone down the sugary teeny-bopper mix on some of the $12 drinks. No complaints about the service.
(4)Andrew L.
Despite my sister have a less than stellar meal here the night before, we decided to try what seemed to be a fantastic menu. And it did not disappoint. But let's start at the beginning. The ambiance is superb, being right on the water, with the open air bar and cocktail area with the fire pits. We had to wait a few minutes for a table and both the hostess and the bartender where we waited were great. Once we were seated, Brandin (yes, "with an i"), was great from the get go. He was funny, personable and led us through the menu really well. And the food was a solid four stars, the fifth being for the staff and ambiance. The edamame is the best I've ever had, the short rib empanadas were my fiancé's favorite and the ricotta dip was delicious! The octopus was pretty good, but the sushi was pretty outrageous. Obviously fresh and made with care. We'll be back!
(5)Holly S.
Went for brunch(had reservations for a table). We sat outside and had an awesome view of the beach. The staff was very friendly (hostess, waiters, bartenders). Food was delish and came out fast. I had a the burger and fries which was so huge and juicy. Friends had the chicken sandwich, the fish sandwich and the chicken and waffles. I had a belini which was small but good. The bloody Marys were a pretty decent size. You can valet ($5) or do metered parking. Will be back again for sure.
(5)Sherry W.
Free valet m-f for lunch thru yelp check-in. Went on a Saturday night to hang at the bar and then after waiting 1:45 hour for a table sat down and ordered many plates the share. The food is high quality, but higher priced. OF course you are paying the price for being in a beautiful restaurant with ocean front views. I liked the drink sampler. For $14 you get to try 3 samples sized drinks of their specialty cocktails. It's a great way to figure out which one you like to order a full size. Bar service was slow and you had to grab the bartenders attention to get a drink. I thought this was annoying since the drinks are higher priced, I would have thought the service would be better.
(3)Andrew S.
Very good food, sushi rolls and Brussels for lunch, perfect view. Nice, attentive staff.
(4)Nikki S.
Their menu was something I had never seen before a mix of sushi and comfort foods. I ordered the California roll and the gnocchi. Both had excellent presentation and flavors were top notch. The view of the ocean across the street and the openness of the restaurant were fabulous. Not bad at all.
(4)Steve T.
Great place with a good variety to chose from Asian to Spanish to American. The same goes for the drinks. We had their wok-charred edamame, short rib empanadas, pork belly, shrimp toast, and mac-n-cheese. The blackberry-lychee cocktail wasn't too strong or sweet but not worth $15. The food was fantastic. My only complaint was seeing a sushi preparer text on his phone with his gloves on then going back to making sushi without changing them! That is why we didn't order any sushi.
(4)Sharon E.
I had actually checked this restaurant out by myself one night around dinner time. My hotel was only a block away and I couldn't resist the awesome vibes it gave me. As I went in I seated myself on the deck/patio/fire-pit area. First of all, you are right across from the beach with nothing to block your view and the location offered an awesome breeze so the ambiance itself is just an amazing location to hang out in. Not to mention, they have these seats across the wall that are so comfy and padded that you really can just unwind and relax in them. My waitress Sarah was very polite and efficient. I ordered a rainbow roll, the cucumber green tea martini, as well as a 2-piece sushi. The restaurant seems to be fairly priced to me. They don't gouge you for sushi rolls or drinks, and the rolls were delicious. Now the drink, how refreshing! I love how their drink menu offers a wide variety of unique/healthy options (well as healthy as any vodka drink can be!). I would recommend this place for dinner and I definitely would also recommend the bar if you're just going out in the evening.
(5)Jennifer C.
We had a great lunch here yesterday to kick off my friend's bachelorette weekend! To start, we shared a bunch of small plates: octopus, Vietnamese wings, goat cheese croquettes, rosemary French fries, and a tuna tar tar tower. Of these items my favorite was definitely the tuna tower (one of the best I've encountered), followed by the octopus (which was served with fava/gigante beans). I found the wings a bit too salty. For a main, I split 2 sandwiches with my friend. The chicken (with fontina/avocado) and the special fish (which was mahi mahi). The server recommended the fish, but we much preferred the chicken. Overall a lovely meal!
(4)Mike Z.
Love Love Love!!!! Indoor outdoor bar and sushi. We chose to sit outside right near the beach. Our waitress was awesome. She was so friendly and funny and just a pleasure to talk to. We ordered a bunch of sushi and appetizers and liked everything. I Loved the tuna tar tar and dont remember the names of the rolls that I ordered, but everything was good. This was my 3rd time here and cant wait to come back.
(5)Mariam D.
A belated "welcome to Ft. Lauderdale S3." A welcome hot spot for tapas al fresco. Choose from typical trending favorites such as vegetable plates, chicken wings, sushi, tuna, edamame, goat cheese, and others all prepared and presented beautifully. Courteous service, nice wine list and some tasty craft cocktails, and an intimate setting in the evening for a beachside bite and epic ocean views. Dress up a bit and head here for a relaxing date night dinner or lunch with clients and friends.
(4)Kevin H.
Great restaurant, food was really good. Lots of small portions and we love it made it lots of fun and the food just kept coming!! Group consensus was that the sushi is the best part of the menu (we ate off all of it) Staff was nice, although they got busy and we didn't see our server for a while, thus the 4 stars. If you can get a chance to sit and eat by the firepits, that looked the most fun and will be requesting that next time.
(4)Brenda P.
Sexy Splendid Scrumptious I finally made it out to S3 yesterday. On a whim, I made a reservation for an early dinner. It was a gorgeous day and proved to be an equally beautiful night. I am not sure how S3 makes it livable the rest of the year (and the heat), but on nights like these no other restaurant on the strip compares. Their location is PRIME! There was a jazz live band playing, the fire pits were going, and the sun was setting. We chose to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful ocean view. Our waitress promptly came over with the menu and took our drink order. S3 is mostly a tapas style restaurant. It is best enjoyed by getting a lot of small plates. These are the ones we tried: Goat Cheese Croquettes: Almond crusted with red chili guava. One of the ways to my heart is through GUAVA. This was a winner before I even had it. Not only was the guava the perfect combination for this, but the croquettes are cheese heavy. The cheese is soft but there's a lot of it. I only wish there was more of the guava to dip them. Note to self: request it next time. Sushi Nacho: With tuna, spicy salmon, guacamole and tobiko. One bite and I was hooked. Did I really need to share these? The crunch of the nacho against the freshness and coolness of the tuna/salmon combo was very nice. I could not get enough. Spicy Salmon Roll: with hot chili sauce drizzle. These were very simple but fresh and full of flavor. With so many other things on the menu though, I would not order these again. Mac & Cheese: smoked Gouda, prosciutto. It does not look like much on film (check out my photos) but make sure to order this. The gouda gives it a little saltiness which I loved. It comes boiling hot. I recommend letting it sit and having it last when the flavors have sunk in. Delicious. Ricotta Gnocchi: fennel leek fondue, peas, baby shiitake, truffle. I did not taste the truffle at all but this was still the winning dish for me. The gnocchi were small pillows of creamy, soft ricotta. The mix of the peas, leek and mushrooms was sensational. Next time, there will be zero sharing of this one. Lump Crab Cakes: blue crab and avocado cream. I wanted to love this but it was the most underwhelming of all. The outside felt barely sealed and it fell apart too easily. Grilled Octopus: in a salsa verde and gigande beans. Had the gnocchi not taken all of my attention, this would have been my top choice. The octopus was exactly as it should be. The texture was perfect, nicely juicy and not a tad bit gummy! I was left wanting more. Dulce de Leche Chocolate Cake: salted caramel ice cream. One of my pet peeves anywhere: caramel is not dulce de leche people! If you name something DULCE DE LECHE there better be some in there. This was basically an OK chocolate cake with some lightly sweetened icing with a side of ice cream that might or might not have had caramel in it. Didn't finish it as it was not worth the calories. Overall, S3 was a great experience and I look forward to returning. The later it got, the darker it got. Tables were truly being lit only by the candles on the table. That made it extremely dark. While I enjoyed the sultriness it brought along with the ocean breeze, everyone around us (like us) kept using their phones to see the menus and their dishes better. Their corkage fee is $20 and validated, convenient valet parking was just $5. S3, consider me a fan!
(4)Steve O.
Ok, had been talking about going here for months, today seemed like a good day to check our S3. Hooked up with friends and arrived about 1:30, asked valet about motorcycle parking and he told us to go to garage where we could park no charge. Arrived at garage, waited at garage gate which never went up!, fortunately the valet manager came by and opened the gate.mhe (Artem) escorted us to bike parking and said bikes were $5 each! We said we were told no charge if we were eating at S3 so he "comped" the parking and politely escorted us to the restaurant. Bit of a disappointment but they made it right. Went to the bar, great service by Brooke and Rick, great drinks, great food, definitely go and enjoy the beachside ambiance. it's a great place and hopefully the parking gets sorted out
(4)Scott H.
Really fun on Full Moon Sundays 6-10! Live music, great weather, and REALLY good food. Get the short ribs, crispy artichokes, and jalapeno infused vodka drinks.
(5)Vee V.
I came for the view, then I ate, and I wasn't disappointed. If you don't like family style then suck it up or find someplace else. This is the perfect place off the beach. You get the fresh ocean breeze, oceanfront view, and you can people watch. I think I saw a meth head on the street. The menu is small, which is great when you're indecisive like me. It's best to order family style because everything comes out when it's ready. You also get to enjoy different items off the menu, so sharing works best. No one goes hungry, or bitches about service this way. We ordered a couple of sushi rolls, goat cheese croquettes, chicken salad, tuna tartar nachos. Sushi rolls were good, average, but I'd order it again. The goat cheese croquettes were nicely fried and gooey on the inside. It's a bit heavy, so one is more than enough. The salad was refreshing, and much needed on a hot day. Tuna tartare nachos gets its own paragraph. Melt your pants off good. Okay, I don't know how that would work, but that's how I felt. Crispy, light, and flavorful. That's the magic combination. Service was great! We had the most adorable 2 year old having lunch with us and she needed a few extras, which the server was more than accommodating. I'd definitely recommend this place!
(4)Jane K.
Awesome view,drinks,and food :) right across from the beach.
(5)Lyza L.
This spot is fun for people watching and being part of a scene, but the food is nothing special, it's loud and on the expensive side. However, I love the outdoor area (partly because you can actually have a conversation with your dinner companions without shouting.) And service has always been very nice. This property is part of the restaurant group that brought you YOLO in downtown Fort Lauderdale, and attracts much the same crowd: beautiful people who want to see and be seen. Nothing wrong with that, but if you want great food, there are lots of other places I'd recommend first.
(2)Jeanne M.
This was a great location for meeting with a new business group. Sun, sand and surf is always a nice combination of ingredients for meeting and mixing with new people. This was a cocktail and app get together with about 30 people. We were given a very nice area by the bar with a good view of the ocean. It was relatively quiet, so it wasn't difficult to talk and get to know people. The decor was warm and relaxing. I started with a drink, the berry mojito. It was a smooth combination of Bacardi Wolfberry, with fresh strawberries, blueberries, lime and mint. It was refreshing but needed a bit more kick. The glass was fairly small and a lot of the space was taken up with berries, so it wasn't a great value. Happy hour is $3 off of the usual $12 price, so it's not the best happy hour value. There were a number of different apps served. I sampled 3 types of hummus with pita wedges. All were nicely seasoned. There was a wok charred edamame with soy, togarishi and smoked salt. It was messy to eat, but really delicious. We were also offered several different sliders, so I went with one that was a roast chicken and another that was a spicy beef. While I couldn't say exactly what was on either of them, both were very good. The beef was especially flavorful and had a fairly significant amount of heat. Overall, it was a very nice experience. I'd like to go back and try the full menu. :)
(4)Angie S.
Came to S3 for dinner on a Thursday night with a group of 6. We really wanted to sit outside but were told it was an hour wait; but, they were able to sit us immediately at a table in the bar area. Our server explained the concept behind the restaurant - the food is meant to be shared and comes out in waves as it's ready. We totally understood this but everyone wanted to order their own dish and some appetizers to share. We ended up ordering a variety including three things on special. The list consisted of a sushi dish with mango, shrimp on corn cakes (3 orders) and short rib empanadas, a rainbow roll, mac n cheese and goat cheese croquettes. The empanadas, nachos and croquettes came out first. All three were really good. The red chili guava sauce served with the croquettes mellowed out the richness of the goat cheese. We actually finished two orders of them because the kitchen made an extra on accident and they let us have it for free. Next out was the mac n cheese, followed a few minutes later by the mango sushi dish. Again we loved both dishes. The mac n cheese has smoked gouda and prosciutto served in a little cast iron skillet. Really creamy and delicious. At this point the only thing left was the rainbow roll, which was someone's main dish. Everyone else had been served and were finished with their meals. We asked our server about it and she explained that they were hand crafted when ordered and that sushi usually took a little longer. We completely understood but we were going on an hour waiting for her dish. We had received sushi ordered at the same time and the table beside us, which sat down 20 minutes after us, had received their sushi. Finally the roll came out and she said it was just average. Not worth waiting an hour for. They did remove it from the bill since it took so long. All in all the food was great, service was really good (not the waitress's fault it took so long) and the decor is beautiful. I would return and sit outside to take advantage of the beach view in the future. Just not sure if I'd order sushi again.
(3)Emily C.
Fabulous dining experience - especially for a group of ten! As a CT local, I didn't expect to be dining outside in the complete dark because of turtle nesting season (ya learn something new every day) but the candles made for a lovely dinner party ambiance... and dining oceanside makes it all worth it! Ever the indecisive diner, I loved being able to order a sampler of S3's signature cocktails and chose the Thai coconut crush, berry mojito, and green geisha (cucumber vodka, green tea, lemongrass and basil). All so summery and lovely. For dinner, we nibbled on a variety of apps and shared entrees - standouts included the lemon ricotta spread (soooo good), tuna tower with wasabi guacamole, and pork belly. Despite the number in our party, service was fine (and helpful in splitting checks) and price was about what I expected.
(5)Courtney C.
Great place for drinks and sushi. Brought some friends here for just that and had a great time. The rolls we ordered were all delicious and fresh-- must try's are the Gator roll and eel roll. They have an extensive speciality cocktail list too with lots of fun drinks to try---the High & Rye, Green Geisha, and the Ginger Thymetini were all fabulous. Definitely sit outside if you can, you really can't beat the huge cozy patio just steps from the sand.
(4)Jerry C.
Situated in the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, S3 Sun Surf Sand has a perfect perch right across the street from Ft Lauderdale Beach, overlooking the Atlantic. My relaxing lunch was accompanied by warm ocean breezes. Evenings must be super nice. Along with its open-to-the-street bar, S3 serves tapa small plates, salads and sushi rolls. I tried their rotisserie chicken salad with goat cheese, avocado and bacon. It's not a very big bowl for costing $14, but it was so tasty! Their passion fruit iced tea was refreshing on a sunny spring afternoon where the temperature was over 85F. Service was good. I'd come back again, because surprisingly there aren't a lot of open air beachfront restaurants on this part of the strip. Maybe because each block is a hotel resort.
(4)Melissa P.
Fantastic views and tasty small plates! I would recommend this place if you want some great drinks and ambiance. My boyfriend and I came here for brunch on our recent Ft. Lauderdale vacation and enjoyed it. I recommend getting the cocktail flight so you can try a few of their delicious concoctions.
(4)Chris G.
Great atmosphere. Great food. Sushi. Wings and fish are all stellar. Not a wide range of food to choose from but still a place I would return to
(4)Thomas P.
S3 is the bomb! My wife and I were staying at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort and walked down to S3 for lunch...so glad we did! We actually stayed at the Hilton 3 years ago as part of an extension of our honey moon, but we didn't dine at S3. I guess we had no idea until recently! We started with the wood fired grilled octopus; simply amazing! It was served with a medley of gigande beans (basically giant white beans), cherry tomatoes, marinated red onions, some leafy salad greens and was tossed in a salsa verde sauce! We could have eaten at least 3 orders of this dish because it was that good! The octopus was extremely tender and had a superb smoky taste and just blended together harmoniously with the other ingredients! A must have if you dine here! :-) Next, we ordered the Fish Tacos! Super delicious and fresh tasting! They were served in corn tortillas with jalapeño slaw and topped with avocado pepper salsa! The fish was moist, delicate and delicious! After that we tried the brisket sliders-another slam dunk! The bread appears to be tough from the outside, but once you take your first bite you'll be amazed at how light and airy it is! The mustard BBQ and chow chow worked nicely. The last item I chose to order was the Pork Sandwich "Cuban Style." From the presentation to the flavor-it was excellent! 5 Stars with no second thought! Service and food was superb! The huge outdoor patio is spacious and romantic as well! We'll definitely be back!
(5)Sylvia B.
We were at the Restaurante in the passed few weeks with family and loved it, our server was Rochelle and she made our experience with our family visiting from California very happy. Tonight we went back with friends and even though the quality of the food was still there, excellent , our server Taylor, was awful. Took three times to ask for water to finally get it. When we order another round of drinks without finishing the first round, instead of bringing new glasses of wines he just added to the not yet finished glasses so we got half a pour . When we question him about it his response was " I have to pour to a certain line on the glass ", really so you can give me half a glass and still charge me for a full glass. Anyways, food is very good but they need to train their servers better and get rid off the bad ones. I will give the restaurant another chance as long as we get a good server. Sylvia B - ft LAUDERDALE
(3)Shawn W.
I'm not always a fan of the "small plate" concept, especially when I've never been there before. Whether your group is small, or larger, it isn't always clear how much to order and I often error on the side of too much..which can get pricey. We really liked S3, though. The menu is kind of a mixed bag..mostly Asian inspired dishes, with an occasional detour to more traditional American comfort food. I found their small plates to be on the "medium" side, which was good. We had a table for five and with most dishes we each got to snag a reasonable portion from the plate. Loved the Brussels sprouts, the fried edamame, the chicken salad, the short ribs, and the peppers (I'm certain that I'm forgetting some). We also shared a Thai inspired sushi roll that was great.. I was also pleasantly surprised when I got the bill. Service was very well coordinated and properly paced. If I didn't live 3000 miles away, I would go back in a heartbeat.
(4)Carrie H.
This is by far my favorite restaurant in Fort Lauderdale !!! The ambiance is fantastic and it's right across the street from the beach . They have an outdoor bar and a fire pit outside where u can sit and eat it just enjoy your cocktail. The service is spectacular ... We had Matt as our server who was on top of it with our food and drinks . His recommendations were perfect !! They serve small plates there so we ended up getting about 7 plates for my husband and I (which ranged from about 10-15.00 each ). Our favorites included the mac and cheese and gnocchi. Matt recommended a blackberry lychee as a drink and it was as always .. Perfect! This is a great place for a date night or night out with the girls . During the day on Sundays they have a great brunch but it gets crowded so make a reservation !!!
(5)Rich S.
Came for brunch. Had the s3 drink sampler wasn't that good at all. The waffles and chicken wasn't exactly what we expected. It was a sweet Thai chicken that were small Chunks. The waffle was rather unflattering. The pork belly hash was ok not as flavorful as I wanted.
(3)Rachel S.
Joined some friends here for happy hour a couple of weeks ago. The atmosphere (across from the beach )is beautiful. The restaurant is beautiful as well. We enjoyed: S3-Sexy Summer Seduction-beautiful and tasty Mojitos Wine (Savignon Blanc) 3 drink sampler (just fair) Tomato bread (fresh, tasty) Crisp Baby Artichokes- very nice texture and flavor, went well with the lemon caper aioli dipping sauce Spicy tuna roll- came with dab of chili sauce on the side. Fresh. Unremarkable. Wok seared edamame- excellent flavor, colors, and texture. We found this to be our favorite dish. Tuna nachos-nicely presented. Tasted too fishy even though the sauces tried to disguise that. I sent it back with no problems. Goat cheese croquetas- I didn't try, but my friend said it was very tasty. Overall it was a lovely experience. We enjoyed the beach side atmosphere and the live DJ that began playing a couple of hours later. One tip: We found it odd that the bartenders were reluctant to let us know about the happy hour specials for drinks and had to be prodded to divulge the happy hour food specials. Make sure you ask.
(4)Beverly G.
Fantastic! The service is great, but the food it better. The goat cheese croquettes are amazing, so is the octopus! Best bloody mary flights I've ever had. There's this toffee desert that I'd request on my death bed. Highly recommend it! Two tumbs way up.
(5)Julia P.
Pros: *Great Waitress named Talia always checking in and what not *Delicious food and sushi to die for - so fresh *Everything we ordered (6 dishes) was delicious *Good Atmosphere Cons: *Bummed all the outside seats were taken but we still had a great time
(5)Peter P.
Excellent atmosphere. Great view of the ocean. Awesome small plated food. The server was informative, all the drinks were unique, and the food was delicious.
(4)Jeremy K.
I ate here recently with my family - - If you're hunting around in Fort Lauderdale for good food you may have realized by now that decent restaurants are few and far between down there. S3 was a pleasant reprieve...the menu is fun and creative and our server was great. (I did feel a bit bad that the table of women next to ours were all wasted and groped him...oh to witness female-on-male sexual harassment in progress).. Anyway back to the food - it was pretty good, we had one issue that the fish of the day we ordered was inedible...but the waiter and chef apologized profusely and quickly fired out a replacement dish that was great. (Based on what they told us - sometimes the fish of the day can be a gamble based on what the chef can find at the market and we ate there on a day that the chef was forced to buy a fish they weren't in love with)... In an ideal world the chef would have figured something else out other than serving a fish they don't think is a good fish and for that I'll keep this review to four stars..but I will definitely go back and try it again.
(4)Damien T.
S3 has a perfect location. It's right across from the beach, so that already put you in a relaxed mindset. The decor and lighting helps a great deal! I really liked the decor and the fire pit at the entrance. If you valet your car and get the ticket validated, it will only cost you $5.00; that will take the stress out of looking for a parking spot in this busy area. S3 is a great dining experience,The service and food presentation are really great. I didn't know too much about this place going into it, but once I got here I realized really quick that this was a foodies paradise. They allow you to order several combination of small plates of food in a tapas style setting. They also have a wide array of specialty drinks.I had a Thai coconut crush and I can honestly it was one of the best mixed drinks I've had in a while. When ordering your entrée, I would suggest the short ribs. They were perfect and had great flavor. It left me wanting more. I will get that again next time I'm here. Empanadas are also a must! The crispy shell and the sauce on top light up your taste buds. I'm not sure what the meat was inside of it, but it tastes really really yummy. Mac and cheese, YUM! That's the best mac and cheese I've ever had (I use to think my Mac and cheese was the ish) but S3's Mac and cheese is the Lebron of mac and cheese. It has everything; great flavor, texture and consistency. You have to get the Mac and cheese if you're having dinner here. Skip the seafood paella, it's not worth $16. The shrimp and scallops don't mesh well with the couscous and the serving size is not enough for you to really enjoy the dish. Everything else is fairly priced.
(4)Gina P.
On July 4th me and the BF rode our bikes down to the beach to watch the fireworks. We got there with much time to kill and s3 has been on my brunch radar since they opened so we figured to check it out with some bevs and apps at the bar for a late lunch. The place was very full at the bar due to the soccer game being on tv. They have these couple high top tables just to the left of the bar and when asking the waitress if we could sit there she said it was only eligible for people having a full meal. Kind of obnoxious considering they had plenty of available tables inside (we were there at an odd hour in between dinner-lunch). Eventually a couple seats freed up and I got a fresh berry mojito which was amazing. I was between rating them 3 or 4 stars and the berry mojito deserved the round up it so freaking good. The BF got a beer and we got apps of the tuna nachos and the skirt steak. Both apps were on a smallish size but tasty. The steak (which was under large plates) was like about 6 small strips of steak each one on a bed of yucca. Flavorful but not really worth 20. The tuna nachos were really great and I would order again. The service was good at the bar they were well staffed for a holiday crowd. I will definitely go back and and try their brunch as I can't resist a flight of bloody Mary's and sangrias!
(4)Nadia S.
Pros: Amazing fresh food Great environment Outside couch seating with firepits Friendly and fast staff Walking distance to shopping and bar hopping Cons: A bit pricey Loud for an upscale restaurant/bar
(5)Shenelle A.
Came here for a girls night out on a Saturday . Food was great and so was the music. ambiance was beautiful and romantic looking right across from the beach . The waitress was attentive and pleasant. I had the steak which was cooked perfectly. The menu is majority small plate tapa style and few large plate options. I recommend this restaurant. Great place to hang out with the girls or on a date.
(5)Katie O.
Excellent! We loved the food everything was great especially the sushi and not to mention our great waitress Talia!
(5)PaiDay D.
Fort Lauderdale Beach has been in dire need of a spot like S3 for some time. If you're looking for a hip, cool, fun & deliciously good place I highly recommend it! Here are the items I tried: Let's start with drinks. On another occasion I tried one, possibly 4 speciality drinks... all were high quality refreshing drinks with plenty of liquor! This time I had their Bridlewood, Pinot Noir which for $31 a bottle is not too bad. Its hard not to be impressed from their vast wine selection. Apps: Stir Fried Brussels Sprouts: Mint ~ Puffed Rice ~ Peanuts - I ordered it without the pork and these brussels sprouts are pretty amazing! Short Ribs: Smoked Calabaza Puree ~ Roasted Root Vegetable ~ Cress - OK... These short ribs MELT in your mouth. My friend thought they were a bit too salty but I thought they were perfect. I would order this up in heart beat! Potato Skins: Yukon Gold ~ Cave Aged Cheddar ~ Chive Cream ~ Nueskes Bacon - Ordered this without bacon. I hope to duplicate this at home because they knocked my socks off - great job S3! Asparagus: Grilled Radicchio ~ Oregon Blue ~ Pecans ~ Orange Sherry Vinaigrette - I'm not a big fan of blue cheese but I wanted to try it the way it comes. The cheese and all other ingredients combined give your palate 2 thumbs up :) Dinner: They had a Mahi fish dish special which again just melted in your mouth and the flavors are fresh and dynamite! Dessert: Okay, so at this point its hard to think about dessert but the waiter (I would have bought a car from this guy) convinced us to try the bread pudding... YEAHHH not too shabby! Cheers everyone :)
(5)Melissa V.
Last minute decision on where to go and I'm glad we went here! Some of the best sushi rolls ice ever had. The crunchy tuna roll, the Gator Roll and the Red Dragon. All the flavors were well balanced. Just enough of a sweet pop, a nice spice kick that isn't too spicy and the rice was awesome! Short rib empanadas were a daily special and they were bad ass. Shredded beef in a soft, flaky empanada shell with a unique orange sauce drizzled on top. After having this I will ALWAYS shred my short rib beef. The macaroni on the menu is also very good. It's rich so it's best to order it with more than one person. Creamy, small macaroni shells, prosciutto flakes on top. Mmmmmm!!! Recommend this place to anyone in the area. Unique atmosphere & drinks. Fire-pits & lounge couches outside. Awesome.
(4)Alexandra M.
Made reservation for my birthday. Sushi across from the ocean is the best way to spend it with friends! Chantel was our server and she was very attentive,informative,and friendly, even when the gratuity was automatically added since we had 8 to our party. Its more of a small plate/sharing concept so its a great way to try different things. Will definitely be returning!
(4)Venus V.
This is one of my fav spots in town. Great views when sitting outside. Good for apps, the drinks are excellent. Try the green geisha!
(5)Cassie M.
Here it is, July 20th and I can't stop thinking about our S3 experience in June. We ended up at S3 for dinner by chance on June 6 and it was a packed, full house but that didn't stop this awesome staff from treating us like we were the only ones in the restaurant. We sat in the only available seats at the sushi bar and found it to be absolutely fascinating! The way this team works together bringing the menu to life with incredible artistic flare made our seats the best place to be. Each small plate we ordered blew us away. From the sushi rolls to the chicken salad and mac 'n cheese...each one a hit. We were only in town for two short days but loved S3 so much that we invited friends to join us there the next day for lunch...AND dinner!! Yes, we thoroughly enjoyed S3 and dined with them 3 times in two days. I'd gladly go back and only wish we had this treat in Atlanta. Enjoy!
(5)Erick O.
This month's UYE was at S3 Sun Surf Sand. I was excited and looking forward to this restaurant since it's near the water and the menu looked very appealing. The restaurant is part of the Hilton Hotel on the beach. It's a corner venue across the street from the water. If you sit out side the view is beautiful. Sunday was a gorgeous day for outside dining. It was sunny and breezy and the weather held up the entire stay. We sat outside at a large table that was waiting for us facing the ocean. Such a beautiful site, something's you need to be grateful we live in a place people come to vacation too. Your view of the beach and sand along with traffic is really nice and this alone is a major plus and one reason to consider this spot for brunch or early evening dining. Several things caught my eye on the menu. They have assortments of brunch plates, specialty rolls, small plates and sandwiches. The menu had good diversity and wasn't really consumed with useless items. Everything was priced right was well. Wasn't overly expensive and seemed very reasonable. We elected to go with the following: Shrimp & Grits : Good presentation. Dish came in with the shrimp on the top of the plate along with a poached egg on the top. Have I every told you how I love poached eggs? It's something that has stuck with me since I was a little man, popping the egg with my fork and watching the yolk just drip down, very very flavorful The cheesy grits were just right the texture was spot on. I hate it when grits either come out too hard and it feels like your eating raw rice or to soggy like if it were mash potato, didn't have that problem here. The shrimps were grilled yet were very soft on the inside and they were made with either paprika or some other type of spice that was added to the entire dish which was amazing. That was one of the best parts about the craft of this dish because the kick it has can catch you off guard. It's not overpowering at all, it's just right. There were also roasted peppers in the dish that added to that kung foo kick I told you about before. Well made... Crab n' Shrimp: The girlfriend ordered the crab and shrimp rolls which were excellent. She gets full fast which is also a blessing for a foodie like me. Seafood was soft and fresh and there was an added refreshing flavor to the roll. The Asian pear was just right on this roll, it can get kind of boring with the same repetitive cucumber or carrots regular placed use. The pear soften the roll up and eliminated that fishy taste. Topped with spicy mayo sauce and noodles on top, it was a refreshing delight. Goat Cheese Croquettes: Loved this dish!! These golf ball sized croquettes were fired to perfection and were so creamy on the inside. The guava sauce paired perfectly with the croquettes as well making your taste buds want to explode inside. Especially if you take the sauce and place it inside the with the cheese. Orgasmic! Mimosa: Average really, nothing really that you can do with a Mimosa in my eyes, when you think about it. It was good, wasn't bad. Blackberry Lychee Bellini's: Great texture on the cocktail. Wasn't overpowering and wasn't too juicy either. If you like tart,, tangy style drinks this is a good choice. Very good and noticeable taste on the cocktail especially the blackberry which standout. In addition, you can find small pieces of lychee and black berry pulp inside the drink. Very refreshing! All in all it was a very good dining experience and I would love to come back and try some of the other items I was looking forward to try such as the sweet potato waffle with chicken, pork belly hash, huevos ranchero and the mac & cheese.
(5)stephanie f.
I had been to S3 numerous times for drinks with friends and each time said that I needed to try the food. So after a much too long wait, I finally rounded up some friends to go for dinner. And it was good. Like, really really good. There were 4 of us and we ordered a mashup of small plates and every plate was good. There wasn't a single one that was meh. And that, is very very rare. We ordered: Brussel Sprouts: Tasty and well prepared Croquettes: God I love croquettes Tuna Tower: Really really good and fresh. Shrimp & Crab Tostada: So much tasty here Short Rib: comes with mashed taters. Really good here. Crab n' Shrimp Roll: Really good. Do I sound like a broken record? Thai Tuna: I've never had coconut in my roll. I'd like to have it more often. Gnocci: same story guys. it was good. Everything was good. Go Now. Order Food. You won't be disappointed. So I think I've communicated that the food was good, but the ambiance / location / decor is pretty awesome too. The indoor dining room is great, but their outdoor dining option is hard to beat with lounge area, firepit, and an outdoor bar. There's also a secretish back bar and lounge area that I discovered last night that I had never seen before. Clearly my previous "drinking" trips were full of drinking.
(5)Jeighsen C.
Very loud with the drummers and showgirl dancing on patio. Not able to order the steaks and several other large plate items because we were told by server that they had a kitchen fire. The story just didn't make a lot sense. I thought it was pretty expensive for tapas. The sushi, brussels sprouts and edamame were pretty good. Short rib also nicely done but nothing special. Again serving what was listed on the menu for example filet or ribeye would have made this a better dining experience. Service was attentive but hard to have conversation with server or my guest due to dance club like atmosphere.
(2)Jon K.
My first visit to S3 this past Friday night for a birthday celebration. Note that they have a separate valet for the restaurant than from the hotel, but I wouldn't have known that if my friend hadn't been there before. Had a reservation and we were seated immediately. The décor is very Florida and nice. The place is a mixed club/bar/restaurant, so it was crowded and loud. A good vibe though. Our group of 4 split a bunch of the appetizers and small plates, including the short empanadas, mac and cheese, a couple of sushi rolls, and a few other things. We also split 2 desserts, the blondie/cookie and the date cake. We enjoyed pretty much everything, but the empanadas and mac and cheese were the standouts. Plus the blondie dessert. Service was friendly and attentive. Your bill will add up as you order more and more plates, but for a special occasion it is totally worth it.
(4)Jeremy C.
I've been here a couple of times. Love the atmosphere and view of the beach. They have an inside bar and outside bar as well as plenty of inside and outside seating for dining. The food was excellent and the service is always great.
(5)Lillian A.
I would like to say 4 stars but our waiter Sirlene was rude and was rushed with us . Never gave us a smile.
(3)Barbara R.
We are blessed. We live on Fort Lauderdale Beach, right on A1A, walking distance from S3. We love S3, it's our favorite place to take visiting friends and family, local friends and family, and most importantly ourselves :) Some of our favorite dishes: Edamame..nobody does them better, Mac & cheese, spicy tuna rolls and the brisket sliders...talk about diversity cuisine with a fabulous view of the ocean. We love S3!
(5)Yani D.
Excellent creative food, but lacks a bit a better customer service skills, but we love the ambiance!!
(4)Charmie P.
Awesome view, ambiance, food and drinks! What else could you ask for! I love sitting at the bar or bar tables - its a great ambiance, the restaurant is located below the Hilton hotel on A1A and overlooks the beach, and the bar has both indoor and outdoor seating. Many items on the menu are small plates for sharing and even though its a small menu there is plenty of variety. My favorite dishes: - Wok Charred Edamame - its not just plain steamed edamame, they charr it and prepare it with soy and other spices, its delicious - Crisp Baby Artichokes with Lemon Caper Aioli - its excellent - Stir Fried Brussels Sprouts - it has Pork, Mint, Puffed Rice and Peanuts - its so good! - Vietnamese Chicken Wings with Green Papaya Slaw - awesome - Buratta - Arugula salad with buratta, its very good - Charcuterie board - served with brown mustard - small but good They have a nice list of specialty drinks, my favorite is the Ginger Thymetini which consists of Hangar 1 Citrus, thyme, ginger and Pom Juice. If you are not drinking, try the regular Ice Tea, its excellent, it's like a fresh fruity blend from similar to Teavana's.
(4)Genie M.
Great service and very cool scene. Good vibes with good music on a Saturday night. We were seated within 15 minutes without a reservation, and we thought it was the best seat in the house. It was an Oceanfront view with the moon reflecting over the ocean. We were so content. The food was good. My husband got the tuna tower. He said it was good, but not great. He loves tuna but he wasn't particularly crazy about this prepared tuna, and he said there was too much rice. I had the shrimp tempura. It was like many others I've had in the past. Mac 'n cheese was really good. Goat cheese croquettes were good. The steak on plantains was alright. The plantains were very dry but the steak had a nice taste to it. This is one dish they should work on because it has potential.
(4)Bea M.
This place is right across the beach. We are hotel guests. They have an indoor and outdoor area. We wanted to be seated outside since we're wearing swimsuits. We are dry. I'm wearing a sarong , my husband is wearing a rash guard with his board shorts and my two young daughters are wearing their suits with rash guards. The friendly host gave us a nice table outside. After we were seated, the manager, her name is Harmony came over and said that we can't eat there because my girls weren't wearing shorts. She was less than friendly. I understand that you have to enforce the dress code but that can be done in a nicer way... you should really rethink your dress code at least outside since you're a beachside restaurant called S3 - Sun, Surf, Sand.
(1)Cheryl K.
Update to my earlier review.... Returned here about 2 weeks ago for dinner and drinks. I made a reservation and requested an ocean view inside seat which was honored without a problem. The service from the hostess to the waitress to the management was impeccable and the food was as good as the first time I dined here. This time we had the sushi nachos which were still fantastic, the macaroni and cheese (incredibly rich, a little too heavy for my taste but exactly what mac and cheese is supposed to be), duck lettuce wraps (a special that evening and delicious) and the scallops, which were perfect. I had a mixed berry mojito which was great. At the end of our meal, the manager came over and gave me his card, apologized for my past experience and even bought us drinks to make up for the past. Thanks S3 - you've made me a true fan! Whenever I'm in the Ft Lauderdale beach area I am here for drinks and will be back again, and again for dinner....
(5)Honest R.
Food was great but espresso was what nightmares are made of and I'm 99% sure when we asked for cream for it, we were given cold skim milk in a really chic little container which made it much worse. Service was pretty good though. Except that the table next to ours had to take pictures of everything which meant a terrifying, other-worldly flash every few minutes. Not the restaurant's fault though. I would say it was a little overpriced for what you get. $4 per slice of sashimi is a little on the high side. I frequent katsuya one of the best sushi spots in LA & they're not nearly this overpriced. I got really stoked when "work out" by j cole started playing but it was interrupted by some crap rap after like a few notes. This remix played like way too loudly all night with some good songs, just too loud & too quick to skip to the next song. Waiters were cute and polite though so there's that.
(4)Lisa S.
The brussels sprouts and the short ribs are to die for! Such a cool place for someone who likes to sample a little bit of everything
(5)Joshua B.
Hip beach front view restaurant.Service was excellent. Mixed drinks were small but packed a punch and had great flavors. Food was more upscale bar food but great tasting
(4)Charles S.
S3 provides some of the best ambiance, service, food and views in Ft. Lauderdale. Our waitress was like a mind-reader. Every time I thought of something I needed or wanted, she would magically appear to take care of it. The food was phenomenal. We had sushi, chicken wings, pulled pork sandwiches and appetizers at our table and everything was high quality and ultra delicious. We sat outside, with a beautiful view of the ocean. Everything was exquisite!
(5)Ron B.
Very nice new edition to the Lauderdale beach landscape...which is welcome, given the lack of quality venues available with ocean views. The YOLO folks have outdone themselves, at least in terms of the decor and the setting. The entire restaurant straddles an interior space and an expansive patio, fully taking advantage of the ocean breezes and sweeping vistas. The food is fun...I've been for app's a few times, but was with a group for dinner recently...and was pleased with the offering and its executiion. We ate sushi rolls (dragon and spicy tuna), sashimi (assorted), wok-charred edamame, stir-fry brussel sprouts (yum!), coffee-rubbed skirt steak with yucca...and there wasn't a dud amongst them. In fact, most things were very good or better! Beverage was better than average...the wine list is decent, and some prices are surprisingly reasonable...given the setting, I'd say more than fair! (Kim Crawford SB for $10 - as good as most other places) I like the staff...they look good and are friendly...what else can you ask for?! The place looks great...and I'm finding it a nice place to wrap up a beach day (albeit, upscale style), hit an occasional beach-y happy hour or even dine, particularly with out of town guest in tow...the views make for lasting memories! One hint...valet. If you park down the street, you have to pass through some very unpleasant odors on the Hilton's back loading dock (you all really should clean that up!!)
(4)Lesley M.
We had a great lunch here with an attentive waitress. I ate a tomato and orzo salad and the vegetable sushi roll. The food was very fresh and filling. My husband ate the fish sandwich and the tuna rice cakes, and he quickly devoured both. He said his meal was absolutely excellent. I recommend checking out this restaurant.
(5)Julie T.
The ambiance and decor of this restaurant are great as is the happy hour. The view is fantastic, the service is great, and the food is good. I was actually really surprised at how fresh and delicious the sushi was. The tomato bread wasn't too remarkable. The crispy artichokes were just okay - salty and fried. The first cocktail I ordered called the pom pom crush was too tart and fruity. So thank goodness I got the Tickle cocktail. I really want to come back here again and try some more dishes.
(4)Rose W.
If you like Small Plates that are mouth watering and a view of our beautiful of Ft Lauderdale Beach you must go to S3. The grilled octopus was done to perfection and the pork belly melted in your mouth! And don't forget to try their sushi bar and a very "well stocked" wine list. The service for a busy restaurant was outstanding and our server delightful .... As first timers we didn't know where to begin and she guided us through an unforgettable evening with friends. High on my list of culinary experience .... Foodie Heaven!!!
(5)Jessica N.
Fantastic brunch! Was not overly crowded for a Sunday so we were able to get an outside table facing the beach with no problem. I had the Shrimp and Grits and my husband had the Chicken and Sweet Potato Waffle and we were thoroughly impressed. Awesome drink flights too!
(5)Carol K.
Love when a local tells you where to go to try out the "hot spot" in town. And while I was initially a bit put off that this is in the Hilton hotel (after all- who wants hotel food?) have no worries for this place is as far from hotel food as you can get! If you go- make a reservation as this place is jumping! I went on a Friday night and while there are plenty of amazing seating areas both indoors and out- without a reservation you may find yourself seated at the sushi bar, which while functional- is really not where the fun is! I ended up finding a seat at one of the other bars indoors and had a great time! If you enter through the hotel, you will actually be entering the restaurant from the back so head up to the side facing the ocean as that is where the hostess stand is. I was warmly greeted when I came in this way and shown to the proper place. The ambiance is cool and contemporary with great clusters of couches and tables outside and more traditional seating indoors. They make full use of their space and it is a wonderful space with ocean views and plenty of people watching opportunities. I ordered simply- some of their sauteed edamame and some sushi rolls. The edamame was unusual as I usually have it steamed so it had an entirely different mouth feel to it this way. My rolls were also quite good with the kamikaze roll having just the right amount of bite! The staff was super friendly- a big shout out to bartender Jane who kept my glass full and put up with an entire bar full of yelling men who had been drinking all day. If you drive- valet park at the hotel(enter on the side street) and get your ticket validated. At $5- it's the best parking deal in town! Go for the sun, go for the surf or go for the sand,, but most importantly go for the specialness of this place. For once you go- you'll want to go back!
(5)Blake W.
This should of been posted a long time ago but I just forgot about it. I just wanted to say that I went here just for a casual lunch during my spring break with my girlfriend. Only I ate here but they served us both waters and the waiter was very nice. I just ordered a hamburger. They took a long time to make it but I figured it was worth it. Plus they view was awesome and the atmosphere was very relaxed. Once I got the burger they told me they are gonna put it on the house cause it took so long. So that was awesome and very nice of them to do so. I would definitely return for a meal if I was ever in the area again. I highly recommend. Plus if you like sushi, I recommend you look at a place called sushi rock cafe in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Best sushi I have ever had. A hidden gem.
(5)Eli S.
Pretty views of the ocean but slow service and when asked about the status of our food a cocky bar tender Jared gave some strange explanation that we had to wait because this place was popular. (note post lunch and place half empty). We waited for 30 min to get appetizers. Apparently food was to arrive as it was prepared but the food runner brought it all at once. Just an fyi to the manager.
(2)Jennifer T.
I recently took some clients to S3. Our server Chelsea was fantastic. She knew the menu front to back and offered great drink pairings to go with the food we ordered. She was beyond professional and was able to interact with the table to make our experience beyond excellent. With the size group we had, I was able to taste a good portion of the menu. I wouldn't consider myself an octopus fan, but the octopus here is amazing. It's grilled and you can taste the smoke off the fire... The texture of this meat is better than lobster, which you might not expect if you've had rubbery octopus before. It's served with a buttery bean salad... honestly you have to try this plate, you won't regret it. For the less adventurous, try the mac and cheese plate (heavy, but super good) or the tuna tower. I plan on going back the next time I'm in town to try the pork belly. If you get to it before I do, let me know if it's good. This place truly has 5 star service, food and atmosphere.
(5)Isaac G.
It always makes me sad when a beautiful and tasty meal gives me food poisoning. It also disturbed me that since it's corporate ( Hilton) my server was required to wear arm sleeves over his tattoos. I had crabcake Benedict with spinach, a lemony hollandaise and some beautifully roasted potatoes, and a bloody Mary, traditional. My date had the banana bread French toast. We both liked the Oceanview, and the guests were okay, but when I looked into the kitchen it was easy to see how we got poisoned. It was truly a jumbled mess. Cross another South Florida restaurant off the list.
(2)Rich B.
One of the greatest restaurants I've ever been to. Amazing food, service, ambiance, scenery, etc.. the sushi rolls in particular are to die for. I can't wait to go back next time I'm in town!
(5)Peter B.
Atmosphere with the ocean breeze was great, food was ok
(1)Faith H.
Came on a Thursday night. What great service, food & drinks. Bartenders are amazing and attentive!! Been looking for good sushi and this is the place!!! Drinks are made to perfection. This is def a must go to!!! Worth the $.
(5)Savani D.
I came here on a Friday night after 11p, I was pleasantly surprised to find quality dining in this area around that time. Luckily, they stop serving food at midnight. I ordered the Seafood Paella, perfect if you're eating light. But if you're a foodie like myself, you'll end up ordering more food as I did. After reading all the rave reviews about the Thai Tuna Roll, had to order it. Yelp never leads me astray! This dish was delicioso! I would have given 5 stars if the food portions were bigger. Other than that this place is highly recommended.
(4)Nikoletta K.
Great place, beautiful view and good food
(4)Janice M.
Had dinner with three co-workers here last Thursday. A great spot to people watch and enjoy the ocean breeze. There were quite a few intoxicated college students enjoying spring break which was entertaining to watch while we had dinner! The wine and cocktail list is impressive. Beautiful restaurant with open kitchen. Staff is obvioulsy chosen for their looks and hipness, as I didn't see one unattractive server in the place! The food..... We shared: Goat Cheese Croquettes - Amazing and very rich Tuna Tower - a bit bland but the tuna very fresh Rainbow Roll - good but not the best sushi I've had Scallops - perfectly seared and the sauce was so good we ordered another. Luscious Brussel Sprouts - my favorite veg and these did not disappoint. Perfectly roasted and carmelized. YUM Mac and Cheese -TO DIE FOR! Cheesy goodness with crispy pancetta. Brought this out last and we were so full we had trouble finishing it Travel to Ft Lauderdale often for work and this is my new favorite spot. Highly recommend for small plates and people watching.
(4)Drew D.
After having returned here twice (once for brunch and once for dinner) with out of town friends, I am happy to be able to bump my review up to a solid 4-stars! Every subsequent dining experience here has been happy and tasty. Yes, tables are very hard to come by so make reservations well in advance. Enjoy some creative cocktails and soak up the trendy atmosphere while enjoying well prepared food!
(4)Carol L.
I and my friend came here for dinner last weekend. We ordered a buffalo wing with honey sauce. It was so amazing taste. Not like ones we often eat in Hooter. Crunchy and salty sweet, a little sour... Later we order Tuna and steak serve with rice. Both these meal tasted so good and fresh like a wild caught tuna i usually buy in farm fresh market. So delicious. We will definitely come back next time for trying other meals.
(5)Maria M.
Great great place. My fiancé and I were staying at the Hilton Hotel and wanted to eat some place by the water, when we walked towards Las Olas blvd and tried 2 different places we were dissapointed before we even ordered so we left. Nobody even brought us water, we decided to try S3 since it is conveniently attached to the hotel. OMG best decision ever.......service, food, ambiance... All great!!!! Every single dish was perfect!!! :)
(5)Isidro P.
Ok place, lots of smoke inside the restaurant due its wood oven, crab cake sandwich is a good choice
(3)Kristin A.
I love the décor and atmosphere. This was our first stop to drink before heading to the downtown bar areas. My drink was pretty basic but totally did the trick. This is a kool bar to met up and have drinks at and best of all right across from the beach!!! There was also a really good band playing.
(5)Sarah B.
We loved S3. Food was great - sushi, steak and salads crossed our table and everyone raved about the meal. Service was nice, fun atmosphere. Nice change from the "norm" in Ft Lauderdale.
(5)Danielle R.
Went yesterday after a very LONG day at the beach, coupled with beer, and we were finally ready to eat some food (thank sweet baby Jesus). They have a $5 valet, do this instead of trying to find parking for 10 mins like we did. My one friend had been the night before and she loved it so much she wanted to go back. In fact, she said when they first got there there was nothing but open tables, but they were told those were all reserved and if they wanted they could sit up at the sushi bar (which is also pretty cool). She said about 30 mins after they sat (at the sushi bar) all of those tables were taken. Additionally, we actually tried to grab drinks here on the prior Friday night around 7 ish but there wasn't an open seat to be had!!! So make a RESERVATION if you plan on going here. It also appears they take rezzies for the outside cocktail tables, which on a nice South Florida night can't be beat! The views here are SPECTACULAR and almost all of the seating (save the sushi bar) are pointed towards the water. We got a seat outside and immediately ordered bottle #1 of wine (Kim Crawford priced at $35). We also ordered the wok seared edamame and the mixed olives w/ Marcona almonds (see pix both were delicious). All of us were impressed w/ the wide variety of selections on the menu, if you can't find something to eat here, you can't find it anywhere. We ordered bottle #2 of the Kim Crawford. It is on the slower side, so this place is perfect for a lazy Sunday dinner, IF you are on a tight time frame I would skip this place and try it another time. We ordered the Thai Tuna Roll, which I loved, and the Rainbow Roll, both were delicious. We also ordered the Green Goddess Tomato Heirloom salad (which is one of the most amazing dishes ever), the grilled eggplant (my least favorite), and the stuffed Brussels Sprouts (ask for a side of wasabi for these for some reason it pairs nicely). Somewhere during this round of food we ordered bottle #3 of wine, only to have the waitress return and tell us they were out!!! OH NO! However, instead of just saying they were out they offered the next bottle up for the same price (savings of $6 but still a very fair and happy gesture). And we accepted. I think we were here for 2 hours, maybe more, and we would've stayed longer if we didn't have TrueBlood to watch that night. Oh and by the time we left they had live music complete with Cuban drums! I honestly can't wait to go back...
(5)Brian G.
My son and I went there for dinner last night. Great location - bit either park at the Galleria Mall (free) and walk maybe 3/4 of a mile along he beach or A1A, or use valet - you won't find parking nearby for sure. Atmosphere is great, our server was very good, the sake was cold, nice ambience. We sat at the sushi bar and watched it being prepared. Menu is limited (very limited) but service is prompt because of that.
(4)Cindy S.
I've been to S3 a few times for lunch and dinner. The food is great, they have smaller portions so everyone may share. The service is excellant. They serve a variety of sushi, beef and fish. The server Brandon was my favorite, if you have difficulty making a discision he makes great recommendations. I also recommend Rachelle too! The view is EXCELLENT! This place has great food, service and a beautiful view! They have something for everyone!
(5)Marqus R.
S3, located in the Hilton Hotel, supposedly stands for Sun, Sand & Surf. It's a restaurant run by the same people who operate YOLO (You Only Live Once) on Los Olas in downtown Fort Lauderdale which some refer to as YOLO's on the beach. As with YOLO, all of their dishes have certain unique culinary twists about them rarely found elsewhere, all being somewhat trendy and on the cutting edge of "what's in" within trendy world of culinary arts. All of the portions are rather small, mid-priced but if you really eat a full size meal, you'll find out that the prices add up rather quickly. I went for the grilled octopus ($13.00) which not only came with some of the most tender, delicious slices of octopus (not your typical pile of bland Greek tentacles) I've ever had accompanied by a fresh small cut vegetable melody of corn, tomato, and a mash and of other very flavorful ingredients they refer to as being a gigande bean with a verde sauce. I also had the grilled Japanese eggplant with a miso sake and sesame glaze ($7.00) which though flavorful, really didn't amount to much. They also have a coffee rubbed skirt steak ($14.00) accompanied by a yucca along with a tangy, tasty mango based chimichurri that I found most delightful, but as far as their larger Creekstone Filet, you can do much better at Capital Grill for the price. As for atmosphere, it's tough to beat with nice views of the beach along with an interior décor into which it is obvious that a lot of money was invested. However, more than that is that they have incorporated a thoughtful sound barrier baffling throughout the ceilings which clearly cuts down on any noise, affording one to engage in pleasant dinning conversation. To wash it all down I also had a couple of their Patron margaritas which were rather good but at $15.00 each they darn well should have been. The service was top notch professional but as with YOLO, if you are dinning alone you'll have to speak up about your seating because even when practically empty they tend to seat single dinners in the worst of locations reserving their better seating in the event of an unexpected larger groups of customers. All in all, S3 is a vast improvement to the Hilton though I would say still somewhat lingers behind what is offered at the next door W with its Steak 954 restaurant.
(4)May M.
My favorite restaurant by far! Always amazing service, great drinks and unbeatable dishes!! Edamama is out of this world and the heirloom tomato salad is to die for!!! To top it all off, you can't beat the atmosphere and the ocean breeze!
(5)Steve C.
I am a lucky guy, I was invited here as a birthday dinner present from sweet Karin, and the entire experience ROCKED, here's why: * The company! * Jamie, our waiter, was fantastic without hovering, he represents the brand well and has great energy * Tapas / sharing sized portions mainly * Beachfront view * Cool layout and decor * Fairly priced We drank a delish bottle of Tyku Black (cold) Sake. Mmmmmmmmm, Yummo! We also tried their Sake Sunset Cocktails, made with sake and Grey Goose ($12 bucks each). Awesome. We ate: * Kamikaze Roll (HIT!) * Brussel Sprouts (HIT!) * Short Ribs with mac-n-cheese (HIT!) * Paella * Scallops * Panna Cotta for dessert Wow. Score. Coming back. Sooner. Before you. Cabeza BLESSED!
(5)Kayla M.
Came to S3 for Sunday brunch. The service was HORRIBLE but the food was AMAZING! We sat at the outside bar and had Jane and Anna as a servers. Ann was nice and just seemed busy but Jane seemed bothered by "tourist" she requested that we provide her with a CC to hold but never requested one from the "locals" who sat down right next to us at the same exact time. 2 more "tourist" lady were also rudely asked to provide their CC and they too were not happy with the service and left. We were only checked on once and once things slowed down Anna took over at the end and we actually left with a smile. The food was very good so with that I'll say I might return in hopes to get a different waitress!
(3)Tara H.
Oh holy hamachi and pork belly! Cooper is awesome but the whole staff including the GM kicks ass!! Oh and the great company and fabulous wine helps too!! Try it you'll love it!
(4)Kimberley C.
Every concierge service on the beach is going to recommend this restaurant. They serve food & cocktails pretty consistently all day long and up till 11:30 approx. Not bad. So if you are on an irregular food schedule and you want some food, you're in luck. Food: Average, slightly better than average Service: Excellent Decor: Comfortable, inviting, warm wood colors People: All tourists of every shape & size Parking: Street or Valet This is the Hilton overlooking Fort Lauderdale beach. Good view. Comfortable seating. Much much better than hanging out on the patio of the W Hotel Fort Lauderdale. Very cool arrangement. The bartenders, as it gets late into the night are funny, charming and really take care of you. I've been here 4 times now, by default. A restaurant decision that you can make last minute without worrying about the outcome, unlike the Atlantic Hotel or the W.
(3)Jocelyn J.
Wow! This place is soooooo good. I came here on a Thursday night with some girlfriends and we ordered a bunch of their small plates, namely: Marinated olives Sushi nacho Spicy tuna Crab and shrimp rolls Mac n cheese Ricotta gnocchi Short ribs Shrimp toast Asparagus salad Akaushi bavette steak The sushi items (sushi nacho, crab and shrimp rolls) were fresh and delicious. The sushi nacho was similar to a tuna tartare on a crispy tortilla. The crab and shrimp rolls use REAL crab which was a surprising delight! All the cooked dishes were also very good - not one dish left our table without being empty. Those that we truly loved were ordered AGAIN because they were so delicious! But the standouts on this menu - unanimously decided by our table of 8 - were definitely the Mac-n-cheese and ricotta gnocchi. They were AMAZING. The Mac and cheese was creamy and gooey with a generous sprinkling of crispy prosciutto crumbles. The ricotta gnocchi had a sublime truffle smell and flavor that I can't even describe in words - you just have to taste it for yourself. Oh and for dessert you have to try the Icky Sticky Toffee Pudding....HEAVEN on a plate!! Service was prompt and very friendly. The restaurant has a chic but low key vibe with a wonderful view and firepits outside. I can't wait to go back for a date night with my husband!
(4)Amanda F.
I'll give this restaurant 5 stars for the quality of food. But waiter was slightly pushy, hostess had an attitude, they are very stingy on alcohol. Delicious and fresh. I love the option of small plates/snacks. Nice view of the water across the street. I wanted to sit by the fire pit and I had requested it over he phone. I was told it was first come first serve, okay I understand but then she says but I'll try to sit you somewhere near it. Okay that's fine, we get there got told the same thing with an attitude and were told "well if you can find a seat near it" what?? I had no idea what she was even saying.. Real professional thats why your a hostess. Got sat no where near the fire pit. They need more ambiance lighting outside if I can't get near the fire pit, I can't see my food or the menu. GET SOME LIGHTS OR TIKI TORCHES IF YOUR GONNA HAVE OUTDOOR SEATING. I can see where the money is going to.. (Fake candles) haha real fancy. Anyway the waiter was pushy saying we had to put in all the orders now bc they will start to get busy.. Umm I don't mind waiting so stop, we usually order 1 or 2 tapas at a time while drinking then keep the menu on the side so stop rushing me. Actually couldn't even get tipsy here bc the $12 "specialty" drink I ordered; Sake Sunset consisting of grey goose plum sake cranberry pineapple juice right you think ooo grey goose it's gonna be a nice strong drink for $12!!!! nope... Tasted like just pineapple juice, although my bf got a don Julio Margarita with a grand mariner floater for $15 which was really good, damn it should have gotten that to at least get a buzz on when your spending that much $. Sushi rolls were delicious and fresh filled with fish but very little avocado. This place is great during the day for tapas or an entree, would not recommend going to drink, save your money and pick a cheaper bar that has happy hour with decent strong drinks.
(4)Patrick F.
Great food, great environment, great service! Definitely recommend the sushi!
(5)Leah K.
This place is beyond amazing. If you like good, quality food, come here. Some of the best food I have ever tasted.
(5)Jill R.
I came with my girlfriends for a late dinner. This restaurant is part of the Hilton Fort Lauderdale right on the beach. It was such a beautiful spot. We sat outside near the fire pits. The tables and outside furniture created a beautiful beachside ambiance. We shared a few tapas and ordered 2 bottles of Grafigna Pinot Grigio.My favorite tapas were the goat cheese croquettes and the sushi nacho! Service was great! I would definitely recommend this hot spot to people visiting the downtown Fort Lauderdale area!
(5)Jessica L.
If I had to describe this place in 3 words, they would be outstanding, sexy, and refreshing. It's nice to finally have a great place to eat on the beach with an amazing view. The tuna tower was absolutely fresh and delicious. Brussels sprouts are better than mine and that's some pretty stiff competition! Service was up to perfection, staff very knowledgeable. I recommend this to anyone local or on vacation looking for amazing food with quality and love!
(5)Indya R.
You saw that right. Three stars. How is that possible, you ask? Let me first start off by saying that this place is GORGEOUS. If I still lived in the Miami area, it wold most definitely be my new go-to spot. Anytime I visit, which is quite frequently, I will make it my business to come here. Somehow, this place is set up so that every table you sit at you can see the ocean. Initially when I arrived, I asked for a table outside. I did not realize how silly that request was without a reservation. So to my dismay, we sat at a table closest to the kitchen, which was open. Now don't get me wrong. I loved the place. I REPEAT I LOVED THE PLACE AND WILL DEFINITELY BE BACK. Here's the thing. There is absolutely no excuse a place this damn nice to have a sub par menu. Yes, I am a very picky eater, but I can manage to find something on every menu. All I can suggest is the macaroni and cheese. It was delicious. Perhaps I am a bit biased because I hate tapas, but this place was tapas. No more tapas! No more tapas! No more tapas! I am a growing girl! I am an adult! I have keys to an apartment, and I DEMAND you not trick me with tapas! No more tapas! Now that that's out of the way, the other reason I knocked off a star is because of the service. Our server was perfectly pleasant, but frequently absent. I was always looking for her. They were not that busy when we got there. I considered maybe she got busy with other tables, or they were understaffed, but I think she was very new, as in it was her first job as a server, or she just just negligent. Again, this restaurant is on the ocean. Absolutely beautiful interior. I WISH I had the opportunity to sit outside. There is also a firepit out there! So romantic! The ocean view is nice, but when it comes down to it I went there to eat and have dinner with a friend. Next time, I will just eat before and have drinks or dessert here. I really wish they would serve regular portion food here, Mighta got 5 stars out of me. S3, I shall see you soon! Oh as we were leaving, there were dancers dressed in feathers giving a performance. I think I would have enjoyed that. P.S. ladies bring a sweater if you run cold. After the champagne we warmed up.
(3)Tyler S.
Moving from the northeast to live on the ocean just a few miles north from the strips of hotels , I wanted to only eat at restaurants where you could see the ocean and I wanted to take all of my visitors here to show off how "cool" Fort Lauderdale is. The restaurant is very pretty , the drinks are expensive but good , and the food is above average but on my third visit is when I noticed that this is not the place for me. Here's why, I like a good view but this restaurant is full of tourists, wannabes, and what I'm pretty sure were Baltic prostitutes. It's a tapas menu and most of the dishes we ordered were good but every time I come back I don't see anything on the menu that makes me shout " oh, I need that again!" If you're visiting Ft Lauderdale and staying at a hotel on the beach : go here, it's ok , you're allowed, you're a tourist. I on the other hand have passed my 6 month mark of Florida living and would be embarrassed to be spotted drinking a cocktail by a fire pit next to Svetlana.
(3)Savanna M.
Dinner - 4 stars The Short Story: I'm going to start off with a quick summary because I feel like this review is going to get lengthy. Long story short, S3 is good, the ambiance is nice, the view of the ocean would be great if you're here for lunch/early evening, and the food is good. I definitely think the asian side of the menu is much, much better than the non-asian items, so stick to those items. The Long Story: We came here for a birthday dinner. I made reservations for 5 people at 6pm, which I had pretty much forgotten about until we rolled in at 6:45pm. Luckily it was still early and we were sat immediately. By the time we left at 8:30pm (on a Wednesday) the place was packed, so either come early, or make a reservation. We were given a great table, half booth, half seats with an amazing view of the ocean (had daylight savings been working with us we might have seen it). Our waiter was quick and attentive and seemed to handle our indecisive/confused nature well. Sadly it can be difficult for a group of 5 to handle a tapas menu well. Thankfully we staggered our ordering quite well and managed to always have a full table, but not one overflowing uncomfortably with food. We tried a lot of the menu: *Goat cheese croquettes - good and worth the cheap price tag *Stuffed dates - a special for the night. Overly sweet and definitely far from the best stuffed dates I've ever had. *Tuna Tower - think tuna tartare with some rice mixed it. Extremely good and everyone loved it. *Shrimp n'Crab roll - good. I loved the hint of sweetness from the pear. *Red Dragon roll - also good. Different without seaweed, and everyone enjoyed. *Mac n' Cheese - not my favorite. The bacon had a fake taste to it. *Short Ribs - pretty good. I was rather full by the time these came out so they didn't get my full attention. There was a side of pasta that was good. *Steamed Mussels - loved them. The broth was great. *Lettuce wraps - I thought they were only ok, others raved about them. *Paella - didn't get to try it, but it looked amazing. *Grilled Octopus - not my favorite as it seemed salty, but the octopus itself was well cooked and had a nice grilled taste. *Jerked Pork Belly - yeah no. I appreciate the idea, but the mint sauce on top was all wrong. Don't bother trying. *Fish of the Day - mahi/mahi. I didn't get to try it but no one else was that impressed. Lessons learned - again, stick to the sushi/asian items. Large plates a overly expensive and not that great. We did order a bottle of wine, which I found to be fairly priced. We also did a drink sampler with the Thai Coconut Crush, Insani Tea and the Blackberry Lychee. Get the Blackberry Lychee - it was awesome!! All in all, we'll be back. The view can't be beat. The service was great. But I'll be sticking to the asian side of the menu. Brunch: 2.5stars We've recently been back for brunch. I'll keep this one short, but we didn't have the best of times. The view and seating outside of course was beautiful, but our food was so/so and our waiter kept going missing for long periods of time and it was hard to get refills, ask for syrup etc. Out of all the things we tried (there were 4 of us so we tried a lot) I would only go back for the banana bread french toast. Definitely skip the pork-belly hash.
(4)Stacy A.
Absolutely divine!! The grilled octopus and stuffed date appetizer are absolutely to die for. Fantastic ambience, too. Would come back in a heartbeat!
(5)Lawrence P.
Well hello S3!!!!! Unlike Miami, Fort Lauderdale is not yet known for tapas style (small bites) dining. Enter S3!!!! We valet sat outside with a view to the Atlantic Ocean. It was a nice day... not too hot. For colder nights, they have a nice fire pit as well and, from what we were told, they also have live music on Fridays and Saturdays!!! This night there was a jazz band playing and the fire pit was rolling as well. Very relaxing atmosphere... perfect Florida night dining!!! So, talking about the small plates, we had a few... just a few. The Goat Cheese Croquettes were perfect. They were accompanied by an almond crusted red chili guava which the wifey enjoyed very much. The Sushi Nacho which was basically tuna, spicy salmon, guacamole and tobiko was PHENOMENAL! We also had the Spicy Salmon Roll which was good. We also ordered the Mac & Cheese with smoked Gouda, my favorite. It even had prosciutto. WOW! The Ricotta Gnocchi... yes we ordered those too... had baby shiitake mushrooms and truffle. Best dish of the night!!!!! We had the Lump Crab Cakes and Grilled Octopus to boot. Both good! After we finished our wine (corkage fee is only $20), we ordered the Dulce de Leche Chocolate Cake. DON'T JUDGE!!!! The salted caramel ice cream that came with it was perfect. The only negative. It wasn't dulce de leche. Why advertise it as such and then use caramel???? It was ok at best. The ice cream was the best part. Loved S3!!! We will be returning often. For lunch, for dinner... for... whatever.
(4)Chris S.
Good food and a fun show if you sit at the sushi bar. Kimchee hamachi and brisket sliders were both excellent. Skirt steak took a long time as there was trouble getting it medium rare, but the manager came over, explained the problem, comp'd not only the skirt steak but also a beer, as a nicely appreciated extra touch. Once it finally came out, it was cooked perfectly and was also excellent. Potato skins and the blonde dessert were both good, but a clear step down from the other dishes. The craft beer list is decent, definitely not a highlight. Apart from the excellent handling of the slow skirt steak, service overall was good. I'll likely return to try more dishes from the lengthy list of interesting options.
(4)Lacey C.
Now I'm not up in Broward very often. But when my husband's long-time absent friend says he's in town for business and would like to pay for dinner--we scramble to get some nicer shoes on and make something happen. I found the first Yelp-approved sushi place close to their (Chad and his pal Scott) hotel and headed up North. I regret nothing. Service so good you'll freak--after we waited thirty minutes for drinks, and before we complained, a manager came over to apologize and buy us another round. Waiter opened the wine and poured it from the bottle at my table. I know that's supposed to be the standard, but how often is that actually delivered? To top it off food and ambiance was incredible. Everything was perfect. We ate caramelized brussel sprouts, grilled octopus, spare ribs with black pepper spatzel. Everything was finished off with even more booze, and Thai donuts with birthday candles. Highly recommended. And enjoy the patio.
(4)Roberta A.
S3 is one of my top 3 fave restaurants in Ft. Lauderdale. I love the concept of sharing small plates. We ordered the ricotta dip which is excellent, it's light and not heavy at all. The tuna tower has a great visual presentation and the guacamole in it is super yummy. The Mac & Cheese is always spectacular and is a MUST HAVE, I pretty much lick the plate and always contemplate getting one more order of it. The shrimp toast was very delicious, it tasted very fresh. The skirt steak with yuca is great but they should not serve the steak right on top of that yuca because the yuca ends up getting soggy every time I've ordered it here. But the steak was tender and very well seasoned. My favorite dish of the night was an actual special that isn't normally on the menu. Short ribs beef empanada equals heaven in your mouth. I hope a miracle happens and they add it to the menu permanently!!
(5)Brian R.
Went here last night for the first time. Great food, excellent Sushi and amazing ambience. If you are in Fort Lauderdale definitely be sure to check out S3!
(4)Beth M.
So, if you haven't warmed to the idea of small plates yet, there are options. There are entrees and sushi. You'll be fine. However, if you are up to an adventure, then be brave and go small. This is the place to do it. The food is incredible. There wasn't a dish or bite that I didn't want to eat all by myself. However, to be polite to my guests (we were sharing), and to make sure I had room for dessert, I refrained. We got 5 of the "snacks" -- the stand outs being the goat cheese croquettes and Wok Charred Edamame (which the waiter highly recommeded - thank goodness - there were as amazing as he promised they would be). We then moved on to the small plates. All were execptional. The Mac & Cheese made with Smoked Gouda (& Crispy Prosciutto on the side) was so addicting I was craving it for days and the beet salad had a unique blend of flavors that stood out from any beet salad I had experienced before. My meat-eating friends got the grilled octopus and Akaushi Bavette Steak from the woodfired section, while I completely enjoyed my Artisan Romaine ~ Pecorino ~ Prosciutto ~ Lemon ~ White Bean dish. Desert (sigh) was some type of sticky toffee, a blondie something or other and a light pannacotta type of thing. My food coma had set in so I'm fuzzy on what exactly it was but it was all worth it. The good thing about small plates is that even after 12 (ish) plates, the bill for the 4 of us was reasonable. The LOCATION - Perfect. Enjoy!
(5)Brandon S.
Amazing drinks.. delicious food... great spot to share yummy small plates with friends... its right by the beach.. the views are beautiful...
(5)Lucy W.
Love the patio set up...great ocean view, and comfy, cushy lounge chairs and tables. I stopped by on a sunny morning for brunch, and sat on a cushy lounge sofa on the patio, overlooking the ocean. They have different champagne cocktails...I tried the lychee but it was kind of bitter tasting. Service is a little lacking and brusque...almost ruined my chill vibe. Almost. I had the decadent banana bread French toast...delicious but I could feel myself going into a sugar coma from eating it. Good thing all I was doing afterward was hanging out on the beach and by the pool.
(4)Janessa H.
I really wanted to like this place after hearing so many good things and reading some of the reviews. It may have been just this specific experience but unfortunately that's what this review is based on and any future visits, which are unlikely. The hostess was nice. My husband thinks the server is hung over. He forgot to bring our waters for the longest time and we had already begun to eat our food so we really needed it but he never even came to check to see if the first plate was ok. We had to ask the food runner for water and a different server for a menu bc one of our food items came out wrong. The manager was talking to the table next to us for quite sometime and it was clear that she knew the people but she never once stopped talking to turn and ask if everything was good with our food...which it was not. My husband got the shrimp and grits which was a bowl of decadent mess, too rich for our taste and the shrimp tasted funny...like chlorine or something, as strange as that sounds. We got the chicken salad for an appetizer which was delicious. I ordered the red dragon roll which was ok. I didn't find it to be anything worth a return visit or an excellent review, there are a lot of better sushi places that charge less. For dessert we got the sticky icky, which was good. Overall, this experience wasn't worth the time or money unfortunately and we will not be returning.
(2)Robin T.
Great outdoor dining with an ocean view. Love small plates. However, 2 out of the 3 dishes arrived at our table cold. The waitress raved about the date toffee dessert but it was mediocre.
(4)Mayank R.
This place is so awesome. We hung out at the bar twice after swimming in the ocean right in the front of the bar. The drinks are great, friendly bartenders and great food. The sampler cocktails are great. And edamame n octopus were so perfectly cooked and flavorful. Yummy. And the view is just amazing.
(4)Ed B.
Wow. Love this place. First is the atmosphere very cool chill with house music playing in the background. Nice location on the beach. Place is for sharing which is very cool and allows to get different dishes. We started with tomato bread with manchego cheese. Then goat cheese croquettes wow!! Next we split a filet, Mac n cheese and corn. Amazing don't believe me I'll punch you in the face;)... Finished with a great dessert some sort of creme fresh thing. Really good!! Drinks were the only down side but could have been off night. All in all would absolutely return and recommend
(5)Steve S.
The only reason I gave this place 4 stars and not 5 is because they told me a half hour wait and it ended up being an hour and half. With that being said the food here is amazing, it's all served in in small portions so four to five plates is perfect for 2 people. The service I was great too
(4)Erika M.
4.5 stars S3 is located inside the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach. We went there for an impromptu birthday gathering on a Wednesday night. We were able to reserve an outdoor area for a large party with no problem on the same day. The restaurant is simply beautiful. The hostess area is located in the middle of the restaurant, so we were confused on what to do for a minute. We asked the bartender and he lead us the way. (I wonder how many times he gets asked that!) We were lead to our "table". It was a large booth that overlooked the ocean. Breathtaking! There was a beautiful fire pit that just added to the romantic ambience. My husband ordered me a blackberry lychee mojito. It was delicious! Just the perfect combo of sweet and strong! We couldn't read the menus without the help of our iPhones but survived. They had a ton of small plates (my fav!). Here's what we ordered: - Seven spice seared scallops with Asian risotto, edamame purée and truffle vinaigrette: Orgasmic! (Can I say that on here?) - Chicken Salad with goat cheese, almonds, avocado, bacon and apple: Great! - Marinated lamb chops: I did not try these but my husband ate them all - Short Ribs with roasted tomato and black pepper spaetzle: I don't know what the heck spaetzle is but these were damn good! - Mac & Cheese with Gouda cheese and prosciutto: it was delicious! Not best I've ever had but delicious - Corn with chili aioli and queso cojita: the messiest and best thing (besides the scallops) I wish I would have remembered to take photos but I was having the best time! I will definitely come back with just my husband for a romantic dinner under the stars!
(4)Jon W.
Staff was friendly for the most part but my sushi roll came out first and I waited for my girlfriend to receive her mahi mahi for 5 minutes. After 10 more minutes, our waiter was no where to be found and my sushi was finished when she received her lunch. No apology for the delay. The bottle beer I had was also 6 months old, which should usually be cycled out. Not worth the price.
(2)Brian x.
Fantastic! Had a 8:15 reservation but got to restaurant 30min early on a packed Friday night and they were able to seat us early. Service, FOOD and atmosphere were perfect. Thanks S3 for a really enjoyable meal. Our server Lauren was great!!
(5)Carolyn B.
Celebrated birthday dinner. Party of 6. Food was great. Service great. Table was awful! We made a reservation 3 weeks in advance and we got a table by the front door. This is not acceptable. Food is eclectic and trendy. Sitting on the end there were guests and hosts on top of us. The other 2 tables at the window were not occupied when we got there. We didn't complain. But for almost $500. - you would hope they could've made a better accommodation. Matt our server was excellent!!!
(3)Jessica C.
I had the opportunity to come to brunch here because my boyfriend is an avid yelper and he wanted to meet his fellow yelp friends. I had heard from co-workers this place had great drinks and appetizers for happy hour during the week. Upon walking up the view itself gets a 4 star it's in a great location at the hilton hotel (was not exactly psyched about supporting the competition but whatever) the day was beautiful and we had a table outside overlooking the ocean. For drinks I started off with a mimosa. I have to say it wasn't the best mimosa I've had. It was a little on the bitter side for me. It tasted like the champagne wasn't the best quality which caused the bitterness in taste. For my selections, I chose the goat cheese croquettes. And they were delicious! They had the perfect balance of tartness and flavor and they had a guava sauce on the Plate to scrape your croquette with. I have to say guava can have a distinct taste and many would consider it an acquired taste. I enjoyed this dish. My only complaint is I wish it could've been hotter when it arrived. For my main dish, I ordered the shrimp and crab roll. I never order sushi because 99.9% of rolls are made with avocado and I'm extremely allergic. To my surprise this roll didn't contain avocado and was prepared with my 2 favorite things, crab and shrimp. This roll was delicious. It had the perfect balance of flavors and certainly did not taste like the typical roll. Overall, I enjoyed my experience, it wasn't my best meal, but it earned 4 stars because of its location and view. In my opinion, the lunch and dinner menus looked more appealing. I will definitely be back.
(4)S K.
Yesterday my boyfriend and I went to brunch at S3. I had made a reservation using OpenTable. As far as accessibility, I wish parking was easier; however, I know it is spring in Fort Lauderdale, so I can't fault the restaurant. I wonder if they have parking validation through the hotel?? Anyway, we were immediately sat down at a booth/table. The seating was a little low for the table, but very comfortable, and of course the view was great. The ambiance could not be better. The server came relatively quickly to take our drink order, and while we were at it, we ordered the small plate of fried goat cheese. The food came before our drinks, and we did need to remind our server of our water. I was downgrading them at this point to auto 4 starts because I was sensing the service would not be at my expectations.. however, read on and you'll find out why I had to give them 5 stars. While we were at S3 for brunch, I ordered a Thai Coconut Tuna roll thing. My boyfriend ordered the huevos rancheros. Both were delightful, and the sushi quality was exceptional. We also ordered more than a few cocktails - all of which had a nice pour, weren't too weak, and were very tasty. I liked the Beach Breeze most. Finally, we ordered some edamame. This was the best edamame dish I have had! It is seasoned well and very flavorful. The service was on par and our server was very attentive! Our tab came to just over $100, and I wanted to leave a cash tip. I thought I did... but I walked away without doing so, only to remember about 30 minutes later and see that the gratuity I intended to leave was still in my wallet. Quickly, we returned to give our server his due tip. And that is how I gave back the extra star to S3.... we all make mistakes.
(5)Gizel A.
Beautiful atmosphere, great food (best edemames ever), great drinks. Have gone many times and can't wait to go back.
(5)Erich M.
Just joined yelp and found my favorite place in FLL would be great for my first review. S3 is set in a great location with great ocean views/ breezes, reasonably priced and full of beautiful people for those who like to people watch. Drinks are awesome if you know what you like. The food ... consistently good. Try the tuna tower and the pomme frites with parmesan aioli and your date I am sure will have one of those special moments.
(5)Suzi C.
We arrive at 7:30ish and were told by the hostesses that there is a wait of 45 minutes. I proceed to go online and make a reservation via open table in 15 minutes, hostesses seem confused and somewhat annoyed when I tell them we actually have a reservation now. Cocktails were pretty yummy, I had a thymetini. The bartender was friendly and honest about what drinks to order. As for the food, it is just okay. The Brussels sprouts were the highlight, but we did not order any meat, which was probably a mistake since the kitchen did smell like a campfire. Oh and be prepared that if you sit outside to eat, which is the best part of this restaurant, drunk patrons will smoke and the staff will ignore it, even if you complain. Only a non-smoker like myself will be annoyed by this.
(2)Gracey M.
Love this place. Great for happy hour. The only reason I didn't give this place 5 stars is because I was not happy with the wine selection by the glass. By the bottle selections were ok. The tuna roll is delicious.
(4)Maria E.
I live in Fort Lauderdale, and S3 is my go-to place for taking either business or personal visitors who need the "eat on the beach" experience. The food is good quality, the sushi/fish is very fresh, the menu has a wide variety of reasonably priced options and the outside area is beautiful. Solid choice. They don't get my 5 because there are definitely better options in the city. The music can be quite loud unless you're lucky enough to get a seat outside in the cocktail area, but service is a bit spotty out there. Execution isn't always consistent, and sometimes plates come out sloppy- whether it's the fault of a rushed kitchen or a forgetful cocktail waitress. Some of the dishes are a bit lack-luster. Valet parking is annoying. These are pretty minor issues, though, and I've had many great experiences here with guests who are consistently pleased with the food and atmosphere.
(4)Cara S.
Looking for a great places for small plates and good vino. This is it. Went there tonight with our little one. Awesome night. Fancy enough for a night out with the girls/boys but still cosy enough for a family night out. Our waiter was Chris, he was perfect. He was exactly what you want on a night out. Almost like your best friend serving you dinner. As for the the food. Extremely well priced for the amazing quality. The steak was to die for. You in Ft Lauderdale, come here. 5 star service and food without the 5 star price and pretentious BS. Thank you for an amazing evening.
(5)Edward H.
DINNER FOOD: GOOD SERVICE: POOR Ocean views from just about every table gives this restaurant an advantage over others on Fort Lauderdale beach. It is located inside The Hilton Hotel but operated by The Restaurant People, who own and operate at least 5 restaurants and bars. Their success is the result of hard work by founder Tim Petrillo, Chef Peter Bouloukos and developer Alan Hooper. Whether you sit inside or outside the interior design and views give a perceived value,but the food and beverage prices at dinner are moderate to expensive. We ordered Brussels sprouts that were seasoned with pork, mint and peanuts, grilled octopus tossed with green herbs and navy beans, Snapper Kimchee with avocado and yuzu and grilled artichokes as starters. All were delicious but I think the artichokes were better without the heavy Remoulade. We paused to savor the flavors, drink wine and have laughs before choosing our entrees. The Large Plate section on the menu is considered entree portions. I noticed that most of the protein offerings had a designation except for the marinated Lamb chops and the Ribeye steak. I was interested in the Lamb Chops so I asked the waitress where they were from, she didn't know. I asked her to enquire and returns with news they were from New Zealand. I prefer Colorado Lamb but two of us ordered them anyway because the Mediterranean preparation sounded appealing. It was served with garbanzo beans, feta cheese and cherry tomatoes which was delicious but the Lamb was grizzly,fatty and only yielded 40% meat. Although the Mahi Rice & Beans with Mango Chutney was excellent. The waitress didn't return to the table until we were finished eating dinner and said nothing as she cleared away 60% of the Lamb that remained on our plates.I would hope being as successful as The Restaurant People are there is protocol for servers to follow when noticing unfinished meals.If this restaurant has protocol this waitress did not follow it. I am not a tourist and will return to sample other menu items, just not the New Zealand Lamb Chops. And hope the service is more attentive when I do.
(3)Max T.
good food, nice atmosphere, but fairly non existent service. i wanted to order more but my server didnt stop by once in the 45 minutes i was there so i just grabbed my check and left instead.
(4)Kristen D.
We didn't eat here butt enjoyed the live entertainment and music on a Sunday night. There was a fire dancing guy and salsa dancer. Breeze was beautiful. Lots of outdoor seating. Such a fun night. We actually had our kids with us and another family did too!
(5)Tobias S.
Great Restaurant me and my cousin have literally dinned there 5 times. Always a great experience. Just wish they had a better dessert menu. Love the sliders, gnocchi ugh everything.
(5)Brad D.
Would definitely be a five star but for our experience with the server. Food: Awesome; Atmosphere: Awesome; Location: Awesome; Server: she'd fit right in with the fast food chain restaurants (heck, they wouldn't even have to train her). All said and done, definitely a place to try again, but definitely not with that Denny's server. Update: must have been an off day for the server. We've returned to S3 several times during our stay for lunches and dinners (yes, it's that addictive). Each time service was spot on and the food was fantastic. The tapas/small plate approach worked wonderful, giving the opportunity to try several of their dishes. Their Edamame is awesome, Wok grilled with sesame and a hint of hot spices. It's a combination of all the previous Edamame we've tried and liked, all rolled into one. S3 is a definite must try on the beach.
(5)L D.
Rarely do you find a restaurant that has the trifecta of excellent food, service and atmosphere. S3 has it all! The setting is fantastic, with inside/outside seating across the street from the beach! We sat at the bar and the bar tender was immediately attentive. Fantastic drink menu. We were seated for dinner outside with an overhead roof. Our server Kelly, was attentive and gave us suggestions on what to order. We shared small and big plates. The food was outstanding! We met one of the managers, Jenn, whom could not have done more to make us feel welcome. The great thing about this place is it is versatile. We could bring our kids (on the earlier side), clients, friends and if we had a private event, this place would be an excellent venue. We highly recommend S3 for a fun and delicious night out! Leila & Steve D.,
(5)Nicole S.
I personally know the owner and I can say this place has awesome food. As a high school friend of the owner, I would recommend this place to anyone looking for delicious food in an upscale atmosphere
(5)Trey H.
Great atmosphere for a quick lunch or a night out with friends!!! The food is the real reason to keep coming back... Try the Brisket Sliders ; )
(4)Jessica B.
The scenery was pretty great as was the edamame. The sushi could stand for serious improvement. I'll find another place for sushi.
(3)Rocki R.
i was pleasantly surprised how fun and good this place was. We went on a friday night and they had a live dj playing. They serve both tapa style, sushi and Main plates here. It fits every taste with land and sea options. My man got the Filet, it was a bit under cooked for him but it was tender and tastefully done, came with finger potatoes. Fish was fresh in the 2 sushi rolls, Gnnochi was a little on the salty side but flavor was still really good. Goat cheese balls (4 in a order) and fried artichoke hearts. Wood fired steak tapa and the mac and cheese was my fav. Mac and cheese was the best ive ever had.
(4)Monique C.
Been over two years since I moved from Ft. Lauderdale to Brooklyn, and I wanted to eat on the beach. My girly and I were actually looking for a different fish restaurant, but ran into S3 first, so this was the spot for us and our hungry bellies. I get edamame all the time just to eat while I'm waiting on my food, but THIS EADAMAME is SO GOOD! Flavorful with some kinda soy glaze. We were sad it was gone. I have to get crab cakes everywhere I go. Mandatory. If it's on the menu, I'm eating it. These were really nice, quality crab meat. Delicious. Sushi was good, not the best I've ever had, but not disappointing. Above average. Overall, a really good meal with an amazing view (eat outdoors, no matter the temp) and great service. Throw in good company and this is a definite beach destination worth the trip.
(5)Claudia J.
The view is unbelievably awesome!!!.... want have some time overlooking the beach?? go to S3!!! it has seating outside and inside, lots of people coming here... and I think the view has to do with it also... well... plus the food. Had the Banh Mi Sandwich, which was yummy!!... the baguette a bit way too toasty, but the flavor was just right! good ambiance, nice staff, and great view, can you ask for more????
(4)Jeremy B.
2.5 stars generously rounded up to 3. S3 is a new place on Fort Lauderdale Beach. It's owned by the same group that owns Yolo and basically looks like Yolo overlooking the beach. The outside patio is nice place to hang out because you get the ocean breeze. The interior looks nice (better inside than outside) and they are trying to emit an upscale, trendy vibe. Food is not cheap but not surprising given the location, The service is still definitely working out the kinks. I hope they get better. I was smart and ordered drinks straight from the bar. My friends that attempted to have a server bring their drinks had to wait forever each time. My wife and her friends were hungry and ordered a sushi tray and it took like 45 minutes - 1 hour to come out. They did say the sushi was really good and I tried one piece and agreed. Cocktails are $12-$15 apiece and not very strong. Of course I asked for a craft beer. The only thing they have craft are beers by Florida Beer Co such as Florida Lager and Key West Sunset Ale. These are better than Miller/Bud/Corona/Heineken but still nothing special. They should get some higher end brands, as their selection does not reflect that of an upscale restaurant. Just compare the menu to that of Steak 954 next door at the W. But overall I can't hate on a nice looking spot right on the beach and it I were staying at the Hilton or Atlantic hotels, this is a nicer spot to go than McSorley's, Sandbar and Parrot down the street.
(3)Diana B.
This is a great place to go for dinner. It is close to the hotels, cool, hip environment, and food is great! The wait for a table for 2 on a Fri night was almost an hour but I found a place at the bar and had dinner there. I tried the drinks sampler, which I recommend. You can pick 3 drinks and get a 'half glass' so you get to have a nice sample of a few! I tried 6 in total and loved them all! My fav things were the gnocci-bigger than I am used to but interesting and rich! The sliders were delicious, and brussel sprouts were so loaded and savory! Def an great dinner spot on the strip!
(5)James S.
Love this place, the view is awesome and food and service are great too, a little on the pricey side but it's tapas , so your bill does go up quickly,
(5)Gary M.
Taking its home in the Hilton hotel on the seafront, S3 is in a prime location and its outdoor seating offers fantastic views. The food options are good with a mixture of sushi and small plates making up our order. We tried to goat cheese croquettes (tasty), rainbow roll (great, fresh), short rib (had a little it of a strange smell to it) potato skins (small but tasty) and shrimp toast (lots of flavor). Dishes are a little on the pricey side but you are paying for location at all of the seafront hotel restaurants in FT Lauderdale. Also, bring your flashlight if you are sitting outside as you will not be able to read the menu the place is very dimly lit (maybe for the turtles?!)
(4)Lauren B.
From the makers of YOLO comes....another terrific spot! Great location across the road from the beach, awesome ambiance outside with sexy dim lighting, banquet seating and firepits. Nice cocktails, great sushi...everything we ordered was mad tasty. Tip: try the edamame!! As a smoker, I was saddened to learn that the outdoor section is completely smoke-free. But if you're a non-smoker, my tragedy is your good fortune!
(4)Chris E.
Good food and drinks. Great atmosphere. And a great view. Right on A1A across from the beach. Highly Recommend.
(4)Beatrice Z.
Love this place. Food is consistently good and service is great. My only complaint is that since I live right right around the corner, I've been coming here since they opened at least once per week. Manager never acknowledges me or the fact that I bring them so many people. Otherwise I like this place.
(4)Patrick P.
Good food and great service. Great decor and love the the open kitchen I always sit at the outside bar while I try all the tapas I recommend: Charred octopuses Tuna tower Pork belly Beet salad Braised short rib Staff and bartenders are really friendly and the Manager Jennifer White is amazing!!:)
(5)Mizz V.
I've been here several times now and can confidently say that the food and service are consistently good. Actually "good" is an understatement - the food is consistently delicious and the service is attentive without being over-bearing or rushed; a plus in my book. Add a spectacular view and what more can you ask for? Some of the smaller plates can be a bit pricey, but the quality is always there so I can't complain. Check them out on weekends when they have live music, dancers and the fire pits glowing.
(4)Elaine C.
Delicious food, delicious drinks, gorgeous view of the ocean. The servers are pleasant and efficient. Too bad you have to use metered beach parking if you're not a hotel guest. I'd visit much more if parking wasn't such a pain!
(3)Alexii N.
One of my local go-tos. This restaurant is one of my usual spots in the Fort Lauderdale area. Beautiful interior, great outside bar by the ocean, yummy cocktails, and very tasty food. Basically everything I am looking for. Most of the dishes are tapas-style and come out when they are ready. Some of my favorites are: goat cheese croquettes, crab and shrimp roll, red dragon roll, Thai tuna roll, Mac and cheese, and short ribs.
(5)Leighanne L.
Great spot! Thanks again to Yelp! The ambiance, the service and the food were all fantastic. Started with shrimp tempura sushi roll and sparkling saki yummy! We had the crab cakes, delicious The brussels sprouts Seasoned wonderfully The beef short ribs so tender they fall apart. All in all it was time well spent, we will come back when we are in town!
(4)Heather B.
Everything we ate here was amazing!!!! Pork belly, Mac n cheese, sushi, sliders and doughnuts for dessert. Wait staff was very friendly and attentive as was the chef we were seated in front of (Steve, maybe?). We can't wait to come back again soon! Thanks for a great dining experience!
(5)Dom D.
Went Saturday night. 930 reservation and it was still packed. Perfect table out side looking at a1a. Food was so good! Top five sushi rolls I've had, great small plates! Short ribs, scallops, Brussel sprouts (as good as craft in NYC) and many others. Only knock were drinks we had at bar far better then at table. Time was spent making drinks at bar, at table they were thrown together. The thyme tini was light color at bar and nearly black at table. GM did table visit and was super friendly and working the restaurant well. Still 5 stars despite drink.
(5)SB S.
I'm iffy about spots on the beach. They tend to be over priced and touristy. This was definitely over priced but the food was great. Fresh sushi, and very tasty. The farro salad was just scrumptious. Definitely try it. That's about all I tried here but I'd go back for sure. Oh, they validate for the parking valet during lunch. I wish the waiter was kind enough to offer to do that for me instead of me finding out when I asked for my car all the way back at valet. It's small things like that that plus hVe gotten this place an extra star
(3)H M.
Amazing atmosphere. Great food. Was even great with kids! Recommend it to everyone. Such a cool place!
(5)G S.
Wonderful location, ocean views from the outdoor lounge and bar. Nice place to hangout with friends. Thankfully we made reservations, it was a Thu night (7/31) and the place filled up immediately after getting seated. Perfect spot by the window facing the ocean. We were a party of 6 we placed our orders and shared everything! Regret not taking a picture of All the food we ate! Specialty drinks were pretty good, refreshing, the server helped us decide. Hamachi Kimchee, Tuna Tower, Red Dragon-Rainbow & Riceless Rolls, Grilled Octopus, crisp baby artichoke, asparagus, seared scallops, grilled mahi, Mac & cheese. Our dishes were fresh, perfectly grilled, rich & delicious. The Grilled Octopus w/salsa verde was so tender perfectly seasoned we got 2 orders and the Mac & cheese with the smoked Gouda & crispy prosciutto was so rich, it had to be shared. Creme brûlée and ice cream, nice ending to our wonderful evening. You won't regret bringing your guests here or having a romantic evening with your loved one. S3 did a great job taking care of us.
(5)Desiree S.
I'm completely in love with the baby tomato hairloom salad, a MUST try!!!! And the service is incredible. I love this pplace
(5)Morgan B.
In my opinion, the best restaurant on the beach. Various menu options from sushi to mac and cheese, excellent tapas and beachfront view. A little pricey, but fair in comparison to other beach restaurants. Happy hour during the week, great atmosphere.
(4)Donna P.
The first time at S3 was a spontaneous moment as we were on a walk with our 2 dogs and stopped in. We had a great nite on the patio/lounge. The 2 gas fireplaces make the outdoor area charming warm, the view of the ocean/palm trees -- it's really nice. The food and service -- the rosary fries - fabulous, the mac and cheese delicious, salads, artichokes, sushi ..... not a complaint from our group - we enjoyed everything. The patio/lounge service can be slow - there is usually 1 server during the week and if busy -- she's running from table to table. The view and food -- won't disappoint.
(4)John S.
This is the third(ish?) time we have been here, and it was absolutely the best. We got goat cheese croquettes that we immediately wanted a second order of, short rib sliders we also wanted seconds of, scallops that were perfect and delicious and wonderful, and Mac and cheese for dessert. Best dinner yet. Can't stop obsessing. Gin tickle is the best drink. Boyfriend had diablo cervesa (craft man cocktail). So good. So fat. So happy. Irene was a great server. Written by Stefanie S.
(4)Virdina M.
I had some type of sushi there but honestly wasn't impressed with it. However, their pork belly, warm salad thing, skirt steak, shrimp bread were all delicious. They have great options. Berry mojito was good. They had one drink that had a foam on top of it that was frankly gross. They should print a dessert menu. The waiter recited 5 different desserts and expected us to remember them....no. Just print a menu. It's weird. We ordered the blondie, donuts and their chocolate cake or something. Their desserts are yummy.
(4)Allan S.
The night we had dinner here the waitress suggested that we try the cookie dessert. I instead opted for something else that turned out to be a disappointment. Last night we stopped by for drinks and dessert; again we asked the server what she recommended .. "the cookie dessert" she replied. So the cookie dessert it was; and it was OUTSTANDING! Along with the espresso.
(5)Noreen B.
I live in Fort Lauderdale and met a friend there that came in from out-of-town.the location on the beach is great. We only ordered two things. We ordered the macaroni and cheese and the skirt steak. We got the macaroni and cheese right away, but waited for ever for the skirt steak. We were offered a free dessert but we did not want anything. I would've thought they would comp something on the bill from having waited so long. I guess the only reason I would go back there, is if I want to take a friend to eat somewhere on the beach. But there are other options as well.
(3)Sara G.
Sushi was delicious. Location is amazing, right on the beach. Get a spot on the patio if you can. We didn't have a reservation so we sat inside but it was still awesome. Great wine. Amazing atmosphere. Apparently owned by the same people that own YOLO. If you like YOLO, you'll like S3. Service was a little slow on a Saturday night, but we had time...
(5)Susan B.
We arrived at s3 I'm am a locale and have been there numerous times,I love the food! Now upon our arrival the valet which has always been free with a validated ticket told us to validate ticket as we did after A horrible dinner service food awesome service the worst I asked for a wine list at the beginning and did not receive it until the end if dinner. The waiter could not hear me either I had to repeat twice time hear my food order. Then we walked out to the valley where they wanted 7 dollars and a tip. They usually ask for 5 dollars. They told me 14 dollars to park. I'm a local and was furious. Nobody was there I can't believe they did this.
(1)Ted S.
Not happy with service. Hard time to get waited on. Suggest they put more help on I walked out never to return
(1)Andy C.
S3 has an awesome vibe! It's so Fort Lauderdale. Great beach breeze, cool lighting and fun places to sit and enjoy the views. The food is awesome. Love the small plate menu as you can share a bunch of tasty items with your fellow diners at your table. Drinks are good too. Make reservations as this place is often packed.
(5)Natasha M.
Fabulous in every way possible. We went on a late Saturday night and had no problems with seating. Location perfect. Service great, we had mike and he did as requested and spaced out our plates at appropriate intervals. Food was excellent. Ceviche, eel roll were both good, the skirt steak was amazing, spare ribs, pork belly and Brussels sprouts were all good as well. Edamame were also made with a fun, spicy twist. Highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Virginie L.
I went here in my Birthday!' Everything was perfect, the food, drinks and ambience. I would highly recommend this place. Everything we ordered was great/)
(4)Kenton L.
This is beautiful restaurant for couples who want to do something romantic. The severs are professional and beautiful. The restaurant offers good food and drink with a nice view of the ocean. The DJ played many of the new house mix. But the big plus about this restaurant is the location. Also, It's very convenient if you happen to stay in the Hilton Hotel because it's located in front of the hotel.
(5)John F.
FINALLY- a restaurant on the beach that can justify their price tag!!! Thank goodness. Had lunch today- very good, creative, and fresh. Delicious coffee. Buratta salad, with giardiniera was awesome, fresh chicken salad was great, as well. Delicious dressings, fresh ingredients. Had a sushi roll with tuna, coconut, jalapeno, and macadamia nuts, wrapped in rice, then soy paper. Sweet, delicate flavor. Great location, in the Hilton, across from the beach. We will be back for dinner.
(4)Lauren C.
Pros: Great location/view on the beach on Las Olas. Cool outdoor bar area with fire pits and couches. Food is served tapas style so it comes out at all random times, which is ok if you're in the mood for that. The grilled octopus and the roasted Brussels sprouts were the two highlights of the dozen or so things out table ordered. Those were delicious. Cons: They offered to let me taste two wines before I ordered the glass I wanted, which I thought was great -- but then they charged me for two glasses! (one, which I did not order) Once we got the check, it was too busy and loud to communicate this to the server so I just paid for the glass I never got. They also won't split up checks for large parties -- boo. Not to sound like a complainer, but it is really loud in there too, you can't really hear anyone across the table from you.
(4)c l.
Best octopus I've ever had. I want to return just to get more of that grilled octopus. The sushi roll was very good, too, but I can't remember the name. Pork belly dish was good but not great. Tuna tower was okay. Overall, though, very good. Nice service. Nice atmosphere except a little heavy on the air conditioning.
(4)Chris S.
This place is an extremely nice and high class restaurant. Went with a friend and had no clue what to expect. The ambiance was amazing. We sat at the bar and ha excellent service and the food was excellent. Great scenery walking around and the beach was good too. I recommend getting some sushi. We really enjoyed the way things are served there. The food comes out as its ready instead of all at once. So there's a good break between food items. Excellent. I definitely recommend going there.
(5)Angela L.
Came here for lunch and had an awesome time! The mac and cheese was delicious!
(4)Keith G.
Everything was delicious! Octopus and croquettes and crab cakes, oh my! Fantastic service - attentive without being overbearing. Great place to try a bunch of different things. Will definitely be back! If you go, you must have the octopus!!!
(5)Tammy S.
One good meal and one bad meal. But the bad meal was a grouper that was not completely cooked. I sent that back and they gave me another that tasted ok. Then it just did not sit right in my stomach, had my doubts about the quality of the fish. Oddly, the sushi was great the night before.
(3)Scott A.
This place has an amazing setting! Water view and great patio area. Food is pretty good. Edamame is great. Chicken wings are why I rate only a 4 star, they where only ehh. Overall good. Server was good too.
(4)Kevin S.
Continue to be more than impressed with this place. Top to bottom this is probably the best restaurant in Fort Lauderdale (also check out lobster grille). S3 has some of the best items I have had. And definitely the best Mac and Cheese ever. Also get the edamame, short ribs, sliders, pretty much everything is great. Good drinks too, this place is a can't miss.
(5)Rachael S.
OK the stuffed peppers are one of the greatest things I have ever eaten, in my life. True story. Husband and I went for lunch and sat outside, absolutely beautiful. A true hidden treasure. Would be wonderful for large group dinners. We definitely want to go back with couples. You must sit outside, really lovely, relaxing beach view with great service.
(5)Phoebe R.
S3 is hands down in our top 2 beach restaurants. Most locals don't dine by the beach because there aren't great options but I'm so glad we found S3 because we always want something to eat when we go to the beach! It's menu is set up tapas style and each dish is appropriately priced for it's tasting portion. Their sushi is good but I wouldn't just stick with it alone because there are other great options. We got a shrimp tempura roll, tuna tower, goat cheese croquettes, Vietnamese wings and doughnuts. All were great but my boyfriend LOVED the tuna tower (it looked great but I don't eat fish so I can't say for myself) and we both wanted a few more doughnuts because they were so good. The water is mint (I think?) infused and it's a refreshing palate cleanser between bites. Surprisingly no cocktails were ordered but as I peeked at the ones near us I noticed that they looked very nice! Joseph was our waiter and he was friendly and attentive. The ambiance is lovely and who could complain about the perfect beach view? Another perk, comp valet for lunch! The bill for the two of us getting all of those items was just under $60 before tip so it's a pretty good value! We both work at area hotels and will definitely send guests to S3!
(5)J B.
Came in from NC and being a fan of YOLO, I wanted to try their newest restaurant. It did not disappoint! Something different with the small plate menus, I had a chance to try a lot of different dishes. Thai Tuna roll, Mac and cheese, and Sushi Nachos were my favorites. Also Goat Cheese Croquettes and Deviled Eggs were excellent. Setting was awesome, right on the beach. Definitely will be back. Give this place a try for something new and fresh.
(5)Jerry P.
Pleasantly surprised. Never know what you get when you have a restaurant connected to a hotel but Wow is all I can say. Apps were excellent, esp loved the tomato bread and Edemame. Nice selection of sushi rolls and the kids loved the Mac and cheese, with bacon how can it miss? Great view and open outdoor seating, excellent overall
(5)Kathy S.
First, the location here is prime and it's just so relaxing to sit by the water enjoying some delicious, flavorful food with a drink of choice. My personal favorite that they make at S3 is the Gin Tickle. (At least that's what I think it's called.) Our server was super knowledgeable about the menu and helped us in making sure we didn't over or under order food for the table. We had sushi, fish, steak, chicken, and the brussel sprouts! The sprouts were so delicious!! I highly recommend them. Their sushi was super fresh. Food was brought to the table quickly. We went around dinner time so the view was beautiful with the night sky falling and the ocean view.
(4)Lucy L.
Came here last weekend for cocktails with a friend. Highly recommend the 3 samplers: Blue Berry Lychee with Sake, Gin Tickle and Blue Berry Strawberry mojito. All were Delicious and beautifully garnished. Skip the Thai Coconut Mint one. I also had the Churrasco Steak with Yuca and mango bits--AMAZEBALLS. (keep in mind its Tapas style so you might need to order more than one dish.) Beautiful outdoor, indoor ambiance, right near the water, palm trees blowing. I highly recommend taking all out of town guests or visits for special occasions. Bartenders were hot and exotic looking, be sure to compliment them on their lipstick-they like that, lol. I will return, probably next weekend.
(5)Miranda B.
Very Good=Goat Cheese Croquettes & Orange Drop cocktail Great=Mac & Cheese & Chicken Salad & sitting outside at fire pit
(4)Gina M.
Wonderful food, drinks atmosphere. We had the filet mignon, fresh toasted tuna rolls, octopus, mac n chz with panchetta, everything was perfect. Definitely will be back.
(5)Sheila S.
1st timer to S3. I came here on a Tuesday evening with two friends. We had reservations and got right in. We had a round of signature cocktails that were delicious. The beverage/wine list was pretty expansive. Favorites were Mac n cheese, brussel sprouts and signature sushi rolls. The menu is pretty diverse and the prices were reasonable. The deserts were not amazing compared to the rest of the menu. Our only reason for 4 stars is our server, while efficient and not pushy, had little personality and didn't really seem like she wanted to be there. The manager on duty also came to check the table and was really personable. Overall experience was amazing and a nice addition to A1A!!
(4)Jenny V.
Awesome place. I'm glad we took a tip from our hotel concierge and ate here. The ambience is sleek and swanky but casual at the same time. The drinks and food were great. Service was wonderful. If the weather is nice as to sit outside.
(5)Lindy N.
My girlfriend and I finally decided to give this place try last wkend for lunch. The drinks were amazeeeee balls! haha..excuse my language! :) They were strong but bursting with flavor!!! We tried the crispy rice cake(yum yum delish!), thai tuna roll(good not my fave), Chilled seafood salad( great smoky flavor, but was expecting a refreshing zingy citrus dressing), and the grilled romaine(loved this one, romaine was still crisp)
(4)Douglas C.
Had some friends in town from Chicago who are dealing with dreadfully cold weather and decided that trying S3 and eating outdoors on Fort Lauderdale beach would be a nice change of pace for them. Even through it was dark by the time we ate, its still a great location across from the beach. I had been wanting to try this place for a while. I made a reservation through Open Table and S3 called to confirm my reservation the day of, and asked if I had a seating preference. Nice touch. Showed up at the restaurant on a Thursday night and the place was busy but there were a few open tables. We were able to chose our table, which is a nice accommodation for a busy restaurant. The restaurant is much larger than I had expected so it looks like they can seat a lot of people and be really busy. The outdoor bar area has some nice big screen televisions, seating area, fire pits. Modern decor but not overly fancy. A very comfortable ambiance. Service was excellent the entire night. Our waitress was training, but was nice, friendly and eager to serve us, and the waitress training our waitress was with her practically the whole night, helping to fill in any gaps in menu descriptions, ordering advice and answer questions. No service complaints whatsoever. Food for the most part was very good. This is a tapas style place with some larger dishes so you do need to develop a game plan for ordering. They just bring out the dishes (in what appears to be order of plate size) with the "large plates" appearing last. We had the soy glazed edamame which was a uniquely salty and tasty dish. Sun roll sushi which was good, a seafoood tower that was awesome containing crab meat tuna and a fried wonton cracker. We had the scallops which were recommended by our trainer waitress which were in a very richly flavored sauce. We had lambchops which were excellent but did come out a bit rarer than we had ordered. We also had the mac and cheese which was creamy goodness, the rotisserie chicken which was tender tasty and excellent (the ratatouille served with the chicken was also great), and a grouper special which underwhelmed. The grouper was the only dish of the night that got a thumbs down. A bit too salty, fishy and overcooked. For dessert a layer cake that got increaingly better with each bite served a long with some ducle de leche ice cream. As for drinks, we did not order specialty drinks but rather wine, beer, gin and whiskey. All pours were generous. Dinner was pricey but we did order some pricey items and was not outrageous. The menu is rather large with a lot of enticing items. I plan to return to try some more of them.
(4)Elizabet V.
My boyfriend and I frequent S3. The food is exquisite. Always well presented and very tasty. Good to go with a group as the food comes out in small plates to share so you get a chance to savor a few dishes appose to a couple. And the atmosphere is great during the day you look onto the ocean. At night they have fire pits out front which is pretty cool. Love it!!! Try it you won't be disappointed.
(5)Dana M.
My co-worker recommended this restaurant and raved about how good it was. I am so glad I took her advice! I will be back for sure! Great views and I love how the restaurant has an open feel. We sat inside but felt like we were outside. Perfect combination especially if it's hot. We decided to try the mac & cheese based on the other reviews...it did not disappoint. We also did the trio of drinks which makes so much sense to do because you get to try an array of different drinks and the price isn't bad either $14 for 3. On the brunch menu we had the crabcake benedict... so delish and the special the had for the day. You will not be disappointed!
(4)Tim N.
This place is a must do if only for the views! (Which are amazing) The menu is very eclectic which is what this owner does with most of his restaurants so plan on seeing everything from mac & cheese to sushi (not together though :-) Anyway I'm a grazer by nature so this works well for me. S3 = all good.
(4)Dee B.
This is our "go to" place within walking distance to entertain our friends visiting us on the beach. It is dynamic, modern, elegant, and non pretentious at the same time somehow. You'll see large groups with families with youngsters, and you'll see hipsters hanging out with lots of glam and bling simultaneously. I love it. And the food, like someone else said, is definitely worth the price here on fickle-food-ft-loddy-beach. We have been several times since S3 opened and the food quality has not wavered. Its far enough away from the clamor and trifle of beach place, but still a great location for tourists and locals alike. We love sharing the small plates--a bruschetta take, skirt steak on yuca sticks, a designer bowl of Mac n cheese with ham pieces, an octopus dish, a shrimp tempura roll, rosemary frittes, it was all presented lovely and tasted phenomenal. I can't rave enough about the edamame wood grilled with some soy sesame seed mixture. The variety of the menu is not overwhelming, its just right. There is pretty much something for many tastes, and at least to try without committing to a huge entree, which are also fabulous and available. The chocolate chip cookie thing with ice cream has gotten even better......the scoop was bigger this time! Our server was extremely attentive. He was patient and made great suggestions. Everyone we take always wants go back as soon as possible. Yay S3!
(5)S L.
We had family in town and thought breakfast on the beach would be fun. The food was good as a matter if fact the Yogurt Parfaits were delicious. The problem I had was with our waiter. He had quite the attitude. We had to ask for coffee and water refills. As we thanked him.. He did not ever acknowledge When the bill arrived there was an 18% service charge included. I guess good service doesn't matter because the tip will be there regardless. We will never go back and I suggest others stay away as well. Extremely disappointed.
(2)Steve R.
S3 may have just taken the lead as our favorite restaurant on the beach. The decor is impressive and the bar lounge area is set up in such a way that you can see yourself spending the day there (if you can afford it!). The layout provides for ample indoor or outdoor seating. The views are quite nice but probably not that much better than other beach restaurants. Overall though, the ambiance is pretty impressive. The service is pretty good. The staff can probably be a bit warmer but they are professional enough. Something feels just a bit stuffy about them. But for a newer restaurant, service is pretty solid. The food is really good and some items are excellent. Of all we've tried in our visits, we found the dragon roll and the chocolate layer cake just OK. The croquettes, short rib, mac and cheese, and beet salad were very good. And the sushi nacho, octopus, scallops and the warm blondie cookie were outstanding. The sushi taco was probably the most impressive and surprising over all. It is prepared like a tuna tartare with guacamole and is served on a fried wonton. It was great. The prices are a bit high but there are some reasonably priced glasses of wine on the menu. Overall, our meals have been great. With a little more friendly service and maybe a few lesser priced items, I think we could comfortably give S3 5 stars. For now, we think they deserve a strong 4. We'll definitely be back, often.
(4)Chuck Z.
Very nice location with a great view of the beach.... Wide open windows/doors allow for an awesome breeze. Food was good, we had sushi and small plates of which I liked the paella the best. Sushi was a bit bland, perhaps it was the rolls and sashimi we ordered? A bit pricey but not unreasonable for where we were at. Check it out if you are close and need a nice bite.
(4)Jose N.
What a terrible experience. Had a reservation for 9:15 PM for a party of eight people. Got here early, And was told that our table would be ready in five minutes. About an hour later, it seems they gave away our table to someone else and made us wait even longer. All they kept telling us was that we had to continue waiting. Meanwhile, they seated many parties ahead of us That got here well after we did. This is the first and last time I will come to this place.
(1)Tommy P.
wife and i were in ft.lauderdale for 3 nights. place was next to our hotel. BEST food we had on our trip. Sushi, macaroni, steak, and blackberry lychee were great. It was so good we went there 2 out of 3 nights so we could get one more trip in before we left. i only wish they had one in new york.
(5)Lauren L.
Great food, great location. Awful service. Hardly anyone here. 30 minutes after placing our order, we had to request the server, Braegan, to check on the food. Every time we needed a refill on tea or soda, we had to request it. Even then, it took her way too long to bring it back. She was not knowledgable about menu items.
(2)Danny Z.
Went there last night and overall experience was less than expected. While the ambiance is nice be prepared to sweat while eating your meal! They open all the doors to the restaurant to the outside Florida sun so even eating at 9:30 at night made for a very uncomfortable meal. Dressing up for a Saturday night date night only to have to constantly being using your napkin to keep the sweat off of you isn't my idea of a nice restaurant. Most of the food was just ok but the portions were very small.
(2)Heidi B.
Amazing food, service and view! Delicious vegetarian options available. Been here twice now and can't wait to come back!
(5)Stefanie K.
Seriously the best food! Every single thing we ordered was perfection! Tyler was our waiter but everyone was so pleasant. Highly recommend!
(5)Michelle J.
Absolutely love the view from the outside couches and the fire pit came in handy on a chilly Fl night. All small plates we ordered were very tasty. I was partial to the crab cakes and would definitely order them again. Table service was good, but the var service is slow. Great place to take out of towners.
(3)Kevin W.
Delicious tapas style. Courses on courses on deck. Like, they keep brining out stuff its really cool. Beachside, well across the street but you can see the ocean clearly from inside. Cool scene - get the edamame, or however u spell it.
(4)Arthur G.
Very similar vibe to YOLO in las olas. It's nice and relaxed, enjoyed the outdoor seating. Parking cost more than I expected.
(3)Vikki D.
Always amazing food. Great ambience ,right on the beach and our waiter Matt was fantastic!! Highly recommend this restaurant to take your out-of-town guests! The sushi rolls are super fresh..
(5)Liz A.
Worst service EVER! never have I been treated so bad. I felt rushed by my waitress that I wasn't even able to get her name. She kept hovering over the table waiting on us to order, and in the end she brought my check before my food came out. I understand there might be more people coming in but I'm a paying customer too. The food wasn't even all that good anyways and she's lucky the tip was included.
(1)Robin B.
My partner ordered the cheeseburger and I ordered the eel sushi roll. My sushi roll was a tad small but good. Not as good as Sozo in Wilton Manors but good. My partner said if his cheeseburger was more "charred" it would be "great". Big burger. Hot crispy fries. We sat outside on Memorial Day Weekend. Very nice place. I love the atmosphere. Cold beers. Good service. Fun on the beach. Fashion house music playing. Beautiful clean bathrooms. I dig it.
(4)sara s.
Besides for the long long lines to get a table this place is amazing. I decided to sit at the bar. I loved the ambiance. The servers are friendly. The food is spectacular! So fresh and tasty. I had salmon and a sushi roll, delicious. They had a nice selection of wine.
(5)Jason S.
had an amazing meal here. one of the best places to eat in a hotel. the view was incredible. i had the octopus and was made to perfection. a must visit spot when in ft. lauderdale.
(4)Alex G.
Hip, fun place for darn good food and cocktails. Tapas-style, with sharing a number of dishes brought out when ready. My teenage son is not a fan of sharing; he prefers ordering a dish that you eat alone. For the rest of us, we enjoyed trying a number of dishes, from octopus to buratta, and from sashimi to spicy tuna toast. Wok charred edamame was flavorful and different, and the mussels perfectly prepared. While not a gourmet dining experience, this place is packed and super chill. Service was attentive if not top level. We also got sat in the back, clearly because we had kids (not happy with that). Overall, this is a new "hot spot," and we will certainly return with friends.
(4)Melissa S.
To start, the drink I ordered was warm and not shaken enough, so when I finally got it 15 minutes later, it was already separated. Sadly, it was the best thing I had. Every menu item seems to have one superfluous ingredient that makes me not want to order it, and what I did order, I wish I hadn't. But the view is nice.
(2)Elissa H.
This place is amazing! The entire staff is so accommodating and friendly. The hostesses helped me plan the perfect birthday dinner. Jessica was our waitress and she seemed like the genuinely enjoys her job and she's full of smiles. She knew the menu really well and recommended the best dishes. We had a spicy tuna roll, skirt steak (unbelievable), jerk chicken (not so great..but I get the tropical theme they were trying. Chicken was cooked perfectly but the sauce tastes like medicine, and the kamikaze roll is DELISH (spicy!!). We finished the dinner with the chocolate cake and two long islands! The bartender rocks! I will be back here a million more times!!
(5)Ariana J.
Love the atmosphere of the bar with the indoor/outdoor seating. Very friendly staff, the bartender that waited on us was exceptional he was very knowledgeable and made great suggestions. Delicious food Top picks: Crab & Shrimp Roll Brisket Sliders Grilled Octopus
(5)Jonathan A.
Place is great. I finally got to try it out with my wife and friends. In a nutshell here is what we ordered and loved it all. Brussel Sprouts, Thai tuna roll, kamikaze roll, veggie roll, skirt steak over yuca, wok seared edamame, crispy artichokes. I washed it all down with 4 drinks called the Gin Tickle. Great ambiance especially on a cool breezy night out front by the fire pits. Looking forward to coming back real soon.
(5)Katie F.
Food: I would give you 5 stars. I went for lunch, so the prices were not sky high. I had the burger and I added avocado and a fried egg. By far one of the best burgers I have had in a LONG time. Ordered medium rare, it was perfectly cooked, juicy and the meat was tender. It was huge, so I took half home and where they really get 5 stars is when I reheated it in the microwave - minus the bun it was a tad soggy from the juice and egg yolk - the taste was just as fresh - not that stale ground beef taste we all know and dislike. The pickles are homemade and divine! I could have eaten a whole bowl of them...next time I KNOW to order an extra side of them. BEER: I saw people on here complain about the lack of beer choices, but here is my point of view. Growing up in Chicago, you love Goose Island. The 312 Goose Island was on the menu. 'Nuff Said. Looking at the rest of the beer choices, they were a majority of citrusy and light beers, which is nice when you are at a beach front restaurant. $6 for a bottle isn't bad in a beach town, and MUCH better then the $12-$15 cocktails they had. I'll stick to beer. SERVICE: This is were you lost a star. Service was pleasant. It was just slow. Refills on my husband's coke took FOREVER (they should just give him a pitcher with a straw anyways!!!). It was about a 10 minute wait for the beer - and it was just a bottle...which I poured into my own glass....so no way it should have taken 10 minutes. We had to ASK for glasses of water - it is not offered to you. Now if the place was packed, I would have understood, but it was 3pm on a Wednesday afternoon...there were maybe 4 other tables full at the time. Overall if I am in the market for a banging burger and a great beachfront view, I'll come here.
(4)Jodi C.
Ambiance was great. Service was superb. Food was pretty good. We had the tomato bread which was full of flavor. Scallops with Asian risotto, scallops were seared on 1 side but not the other & chewyish in the middle. Lamp chops were delicious with a side of chick pea salad that I LOVED. Crab & shrimp roll was good but kind of plain but the very best dish was the tuna tower...amazing!!!
(4)Chris L.
Was hear a few weeks ago on a Friday night and we were able to sit outside, of course with heaters, and I must admit I really enjoy this place. The atmosphere as well as the food is incredible. The fact you can sit outside with fire pits and enjoy a glass of wine makes it even better.
(4)Karin B.
Visiting from San Diego, stayed at the Hilton where this restaurant is located on the beach. Couldnt get it the first night as we were last minute, large group and the place was packed but on my birthday we got a reservation. We loved it!!! The bar is looking out the beach, great cocktails, nice bartenders. Moved into a table and ordered a ton of sushi,. Im a big foodie and very picky with Sushi, this was awesome!! It was very, very good. Great service too. The tequila shots were very expensive and sushi kinda pricey as well but it always is if you want the good stuff. Fun, trendy, cool place. Definitely recommend!
(5)Frieda L.
I'm from Texas and this was one of the best restaurants I've been to. Everything is so flavorful.
(5)Shannon G.
the first time I went here was for brunch... The two items I wanted were no longer available (sold out) so I ended getting sushi which was alright... the2nd time same thing & was appalled that they charge $10 for a mimosa, really?
(2)Jaime S.
My wife and I have eaten here several times before and had excellent service with excellent food. The last couple of times have been awful. The service is very slow. It takes forever for a waiter to come back to you. The last time we where there, the waiter couldn't get one sushi roll correct when I asked it to be soy paper wrap instead of seaweed wrap. After the second time of getting it wrong and waiting forever, I said forget about it. This is the first time I didn't have my spicy tuna roll when eating sushi. We will never return. The place has gone down hill. The only thing going for the restaurant is the location and bartenders.
(1)S P.
We had the grilled romaine salad and grilled octopus--both were delicious! Great for a light lunch. There is 31 craft beer selection and large list of various wines. Great ambiance. Would go back again!
(5)Rob H.
Excellent! The service, food and seeing were outstanding. The dishes were all unique and tasty. The waitress was quite nice and accommodating.
(5)C L.
Small Plates which I love. Deviled Eggs, a perfect salad (i forget which one), Tuna avocado something or another, Short Ribs no matter what you get at this place. it's going to be good!!! The desserts are delicious also. My two friends loved the doughnuts and I loved the cookie-ish cake dessert. This place has a wonderful setting and great cocktails also. The only thing I'm upset about is that I only went here one night that I was in Ft. Lauderdale, I should've stopped in again!!!! I can't wait to go back!! I must sit outside this time! :)
(5)Eileen S.
Great location and every bite of every app or meal is a tasty delight!! Many entrees are offered in small portions perfect for sharing a taste. Order as many items as possible. Salads are great also. Excellent service all the way around. I've been here twice in three days and hope to squeeze in another visit.
(5)Angelina F.
Located just across the shores of the beach, the atmosphere at S3 is totally beach chic and upscale. You can expect a trendy fashionable crowd here. The tropical inspired drinks are refreshing and delicious . For an appetizer , their sushi is a good choice. We tried the dragon roll which was fresh and mouth watering. For the main entrée, I order steak and the Yukon gold - it is so good. Highly recommend. This is a MUST DINE option.
(4)Pascal M.
I took an old friend here to catch up and we were both blown away. I'll start off with the good. The restaurant is gorgeous, the crowd was amazing. The staff was super friendly. We each shared sushi rolls, both were very good. S3 was super packed therefore the wait was a little over an hour so I suggest you make a reservation. While waiting you can sit on the outside terrace by the fireplace. The night we went was gorgeous, it made the wait not seem as bad. Staff seemed to be slow. I'll give them a pass since the place was packed. I definitely recommend.
(4)Ann-Gelina T.
Excellent , the food was just the right amount of flavor . The staff was very pleasant and informative . I would highly recommend and continue to come here ! Must have the chicken melt and blueberry mojito!
(4)Keith A.
As others have said, they have excellent food! They offer family style eating with small dishes ordered for sharing. In the end, the price was far higher than I would expect due to the number of small dishes ordered. Enjoyed the unusual dishes. I would knock off another 1/2 star because we had a vegan eating with us, which had very little that they could offer her to eat off the menu, as even the menu options that look like they should be vegan were not. They weren't willing to make a custom vegan meal with ingredients on hand, which most other restaurants will accommodate.
(4)Gretchen A.
WHATEVER YOU DO GET THE SHORT RIBS! Absolutely to die for. The coffee rubbed flank steak with yucca was excellent as well. Everything we ordered was tasty and a good portion size. We came on a Monday night and it was packed which speaks to the quality of food here. Great selection of dishes- if you choose to eat here you will not regret it!
(5)Steven R.
Huge restaurant in the Hilton Hotel. Lots of outdoor seating, although who knows why in 78F weather they need to have gas fires near lots of the seating. Music was very loud indeed and generally detracted from the evening. Why can't they turn it down or switch it off. Service was generally poor. I'm European and not one to complain about the all-too-present service one finds in the US but these waiters were just nowhere to be seen a lot of the time. They were all very young and probably not terribly experienced at eating out without their parents. Ordering took forever as did delivery of the first course. The veggie rolls were poor. They were so shoddily made that I couldn't pick up half of them with my chopsticks as they weren't whole or complete. After an age, the chicken arrived. It was fine. Lukewarm but fine. Nothing else to say about it. Wine was reasonably priced for the choices available. Dessert was okay. It wasn't too expensive for what we had but I was seriously underwhelmed. The place was huge and pretty packed but somehow I'm not sure they were there for the food but rather the ambience. I can't believe they have a lot of repeat business based on the food quality. I know Fort Lauderdale is a big tourist town and a bit hit with the 20 plus crowd trying to get really drunk but this restaurant was aiming for a trendy and upscale vibe. They failed. You'd have to drag me back there to eat, kicking and screaming. There must be better places than this around, surely.
(2)Kevin C.
Great food. Awful service. I'm a young guy, went in once before when not busy and was great. Went in last night and did not get served well. More attention set on other diners who wore suits and dresses. Pretty insulting. I feel as though if I wore my business attire and expensive shoes, I would have been treated properly. Only spent $47 and left still very hungry. Decided to stop somewhere else for dinner on the way home. It's a shame because food was good. Make sure you wear your high end suits and have your wives bring expensive handbags to get attention from server.
(2)Cesar C.
Had a million things. Lollipop sushi taste like the air outside... Super bland. Octopus - more beans and tomato than anything and missing the chard grill taste. Again, bland. Best item was shrimp toast. Awesome atmosphere but super normal food. Nothing is close to being out of this world... Then again everything is pretty much less than $12. Value matches quality.
(3)Sam H.
Great atmosphere. Drinks lacked amount of alcohol but had great flavors. Awesome food. Nothing better than the desserts. What more can I say. I am a fan.
(4)Robin W.
Located in the Hilton with a view of the ocean sits this extremely noisy and expensive restaurant. The food for the four of us with the exception of a spicey edamame dish was exceptional. The service was only fair as the waiter forgot about our water request and the reorder of the edamame dish that never came. It was my birthday and we wrote it on the reservation request. We spent $169.00 in food but that wasn't enough to warrant a candle or dessert to celebrate. Per the manager, you must buy a dessert to warrant a candle. We traveled for 50 minutes to eat here! What a disappointment!
(3)Allison J.
Organized a little surprise dinner here for my boyfriend. Everything from the food (quality & presentation) to the service to the pricing to the ambiance is 5-star! LOVED their specialty cocktails!!! Everyone who joined us had nothing but positive raves :) I've heard a lot about their brunch... looks like I'll be trying that today!
(5)Joe L.
These good reviews must have been written by employees. 1. A wine pour the size of a thimble 2. Attitude by the waiter. Had to ask 3 different people for water 3. Generally marginal food and we had 5 different items. Spend a couple of dollars more and go to the W next door or even try Timpano or Kitchentta. All are by far better.
(1)Wade M.
BEAUTIFUL - GOOD SERVICE - MEDIOCRE FOOD. The decor is beautiful and interesting. The service was very attentive. I left full. Now, why 3 stars? I don't know what this place wants to be. Sushi, macaroni and cheese, and a hodgepodge of other stuff on the same menu? What's the theme? Asian? I ordered an heirloom tomato salad, and just the words 'heirloom tomato' declare the middle of summer, and make my mouth water... but then instead of the plate of heirlooms with a little balsamic and olive oil, and perhaps some basil, I got a pile of arugula, goat cheese, some grain, and 2 Publix cherry tomatoes on top. What a disappointment. I left full, but nothing I had was worth going back for. My suggestion to S3 is to find a chef that is as talented as your decorator. Also, the logo should be readable, and again, be consistent with the restaurant's theme -- once it's determined.
(3)Jim M.
My wife and I were staying at the Hilton for our anniversary this weekend. On Thursday we ate at S3 and were amazed out how good everything was. We had a mix match of sushi, Brussel sprouts, and short ribs all of them outstanding. With that being said we had to go back for seconds on Friday and they blew us away even more. The frittes had just the right seasoning, the brisket slider were outstanding with a sweet heat taste, the Grouper was the BEST prepared fish I ever had!! Compliments to all three chefs!! I can't say enough besides will we be back for 3rd's???
(4)Tom L.
Had a great time. Restaurant has a real "vibe." Great background music. Beautiful people. Nice decor. Good service. Delicious food and drinks, reasonably priced. Make a reservation. Sit outdoors if you can.
(4)T N.
This place so amazing! I loved every dish we ordered. The only down fall is the portion is so small. The ambience is magnificent and the drinks. I absolutely love this place!! Would highly recommend it.
(5)Blake T.
I have a mixed review for S3...the the servers seem very busy but not accomplishing much. (Seemed like a lack of training or inexperience). My server was not versed on the menu and knew even less about the sushi. The berry mojito was very good and lots of fruit. I ordered several sushi items and they came as sashimi. When I pointed his out it was brought back and they placed rice under each piece. The raw fish was very fresh but the rice was one step above minute rice..Top quality rice well prepared is the difference between great sushi and fast food sushi...we sat at the sushi bar and watched the chefs preparing the sushi and these guys are not superstars..The server never returned and I had an empty drink for most of the meal...I would give the place a second shot but would try some other items on the menu...
(2)Amy F.
Juan is the best! If you eat here ask for him. And the grilled romain salad is fabulous! I ha trouble choosing. Everything on the menu looked delicious! Filet was perfect.
(5)Robin B.
Beautiful restaurant overlooking the ocean. we went for sunday brunch. we each ordered drink sampler(s). I had the Bloody Mary Sampler..very tasty and the others ordered martini samplers. great way to taste their different drinks and order your favorite later on. Our server Amanda was delightful, she knew the menu front to back. you can't go wrong with the brussels sprouts. We also ordered the pork belly benedict (great choice). I'm from the south and the shrimp and grits were not my favorite, the shrimp was fresh, but i thought the tasso gravy sauce had too much tomato. We also enjoyed one of their sushi rolls. I love the concept of sharing foods. This is a wonderful restaurant and we will go back for more.
(4)Chrissy T.
One of my favorite spots to dine in Ft Lauderdale! Food is always tasty, location is perfect and the service is friendly and on point. We had Sheila as our waitress for our last visit. She was attentive, very knowledgable of the menu and made us feel like we were her only table. Food and drinks were fabulous, would highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Anne T.
This place really has it all. Great view, great staff and the most interesting menu on the beach. I have been 3 times already because when I think of going somewhere else I compare it with their menu and I have to go back. The Edamame dish is the best I ever had. The quality of the ingredients in the tomatoe bread allows you to savor the every taste. The brisket sliders are delicious. We saw the man next to us order them and watched his face at the first taste. He moaned with delight. The cinamon donuts dipped in Creme Anglais make an excellent finish. Nice beer and wine selection too. Don't miss it!
(5)Anwar H.
Great food and fantastic service. The location is nice and by the beach. We were a group of four - they did a great job of recommending items and serving our table. The spicy tuna bread is fantastic.
(5)Amy S.
My girlfriend and I came here rather late after our flight in. It was one of the only places still serving food that we could find. The drinks were amazing and the food was exceptional! I had a roasted chicken and it was so tender and juicy that I just couldn't stop eating it. Service was ok but they were busy. Would come here again!
(5)Dennis P.
The food was good, server was very friendly, the environment was was nicely decorated, the prices were very fair as well. You do not get a lot of these restaurants in Fort Lauderdale. I recommend this place.
(5)Hector M.
I had stopped writing reviews here as Yelp "filters" reviews so what is the point?!!...yet I decided I needed to tell the world about one of the best new restaurants in the Fort Lauderdale Beach area. The menu is very adventurous and offers great options. All sea food dishes are to die for. Great wine list and sexy cocktails. Amazing ocean view and the breeze... Genuinely friendly and gorgeous staff. Make sure to stop by whether you are a local or vacationing in the area as you will not be disappointed. Leave it now to Yelp to filter this review and then this will be the LAST review I ever write...Wish there was a place to review Yelp - yelp the site itself is not even deserving of a one star rating...
(5)Brooke K.
Went here with some friends last week, and had a few Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc's. It was a walk away from our hotel (Ritz Carlton) so it was really convenient for us. The bartender was attentive, the ambiance and location were amazing. Nice decor, and clean restrooms (I'm a stickler for cleanliness). We will definitely be returning!
(4)Shehnaz H.
Im so happy this place is here! It has a great variety of food flavors and cuisine. Sitting outside is soooo relaxing with view of the beach. But the inside is nice too because they have a wood burning oven that smells of sweet wood which gives the food an unforgettable flavor. They have sushi, Spanish tapas, and much more. We LOVE the sushi nachos and brisket sliders. We order 2 orders of each every time bc my bf and I do not want to share it. Haha toooo yummy!
(4)Steph K.
I went here for lunch back in June while in Ft. Laurderdale for a Bachelorette party. We were seated very quickly and had a wonderful view of the ocean. They have a great selection of tapas so I ordered a burger and a sushi roll. Both were super fresh and had great flavor. To drink, I had a margarita on the rocks with salt. My only complaint with that was the drink was EXTREMELY salty. It almost tasted like it was made with salt water. Other than that, the lunch was very nice and I would reccomend this place for lunch.
(4)Lee E.
Went here on a Saturday night recently and enjoyed it. The food that we had was good; not great by any means but not bad. I know not very encouraging but what it lacks in the food dept it makes up in ambiance and location, right on the beach. We sat outside and it was beautiful, decorated really nice and overall a great atmosphere. Has very nice outside bar as well with large sitting area. I would go back for the atmosphere alone.
(3)Jeff D.
Great atmosphere and location on the beach. The service was very good and helpful. The food was excellent and was not overpriced. The drinks were good but were a tad too weak for my taste. Overall I enjoyed S3 and will definitely dine there again.
(4)My D.
The food, serves were amazing, and the portion was perfect ....must try Vietnamese chicken wings.
(5)Jarret S.
I must admit, this restaurant is gorgeous inside and outside. The view is remarkable and the overall look/feel of the restaurant are excellent. Unfortunately, both the food and service are sub-par especially at the prices. I had the chicken and sweet potato waffle and my wife had the Banana Bread French Toast. Both were served with cold pancake syrup (Should be warm). The chicken on my waffle was very tasty but there wasn't much of it. As for the waffle, it seemed to lack any sort of real sweet potato taste and was very thin. Additionally, it was not very fluffy and was not very hot either. My wife's French toast again was just OK. The "French toast" seemed to just be griddled banana bread. It didn't have any of the candied walnuts described on the menu and was room temperature at best. The whipped Chantilly cream on top was delicious. Service was very mediocre. Our server wasn't very attentive and took a long time to get our bill. Additionally, my wife's peach Bellini lacked any peach flavor at all and was like a small glass of champagne for $13. My coffee was sub-par and disappointing. This restaurant has a lot of potential given it's prime real estate and overall ambiance but the food and service need much more attention from upper management.
(2)Curtis K.
I remember seeing about this place on chan. 7 ....wanted a nice beach experience without having to drive all the way to south beach. Decided I'd finally look up directions and see what this place was about. I must say this place is a winner, great job Fort Lauderdale! The service was good, people were chill and pleasant & the food was great... you absolutely get what you pay for here. Night time seems like the best time to go, whether dining inside or outside you still get to enjoy the ocean smell & breeze. I'll just say this, I downloaded Yelp JUST so I could leave a review on this place, I thoroughly enjoyed myself, the experience & the food. I will def be back soon.. there's so much to choose from that I must come again and try a whole new side of the menu. Pretty excited about this place and I love that it's local, I think I found my new fav spot, we'll see how the second experience is. If I could, I would give it 10 stars solely based on my first experience itself.
(5)Chris F.
I've been to S3 about 6 times since it opened. Great indoor/outdoor ambiance. Consistently good food and drinks. I have to knock off 2 stars because of something awful they're doing now. Took a date there the other day and requested a table outside so we could enjoy the full moon, which came up shortly after we were seated (gorgeous!) Then right after we ordered a cocktail four guys started banging their drums and some type of Brazilian carnival show started with three dancers. No way we could carry on a conversation. It was a horrible experience and it went on the whole time we were there. I honestly don't know why they think they need something like this. With their great view of the ocean, perfect lighting, and gorgeous design, that's all you need. I won't go back until they get rid of the "entertainment". So when making a reservation, beware and ask if the drum banging will be happening.
(3)Kristi B.
We came in while on vacation and it was amazing! From the decor inside to the view outside, we automatically fell in love. It's a beautiful place. It's an interesting concept with the small plates and we were a little hesitant at first. Our server helped us through every step though. The wok charred edamame - BEST we've ever had. We ended up craving it for days after. We got quite a bit of sushi which was all great. Don't even get me started on the macaroni. It's so rich and delicious. I can't even remember all the other things we ordered. All we know is that every bite was wonderful. I will definitely be back in on my next visit to Fort Lauderdale!
(5)Elijah S.
Super cool space with great views. The food is very good. However, the service is typically lacking. Have visited 4 times and only received great service when the Managers were involved. Everything from getting a table, to placing an order, getting food on a timely basis, etc can be a big issue and might ruin your experience. Unfortunately, service is not a top priority. The day the fix this they will easily earn 5 star status. Hope they fix this soon because I won't go back until they do and I happen to really like this place.
(3)Carly S.
Good atmosphere. Visited for brunch on Sunday. You HAVE to sit outside to get the full effect. Take in the ocean and the sky and breeze and its all worth it. The food was very tasty but I am more impressed with the location and overall feeling of the place. Server was friendly.
(4)MIchael R.
Good:food quality and presentation,innovative cuisine,location and outdoor space,attentiveness of wait staff Not so good/room for improvement:food quantity and pricing Fun place to hang out at.,good in -and outdoor seating,somewhat limited choices for lunch,definitely aggressive pricing for both food and drinks for Fort Lauderdale and just about anywhere else other than London and Tokio.. Would go back with clients but somewhat hesitant on my own dime..
(4)Tom L.
Very disappointing and over rated. Was expecting much more since I have always loved YOLO. Expensive poorly prepared small plates. Had two very small crab cakes - little crab, all filler - for $16. Rosemary fries were fries with a sprig of rosemary on top- really? - try using some rosemary infused oil or minced rosemary. Left hungry after a couple small plates and drinks and a $100 plus bill. The only star was for location - across from beach.
(1)Mark S.
Awesome food with great atmosphere. Sashimi was delicious as was the chicken wings. Our pay of 8 tried a number of starters which we enjoyed so much that we kept on ordering more. Will definitely go back again.
(5)Walter R.
Wow. Great place all-around. Awesome location and atmosphere. Very chic with indoor/outdoor seating and music. Superbly trained staff as well--friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating. Food was very good, and the salmon dish and beet salad proved exceptional. In addition to a great local place, this restaurant is a definite must for all of your out-of-town guests (you're sure to impress them here!) Reminding us of some trendy places found on South Beach, it's obvious the Hilton knows how to do it right!
(4)Rosemarie M.
The food was delicious . Staff wasvery helpful. My only complaint was the noise level. But otherwise i am a fan and will return.
(5)Shannah S.
Great restaurant and great food. We liked everything we ordered. Favorites are the chicken wings and the skirt steak. He loved the frittes. I still dream of the dessert donuts. We will come back anytime we are in Fort Lauderdale. The outdoor seating is nice especially at sunset.
(5)Trevin B.
I rarely use this word in a review - WOW! I dined at S3 with a party of 5, and every single dish was absolutely WOW worthy. And we had many dishes. This restaurant serves small plates that are very shareable and the large plates work well for sharing, too. We had sushi, grilled vegetables, various meat dishes, appetizers, and dessert. I think we ordered around 15 dishes and everything was spectacular. Even the beet salad was extraordinary for a non-beet lover like myself. I was the only one drinking wine, and the wine list by the glass is also very complete. I wish I could criticize something to give this review more credibility but I cannot. The only thing that could have made the experience more enjoyable was if we could have sat outside. But the reservation was made late and I can't fault the host staff for having a full patio. If you are visiting Fort Lauderdale, this restaurant is a must.
(5)Elizabeth A.
Amazing seafood salad. The sampler drink is a must as well- very yummy and strong drinks!
(4)Sarah P.
Delicious delicious delicious. We walked over to S3 from the W and had to come in because of the views and reviews. Eclectic menu but the food will not disappoint! Try the Thai Tuna roll, brisket sliders, or Tuna Nachos. All were excellent. Atmosphere is great, very comfortable and unbeatable ocean views.
(5)Christina R.
I stayed at the Hilton Beach Resort for work, and went to S3 for dinner and had an AMAZING experience. The food was to die for. Probably the best edamame I've ever had. I also had the kamikaze roll, rainbow roll, brussel sprouts, lettuce wraps, and crab cakes. All equally as amazing. The view from our table looked right out onto the ocean. I can't wait to go here again!
(5)David H.
Lucky us. Tim Petrillo invited us to a friends and family opening of his new restaurant, S3 (long explanation, something like Sun, Surf, Sand or Steak, Seafood, something else). Tried everything and everything was great. Plus, and this is a big plus, it's right on the beach in Ft. Lauderdale, at the Hilton, and plus, it's a really nice looking design, and plus, I don't know how he does it but the service people are terrific. No B.S., This is worth a visit.
(4)Meg S.
Good food, good atmosphere, great out door bar. S3 has a lot great attributes except the service with the exception of Dan the bartender. My boyfriend and I rolled up to the out door bar, had a seat, got somewhat of a smile from one of the female bartenders and she walked away. We figured she would be back shortly, she wasn't. She walked away and started to do something with her phone (guessing text messages). So we gave her the benefit of the doubt and we waited about 5 minutes while she was on her phone. and waited about another 2 minutes. We got up and left to go to the W. Came back later that night and Dan served us right away with great service.
(3)Jomary J.
I will start by saying that I had grown sick of Broward and would gladly indulge in Miami traffic if it meant ambiance and great food were the end results. I had heard the hype of S3 and after seeing a certain Macaroni item on the menu, decided to spend Friday night there. My night began at 9:30 and the place seemed pretty packed but getting a table outside by the fire pit literally only took 20 minutes! First thumbs up. Btw, we were texted that our table was ready and the hostess was infectiously bubbly. After looking over the menu and having a tough time deciding, we went with the Duck Lettuce Wraps (a delicious special), Red Dragon Roll (another special which included mango), Macaroni with smoked gouda and prosciutto and the Grilled Skirt Steak which was coffee and spiced rubbed on top of crispy yucca, drizzled with mango chimichurri. Sigh. EVERYTHING WAS AMAZING! Not good. Not Great. AMAZING. The Macaroni dish, as much as I tried to be courteous and share, I couldn't get enough of. The crispy prosciutto and extreme amount of gouda made an epic combo. The grilled skirt steak was just like we ordered it (medium rare) which is weird from what I have experienced at some Fort Lauderdale favorites.Oh and everything was shareable.Except the bill. Cheap enough for one ;)
(5)Roe P.
Great small bites and plates, enjoyed the ambiance and service on a slower weeknight. Avoid the coctail counch area, the coctail waitresses werent as nice as the servers table side. Mac and Cheese is awesome, sushi is on point- get the rice cakes, the terryake wings were really good too. Valet park at the hotel, parking can be nuts there
(4)Lauren T.
Great menu, fun atmosphere. We are definitely coming back for the full moon party! The only complaint (and not really a complaint) was our server had zero personality and never smiled. We were able to sample so many items - great concept.
(4)Kareen B.
Finally a really nice place with a great vibe on the beach. The options are endless: sit outside by the firepit for drinks or dine inside or outside. Beautiful decor and good, friendly service. They have two indoor bars and a huge outdoor bar. The concept is small plates so sharing is part of the fun. The food presentation is lovely and the quality and taste are just as good. I loved the octopus salad!! Great for all ages.
(5)vinny o.
Was in fort lauderdale the week of july 4th,heard it was fairly new and since i was staying at the hilton we decided to try it out. There are many options,tried the spicy tuna,steak,vege rolls,pork and chicken rotisserie,ALL were amazing best flavors ive ever had,to make a long story short we ate there 5 nights because if u head down the "strip"the prices are basically the same WITHOUT alcohol and the food is not quality at all! Im still dreaming about this restaurant,if i can point out 1 small suggestion,theyre 2 hostess stands and usually theres only 1 at the other end,if u walk in the hotel way u would have to go to the other side to get seated,but that would never detour me from coming to this place again. This is by far the best restaurant there is on that strip! I love love loved it! Thank you!
(5)Jules P.
The Thai Tuna Roll deserves 10 stars. My 4 year old had the kid menu's cheese burger and fries. I've never seen him eat so much. The skirt skate was delicious. The special, paella, was okay. The service was wonderful. We didn't make reservations so we had indoor seating but we still had a great view of the ocean.
(4)Raquel C.
First time trying S3 and I love it! staff was friendly and welcoming. This isn't the place for you if you are in a rush, I see a lot of reviews saying the service is slow and that cant be further from the truth. Its the perfect atmosphere to unwind, enjoy the view, and the great food. Everything was delicious sushi, specialty drinks and desserts!! I highly recommend S3 to everyone!!1
(4)Roro K.
I frequent S3, because I live nearby and for the outdoor beachfront location. I have several favorites- the brisket sliders, the grilled octopus and beans, the specials, and above all the brussel sprouts (and many more). Today I had a craving for the b. sprouts however, I was disappointed to find they have changed recipe eliminating pancetta, crumbled nuts and rice crisps. They are still ok with the new veg. accompaniments, but not fantastic like before. I will give five stars because of the excellent service and still great menu in hopes that the prior b sprouts recipe will resurrect.
(5)Donna H.
We are locals and have fun trying all the beach venues, as they open, close, open as something else, close again, etc. That being said, this new place seemed like a perfect new favorite spot. The location and view is amazing - even makes us locals feel like we are on vacation for the night. But unfortunately not such a great dining experience - we ordered a bottle of champagne, took way too long to be served, and then it was not nearly as cold as it should be. The stemless glasses just hasten the temperature, very disappointing. We ordered 3 different types of sushi rolls, and waited over an hour. I was starving and asked the clueless barmaid if I could get a side salad in the meantime. "You mean chicken salad?" No, a small lettuce side salad. "you mean seafood salad?" No, a small plate of lettuce and dressing. And on and on. Comical. Finally she said "oh, you want a salad?" Yes. It really was a few pieces of lettuce, nothing to rave about. They kept making excuses about being down one chef, but no one around us was eating much of anything, so not sure how the kitchen was backed up. When the sushi finally came out, we were almost finished with the warm champagne and refused the food. The manager took care of the check, but we had to go somewhere else to find some food. We won't be going back anytime soon, and I certainly wouldn't recommend it to anyone else. There are too many excellent, fun restaurants in town, with good food, service, and location.
(2)Cindy B.
There is so much hype on this place and reviews are glowing. We had been looking forward to our visit visit with great expectations. 5 stars for ambiance, atmosphere & decor. This place is classy gorgeous! 2 stars for food & service. We sat at the bar on a Saturday afternoon. Service was friendly but extremely inattentive. Attractive young female bartenders greeted us with terms of endearment (Really?!?) and they were more interested in chatting among themselves than focusing on customer service. There was one bar patron that was obviously drunk, loud and profane and clearly offensive to others at the bar. The staff had no control over that situation whatsoever as Bar patrons were leaving Due to his disorderly conduct. We ordered a variety of tapas plates non of which were remarkable. Sashimi was sliced so thin that the portion was visibly scant. Hopefully, they will train their staff & bring their menu up to the standard befitting the location and ambiance of the restaurant. We won't be back anytime soon.
(3)Carrie S.
5 Stars it is for this new restaurant on Ft. Lauderdale Beach. The food is amazing, atmosphere is fabulous and the design of the interior is beautiful! The layout of the restaurant affords almost every table a view of the ocean! However, what amazed me most about this new restaurant at the Hilton Hotel was the level of service and hospitality they provided, which a lot of restaurants overlook when the food and location are top notch! I had recommended this restaurant to a close friend of mine who was asking for a nice restaurant to celebrate her husband's birthday. Of course, S3 Restaurant was the first restaurant that came to mind and it did not disappoint! I called the restaurant to inquire if I could purchase dessert for my friends and have it sent over to them after dinner as a surprise for his birthday. I had the pleasure to speak to Ana Gajardo, event coordinator for the restaurant, who kindly emailed me the credit card authorization form and said it would not be problem. Unfortunately, I was having computer problems and could not print the form. When Ana called me to follow-up on my initial request, I expressed to her my trouble and she offered to go ahead and take care of his birthday dessert on my behalf. I have to tell you that I was very impressed with the level of personal service and her kind gesture especially being that this restaurant is fairly new and, in most cases, restaurants are still trying to iron out certain kinks. Let me just finsih this review by saying that S3 Restaurant has no kinks and nailed all three aspects of an amazing restaurant: Great food, amazing location and fabulous service. I will definitely be returning to S3 Restaurant very soon!
(5)Brian R.
Beautiful place on the beach.
(3)Mike S.
I was pleasantly surprised. Most of the 'beach establishments' in the area are known for bad service and even worse food. The dishes here, though are packed with flavor and tickle the taste buds. We had many of the tapas. Some of the stand-outs were the tangy Brussels sprouts and the special shrimp pad Thai. I didn't care for the mussels (too sandy) or skirt steak (too bland), but the shrimp toast and fresh deviled eggs more than made up for it. Also, our server was exceptionally friendly and helpful. All in all, this is a chic spot where you can bring your friends or a nice romantic date. S3 is a keeper!
(4)Bob A.
Last minute choice tonight worked out really well. Based on trip advisor and our location we picked this restaurant located at the Hilton. We sat at the sushi bar which was great as the chef working four tapas out of the wood fired oven was very friendly while cooking. We split six dishes between the three of us which ended up being a least one to many. Each dish was well crafted, well presented and very tasty. Service was timely and pleasant. Dinner with one bottle of wine was just over a hundred, very reasonable for the quality and atmosphere.
(5)Gabby Z.
The mahi sandwich was ok, by the time it got to me the bread was all soggy. I'm an expert with fish sandwiches I get them all the time. I would not go.back to S3.
(3)Tollie E.
1. Long delay on order. 2. Waitress spills water on one of the party and instead of apologizing, says "It's just water." 3. After a 30 minute wait, they tell us they're out of one of our ordered items. As a person who worked as a waiter through college at high end restaurants, this was a bad joke at an effort to be a legitimate restaurant. I wouldn't recommend this as a first choice. EVER
(1)Krystal O.
I was at S3 this past saturday for a cocktail - had the orange snap and it was very good. Unfortunately it was raining while I was there but I'd be excited to go back for a dinner here. The menu looked really good and restaurant is beautiful - would make for a sexy date night.
(4)Scott P.
Great place to enjoy the ambiance of Ft. Lauderdale Beach. We sat outside on a full moon night and enjoyed the outside entertainment offered on a monthly basis. This time it was a great salsa band with professional dancers. Service was attentive and diligent. My date and I shared a wonderful rainbow roll (sushi), great mac and cheese, and awesome Grilled Shrimp toast. Food was really tasty. Would definitely be back. Great place for a semi-casual dinner date.
(4)Ani J.
This place was just a few blocks away from our hotel, so we decided to give it a try. We didnt have any reservations, but they were able to seat us inside. All the outdoor seats were taken. They do have a bar area, but the tables are too small for the tapas style food. The waiter was very friendly and promptly took our order. We ordered the following: - Wok Charred Edamame: OMG....sooo good!!! I have never had Edamame that tasted so good. Its spicy and so flavorful. Just order this. - Rosemary Frittes: Warm and flavorful - Zellwood Corn: Delicious - Veggie Sushi Roll: Decent....nothing great. - Cookie with some ice-cream and caramel sauce: They dont have a dessert menu, so when the waiter was giving us the options, this one sounded the best. It was a little too sweet for my taste, but worth trying. Overall, this place has delicious food and great ambiance. If you get outdoor seating, you eat while staring at the ocean. Thumbs Up from me!!
(4)Tiffany G.
Great ambience and great food! We sat outdoors, and really enjoyed the view! The grilled octopus was the most tender octopus I have ever had, and very tasty! The deviled eggs were very flavorful, and the Mac n cheese was rich, but good! My friend ordered sushi and really enjoyed it! I was pregnant still when I was here, so will have to try their sushi next trip! I definitely recommend this place for an enjoyable beach day lunch or dinner!!
(4)Sarah M.
My hubby and I had dinner here before setting out for a cruise, and it was just fabulous. We enjoyed everything, from the Brussels sprouts to the sushi. I got the cocktail flight, and it was great to sample different flavors in smaller quantities. It has an open feel, and you can see the beach past the patio.
(5)Mark W.
Went last night for dinner - atmosphere sitting outside, was perfect. It was 65-68 degrees low humidity - DJ mixing music good bar scene. Breezy on Ft. Lauderdale beach was picturesque. The staff was helpful to get the table we wanted. Dinner was a combination of small plates - sushi items - short rib - tasted like Grandma's well braised beef. A nice burrata salad - edamame sautéed with garlic were really tasty. The deep fried artichoke with Aoli was just ok. The Grilled Octopus was excellent. It was a fun night - Don Julio on the rocks & lime - kept me from taking pictures of the plates.
(5)Natalie R.
Everyone needs to come here and splurge a little! The food was amazing. My favorites were the ricotta gnocchi's and the heirloom tomatoes! The presentations are amazing and the tastes are like no restaurant I've been to before.
(5)Sarah B.
As a local, I've been waiting to try this place ever since I started to see initial construction months ago. I tried it today for brunch and was not disappointed! After looking at their menu online, I knew they had a sangria sampler that I was excited to try. However our waitress said that they were trying a new sampler of their specialties drinks, so I picked out three delicious drinks and found my new favorite: the blackberry lychee! It had freshly muddled blackberries and was perfect for a Sunday afternoon. My mom ordered the Bloody Mary sampler and she enjoyed tasting the different varieties they offered. On to the food, we ordered two apps. The Brussels Sprouts (which were to die for) and the donuts (because after all, it was brunch!). I highly recommend the Brussels Sprouts even for those who are not fans. As one of my family sayings goes, "It tasted like candy!". For our lunch dishes, I ordered the pork belly benedict. It came on a biscuit and was topped with collard greens (YUM), the pork belly and a mustard hollandaise sauce. The eggs were cooked perfect, and there was just the right amount of pork belly and hollandaise sauce. My mom had the Kamikaze roll which was pretty good, but I didn't think it was rolled tight enough. Lastly my cousin had the shrimp and grits. The shrimp were great. However being from the south and having my Nana make shrimp and grits at home, we were disappointed in the tasso gravy that was served on the dish. It was full of tomatoes, which I believe a tasso cream sauce usually does not have. I do appreciate a restaurant putting their own spin on a dish, however sometimes the classics shouldn't be messed with. We had wonderful, quick, and knowledgeable service from Amanda. She was extremely attentive and had great recommendations for our table of people that had never been there. Ask for her to be your waitress! One down side was parking. I don't mind valeting my car at all, and usually that is what I prefer (I didn't even paying the fee). However, the valet was extremely slow in getting our car. I understand that S3 is located on a busy side street on A1A, but the valet guys didn't even seem to hustle as we were waiting over 5 minutes for our car. I know this isn't the restaurants fault, and believe me I still plan on being a regular here. I do suggest valeting, just be prepared to wait if your car wasn't parked on the first level of the parking garage. I look forward to going back and trying dinner and other drinks! Go and you won't be disappointed.
(4)Kristin R.
Can't beat the beachfront location. Lovely environment offering ample menu offerings and creative drinks. Happy hour is right on and the drinks taste great. Service is on point and the fire pits in the evening offer a tranquil setting everyone can enjoy. This restaurant is located at the bottom level of the Hilton beach hotel. One of my local favorites.
(4)Katie M.
Yelpers, you didn't let me down! The hubs and I were in Fort Lauderdale for a wedding and were looking for a spot close to our hotel to eat dinner when we stumbled upon the reviews for S3. The speciality drinks flights was a fun way to start the meal...the grilled octopus was ammmmmazing...heck, the entire meal was so incredible that we were tempted to visit two nights in a row for dinner. (We still regret our decision to choose a different restaurant for dinner night 2) Helpful hint: we called the restaurant for a reservation and were told that there was nothing available. We logged onto OpenTable and were able to reserve a table within 15 mins of our desired reservation time!
(5)Duana M.
The food here is amazing! If you're not a big fan of tapas at least give S3 a chance and please try their macaroni.
(5)Lindsay M.
Great service! We sat at the bar during happy hour and enjoyed some great appetizers and drinks! It was a rainy day but the view was still nice. We will definitely be returning the next time we visit Fort Lauderdale!
(5)Susan T.
been here for lunch, brunch and dinner. Great place to enjoy some good food/drinks while on the beach. Great service, relaxing... hard not to enjoy yourself here. Love that it's tapas style so you eat a little of many things.
(4)A N.
THE GOOD: - I'm trying my best to be nice before I get into the areas of concern. I will start by saying I had really high hopes for this place, given reviews. - Waiter appeared nice & attentive initially, offered to take the brussel sprouts off my bill. - Head host also came over to apologize for the brussel sprouts. THE BAD: - Brussel sprouts were way too salty and had to completely stop eating them. - The octopus and mac 'n' cheese were a little on the salty side, as well. Maybe more so, because I already started with salty brussels that inundated my taste buds. And trust me, I love salt, so if I think a dish is too salty, that is a FIRST! - The sorbet was somewhat icy so it was tough cutting into it. Once I waited ~5min to melt a little, it was creamier. THE UGLY: - The service got quite a bit slower and it's not like there were that many people in the restaurant as it was after 9pm on a weeknight. - I don't know if I may have pissed someone off for the brussel sprouts, but I received the check and in a line item, it subtracted $9 with the description, "NO LIKE FOOD". I'm Asian, and I was greatly offended as it implied that is how I speak, that I used broken English to describe what happened with the sprouts. Could have been an honest mistake by the person who typed it in and not some intentional typo. But seems insensitive even if it were a coincidence. I am not looking for an apology, but wanted to bring this up as something that the restaurant or any place should be mindful of when serving Asians.
(1)Charlie B.
I expect a Hilton facing the beach in Fort Lauderdale to have a hip stylish see-and-be-seen sidewalk restaurant. Which this is. I did not expect a really interesting menu, nor delicious food. Which is why S3 gets 5 stars. We started with one of the name sushis, yummy and calculated to please the raw fish hater. Then 2 standouts: stir-fried Brussels sprouts (a WOw) and fried hominy (big white corn kernels). Finished with little crab and avocado tacos. One caution, the kitchen speed is a bit glacial. Just enjoy your drink and don't pig out on the first thing that arrives. Also note that portions can be bigger than expected as well as smaller - for example the B-sprouts serve 2-3. Anyway, it's a winner. In Florida, a big winner!
(5)Holley R.
Just a little FYI: The restaurant is not associated with the Hilton, rather they rent the space. What a great atmosphere; Bartenders are so warm and welcoming you can tell they really enjoy their job. Located right across the street from the beach. The indoor seating area is still open to the outside so you don't miss out on the weather if there isn't seating outside. Since it is lent (Orthodox fast from meat every day during lent) we had the Mahi-Mahi fish sandwich special and wok seared edamame (you'll never eat edamame the same way again). The quality of the fish was excellent; nice thick slices well cooked. Cool place to come as a group or a lunch date. Worth a try for sure!
(5)Cantor Brad H.
I was extremely pleased with fantastic service, delicious food and great atmosphere all in one place. The variety of "tapas style" dishes was inviting. The sushi and Japanese influenced foods were fresh and creative. The prices were comparable with other beach spots, but they went to the level of superior with the combinations mentioned above. A great place to be.
(5)Nicole V.
I've been to S3 a few times for lunch. Whenever a client wants to dine here, I jump at the opportunity. The food is good. The service is great. The view is EXCELLENT! Yesterday, a group of friends that I play trivia with had a "Brunch Crawl" which I'm trademarking! S3 was the 4th and final stop of the day and everyone in the group was pleased. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. We sat on the couches right in front as we joyously laughed and sipped cocktails. We'd already eaten at 3 previous places so we opted for brussels sprouts and artichokes. Both were delicious. Our server was patient with us as we were about 12 people with various drink orders. It's one of my top places to dine on Fort Lauderdale Beach.
(5)Blue A.
Thanks to the wonderful series of UYEs going on (Shout out to Megan!) I was finally able to make it out to S3 for brunch. Now, this review is specifically for the brunch only - so keep that in mind. Mac & Cheese was phenomenal. They make it with smoked gouda and crispy prosciutto. DELICIOUS! Get this. Then send me a compliment because I didn't steer you wrong! Pork Belly Hash - I was SO excited for this dish and unfortunately I was a little disappointed. The pork belly was good, but the dish just...didn't blend for me. It's missing something to tie all the flavors in. The pork belly was great - by itself. The potatoes were eh. Huevos Rancheros - WHOA this thing is massive! My wife got this dish and I had the great pleasure of helping her finish it. It was good. Cocktail sampler - EHHHHH almost everyone at the table got the sampler and I must say - this was a waste of money - at least for us. None of the three were impressive, unfortunately. One was SUPER strong - which in our college days would of been a SCORE, but as we've aged we can appreciate a good, well balanced cocktail. One of them was half decent at least - I forgot which one. I'd totally skip getting the sampler. The service while somewhat quick and efficient (as quick as it could be for a big group) just wasn't there for me. The waiter had NO PERSONALITY and really didn't go above and beyond with anything. It's unfortunate because of course there was tip automatically included in there for him. All in all it was a bit pricey...but what you pay for is THE VIEW. Sitting literally across from the beach is the South Florida way of doing brunch. Photos here will make all of your Facebook friends jealous - I promise it. The sound of the waves rolling in - a nice breeze - the location is certainly one of the highlights of S3. I will come back for dinner one day!
(3)Brittany S.
Great atmosphere, on the beach, great service. They have specials and a roll that a winning server has come up with. My roll was the Gator Roll and it was delish! I got the fried artichokes and tuna tower also, then I got the three cocktail sampler. All was great. Service was great as well. The vibe and atmosphere is ideal with the beach the prices are a bit steep but being on a trip it was a great sushi restaurant and bar/lounge.
(5)Diane N.
I went with my husband to the UYE brunch at S3, (Sun-Surf-Sand). We sat outside on their beautiful patio which faces the ocean. It was a perfect day with a cool breeze blowing. That was my first visit to S3. I really enjoyed the food and great company. My husband and I started out with an order of their edamame. It tasted smoky and was delicious. For drinks we shared the bloody Mary sampler. The sampler consisted of three glasses of bloody Marys, each with different spices. I usually don't order bloody Marys, but my husband likes them, and since there were three in the sampler we decided to share. These were delicious. They were the best bloody Mary's I've ever had. For my entrée I ordered the special omelet of the day, which was a lox omelet. It came with a side order of potatoes. My husband had shrimp and cheddar grits. I enjoyed my lox omelet. It was fairly large with plenty of lox in it. I asked our server if bread came with the omelet and he said it would have to be ordered as a side order. I enjoyed my omelet, but I think a $13.00 omelet should come with a bagel, toast and jelly, or some other bread. My husband enjoyed his order of shrimp and cheddar grits. It had tasso gravy and was topped with a poached egg. Everyone at our table seemed to get their food at different times. Although we all ordered at about the same time, one person was finished when the other person got his food. I think that's the way they serve food there, since they serve small plates to share. It probably works most of the time, but it seemed a little awkward since everyone had ordered their own food. Thank you Megan for setting up this brunch. I love trying new places. It was a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to the next brunch in June.
(4)Lorin G.
I frequent YOLO anytime I make my way to Lauderdale so I decided to check out S3, being their sister restaurant. Had a fabulous time. My sister, Niece and I were immediately seated by extremely friendly hostesses. Server was amazing! She was very attentive, extremely knowledgable with the menu and gave great food suggestions. The woman manager came to the table a few times to check on us and small talk. The atmosphere and music was perfect. Food was phenomenal (you must try the edamame, it's not even normal how delicious it is.)
(5)Steve B.
Good food and good ambience. Brussels sprouts are excellent. Octopus was good but needed to be chargrilled more. Sushi rolls were good. Our favorite was the sushi nachos. Sooooo good! Service was great. Cindy is awesome and very friendly. Definitely a great spot on the beach.
(4)Dianna T.
This restaurant sits right on the beach. The outside area has fire pits where you can sit which makes for a really nice atmosphere. They have really good drinks and food. The food is on the small side and a bit pricy although. My favorite dish is the edamame. It is amazing!
(4)Patty W.
Brunch. Huh? Did someone say brunch? Oh yea. The May Broward's brunch UYE was held here hosted by the lovely Miss Megan and it was an excellent day to sit outside to enjoy the view and weather of South Florida. Let's not forget about the cocktails and the food as well. If you valet, parking is $5 right outside the restaurant. The restaurant had a table for us facing the ocean and we were in the shade. I already knew what I wanted to eat before I got there and I didn't want to start looking at the menu to change my mind again ;) However, the drink selection was indecisive at first, but I narrowed it out after making up my mind several times. I couldn't decide on one cocktail, so I went for the sampler. It consists of three samples of the signature specialty drinks that are on the menu. The orange snap was alright and the beach breeze had a little more rum than anticipated. The blackberry lychee was my preference out of the three. It was a nice touch with the sake and ginger. Everyone's food looked delicious. I settled for the banana bread french toast. I'm used to banana bread being heavy, so it was different when I took the first bite and it was surprisingly light. It was topped with candied walnuts, strawberries, and chantilly cream along with a side of syrup. Not a bite was left on my plate. The server was good and he didn't rush us at all. However, the restaurant didn't want to break up the bill since there was a group of 9 of us and we had to make sure we had cash before hand. It didn't come to no surprise when everyone puts in their portion and still comes up short. Luckily, it wasn't an issue at our table, but that's why it needs to be on separate checks for that reason. Overall, it's a beautiful place to have a meal while feeling like you're on vacation.
(4)Sebastiana B.
The atmosphere is wonderful. Overlooking the beach it's just gorgeous l. The food was very delicious. We had the tuna nachos which were excellent it has a good amount of the tuna and Avacado topped with tobiko. Then we had the short rib empanadas, which were the special of the day. The kamakazi roll was excellent again topped with tabiko the salmon was very fresh. And the Panna cotta Omg to die for. So flavorful but not overly sweet with berries and a lemon sauce. Also had 3 samples of the specialty cocktails. Can't remember the names but they were also delicious. This is definitely a place worth checking out. I will be going back for brunch soon.
(4)EM H.
Tonight we stumbled upon S3 after a full day on the beach. We were so happy to walk in just as happy hour started. Haff off some of the most amazing apps I have ever had and $2 off beer and wine selections. We were thrilled and after trying the spicy tuna roll, the goat cheese and the edamame we realized that we had stumbled on a gold mine. Service was amazing--Jackie was such a joy and Ron was so friendly. We felt like we were the only customers. This is a must go. Great food, great service, and awesome location!! Update! Went back tonight and you must have the sushi nachos!! Absolutely amazing!! I will be dreaming of eating here when I'm back in CO. Also Keli was our server tonight and she was phenom. :)
(5)C. H.
We really enjoyed the food and ambiance when we ate dinner at this restaurant. We shared a number of small plates and each plate was beautifully presented and packed full of flavour. Service was a bit slow. The restaurant was busy and our server was attending to many tables that it took awhile for us to get her attention to order more food. We loved the ambiance. Definitely a trendy environment. It was nice they had a fire pit set up at the front of the restaurant. It was too bad we were not able to get a seat there. We got to sit by the kitchen area and watch staff make the food. Prices are bit higher but we expected that for the area. It is a very touristy area and many hotels lining up along the beach.
(4)Robert H.
So much good to say about this place. First, the service was impeccable. Thank you Jane and Jackie! Then everything we tried was stellar. Love the small plate service cuz we could try many things. Sushi was great as was the empanadas. I'm picky about Bloody Mary's and they were as good as The Cardinal Club's, which is no small feat. Try the lychee Bellini if you want slightly sweet. Went for supper came back for lunch next day, it was so good!
(5)Jennifer S.
Really great experience at S3. The restaurant has an ocean view at the bar/lounge which offers great breeze even though it's summer it was very comfortable. Great happy hour $2off cocktails/wine. Cocktails are tasty and unique. Denis was our server. He was really personable. We made mention that we were on our first date and they brought our sushi out in the shape of hearts. It's those types of details that make a place memorable.
(5)John B.
Amazing time, great drinks and food! This place has never let me down!!! Ambiance is great and the service is outstanding!!
(5)Christina D.
S3 on the beach is a great place to come For cocktails and small plates!! Beautiful atmosphere and great service! The cocktail server Keli gave great recommendations, was very attentive and kept a positive attitude while answering all of our Questions. As well as the bartender . Highly recommended!
(5)Alexander N.
S3 has been on my radar for a few months now. After a few cancelled reservations, i finally made it, and it did not disappoint. The ambiance is incredible. The food was also pretty good. The special was the short rib empanadas which were phenomenal. The sizzled shrimp were a little underwhelming. I had to subtract a star because our mac n' cheese and brisket sliders took an hour! Our waitress was very apologetic and comped us the sliders and a free order of the brussel sprouts. After the long wait, the sliders were very underwhelming. I look forward to coming back though!
(4)Ana B.
Eveything here still great besides the over price in my opinion. I just tried they're small portion for Ribs and Gnocchi, absolutly AMAZING! They have DJ on weekends with a 'Sobe' detail, the amazing saxophonist playing with the music. Great vibe!
(4)JJ J.
Great food and service. Top place to eat at Ft Lauderdale beach. Great drink selection as well.
(5)Kamini R.
I've been back several times since my 1st review and I will say, they keep getting better! Their food selections are delicious, innovative and good to share. Everything is tapas style which is great so you can try a bunch of stuff. Their drinks are crafty and nicely presented. I recommended them to a friend for their date night and they loved it!
(5)Damla A.
Whenever I dine here I am always amazed! I love their rolls, all of them! Mojitos are the best ever. Service is fast and friendly, view is absolutely wonderful.
(5)Karen W.
Disappointing. Average food. Many other choices with much better food and service in Fort Lauderdale.
(1)Dwayne P.
Tapas is the way to go. Music on the beach with good food and wine. Ask your server for the secret items not on the menu:)
(4)Mike R.
We come to Ft Lauderdale on vacation yearly, sometimes more. It's an easy spot to get to with good beaches, hotels and restaurants. This time we tried S3, in the Hilton, since it was close and had a very varied menu. We probably couldn't have made a better choice. When we sat down, the waitress started off telling us that whatever we order comes out as its prepared, so family style ordering was preferred. Their menu supports this with snack bites, small plates, entrees and sushi rolls. A special that night was short rib empanadas. Crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside with solid flavor throughout. The goat cheese balls followed the same pattern - texture that augmented the flavors. Everything was spot on from food to service. S3 will definitely be added into our rotation on future trips.
(5)Tyoko B.
What a sexy spot to stop by for the evening. The lights are so low, it's hard to see the menu but who cares. You can hear the waves from the ocean rolling in and people watch. I celebrated a milestone birthday here and the tapas: tomato bread, sushi and shrimp features were delish. Washing that down with their real strawberry daiquiri was such a good choice. That was weeks ago and "fresh" comes to mind when I think about their food and drinks. Service was good and very attentive as well. The only dislike was the flight of mini mixed drinks. I'm not a drinker and tend to stick with wine or a prissy drink every now and then but wanted to be a big girl that night. They just weren't good to me and after 1 sip, I realized it was a mistake. So strong with flavors that just didn't go together. They removed it from my bill after noticing I wasn't drinking them. I appreciate them even noticing. Another birthday along with some changes in my life were worth spending my time here for a couple hours laughing being thankful and truly happy. Come here, let your hair down and take it all in.
(4)Anthony K.
The view is definitely worth the entire experience. The menu is is more suited for those who are out to enjoy a meal surrounded by delicious drinks. The small plates are delicious, try as many as you can! The ocean breeze is just phenomenal when enjoying their outside seating. A1A is always non stop with people and cars always going by. The ocean and the restaurant are separated by an island in-between a two way street, get passed that and the oceans waves will do the rest for you. Talk a walk down A1A after and enjoy what Fort Lauderdale Florida has to offer!
(5)Chaz S.
So where to start? 1. It's hot inside... Now, not quite as hot as say Dante's 4th Inner Ring ... more something along the lines of a Martha Stewart off-shore sweat shop. 1a. The waitress, a helpful gal, suggested they were having problems with the A/C unit. 1b. Sorry, I'm not buying it. Feel sorry for the those taking in a dog-days-of-summer dinner. Bring a squeegee for your forehead. 2. Oh, did I mention I had a fly (and fly parts) in my artichoke appetizer? Yeah, can't post a picture here, but no doubt it was a fly. In all of it's deep-fried glory. Staff was attentive, took it off the menu, but kinda flipped out my date. Apparently, she's not into the whole "bug is protein" idea. 3. Did I mention it was hot? It was right about now I'm starting to develop a slight case of swamp ass. 4. Dinner is served as it comes out from the kitchen ... okay, I suppose, but don't order the cioppino -- arrives about 10-15m after everyone else is done eating ... I know good cioppino (visit San Fran to learn more) ... this wasn't, well, good cioppino. Pricey like cioppino but lack any decent curbside appeal. 4a. I suppose my dinner guests were hoping I'd hurry up eating my cioppino, but since my glasses were fogged up from the sweat pouring from my forehead, I was blissfully unaware of their furrowed brow. 5. Not sure if Flygate scared away our waitress, but her once attentive service fizzled at the end. Yeah, I get she's not cooking the food, but she's supposed to check back -- one helpful hint -- when my iced tea is no longer iced, consider a refill. So, to sum up. If you like it hot, like a deep-fried fly, and willing to be ignored, then this place is for you. PS Like always, I still tipped n excess of 20%.
(1)Ivan B.
G-3 surf, sand, sun needs to have another s for sensational. The food was wonderful The service was spotty but good The atmosphere was warm and comfortable The widows and patio over look the ocean. The brisket sliders were my favorite. The shrimp tempura roll outstanding The flatbread you can skip. Just flat bread with what tasted like caned sauce. The brisket sliders are amazing The grilled shrimp was perfect and served on a small pancake. Triple chocolate cake made you feel guilty just for ordering it and it was triple delicious. The fried donuts were ok but disappointing. The service was spotty in the beginning great but it slowed as the evening progressed. Loved the open kitchen. They do take and honor reservations. When you go, and you should, try for a table outside over looking the beach and ocean
(5)Joshua M.
I'm giving S3 5 stars because of the incredibly detailed and strategic method/preparation of the honey mustard. Dylan has done it again!!!!
(5)SayYesToTheDress N.
Went here for a birthday dinner last night, and had a wonderful time. Great staff. Our waitress, Hannah was terrific! Food was on point. Drinks were ok. Ambiance was perfect. I was so impressed, I'm thinking about coming back to try S3 out for lunch!
(5)Fidel C.
This place is stunning-- undoubtedly. There is both indoor and outdoor seating available which is great as it is overlooking the beach. I arrived around 7:30 and there was a mixed crowd of very elegant and very casually dressed diners. My waitress was phenomenal, a red-head whose name I did not catch, but she was eager and attentive. Very knowledgeable of their menu and detailed in descriptions of every plate. My boyfriend and I ordered four plates, and they are all meant for sharing. They are small plates that come out in random order, depending on what order they are ready-- as each is prepared in a different station. The short rib empanadas were GREAT! The mac & cheese with prosciutto bits were also amazing. The gouda cheese on that plate was very rich and flavorful. The shrimp was not so great, served on a flapjack-like thing, but they tasted like plain shrimp-- not much flavor there. Our final dish was the brisket sliders which took FOREVER to come out. The waitress and manager came over at different times to apologize for the inconvenience and gave it to us on the house, which was lovely. Right before our dessert came out, they also gave us the brussel sprouts on the house, which we did not order but it was great nonetheless. Not crispy enough, but free always tastes great so we enjoyed them. The icky sticky toffee dessert (not sure of the actual name) was sub-par. I have definitely had better and we definitely could have done without it. As far as how we felt after-- we both agreed we would definitely be back! Especially now being more knowledgeable about what to order and how their portions are. We were stuffed! Definitely a place to check out. Amazing date night.
(4)Elizabeth C.
Such an amazing place. My boyfriend and I were staying at the Hilton for the week and basically stumbled upon this place and we weren't disappoint. We started chatting up with on of the bartenders Jim, he was awesome, helped navigate us through the dinner and drink menu. He made some spectacular drinks as well. The edamame is a must try, so soooo good. Great food, ambience and service!
(5)Rod Z.
Food is great and served pretty quickly. Outside seating is very nice for evening dinner. Wait staff seems to be in a bit of a hurry...otherwise 5 stars...
(4)Bobbi R.
Don't even think about it !! Seriously!! Trust me on this !!Get the Tuna Tower, the Edamame, and the Chocolate Chip Blondie!! You can thank me later!!!
(5)Angelea E.
Great location great food a little pricy but you're on the beach so that's to be expected in all I think it's a great place to go to
(4)Brittany E.
The grilled octopus was excellent, along with the goat cheese balls, but goat cheese on or in anything is . Bloody Mary sampler . The sushi rolls are all pretty good, the ambiance is great, kind of dark and romantic for dinner, but also great for a night out with friends.
(4)Shannon L.
Can I just say the peeps they have employed tending the outside are great. As background, I have stayed at the attached hotel and eaten at this restaurant a handful of times over the past 6 months. Although I sit at the outside bar, I'm able to get full menu service. The outside bar is great for a couple of reasons: you can enjoy the fresh air and occasional ocean breeze, they have TV monitors with sports on, the view is of the beach, next to the bar seating is outside lounge seating with firepits for evening warmth and the great service at the bar - especially from bartender Emily (she rocks). She remembered me from my past visits (although it's been at least two months) and proceeded to point out to me that they had changed the menu slightly - both on the specialty drinks and the menu, describing the new dishes/drinks and mentioning which ones they had removed (also pointing out they still had my fave drink - the sunset sake). Had two sushi rolls - the crab and shrimp and the shrimp tempura. Both tasty and delivered pretty quickly. But it's really the great bar service I come back night after night for... this rating is for Emily's service.
(5)Michella T.
Came for a scratch cocktail. Sat outside, which was very modern and nice. Lots of fun fresh cocktails to choose from. Saw the menu and decided to order some food. My friend got the goat cheese croquettes and I got the riceless sushi! Yum! Definitely on the pricey side, but great for foodies and fantastic atmosphere. Will DEFINITELY be back!
(4)Brenda T.
S3 = Sun, Surf and Sand. This beachside location is on the ground floor of the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort and is brought to us by The Restaurant People, the same owners of Tarpon Bend, YOLO and Vibe. S3 is staged on several levels so diners throughout the restaurant have views of the water. The island ambience and simple, but elegant bamboo and teak furniture created an alluring atmosphere. The open air space has an indoor/outdoor main bar and outdoor seating offers couches and a fire pit overlooking the beach. While large plates are available, the menu focuses on small plates featuring cuisines from coastal areas near and far. I was surprised by this trendy 'hotel' restaurant. The prices are a bit high for small plates, but seem on par with other overpriced fare along A1A. Over the course of my stay, I sampled several dishes, all beautifully presented- *Vietnamese glazed wings with daikon radish - plump, juicy and perfectly marinated with the pungent fish sauce. A winner. *Deviled eggs - average flavors, needs an upgrade to match the atmosphere *Thai tuna sushi roll - it tasted 'pretty'..white soy paper added a visual twist, fresh tuna inside with a sliver of jalapeño, avocado and coconut. I enjoyed the roll, but next time I'll go for bolder flavors. The cuisine is above average, but the setting is the true star. David took good care of me as well. Overall, an interesting space that speaks to different needs -- the solo business traveler, happy hour, a sexy date, or girls' night.
(4)Jennifer F.
(I'm so incredibly late posting this review... oopse!) Went to S3 for a random girls night dinner about 2 weeks ago. We actually were out at another event at a hotel down the street (they had horrible h'ordeuvres so we left) and walked down to S3 to grab something for dinner. The stars were definitely aligned because we didn't have a reservation and they were packed but we happened to get a table that fit the 6 of us near the bar area (even though we wanted to sit outside). Definitely recommend calling ahead to make a reservation! Their outside patio has really nice ambiance since it overlooks the beach and inside part of the restaurant is perfect for a date night! Their concept of having everyone order and then they bring out whatever food is ready when it's ready is non-traditional but also fun. It's not too bad if you're out with a significant other or group and everyone is ok with sharing, but if not everyone else that doesn't have food will just sitting around waiting so definitely be open to sharing. Thankfully everyone ordered something different and we all tried everyone's food! The short rib empanadas and goat cheese croquettes were AMAZE! Would definitely order those appetizers again! The goat cheese mac-and-cheese was really rich with the smoked Gouda and yummy prosciutto crumbles on top. Definitely share that as it comes in a cast iron skillet! I had a serious sushi craving so I ordered the chef special sunshine roll. It took a while for it to come out but it was well worth it. One of the other girls ordered a simple rainbow roll and for some reason it took almost an hour to get it to the table. Our server made sure to be diligent and continue to check with the kitchen on the status but for whatever reason it took a very long time to make. I recommend ordering any of the sushi first to make sure you get it at a reasonable time. Our friend actually didn't get the sushi roll delivered to the table until the rest of us were done eating so they actually ended up removing it from the bill for the inconvenience. Overall the experience was great! They have a vast drink menu and the food was fantastic! I have a feeling that the ambiance is different depending on where you sit (at the bar, outside patio, inside the restaurant, etc.) so I'll definitely be back to try them all!
(4)Megan N.
Eaten here several times. Came here for a birthday dinner one night and didn't have the best experience. Instead of running to write a bad review I emailed the GM and promptly received an email back from the GM, Harmony. She apologized for the bad experience and invited us back for a redo. Took her up on her offer for a second chance and everything has amazing. Food was wonderful, service was amazing. Jen-the manager that night was great. So thank you S3 team and Harmony for making this right reassuring me that that one night was just a rare circumstance. See you guys soon!
(5)Marisa R.
All I can say is WOW! Amazing service, amazing food! Cocktails are a little pricey but perfected. Signature sushi rolls are completely on point and fresh although I wish there was more low-key options (vegetarian rolls? Simple sushi?). Overall, very happy with our choice to visit S3! Update: Since our visit that this review is based on, we came back to S3 TWICE!!! Still nothing bad to say about service or quality!!
(5)Joan L.
Pretty big disappointment for me after so many stellar yelp reviews. Really a 2 1/2 but the service brought it down to a two. Keep in mind, this review us only for lunch. Some items I was dying to try, like the Gnocchi, were not available. All around, the food was weak. Starving when we sat down we quickly ordered some deviled eggs and truffle fries to share while we studied the menu. Maybe not the most sophisticated choices but nevertheless, I have had better deviled eggs from Publix. I certainly have have had better fries from McDonald's or any other fast food joint The fries were overcooked and hard. The Mac & Cheese was good. I'm glad I ordered that at the last minute minute for the table to share or else I would have been very hungry. I ordered Tuna Nachos ($11) I really wondered if I received the same dish other yelpers raved about. It consisted of four of the smallest & greasiest taco chips I have ever tasted. I could barely eat them. They were topped with a mixture of tuna and spicy salmon all mushed together topped with a drizzle of sauce. Was that supposed to be the guacamole? The guacomole was really invisible to me. And let's just say I have had much better sushi and spicy fish mixtures at the sushi buffet. 9 year old did like his Shrimp and Crab Roll ($13) which was a little more filling. 11 year old did enjoy his burger, which came with a nice runny runny sunny side up egg on it. Husband got one of the specials: a short rib sandwich with grilled cheese and onions. Husband gallantly offered me some since I was still hungry after my minuscule sushi portion. Then I saw why he was so generous First of all, you could not taste any cheese on this sandwich. But more importantly, it just tasted nasty...almost rancid. I could barely get one bite down. With it's gorgeous view, S3, might have squeaked to a 3 star rating. However, the service brought it down. We had to wait way too long for the hot food and our beverages constantly remained empty. There was no exude for this when the restaurant was more than half empty. Needless to say, we will not be returning.
(2)Dan S.
I don't get the name of this place. And I'm not a typical fan of restaurants in hotels. But this is a standalone place that deserves to be a contender for your dining choice. It came recommended by a friend in CT and didn't really disappoint. The key is sharing small plates. And get the drink sampler too. Cool concept. We loved the short rib empanadas. The special Mac and cheese was also a highlight! The ricotta spread was a big miss though. Avoid it. We also enjoyed the tuna tower and the rolls too. And tip: they have kids dishes. You just need to ask. The Burger with fries was loved by the little one. Service was very good with a desire to get things right. And sitting with an ocean side view, that attitude goes a long way. Price was very reasonable for sharing dishes between us.
(4)Chuck K.
Everyone is so friendly at S3!!! Great service, excellent seafood! I've become a regular here... I highly recommend coming for happy hour! Great app specials!
(5)Dominic B.
I went to S3 for dinner before flying out of Fort Lauderdale Airport back to Virginia. I sat at the outside bar since it was beautiful outside. The outside bar has televisions and a nice beach view (Fort Lauderdale Beach). It gets no better than watching ESPN and eye candy. Parking was a hassle but S3 offers valet to customers. It was happy hour ,so we were able to try different appetizers on the menu. I ordered a few appetizers, sushi, and a drink. The appetizers (tomato bread, goat cheese croquettes & rosemary fritters) were good. The goat cheese croquettes were my personal favorite. They had a nice crust with a creamy goat cheese filling inside. S3 Crunchy Tuna Roll (Crab, Spicy Tuna, Mango, Avocado, Tempura Flake and Soy Paper) was good. The drinks are flavorful and strong. Our waiter was attentive at the outside bar. I loved the outside dining area ambience. It's the perfect place to relax while eating or drinking. I give S3 Restaurant Sun - Surf - Sand a 3.5 rating.
(3)Steve K.
S3 was a bit disappointing for the price paid... It's a nice place with good atmosphere, and our server was great, but the food was hit-or-miss. Most items that weren't sushi were okay, but not great. However, the sushi that everyone seems to rave about was not very high-quality, just boring and bland. Maybe it's tough for a California guy to expect great sushi in Florida, but c'mon, for the price of these dishes, I really expected better
(3)Carrie M.
The Thai Sushi is so delish and the berry mojito is one of the best I've had. The chef was also accommodating to friend that has a gluten intolerance. He made her a seared salmon and Brussels sprouts just as she requested. Eating with the view of the ocean makes the dining experience fantastic!
(5)Joseph A.
Service : amazing ... On point ! 1st class service ... The entire staff Food: Sat at sushi bar and everything they prepared looked amazing ! I ordered the octopus ... Really good ... Top quality ...the shrimp tempura was also good... Didn't try however I saw the kitchen prepare a lot of the The ricotta dip, the short rib , and the brisket! Looked amazing and in high demand . Clean top quality restaurant
(5)Chris F.
Reservation issues My only complaint about S3 was they took our reservation via Open Table but when we arrived they wanted to stick us at a bar like table right next to the kitchen on stools. This was not a "real" table that they should assign reservations to. There were also several other open regular tables. Eventually the manager came and sat us at a regular table. Other than this, it was a good night with good food and drinks.
(3)Lukas S.
So this so far has been my favorite place during our trip to Fort Lauderdale! We came for an afternoon bite-to-eat! We hadn't eaten lunch but weren't hungry enough for dinner so thought it'd be a nice option since they have a bar and we'd just get some light snacks! Our waitress, Tiffany, explained to us that it is tapas-style which was just what we wanted! We started with drinks...my boyfriend got the Orange Snap and I tried the Green Guisha--both hits! We started with the goat cheese croquettes and they were so good! They were like little balls of crusted, crunchy goat cheese bites with a spicy sauce! We then got the brussel sprouts which were amazing!!! The mustard sauce alone had me hooked! We also tried the crispy hominy which were tasty and different! We got the ginger thymetini and sake sunset next for drinks and were pleased with both of these as well! Loved being outside by the beach and leaving feeling satisfied but not stuffed. I think I would request our same waitress again...she had a personality that totally fits mine and was knowledgable and friendly without being overly chatty. GREAT place! We may have to go again before leaving town!! So, we came here again since we had such a great experience the day before for appetizers and drinks. Not a bad idea, but not a great one either. Once again, the food was spectacular! We got the ricotta gnocchi, tomato bread, crisp baby artichokes, akaushi bavette steak and the pork empanadas (on special that night). Our drinks were great again too, even though we opted for our own concoctions (which we appreciated their willingness to make). Our waiter was friendly but very slow. My boyfriend kept saying he was just "laid back" but I also appreciate being attended to a little bit more regularly or timely. We were seated outside on the patio and when the sun goes down you basically must rely on your cell phone to read the menu and to see the food you're eating. They really should add some sort of lighting. I was disappointed solely because our previous experience was spot-on, but I also felt like our experience was still good and we'd recommend the place.
(4)Reixa C.
I've been here many times and every time I am satisfied with the food and the service. Their chicken salad is absolutely wonderful, so flavorful and fresh. Perfect for a lunch at the beach.
(5)Brian B.
Tonight's dinner was a big step down compared to our wonderful dinner about two years ago. The sushi was OK...salmon was good...yellowtail tasted a little bitter...odd. The special LL role was extremely greasy. Yes, I know it was a deep-fried roll but I'm talking super-greasy. The server was kind enough to offer to have it removed from the bill but we declined-we ordered it and we ate half of it so we were fine paying for it. The brisket sliders sat on the counter for about 10 minutes before they brought to us...rather tough too. We had high hopes for S3 due to our previous visit but they were definitely off tonight.
(3)Jane M.
Came for dinner on a Thursday night and were seated outside at the bar. The bartender started by checking my ID to verify that I was over 21 to sit there. We were famished, so started by ordering our food ($45 worth) before deciding on drinks. When I had decided and asked for a drink, he stated that my license was expired and I would need to provide another form of identification. Please note that my license was expired by one day (less than 24 hours). He seemed to be either in an awful mood or incredibly pretentious, I'm not sure which. Please note: 1) I am thirty-one years of age, not twenty two. I no longer look like a teenager. 2) This was the day after my birthday, which he failed to mention or acknowledge (a "looks like you just had a birthday, happy birthday!" would have been nice.) 3) He had just checked my ID so we could sit there. Why had he allowed us to sit there if he didn't deem it valid? 4) Under Florida state law, a bartender does not necessarily need to see a current ID, but rather *believe* that someone is 21. "The appearance of the buyer or recipient was such that a prudent person would believe the buyer or recipient to be 21 years of age or older." My just-expired license should have provided sufficient proof. 5) The TSA itself accepted my expired license as sufficient identification to board the plane less than one day later. Apparently S3 thinks they need to have tighter security at their overpriced oceanfront bar than the United States government. We were about to drop $65+ on food and drinks. We cancelled our order and went to Tacocraft, which resulted in a much better time!
(1)Frances A.
Been here 2x now... each time I've had the same sever. Each time he was terrible! But I can't let him ruin my experience. Although service was bad, the has actually been pretty good. There are big plates but the idea is shareable plates. We've had a number of dishes: fried artichoke, brussel sprouts, pork belly, mac and cheese, beef sliders, grilled octopus. From our last visit, the pork belly and sliders were the winners. Both had really good flavors. The octopus salad was good but i was missing that char. .. Hence "grilled". Haven't had a horrible meal here just service. Prices are decent. I would recommend.
(3)Amy W.
WOW! And Wow is an understatement! S3 is by far the best place that I have found in my two short years in South Florida. The service is hit or miss but the food makes up for it.. in a BIG way! The Strawberry Mamasita is fantastic and probably the best cocktail they have to offer! As for the food.. Where do I begin?! The Wok Charred Edamame.. Absolutely Amazing.. I crave it on a daily basis! The Chicken Meatballs (on Special).. OMG! I must have these RIGHT NOW! Mac & Cheese, Skirt Steak, Gnocchi, Roasted Mushrooms! Each and every item I have eaten.. YUM-O! Haven't been there yet?! What is stopping you?? Beyond Awesome!!
(5)Amanda I.
This place is UNREAL! The atmosphere is cozy with its lounge feel and plush couches and even fire pits outside. We started with the Wok Charred Edamame which blew my mind because clearly I have been eating boring edamame my entire life because this was SO MUCH BETTER. I had the red dragon roll, which was good but nothing special. definitely listen to the waitstaff when they tell you to order a bunch of small plates because they all are SO GOOD. and the more that you order the more you get to try! Stir Fried Brussels Sprouts- they were so good! I could have eaten the entire plate. Pork Belly- oh my god I don't even know what I was eating but it was glorious. The pork belly tasted amazing alone, but then with the added jelly beneath it, if possible, it got better. Artisan Romaine- kind of a strange concept grilling the lettuce wedge, I was worried it was going to come to us wilted but it was great! The toppings (prosciutto and beans) and the sauce that comes on the side was delicious also. Even though at this point I had no room for dessert, you probably won't either, but try the Blondie because you won't regret it!
(5)