Florida Room Coming to Ft. Lauderdale

Janine Booth and Jeff McInnis

(Press Release) Anyone seeking further proof that the Fort Lauderdale food scene is en fuego need look no further than the arrival of husband-and-wife star chefs Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth’s newest sensation, Florida Room. Situated waterside at The Fort recreational center – a gorgeous, sprawling 9.5 acre sports and entertainment complex – Florida Room signals (finally) the culinary power couple’s first venture into Broward County. Opening to the public on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 Florida Room (initially serving dinner only) will surely be a welcome addition to the city’s booming culinary landscape; offering the couple’s adored globally-accented take on Southern American and coastal comfort food as well as a bustling indoor-outdoor bar perfect for the upcoming winter season. “We envisioned Florida Room as the perfect spot for affordable, comfortable, stress-free weeknight dining, a fun family dinner or drinks with happy hour friends,” says McInnis. “Naturally the offerings are elevated by technique and made with the best ingredients available but a night at Florida Room should feel familiar and comforting in the best possible ways.”

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The menu is as expansive as the ocean and as generous as the serving sizes with close to 40 offerings, from salads (Grove + Garden) and appetizers (Small Plates + Shareables) to entrees (Larger Plates) and best if shared Favorites + Classics. It might be hard to pick once seated but future favorite meal starters that jump off the menu’s current itineration include: Crunchy Calamari Caesar; Wood Grilled Artichokes; Peaches n’ Cream (marinated and char-grilled peaches, shaved prosciutto; creamy stracciatella, basil, EVOO and sourdough toast): House-made Tater Tots with crème fraiche and caviar; Pimento Cheese with melted tomato and house-made focaccia and Lamb Sausage Rolls, among others.

Hearty delights from Larger Plates range from Short Rib Meatloaf (made with 48-hour braised wagyu beef); a 10 oz. Double Smash Burger with tallow fries; Spatchcock Chicken Under a Brick with potato cake, Mascarpone cream and shaved black truffle; and chili-lime dusted Yellowfin Tuna with miso sweet potato puree. Florida Room showstoppers will inarguably hail from the Favorites + Classics section, consisting of Double Buttermilk Crispy Fried Chicken; an 18 oz. Australian Ribeye, charcoal crusted and served with marrow butter and a trio of sauces, and Barbecued & Brûléed Smokey Ribs. A tempting array of Sides will pair well with everything/anything, from Creamy Corn Grits + Pimento Cheese and Chilled Watermelon + Pickle Salad to Rosemary Citrus Dusted Fries.

Irresistible Sweet Thangs include the chefs’ take on a classic Baked Alaska, torched tableside; Coconut Key Lime Pie; Passionfruit Buttermilk Panna Cotta, and a Chocolate Spumoni Tart with bourbon cherries. In development for later this year will be weekend brunch.

In keeping with its name and location, Florida Room’s color palette will be equal parts earthy sand and lush greenery, the 4,000-square-foot dining room features an indoor/outdoor bar, spilling out onto the patio deck on one side, overlooking one of The Fort’s awesome pickleball courts.              Seating breaks down as follows: 100 inside; 100 outdoor and 45 in the restaurant’s private dining room. In addition to big flavors, Florida Room also offers big spaces perfect for everything from private dinners and banquets to full blown galas. In fact, housed above the restaurant is a 4,000-square-foot event space as versatile as anything in the market that is not a hotel ballroom.

​ Florida Room, opening Wednesday, October 15, is located at The Fort in Fort Lauderdale –
891 SW 34th Street. Ample free parking available. Dinner will be served Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday, 5PM to 10PM; Friday and Saturday, 5PM to 11PM. Telephone: (954) 222-1965; https://playthefort.com/.