Second Act: It’s not unusual, within the restaurant sphere, for properties to launch beneath completely different possession as recent culinary ideas with new names. However the reopening final November of Dune, a part of the luxurious residential footprint at Auberge on Fort Lauderdale Seashore, provided a curveball, albeit a tantalizing one. The title would stay the identical however with an addendum—one related to a globally famend French grasp with a Michelin star beneath his chef’s hat.
Previous Good: To say Laurent Tourondel’s popularity precedes him could be a large understatement. The native of Auvergne, France, drew raves within the early 2000s for his BLT ideas, together with the one which earned him a coveted Michelin star (BLT Fish in New York). Although a lot of his present eating places, together with the favored Skirt Steak, are within the Huge Apple, Tourondel is hardly new to South Florida; his LT Steak & Seafood is on Ocean Drive in Miami. As his ideas turned to additional growth, the beachfront setting at Dune proved irresistible. The reimagined indoor/out of doors area, exquisitely rendered, brings diners nearer to the crashing waves. The menu, in the meantime, brings them proper into Tourondel’s wheelhouse.
Fish Tales: Impressed by Dune’s backdrop, Tourondel created a something-for-everyone menu that does emphasize seafood—a lot so, {that a} portion of the unique sprawling indoor spirits bar is now a sushi bar. The tightly curated nigiri, crispy rice and sashimi choices, together with six-piece rolls (just like the Hamachi and jalapeno with yuzu guacamole), play seamlessly with fish finds on the starter aspect—together with grilled Spanish octopus and a standout seafood salad with lobster, calamari, purple shrimp and blood orange French dressing.
Surf & Turf: Tourondel factors to the grilled branzino (bathed in lemon broth with fennel, artichoke and coriander) as the most well-liked entrée—though the sunshine and flavor-rich bigeye tuna with Swiss chard and roasted beets, in addition to a 2-pound lobster, ready piccata-style inside, additionally appeal to appreciable consideration. On the meat aspect, favorites embody a 22-ounce ribeye, aged for 28 days; natural rooster diablo, with pickled cherry peppers and smashed fingerling potatoes; and center-cut French veal chop Milanese.
Luxurious Bites: The expansive indoor and out of doors bars at Dune are excellent for the craft cocktails and connoisseur small plates provided. On the foodie aspect, assume crispy beef nigiri with truffle aioli; mushroom and truffle flatbread; chorizo ravioli with beef, onion, peppers and spicy paprika sofrito; and a grilled prime burger with truffled cheese, caramelized onions, child spinach and do-it-yourself fries. The Sunday brunch, obtainable 11 a.m. to three p.m., additionally raises the connoisseur bar with mouthwatering entries like lemon blue crab with poached eggs on a croissant; tres leches brioche French toast with chili confit pineapple; and buttermilk coconut pancakes with a wealthy pina colada sauce.
