Per South Florida media, Las Olas boulevard has been hit by restaurant closures. That seems troubling, as Fort Lauderdale is not famous for its dining scene as it is, and it does not have many good restaurants currently in existence. A wave of closures, seemingly, will make the problem worse – but I am not discouraged by the news.
Fort Lauderdale is a rapidly growing city, and Las Olas is a rapidly growing city center. The existing restaurants there no longer reflect the upscale demand of the younger and more discerning demographic that’s moving into the area. There are plenty of food choices on Las Olas – but the quality of food and service is often lacking.
Looking at the list of recently closed restaurants, I don’t see even one of note. The only one that’s familiar to me is Cuba Libre. We went there once, and we were thoroughly disappointed with the quality of food and service. It was very much inferior to Cuban restaurants in Miami, and even in suburbs we live in. The restaurant probably didn’t attract enough audience, and it did not have many return customers. So, the closure does not surprise or upset me. Other restaurants have probably suffered similar fate. With the rising rents on Las Olas Boulevard, quality needs to justify the price of admission. For many Las Olas restaurants, it does not.
Fort Lauderdale desperately needs to upgrade its dining scene. Right now, those of us who are picky about our restaurants drive all the way to Miami for a good dining experience. The smaller and lesser graded restaurants will be replaced by newer, bigger, and more high end ones that cater to the more sophisticated audience which does not mind spending money on upscale dining. There will always be demand for “Diners, drive-ins, and dives” that Florida is known for, but Las Olas is not the place that calls for them. It is a ritzy promenade where tourists and locals alike come for a good time. Smart restaurateurs will cease on the opportunity.
Satinleaf Properties 