Hello, Foodie Friends!
If you’ve been looking for an excuse to get dressed up, meet a friend for a cocktail (or two), and linger over some seriously good seafood, I have a few for you. I recently visited Truluck’s on Fort Lauderdale Beach and came away with a long list of dishes I’d happily order again. Even better, there are several ways to really enjoy Truluck’s here in South Florida right now, whether you’re planning a leisurely dinner or just popping in for happy hour.
The evening started with a warm welcome from Johann, the Beverage Manager, and Frank, one of the restaurant’s longtime servers. That kind of hospitality sets the tone before the first plate arrives.
Start with a sip
September’s cocktail of the month is the TRU Hurricane ($19), a tropical mix of Don Q 7 Year Rum, Worthy Park 109 Dark Rum, guava, passion fruit, hibiscus and fresh lime. Truluck’s features a different cocktail each month, so this one has a short window. For a little tableside theater, try the Voilà! ($19), with vodka, framboise, pineapple and fresh lime, presented in a swirl of dry ice smoke. Ours had a sparkling finish that made it feel like a celebration.
Here’s a tip for my fellow happy-hour lovers: at the Fort Lauderdale bar, handcrafted cocktails, spirits, select wines by the glass and oysters are 50% off during happy hour. It runs Sunday 4–9 p.m. , Monday through Thursday 4–10 p.m. , and Friday and Saturday 4–6:30 p.m. Come for a cocktail and stay for dinner. See the Fort Lauderdale hours and details.
What I’d order again…
The lobster tempura bao ($36 for two) crisp lobster is tucked into toasted bao buns with cucumber, green onion, sesame–Thai basil aioli and red tobiko. If cracking crab is your idea of fun, the Crab, Crab, Crab menu offers Dungeness, wild Bairdi and red king crab, served chilled with Truluck’s mustard and Louie sauces. You can choose a half-pound portion of one or go all in with the $150 crab flight featuring all three.
We also enjoyed the burrata salad with peaches and prosciutto, followed by lobster bisque with aged sherry and lobster morsels. For entrées, my friend had the jalapeño salmon Béarnaise which brings together parmesan mashed potatoes, blue crab and sautéed shrimp. I enjoyed the Ōra King salmon which was beautifully prepared melted like butter in my mouth.
You must save room for dessert. Truluck’s makes its desserts in house, and we tried the petit versions of two favorites: the chocolate malt cake, finished with warm chocolate sauce at the table, and the four-layer carrot cake, with cream cheese icing, spiced pecans and a warm butterscotch finish. Petit portions are $10.50 each, which makes ordering both a very reasonable decision in my book.
The offers to know about
- 1. Dine Out Lauderdale: Through September 30, Truluck’s Fort Lauderdale is offering a three-course dinner for $60 per person. See the offer.
- 2. Miami Spice, extended: At Truluck’s Brickell location, the menus now run through October 31: $40 three-course lunch Monday–Friday, $65 three-course dinner nightly, or $95 premium four-course dinner nightly. See the Miami menus.
- 3. TRU Ninety-Two: The $59 three-course prix fixe is available every evening at Truluck’s locations, so there’s still a dinner option after restaurant month ends. On Sundays, the menu includes slow-roasted prime rib (sliced to order) with shallot-rosemary au jus and a baked potato. Explore TRU Ninety-Two.
- 4. More reasons to visit: September 25 is National Lobster Day, and Truluck’s has plenty of lobster on its menu. Miami diners can also check out the Power Lunch and Lunch To-Go options. Browse the Miami menu.
Menus, prices and hours can change, so check the current offerings when you reserve your table. If you go, let me know whether you’re ordering the crab flight or saving your appetite for cake. My advice? Bring a friend and do both.
A special thank-you to @TrulucksRestaurant and @DureeCoPr, and to Johann and Frank for a lovely visit.
Until we eat (and drink) again…
I send you delicious wishes,
Denise
