Fort Lauderdale’s newest restaurant & bar – Sunness Supper Club (SSC) – has officially arrived on historic Sunrise Boulevard as the restaurant made its grand debut just in time to welcome the new year. Named in honor of owner/operator Michael Stanley’s late grandfather, the completely renovated space at 2465 East Sunrise Boulevard, which Michael helped curate, ushers in a new dining destination delivering soulful American cookery, craft cocktails and hospitality befitting a restaurant designed, as it was, to deliver a fine dining-level experience without the formal trappings.
“Sunness Supper Club is named after my grandfather so to say it’s something close to my heart is an understatement,” says Michael in a statement, who is no stranger to the industry though SSC is the first brick n’ mortar concept under his belt. Prior to SSC he owned and operated MK Takeaways, a ghost kitchen concept which delivered fresh, made-from-scratch, Chef-prepared meals to homes; before that he enjoyed many successful years in food service as the founder of an organic baby food company – Yummy in my Tummy – and prior to that, as the director of operations for Tequila Ranch at The Park Sports Club. Speaking to his first full-service dining concept, he adds “I wanted to create a space where people can come together to enjoy delicious and high-quality food and drinks with a touch of magic in the air. Mood, music and lighting are key and no detail has been overlooked in the design. I want the Sunness Supper Club to be a place where memories are made and good times are had.”
Drawing inspiration from his childhood as well as South Florida’s diverse cultural makeup, SSC’s menu was conceptualized by Michael in collaboration with James Beard Award-winning Chef Allen Susser. Blending classic American cuisine with global influences, and showcasing mindfully-sourced ingredients, the vibrant menu ranges from fresh raw bar items and flavorful appetizers to main plates starring steaks, chops and seafood as well as modern-day comfort dishes.
Among the starting plates, highlights include East and West Coast Oysters; Crudo; Jumbo Lump Blue Crab Cakes with corn salsa and tartar sauce; French Onion Soup topped with a cheesy crouton; Wood Fire Blistered Elote with queso fresco and Peruvian verde; Brooklyn Burrata served with cherry tomatoes and aged balsamic; and a “Table Tossed” Caesar for two. The menu also features options from the land and sea such as Filet Mignon served with red potato mash and demi-glace; Wagyu Beef Skirt Steak & Frites accompanied by chimichurri sauce; Heritage Pork Chop with crispy red bliss potato mash; Lobster Tail served with jasmine rise and tangerine ginger butter; and a special Catch of the Day with broccolini and fire roasted lemon. Additional favorites include modern-day comforts such as a Double American Cheese Burger prepared with a brisket, chuck and short rib patty and topped with pickle and sauteed onions; Cabernet Braised Short Rib served with mashed red potatoes and honey garlic carrots; and Shrimp & Grits with shallots, cheddar and bacon.
The restaurant’s lineup of desserts include S’mores Galore Brownie topped with Hershey’s chocolate, graham cracker, whipped cream and jumbo marshmallows toasted tableside; and Berrylicious Shortcake made with a buttered biscuit topped with fresh strawberries, a cloud of cotton candy and a Grand Marnier strawberry drizzle poured tableside; among several other confections. The true star of the dessert lineup, a whimsical Wonder Wheel, features a mini-Ferris wheel filled with an assortment of sweet, fruity and chocolate treats, but the real magic lies in that a portion of each Wonder Wheel sale benefits a local charity.
Overseeing the restaurant’s bar program is mixologist Ally Champion, formerly of Gastrotech and Apothecary 330. For Sunness Super Club, she has created a vibrant beverage list that pairs with the culinary offerings including a lineup of handcrafted cocktails, fine wines, and artisanal spirits. Cocktails include Silver Springs – Soto Sake, Walcher melon, fresh lemon juice and kiwi; Weird & Unusual – Bayab Gin, Singani63, Rocky’s Botanical Liqueur, fresh lemon juice, grape and thyme; Live Love Chuckle – Chuckle Rum, RumHaven Coconut Rum, fresh lemon juice, sweet matcha and watermelon; Hippie Invasion – GinRaw, lemon juice, basil syrup, egg white, balsamic glaze, fresh cracked pepper and cherry tomato and mozzarella garnish; Devils Den – Lost Explorer Blanco Tequila, lime juice, sweet pepper syrup, orange infused salt and tajin; and Southern Gentleman – Old Forester 100 Proof Bourbon, house made Dr. Pepper syrup, black walnut, cardamon, Filthy cherry and orange twist; among several other handcrafted libations.
Though SSC enjoys great frontage on Sunrise Boulevard, the actual entrance is in the rear of the building, adjacent to more than 75 free parking spots. Upon entering and checking in, guests are led down a winding hallway reminiscent of a secret passage, leading into the close to 6,000 square-foot restaurant seating 130. Its design showcases a chic yet warm color palette of sage green and neutrals complemented by artisanal touches of wood, marble, leather, and gold. A focal point of the space, an expansive U-shaped marble bar adorned with hanging wood-finished wine racks that seats close to 30. Adjacent to the bar, two spacious banquettes which can be turned into an ad hoc private space. Table seating includes a mix of low- and high-top tables, half-moon booths and two elongated booths suited to comfortably seat large parties. Adding dimension between the bar area and dining room, bottle selections are displayed in elegant glass and wood cabinets at the center of the restaurant. A wood-fired oven just on the other side of the bar further contributes to the warmth of the space, more figurative than literal.
In the Spring of 2025, the second phase of the concept, an upstairs speakeasy overlooking the dining room, will be open and operational.
Sunness Supper Club is located at 2465 E Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. The restaurant is open daily for dinner served Sunday to Thursday from 5PM – 10PM; Friday and Saturday from 5PM – 11PM. Happy Hour is offered daily from 5PM – 7PM.
