Celebrity Chef Duo Opens First Broward County Restaurant This October

Celebrity chefs Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth bring Southern coastal comfort to Fort Lauderdale with Florida Room, opening October 15 at The Fort.

Shairin Panwar
Written By Shairin Panwar
News Writer
Annesha
Edited By Annesha
Managing Editor
Florida Room restaurant opening at Fort Lauderdale (Source: playthefort.com)

Celebrity chefs Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth are opening their newest restaurant, Florida Room, at The Fort recreational complex in Fort Lauderdale this October.

The Florida Room opens Wednesday, October 15, offering a menu inspired by Southern and coastal comfort cuisine. This marks the celebrity chef duo’s first restaurant in Broward County.

The Florida Room is Opening at Fort Lauderdale this October

Florida Room sits waterside at The Fort, offering diners a scenic, coastal-inspired setting. The restaurant is opening on October 15, 2025, at 891 SW 34th Street, Fort Lauderdale, serving dinner on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 5 PM to 10 PM and from 5 PM to 11 PM on Friday and Saturday.

“We envisioned Florida Room as the perfect spot for affordable, comfortable, stress-free weeknight dining. It should feel familiar and comforting in the best possible ways,” says McInnis.

The restaurant serves in-house dinner only, with a laid-back atmosphere perfect for families and casual weeknight dining. The place has free parking available for the customers.

The Southern Flavours Menu

The Florida Room menu is a love letter to Southern and coastal comfort food with nearly 40 dishes from salads, small plates, entrees, and shareable classics.

Small plates and shareables include Crunchy Calamari Caesar, house-made Tater Tots, Pimento Cheese with melted tomato, and Peaches n’ Cream.

Larger plates feature Short Rib Meatloaf, Spatchcock Chicken, and Chili-Lime Yellowfin Tuna. Favorites and classics include Double Buttermilk Crispy Fried Chicken, an 18-oz. Australian Ribeye, and Barbecued Smoked Ribs.

Their dessert includes The Baked Alaska, the Chocolate Spumoni Tart, Coconut Key Lime Pie, and Passionfruit Buttermilk Panna Cotta.

Venue Details

Florida Room occupies a 4,000-square-foot space at The Fort, featuring earthy sand tones, lush greenery, 100 indoor and outdoor seats, and a 45-seat private dining room.

With that, the restaurant also provides space for larger gatherings like banquets to full-blown galas. 

Husband-And-Wife Star Chefs Duo

The husband-wife chef duo, Janine Booth and Jeff McInnis, are renowned celebrity chefs bringing their flavours to their new restaurant, opening the Florida Room.

Janine Booth is a Top Chef alum and James Beard semi-finalist, and Jeff McInnis is a Florida native and fellow Top Chef alum who is celebrated for his work at Yardbird Southern Table & Bar and his long culinary career spanning over three decades.

Together, the couple has opened several restaurants across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, expanding their culinary footprint internationally. 

The chef duo brings Southern coastal flavors to Florida Room, adding a new highlight to Fort Lauderdale’s dining scene.

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Shairin Panwar is a content writer with a background in international affairs, media consulting, and fast-paced newsroom reporting. She has reported on a broad spectrum of topics, including political risk, global trade, cultural trends, and local developments, combining expertise with thorough research. Passionate about international development and human rights, Shairin combines strong research skills with a global perspective to create engaging and thoughtful content.
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