11 Dine Out Lauderdale $35 Lunches Worth a Weekday Escape

The midday tier may be Dine Out's sharpest value

Dine Out Lauderdale is best known as a two-month restaurant celebration, but its $35 three-course lunches can be more useful than a special-occasion dinner. They fit a long work break, a vacation afternoon or a low-stakes first visit to a restaurant you have been meaning to try. The official 2026 program runs through September 30, and its lunch guide highlights choices that range from resort dining to neighborhood comfort food.

For dates, participating restaurants and program details, visit the official Dine Out Lauderdale page.

The price is only the starting point. Participating days differ, beverages, tax and gratuity are usually separate, and menus can change. Use this list to choose a mood, then confirm the current offer before booking.

Lunch with water in the frame

Burlock Coast sits at The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale, directly across from the Atlantic. Its official lunch highlights move from Caesar salad to a Southern fried chicken sandwich with maple hot sauce and a Key lime bar. It works when the objective is a resort setting without committing to an evening reservation.

Shooters Waterfront swaps the ocean for the Intracoastal. The featured progression includes Thai chicken lettuce wraps, New England lobster sliders and a petite Caribbean bread-pudding flan. Ask for outdoor seating if the view is central to the plan, while remembering that weather and table availability can decide the final location.

The House on the River offers another waterfront interpretation beside the New River. Its historic setting is especially useful for a weekend group because the official guide points to a family-style brunch board with fried chicken and waffles, breakfast sandwiches and short-rib sliders. Verify whether your chosen day is serving the lunch or brunch version.

A livelier lunch with drinks and friends

Backflip Bar & Kitchen at Plunge Beach Resort brings Lauderdale-by-the-Sea energy to the $35 tier. The official menu examples include a house-made dip, mahi tacos or roasted-tomato pesto flatbread, and a salted-caramel brownie sundae. It is an easy choice for a beach day that needs a real seated meal.

At 26° Brewery & Kitchen in Pompano Beach, the hook is craft beer alongside a full progression. Tequeños or conch fritters can lead into burgers or fish and chips, followed by Key lime pie or a brownie. Beer is not included in the prix-fixe price, so treat a flight or pint as an optional addition.

Moxies on Las Olas is the social-city option. The restaurant's modern American menu and active bar scene work for coworkers or friends, while the published lunch examples range from maple-glazed Brussels sprouts to handhelds, kale and quinoa salad, and a mushroom zen bowl.

Global cooking and plant-forward choices

Caffe Europa makes lunch feel like a Las Olas intermission. An outdoor table creates natural people-watching, and the official choices include salads followed by chicken Parmigiana, salmon piccata, rigatoni Bolognese or penne vodka, with cannoli for dessert.

Mama Chea Cafe Vegan Juice & Market in Davie is the clearest plant-forward selection. Vegan truffle mac and cheese or butternut squash soup leads toward jackfruit-based sandwiches, with a cookie or matcha-flavored treat at the finish. It is a reminder that restaurant month does not have to mean steak and seafood.

Rosalia's Kitchen in Miramar takes an Italian-Mediterranean route. Potato cigars or bourekas can precede a build-your-own pasta assembled from noodle, sauce and protein choices. Affogato or a sundae keeps the meal playful.

Broward comfort-food institutions

Jaxson's Ice Cream Parlor & Restaurant in Dania Beach is the nostalgia play. Its official Dine Out lunch pairs a half-pound burger or mile-long hot dog with fries or onion rings and a single-scoop sundae or cone. Leave time for the candy shop rather than treating it like a rushed desk lunch.

South Bar & Kitchen in Pompano Beach channels Southern comfort through catfish bites, deviled eggs and fried chicken, then lands on strawberry shortcake or a warm chocolate brownie. It is a satisfying alternative when beach views matter less than a menu built for indulgence.

Make the $35 price work harder

Compare the prix-fixe menu with the regular menu, but judge it as a complete three-course experience rather than a mathematical contest. Pick courses you would actually order, check for supplements and choose a restaurant close enough that travel does not swallow the afternoon.

Reservations are not universally required, though calling ahead is wise for resorts, waterfront patios and larger groups. Ask for the Dine Out Lauderdale menu when seated, verify the day's availability and tip on the full service. Then use the September 30 deadline as a reason to schedule the lunch instead of leaving it on a saved list.