Takato

There are scores of oceanfront restaurants on Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard, but precious few are able to calibrate a vibe and menu to match their picturesque setting. Takato serves up ocean views at every table. There's also a 26-seat sushi bar, as well as a circular bar, half of which is indoors, the other half outside, steps from the beach. Executive chef Taek Lee's menu artfully blends Korean and Japanese cuisines. Standouts include a Wagyu gyoza starter whose rich meat filling is countered by a spicy onion ponzu. There's also a generous dish of kimchi fried rice, presented in a heavy stone bowl still hot from the oven that warms the dish as you eat, cooking the final layer of rice to a crispy layer. The meat and seafood selections are uniformly topnotch, including a dish of seared scallops and octopus served alongside a bowl of foam-topped bisque.