Via Luna

Picked up a burger here to go because I didn’t feel like being out but still wanted quality food. And I knew I could always count on the Ritz-​Carlton for that. The via Luna burger is so delicious blue cheese caramelized onions and bacon the fries are great asked for them extra crispy and they were. You would be surprised at how many restaurants can’t seem to get extra crispy fries. Loved this place

Impromptu lunch on the beach with my husband, daughter and 2 yr old grand daughter. Excellent service from the initial contact with the hostess, waiter and busboy. Can’t ask for a better view of the beach while eating and people watching. Our waiter Gerson remembered my daughter and I from when we were there once before in February. I was very impressed. The food was delicious also. Excellent start to our weekend. Would highly recommend and can’t wait to go back again soon.

The best brunch on the beach. Great for kids. Superior service.

Let’s get the negatives out of the way. Yes, this place is very expensive. And, if you sit outside for dinner, the tourist trap/​spring break nightmare bar next store is insanely loud, leeching away most of the ambiance of this place. But otherwise, what a dining experience this place was. We had an absolutely delectable meal. And our waiter could not have been more professional if he tried. Serving food can be an art and our waiter was an artist. Very pleasant, very accommodating. Our food was delicious, the outdoor seating was beautiful (despite the above stated complaints) and the complimentary crème brûlée our waiter gave us simply because it was the last night of our vacation was the perfect ending to a perfect dinner.

Absolutely delicious. Here for dinner and the red snapper was perfectly prepared — not greasy nor oily. I asked for asparagus instead of the Brussels sprouts and it was not a problem. The little neck clams were very tasty. In short, a dining experience I’d be thrilled to have again!

Absolutely wonderful service. Going here for dinner worked out well for all at the table. When looking to choose from rather different dishes — a short rib and scallop plate vs. grouper — the waiter made what I thought was a useful comment. He pointed me to the short rib plate because how it was prepared made it unique for probably other experiences I would be having in the area during my stay. Hey, that works for me and I really enjoyed the detour into something unusual for me.

I came here for brunch with baby en tow and was pleasantly surprised by their relaxing, non-​snobby atmosphere. I really wanted to pick a good breakfast place to kick off our wedding anniversary celebration that was fancy enough for the occasion and friendly enough to bring my 9 month old baby, this place NAILED IT! My husband and I opted for their buffet at $ 30 a pop which seems steep for eggs and bagels but their freshly squeezed orange juice, great coffee and delectable pastries were worth every penny alone– plus it’s the Ritz we knew pricey was a given however I’m here to confirm that it was expensive but delicious! I will admit I was kind of shy about heading upstairs to the cabanas and ordering breakfast (per the suggestion of the front desk personnel) because I didn’t know if I could (not being a hotel guest) and I was too shy about asking (kicking myself now) I will definitely be more adventurous on my 2^nd visit when I come back to Florida.

Stayed in the hotel for a few nights through NYE. Hotel restaurant in the Ritz. Sit a spell, take in the day and watch the beautiful people walk by. Service was very slow despite the restaurant being nearly empty on NY Day. I don’t recall which sandwich I ordered for lunch. It was tasty, but impossible to eat in a neat manner because it was stacked high and assembled in a nonsensical manner– as soon as I removed the toothpicks the various layers slid off each other. I deconstructed the sandwich to show my wife how it could have been better constrcuted; she’s a foodie a agreed it was impossible to eat as intended. Doesn’t someone in the kitchen think about these things? Overall a disappointment at several levels, but its the Ritz so I am sure my experience was an aberration. I don’t mind paying for quality but left less than satisfied with the experience.

With so few choices for a decent meal in Ft. Lauderdale, I didn’t expect to be treated with such snobbery… we tried to eat here without a reservation on a night where it was clearly NOT busy, and because we were not guests of the hotel, and maybe because we had a child with us (12 years old — total foodie) they told us we could eat in the bar with the same menu. We were hungry and like I said, there is nothing decent to eat in ft lauderdale, it is the b – d step child of Miami. We decided we would try it, and ordered quite a bit, food was not prepared as described on the restaurant menu at all… I had the carpaccio, which was described as including fried capers — oh, there were capers… but they were not even rinsed — they were pickley tasting and tossed on the sliced beef. Everything else was so uneventful, I don’t even remember what I ate. BORING and SNOBBY, stay away from this place where the hostess decides if you are worthy of eating here. BTW — after eating for 2 hours and watching the restaurant remain EMPTY — the hostess’ claim of all tables are booked for the night was clearly a lie. AND BTW — we are not slobs, we dressed appropriately — I believe she denied our access because we had our very mature child with us. SKIP this place, trust me. I’ve never been to a Ritz Carlton that was so snobby… and we have been to several.

A table of 14 of us went for Sunday breakfast at 10:30am. The service was awful. It took 25 minutes to get menus. When we started ordering, we had to ask about the buffet. The buffet is $ 30 and runs til 12pm. After 12pm it goes to $ 65 and has more options.
I ordered the buffet since it was only a few more dollars than the meals on the menu. All orders included a 20% service charge.
The buffet had the following: waffles, omelets, sausages, bacon, oatmeal, fruit, muffins, bread, cinnamon butter, salmon, bagels, yogurt, candied walnuts, fresh whip cream.
My favorite was the waffle with the fruit, whip cream and cinnamon butter topping I added. The waffle dough had great flavor.
As I finished my plate and went up for a new plate, I returned to the table and my old plate still wasn’t cleared. The few of us who did the buffet stacked our plates at the end of the table. They were never picked up!
The others in the party that ordered off the menu received their food after 45 minutes. This is ridiculous service for the Ritz Carlton and the prices they charge. We had to ask for drink refills multiple times before they were refilled. We requested separate checks which took the server 45 minutes to do. I had to leave at 12:30 and my friends didn’t receive my bill until 1:10pm. I had to leave money with them, even though I requested my check at 12:20pm.
My friend who invited us here, raved about the breakfast. After my experience, I have no desire to return. I can get better service at another establishment for much LESS money.

Amazing place!
Went here for dinner 1÷13÷14 and everything was great, the food, the ambiance and service. We sat outside looking at the beach, very romantic! The black grouper, salmon and seviche was amazing! Excellent choice of wines too! My only complain is that for such an expensive place they didn’t have tablecloths, not a deal breaker but still, really? ;)

Remarkable service and attention to detail… I guess I would expect nothing else at a restaurant on the beach owned by the Ritz Carlton! Beautiful sweeping view of the ocean and serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Definitely try the raspberry beignets for breakfast, they are supposed to have a beautiful Sunday brunch as well.
There is no where else on the beach to dine as comfortably in the shade yet feeling the breeze. They also have a 1000 point timeframe right now for opentable reservations from 6 – 6:45pm n weeknights that is awesome to utilize for free gift certificates (p.s. you can book that through Unilocal easily now too!).
A definite winner, I will be back here again for sure!

Good meal, perhaps a little pricey for what you get, but it is the Ritz. I had the Fettuccine with white wine sauce and sausage and mussels which was tasty but not exceptional. The service was somewhat mixed. On the plus side, the staff responded very quickly to a member of our group who arrived late because of a missed flight, and was mostly attentive to our needs. We did have a lot of variance between when courses were delivered, specially in the case of dessert.
Overall it’s not a bad place to dine if you’re at the Ritz and are too tired to venture out, but I’m not sure I’d go out of my way to dine there.

I am so enthused that Dine Out Fort Lauderdale has given me the chance to experience this fantastic restaurant. Without the affordable price of $ 35 for a three course meal, we would have spent a ton of money to get what we tasted and enjoyed. We sat outside and received some complimentary bread with salty butter and spinach cream cheese. I found the spinach cream cheese was a very innovative and creative choice for our bread toppings. I rather enjoyed it.
I started out with heirloom tomatoes and burrata that was drizzled with a zucchini purée. Mixing the three together was fantastic. The mildly salty burrata was extremely great with the acidic tomatoes. As an appetizer, it was perfect — light and tasty.
The entrée I chose was the Grilled black grouper with forest mushroom risotto drizzled with an aged vinegar called Saba. This was fantastic. It has been so long that I’ve been happy about a seafood dish I’ve chosen at a restaurant. The fish was seasoned and prepared phenomenally. Usually my biggest complaint is too many sauces or too much seasoning, but this was perfect. The risotto was sumptuous, it was creamy and rich, and the meatiness of the mushrooms made this so unique and fulfilling.
Lastly, I ordered the doughnuts with coffee ice cream. It was the perfect size, and a very creative plate with a playful presentation. The raspberry sauce they paired with the doughnuts was way too bitter in my opinion. But these sugary doughnuts went so well with the little dollop of coffee ice cream that it was paired with. I would come here again for all three dishes. And not to mention the amazing service.
The only reason for the deduction of a star is because the regular price for a cocktail is ridiculous. $ 14 for a frou frou cocktail and only a $ 2 discount for happy hour — that is only offered at the bar — is not ideal. Then when I ordered a Hendrick’s Martini, it came out to be $ 19. Even though the waiter said it would be $ 14. And even at 7PM, the restaurant was empty. As a photographer, the lights that were outside when we dined were bright orange and you couldn’t even decipher what type of food was in front of you without a flashlight. That’s why the photos are so strange… And I couldn’t even fix how bad the entrée picture was.

Hands-​down, one of the best breakfast spots in town! You sit under an awning, watching the beach… the service is attentive, friendly, and professional. Grab a paper, drink their delicious coffee, and enjoy the peaceful setting, observing the crazies, but completely unaffected by them.
Try the breakfast quesadilla, I had it twice in a week! It has chihuahua cheese and chorizo sausage, and is served with a side of fresh salsa fresca. The raspberry beignets were rich, warm and delicious served with a strawberry/​raspberry compote.
I highly recommend this restaurant for breakfast. I’ve eaten here six times now, and have yet to be disappointed.

Via Luna is the restaurant attached to the Ritz Carlton hotel. Stumbled upon the place while walking the main street looking for a breakfast place.
The décor is beautiful, unfortunately couldn’t get a seat on the outside patio because it was packed but the inside is lovely and bright because of the full glass windows. There is an open kitchen which is always a nice addition to a restaurant.
Service was okay, hostess and waitress were both friendly. Waitress provided the check prior to be asked which is always a bit annoying.
I had the Belgian Waffle with a side of sausage. The waffle was fluffy and light. The cinnamon made it a little too sweet for my taste. The sausage was good, nicely cooked, good quality of meat and excellent flavor.
Overall a decent restaurant, the prices are high and selection limited but if you’re looking to splurge, you could do a lot worst than Via Luna.

Via Luna is not for the faint of wallet, but if you’re looking for a respite from the unconstrained debauchery and culinary mediocrity that is North Fort Lauderdale Boulevard, this place will fit the bill quite nicely — pun intended. It’s also one of the few places on the strip of desperation with a slightly raised and partitioned patio, so you don’t have to deal with a stream of beach urchins and drunken co-​eds violating your dining space with their busted mugs and mindless banter.
Food: The menu is predominately comprised of American Continental fare with strong Italian influences. During my Sunday morning visit, my partner and I opted for the breakfast buffet, which included an extensive assortment of fresh and well-​executed options, including made-​to-​order omelets and waffles, multiple types of sausage, and a variety of pastries, breads, muffins, bagels, fruits, and cheeses. My favorite component of the buffet was the waffle station, which included several fresh fruit toppings, candied walnuts, high grade maple syrup, and sweet butter.
Service: The hostess was pretentiously caustic, which was undoubtedly the result of numerous sticks up various orifices. However, our waiter was pleasantly delightful and efficient. Although it was a buffet, he was quick to provide new plates and silverware in between courses and repeatedly checked on us throughout the meal.
Atmosphere: The proximity of Via Luna to the beach affords unparalleled views of the Atlantic. The interior of the restaurant consists of an open dining room that extends the length of the first floor, as well as an outdoor patio that’s just steps from North Fort Lauderdale Boulevard. The clientele is predominately guests of the Ritz Carlton, but there’s also a smattering of various other specimens of humanity, including beach goers, locals, and a few children. Dress for breakfast and lunch is casual, but you’d be wise to clean yourself up for dinner.
Cost: The food may have been good, but I was choking at the prices. Fortunately, my brunch date made up for it by putting out shortly thereafter. Breakfast for two, sans alcohol, clocked in at over $ 70 before tip. The breakfast buffet is $ 28.00/person, while Sunday brunch is $ 65/​person with unlimited mimosas. A la carte breakfast entrees are $ 12-​$ 26, lunch entrees are $ 12-​$ 28, and dinner entrees are $ 20-​$ 42.
Other: Via Luna is located inside the Fort Lauderdale Ritz Carlton. Sunday brunch, which is offered from 12PM-​3PM, seems to be the main draw here — a $ 10 discount is available per person if you don’t want unlimited mimosas and the cost for children aged less than 12 is $ 1 per year of age. The restaurant also offers a «culinary journey» Wednesday-​Saturday for $ 125/​person, which includes a four course meal, wine pairings, and a faux fur stole for the easily impressed lady in your life.

Via Luna is the main restaurant at the Ritz Carlton Ft. Lauderdale. My parents, who not the burger and margarita type of people (as typical of the restaurants on this main strip), found Via Luna to be their haven. We ate their every breakfast and sat outdoors. The view of the immediate beach, coupled with freshly squeezed orange juice (no Tropicana here), fluffy buckwheat pancakes and healthy Scottish Oatmeal made a great start to our day. Service was warm and friendly.
My parents and I also had dinner at Via Luna often and enjoyed their special soup (Tomato Soup… my dad had three bowls of this!). Loved the service and loved the food.
Expensive, but worth it. If you don’t know where to go, and want some quiet away-​from-​the-​hustle place, you should come here.

Via Luna is located in the Ritz Carlton which is right next to the Marriott Vacation club and walkable. This hotel was formally the St Regis and is beautifully decorated.
Went with the three course fixed menu and started off with the mozzarella and tomato salad, followed with a veal and pork handmade pasta and for dessert pana cotta. The meal was solid from start to finish. quality was outstanding and incredible tasting. Service was impeccable from our waitress and her assistant.
It’s no surprise why the Ritz Carlton sets the bar so high for fine dinning and accommodations.

Dinner at the Ritz, swoon.
I just know I’m in for a great meal when we walk through those doors. It’s a beautiful dining room off the lobby of the equally stunning hotel looking right out on A1A and the beach. I don’t know if it’s because it’s in the Ritz or that they perhaps make you wear shirts and shoes, but it was rather empty here. That’s cool with me for a romantic meal. I don’t want a club or some dbag infested place, like you see so much around here.
We had a nice table right by the windows (a bit windy for the outdoor seating). They had a great deal going, $ 35 app, entrée, dessert that we jumped on.
Buffalo Mozzarella & Prosciutto di Parma Topped with Tomato & Basil Vinaigrette
Arugula Beet Salad, Crispy Goat Cheese, Parma Ham, Walnuts, Balsamic Dressing
Seared Maine Diver Scallops
Forest Mushroom Risotto, Truffle oil
Via Luna Meatball Bolognaise
Rigatoni Pasta, Vine Ripened Tomatoes, Fresh Basil
Crunchy Gianduja
Chocolate Cake, Milk Chocolate, Carmel Ice Cream
Panna Cotta
Tropical Fruit Soup, Coconut Sorbet
Everything was so good and fresh. I loved the ham in the apps. My wife enjoed her scallops and that risotto was great. We expected the food to be stellar and it was, we just had no idea we would get such a deal on it. I don’t know if the word has just not gotten out or what. As good a meal as we had on this trip. Elegant, spot on service too. What else do you expect at the Ritz?
4.5 stars