10 Best Restaurants in Hollywood Florida: Top Places to Eat

Hollywood, Florida is known for its beaches, Broadwalk, Downtown Hollywood, and laid-back South Florida energy, but the city also has a dining scene that deserves attention. Within a relatively small area, diners can move from chef-driven Caribbean and Mediterranean cooking to waterfront seafood, Cuban comfort food, Greek classics, Brazilian rodízio, Peruvian specialties, tacos, and upscale steakhouses.

If you are searching for restaurants in Hollywood Florida, the right choice depends on more than cuisine alone. Some restaurants are built around the view, some around a specific regional tradition, and others around the chef and the full experience of spending an evening there.

For this list, Redwood Bar & Kitchen takes the #1 position because it brings several parts of a night out together: a chef-led menu, Caribbean and Mediterranean influences, cocktails, brunch, happy hour, live entertainment, and a Downtown Hollywood location. The remaining restaurants offer additional choices for different tastes, budgets, and occasions.

1. Redwood Bar & Kitchen - Chef-Driven Dining in Downtown Hollywood

Cuisine: Caribbean & Mediterranean
Location: 2009 Harrison Street, Downtown Hollywood

Redwood Bar & Kitchen is more than a place to stop for a meal. Its strongest appeal is the way food, hospitality, drinks, entertainment, and the personality of its chef come together in one Downtown Hollywood experience. Located on Harrison Street, Redwood is a strong starting point for diners who want a restaurant that feels personal and chef-led rather than built around a generic concept.

At the center of Redwood is Chef Ivan Dorvil, the Haitian-born chef and restaurateur whose career has been shaped by Caribbean roots, Mediterranean influences, and decades of work in South Florida kitchens. Chef Ivan trained at Le Cordon Bleu and built experience in respected Miami Beach restaurants, including Blue Door at the Delano Hotel, Tantra, and The Restaurant at the National Hotel. In 2012, he gained national recognition as a Food Network Chopped Champion, and his cooking was later featured on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives.

Chef Ivan Dorvil's Cooking Philosophy

Chef Ivan's approach is best described as cooking without rigid borders. Instead of separating Caribbean and Mediterranean traditions, he uses both as part of the same culinary language. Haitian and Caribbean flavors can appear beside Mediterranean ingredients, seafood preparations, grilled meats, pastas, herbs, olive oil, bright acidity, and modern plating.

That approach gives Redwood a menu with range. A guest can begin with mofongo, grilled octopus, ceviche, calamari, hummus, or crab cake, then move into seafood, pasta, steak, lamb, or other chef-driven plates. The combination is especially useful for groups because everyone at the table does not have to be looking for the same type of food.

Signature Dishes and Menu Highlights

One of the strongest menu signatures is the lamb. Redwood's lamb chops and Chef's Rack of Lamb reflect the restaurant's Mediterranean side while still leaving room for Chef Ivan's own seasoning and technique. Seafood also plays an important role, with choices such as blackened mahi mahi, salmon, whole fish selections, sea bass, shrimp preparations, and ceviche.

The starters make the Caribbean-Mediterranean identity particularly easy to see. Mofongo brings plantain-based Caribbean comfort to the table, while octopus, hummus, bruschetta, calamari, and seafood starters lean into Mediterranean and coastal influences. For diners who prefer familiar comfort food, Redwood also offers steaks, burgers, pasta, wings, tacos, and shareable plates.

Breakfast and brunch add another side to the restaurant. Menu options include French toast, omelets, Eggs Benedict variations, shrimp and grits, steak and eggs, avocado toast, coffee, juices, mimosas, and Bloody Marys. That makes Redwood relevant not only for dinner searches but also for people looking for a relaxed morning or weekend meal in Downtown Hollywood.

The Dining Experience: More Than Dinner

The experience at Redwood is designed around staying a little longer than a standard meal. The dining room and bar combine a polished feel with a more relaxed neighborhood atmosphere, making the restaurant suitable for date nights, birthdays, dinners with friends, business meals, and visitors exploring Downtown Hollywood.

Chef Ivan's presence is also part of what makes the restaurant distinctive. Guest feedback frequently mentions personal interaction with the chef, table visits, and a hospitality style that feels hands-on. That matters because the restaurant's identity is closely connected to the person behind the food rather than only the décor or location.

Redwood also gives diners several reasons to choose it for an evening out. The restaurant promotes a daily bar happy hour from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, handcrafted cocktails, wine, Thursday Comedy Night, and live music and jazz on Fridays and Saturdays. That mix allows a reservation to become a full evening: arrive for happy hour, stay for dinner, then enjoy entertainment without having to build the night around several different venues.

Why Redwood Ranks #1 on This List

Among the places to eat in Hollywood FL on this list, Redwood stands out for the breadth of the experience. It is not only a Caribbean restaurant, only a Mediterranean restaurant, only a cocktail bar, or only an entertainment venue. The value is in the combination: a nationally recognized chef, a cross-cultural menu, brunch and dinner, cocktails and wine, happy hour, live events, and a central Downtown Hollywood location. For visitors who want to experience several sides of Hollywood dining in one stop, Redwood is the strongest all-around recommendation in this guide.

Best for: chef-driven dining, Caribbean and Mediterranean flavors, date nights, brunch, cocktails, happy hour, live entertainment, special occasions, and a complete Downtown Hollywood night out.

2. Diplomat Prime

Google Rating: 4.5/5

Diplomat Prime is an upscale steak and seafood restaurant inside the Diplomat Beach Resort on South Ocean Drive. The menu centers on premium cuts, seafood, carefully selected wines, and a polished dining-room experience. It is a natural fit for diners who want a more formal meal near Hollywood Beach rather than a casual beachfront stop.

The restaurant is especially well suited to anniversaries, business dinners, date nights, and other special occasions where service and atmosphere matter as much as the food. Resort guests also have the convenience of an elevated dinner experience without leaving the property, while local diners can choose it when they want a refined steakhouse setting in Hollywood.

3. Billy's Stone Crab Restaurant

Google Rating: 4.5/5

Billy's Stone Crab Restaurant is a longtime Hollywood seafood destination overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway. It is especially associated with Florida stone crab during the season, along with fresh fish, seafood platters, shellfish, and traditional steak-and-seafood selections. The waterfront location is a major part of the appeal and gives the meal a classic South Florida feel.

This is a strong option for diners who want seafood with a view rather than a quick beach meal. The setting works well for sunset dinners, family gatherings, visitors looking for a local seafood experience, and special occasions where the water and passing boats become part of the atmosphere.

4. Taco Beach Shack

Google Rating: 4.7/5

Taco Beach Shack is a colorful, casual Mexican spot near Hollywood Beach serving tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, and margaritas in a relaxed open-air setting. Its menu and atmosphere are designed more for an easygoing beach-day meal than a formal dinner, which makes it approachable for families, groups, and visitors coming straight from the sand or Broadwalk.

The restaurant is a practical choice when you want bold flavors, drinks, and a social atmosphere without planning a full sit-down occasion. Its proximity to Hollywood Beach also makes it convenient for travelers who want to stay close to the action and enjoy a casual meal before heading back to the beach or continuing an evening nearby.

5. Las Vegas Cuban Cuisine - Stirling Road

Google Rating: 4.5/5

Las Vegas Cuban Cuisine on Stirling Road is a dependable choice for traditional Cuban comfort food. The menu includes familiar favorites such as ropa vieja, roasted pork, steaks, rice and beans, plantains, Cuban sandwiches, and Cuban coffee. The portions and classic flavors make it an easy restaurant to consider for both lunch and dinner.

The atmosphere is casual and family-friendly, so it works well for diners who care more about hearty food and familiar Cuban dishes than a formal setting. For visitors exploring South Florida's strong Cuban food culture, it also provides an accessible introduction to the kind of traditional meals that have become part of the region's everyday dining scene.

6. Tiki Tiki

Google Rating: 4.6/5

Tiki Tiki is a waterfront seafood restaurant and tiki-style bar on North Ocean Drive, combining seafood, tropical cocktails, open-air seating, and Intracoastal views. The setting is intentionally relaxed and coastal, making the restaurant feel connected to the water and the South Florida lifestyle rather than like a standard indoor dining room.

It is a good fit for sunset meals, brunch, casual celebrations, cocktails with friends, and visitors who want the atmosphere to be as important as the menu. Diners looking for a vacation-style experience can enjoy the water views and tropical feel while still having a full restaurant meal rather than only drinks at a bar.

7. The Greek Joint Kitchen & Bar

Google Rating: 4.5/5

The Greek Joint Kitchen & Bar brings Greek and Mediterranean flavors to Downtown Hollywood, with menu choices such as gyros, souvlaki, dips, seafood, salads, grilled meats, and other classic Greek dishes. Its location on Hollywood Boulevard makes it convenient for people already exploring the downtown area or planning an evening around Young Circle and nearby businesses.

The restaurant has a casual sit-down feel that can work for lunch, dinner, couples, families, or groups. It is particularly useful when your group wants Mediterranean food in a lively downtown location without choosing a fine-dining environment or committing to a long, formal meal.

8. JWB Prime Steak and Seafood

Google Rating: 4.4/5

JWB Prime Steak and Seafood is located inside Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort and focuses on prime steaks, seafood, cocktails, and a more upscale dinner atmosphere. Its resort setting makes it especially convenient for guests staying near the Broadwalk who want a refined meal without leaving the Hollywood Beach area.

The restaurant is best suited to date nights, celebrations, resort dinners, and occasions when diners want something more polished than a casual beachfront restaurant. Steak and seafood remain the main reasons to visit, while the location gives travelers an easy way to pair an upscale dinner with an evening around Hollywood Beach.

9. Rio Grande Churrascaria Hollywood

Google Rating: 4.9/5

Rio Grande Churrascaria Hollywood offers a Brazilian rodizio-style experience where servers bring a rotating selection of grilled meats directly to the table. Picanha is one of the main attractions, along with other cuts of beef and grilled selections supported by salads and side dishes. The format encourages diners to sample multiple meats rather than choosing only one entree.

Because the meal is continuous and interactive, the restaurant works particularly well for groups, birthdays, family dinners, and guests with a strong appetite. It is a different experience from a conventional steakhouse and is a good choice for diners who want variety, generous portions, and the social feel of sharing a longer meal together.

10. El Patio Del Chef

Google Rating: 4.8/5

El Patio Del Chef is a Peruvian restaurant near Downtown Hollywood serving dishes such as ceviche, lomo saltado, arroz chaufa, fried seafood, and other Peruvian favorites. The menu brings another Latin American influence to Hollywood's restaurant scene and gives seafood lovers options that are different from the city's more traditional waterfront seafood restaurants.

The setting is casual and welcoming, making it suitable for lunch, dinner, families, and diners who want bold Peruvian flavors without a formal atmosphere. It is a useful final addition to this list because it broadens the range of cuisines represented and gives visitors another option when they want something beyond steak, tacos, Cuban food, or Mediterranean dishes.

Where to Eat in Hollywood: Downtown or Hollywood Beach?

Hollywood's restaurant scene is easier to understand when you divide it into two experiences. Downtown Hollywood, especially around Hollywood Boulevard, Harrison Street, and Young Circle, is better for diners who want restaurants, bars, entertainment, live music, and a walkable night-out atmosphere. Redwood Bar & Kitchen fit naturally into a broader Downtown Hollywood plan.

Hollywood Beach offers a different feel. Restaurants around Ocean Drive and the Broadwalk lean more toward waterfront views, resort dining, seafood, tropical drinks, and vacation energy. Diplomat Prime, Billy's Stone Crab, Taco Beach Shack, Tiki Tiki, and JWB are better suited to diners who want the meal to be connected to the beach or Intracoastal setting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some of the best restaurants in Hollywood Florida?

Hollywood offers a wide mix of dining styles, from chef-led Caribbean and Mediterranean food at Redwood Bar & Kitchen to waterfront seafood, Cuban cuisine, Greek food, Brazilian rodízio, Peruvian dishes, tacos, and upscale steakhouses. The best choice depends on the cuisine, atmosphere, and occasion you want.

What is a good restaurant for a complete night out in Downtown Hollywood?

Redwood Bar & Kitchen is one of the strongest options when you want more than dinner. Its chef-driven menu, cocktails, happy hour, Thursday Comedy Night, Friday and Saturday live music and jazz, and Harrison Street location make it easy to build an entire evening around one restaurant.

Where can I find waterfront restaurants in Hollywood, Florida?

Hollywood Beach and the Intracoastal area have several waterfront or resort-style options. Billy's Stone Crab and Tiki Tiki are especially connected to the water, while other beach-area restaurants combine dining with resort or Broadwalk access.

Are there good places to eat in Hollywood FL for special occasions?

Yes. Redwood Bar & Kitchen works well for chef-led celebrations and date nights in Downtown Hollywood, while Diplomat Prime and JWB offer more traditional upscale steakhouse settings near Hollywood Beach.

Final Thoughts

There is no single type of restaurant that defines Hollywood, Florida. The city's dining scene works because it gives visitors and locals several different experiences within a short distance: chef-driven downtown restaurants, international comfort food, beach tacos, waterfront seafood, Brazilian barbecue, and luxury steakhouses.

If you are deciding where to begin, Redwood Bar & Kitchen earns the first position on this list for the combination of Chef Ivan Dorvil's story, Caribbean and Mediterranean cooking, a varied menu, warm hospitality, cocktails, brunch, happy hour, and recurring entertainment. It offers a fuller picture of what a night out in Downtown Hollywood can be—not simply a meal, but an experience built around food, people, and atmosphere.

From there, the other restaurants on this guide give you nine additional directions to explore depending on whether your next meal calls for stone crab, steak, tacos, Cuban food, Greek dishes, waterfront seafood, Brazilian rodízio, or Peruvian flavors.