Steelpan Kitchen & Bar

We were worried when we walked into an empty dining room at peak lunch hours on a Friday. The server was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. The tequila cocktail we ordered was horrible. We could barely choke it down. Fish dip was bland. Crab cake was good. We couldn't finish the key lime pie-our lifelong favorite dessert. It was that bad. And because of the location, the prices were ridiculously high. A $150 lunch that we did not enjoy. There is a taco place just next door with equally ridiculous prices-but their food actually tastes good.

Steelpan Caribbean-American Fusion at the Sonesta Hotel greets diners with stunning ocean views and an ambiance that blends island ease with upscale polish. From the moment you sit down, the presentation of the food impresses—each plate is visually striking, hinting at the creativity and care put into the culinary experience.

Unfortunately, the flavors didn’t live up to the aesthetics. The snapper, a dish that should have been delicate and buttery, arrived overcooked, stripping it of its natural tenderness. The short ribs, though promising in appearance, were underwhelming on the palate—missing the depth and richness that makes this dish a comfort food favorite.

What truly stood out, however, was the service. Lakeata was the undeniable highlight of our visit. Warm, attentive, and effortlessly professional, she elevated the experience and left us smiling despite the culinary missteps. If we had stayed for dessert, we’re convinced she would’ve made it the sweet note the meal needed.

Steelpan has potential, especially with front-of-house stars like Lakeata. With a bit more consistency from the kitchen, this could be a go-to spot not just for views and vibes, but for memorable meals too.

Nice open restaurant right on the fort Lauderdale beach strip inside the sonesta hotel. Great views while eating your entree, and friendly staff. I would definitely come here even if you aren't staying at the hotel itself.

They have good food

I'm not going into details, but everything was perfect.

Delicious. On the beach. Excellent service.

Excellent Easter brunch with a delicious buffet including a huge sushi boat and live music

Server Steve was wonderful. Ordered the burger one visit - was wonderful and went just this evening again ordered the tacos on the shareable menu - the bomb. Sauce for the mahi mahi was delicious!

Delicious food, beautiful atmosphere. Breakfast was awesome!!

We visited on Saturday, 4/5, to celebrate our anniversary and had a lovely experience. Valentijn was our waiter, and he took great care of us. We had made a reservation, but it didn’t seem necessary—there was only one other table there at the time, which surprised us considering how good the food and service were.

To kick things off, they brought out champagne to celebrate our anniversary, which was such a thoughtful touch. We both ordered the burger—it was very good. I swapped the fries for a salad, which was a $2 upcharge; not sure it was really worth it, but it was fine. One thing to note: the menu online doesn’t match the menu in person, so just be prepared for that.

For dessert, we ordered the banana bread pudding, and they went above and beyond by writing “Happy Anniversary” on the plate and comping it—such a sweet gesture that really made the night special.

Parking was easy. It’s valet and says $35, but if you’re dining at the restaurant, the first 2 hours are free—just make sure to mention you’re there to eat.

Overall, it was a great experience. The food was great, the service was excellent, and while the drinks were just average, we left very happy. It’s a bit of a mystery why it wasn’t busier. One thing to note: they do automatically add a 20% gratuity to the bill, so keep that in mind. We’ll definitely be back!

Good service and a nice menu. Beautiful view and reasonably priced. I would definitely recommend for a quite beautiful dinner experience!

The food was delicious! We had the fish tacos and the banana bread pudding for dessert. The service was great! They automatically charge you a 20% service fee. You can park with the valet for free for 2 hours if you show your restaurant receipt. Highly recommend! We will definitely go back!

went for happy hour--the fish dip was quite filling and the burgers. disappointed because no live music as advertised and the hh menu was not as advertised.

Steve was a great server. My partner and I weren’t too found of the drinks that were made. We had the jerk chicken meal and the sandwich. For the price of the meal I don’t think it was worth it based on the chicken size. The sandwich was more worth the price if anything. There is automatic gratuity included in the bill.

This is ridiculous to charge gratuity if you don’t eat in the restaurant I’m tipping the cook and staff for the food that I already paid for? How does that make sense?