Sunness Supper Club Opening Late-December 2024

Fort Lauderdale’s newest restaurant & bar sensation – Sunness Supper Club (SSC) – is slated to open on historic Sunrise Boulevard just in the nick of time for the new year. Named in honor of owner/operator Michael Stanley’s late grandfather, the completely renovated space at 2465 East Sunrise Boulevard, which Michael helped curate, will usher in a delicious new dining destination delivering soulful American cookery, craft cocktails and hospitality befitting a restaurant designed, as it was, to deliver a fine dining-level experience without the formal trappings; at its heart, Sunness Supper Club was created to be the type of restaurant any great neighborhood would want and deserve.

“Sunness Supper Club is named after my grandfather so to say it’s something close to my heart is an understatement,” says Michael, who is no stranger to the industry though SSC is the first brick n’ mortar concept under his belt. Prior to SSC he owned and operated MK Takeaways, a ghost kitchen concept which delivered fresh, made-from-scratch, Chef-prepared meals to homes; before that he enjoyed many successful years in food service as the founder of an organic baby food company – Yummy in my Tummy – and prior to that, as the director of operations for Tequila Ranch at The Park Sports Club. Speaking to his first full service dining concept, he adds “I wanted to create a space where people can come together to enjoy delicious and high-quality food and drinks with a touch of magic in the air. Mood, music and lighting are key and no detail has been overlooked in the design. I want the Sunness Supper Club to be a place where memories are made and good times are had.

Drawing inspiration from his childhood as well as South Florida’s diverse cultural makeup, SSC’s tempting menu was conceptualized by Michael in collaboration with James Beard Award-winning Chef Allen Susser. Blending classic American cuisine with global influences, and showcasing mindfully-sourced ingredients, the menu will be varied but tightly-curated. Highlights currently being finetuned include a “Table Tossed” Caesar; Wood Fire Blistered Corn Ribs with queso fresco, Peruvian Verde, mini popcorn and Wood Fired Mussels with shallots, garlic, butter, white wine, parsley, and sourdough to dip. There will also be some seriously tantalizing options from the grill such as Chargrilled Angus Beef Skirt Steak and a simple yet sublime Florida Lobster Tail. Additional favorites include Cabernet Braised Short Rib with mashed new potatoes and honey garlic carrots; Smoked Maple Glazed Crusted Salmon with farro, carrots, spinach, and pinot noir nage.

Overseeing the creation of the restaurant’s sure-to-be dazzling bar program is mixologist Ally Champion, formerly of Gastrotech and Apothecary 330. For Sunness Super Club, she has created a vibrant beverage list that expertly pairs with the culinary offerings including a lineup of handcrafted cocktails, fine wines, and artisanal spirits. Cocktails include Tea Time, a heady mix of Ti’ punch,  Dillon 40 proof rum, lime and fresh mango; Dream Scape, a daiquiri-style cocktail with Misguided spiced rum, lime, pineapple syrup and a lime wheel and the Underoath Old Fashioned — Misguided whiskey with silver glitter, demerara, black walnut, orange bitters, orange peel and black cherry. More details on food & drink to come as opening approaches.

Though SSC enjoys great frontage on Sunrise Boulevard, the actual entrance is in the rear of the building, adjacent to more than 75 free parking spots. Upon entering and checking in, guests will be led down a winding hallway reminiscent of a secret passage, leading into the close to 6,000 square-foot restaurant seating 130. Its thoughtful design will showcase a chic yet warm color palette of sage green and neutrals complemented by artisanal touches of wood, marble, leather, and gold. An expansive U-shaped marble bar adorned with hanging wood-finished wine racks, seats close to 30 and will surely be the focal point of the space. Adjacent to the bar, two spacious banquettes which can be turned into an ad hoc private space. Table seating will include a mix of low- and high-top tables, half-moon booths and two elongated booths suited to comfortably seat large parties. Adding dimension between the bar area and dining room, bottle selections will be on display in elegant glass and wood cabinets at the center of the restaurant. A wood-fired oven just on the other side of the bar is sure to further contribute to the warmth of the space, more figurative than literal.

As is customary in supper clubs, music, live entertainment, and special events/performances will be an integral part of the Sunness Supper Club experience. This is especially true considering that in 2025, the second phase of the concept, an upstairs speakeasy overlooking the dining room, will be open and operational.

With its eyecatching design, exceptional cuisine, vibrant atmosphere and dedication to service, Sunness Supper Club is poised to become a bright spot on Fort Lauderdale’s dining map come 2025.

Sunness Supper Club is located at 2465 E Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. The restaurant will be open daily for lunch, 11:30AM – 2PM; dinner will be served Monday to Thursday, 5PM – 10PM; Friday and Saturday, 5PM – 11PM; and Sunday from 5PM – 9PM.

 

Photo Courtesy of Sunness Supper Club

Date Posted: December 16, 2024