American Tapas Bar — Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale

I feel awful for not remembering our server’s name as he played a major role in making our night here a very memorable one. We had reservations for 2 but sat at a booth because we planned on ordering a few tapas. The vibe was just right, there was live music being sang by a guy with his guitar and his partner on the piano. For drinks we kept it simple with a few shots of tequila and some margaritas. For tapas we had: -Pot Roast. This dish was warm, savory and succulent. The beef was braised to perfection and the veggies were well cooked. -Peel n Eat Shrimp. The butter sauce has old bay seasoning in it which gave it a nice kick! The herb garlic bread was wonderfully toasted, not too hard and soaked up the butter sauce nicely. -Bacon Wrapped Dates. The sweetness from the dates paired well with the bacon. The blue cheese on the inside was well melted and added a creaminess to each bite. -Filet Mignon Slider. No comment, my husband swallowed the slider whole. He says it was a 10/10. I believed him because he liked his fingers to get up the bit of aioli left on it. -Lamb Chops. Perfectly grilled. Nice grill marks on the outside and juicy on the inside. -Chicken n Waffles. Cooked to order. The waffle was still warm when it got to our table. The chicken breast tenders had a nice crunchy well seasoned batter on them. -Pork Belly. Wish they fried it a bit more but you could taste the marinade on the meat. The glaze was also a nice touch. -BBQ Ribs. The ribs were definitely fall off the bone. Only thing I would recommend is to get a good broil on the bbq sauce so it’s not too messy . We will definitely be back & have already told our friends to check...

5 Stars – A Gluten-Free Gem with Flavor, Warmth, and Live Music

As someone with celiac disease, dining out can often feel like navigating a culinary minefield. But from the moment we called ahead and spoke with the wonderfully attentive Carla, I knew we were in excellent hands. She assured us of gluten-free options and a staff that understood the importance of dietary safety—and they delivered beyond expectations.

We arrived to a vibrant, welcoming ambiance complete with live music that set the perfect tone for the evening. The service was nothing short of outstanding. Our server was knowledgeable, kind, and went the extra mile to ensure every dish was safely gluten-free without compromising on flavor.

We shared a variety of tapas, all gluten-free, and each one was a delight. The stuffed portobello was rich and earthy, the BBQ ribs fell off the bone and were beautifully glazed, and the chicken wings had just the right balance of crisp and spice. The pot roast was comforting, tender, and deeply flavorful—like a warm hug on a plate.

We complemented our meal with a white sangria and a red, both perfectly balanced and refreshing. My husband ended the evening with a lemon pie, which he described as “the best he’s had in years.”

Most importantly, I felt safe and well-cared for the entire evening—and I didn’t get sick after the meal. That alone deserves applause, but coupled with the atmosphere, hospitality, and outstanding food, this restaurant earns a solid 5 stars.

Highly recommended for anyone looking for a truly inclusive, flavorful, and memorable dining experience. We’ll...

Ok, so we have been living in Fort Lauderdale forever, and even though American Tapas has only been open for four years, we’ve never heard of it. ANYWAY, we had friends in from out of town, and after having a late lunch we were looking for something light to eat at 9pm, and I looked online for tapas and came across American Tapas. I’m usually not the type to try something I’m not familiar with, especially if I’m bringing friends, but I’m so glad I broke away from my rule of thumb. This place was truly awesome! The service, btw, Tim was our server, was really fun, attentive, and professional. And the food was EXACTLY what we were looking for, fresh, delicious, perfectly cooked, and served with a smile. And I have to say, their grilled octopus puts almost every other grilled octopus I’ve ever had to shame. Delicately flavored and so tender I couldn’t believe it. A DEFINITE must try if you like octopus. Everything we had was really, really good. The shrimp cocktail, I mean what can you say about shrimp cocktail, right? Well, their shrimp were not tough and chewy like they usually are. They were tender, cooked to perfection, and the sauce was excellent.

And DEFINITELY leave room for dessert! The carrot cake, the best I’ve ever had. The key lime pie didn’t have that typical metallic taste that I find most key lime pies have, and the bread pudding, even though it was a bit sweet for my taste, I ate it all! It was really tasty. We will definitely be back, and if you haven’t been...