Calusso — Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale

Upon reading reviews from others, I decided this is where I wanted to spend my birthday. I was very excited to try Calusso and see what the hype was all about. Some aspects really were phenomenal & others feel extremely short. We started with a couple drinks at the bar to see what the vibe would be on a Saturday night, it seems to be a mixed crowd honestly. I feel like the people behind the bar lacked any kind of personality, perhaps this is what they are going for. It honestly seemed like they were happy to take care of our wives with us, but for myself it took almost 30min for me to even be acknowledged. Finally, a woman behind the bar asked what I would like to drink. None of the makes from the bar ever asked if I could be helped & I thought that was extremely strange. Even when they asked our wives what they would like, it seemed very robotic. Our drinks were made properly and very tasty, so I do not have any complaints there. It was just a very weird experience I am not accustomed to. After a couple of drinks we went and sat at our table which was in the middle of a noisy dining room. I was shocked at the volume of everything there, I expected something more quiet to be honest. Unfortunately, that wasn't the issue I seemed to have for most of the dinner. It was very hot inside the main dining room & I couldn't figure out why. I spent the entire 2.5-3 hours of our dinner completely sweating in my chair and I was not the only one uncomfortable at the table. The service at our table was impeccable and completely turned around my attitude after our bar experience. Our main server was a gem and she had an extensive knowledge of the menu and a great personality to match. She was such a pleasure to have for the evening. Most of the food was mediocre, not bad but not great. The buratta with caviar was exquisite and we couldn't get enough of it, but that was the only thing. The chicken tasted strange and my wife did not want to eat it. One of the other wives and myself ordered the filet mignon, it seemed like they took one steak and sliced a couple of pieces onto her plate and mine. It's one thing if you are having wagyu to have your steak sliced for you, that I expect, not filet. The oxtail pasta looked like an elevated taquito, and the taste wasn't the greatest. Again, not saying it was bad and we had to send it back, BUT also not something I would ever order again. For dessert they gave me a birthday cake that was chocolate and passion fruit I believe, I'm just not that guy. No one really cared for it, so we asked for what looked like a deconstructed tiramisu that I believe was made with Zambuca. It fell short of expectations to say the least. The idea of a table side made dessert was very intriguing, but ended up being completely lackluster both in presentation and in taste. I can say I am thankful to have come and experienced Calusso. I needed to see for myself what the buzz was all about. Personally, after spending the time and money for the Calusso bar and dinner experience we shared, I much rather go back to Maass and sit at the Chefs Counter. I thought this would be along the lines of a Michelin Star restaurant, but it fell way short of that. I personally will not go back again to try again. Nothing against them, I just didn't have the birthday experience I...

Dinner at Calusso – A Memorable Experience

My friends and I had an early dinner at Calusso last night, and from the moment we arrived, we were impressed. The restaurant is beautiful both inside and out, with valet parking available, and offers both indoor and outdoor seating. Reservations are definitely a must.

They provide both a prix fixe and à la carte menu, which is a nice touch. I started with a drink and asked for Moscato, but unfortunately, they didn’t have it. Our waitress, who was fantastic, quickly offered me samples of other wines until I found one I liked. That level of attentiveness carried through the entire evening.

For appetizers, I ordered the Caesar salad. While the presentation looked great, the flavor was lacking, missing that classic Parmesan punch and crunchy croutons, replaced instead with breadcrumbs and parsley. To my surprise, Chef Jonathan Kaiser personally came to the table, asked for feedback, and took it very graciously. I switched to the burrata, which was fresh, creamy, and beautifully presented. Then, Chef Kaiser returned with a brand-new Caesar salad, this time prepared in the traditional way. It was absolutely delicious and showed me how much he truly cares about his craft, an unexpected level of attention that really stood out.

For entrées:

One friend ordered the filet mignon, perfectly cooked, flavorful, and nicely presented.

Another had the Cacio e Pepe with Tellicherry peppercorn, Pecorino Romano, and black truffle, rich and delicious.

I ordered the Heritage Chicken with roasted maitake, charred onion, and truffle jus. The presentation was stunning, it looked like a mini beef Wellington, but it was chicken stuffed and rolled to perfection. Easily one of the best chicken dishes I’ve ever had.

Throughout the evening, small details elevated the service, like the giant pepper mill presented tableside. For dessert, the chef sent out complimentary sweets, and I ordered the Chocolate Café Crunch (hazelnut crumble, espresso crémeux, nocciola ice cream). It was plated beautifully and tasted just as good as it looked.

When we left, Chef Jonathan Kaiser was at the door, once again apologizing for the salad mishap and shaking our hands. That personal touch is rare and memorable.

The only small critique I have: the bread selection could be improved. The focaccia was nice, but the smaller breads were dense and not very enjoyable.

Overall, the combination of attentive service, a chef who genuinely cares, and beautifully crafted dishes makes Calusso a must-visit. We will absolutely return, especially for that Royal...

Deeply Disappointed by the Lack of Service and Accountability

We came to Calluso's to celebrate a special birthday — three friends, who live here in Fort Lauderdale, looking forward to a beautiful evening at a new restaurant. While the outdoor setting at sunset was picturesque, everything else about our experience quickly unraveled.

From the start, service was slow. It took a long time just to place our appetizer orders, and despite ordering burrata and a salad, no bread was provided until we specifically asked — and even then, it was delayed until we almost finished the appetizers. Water service was just as poor. We had to repeatedly ask for an additional bottle of water, and when we finally received it, two of us had been sitting with empty glasses for almost 10 minutes.

The most unacceptable part of the evening came when our entrees arrived: a swarm of at least 30 flies descended on our table. It was overwhelming, and only after we covered every plate with napkins from other tables did the staff offer to move us inside. As we transitioned indoors, half of a $115 lobster dish fell to the floor during the relocation process. No one assisted us. No one came to check in. And despite this major mishap — no manager came to speak to us. Not once until well after the meal, when we specifically asked to speak to the manager, Cassandra, who was completely uninterested in our commentary about the service or the loss of our lobster during the frantic relocation of our meal inside.

We were still charged full price for the entire meal, which even after expressing our disappointment to Cassandra, the manager, we paid for in full. Not a single item was comped, and not one apology was offered. Even when we declined dessert, clearly upset and ready to leave, no effort was made to make things right. For a high-end restaurant, we expected not just good food, but thoughtful service and accountability — especially when things go wrong.

This was meant to be a celebratory night, and instead, it was one of the most frustrating dining experiences we’ve ever had. Calluso seriously needs to reassess both their customer service and their preparedness for outdoor dining — especially when it comes to things as predictable as flies during sunset. The highlight of the evening was the pleasant...