Pier Top — Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale

This rotating ooftop bar with gorgeous views is a whole vibe: plush décor, ritzy atmosphere - imagine sipping cocktails in Vegas glam. Honestly, the view and atmosphere earn a star. Bonus points for the magician doing card tricks—super fun, though we weren’t sure if we were supposed to slip him a tip or just clap really hard.

Now for the not-so-magical parts: service moved at a glacial pace (and the bar was practically empty). At this price point, I expect service to be top-notch. At no time should the entire bar staff be congregating having a chat about whatever it was that wasn't work-related. The menu is tiny and leans heavy on seafood (no chicken in sight...and no fries!). The food was tasty (tuna tartare presentation was gorgeous but it was a lot of fluff for a few bites of tuna). Food definitely is not the reason to come here (so don't come hungry). Two drinks and two apps later, the bill made us question life choices. Also, heads up: the bathrooms are down a flight of stairs, so plan accordingly...heels, stairs, and cocktails don't mix well. Parking is valet-only, and be warned—the website hasn’t caught up with the actual valet price. I did ding them for this since I expected the website to be up to date (what else needs to be updated?).

Oh yes, there is a dress code. Be date night dressed. No sneakers for sure. Probably no flip flops either. I'm sure beach attire is a no go. This isn't a bad thing. But it does make me question their goal for the bar...with the sub par service, lack of food, great entertainment, and beautiful decor - I'm trying to figure out what they really want.

I guess come for the experience - the view and the vibe, not the food (or lack thereof) or the service. This is probably a great spot for vacationers, not people who actually live here. There are plenty of other bars in the city that offer better service with good drinks and...

Disappointing Experience , Needs Major Standards Update

Visited about two weeks ago. The gentleman at the lobby was polite and simply informed us that men need to wear long pants to enter , totally understandable.

However, what really shocked me was the lack of dress code enforcement on women. There were guests wearing fishnets with absolutely nothing underneath completely sheer tops with just pasties, leaving nothing to the imagination. It felt tasteless and lowered the atmosphere of a venue that’s trying to come off as high-end.

We also had an encounter with a woman claiming to be a floor manager, who looked completely unprofessional. She wore a long grey coat over a dated red dress, had a tattoo on her leg, and messy blonde hair not the image you'd expect from someone representing a so-called upscale spot. We asked if it was busy upstairs and she told us it was packed with no room to stand at the bar. We went up and saw it was barely 30% full. It felt like she was just brushing us off with no real awareness or care.

On top of that, we had a tall, older blonde waitress who was incredibly slow and didn’t seem to know much about the drinks. It took her four reminders just to bring us the check, as she spent a lot of time chatting at other tables. Again, not the level of service you expect from a place with this kind of image.

On a positive note the venue itself is clean and well-kept. But unfortunately, the overall experience felt cheap and inconsistent.

Would I return? Unlikely there are much better places with real quality and service.

Hope this review helps others make a more...

Stunning views, but a deeply disappointing experience. We dined at Pier Top 2 weeks ago and unfortunately suffered severe food poisoning shortly after eating the oysters. Symptoms began within 30 minutes—followed by intense vomiting and stomach cramps. I called the restaurant as soon as we got home, and after some difficulty reaching someone, I finally spoke with manager Todd. He took a report and promised a follow-up call the next day—without offering an apology or any assistance.

The next day, after he spoke with Pier Top director, manager Todd told me they would not take responsibility and would not issue any refund. I’m absolutely certain the oysters were the cause—some tasted off, though the sauce made it hard to tell at first. I’ve had a nearly identical experience with oysters in the past, and the symptoms were exactly the same.

We also had a reservation but still waited about 10 minutes before a server approached us. While our waiter was pleasant, the service was slow, and the menu was extremely limited.

The panoramic views are undeniably beautiful, but sadly, that’s the only highlight. We won’t be returning. I have no intention of paying to be food poisoned again—once was more than enough. Thankfully, Fort Lauderdale has other exceptional dining options with stunning views and far better food and service. Ocean Prime, for example, offers a refined menu, impeccable hospitality, and a breathtaking waterfront setting that truly elevates...