Lume Bistro & Lounge — Restaurant in Pembroke Pines

Short story:

The atmosphere, the food and service are all above reproach. It's a must attend eatery that brings a Brickell level experience to Pembroke Pines.

Long story:

In the middle of a busy day raising funds for an organization on the ground in Jamaica helping the people affected by Hurricane Melissa, myself and a friend decided a regular bite to eat wouldn't be enough. We needed something of higher caliber than fast food yet more savory than the typical batch cooked food offered at most Caribbean restaurants. LUME, still in it's soft opening week felt like the perfect choice, even though we had no idea if we'd be seated without a reservation. Gratefully, we were taken good care of. We wound up in one of the comfortable booths on the south side of the restaurant which gave us full view of the renovations the location had undergone since it's time as Grand Cafe. The first thing my friend who had no preconceived notion of what to expect said was, "Yo, this place is incredible!". He wasn't exaggerating. The natural elements of plant and stone in every direction are complimented by modern contrasts of moving head lights mounted to a black low profile truss structure which holds up a green ceiling, prominent LED screens including those which wrap a very non-intrusive DJ booth and cozy but not at all cramped seating.

As inviting as the atmosphere is, that's not what brings you to LUME ultimately. The main attraction is the food and while the full menu wasn't yet available for the soft open, the options were appealing. Chef Kryssi's reputation precedes any menu she puts her stamp on so the expectation on taste and quality were high. I chose the Oxtail Pasta while my breddrin decided to go in on the Remy Wings with a side of festival. Now, when you design a dish with Italian and Caribbean elements as co-headliners, consistency of the expected textures and the avoidance of a clashing of flavors are difficult factors to navigate. I can say happily that the pasta's lite creamy sauce was bridged to the flavor of the sweet and savory oxtail by a spicy kick that made the meal as fun to eat as it was satisfying. Also, di Oxtail dem did BIG like the ones you remember from when you were a kid! I'm sure I don't have to explain what a plus that is. The choice to serve the meat still on the bone atop the Pasta holds intact the experience of the judging the meat's tenderness by how easily it's removed from the bone. In this case, the only thing holding it in place was the faith of a mustard seed as the tender chunks of meat slid effortlessly off the bone and onto my fork only to be wrapped in satisfyingly thick pasta for a series of all encompassing and flavor filled bites. It was 10 stars for me.

The Remy Wings enjoyed by my friend were beautiful in their evenly glazed presentation. By his description the meat was perfectly cooked and the sauce made them a guilty pleasure worth every bite. The crazy part is, my boy avoids starch like Trump does questions about the Epstein files and still, he somehow vaporized 3 pieces of sweet festival (a traditional Jamaican fried bread side dish) so quickly that he reached for another only to realize that he had stolen them from himself with all the mixed emotions that that sentence evokes. To put it mildly, even in somewhat of a rush to continue our work, we both enjoyed our meals. He also had Jerk Pork which I didn't discuss with him as I don't eat pork but in all honesty, it smelled fantastic.

With all of that said, the staff was all smiles and very attentive. They're all young but seem to understand the vibe the owners set out to create. Even after getting to-go boxes, we were never rushed to pay the check and leave. This is a restaurant and LOUNGE and lounge you may at LUME. That's an important element of the experience, the hybrid of exclusive dining with the comfort of your neighborhood chill spot. If you've been around and about in South Broward you understand that that's not an easy thing to find. Where others fall short, LUME delivers in refreshingly fine...

Today my husband, two kids, and I visited the brand new Lume Bistro & Lounge after seeing great reviews online, and it absolutely lived up to the hype!

Since it was a Tuesday evening, we didn’t need reservations, but I’d definitely recommend making one once they get busier, especially on weekends. The food was outstanding, I had the jerk pork, rice and peas, festival, and oxtail rolls, while my kids enjoyed their meals from the kids’ menu. Everything was flavorful and perfectly cooked.

We also tried two cocktails, which were both strong and delicious. The chef even came out to check on us, she was so kind and clearly passionate about her food. Our waitress, Paris, was friendly and attentive throughout the night.

The atmosphere was lively, with a DJ playing great music that added to the fun vibe. I also appreciated that the restaurant has a “no kids after 10 PM” policy, it makes it a great spot for both families and adults looking for a date night.

We’ll definitely be back soon for a date night. Lume Bistro & Lounge is a...

Food was great and service was great! Staff were super accommodating and the oxtail pasta was 10/10. Will...