South Florida’s restaurant scene felt a wave of closures in December and January. Here are some that shuttered over the past two months in Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Mistah Lee’s Smokin’ Good BBQ, 8240 State Road 7, Suite 250, Boynton Beach: Pitmaster Lee Stransky’s ’cue shack, known for beef brisket, house-brined pastrami, cornbread slathered in “sticky” sauce and a big accolade — its food truck won top honors in the Sun Sentinel’s Best of South Florida Dining series — announced on social media that his first brick-and-mortar had closed. CLOSED: Jan. 8, per Facebook page.
Angelo Elia Pizza, Bar, Tapas, 5920 Coral Ridge Drive, Coral Springs. After 11-plus years in the Sawgrass Center shopping plaza near Heron Bay, restaurateur Angelo Elia’s namesake casual space known for paninis, pies and grilled artichoke hearts, has closed, joining a Weston location that also shut in 2025. CLOSED: Dec. 18, per website and restaurateur Eddie Pozzuoli, who said he plans to replace it with Ember & Vine this summer.
The Hen and The Hog Smokehouse Cantina, 14 N. Federal Highway, Pompano Beach: This 3,000-square-foot Mexican-barbecue cantina came from the people behind The Hen and The Hog all-day Southern bruncheries. Here, brisket nachos, shrimp and grits, smoked brisket melts and pulled pork sandwiches starred alongside tacos, fajitas and chicken burritos. CLOSED: Jan. 5, due to “significant staffing issues,” co-owner George Abbondante said.
Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel
The smoked brisket sandwich with onion rings at The Hen and The Hog Smokehouse Cantina in Pompano Beach, which has closed. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel file)
La Torretta Italian Grill, 308 Indian Trace, Weston: Fabrizio and Vita Russo’s longtime eatery served veal francese, baked ziti, pasta e fagioli and chicken parmesan, presiding over weddings and funerals, graduations and bar mitzvahs for 34 years in a sumptuously red-bricked dining space older than the city of Weston itself. CLOSED: Jan. 11 to avoid “dramatic” rent increase from landlord, per manager Martha Vasalo.
Vivace Italian Restaurant & Cocktail Bar, 9763 W. Broward Blvd., Plantation: This upscale sit-down owned by Vito and Santina DiSalvo, known for NY-style pizza, Italian American classics, global wines and craft beers, has permanently closed after 10 years, after declaring Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September. CLOSED: Dec. 20, owners confirmed via their website and social media.
Drip Coffee, 6317 N. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale: This cafe lasted all of three months in the Cypress Creek Station plaza, serving specialty espressos (like Burnt Ritual, a matcha latte with toasted marshmallow cold foam), avocado toast and sourdough sandwiches. CLOSED: Jan. 2, citing construction issues in the surrounding shopping center, per an Instagram post.
Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel
Claire, Vincent and Nastasia Maurin at Chez Vincent on Galt Ocean Mile in Fort Lauderdale back in 2021. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Chez Vincent, 3312 NE 32nd St., Fort Lauderdale: Vincent Maurin — with his wife, Claire, and daughter/business partner Nastasia — opened this wine bar and French café in Fort Lauderdale’s Galt Ocean Mile luxe neighborhood in the summer of 2021. In addition to vino, Chez Vincent offered charcuterie platters, hot and cold sandwiches, and breakfast service with baguettes, croissants, and ham and cheese plates. CLOSED: This winter; sale of the space closed on Feb. 2, according to a real estate executive.
Milk Money Bar & Kitchen, 815 NE 13th St., Fort Lauderdale: This anchor of the shopping/dining/entertainment enclave of Northeast 13th Street became a buzzy eatery (and a brunch fave) when Kimberly Wong, Blaise McMackin and Scott Ojeda opened back in 2018 in a space shared with Warsaw Coffee Co. “We continue to miss our staff, our neighbors, our friends and our customers very much,” Wong told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. CLOSED: Dec. 22, according to Wong.
Mykonos, 305 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale: This sleekly modern Mediterranean sit-down from the Breakwater Hospitality Group (The Wharf Fort Lauderdale) that served Turkish beef dumplings and hummus, Chilean sea bass and chicken shish kebab has closed after less than a year in business. Online reservations on the website redirect to a new Greek restaurant named Santorini by Georgios. CLOSED: Late January, according to Levy Public Relations, which formerly represented the restaurant.
The Den Sports Bar & Lounge, 201 SW Second St., Fort Lauderdale: Originally dubbed Den Kitchen & Bar when owner Yaser Dashoush opened it in early 2021, this gastropub and party nightclub in the heart of Himmarshee’s drinking district has closed after five years in business. It served fare such as wings, grilled pork chops and burgers. CLOSED: Mid-January, with website, phone and social media accounts now deactivated.
Rod Stafford Hagwood
Milk Money Bar & Kitchen was on Northeast 13th Street in Fort Lauderdale. (Rod Stafford Hagwood/South Florida Sun Sentinel)