The newest game on Las Olas is SoLita Restaurant and Ultra Lounge. SoLita means “South of Little Italy” which brings you back home to family traditions with a fusion of modern ambience. And what a fusion of modern ambience it is! SoLita is so sexy, so hip and so delicious you just want to revel in all that is ultra-glam about SoLita.
SoLita’s “main kitchen man” is Anthony “Radar” Risoli. They don’t stand on titles at SoLita they stand on their natural abilities which is the foundation SoLita has been built. “Radar” is a quiet, unpretentious man with a vast knowledge of all things food and wine. “Radar” is old school Italian kitchen and his right hand man is Victor Barry, new school culinary wunderkind. This complimenting kitchen duo has no doubt made traditional Italian fare at SoLita into something oh-so glamorous and oh-so delicious.
The Italian Poppers are mini seasonal sweet peppers stuffed with fresh ricotta cheese, herbs and lemon essence, this is the brainchild of Victor’s nouveau cooking style; these Italian Poppers are seemingly good for you, (sans the cheese!) that you could eat the entire appetizer plate and not feel guilty. I did and I don’t!
The SoLita house made meatballs with pomodoro sauce and fresh herbs is one of “Radar’s” specialties; the last time I had meatballs with a pomodoro sauce like that was well over 20 years ago at Sunday Dinners in RI at a childhood friends’ grandmother’s home. What this means is “Radar’s” pomodoro sauce is killer! No one has ever come close to making sauce like Jenny; (“Radar” has possibly peaked at the threshold).
The Eggplant Rollatini stuffed with sautéed mushrooms, spinach, roasted red pepper and a fresh tomato basil sauce was a meal in itself. The tomato basil sauce was completely different than the pomodoro sauce. Obviously you’d think so but when was the last time you ate “real” Italian food with the appropriate sauce? The secrets’ in the sauce. Always has been always will be. If they gave me a straw I would have finished what was left of the tomato basil sauce on my plate.
Each and every single dish on the SoLita menu is housemade. This is no kitchen-food factory. Every item on the menu has specifics and they are met to the final letter of the recipe. One would probably never presume to say that brussel sprouts are sexy and yet SoLita’s Crispy Brussel Sprouts are seared and seasoned to perfection with lemon and chili epitomizing “food-glam” right alongside the Beet Salad made of salt roasted rainbow beets with goat curd, toasted walnuts and fresh mint. This is sexy food; traditional with a healthy infusion of modern fusion. And sometimes conventional needs a good ‘flash-in-the-pan-sear” and this is exactly what “Radar” has done to the hum-drum shrimp scampi with his alluring version called Shrimp SoLita. Hey, ”Radar” I ate my Brussel Sprouts! Now how did you get them crispy like that?? and the Shrimp SoLita, you left me hanging what makes the dish so WOW!????
Culinary at SoLita is not a term used solely for the kitchen but it is oriented in The Purple Wine Bar and The Parlor Lounge as well with SoLita’s exclusive Culinary Cocktails; extraordinary drinks made from the purest of food ingredients with a vigorous dose of your favorite spirit. You can actually drink your food at SoLita!
SoLita is divided into three areas, The Purple Wine Bar, The Parlor Lounge and the Dining Room. SoLita is a destination restaurant that once beckoned in, you stay. I did. I was there all night. (trying to get ”Radar’s secrets!) There is so much to see and eat and do at this ultra-chic, ultra-glam hot-spot you won’t want to leave. Everything is gorgeous, the food, the people, the décor. The crystal chandeliers and table lights sparkle like brilliant stars adding just the right amount of sensuality clearly defining ultra lounge. The very cool and talented house DJ starts spinning and mixing dance music that will infuse you with mojo. SoLita is so sexy, so hip and so delicious! you can’t help but be “So” too. So get your game on people and visit SoLita, where everything is just So. (and tell “Radar” the girl from RI sent you!)
SoLita
1032 East Las Olas Blvd
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
(954) 357-2616
