=============================================================
–>
Where Stained Glass Meets Steak Knives: The Story Behind Fort Lauderdale’s Most Unique Dining Destination
At 441 NE 3rd Avenue in Fort Lauderdale’s fast-growing Flagler Village neighborhood, there’s a building that has lived multiple lives. Originally constructed as one of Fort Lauderdale’s oldest Roman Catholic churches—St. Anthony’s—in 1922 on Las Olas Boulevard, the Romanesque-style structure was later moved brick by brick to its current location in 1948. The congregation eventually outgrew the space, and the building was repurposed into retail and office use. Then came Holly Blue and The Angeles, both of which closed abruptly. And then came Jay’s Steakhouse Fort Lauderdale.
Opened in May 2025 by Jay Shirodkar, president of Shirodkar Industries, Jay’s Steakhouse represents something Fort Lauderdale’s dining scene has been missing—a high-end restaurant that blends genuine culinary ambition with theatrical energy, all housed inside one of the most architecturally remarkable buildings in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The result is a 9,500-square-foot dining experience that feels nothing like any other steakhouse in South Florida.
Honoring Tradition While Redefining the Experience
The genius of Jay’s Steakhouse begins with the building itself. Rather than gutting the historic church and starting from scratch, Shirodkar and his design team chose to preserve and celebrate the original architectural elements. The vaulted ceilings soar overhead. The stained glass windows cast colored light across the dining room. The arched doorways and windows frame every corner of the space with a sense of grandeur that no amount of money could replicate in a new build.
But this isn’t a museum piece. The preserved architecture serves as a dramatic backdrop for a thoroughly modern dining concept. Plush leather banquettes line the walls. Bold red velvet curtains frame key areas of the space, adding layers of warmth and drama. Deep green hues run throughout the design, creating a color palette that feels at once timeless and contemporary. The lighting shifts as the evening progresses—intimate and candlelit for early diners, more electric and vibrant as the night moves on.
Shirodkar has described the building as a perfect metaphor for what Jay’s is trying to accomplish. The church is historically protected, timeless, and rooted in tradition. The restaurant concept he’s built inside it honors that foundation while injecting a new energy—bold, modern, and unapologetically alive. It’s the same balance he strikes across all of his concepts: respect for tradition combined with a refusal to be boring.
The Menu: Classic Steakhouse Elevated to Its Highest Form
The culinary program at Jay’s Steakhouse is built on a foundation of classic American steakhouse dining, but with the kind of creative flourishes that elevate familiar dishes into something genuinely memorable. Prime steaks are the anchor of the menu, prepared with precision and presented with care. Wagyu preparations offer a luxury tier for guests who want to indulge. A raw bar and seafood program round out the protein offerings.
But what truly sets Jay’s apart from the typical steakhouse experience is the attention paid to the supporting cast. The sides and salads at Jay’s aren’t afterthoughts—they’re stars in their own right. Dishes like Truffle Duck Fat Waffle Fries, Robuchon-style Pommes Purée, and Saffron-Poached Lobster Mac have become signature items that guests return for specifically. The Truffle Grilled Cheese Sandwich, topped with caviar, has emerged as one of the restaurant’s most talked-about dishes—a playful nod to comfort food reimagined through a fine-dining lens.
The Wagyu Steak Tartare with Japanese dijonnaise brings global influence to a classic preparation. The Paccheri Pasta has quietly become a sleeper hit among regulars who aren’t always in a steak mood but still want an elevated dining experience. And for guests who want the full treatment, the “Let Jay Take Care of You” chef’s tasting menu offers a curated journey through the best of the menu, tailored to individual preferences and dietary needs, with off-menu surprises and special pairings along the way.
Three Bars and a Soundtrack That Moves With the Night
One of the defining features of Jay’s Steakhouse Fort Lauderdale is its commitment to maintaining energy throughout the evening. Three full-service cocktail bars anchor the main dining areas, each with its own character and each staffed by mixologists who bring genuine craft to the cocktail program. The signature cocktails are inspired by Shirodkar’s travels around the world—drinks that capture nostalgic flavors, global influences, and artisanal craftsmanship in every glass.
The Jay’s Tequila Espresso Martini has quickly become a house favorite—a blend of Herradura Reposado Tequila, Caffè Borghetti, fresh espresso, and French vanilla that works whether you’re settling in for dinner at seven or closing out the night at midnight. The cocktail program exemplifies the restaurant’s broader philosophy: take something familiar, add an unexpected twist, and execute it at the highest level.
Music is another critical element of the Jay’s experience. Curated playlists set the tone early in the evening, while live entertainment—including saxophone performances on Friday and Saturday nights—keeps the energy building as the room fills. Shirodkar has been deliberate about creating a restaurant where guests don’t check their watches at 9:30 PM and think about leaving. Instead, the atmosphere pulls people in deeper as the night progresses, encouraging them to stay for another cocktail, another conversation, another moment.
The Entertainment Room and Members Club
Jay’s isn’t just a restaurant—it’s designed to function as a cultural hub within the Flagler Village neighborhood. A dedicated entertainment room features a stage, a separate bar, and a large dining area that serves as the venue for live music, activations, and special events. Thursday nights feature Ladies Night programming, while weekends bring live music and curated DJ sets that keep the energy alive well past the dinner hour.
The Jay’s Members Club represents the next phase of the concept’s evolution. Designed as an invitation-only retreat for the restaurant’s most engaged guests, the members club will offer perks including VIP lockers, access to after-hours events, off-menu chef dinners, and the kind of insider experiences that create genuine loyalty and community around the brand. It’s a model that reflects Shirodkar’s understanding of modern hospitality—where the best restaurants function not just as places to eat, but as social platforms that create belonging.
Flagler Village: The Right Concept in the Right Place
The choice to open Jay’s in Flagler Village was a strategic one. The neighborhood has become one of Fort Lauderdale’s fastest-growing areas, with new residential development, creative businesses, and a growing population of young professionals and discerning diners. But despite the growth, the area lacked the kind of elevated dining destination that could serve as an anchor for the neighborhood’s nightlife and social scene.
Jay’s fills that gap. Its location just off Las Olas Boulevard puts it close to the established dining corridor while giving it enough distance to avoid what Shirodkar has called the “copy-and-paste” feel of some Las Olas restaurants. The restaurant has quickly become a gathering place for Fort Lauderdale residents, business professionals, and visitors who are looking for something more distinctive than the typical chain steakhouse experience.
The building’s history adds another layer of appeal. Diners aren’t just eating in a beautifully designed restaurant—they’re dining inside a piece of Fort Lauderdale history. That connection to the community’s past, combined with the forward-looking energy of the dining experience, creates a sense of place that resonates with guests on a level that goes beyond the food and drink.
What Makes Jay’s Different from Every Other Steakhouse
Fort Lauderdale has no shortage of steakhouses. National chains, regional operators, and independent concepts all compete for the same diners. What Jay’s offers that most of them don’t is personality. Every decision—from the architecture and the color palette to the cocktail program and the live entertainment—reflects a specific point of view. This isn’t a steakhouse designed by committee or built to appeal to the lowest common denominator. It’s a restaurant built by someone who has a clear vision of what dining should feel like and the operational discipline to execute that vision at a high level.
Shirodkar often talks about the idea of a restaurant as a “living theater”—a space that evolves and breathes as the evening unfolds. Early in the night, Jay’s is intimate and refined, perfect for a business dinner or a quiet date. As the hours pass, the energy builds. The music gets a little louder. The bars fill up. The room transforms from a fine-dining restaurant into something that feels more like the best private party you’ve ever attended. That duality—the ability to be both elegant and electric—is what makes Jay’s Steakhouse one of the most exciting new restaurants in South Florida.
Visiting Jay’s Steakhouse
Jay’s Steakhouse is located at 441 NE 3rd Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, in the heart of the Flagler Village neighborhood. Reservations are recommended, especially for weekend evenings when the entertainment program is in full swing. For more information, visit jaysfortlauderdale.com or call (954) 999-0855.
Jay’s Steakhouse is a concept by Jay Shirodkar and Shirodkar Industries. Follow @shirodkarfamily on Instagram for the latest updates.