DINING

Savor shareable small plates like salmon tataki (right); Takato’s chic dining room (below).

EAT+DRINK

By Melissa Puppo

DINING Asian FUSION

Celebrated chef Taek “Taka” Lee, who’s helmed some of the nation’s leading restaurants including Zuma and Monkitail at The Diplomat Resort, is showcasing his Asian heritage with the debut of Takato inside the Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach. The oceanfront oasis invites diners to embark on a culinary journey that fuses upscale riffs on Japanese and Korean dishes through shareable small plates and entrees.

Meaning “in a state of extreme happiness” in Japanese, Takato spotlights Eastern cultures in various ways, such as an on-site traditional dumpling expert who creates mouthwatering vegetable and Wagyu gyoza. Many highlights emerge across the sushi and dinner menus, including the spicy yellowtail roll, duck bao buns, kimchi fried rice, and the tender Kobe strip served with asparagus and lotus root chip. All pair well with curated sake or a handcrafted cocktail. There’s no leaving without ordering the innovative—and super fun— sushi ice cream roll: vanilla ice cream nestled within Rice Krispies and dusted with matcha. (conradfortlauderdale.com)