About Us

When it comes to Fort Lauderdale restaurants, few have stood the test of time–and continue to stand out–like Himmarshee Bar & Grille. Known as the go-to destination for people who appreciate authentic cuisine in a comfortable setting, Himmarshee Bar & Grille has earned its reputation, dish by dish, for exceptional dining in Fort Lauderdale.

Wine doesn't go by the wayside, either, with an extensive list of hard-to-find treasures and over 50 wines by the glass, making Himmarshee Bar & Grille one of the top wine bars in Fort Lauderdale!

Lunch at Himmarshee Bar & Grille is one of the best business deals in Fort Lauderdale! A favorite after-work stop for the business crowd is Himmarshee Bar & Grille's Happy Hour, featuring two for one drinks from 5 to 7, with an extra hour and a new $2 appetizer menu on Fridays!

History

HIMMARSHEE BAR & GRILLE opened 1997 in a somewhat neglected pocket of Ft. Lauderdale known as Himmarshee Village. Plans were underway to transform the area with a performing arts center, children's science museum as well as other venues that would establish the area as the "Arts and Entertainment" district.

The word "Himmarshee" is a Native American term meaning "New Water" so called because of Ft. Lauderdale's New River that runs along the edge of the neighborhood.

Upon opening it's doors, Himmarshee Bar & Grille became the go-to destination for foodies as well as the area's movers and shakers. Our next door SIDE BAR, added a few years later offers guests a sultry drinks, dancing and entertainment spot that is a cut above the rest consistently voted "Best Martini" in newspaper Reader's polls and online voting.

The once sleepy neighborhood now referred to as Downtown Ft. Lauderdale boasts a vibrant scene of restaurants, clubs and popular entertainment venues.

Bios

Dave Nicholas - Owner Managing Partner

Industry veteran Dave Nicholas is the owner and managing partner of Himmarshee Bar and Grille as well as Himmarshee's parent, Chao Restaurant Group, a development and management consultancy serving the hospitality industry.

As an experienced restauranteur, he brings his unique perspective to each new project. Along with the creation of new concepts and developing operations systems for successful independents as well as muti-unit venues, Dave's wine interests have also taken him to various parts of the country. His wine knowledge is astounding and wine lovers across the country seek him out for his advice and insight into past, present and future vintages. His relationships with wine producers have developed into sincere friendships. Himmarshee's wine clients and dining guests have only to benefit from his expertise. Although he enjoys wines from around the globe, his wine heart lies in California, particularly Napa Valley.

It is there where he searches out the best producers. Growers and producers are somewhat private and a certain level of trust must be established in order to become a part of their community. Because of Dave's keen interest, he is able to bring you wines easily found here. He is well versed in smaller properties as well. When asked for a recommendation, he'll give you 20! He is enthusiastic and loves introducing clients to wines that he personally selects for Himmarshee and his personal collection.

Design/Concept

Himmarshee Bar & Grille and Side Bar were originally designed by the Architectural/ Design firm Krupnick Studio. Mike Krupnick as architect and Kim Ray Krupnick an accomplished artist created a space that makes use of many non-traditional and organic materials.

For example, the sound absorbtion system in the ceiling of Side Bar is constructed out of twigs. Light fixtures were crafted out of plastic that had been scratched up' with sand paper. The tables are made from marine plywood, a technique that has become popular in modern furniture design.

Most of the artwork that hangs throughout the restaurant is by Kim.