In the competitive landscape of South Florida waterfront dining, ETARU Hallandale at 111 S Surf Rd stands as a "culinary unicorn." Perched on the second floor of a glass-walled pavilion right on the sand, it offers a high-design, contemporary Japanese experience that feels worlds away from the typical beach shack.
Created by Rainer Becker—the mastermind behind the global Zuma empire—ETARU is centered around the Robata Grill, an ancient Japanese technique inspired by northern fishermen who shared their catch over open charcoal using their oars.
The ETARU "Oceanfront" Experience
The Robata Heartbeat: The restaurant’s design revolves around a central, open-hearth robata grill. The atmosphere is immersive; you can watch the "theater" of chefs searing Grade A5 Wagyu and Tiger Prawns over glowing binchotan charcoal while the Atlantic breeze flows through the open-air terrace.
The Beach Bar "Sand-to-Table": For a more casual vibe, the ground-level ETARU Beach Bar serves light, Japanese-influenced fare (like the mini rock shrimp sub) directly to your toes in the sand. It’s one of the few places in Hallandale where you can pair premium sashimi with a barefoot luxury vibe.
The "Pashmina" Touch: Proving their commitment to hospitality, the staff is known for offering pashminas to guests on the terrace when the Atlantic evening breeze turns cool—a small detail that elevates the experience from a meal to a retreat.
Zuma-Grade Quality: Many of the menu’s heavy hitters are direct descendants of Zuma classics. The Yellowtail Sashimi with Yuzu Truffle Dressing and the Black Cod marinated in Yuzu Miso offer the same world-class precision but in a relaxed, sun-drenched beach setting.
The Sunday Brunch Ritual
The ETARU Sunday Brunch is a local legend for a reason. It is an interactive, multi-layered event featuring:
A sprawling Robata & Sushi Buffet (think bottomless oysters, maki, and dumplings).
A choice of a premium main course from the grill.
The Showstopper Dessert Platter: A massive, ice-filled bowl topped with exotic fruits, sorbets, and a signature guava cheesecake—designed specifically for the "Instagram era."
Bottomless "Bubbles": Featuring a rotating selection of high-end Rosé, Whispering Angel, and specialty sake.
The Vibe
It is "Beach-Chic Minimalism." Designed by Urban Robot Associates, the space uses natural woods and neutral tones to ensure the focus remains on two things: the orange glow of the grill and the turquoise expanse of the ocean.
The menu is focused around the central robata grill, the beating heart of the restaurant which buzzes with activity making for an immersive, shared experience. Naturally, given the restaurant’s location, there is a heavy emphasis on Robata-grilled seafood as well as meat & vegetable dishes from the grill. Raw dishes are notable for their unparalleled freshness, simplicity and great flavor pairings. Sashimi, maki rolls, tataki and snacks are all beautifully presented on specialty plateware, handmade and imported from Japan.
Signature special raw sashimi dishes include plates like ROKA London signature yellowtail sashimi with yuzu truffle dressing, yellowfin tuna tataki, avocado and mizuna salad with apple wasabi dressing.
Lunch Menu Happy Hour Express Lunch Menu Drinks Wine Menu
Brought to the United States by Rainer Becker, co-founder and creator of Zuma restaurants worldwide and ROKA London, ETARU, is a restaurant featuring contemporary Japanese robatayaki grill cuisine. Offering casual, yet sophisticated, dining at the second-story restaurant, bar & terrace, the space is equally divided indoor and out. The beach bar offers a more relaxed environment with service directly to the sand (Friday – Sunday).
The most interesting reviews
- The ambiance and atmosphere here is truly amazing. It’s modern/romantic and a cool vibe. You can dine inside or outside with a view of the ocean. The food was out of this world especially the black cod. The service was good but the waiter wasn’t the friendliest. Highly recommend this place for a good meal or a date.
- I came here for a friend's 30th and the vibes were top tier. Right next to the ocean front and the decor is so nice. The sushi was good too, good value for the price. We went on Monday during their 50% of deal.
- We were in town for an impromptu football game at the Dolphin stadium last fall and we could only find a place to stay on this part of town. After a delayed flight bringing us in town way later than we were expected to be, the town looked like a dead zone aside of the 7-11 that had many characters in and outside of it.
After wondering around looking for food we randomly stumbled upon this place hiding and luckily we did! It’s like walking into a Japanese style bohemian oasis. It had indoor and outdoor seating even though it was wide open so you got the breeze off the water no matter where you sat. We sat at the bar and our bartender was very attentive. There were what appeared to be 3 different open concept kitchens so you could see them cooking. We were only eating light so we got sushi and had a couple drinks. I got my usual vodka seltzer so I can’t say whether the drinks were any good cuz you can’t really mess that up, but I did notice they had several different Japanese whiskeys to which I was surprised there was even 1 in existence, let alone 20+ of them. But if you’re into it, this is the place to find it.
4.0
