A ‘little, hidden tropical oasis’: Have you discovered The Grill at The Grove at Birch State Park?

The Grill at The Grove is settling in.

Technically, the al fresco eatery is on the edge of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, but you can kind of see it through a grove (hence the name) of trees from State Road A1A on Fort Lauderdale beach, just north of Sunrise.

It’s been a year since The Grill at The Grove rose from the spot that once was Park & Ocean. After a (very quiet) soft opening in January 2024, it underwent a remodel and a menu redo and finally had its ribbon-cutting ceremony in November 2024.

Among the changes, it has:

• Refitted the kitchen and bar
• Refurbished the main dining area, patio and dock
• Debuted a new menu
• Added an ice cream and coffee bar

“We had our work cut out for us from Day 1, but it was a challenge we were eager to accept and accomplish in order to manage the concession at this popular state park,” said Steffan Sonneveldt, chief operating officer with Kansas-based ExplorUS, a park concessionaire providing food and beverage, retail, recreational equipment rentals, event management and park education services.

“Obviously, this all took time to complete and it would not have been feasible to do before taking on our contract before January 2024,” Sonneveldt added. “When all was said and done, we were so excited to unveil the finished product at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, as it was all an investment for the local community and out-of-town park visitors to enjoy.”

The Grill at The Grove is the creation of Birch Hospitality LLC, a subsidiary of ExplorUS, which replaced BG Parks in December 2023. In the past, BG Parks had partnered with restaurateur Steven Dapuzzo (Sistrunk Marketplace, The House on The River, Wild Thyme) to own and operate Park & Ocean for 6 1/2 years.

Birch Hospitality/ ExplorUS has a 10-year concessionaire agreement for The Grill at The Grove. The agreement also included renovating Birch State Park’s Garden Club and building a new dock at the Marina Building, among other upgrades.

Here is more about The Grill at The Grove from a Q&A session with ExplorUS’ Sonneveldt, which was edited for length and clarity.

Q: What was the attraction of this location?

A: Hugh Taylor Birch State Park is unique in that it offers all these services within a beautiful park setting, set within the popular destination of Fort Lauderdale. We are honored that our first park operation with the state of Florida is at Hugh Taylor.

Q: What are the changes to the menu? 

A: We understand the flavors and demands of the local residents and park visitors. The overall theme of The Grill at The Grove is a Baja Cantina-inspired menu. The theme now lends to the intimate cantina vibe with the roots of an oceanic eatery, providing locals with the flavors and ambience of a beachside getaway.

Q: What were the thoughts behind the new culinary direction?

A: The objective is to offer a small-plate culinary experience. We intend to provide the ability to mix and match flavors and menu items to create a great experience for our guests. You can expect zesty delights ranging from tacos and fresh seafood to bold flavors and a culinary fiesta for our visitors to enjoy.

Q: What can you tell the reader about the significantly different and expanded bar menu?

A: Our goal is to transport our visitors to a tropical paradise through the flavors and unique drinks offered. Selections feature traditional beachside beverages with a “Grove” twist to them such as our Grove Punch and Grove Sunset. These colorful drinks are made with natural juices and tropical liquors like Myers’s Dark, Gold, and Coconut rums to create that inviting beachside vibe the park and area is known for. We also serve up vibrant frozen drinks with a resort feel to complement the beach destination. These new beverage offerings are all in line with The Grove’s theme of “Eat Drink & Play — In Paradise!”

Q: What about structural/decor changes?

A: We were excited to partner with a local artist, who also volunteers at the park, to paint a custom mural on the walls throughout the concession building. Elements of the park’s native trees, plants and wildlife are incorporated into the artwork. Additionally, we added an ice cream and coffee bar, remodeled the retail area to be more inviting, and installed new welcoming signage. You’ll also see that we’ve continued the playful beachside theme throughout The Grove with distinctive decor touches, such as the reclaimed surfboard countertops.

The kitchen has been outfitted with all-new equipment and an HVAC system. The bar has an all-new taps system — we’ve expanded the craft-beer selection to now offer 14 on tap — new refrigerators, plus the addition of new TV monitors.

In the outdoor patio area, we added new seating options: adirondack chairs, refurbished picnic tables with soft seating, new game tables and our centerpiece main table. There are new string lights and uplighting on the trees to enhance the vibe and brighten up the nights. We also added several family games, inviting people to enjoy more time outside.

We want to create a fun, local hangout for all ages, and a place where locals can escape the hustle and bustle of the city and relax at their own little, hidden tropical oasis.

Q: We understand there may be a new dock?

A: We have already installed a new dock next to the boathouse, replacing the previous unusable one. For a new feature, we also added a kayak launch to the dock … [and] made several physical enhancements to the cafe and retail space within the concession building as well as the outdoor seating area.

Q: You’re also renovating the Glenn F. Bates Garden Center, correct? What changes can we expect, and when will the refurbished space debut? 

A: We plan to renovate the main interior area of the building into a modern, bright and inviting space — one with a look and decor that will reflect the unforgettable experiences it will host. Painting the walls to provide a clean, modern backdrop for events; installing new flooring that is attractive yet durable and new table and chairs are among our proposed improvements. We are currently in the planning stages of this renovation and working with a local architect on the design. That said, we are working with the [Florida Department of Environmental Protection] in planning a number of changes to the building to revitalize it and make it a more functional event venue.

Q: You had a soft opening in January 2024 and then a ribbon-cutting ceremony that following November. What took almost 10 months? 

A: We had to close for a period just to complete a thorough cleaning. We then had to undertake many upgrades in order to get the facility up to code and replace many worn-out or broken items, which included installing all-new kitchen equipment, new refrigeration, new beer tap systems, new kitchen hood system, grease trap cleanings, plumbing and electrical work and new furniture, just to name a few.

After working through those challenges, we were then able to start working on implementing the new concept and renovations. Our goal was to brighten up the place and create a more vibrant atmosphere that pulled in aspects from the park and the beach. In addition, we wanted to make it a place for all ages, whether it was bringing the family over to grab a quick bite, hang out and play, or a place where you could sit back to relax and enjoy a beer or cocktail while listening to live music.

The Grill at The Grove is located at 3109 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale (inside Hugh Taylor Birch State Park). Visit thegrovehughtaylorbirch.com/the-grill-at-the-grove or call 754-324-4660.