Big Time Restaurant Group Replaces Big City Tavern With Parisol French Brasserie on Las Olas

• Big Time Restaurant Group, led by co-founders Todd Herbst and Lisabet Summa, is transforming the former Big City Tavern at 609 E. Las Olas Boulevard into Parisol, a French brasserie.
• The restaurant is targeting a mid-January 2027 opening, featuring French classics, an in-house bakery and café-style dining.
• Entrées are expected to average approximately $30, positioning Parisol as an approachable addition to Fort Lauderdale's increasingly upscale restaurant corridor.

What Big Time Restaurant Group Is Bringing to Las Olas

Fort Lauderdale's Las Olas Boulevard is getting a French dining concept as Big Time Restaurant Group prepares to replace its longtime Big City Tavern location with Parisol. The restaurant will occupy 609 E. Las Olas Boulevard, where Big City Tavern operated for approximately 25 years before closing in September 2026. Rather than leaving the space vacant or bringing in an unrelated operator, Big Time is reinvesting in the property with a new concept. The project is being driven by chef-partner Lisabet Summa, the group's longtime culinary director, who is developing the menu and restaurant experience alongside co-founder Todd Herbst.

What Parisol Will Offer Diners

Parisol will focus on French brasserie classics with a casual, approachable atmosphere. The menu is expected to feature French onion soup topped with melted Gruyère, steak and Maine lobster frites, Alsatian-style pizzas, and croque monsieur and croque madame sandwiches. The restaurant will also introduce an in-house bakery program with freshly baked breads and French pastries. Dessert offerings are expected to include chocolate soufflés, chocolate mousse and crème caramel. The design will move away from Big City Tavern's brick-lined saloon aesthetic. Plans call for café-style seating, white tablecloths and subtropical-inspired décor, creating a more relaxed French dining environment.

What the $30 Entrée Pricing Means for Las Olas

One notable part of Parisol's strategy is its pricing. Summa has indicated that entrées will average around $30, with appetizers generally priced in the teens. That positions the restaurant below some of the boulevard's newer luxury dining concepts while still delivering a more refined experience. The approach could help Parisol appeal to neighborhood residents, office workers, visitors and repeat local customers rather than relying exclusively on special-occasion dining. For retail landlords, restaurants with accessible pricing and a broad customer base can help generate repeat visits and consistent activity throughout the week.

What Parisol Means for Las Olas Restaurant Leasing

The opening comes during a period of significant restaurant turnover and reinvestment along Las Olas Boulevard. Recent additions such as NAIA and Caviar Club, alongside upcoming concepts including Ivy's and Pizza Queen, demonstrate continued interest from established hospitality operators. The trend is important for commercial property owners. Restaurants remain a major component of the boulevard's retail identity, and established operators are increasingly adapting concepts to changing consumer preferences rather than simply renewing older formats. Big Time's decision to reinvest in its existing location also demonstrates the value of maintaining a presence in a proven restaurant corridor while refreshing the concept to attract a new audience.

What Comes Next for Parisol

Parisol is targeting a mid-January 2027 opening, beginning with dinner service. The former Big City Tavern space will undergo a substantial renovation before welcoming its first guests. For Fort Lauderdale's hospitality and retail market, the project represents another investment in Las Olas Boulevard's evolving dining scene. Big Time Restaurant Group is keeping its footprint on the corridor while introducing a new concept designed around French cuisine, approachable pricing and neighborhood appeal.