FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A more than 100-year-old building in Fort Lauderdale is getting a new chapter — this time as a restaurant combining historic charm, food and entertainment.

Jay’s, a steakhouse located inside a former church, has become a destination for diners looking for more than just a meal.

Owner Jay Shirodkar said the building’s history and character made it the perfect location for his restaurant concept.

“This building is one of a kind and when we walked into this church, there’s nothing like it in Fort Lauderdale. I knew we had to have it,” Shirodkar said.

Instead of changing the features that made the building unique, Shirodkar said the restaurant embraced them. Original stained glass, towering ceilings and separate dining spaces help create a different atmosphere throughout the restaurant.

Shirodkar said entertainment is also a key part of the experience.

“I really like having really good DJs,” he said. “Sometimes we’ll have singers accompany them or we do some, you know, live, there was electronic saxophonists and violinists and stuff like that.”

For Shirodkar, the right atmosphere is just as important as the food.

“I just need music, an espresso martini in my hand, and then I’m setting the vibe,” he added.

Although Jay’s is known as a steakhouse, Shirodkar said the menu also incorporates Asian-inspired dishes.

“We have a lot of Asian influence, of course the best steaks that money can buy,” Shirodkar said.

The menu includes dishes such as spicy tuna crispy rice, rock shrimp tempura and specialty steaks.

Shirodkar said the goal is to make every part of the visit memorable.

“It’s just as important to have excellent food, but to also make sure every time you sit at that table, you’re enjoying everything around you,” he said.

Jay’s also offers a happy hour where everything is half off, with reservations available through the restaurant’s website.

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