South Florida Sun Sentinel
Dec 15, 2021 2:38 PM
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This week on Let’s Go, South Florida host Arlene Borenstein visits Rivertail in Fort Lauderdale by James Beard-nominated chef, José Mendín.
Stay up to date with the South Florida dining news:
Bandolero Taqueria y Mas, Fort Lauderdale
A quaint, festive location is taking shape in Himmarshee Village serving tacos, quesadillas and burritos. Cocktails include La Bruja (Grey Goose, watermelon, hibiscus, pineapple and lemon) and Señor Bandoleros (Patron Reposado, honey and lime juice). For dessert, Nutella nachos and “a really good flan.” 208 SW Second St.; 786-913-9307
Palmyra Lounge, Wilton Manors
Ahmad Alkhaldi opened his restaurant and hookah bar in Wilton Manors because “this is my community. I’m gay. I wanted a Middle Eastern place I can go to with my boyfriends and not be judged.” Palmyra, open since October, seats about 100. Popular dishes are kebobs ($18.99-$25.75), kibbeh ($9.99) and hummus ($8.99). This is his first restaurant, after working for AT&T in South Florida and previously living in Syria and Saudi Arabia. Why call it Palmyra, a city in Syria? Alkhaldi’s family owned farms there, but more importantly, it is where his grandparents fell in love. “Palmyra means love to my family.” 2031 Wilton Drive; 754-216-2727. Palmyra-Lounge-Hookah-Bar.business.site.
Taj Indian Grill, Cooper City
Almost from the moment this restaurant had a soft opening about two weeks ago, it has had lines for takeout. And that’s based on nothing but word of mouth and glowing online customer ratings. So far the popular dishes are the garlic naan, butter naan, tandoori chicken as well as butter chicken, aloo gobi and masala dosa, according to one of the owners, Melepurackal V. Chacko. 5602 S Flamingo Road, Cooper City. 954-314-7314. TajIndianGrillcoopercity.com.
Holly Blue, Fort Lauderdale
Corvina Seafood Grill, Boca Raton
Acclaimed Washington, D.C., chef Jeff Tunks’ new ocean forward menu offers locally sourced daily catches, seafood towers and a selection of oysters. The 235-seat indoor/outdoor restaurant also has a separate happy hour menu that includes Rock Shrimp Nachos, Tito’s Bloody Mary Oyster Shooters and Crispy Smashed Potatoes Patatas Bravas with a spicy smoked paprika sauce. 110 Plaza Real South; CorvinaBocaRaton.com
Eric Baker, the Jewish grandson of Eastern-European grandparents, created a “pastrami sando” on Japanese milk bread for the menu at at AlleyCat, a new Japanese izakaya from restaurant in Boca Raton’s Royal Palm Plaza. (Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Quietly opened in late October, chef Eric Baker’s (Rebel House, Uncle Pinkie’s Deli) new dinner-only izakaya dishes inventive Japanese fare, including lobster ceviche, king crab tacos, shrimp crispy rice, crispy octopus and eight sushi rolls. There’s an omakase option (eight items chosen by the chef) and eyebrow-raising meat items, including wagyu beef dumplings, hot fried chicken, barbecue lamb ribs and – in a nod to his Jewish-style deli up the street – even a pastrami sandwich. 409 SE Mizner Blvd.; 561-717-8415, AlleyCatBoca.com
Bruno’s Eats, Fort Lauderdale
Owners Bruno “Chef Max” Maxino and Peggy Ann Blain, who’ve been a food-truck power couple since 2013, have opened their first storefront on Fort Lauderdale’s 13th Street for take-out. Dishes, which mash up Haitian, Jamaican, Latin American and New York street-food influences, include the griot burrito stuffed with pulled pork, red and green peppers, mushroom rice and secret sauces. 603 NE 13th St., Fort Lauderdale; 954-864-9679
Carrot Express, Coconut Creek and Weston
A 2,350-square-foot outpost of this Miami-based health-focused chain will simultaneously opened Dec. 10 at the Promenade at Coconut Creek and at Weston Town Center. The restaurant, which features salads, wraps, power bowls, vegetarian burgers, soups, stuffed sweet potatoes and spinach pie melts, is expanding into Broward and Palm Beach counties. Locations are planned for west Boca Raton, Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, Plantation and Pembroke Pines. 4443 Lyons Road, Suite F-106, Coconut Creek, and 1732 Main St., Weston; EatCarrotExpress.com
A seafood restaurant inside the Opal Grand Oceanfront Resort & Spa, Drift will include a rooftop bar and join the luxury hotel’s Cascades and Monkey Bar eateries. Doors opened for dinner this week and lunch service will start next week, according to hotel staff. 10 N. Ocean Blvd.; 561-274-3200, OpalGrand.com
Dune by Laurent Tourondel, Fort Lauderdale
The elegant beachfront restaurant inside the Auberge Beach Residences and Spa that closed in June has reopened under new owner Laurent Tourondel, the Michelin-star chef best known for his BLT Prime and BLT Steak brands. Dinner and happy hour are available now while lunch and brunch are still coming soon. 2200 N. Ocean Blvd.; 754-900-4059, dunebylt.com
Bee’s Knees Diner, West Palm Beach
This upscale diner from restaurant owner Leo Koel (recently of Emko Palm Beach) opened Nov. 24 and features classic greasy-spoon staples, including ham benedict, poached eggs, bacon, home fries and toast. 3027 Forest Hill Blvd., Suite A1; 561-223-2614, BeesKneesDiner.com
Night Owl Cookies and Cream, Pembroke Pines
Eighteen months after announcing its first Broward location, this Miami-spawned cookie monster finally baked its first batch for the public on Nov. 23 in Pembroke Pines. Night Owl comes from Andrew Gonzalez, who dropped out of Miami Dade College to fire up his cookie empire and earned a ranking on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list of top young entrepreneurs for his effort. On the menu are 12 gourmet cookies including Ave Maria (guava, Maria cookies, white chocolate chips) and Plantain Papi (plantains and Nutella topped with Nutella drizzle). Along with three Miami locations, future bakeries are planned for Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. 217 N. Hiatus Road; 954-505-4143, NightOwlCookieCo.com
Spadella Restaurant & Café, Delray Beach
This Italian fast-casual comfort food from partners Felletti Max, De Lorenzo Maurizio and Habona Fuad had its grand opening Dec. 1 in western Delray Beach. Spadella uses Italy-sourced ingredients to flavor 14 styles of pizza, eight kinds of paninis, build-your-own pasta bowls and Italian classics, such as cannelloni with ricotta and spinach. 15280 Jog Road; 561-270-3442, SpadellaRestaurant.com
Prezzo, Palm Beach Gardens
The Italian trattoria founded by Burt Rapoport and Dennis Max first brought the concept of the wood-fired pizza oven to South Florida in 1989. Their new location in PGA Commons brings back their signature pizza along with soulful Italian dishes reimagined, including spaghetti squash pomodoro and cavatappi vegetariana. Their Boca Raton location has been open since 2017. 4520 PGA Boulevard; 561-429-6938, eatprezzo.com
Maple Street Biscuit Company, Pembroke Pines
Biscuit-based creations are the big attraction at this Jacksonville-born fast-casual chain bought by Cracker Barrel in 2019. Maple Street dishes biscuit sandwiches include the Squawking Goat (fried chicken breast, fried goat-cheese medallions, pepper jelly), topped with sausage or shiitake mushroom gravy, plus hash brown cakes, fried green tomatoes and collard greens. This is the eatery’s first South Florida location. 10280 Pines Blvd., Suite 102; MapleStreetBiscuits.com
Sicilian Oven, Delray Beach
This growing regional pie chain from owners Ralph DiSalvo and Andrew Garavuso has opened inside the new Plaza Delray. Sicilian Oven, a disciple of the well-done pizza trend, does pies and wings to burnt exterior crispness after being fired inside 725-degree wood-burning ovens. 8854 W. Atlantic Ave.; 561-639-0099, SicilianOven.com
Miller’s Ale House, Palm Beach Gardens
The Orlando-spawned sports-bar chain has opened its new 220-seat eatery inside the Alton Town Center, and it includes two bars and a bank of flat-screen TVs in every direction. The pub specializes in boneless, sauce-drenched Zingers wings, fajitas, flatbreads, burgers and steak dinners. 5430 Donald Ross Road; 561-210-4309, MillersAleHouse.com
Mitch’s Downtown Bagel Café, Fort Lauderdale
A self-avowed “old school” New York-style deli with a website that cheekily proclaims, “no bearded hipster baristas here,” Mitch’s nonetheless has opened in hipsterfied Flagler Village. The bagel shop showcases Angus hamburgers, deli sandwiches, avocado toast and all-day breakfast sandwiches. 540 N. Andrews Ave.; 954-446-6446, MitchsDowntown.com
Sushi Maki, Fort Lauderdale
For entrepreneur Abe Ng, what began as his father’s Chinese takeout empire is now a thriving dynasty of sushi houses, the latest of which has opened inside the former Beehive Kitchen on Las Olas Boulevard. The 2,500-square-foot Sushi Maki features poke -bowls, sushi boats, pad Thai and wok-fried rice. 200 E. Las Olas Blvd.; SushiMaki.com
Founded in 1978, the Ohio-based pizza chain boasts a secret original pizza sauce recipe, dough made onsite daily and a proprietary cheese blend. Hawaiian Chicken and Pepperoni Magnifico are some of the specialty pizzas offered alongside bonus items including CheezyBread or a build-your-own pizza bowl. 1540 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd. Ste. 120; 561-835-5300, marcos.com
Patrizia’s, Deerfield Beach
The Neapolitan-inspired eatery founded by two brothers and chefs from Naples is already well known among New Yorkers, opening its doors first in the Bronx in 1991 before expanding throughout the boroughs and surrounding areas. Now the chain is expanding its Florida imprint with its second location in a year after opening on Fort Lauderdale’s Galt Ocean Mile in April. 1544 SE Third Court; 954-751-9797, patrizias.com
The Distillery, Deerfield Beach
Score beer sourced from local brewers while listening to live music and eating upscale bar food. Menu options include a glazed donut burger with a fried egg, lamb burger, brisket burger, pork belly stuffed empanadas, black-eyed pea hummus, and truffle mac and cheese. Signature drinks include the Military Trail (dark rum, ginger beer) and the Deerfield (Jagermeister, coconut rum, pineapple juice). Catch karaoke on Mondays, Latin night on Tuesdays and Ladies Night on Thursdays. 1825 W. Hillsboro Blvd.; 954-531-6813
Wells Coffee Company, Fort Lauderdale
Rich coffee concoctions from horchatas to pour-overs are brewing over at Brandon Wells’ second, subway tile-decorated coffeehouse, which takes over the former home of Grind Coffee Project in Fort Lauderdale’s Tarpon River neighborhood. Wells’ flagship coffee shop in Flagler Village will remain its roasting hub. 599 SW Second Ave., Fort Lauderdale; 954-533-2287, WellsCoffees.com
Holi Vegan Kitchen, Hallandale Beach
Tacos, hamburgers, miniature pizzas, quesadillas and Italian sausage sandwiches – every ounce of it kosher, gluten-free and vegan – are on the menu at Holi. The restaurant, which debuted in October inside North Federal’s snazzy Atlantic Village plaza, doesn’t just serve healthy comfort grub, but also smoothies, salads and fresh-pressed juices. 701 N. Federal Highway, #103; 954-251-3028, HoliVeganKitchen.com
Big Mike’s Baking Company & Café, Coral Springs
When Michael Hopkins was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2010, he began baking treats to sidestep his gluten allergy. His Coral Springs bakery, which opened in early November, features house-made energy and granola bars, miniature pies and egg bites, cupcakes and cookies made with Hopkins’ vegan and keto flour blends. 7891 W. Sample Road; 954-952-3100, BigMikesGlutenFree.com
Get the Cuban favorites you love from bocaditos to pan con lechon at this new family-owned Cuban cafe in Boca Raton. 249 E Palmetto Park Road; 561-430-3390
The Abbenante family’s fifth Palm Beach County restaurant has opened their doors for dinner. Lynora’s is known for recipes handed down from matriarch to matriarch culminating in the first Lynora’s in 1974. The traditional Italian recipes include dishes such as tagliolini alla carbonara, linguine alle vongole and cannelloni al forno. A Fort Lauderdale location is up next. Uptown Boca plaza, 9560 Glades Road., Suite 180; Lynoras.com
Truli Italian Food & Drink, Coconut Creek
This modern Italian trattoria and bar is set to debut Dec. 16 inside the Promenade at Coconut Creek, replacing the former Ciao Cucina space that shuttered this spring. Truli comes from Parkland restaurateur Doug Zeif (former senior vice-president of the Cheesecake Factory) and features build-your-own pasta bowls (with 10 pasta types and nine sauces from alfredo to “Sunday gravy”), build-your-own pizzas, and old-school entrees such as chicken Parmesan and steak tagliatta. 4443 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek; TruliItalian.com
Bolay Fresh Bold Kitchen, Hollywood
From the family who founded Outback Steakhouse, this build-your-own-bowl concept is adding to its list of Florida locations. The 2,391-square foot restaurant officially opens Dec. 16 offering indoor and outdoor seating. Pick your protein, veggies, sauce and go. Vegan, vegetarian and dairy-free selections are on the menu. 3255 Hollywood Blvd Suite 1; bolay.com
The Perfect Egg Sandwich at Pura Vida restaurant. The Miami-based chain’s first Broward County location is opening in Fort Lauderdale. (Pura Vida / Courtesy)
Pura Vida, Fort Lauderdale
This Miami-based chain will open its ninth location — its first in Broward County — on Friday, Dec. 17 in the Society Las Olas building downtown. Its all-day breakfast and lunch menu features juices and smoothies, kombucha, baked goods and a range of avocado toasts, free-range egg sandwiches, wraps, bowls and salads, with a variety of gluten-free and vegan sweet treats. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 221 SW First Ave., puravidamiami.com
Coyo Taco, Fort Lauderdale
This clubby high-end taqueria from Wynwood is migrating north to Las Olas and expects to debut in mid-January inside the former SuViche on the ground floor of the downtown Bank of America building. The 2,905-square-foot restaurant won’t feature a speakeasy lounge like its Miami counterparts, co-owner Sven Vogtland says, but the taqueria will serve hand-pressed corn tortillas filled with cochinita pibil, alambre, pollo al carbon and crispy duck, plus salads and burrito bowls. 401 E. Las Olas Blvd.; Coyo-Taco.com
Phat Boy Sushi and Kitchen, Davie
The trendy Japanese mini-chain from chef-owner John Maser, which has been on a roll recently, will open its next location in Davie in January, replacing the former Burger 21 on University Drive. The new location, which had a “Coming Soon” banner posted above the door, will feature shoyu ramen bowls, yakitori skewers, katsu sliders, a full-liquor bar with craft cocktails, and sushi staples including toro and Hamachi. 2451 University Drive, Davie; PhatBoySushi.com
Mister 01 Extraordinary Pizza, Pembroke Pines
The name of this Miami-spawned pizzeria may sound boastful, but the proof of Renato Viola’s pizza supremacy comes straight from the U.S. government. Viola, who grew up in the Italian province of Salerno, gained entry into the United States under an 0-1 visa, handed to “individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement.” Food & Wine shouted out Mister 01 in this year’s ranking of “The Best Pizza in Every State.” Viola’s 13-inch Neapolitan pies are star-shaped, with a pouch of ricotta cheese in each of the eight points, and come with ingredients such as gorgonzola, local honey, spicy salami and imported coffee. The Pembroke Pines location, debuting in December, is his sixth Florida pizzeria, and more outposts will follow in 2022 in Boca Raton, Aventura and Melbourne. 10640 Pines Blvd, Suite F101, Pembroke Pines; Mistero1.com
Tacocraft Taqueria and Tequila Bar, Plantation
Expanding Tulum vibes into west Broward, this Mexican-themed eatery’s fourth location is set to open inside the new Plantation Walk complex. The restaurant from Handcrafted Hospitality (Henry’s Sandwich Station, Pizzacraft) touts an expansive tequila selection and homemade tortillas expected to hit booths and bar counters inside the new 4,000-square-foot space in January. 333 N University Drive; Tacocraft.com
Pagoda Kitchen, Delray Beach
Decorated restaurateur Burt Rapoport (Max’s Grille, Deck 84, Prezzo) is behind this new restaurant opening in December at Delray Marketplace. Billed as “home-style Chinese cuisine,” and inspired by the pan-Asian travels of chef Bryan S. Emperor (one of Food and Wine’s Best New Chefs in America), the menu features Peking duck, bao buns, glazed Chinese barbecue spare ribs and shaved ribeye with shishito peppers. 14817 Lyons Road, Suite 100; PagodaKitchen.com
Angelo’s Craveable Italian, Fort Lauderdale
A to-go restaurant dishing entrees designed for takeout, Angelo’s serves Italian classics such as meatball heroes, oven-baked lemon oregano chicken, eggplant Parmesan, fettucine alfredo, salads, cannolis and “nonna’s cheesecake.” Angelo’s replaces the former Empire Pizza and comes from Angelo Landi (formerly of Miami-based Southern comfort food eatery Yardbird). A second Angelo’s debuted earlier this year in Boca Raton’s Mizner Plaza. 15 N. Federal Highway; AngelosToGo.com
The Katherine, Fort Lauderdale
Throw Social, Delray Beach
A 12,000-square-foot entertainment village on Delray Beach’s Atlantic Avenue is slated to open Dec. 26 inside former clubby Italian grill il Bacio. The project is the second location of Throw Social’s Washington, D.C. flagship, and will feature ax throwing, darts, shuffleboard tables, two outdoor stages pumping live music and a menu of gastropub fare. 29 SE Second Ave.; 800-561-0755, ThrowSocial.com
Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, Plantation
Incontro Italian Cuisine Steakhouse, Coral Springs
Owner Pedro Bitar’s Italian and steak restaurant expects to open in late December inside the Walk of Coral Springs. Pastas and breads will be made in-house, and the 180-seat eatery (and 30-seat patio) will include a private VIP room and lounge. 2752 University Drive
Oak Bistro and Wine Bar, Royal Palm Beach
The cozy neighborhood hangout said goodbye to their customers after seven years posting on Facebook, “Cheers to the end. As with all good things, they must end!” The bistro is offering bottle specials for their last weekend open on Dec. 11 and 12 and a last chance to dig into their signature Chicago beef sandwich (toasted hoagie, thinly sliced beef, mozzarella, provolone, and spicy giardiniera with a side of au jus). 11051 Southern Blvd., Suite 210; oakprb.com
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YiaYia’s Greek Kitchen, Margate
A Greek cuisine staple in suburban Margate that specialized in char-broiled baby back ribs, roasted lamb and moussaka has permanently closed, longtime owner Louis Poulias posted on social media. YiaYia’s, open since 1987, served its final meal Nov. 27, and Poulias blamed staff shortages and a “crazy fluctuation of costs” on his decision to retire after 47 years from the restaurant industry. “The last 19 months have made me reevaluate my life,” Poulias wrote. “COVID opened my eyes to what life could be.” 4976 W. Atlantic Blvd.
American Craft Aleworks, West Palm Beach
Tien-ni Kuo’s Taiwanese shaved-ice shop, where “snow cream” confections are crafted from shaving down a block of flavored ice, will permanently close after six years on Nov. 28, the restaurant announced on social media this week. “Our store lease will be up end of November and [we] have made the hardest decision to end our journey with Hanji here,” Hanji wrote on Facebook, adding that the store, which is understaffed, will be closed on weekends. 6403 Stirling Road; 954-908-5355, HanjiOfficial.com
