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NOW OPEN OR OPENING
Ocean Prime
171 Las Olas Circle, Fort Lauderdale; Ocean-Prime.com
This upscale surf-and-turf chain already has a mighty presence across 17 major cities, and now the steakhouse debuted on April 29 its latest sit-down on Las Olas Marina, a restaurant publicist tells the Sun Sentinel. At 15,000 square feet, the eatery from Ohio hospitality outfit Cameron Mitchell Restaurants devotes half its 400 seats for patio dining. It’s also perched beside the Las Olas Bridge, so diners may use the marina’s 68 public boat slips for access, chief operating officer David Miller says in a statement. “Our fifth Ocean Prime location in Florida marks another significant milestone in our expansion in the state,” Miller says. Ocean Prime — which also has outposts in Tampa, Orlando, Naples and Sarasota — offers oysters on the half-shell, Dutch Harbor King Crab legs and chilled whole Maine lobster on ice, sushi rolls, lobster bisque soup and, for entrees, sea scallops and blackened snapper with corn spoon bread and Swiss chard in a corn emulsion. Carnivores, meanwhile, can carve into filets, New York strips and ribeyes with optional Bearnaise sauce, black truffle butter and bleu cheese crust, along with Berkshire pork in a sherry reduction and double-bone lamb chops in roasted garlic-thyme jus. The menu also slings cocktails and weekends-only brunch.
Fat Boyz Barbecue
706 S. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale; FatBoyzBarbecue.com
Fat Boyz is growing yet again — this time with its first location south of Fort Lauderdale’s New River, which soft-opened March 28 across the street from Phat Boy Sushi, roughly a half-mile north of barbecue stronghold Tom Jenkins BBQ. Pitmaster Jarael Holston-Jones announced his new ‘cue shack in a social-media post. Longtime Fat Boyz fans have watched his smoky empire of meats expand and shrink over the past decade, but this new location will join outposts in Deerfield Beach, Coral Springs and another in Fort Lauderdale. It specializes in dry-rubbed St. Louis spare ribs kissed with hickory and spice, Texas-style brisket, smoked lean pastrami and its Big Daddy sandwich, a combo of pulled pork, chopped brisket and mac ‘n’ cheese on a Kaiser roll.
Voodoo Brewing Co.
3492 NE 12th Ave., Oakland Park; 954-395-8179; www.VoodooBrewery.com
This Pennsylvania-born beer franchise is the latest to bewitch the drink-happy Oakland Park Culinary Arts District, whose cup runneth over with three breweries, a distillery, a meadery, an arcade bar and a wine bar. Voodoo threw its grand opening on April 15. The brewery operates 26 other locations nationwide, and Oakland Park joins four Florida franchises in Fort Myers, St. Petersburg, Jacksonville and Valrico. Brews include Lacto-Kooler (a Berliner Weisse), Good Vibes (a West Coast IPA) Empty Calories (American lager) and Where Our Secrets Go (an imperial stout), paired with a gastropub-style menu of burgers, chicken wings and mac ‘n’ cheese.
Elysium Immersive Dining
3128 N. Federal Highway, Lighthouse Point; 754-444-4151; ElysiumImmersiveDining.com
Want video projections of Europe and Asia paired with your steak and wine? That’s the eye-catching novelty behind Elysium, which soft-opened on March 1 and is billed as a “unique, one of a kind dining experience” on its website. Picture a six-course omakase-style (chef’s choice) meal on a communal round table, where video projections of global landmarks and piped-in audio fill the room. Elysium, which takes over a former Legends Tavern & Grille space, comes from owner Telmo “Tommy” Pires and features themed menus that change frequently, mood-setting music and decorative props.
Steak Shop by Rancher’s Reserve
500 Palm St., Unit 22, West Palm Beach; ranchersreservefl.com/steak-shop
There’s a new boutique butcher shop/sandwicherie in town — and even the meats are hyperlocal. Its wood-fired burgers, chicken wings, Wagyu bratwurst, smash burgers, steak hoagies and steak pizzas all come from hormone- and antibiotic-free Akaushi cows and Berkshire pigs raised on a 100-acre pasture in Okeechobee called Rancher’s Reserve. That ranch’s owner, Nick Scalisi, also operates Fern in downtown West Palm Beach. The new Steak Shop soft-opened March 25.
The Char Bar
1701 S. Federal Highway, Delray Beach; 561-431-5601; PepesPizzeria.com
Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, the Connecticut-born apizza icon known for its char-blistered pies has debuted its first full-liquor bar to mark the brand’s 100th birthday, The Char Bar, which opened in early April inside the Delray Beach location, is the first bar in any Frank Pepe location and features cocktails inspired by the eatery’s century in business. They include the Wooster Sour, named after its original New Haven spot, and Maiori Spritz, a nod to founder Frank Pepe’s birthplace in Italy. There are also Old Fashioneds, wines, draft beers and daily happy hour specials.
Dave’s Hot Chicken
320 N. Congress Ave., Boynton Beach; DavesHotChicken.com
Can Usher, Samuel L. Jackson, Drake, Maria Shriver and Michael Strahan be wrong? Well, yes, they can, but they also happen to be the celebrity backers behind this mega-spicy chicken chain, which threw a grand opening on April 18 on North Congress Avenue. It’s the fifth South Florida cluck shack for Dave’s, joining outposts in Boca Raton (which opened in March), Pembroke Pines, Aventura and Miami, with a sixth expected to open later this summer in West Palm Beach. The California-based Dave’s touts tenders and tender-packed handhelds with seven spice levels, and the hottest — the Reaper — requires customers to sign a waiver before eating them.
KPot Korean BBQ and Hot Pot
9120 Wiles Road, Coral Springs; and 15995 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines; TheKPot.com
Korean barbecue and Chinese hot pot, two DIY dining trends in which adventurous eaters grill and boil a buffet of meats and vegetables tableside, have been combined at this fast-growing chain. KPOT Coral Springs debuted on April 1 in the Royal Eagle Plaza, with Pembroke Pines following soon after in early May, a spokesperson confirms. Here, diners can grill marinated proteins like bulgogi beef, pork belly, spicy chicken and garlic shrimp on built-in tabletop grills, or dip tofu, noodles and dumplings in steamy cauldrons of flavorful broth on built-in burners. “KPOT is more than just a meal — it’s a celebration of culture, flavor and connection,” says Victor Chow, KPOT’s vice-president of operations.
El Balcón de las Américas
1823 E. Commercial Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 754-701-4262; ElBalcondelasAmericas.com
Maybe the fourth time’s the charm? The storefront that formerly housed Volare Italian Cuisine, Pizza & Wine Bar (and before that, Italian fast-food joint Pick-ITA-UP, and before that, Bowlicious) is now this Colombian-centric, pan-Latin chain founded by Alvaro Tobar in South Florida. The location’s fourth eatery in three years features Peruvian lomo, Cuban lechon asado (marinated in a sour orange mojo) and Mexican fajitas los tres amigos (grilled steak, chicken and shrimp topped with pico de gallo). There are also traditional Colombian tamales, chuleta caleña (a thin-pounded, breaded pork tenderloin served with red beans and plantains), ajiaco santafereño (shredded chicken soup with corn, sweet plantains and potatoes) and sancocho de cola (oxtail soup with yuca, potatoes, plantains and corn). El Balcón had a soft opening on March 17.
Cove Cafe
4340 N. Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach; 561-560-8301; covecafewestpalm.com
This new coastal-inspired Italian cafe had a mid-March soft opening at the base of an Icon Marina Village apartment tower. The menu includes artisan pizzas, salads, sandwiches and snacks. “At Cove Cafe, we set out to create a neighborhood pizzeria that goes beyond the ordinary, focusing on high-quality ingredients and bold chef-driven flavors,” says executive chef Alex Bustamante of North End Hospitality. “Our menu draws inspiration from classic techniques and global influences. Nearly everything is made in-house — from our rich pizza sauce to our handcrafted sausage and fresh dough — because we believe great food starts with quality ingredients.” Next up will be breakfast service. The eatery joins North End Hospitality’s other nearby venues, Cove Club and Lamarina, in West Palm Beach’s Northwood neighborhood.
DeLuca’s Italian Kitchen & Bar
8260 Jog Road, Boynton Beach; 561-877-6945; delucasitaliankitchen.com
This newest DeLuca restaurant (joining DeLuca’s Chophouse in Boca Raton) focuses on handmade pastas, Italian subs, USDA-certified premium steaks and seafood options including Shrimp Scampi and Mediterranean Branzino. The full-service bar features an extensive selection of Italian wines, beers and signature cocktails such as the Prickly Pear Margarita and Espresso Martini. DeLuca’s had a grand-opening celebration on March 15. “Our expansion into Boynton Beach is a significant milestone for us,” says owner Ralph DeLuca. “We’re thrilled to bring our authentic Italian flavors to this wonderful community, providing a place where locals can enjoy everything from casual meals and special occasions to family gatherings and early evening happy hours, and soon, late-night entertainment.”
Fresh Kitchen
1382 Weston Road, Weston; 954-507-0255; eatfreshkitchen.com
The newest iteration for this Tampa-born brand brings to the Weston community Fresh Kitchen’s signature chef-inspired, gluten-free menu with made-from-scratch dishes served with a range of seasonal rices, vegetables and hormone- and antibiotic-free grilled meats. They say sauces and marinades are made in-house daily and all the cooking is done with 100% olive oil. The official opening on April 8, was preceded by a fundraiser for the nonprofit Children’s Harbor, which is dedicated to keeping victims of child abuse and their siblings in foster care together.
Miami Grill Express
263 W. Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach; 561-970-4566; mymiamigrill.com
Miami Grill’s first all-takeaway concept opened in the historic district of Deerfield Beach on March 27. This new take on the fast-casual concept that has been around since 1983 offers twin drive-thru lanes and a walk-up window. Though there is no indoor dining, there is limited outdoor seating for walk-up guests. Of course, you can also order through the Miami Grill app or online. Catering and third-party delivery is also available. “We’re excited to introduce this innovative concept to guests in and around Deerfield Beach,” said Miami Grill CEO Jonathan H. Vogel. “The vision for this Express format is to enable our team to quickly prepare made-to-order, fresh, quality food while delivering efficient service.” Miami Grill is known for Philly cheesesteaks, gyros, wings, burgers, salads, desserts, ice cream, seasoned fries and more. In 2012, Armando Christian Perez (aka Pitbull, aka Mr. Worldwide and Mr. 305) became an equity partner in the brand.
Talkin’ Tacos
390 N. Congress Ave., Unit B, Boynton Beach; 786-692-4988; talkintacos.net
Talkin’ Tacos started out as a humble food truck created by best buds Mohammad Farraj and Omar Al-Massalkhi in Miami back in 2020, but now the fast-casual brand is continuing its rapid expansion into Palm Beach County with this Boynton Beach restaurant that opened on April 11. And two more are scheduled to open in late spring, in Delray Beach and West Palm Beach. Like at other locations throughout Florida and in Washington, D.C., Manhattan, Atlanta, Dallas and Charlotte, the menu features dishes such as Birria Tacos, Mahi Mahi Burritos, Birria Ramen, Street Corn in a Cup, Churros and Tajin and Chamoy gummies, as well as house-made lemonades, horchatas and mangonadas. “We’re excited to expand our presence in Palm Beach County and continue to share our love for authentic, bold Mexican flavors with this amazing community,” Farraj says.
D’s Sports Bar
620 S. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale; 954-960-4888; danielssteak.com/ds-sports-bar
With decor evoking a 1950s-era car service garage and a dozen high-definition screens, the D’s Sports Bar that opened Feb. 20 is the sister concept to Daniel’s, A Florida Steakhouse, which is next door. Both are high-end concepts from Gioia Hospitality Group (GHG), with D’s Sports Bar offering signature dishes such as French Dip Steak Sandwich, Daniel’s Double Patty Smash Burger, Crispy Hog Fish Sandwich and Grilled Mahi Taco. There are also craft cocktails and locally sourced beers. “At D’s, we’re bringing together the excitement of live sports and an upscale, welcoming atmosphere where guests can enjoy amazing food and drinks with their friends and family,” says GHG co-owner Tom Angelo. “Whether you’re a die-hard sports fan or just looking for a great night out, D’s delivers an outstanding experience.” A private dining area called The Florida Legends Room has memorabilia and signed jerseys from the likes of Dolphins icon Jason Taylor, Inter Miami’s goal-getter Lionel Messi and Marlins ball player Jeff Conine.
16 Handles
3231 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach; 561-249-1944; 16handles.com
This NYC-born, self-serve frozen yogurt and dessert concept opened in West Palm Beach on Feb. 15. The name comes from the menu’s 16 soft-serve flavors (with 50-plus toppings and sauces). This sweet spot also offers frozen cakes, take-home pints and coffee. Recent limited-edition froyo flavors included French Fry, Butter Beer, Dune Spice and Keto Chocolate Brownie. The West Palm Beach franchise is owned by married couple Lindsay Hemstreet and Benjamin Goldberg, who say they plan on hosting food trucks and pop-ups. “Whether it’s a good day or a tough one, 16 Handles is a place where people can come together over frozen yogurt and be happy,” Goldberg says.
Earls Kitchen + Bar
1002 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; Earls.ca/locations/las-olas
This Canadian steak-and-seafood chain with 70 locations opened its latest sit-down on March 5, filling a 9,500-square-foot perch with a global menu tailored by “world travelers.” Executive chef Del Diseko, a self-described explorer, told the Sun Sentinel in October that he scours the world with creative teams in search of trendy cuisine, constantly adding fresh items. Along with Tomahawk maple-glazed pork chops and Cajun blackened steak, new menu additions will include sticky Korean ribs, spicy Calabrian pasta, an ahi tuna poke bowl and bourbon pecan pie. “These dishes are approachable, they check so many boxes, and they can be bold and addictive,” Diseko said. “This is really a restaurant for everyone’s palates.” The two-story Earls features two central bars and a rooftop indoor-outdoor patio and dining area adorned in what Diseko dubs “coastal reef colors.”
Sixty Vines
800 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; SixtyVines.com
Cabernet-infused burgers and many wines — 60 of them, in fact — are on tap at this Texas-raised chain, which debuted March 3 inside the former Cuba Libre space. CEO Jeff Carcara says the name refers to the number of wines on tap, a sustainable measure designed to reduce waste and evoke the experience of drinking straight from vineyard barrels. Expect communal-style seating for up to 280 guests in the 10,000-square-foot space, which has white-oak farmhouse tables, a second-floor mezzanine lounge and a menu leaning into items such as charcuterie boards, wood-grilled flank steak, and fried chicken. “These are meant to be unpretentious, pinkies-down sharing sessions,” Carcara, a former Broward County resident who worked at Seasons 52 and Mark’s Las Olas, told the Sun Sentinel in October. “There’s great value and memories in having shared-plates experiences. You throw some pizzas and charcuterie down, or a sliced-up pork chop, and you have a really good night.”
Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina
1000 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach; 561-665-4800; MichaelMina.net
The Delray Beach cut of Michael Mina’s steakhouse brand, which debuted March 3, marks the chef-restaurateur’s first foray into Palm Beach County. The new 6,000-square-foot restaurant within the just-overhauled Seagate Hotel & Spa is resplendent in gold and hunter-green accents, and being operated by executive chef Pablo Valencia (The Dalmar Fort Lauderdale, MAASS). The menu traffics in high-end excess: slow-poached Japanese A5 Wagyu, dry-aged or wood-fired steaks, Maine lobster pot pies and pastrami-spiced short rib — paired with rich dipping sauces. Black truffle mac and cheese and duck-fat french fries are also among the highlights.
Stage Kitchen & Bar
5377 Town Center Road, Suite 200, Boca Raton; StageKitchenandBar.com
Adventurous, globally inspired Indian cuisine is the latest glitzy feather in the cap of Boca Raton’s Restaurant Row, where Stage debuted with a grand opening on March 10. Here, chef Pushkar Marathe trots out wood-fired small plates, including duck confit rolls, Korean BBQ Ribs, Spanish octopus and fried chicken in malvani coconut curry and lime. Marathe’s Palm Beach Gardens flagship has already racked up accolades, including USA Today’s Best Restaurants of 2024 and a James Beard semifinalist nod for Marathe. Marathe’s partner, Andy Dugard, says much of their flagship’s foot traffic has come from southern Palm Beach County. “Over the years, we’ve had many wonderful guests visit … from Boca, Fort Lauderdale, Parkland and Delray,” he explains. Which means they were already “anxious and ready to spread the love to Boca Raton,” Marathe adds.
OTHER RECENT OPENINGS
The Ordinary, 921 Lake Ave., Lake Worth Beach. Upstairs speakeasy above Not So Bizarre Ave Cafe debuted Feb. 27. 561-318-3944, TheOrdinaryLWB.com
Sushi by Bou, 10 S. Ocean Blvd., Lake Worth Beach. The brand expanded its omakase concept back in February into Benny’s on the Beach – Oceanwalk. sushibybou.com
CLOSED
DUNE by Laurent Tourondel
2200 N. Ocean Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
This oceanside restaurant inside Auberge Beach Residences permanently closed on March 29, with a new restaurant already announced to replace it this fall: Del Mar. Dune has rebranded multiple times over the years since its original debut in November 2018, most recently under acclaimed chef Laurent Tourondel (Michelin-starred BLT Fish, Relais & Chateau Troisgros), who led a redesign of the menu and decor in 2021. Dune offered grilled steak filets with seasonal vegetables, miso-glazed halibut, deep-fried crab claws with sweet chili sauce and Key Lime cheesecake. Dune offered no reason for the shutdown on social media or its website, now since deactivated.
Maxwell’s Plum
12300 S. Shore Blvd., Wellington; MaxwellsPlum.com
Owner Jenny “Oz” LeRoy was behind the reincarnation of this famed, flamboyant Manhattan singles bar that shuttered after three years on March 29. This is technically Maxwell’s second closing after Maxwell’s founder, Warner LeRoy, brought the original to New York’s Upper East Side from 1966 until 1988, courting celebrities from Barbra Streisand and Warren Beatty to President Donald Trump, who met his first wife, Ivana Zelníčková, there in 1976. The restaurant revival featured decorative callbacks to “The Wizard of Oz” (LeRoy’s grandfather, Mervyn LeRoy, produced the Hollywood classic) and a supper club-style menu of dry-aged N.Y. strips, chilled Maine lobster and oyster towers. Last June, the restaurant was plagued with multiple shutdowns by the state for roach-related and other issues.
Walt’s American Grille & Bar
6030 SW 18th St., Boca Raton; WaltsAmerican.com
A month shy of its fourth anniversary, this farm-to-table American eatery permanently closed on March 22, Walt’s shared on social media. Touting higher-end gastropub fare, Walt’s opened in May 2021 by franchisee Steve Swanson, who also runs Big Whiskey’s American Restaurant & Bar in Davie, with a menu of Shrimp polenta, Brussels sprouts, burgers, N.Y. strips, honey-glazed salmon, tuna nachos and shrimp ceviche, among other dishes.
OTHER RECENT CLOSURES
The Blues Burgers, 801 N. Federal Highway, Suites 109-110, Hallandale Beach. The live-music burger bar that anchored the Atlantic Village shopping complex permanently closed in early April.
KUBO Asian Fusion & Bar, 1933 N. University Drive, Coral Springs. Closed Feb. 28, but a Fort Lauderdale location on Southeast 17th Street remains open.
