The Sun Sentinel recently polled readers and asked them to name their favorite beach-front restaurant and the top spots (in alphabetical order) were Aruba Beach Cafe (Lauderdale-by-the-Sea), Boathouse at the Riverside, Deck 84 (Delray Beach), 15th Street Fisheries, and Sea Watch on the Ocean.
Unless otherwise noted all locations were in Fort Lauderdale. The top spot went to Aruba, an eatery to which I usually take out-of-towners for lunch. The views are spectacular, the food is reliable, and you are right on the beach. I am disappointed that over the years they have eliminated my two favorite dishes: the lobster club and lobster pizza. While it didn’t make the list, my other favorite, especially for dinner or late-night drinks, is El Vez in the W Hotel. Surprisingly well-priced, considering its location, the food and drinks are excellent, and service is to die for.
Look for Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse to open in the former Matchbox space on Fort Lauderdale’s Riverwalk. Some of the signature dishes will be a 12-hour brisket, pastrami short rib, chicken and sausages topped with flame-roasted kimchi and yuzu pickles. The name is “haiku” spelled backward, reflecting the team’s approach to food… structure, and balance, turned upside down.
Sommelier and sake maven, Marco Gomez will present varieties of sake paired with sushi provided by Kobaya catering at Papageno’s on March 25. The price for the event is $75 and includes a 10% discount on any purchases made that evening. Seating is limited to 20 people. Reserve your spot at papagenoswap.com.
With a name that pays homage to the beloved TV show “The Waltons,” Good Night John Boy, will open in the former Delray Beach Market later this spring. It won’t all be poor like the Waltons, though, the goal is to transport guests back to the funky and groovy era of the 1970s, with an ambiance reminiscent of a grandparents' funky basement/meets Studio 54. You can expect a space adorned with '70s-era icons such as Burt Reynolds or Farrah Fawcett, shag carpet, wood paneling, linoleum flooring, and retro wallpaper. You’ll be able to dance the night away amidst groovy tunes, spinning disco balls, and a sea of radiant neon lights via the custom LED-lit dance floor. I give it six months.
Novatore Cucina & Bar, which recently opened in Wynwood, has a serious powerhouse team helming the kitchen, including the first Chilean chef to be awarded a Michelin star, Fernanda Fuentes Cárdenas, and her partner in life and work, Chef Andrea Bernardi. They have tapped Chef Marco Rama as their Executive Chef to run the kitchen. Before Novatore, Rama was helming the kitchen at Italy's Michelin-starred Andreina. Novatore combines authentic Italian culinary heritage with modern innovation. They focus on the ingredients — working with local farmers, which will complement their imported ingredients from Italy, including a 30-year-old starter, which is used for the bread, made in-house.
The Food Truck Store may have been a hit in Argentina, but it fizzled here in Wilton Manors. Part of the problem was that many folks didn’t know it was a restaurant. Another problem is that, unless you knew to order some of the package deals, it was quite overpriced. So now that it’s kaput, can we finally get what Wilton Manors really needs, a decent diner? Peter Pan is past its prime and Courtyard is gone. Quality Diner which previously occupied this space, was a perfectly good example of the genre, let’s hope someone takes this place back to its roots. The last thing we need is another Thai/sushi place.
