It’s a new year, and there are already so many changes to report. Wilton Creamery shuttered its doors on Christmas Eve, but expect a new ice cream shop to open there soon. Palmyra struggled along, but in the end had to call it quits. Of course, Violet’s and Zen’s has been closed for months now, but nobody turned off the colorful neon light on the second floor, so it still shines bright.
Courtyard's Back, Baby!
But it’s not all bad news, Courtyard Café’s combining with Caruso’s has breathed new life into the place. Courtyard’s breakfast and lunch crowd continues to grow. On Jan. 3, Courtyard Cafe announced that it will begin dinner service. Caruso's never took off, so he's going to focus on catering, and Courtyard Cafe will be serving three squares a day just as it used to do. No word yet on how late they'll be open, but we really do need a late-night place on the drive.
Proof Is In The Escargot
The big buzz, of course, is Proof, which went into the space vacated by Chef Nate’s. Proof is the brainchild of Chef Marcy, formerly affiliated with Bubbles and Pearls. Now, Chef Marcy steps into the spotlight, and her small dishes are winning raves. Let’s start with the reasonable price point. Well drinks are $5, Absolut cocktails are only a buck more, specially crafted and fancy cocktails are $10-$15, tap wines are $6, and better vintages are still less than $10. Bar bites (country caviar, truffle fries, and a platter of crudité) are all $10 or less. The one comment about the food I’ve heard, other than it is delicious, is that portions tend to be small. The menu is designed for sharing, so plan on ordering a few dishes. In addition to the food items already mentioned, there is a caviar service, chicken drumsticks, Cornish hen, a mini-pot-pie, curried mussels, miso-glazed whitefish, mushroom flatbread, escargot, and a vegan version made with mushrooms, shrimp cocktail, and a charcuterie board. ProofWiltonManors.com.
Relax In The Florida Room
Husband-and-wife chef team Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth have opened The Florida Room, a waterside dining destination at The Fort, a sports and entertainment complex in Fort Lauderdale. The breezy indoor-outdoor bar is a great spot to enjoy happy hour. Unwind, sip, and snack on specially priced bites and beverages, available only at the indoor-outdoor bar, Thursday through Sunday from 4-6 p.m. and enjoy $5 draft beers; $9 wines-by-the-glass; and $9 top-shelf cocktails. Happy Hour also features a curated lineup of Happy Bites starting at $8, with highlights including local smoked fish dip with house-made Ole’ Bay potato chips, tuna tartare, deviled eggs, or pimento cheese dip with house-made focaccia, among others.
Florida Room also offers an a la carte brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eggs Benedict croissant, chicken and waffles, a smash burger, hot honey fried chicken sandwich, a brie & thyme tart, a brunch stromboli, or the Big Elvis featuring a warm, fluffy waffle with banana compote, banana caramel ice cream, bacon, bourbon maple syrup and fresh whipped cream. Bottomless mimosas are available for $28 per person. FloridaRoomFTL.com.
Miami Goes Southern
Miami has many global identities, including South American, but it’s been noticeably lacking in Southern American, and that’s a big distinction. Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelley offers elevated Southern soul food, handcrafted “Kocktails,” high-energy dining, and a signature “Welcome Home” hospitality. After thriving in six other U.S. cities, the restaurant brings its modern take on authentic American Southern comfort food to Miami. The Wynwood location will boast over 8,000 square feet of dining space and features the Blue Onyx Bar.
The scratch-made menu features more than 50 rich and elevated Southern comfort favorites, highlighting dishes such as gumbo, blackened shrimp and grits, fried chicken and waffles, southern fried catfish, Caribbean jerk chops, candied yams, mac and cheese, collard greens, fried green tomatoes, and salmon. KitchenKocktailsUSA.com/Miami.
