Little Moir's Leftovers Cafe - among Jupiter's best, Florida's best

 

Little Moir’s Leftovers Café

451 University Blvd., Jupiter, FL 33458, 561-627-6030
Pet friendly; call to confirm appropriate seating is available.
No reservations. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; 

Friday and Saturday, 11 am until 9:30 pm.
Check their calendar on website for bands.
https://www.littlemoirsjupiter.com/leftovers-cafe

 By Jane Feehan

Making Yelp’s list (2023) of top 100 restaurants in Florida, Leftovers Café in Jupiter should be on everyone’s roster of must-dine at establishments when visiting Palm Beach County. It’s one of Little Moir’s collection of great seafood eateries in the area.

 A small, but elongated dining room in an unassuming corner of a shopping plaza welcomes patrons to a very casual atmosphere some might describe as funky. Walls painted in a Florida motif of oranges on green leaves and a wood (faux?) floor complete the theme. If visiting at the right time, a live band and singer will greet you with easy rock sounds. A small bar serves beer and wine and daily cocktail concoctions that staff eagerly participate in creating.

Menus are also daily creations offering the freshest fish around. I supped on an oversized filet of potato-crusted Pompano—a SOFLA fish getting harder to find each year and a bargain meal at $24. Served with a huge mound of sauteed vegetables (broccoli, pepper, onion, squash, cauliflower and more), the dish was destined to come home with me as leftovers…and so this reason for the name, right? 

Wrong.

Owner Mike “Little Moir” coined the name when he picked out the space for his new restaurant in 2008. It was filled with an assortment of things left there. It proved to be prescient choice.  

Back to my meal: it came plated with a tiny cup (a bit larger than dipping sauce size) of a tropical spiced fruit salad and another metal cup with a taste of fried plantains. Dessert was an oversized piece of oatmeal bread pudding. It was a very distant cousin of the bread pudding people are familiar with along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi and Louisiana, but still a taste bud tantalizer. 

Leftovers menu includes sushi, pasta, chicken and beef in an array of preparations. This café thought of everyone and cooks it in an open kitchen every which way. 

Check menu variations online. Great staff. Parking is free and it's fairly easy to get a spot. Busy weekday lunch hour traffic may present a few brief issues.

Tags: Little Moir's Leftovers Cafe, Leftovers Cafe, Jupiter restaurants, Jupiter seafood restaurants

Another restaurant win for Jupiter, FL - 1000 North

1000 North 

Jupiter, FL 33477

https://www.1000north.com
561-570-1000 - 

Reservations suggested. Call for hours

By Jane Feehan

I love Jupiter. Beautiful beaches, plenty of New Jersey accents and some outstanding restaurants. Retired hooper Michael Jordan and partners added to its list of must-try eateries when he opened 1000 North in 2018.

Name and address the same, 1000 North sits off US 1 along the Intracoastal. Most seating—inside and out on the patio—provides a terrific view of the waterway and a peak at the historic Jupiter Lighthouse. A private club on the second floor draws a young crowd at night during the winter season.

I recently stopped by for a Saturday brunch. COVID-careful, the place was busy with ample room between tables and wait staff with gloves and masks. The menu offered enough choices to please most palates.

We ordered Lobster Benedict, Chicken Street Corn Chicken and Crispy Brussel Sprouts. The lobster dish came with two medium-poached eggs astride an English muffin in Hollandaise sauce, a generous serving of watercress with a simple but tangy light dressing and, of course, a lobster tail. Street Corn Caesar, a variation of that traditional salad, is touted as one of their more popular dishes. With thick pieces of sliced chicken and crunchy seasoned corn atop crispy Romaine lettuce, it earned its place on the list of “populars.” Both plates pleased but the Crispy Brussel Sprouts, a side dish, took the taste prize. Caramelized in an air fryer along with huge fresh mushrooms, onions and with a drizzle of lemon aioli, this large side served as a conversation piece; it provided the perfect counterpoint to the other dishes we sampled.

Perhaps most of the conversation will center on the clientele, many who probably don’t know who Michael Jordan is nor his place in basketball history. This youngish well-heeled crowd, mostly under 40, dressed in haute couture casual, some with Jimmy Choo shoes, many in long resort-style dresses. This is not a place for cutoffs, jeans and flipflop shoes. Some men wore stylish shorts but I didn’t see any women in them. The beautiful people gather at this exceptional restaurant. I’ll be back but after I try Tiger Woods’ place—Woods Jupiter—a couple of miles away.

Reservations suggested. Call for hours of operation; COVID concerns prevail at this writing. Valet parking.

Tags: Jupiter, FL restaurants

Crispy Brussel Sprouts

U-Tiki Beach - Tropical Rhapsody in Jupiter

U-Tiki Beach

Jupiter Inlet Marina

1095 FL A1A

Jupiter

561-406-2210

No website, find them and menu on Facebook

U-Tiki Hours: Mon-Thurs – 4-10 p.m.;Fri: 4-11 p.m.;  

Sat: 12-11 p.m.; Sun:12-10 p.m.

By Jane Feehan

Worth the long wait and a great addition to Jupiter Inlet restaurants, U-Tiki offers a stellar view of Jupiter Lighthouse and surrounding turquoise waters. It’s operated by the people who own Jetty’s next store. They know seafood. 

The U-Tiki menu offers a bounty of seafood choices, including sushi, cracked conch, fried oysters, shrimp, yellow tail, hogfish (or what’s running in nearby waters) and a tasty Jupiter fav—grouper cheeks.They also do steak, burgers, chicken, flatbreads, a variety of salads and a few interesting Caribbean  bowls  flavored with curry and coconut or almond and cream sauces. Lunch and dinner menus differ.

An appetizing dining experience (mahi mahi and chicken dishes we tried proves this point) is heightened by the open air Florida verandas and beach (Ok, ok … an engineered beach), and broad

walkway along the docks to Jetty's; this happy place is authentically tropical.     A large bar overlooking tables and the inlet provides the perfect place for meeting new people or bringing friends who want to party.

U-Tiki is open for lunch on weekends only, to the dismay of many, but it’s a tropical rhapsody otherwise. 

Tags: Jupiter waterside restaurants, U-Tiki, Jupiter inlet restaurant,Jupiter Inlet bar, Jane Feehan

Lighthouse Cove Adventure Golf: a three-in-one venue in Jupiter

Lighthouse Cove Adventure Golf
   The Burger Shack
   3Scoops

617 N. A1A Jupiter 33477

561-203-7965

Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days

www.LighthouseCoveJupiter.com

www.TheBurgerShackJupiter.com

www.3ScoopsJupiter.com

Lighthouse Cove Adventure Golf officially opens this week in Jupiter. It’s a three-in-one enterprise that combines miniature golf in a fishing village-themed setting, a casual eatery with flat screen TVs to watch sports events and an ice cream store that also serves wine and beer.

This welcome addition to Jupiter, one block from the beach, close to Dubois Park, promises to be a popular place; the golf course was busy a week before the official opening Jan. 8—and before the adjacent  Burger Shack started serving.

The 36-hole course features sea life-sized figures of sharks and other fish, boats, caves, waterfalls and more. It’s the perfect setting for group events, children’s parties, a date or family outing. For rates, see: www.LighthouseCoveJupiter.com.

Tags: Things to do in Jupiter, miniature golf, burgers, casual dining in Jupiter

Lanna Thai - and one of the world's best foods - Jupiter

Lanna Thai

4300 US 1, #205 – The Bluffs Square

http://lannathaijupiter.com/

561-694-1443

Lunch – Mon-Fri: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Dinner - Mon-Sat: 5-10 p.m.; Sun: 5-9 p.m.

Takeout

By Jane Feehan

Readers of CNN Travel ranked Pad Thai, Thailand’s national dish since the 1930s and 40s, as one of world’s 50 most delicious foods*. Pad Thai served state side often fails to meet that assessment but Lanna Thai in Jupiter dishes up an outstanding version of this tasty rice noodle dish.

Their noodles are translucent thin and stir fried with shrimp, chicken and a dash of wonderful ingredients such

as tamarind, coriander and lime.  Plated with a garnish of ground peanuts, this Pad Thai holds top place in Lanna Thai’s most popular dishes.  We also dined on stir fried chicken atop a bed of fresh spinach cranked up to two and a half stars on the hot and spicy meter. Perfect. Their house-made vegetable and chicken dumplings are steamed in a thin dough that complements rather than hides the filling’s flavor. They were delicious even without the slightly thick, too sweet sauce they were served with.

Lanna Thai is a small eatery with about 12 tables. It’s a busy place during the season. Some snowbirds, no doubt, look forward to returning to the Juno-Jupiter area not not only because it’s warm in winter but also because of Lanna Thai.

* CNN Travel and world's 50 most delicious foods … http://bit.ly/15pLxyA

 Tags: Jupiter restaurants, Jupiter Thai restaurants, best Pad Thai in Jupiter, best Pad Thai in Juno, 

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.: life is a bucket of shrimp in Jupiter

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. CLOSED - RUSTIC INN NEXT - CLOSED ALSO

1065 N. Hwy A1A                                      

Jupiter, Florida 33477

561-744-1300
Open seven days, lunch and dinner

Update: service has gone downhill here and so has the food.

http://www.bubbagump.com/assets/menus/jupiter.pdf

http://www.landrysinc.com/concepts/restaurants/bubbagump.asp

By Jane Feehan

Landry’s closed Crab House a few months ago in Jupiter and reopened at the location as Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. The menu boasts all things shrimp (of course) and changes to the building are minimal. The view of the Jupiter Lighthouse remains outstanding.

The façade has changed a bit to display the Bubba Gump logo. An additional bar has been added indoors where the buffet table once sat. The deck bar remains basically the same except for a small portion, parallel to the inlet, now occupied by tables. Lounge seating next to the bar has been upgraded for comfort and looks. Those with an attachment to the 1994 movie, Forrest Gump, or who hold a particular fondness for the restaurant can purchase T-shirts and tourist trinkets at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. store on the premises.

Thanks to Landry’s management style, the kitchen was right on top of things a few days after the restaurant opened. That’s impressive. The menu offers lots and lots of shrimp-based fare such as mac and shrimp, shrimp gumbo, shrimp po boys, shrimp and grits and much more. Steaks and burgers and salads are available for the seafood shy. Bubba Gump features many menu items for $12 or less – great for families and the budget conscious.

In the movie, Forrest Gump and his partner, Lt. Dan, made plenty of money with the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Enough to buy shares of Apple to make them wealthy.  I can’t predict how much money Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. will reel in for Landry’s in Jupiter but it’s sure to make those happy who believe a good life includes a tasty bucket of shrimp.

For more waterfront restaurants in Jupiter, see:
http://janesbits.blogspot.com/2010/07/waterfront-dining-thrives-in-jupiter.html)

Tags: Waterfront restaurants in Jupiter, seafood restaurants Jupiter, shrimp in Jupiter

Duke's Lazy Loggerhead Café - Good food a few steps from Jupiter beach

Lazy Loggerhead Café

401 North A1A (Carlin Park)

Jupiter, Florida 33458

Seven Days, 8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

561-747-2952

Breakfast served all day until 2 p.m.

By Jane Feehan

Open for breakfast and lunch, Duke’s Lazy Loggerhead Café serves up gigantic portions at moderate prices.

It draws the gourmand rather than the gourmet but Lazy Loggerhead goes the extra mile to elevate a standard menu of egg dishes, salads, sandwiches and grilled lunch specials to acclaim and repeat performances. Most people are regular customers at this very busy eatery.

A recent lunch of a grilled chicken sandwich (about $11), steak fries and exceptional cole slaw proved to be as good as it looked (above). The chicken, marinated tender, came with shaved red onion, and a fresh, juicy tomato slice on a soft version of a hard roll. Companion diner enjoyed a blacked dolphin sandwich that earned high marks for perfect spicing.

The café sits on a ridge adjacent to the ocean in Jupiter’s Carlin Park; the beach lies on the other side of a berm of seagrape trees and tropical flora, so there’s no ocean view but the deep blue is just steps away. A long walk or bike ride will be in order after a meal at the Lazy Loggerhead Café. Beach goers welcome.

Tags: breakfast in Jupiter, lunch in Jupiter, beach side breakfast in Jupiter

Nick's Tomatoe Pie draws Jupiter fans of Italian food

Nick’s Tomatoe Pie

1667 W. Indiantown Rd.

Jupiter, FL 33458

561-744-8935

Open daily for dinner; takeout available

Sunday –Thursday: 4:30-9:30 p.m.

Friday-Saturday: 4:30-10:30 p.m.

By Jane Feehan

If you can get by the kitschy atmosphere with its wood and neon signs, tomato cans as center pieces, and elevated noise levels that reminds one of Italian eatery Buca di Beppo it’s clear that Nick’s Tomatoe Pie dishes up some good southern Italian food.

Sauces  - marinara, bolognese, alla vodka, primavera - and others that define Italian cooking are available with most anything the kitchen serves (the menu is huge). For starters, I ordered a Gorgonzola salad tossed with several varieties of lettuce, and tomatoes and olives topped with a generous amount of cheese that was worth the visit.  I was less enthusiastic about the individual loaf of tasteless bread served in a bag. It was redeemed by olive oil with plenty of garlic cloves. For the main course, I sampled eggplant rollatini (about $16). Three huge vegetable rolls stuffed with quality ricotta cheese in a delicious marinara plus a side penne (overcooked) was enough for two.  Smaller portions are available for a dollar or two less.  Fellow diner supped on penne with bolognese, another tasty sauce, and a better-than-average house salad. For $15, this small order dinner choice was a bit overpriced.

A raw bar with cold water oysters, and clams in white or red sauce are among favorites of regular customers. Nick’s serves pizza but with bland dough and tasteless toppings, it’s not worth naming this restaurant (and mis-spelling tomato) for. There are plenty of other menu items that please, including a lineup of pasta, meats, lobster and fish.

 Full bar, good service, family friendly. 

For recipes, grocery lists, a meal planner and meal plans, visit DinnerTool:  www.dinnertool.com

Tags: Jupiter Italian restaurants, dining in Jupiter, raw bar in Jupiter, takeout in Jupiter, wedding rehearsal dinner accommodations, Nick's Tomato Pie

Maxi's Lineup: Little Moir's brings live music, karaoke and tapas to Jupiter

Maxi’s Lineup (next to Foodshack)

103 South US Hwy 1

Jupiter, Florida

Open daily at 5 p.m., closed Sundays

www.littlemoirsfoodshack.com

561-741-3626

By Jane Feehan

Little Moir’s recently opened Maxi’s Lineup, next door to its popular Foodshack. Touted as a “tropical tapas bar,” Maxi’s is a welcome addition to Jupiter’s short list of places for live music and karaoke. It’s also a good place to have a drink and appetizer while waiting for a seat at Foodshack.

Maxi's interior mural

Smartly decked out in murals with an open kitchen, Maxi’s small room provides a stage for performers and an area for dancing. Seating is offered at two bars and in booths along one wall, with plenty of room to mix and mingle when the place fills up.

The tapas menu ($3-$10 average) changes daily and is as creative as that offered by Foodshack. The night I stopped by, BBQ Chicken Cigar Roll, Hot Tuna Poke with Macadamia nuts, and Panko Crusted Eggplant Fries joined an ample selection of other small plates on the menu. The eggplant ($5), served with a feta lemon honey aioli, proved to be a tasty start to the meal I had next store.

Maxi’s, reaching out to a younger crowd after 9, will also attract Foodshack fans of any age.

__________

Tags: Jupiter night spot, tapas bar in Jupiter, karaoke in Jupiter, live music in Jupiter

Café des Artistes in Jupiter - A breath of French air

Café des Artistes

318 South US Highway 1, Suite 101

Jupiter, FL

561-747-0998

http://www.cafedesartistesjupiter.com/

Open 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday

Breakfast, lunch, dinner and takeout

By Jane Feehan

If the only reason for visiting the Jupiter Yacht Club and Marina is dining at the Café des Artistes, it’s a good one. The food is quite palatable and the ambiance provides an interesting blend of France and Florida.

There’s ample seating both indoors and out. An umbrella-covered patio that provides sufficient refuge from sun and rain overlooks a waterway with docked boats, a perfect setting for any meal. A cozy bar inside draws those looking for some good conversation to go with a glass of wine. Patrons feel comfortable practicing their French with the French-speaking staff; all attempts - even bad ones - are welcome. 

The menu is filled with some traditionally French items – quiche, French onion soup, duck à L’orange, escargot, foie gras, and various patés. Dinner items (average $26) include a selection of seafood, lamb, steak, pork and chicken, replete with typically French sauces.

View from the patio

For lunch, I passed up the burgers and quiche and settled on a salad with large, pan-seared scallops ($18); these seafood treasures were as  fresh as they were delicious. A chicken sandwich (about $10) my companion ordered was dominated by the baguette it was served on. An open-faced sandwich of the same would have been better. Their featured tarte tatin  - apples caramelized in butter and sugar atop a light, flaky pastry - proved to be an appropriately sweet ending to the meal. This very French dessert could tempt me again.

Breakfast at Café des Artistes is a Continental affair with pastries, fruit tarts and croissants.

Café des Artistes closes in late June for about two months. I plan to stop in again before they say au revoir for the summer; the staff, setting and menu are worthy of a repeat performance.

Tags: Dining in Jupiter, waterfront dining in Jupiter, French café in Jupiter.

Dive Bar Restaurant in Jupiter: Tweak or thwack?

Dive Bar Restaurant

318 South U.S. Highway 1

Jupiter, Florida 33457

561-747-4767

www.divebarrestaurant.com

Open daily 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.

(Use search box at right to find restaurants by city)

By Jane Feehan

It’s a mixed bag of offerings at Dive Bar Restaurant in Jupiter, the suddenly chic spot in town for those in their 30s and 40s.

Let’s start with the good.

With a large jellyfish tank taking center stage in the bar area and a gallery of televisions running sea-themed videos, Dive Bar’s visual concept smartly complements its seafood menu.  Doors on one side open to a great view of the Jupiter Yacht Club and Marina. Totally Florida.

But ... most tables are outdoors on a patio; there are only two or three tables inside. The interior is otherwise limited to bar or sushi bar seating. With an  ambitious, over-priced menu, Dive Bar’s outdoor dining won’t be popular when the weather turns ugly humid in late May and the tropical downpours begin in June. What were the owners (affiliated with the Quarter Deck, Flannigan enterprises) thinking?

 

The menu is large, dominated by sushi, which, what I sampled was good – not stellar. I know I have to cut a place some slack when it’s new, but the menu itself needs tweaking. Non-sushi dinner entrees run $18-29, a little pricey for a meal when seated at a bar or on a patio crowded with  drinkers. They need to take po boys off the list; with skinny hot dog-like buns and meager filling they were laughable. A hog snapper sandwich ($14), also lackluster, was drizzled with a candy-sweet citrus aioli. Thumbs down also goes to their lobster roll ($17), swimming in mayo or some kind of sauce and unattractively plated.

View from the patio

Retool the menu, pare it down (do we need five soups?), skip the upscale dinners, improve the sandwiches and they’ll have something. 

The crowd is older, more diverse, during lunch hours. Service is spotty but that’s to be expected until the dust settles – and right now there’s plenty of it, figuratively speaking. Parking is free and plentiful with valet service also available.

Tag

Jupiter on Dwellable

s: Jupiter night spot, Jupiter dining, Jupiter waterfront dining, Jupiter seafood, Jupiter restaurants,

Emeril Lagasse knows oyster po' boys; here's his recipe  

Angelo's - Best pizza in Jupiter, Florida

Angelo’s Restaurant

155 Toney Penna Drive

Jupiter, Florida

561-747-2974

Open for lunch and dinner until 9:30 p.m. nightly – Call to check which nights

Delivery available

By Jane Feehan

The hand tossed crust is slightly crisp (not thin), the sauce is a perfect blend of tomatoes and spices, and the cheese is melt-in-your-mouth good.  It’s best eaten if folded. That’s a New York pizza, and you can get it at Angelo’s Restaurant.

His place isn’t fancy and it’s in a business/industrial area near the railroad tracks but he offers a full menu that features all the typical food most Americans flock to neighborhood Italian joints for: Hot and cold subs served on Italian bread, and chicken, veal, and pasta dinners with a few seafood items like mussels and fried calamari as sides. Oh yeah, don’t forget the Tiramisu, Cannoli or Zeppolies (Italian donut) for dessert.

I go for the pizza. I’ve been searching for months now and the Jupiter quest has ended.  Angelo’s has the best pizza pie in town. If you're looking for great thin crust pizza, visit County Line Pizza in Juno Beach (see review).

___________________________________

Tags: Best pizza in Jupiter, dining in Jupiter, Italian restaurants in Jupiter, Florida, best pizza in Juno Beach

Casa Mia, Jupiter Florida ... buon appetito

Enter city in search box on right for more restaurants in area

Casa Mia Trattoria and Pizzeria 561-972-6888

337 E. Indiantown Road, Suite 10E, Jupiter, Florida (Just west of the Intracoastal bridge on Indiantown Rd.)

Lunch: 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Dinner: 4 – 10 pm. Sunday-Thursday; diner until 11 on Friday and Saturday

http://www.casamiajupiter.com/

By Jane Feehan

Friendly, busy, fun, delish – and reasonable. That’s the newly opened Casa Mia on Indiantown Road. So far, it’s one of the best new restaurants to open in Jupiter ahead of the winter season.

A brick-lined lounge beckons both diners and drinkers with its expansive semi-circle bar and high tables. Whether it’s a pasta dish (average $12) or fresh seafood, including succulent mussels or calamari, meat entrées or individual pizzas (about $10), Casa Mia earns praise for preparation and pricing. Linguini with seafood is $15.95 – a bargain. Desserts and wine selections also score home runs.

And something else hints of continued success: They tweak, improve and add items - such as their breads - to cater to diners' tastes. That's always a good thing. Buon appetito!  Kid friendly. Large covered patio and pleasant dining room also available. Service: good.   Copyright  © 2010. All rights reserved. Jane Feehan.

For breakfast or brunch in the Jupiter area, see http://janesbits.blogspot.com/2011/02/breakfast-and-brunch-in-jupiter-and.html
Tags: Italian restaurants in Jupiter, casual Italian dining in Jupiter. Pizza in Jupiter.

Jetty's, Jupiter Florida: a restaurant's minimalist approach

For other restaurants along Jupiter's waterfront, read:
Waterfront dining thrives in Jupiter

(or Use search box at right to find restaurants by city)

Jetty’s Restaurant       
1075 N. Highway A1A

Jupiter, Florida 33477

Monday-Thursday: 5-9:30 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: 5-10 p.m.

561-743-8166

By Jane Feehan

Jetty’s provides a grand view of the Jupiter Lighthouse and inlet from its waterside patio. That’s a good thing because it falls short in several ways.

Seafood is the reason most dine at this spot and they do a great job with it. They also serve some good steaks.  But this is another eatery that doesn’t get the notion that a meal is more than the featured entrée.   Salads come wilted, bread is meager and vegetable accompaniments are minimal.  Prices average $30 for an entree, which is the norm for the area.

If there isn’t  a table available on the deck, leave. The interior is gloomy and filled with Denny's-style booths in vinyl. The bar – and this is what astounds me because they ignore it as a profit center – faces a dark corner of the interior without a view.  It’s merely a waiting room, so to speak, not a mood setter.

Jetty’s seems to have taken the minimalist approach with everything but the good seafood they serve. That said, they do draw in the business.  But with service focused on turning tables, a diner can walk out feeling like a number rather than an appreciated customer. Copyright©2010. Jane Feehan. All rights reserved. Enter city in search box on right for more restaurants in area. 

Use search box on right to find additional eateries in Juno, Jupiter and Palm Beach Gardens.

For breakfast or brunch in the Jupiter area, see http://janesbits.blogspot.com/2011/02/breakfast-and-brunch-in-jupiter-and.html

Tags: waterfront dining in Jupiter, Jupiter seafood restaurants, Jupiter Inlet restaurants

Schooners Restaurant - Jupiter, Florida: Rev it up or get left behind

Schooners Restaurant

1001 N. Highway A1A

Jupiter, Florida 33477

561-746-7558

Mon-Thurs and Sunday: 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.

By Jane Feehan

With a name like Schooners it’s no surprise seafood reigns here. This dreary restaurant sits near but is not on the water; too bad, because they need a view to justify dinner (not lunch) prices.

Schooners seems a bit expensive with daily specials averaging $27. Fish is fresh but lacks flair in preparation. A sweet potato crusted grouper ($26+) looked more like a few spoonfuls of potato were thrown on top and nuked for a minute or two; thankfully the grouper was fresh.  I ordered a baked potato and coleslaw for sides. The “baked” potato came via the microwave rather than the oven. The side of coleslaw was excellent. Fellow diner supped on a generous portion of lemon sole with a savory side of beans and rice.  Our issues were the beginning of the meal: salad served with a mediocre bottled dressing and resurrected frozen dinner rolls (the grocery store variety).

Does it cost that much more money to make good first impressions? After beginnings like these, I’m not in a good mood about the main course. Anyone who reads this blog knows I’m into good beginnings, good first impressions. A restaurant meal consists of more than the main course.

So: Schooners needs renovating, better rolls and salad dressing, and more sophisticated food preparation. Maybe then they could draw younger patrons.  They have a big following but it’s mostly the over 65 crowd. Perhaps Schooner’s has seen better days. Service: good. Copyright©2010. Jane Feehan. All rights reserved. Enter city in search box on right for more restaurants in area.

Tags: Jupiter dining, Jupiter seafood.

Sing for your lunch at Jupiter Beach Resort and Spa - Jupiter, Florida

Jupiter Beach Resort and Spa

Sand Bar, and 

Sinclair's

5 North A1A

Jupiter, Florida 33477

561-746-2511

866-943-0950

www.jupiterbeachresort.com

By Jane Feehan

Jupiter Beach Resort and Spa, the only hotel on the beach in Jupiter, offers some great venues to enjoy the outdoors. I stopped in recently for a poolside lunch – the Sand Bar – and was favorably impressed.

The setting - tables shaded by umbrellas amidst sea grape and other tropical flora and a bar decked out with comfortable wicker chairs – provides an island-type backdrop for relaxation or socializing.  Topography obstructs a view of the ocean from dining areas but there's plenty to make up for it: entertainment. A musician with a terrific repertoire of jazzy tunes played guitar, sang, and enlisted the singing talents of wait staff and patrons. 

Lunch, from their restaurant (Sinclair’s) kitchen, earns kudos also. Food is fresh, not expensive (average $9-12), and well prepared. Pick from a selection of sandwiches, seafood and salads – it’s all here.

Service is good. Call about outdoor hours of operation; they vary, depending on weather and the sea turtle nesting season.

The Jupiter Beach Resort and Spa (Summit Hotels) hosts weddings with a fabulous view of the ocean, not far from the pool; four were held the weekend we visited. Once a Holiday Inn, then a Hilton property, Jupiter Beach Resort recently underwent a multi-million dollar renovation, perhaps placing it on the roster of finer hotels in the Palm Beach area. (Thanksgiving dinner served as buffet or off the menu. Check their site. It runs $29-39.) Copyright© 2010. Jane Feehan. All rights reserved.  Enter city in search box on right for more restaurants in area.



Tags: Palm Beach area beach hotels, Jupiter hotels, oceanfront hotels in Jupiter and Palm Beach. Thanksgiving Jupiter.

Sala Thai in Jupiter: Dining with Asian balance and detail

Sala Thai

Jupiter Square

103 S. US 1, B-5

Jupiter, Florida

561-747-6944

561-747-6981

Lunch – Monday-Friday: 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Dinner seven days 5-10 p.m.

By Jane Feehan

Blend atmosphere, spice-done-right, cooked-to-order, and you’ve got Sala Thai.  This place is really good – whether it’s for lunch, dinner or group event.

Bring patience with your appetite; food comes to the table a bit slowly but it’s worth the wait. Thai cuisine is known for balance and detail and it's here. Besides the typical selection at a Thai restaurant, there are a few other palate pleasers such as fried rice with crabmeat or sausage, fried tofu, fresh fish and a good selection of desserts.

Reasonable prices make Sala Thai a popular spot for lunch, especially with locals. For about $8, one can dine on an appetizer, small salad and entrée for the mid day meal. Dinner comes for just a few dollars more.

Full bar where dining is also available. Service: good. Take out offered. Copyright ©2010. Jane Feehan. All rights reserved.

Tags: Thai restaurants in Jupiter, Jupiter dining, Asian food in Jupiter, Asian restaurants Jupiter

Tabica Grill: Odd mediocrity - Jupiter, Florida

Tabica Grill

901 West Indiantown Road (Jupiter Reserve Plaza)

Jupiter, Florida 33458

561-228-0108

Lunch – Monday-Friday: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Dinner – 5 pm-close seven days

http://www.tabicagrill.net     

By Jane Feehan

Enter Tabica Grill with caution. The menu is expansive (and overpriced), and in some cases, the food strange. It’s tough to describe their cuisine. It ranges from seafood to pasta to steaks (there’s even meatloaf) served up with a few Caribbean and Louisiana ideas.

Etoufee (about $17) came overloaded with sausage and shrimp tempura on the side. Strange indeed.  Needless to say, this is nothing like etouffee served along the Gulf Coast. No Mama influence here - a necessary Louisiana ingredient. I can’t imagine what twist they put on Louisiana BBQ shrimp. The other dishes we tried, very tough jerk chicken and an oddly cut piece of pork (each about $18) were equally disappointing. Bread delivered before the meal was a microscopically small loaf that we managed to divide into three slices. No salad included. To Tabica’s credit, they know how to cook up some delicious - and authentically Caribbean - plantains and black beans and rice.

The décor is odd as well. Lots of rough wood – almost a ski lodge look – but in a rail road car setting. Tables and booths are arranged in three neat rows down the room – good for maximum occupancy but not for comfort and design. While seating is geometrical and defined, the menu and food lack consistency and cohesiveness - an odd juxtaposition. Perhaps they should try it the other way around. Service: fair. Full bar, party room and catering available. © 2010. Jane Feehan. All rights reserved.

Tags: Jupiter restaurants, Jupiter dining, Florida dining

Hang ten (or not) and head to Dune Dog Café - Jupiter, Florida

Dune Dog Café

775 North Hwy A1A Alt

Jupiter, Florida 33477

561-744-6667

Open seven days 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

By Jane Feehan

The theme is Key West: bright colors, outdoorsy, laid back. Toss in some picnic tables and plenty of inexpensive, fun food and you’ve got Dune Dog Café. It’s a winning combination that draws lots of locals for lunch and diner. This little place is busy all the time – even on sluggishly humid and hot summer days.

Hot dogs headline the menu (they’re delish) but the cafe also features wings, barbeque ribs, fish, shrimp – even lobster – and more. There's grilled veggies and a small assortment of salads for the health conscious. Portions are generous. Dune Dog offers a special menu for those under 12.

Dune Dog is not air conditioned. It sits close to the road, not the beach, under a canopy of trees making it easy to miss if you’re not looking for it. Trees plus fans manage to keep temperatures but not the humidity down. That may not be comfortable for some during the summer. A winter visit comes with a caveat: lines of eager customers seem to grow during cooler months.

Wine and beer served in a super casual atmosphere Service: good. Credit cards.

Copyright 2010. Jane Feehan. All rights reserved.

Tag lines: Jupiter restaurants, hot dogs, children’s menu, Jupiter seafood, barbeque,South Florida restaurant reviews 

Guanabanas - fo fanas, fe fi fun tropical dining - Jupiter Florida

Guanabanas Island Restaurant and Bar

960 N. Hwy A1A
Jupiter, Florida 33477

561-747-8878

Breakfast - Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 8:30-11:30 a.m.

Lunch: 11:30 a.m -3 p.m.

Bar Menu: 3 p.m. to close

Dinner: 5-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday until 11 p.m.

Open Friday and Saturday until 2 a.m.

Happy Hour: 50 percent off well drinks and drafts - Daily 3-6 p.m., Friday, Saturday 11 p.m. to close

www.guanabanas.com

By Jane Feehan

Enter Guanabanas, and you’ll be transported into an outdoor paradise where atmosphere and dining provide the nexus to a complete tropical experience.  I half-expected pirate "captain" Jack Sparrow and his allies to saunter through for a meal and a bottle of rum. That didn’t happen but I wasn’t disappointed.

Most seating lies outdoors under umbrellas or thatched palm roofs in a setting thick with tropical flora, cooled with fans and misters. Torch-style lighting adds to the jungle ambiance at night.  Guanabanas (also the name of a tropical fruit) lies along a finger of the Intracoastal Waterway in Jupiter and is accessible by boat.  Available dockage is currently being expanded at an adjacent property to accommodate water travelers. There’s even a bar on a permanently docked "jungle" boat.

Live music plays several nights a week on a stage decked out with palm fronds. Two covered bars  provide other seating options for lunch and dinner gatherings. Seafood with a Caribbean touch highlights the menu but there are plenty of choices for those who prefer meat. The food is interestingly good.

Stroll on paths throughout the restaurant; there is something to see at every turn. Guanabanas welcomes all: families, singles, seniors and it’s casual – from shorts and flip flops to Sunday-go-to-meeting attire.  Warning: a very young, noisy crowd gathers for live music later in the evening. An older cocktail crowd gathers late Sunday afternoons. Self-parking is limited; plan to valet (free). Service: fair – slow at busy hours. Expect long waits for a table on weekends. © 2010 Jane Feehan. All rights reserved.  

Tags: Jupiter dining, Best Jupiter restaurants, Guanabanas Restaurant, waterside dining, dockage, Florida, Jupiter happy hours, seafood, South Florida restaurant reviews