Coolinary Café - American culinary variations - Palm Beach Gardens

Coolinary Café

4650 Donald Ross Rd. Suite 110
561-249-6760

www.coolinarycafe.com

Open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Closed Sundays

By Jane Feehan

Authentic American dining with an innovative twist or two is in store for diners at the fast-paced Coolinary Café. Look for a spartan room tucked away in the Donald Ross Villages Plaza with people waiting to get a seat. It’s worth the wait.

For those who’ve dined at Charlie’s Reef Grill (Juno) and Little Moir’s Food Shack (Jupiter), Coolinary will seem familiar: an austere elongated dining space with tables, some counter seating and an open kitchen with a few very organized pros preparing food at the grill. Owners of the three places once worked together.

The menu at Coolinary Café changes often to accommodate season, availability and local sources. I supped on very fresh, delicately sautéed Pompano with lemon butter and sautéed brussel sprouts – a plate that could have met the standards of a sophisticated, more formal dining establishment. The same can’t be said about the Bouillabaisse, their version of a fish stew.

This stew was an American take on the Marseilles, France dish, which includes fish not available here but Coolinary’s version was lacking in imagination. The soup was mildly spicy—and flavorsome— but the seafood used was mainly shrimp with a few pieces of swordfish.

A very American dish was the boneless Southern fried chicken atop a jalapeno cheddar waffle with grilled lemon and coleslaw. The café put chicken and waffle together as if it had been that way from the beginning. New Orleans served as inspiration for one of their starters, crab and corn beignets. Innovative in flavor and texture, this gem is enough for a meal for one or an appetizer for three. It’s one of their most popular plates.

Coolinary does wonderful things with waffles. I ordered a “carrot cake-inspired” waffle with whipped cream and another maple-based topping. The waffle was tender and moist. There was no mistaking this was an American original, a great way to top off a meal at this fun and creative eatery.

Wine and beer served. Casual atmosphere but not ideal for small children at night; it’s a small room.

Open a casual seafood eatery, diners will come: Carmine's Crab Shack inPalm Beach Gardens

Carmine’s Crab Shack

2000 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens

561-275-2185

Open daily 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

www.carminescrabshack.com

By Jane Feehan

Carmine’s Crab Shack was open only two days when we ventured in to try some seafood. Normally I’d wait until a restaurant has its groove on before writing about it but this place is well on its way. Carmine Giardini has already chaulked up a number of dining successes in South Florida and in Palm Beach Gardens.

His newest eatery was filling up a few minutes before noon but we were immediately seated in the rustic sea-themed dining room at a large booth. Its table was covered with brown paper for those who indulge in crabs but for us it was too early to enjoy their headliner. Instead, we ordered a lobster roll, a Maryland crab cake sandwich and Clams Oreganata.

Delivered on a roll with a bulky piece of lettuce to give appearance of meat aplenty, the very fresh lobster sandwich would have been near perfect with a tablespoon more of the sea meat and a pinch of spice. Lots of fries and tiny sides of tasteless coleslaw or equally dull potato salad came with the meals.

(Management is deliberating whether fries will be included for the sake of presentation going forward. I vote YES.) The Maryland crab cake was made with more crab meat than bread, the way they should be. Clams Oreganata—clams in the shell baked with breadcrumbs and olive oil with a sprinkle of cheese—were delicious.

Carmine’s menu is ambitious with seafood galore: crabs, shrimp, lobster, fish, seafood tacos, PEI mussels, Ipswich clams, conch fritters, conch salad and more.  A few pasta entrees, some  meat dishes and a kids menu will quash any reason for not visiting Carmine’s Crab Shack.  It’s casual, reasonably priced and features a large, friendly bar (filled by 1 p.m.) for dining or socializing. Our server did a great job and the manager came by to ask if we had any suggestions as we left. This will be a busy dining spot; they are off to a great start.

Tags: Seafood restaurant Palm Beach Gardens, casual dining Palm Beach Gardens, lobster in Palm Beach Gardens, conch fritters in Palm Beach Gardens.

Sushi Yama - where food and art intersect in Palm Beach Gardens

Sushi Yama Asian Bistro

10921 N. Military Trail

Palm Beach Gardens, 33410

www.sushiyama.us

Lunch: Mon-Sat: 11:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

             Sun: 1-5 p.m.

Dinner: Sun-Thurs: 5-10 p.m.

Fri and Sat: 5-11 p.m.

 By Jane Feehan

Sushi Yama is too good to pass up; it’s where art and food intersect creating an adventure for both eyes and palate. No wonder this bistro draws crowds all year.

Located in the Garden Square Shoppes, Sushi Yama exudes freshness; there is no hint of raw fish in the air. After being seated at the sushi bar we were mesmerized by beautiful plates of raw fish being assembled with vegetables artistically carved into flowers and other ornaments. Pleasant staffers obviously enjoyed our appreciation for their skills.

A Spicy Krab roll  with cucumber and spicy mayo, and a Krab Tempura roll with avocado and cucumber were enough dinner for two (and at less than $12 each, a bargain) but we wanted to sample a chicken stir fry heated up to a three on the spicy scale. It was as delicious as the fresh salad served with peanut dressing.

It’s all here: sushi rolls, sashimi, temaki—cone shaped hand rolls—tempura chicken or fish, whole red snapper, beef entrées, vegetarian fare, noodle dishes, bento boxes … and glorious desserts. The staff is as warm and friendly as the atmosphere is sophisticated with its white leather chairs and subdued lighting.

Some say those boats of sushi amid beds of vegetable art are made with each recipient in mind.  It’s hard not to believe. They try that hard to please.

Tags: Asian restaurants in Palm Beach Gardens, Asian restaurants in Palm Beach County, sushi in Palm Beach gardens

Paddy Mac's - No blarney about food here; Irish dishes shine

Paddy Mac’s Irish Bar and Grill

10971 N. Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens 33410 (Promenade Plaza)

561-691-4366

Mon-Thurs: 11:30 a.m. to midnight

Fri and Sat: 11:30 to 2 a.m.

Paddymacspub.com

By Jane Feehan

Some say the Irish can’t cook. Of Irish blood, I would be inclined to agree – at least years ago. A visit to Paddy Mac’s Irish Bar and Grill in Palm Beach Gardens may change a few minds. Probably as many dine as drink here and there are plenty of reasons why.

The owner, Ken Wade, and a few of his chefs, including Ann Gibbons, hail from Ireland where they finely tuned their culinary skills at Ashford Castle Hotel in County Mayo. The food at Paddy Mac’s reflects their experience with and enthusiasm for dishes both rural and urban.

Irish Cottage pie, one of their rural creations, is a tasty blend of ground beef blended with savory sauce and diced vegetables and topped with mashed potatoes. Chicken Tipperary is also a winner.  Stuffed (not rolled) with a flavorful dressing accented with apples and almonds, this entrée comes drizzled with a slightly sweet whiskey sauce.

Seafood lovers with a taste for something different can dine on Fisherman’s pie of fresh scallops, shrimp and salmon with a tomato basil sauce and a pastry crust finish.  There are a variety of these “pies” including a vegetarian rendition and a steak and mushroom creation.  Lamb, prime steaks, chops, fish, burgers and salads round out the offerings.

Paddy Mac’s offers a comfortable, cozy setting with table cloths and décor that may remind one of an upscale pub in Ireland.  Patio dining and party room (of course) available. Full bar and good wine list. Paddy Mac’s is located at the Promenade Plaza so there is plenty of parking.

Tags: Palm Beach Gardens restaurants, Irish pubs in Palm Beach County, Irish pubs in Palm Beach Gardens, pubs open late in Palm Beach Gardens.

Burgers king at Burger Bar in Palm Beach Gardens

Burger Bar by Chef Allen

4650 Donald Ross Road

Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418

561-630-4545

 By Jane Feehan

Fried pickles brought me to Burger Bar – that and high praise for its trendy grub at its other location at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

Joining a growing legion of gourmet burger restaurants, Chef Allen Susser’s Palm Beach Gardens airy eatery is a welcome addition to the Palm Beach County market. It was a good move as gourmet burgers joints have little competition in that arena.

First the highlights. Burgers are outstanding, with USDA Prime Certified Angus beef and fixings they’re juicy, ample and cooked just right. The lineup of choices (from $8.50-19) presents more than beef; there’s tuna, turkey, Portobello mushroom and chicken. The Southern Fried Chicken Burger met the standard set by the burgers. The buttermilk fried chicken breast could be cut with a fork and was easily chewable through a perfect bun seared with the Burger Bar logo. There’s also a selection of fish sandwiches, grilled cheese, hot dogs, and mac n’ cheese and a great selection of salads, desserts, floats and shakes.

A Mississippi (where fried pickles flourish) transplant to Jupiter suggested I visit Burger Bar because they served fried pickles. They were a disappointment.  Overpowering fluffy beer batter (more like a tempura coating) diminished the tartness of the pickles ($5). They would have been more authentic and tasty had they been cooked in a buttermilk batter. We also ordered White Truffle fries, decorated more with its fancy name than flavor.

Burger Bar provides a sophisticated, yet fun atmosphere for all ages. Family friendly. Food takes awhile to be cooked, so patience is a virtue here. It’s worth the wait.

Tags: Gourmet burgers in Palm Beach County, Palm Beach Gardens restaurants, Jupiter gourmet burgers, Juno gourmet burgers, burgers in Florida

Café Chardonnay reigns best in Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach County

Café Chardonnay

4533 PGA Blvd.

Palm Beach Gardens, FL

561-627-2662

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

Dinner : Monday-Saturday – 5:30-10 p.m.; Sunday dinner 5:30-9 p.m.

Catering available

http://www.cafechardonnay.com/

Enter zipcode in search box at right to find more restaurant reviews

By Jane Feehan

Elegant, sophisticated, sumptuous, unpretentious – these are just a few of the adjectives that aptly describe both the food and décor of Café Chardonnay in Palm Beach Gardens.

Continental entrées are served with a 21^st- century emphasis on organic.   Starters for our lunch visit included French Onion soup appropriately crusted with golden browned Gruyere cheese, and Lobster Bisque infused with the flavor of those wonderful Maine crustaceans.  Organic Irish salmon served atop a bed of lentils, and a jumbo lump crab cake with far more meat than bread made for two exquisite meals.

Café Chardonnay is pricey with dinner entrées averaging $35 and sides served a la carte but it’s well worth it.  The summer provides an opportunity to dine for less. A specially priced four-course dinner menu changes weekly featuring house specialties such as rack of lamb, organic breast of chicken Milanese, San Francisco Cioppino (seafood stew), and braised short ribs, and much more.

Patio dining -popular during the cooler months

Consistently delicious, Café Chardonnay may be one of the finest dining establishments in Palm Beach and Broward counties.  Dinner reservations suggested.

_______

Tags: Fine dining Palm Beach Gardens, fine dining Palm Beach County, catering in Palm Beach County, summer dining deals, Cafe Chardonnay

Mr. Zhang's for traditional Chinese-American dining in Palm Beach Gardens

Mr. Zhang’s

4650 Donald Ross Rd. Suite 116

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33418

Lunch and dinner

Sun-Thurs: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri-Sat: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

561-624-2946

http://www.mrzhangchinese.com/

Take out also available

Enter zipcode in search box at right to find more restaurant reviews

By Jane Feehan

For those with a hankering for “authentic” Chinese-American dishes -- Chow Mein, Egg  Foo Young, Chop Suey,  Happy Family,  General Gau (or Pao) Chicken,  or egg rolls -- it’s all at Mr. Zhang’s.

A sophisticated décor accented with tablecloths, an attractive full bar, and ample seating both indoors and out, places an elegant touch on an otherwise pedestrian eating experience.

Combination platters, overloaded with rice, average about $9.  House specialties such as Rose Shrimp, Sizzling Mongolian Delights, and Roast Duck run about $15-16.

A good vegetarian lineup, a wide seafood selection, and a variety of lo mein, and fried rice dishes should satisfy most cravings for Chinese-American food. Mr. Zhang's is not gourmet but the prices are right, the service good, and the atmosphere, above average.

______

Food Network's egg roll recipe here or at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sara-moulton/egg-rolls-recipe/index.html

Tags: Chinese food Palm Beach Gardens, Chinese food Juno Beach, dining in Palm Beach Gardens, dining in Abacoa, Chinese food Abacoa,

"Ode" to lunch at Carmine's LaTrattoria - Palm Beach Gardens

Lunch at Carmine’s La Trattoria and Pizzeria

2401 PGA Blvd.

Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410

561-775-0186

http://www.carmines.com

Lunch served daily until 4:30 p.m.

By Jane Feehan

Lunch it was this visit to Carmine’s La Trattoria;

mid-day meal, I opine, is their best of the dia.

Salads, soups, sandwiches for less than ten dollars

may draw some fans with good-natured hollers.

Chicken meatballs and marinara on Italian bread

was more than one could eat before turning red.

That and the Milano, a grilled chicken with earthy roll,

induced us both to follow lunch with a long stroll.

Good food for two, great service for less than a twenty,

Will bring me back often while I shout out to many,

that lunch at La Trattoria is a better buy

than their disappointing dinners that leave one asking why.

Tags: Lunch in Palm Beach Gardens, Italian restaurants in Palm Beach Gardens

A nod to Russell's Blue Water Grill in Palm Beach Gardens - CLOSED

CLOSED
Russell’s Blue Water Grill

2450 PGA Blvd. (Prosperity Plaza next to TJ Maxx)

Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410

 561-318-6344

http://www.russellsbluewatergrill.com/

* Note - ownership may have changed

By Jane Feehan

Russell Beverstein and his band of chefs have put together an inventive, reasonably-priced menu at his new Palm Beach Gardens eatery.

With a display of eclectic cooking that’s been drawing a steady stream of locals and area visitors since it opened during the 2011 winter season, Russell’s Blue Water Grill should have no problems staying busy throughout the summer.

Seafood offerings such as Mango Lobster Tempura (about $23), Coconut Curry Snapper (about $21), join White Truffle Chicken Mac and Cheese (about $17) and a small selection of other land entrées. Prime USDA steaks, duck, and pasta all come with an interesting spin at comfortable prices.

Salads, loaded with fresh vegetables and served with a light but tasty house dressing are exceptional.  One caveat about their lobster bisque: full of flavor, made of lobster stock and the requisite cream, there's no lobster meat.

Russell’s Blue Water Grill offers live music Friday and Saturday nights. An attractive lounge area in an earthy wood and brick motif provides comfortable booths and a large bar with its own menu (as well as full menu).  It’s all here at the grill: good food, an attractive setting, light entertainment and great prices. It’s a welcome addition to the Palm Beach Gardens roster of restaurants.

 ________________

Tags: Palm Beach Gardens restaurants, Palm Beach Gardens seafood, Palm Beach Gardens night spots, Palm Beach Gardens good restaurants

III Forks in Palm Beach Gardens - They show the beef

III Forks

4645 PGA Blvd.

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33418

561-630-3660

http://www.iiiforks.com

Monday-Thursday: 5-10 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: 5-11 p.m.

Sunday: 5-10 p.m. (Closed Sundays July and August)

By Jane Feehan

 III Forks throws off a masculine aura with its dark woods and sophisticated, imperious-looking bar at the center of the dining room. The décor declares it’s a steak house and that business is conducted here.

USDA Prime steaks and a great selection of wines (there’s a walk-in wine room) serve as the two pillars of III Fork’s reputation. New York Strip, rib eye, filet mignon, rack of lamb and double cut pork chops headline the menu ($30-40). The kitchen does a command performance with meat. They claim the same expertise with seafood but that’s another matter.                                                              

Seafood ($28-32) includes lobster, salmon, sea bass, shrimp, scallops and other dishes. Lobster bisque is flat tasting, thin and devoid of lobster meat. Crab cakes don’t live up to III Forks’ claims of excellence. They do a fair job with fish filets but steaks and chops reign.

For the price conscious, there’s an interesting bar menu with popcorn shrimp, burgers, Kobe sliders, and salads. During the summer, III Forks offers complete dinners for $30 – a really good deal.

Full bar with a good choice of single malt Scotches. Quiet, understated sophistication earns my return visits.  Service: Good

_____

Tags: Palm Beach Gardens restaurants, Palm Beach Gardens steak house, fine dining in Palm Beach Gardens, Three Forks Restaurant 

Spoto's Oyster Bar, Palm Beach Gardens: Oyster bliss

Spoto’s Oyster Bar

4560 PGA Blvd.

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33418

Lunch and Dinner

561-776-9448

http://www.spotosoysterbar.com

By Jane Feehan

Shell fish lovers will find many pleasures at Spoto’s Oyster Bar: a sophisticated ambiance, great service, but above all, excellent oysters, mussels, clams, shrimp and other shelled delights.

From the cold waters of the northeastern U.S. and Canada, oysters take top billing here. Unlike their counterparts from the warm Gulf and Florida coastal waters, northern oysters tend to be less fleshy, delicate and a bit more salty. Spoto’s serves Blue Point, Well Fleet, and a variety of others as they find them.

Fellow diner and I enjoyed a sampler platter, about 20 oysters on the half shell, and what a palate pleaser. Ice cold and fresh from Long Island Sound, Cape Cod, and Canada, the oysters were served with lemon, three sauces and plenty of crackers. We couldn't decide which ones were best; they were all delicious. We then shared a meal of Panko fried scallops, also from cold waters, with rice and asparagus. This part of the meal was less exciting. The scallops, though fresh and of good texture, were unimaginatively prepared. Spice cake from the dessert tray served as the ending. Not nearly as good as it looked, the cake was heavy and short on flavor.

Other diners sitting at high top tables next to us raved about their seafood salads and chowders. A jumbo shrimp cocktail for $12.95 looked like a show stopper. My inclination would be to stick with  shellfish for the main course; that’s their specialty.

                                                                                                                  

Whether one visits Spoto’s for shellfish (how about some oyster shooters?) lobster, salads, chowders and soups (including gumbo), pasta, and land lover dishes, there’s an inviting array of options to put together a meal without denting the wallet. 

A raw bar, the Blue Point Lounge, and a patio provide plenty of seating and socializing venues. There’s a good crowd at Spoto’s during the season and if there’s a wait, it’s worth it for their oysters and other shellfish.

 ________________________________________________________

Tags: oysters, oyster shooters, Palm Beach Gardens seafood restaurants, Palm Beach Gardens fine dining, clams, lobster dinners, shrimp dinners

Dock the boat at Intracoastal restaurants in Palm Beach Gardens

Four dining establishments – each quite different but all providing boat dockage and a view of the Intracoastal  - mark the corners of the Intracoastal and PGA Boulevard in Palm Beach Gardens.
One in Lantana is noted.
Information on each is below; reviews of two are indicated. Enter city in search box for more restaurants in area or see post "Waterside dining thrives in Jupiter"

Seasons 52          Click here for my review

11611 Ellison Wilson Rd. (on the Intracoastal at PGA Blvd.)

Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33408

561-625-5852

Monday-Friday: Lunch - 11:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

                          Dinner -4-10 p.m. (11 p.m. on Friday)

Saturday: 11:30 – 11 p.m.

Sunday:   11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

Waterway Café – Click here for review

2300 PGA Blvd.

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410

561-694-1700

 Lunch, dinner

Frigate’s Waterfront Bar and Grill

400 US Hwy 1, North Palm Beach, 33408

Boat dockage available

Lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch

561-855-7497

Panama Hattie's        Closed                                         

11511 Ellison Wilson Road

North Palm Beach, Florida (Intracoastal and PGA Blvd.)

Open seven days: Lunch, dinner, sunset dinners and Sunday brunch

561-627-1545 closed 

River House (moderately expensive)

2373 PGA Blvd.

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

Open daily at 5 p.m.

561-694-1188                                 

E.R. Bradley’s Saloon

104 S. Clematis Street

West Palm Beach, Florida 33401

Breakfast (Mon-Sat, 7:30-10:30 a.m.) lunch, dinner, Happy Hour and Sunday Brunch (8 a.m.-1 p.m.)

561-833-3520 – Call for hours not listed here

Review of E.R. Bradley's Saloon

Lantana 
Old Key Lime House
300 E. Ocean Avenue

Lantana, FL 33462

Open daily from 11 a.m.

Happy hour 4-6 p.m. daily

561-582-1889

www.oldkeylimehouse.com

--------

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

Paris in Town: Oh so French in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

Paris in Town French Bakery Café

11460 U.S. Highway One

Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33408

561-626-6017

www.parisintowncafe.com

Monday-Saturday: 7:30 a.m.- 6 p.m.

Sunday: 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Open for dinner December to Easter (Call to confirm hours)

Catering also available

By Jane Feehan

A first impression upon entering Paris in Town is that it’s a French bakery. It is. This little gem serves some sweets that will titillate the taste buds. But it’s also a café where one can enjoy a glass of wine, a cup of soup, a sandwich, salad or the pièce de résistance for many, a sweet or savory crepe.

Paris in Town is not a comfortable establishment; tables are arranged mish mash: an extra long, communal  board or two where strangers (or friends) enjoy their meal, a few booths and tables scattered here and there. No matter, it all seems so … French.

A delicate cream of cauliflower soup served with a chicken salad accented with a hint of rosemary and sage was enough to have me planning my return. Fellow diner ordered a salad topped with chopped vegetables. It needed a sprinkling of blue cheese to really sparkle, but was fresh (as are all ingredients), ample and came with a quality house made balsamic vinaigrette. Both orders about $8. We ended our meal with a chocolate filled cookie (each $1.40) that we're still talking about.

Breads are also house made; most meals come with a few slices. Ask for butter. Speaking of butter – it’s what sets this bakery apart from so many others. Cookies, cakes, tarts, all their desserts are made with the real thing – not substitutes. Service: disorganized. Parking tight; some available in back of building.  Copyright ©2010. All rights reserved.  Jane Feehan

Seasons 52 - Waterfront dining in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

Seasons 52 ( a Darden Restaurant)

11611 Ellison Wilson Rd. (on the Intracoastal at PGA Blvd.)

Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33408

561-625-5852

www.seasons52.com

Monday-Friday: Lunch - 11:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

                              Dinner -4-10 p.m. (11 p.m. on Friday)

Saturday: 11:30 – 11 p.m.

Sunday: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

By Jane Feehan

Location, location, location.  That’s one attribute Seasons 52 can claim in Palm Beach Gardens. Staffers tell me this is their only restaurant in the nation (and there are many) that sits waterside.

But there's many more reasons to visit this establishment than its proximity to the Intracoastal.

Menus change with the seasons. Dishes are both kind to dieters (usually below 500 calories) and palate pleasing. It’s also inexpensive. Two can lunch for $20 or enjoy dinner for less than $50 (without alcoholic drinks). Desserts are divine – low calorie and delicious. Few endings to a meal can be as guilt-free as they are at Seasons 52.

Seasons 52 offers a terrific selection of wines, great service and a sophisticated décor dominated by wood, stone and earthy tones. With a large bar overlooking a deck dotted with tables and the adjacent Intracoastal Waterway, Seasons 52 gets busy early, especially during winter months. Reservations suggested. Copyright © 2010. Jane Feehan. All rights reserved.

Other Darden Restaurants: Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse, The Capitol Grille,
Bahama Breeze. For more information about Seasons 52 and these other full service eateries, visit: www.darden.com




Tags: Palm Beach Gardens restaurants, waterfront dining in Palm Beach Gardens, waterside dining in Palm Beach Gardens

Kosher style deli restaurants in Palm Beach Gardens and Jupiter

Below are places that serve kosher-style food in Palm Beach Gardens and nearby Jupiter; there may be others. Two below are reviewed on other posts in this blog.

David's East Side Deli
561-691-9293
http://www.davidseastsidedeli.com/

Boulevard Restaurant and Gourmet Deli 

(see review of July 3, 2010 in archives at: http://janesbits.blogspot.com/2010/07/boulevard-restaurant-and-gourmet-deli.html )

Garden’s Square Shoppes

10961 N. Military Trail

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33418

Breakfast and lunch all day every day 6:30 a.m. -2 p.m. (til 3 during the winter season)

561-776-8700

www.boulevardgourmetdeli.com

Kevin’s Dockside Deli - Closed(see review of July 25, 2010 in archives at:http://janesbits.blogspot.com/2010/07/kevins-dockside-deli-kosher-and.html

2401 PGA Blvd. (Harbor Financial Plaza)

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410

561-694-7945

Monday-Saturday: 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Sunday: 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

TooJay’s ( a chain – good but kosher-style only, not kosher)

Downtown at the Gardens  
11701 Lake Victoria Gardens

Open: 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday

            8 a.m. – 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday

(561) 622-8131
Directions: PGA Blvd and Lake Victoria Gardens Dr. (Downtown at the Gardens Plaza)

www.toojays.com

Jupiter
TooJay's kosher-style, not kosher
Bluffs Shopping Center
4050 US Highway 1, Jupiter

Open 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday-Sunday
(561) 627-5555
Directions: West side of Federal Highway (US-1), one mile north of Donald Ross Rd 

www.toojays.com

Tags: Jewish deli in Palm Beach Gardens, kosher in Palm Beach Gardens, kosher deli in Palm Beach Gardens

La Trattoria: Great unmet expectations

        

La Trattoria

2401 PGA Blvd. (Harbor Financial Center)

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410

561-775-0186

Open for lunch and dinner

11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

www.carmines.com

By Jane Feehan

Part of the growing roster of Carmine’s eateries, La Trattoria disappoints.  It sits adjacent to Carmine’s Gourmet Market, a trove of epicurean delectations that set the bar for our expectations.

Three of us ventured in for dinner one Saturday. The menu is expansive with seafood, pasta, pizza, and a variety of meat dishes. I ordered Pappardelle “Carmine's,” a wide fettuccini noodle served with chopped tomatoes and broccoli rabe. Another diner ordered lamb chops and the third, Linguine “Zia Pia,” a combination of clams, scallops and zucchini.   

While waiting, we sampled bread served with olive oil, the first disappointment. The server poured a concoction of dried (huh?) basil and whatever else onto the plate, followed by oil. The mix proved to be as tasteless as the bread. Then came the Caesar salads (a la carte) that earned an “A” for the anchovies, but flunked in garlic; we couldn’t taste any there or in the olive oil. Hey – La Trattoria is Italian, right?  

Bread and salads are first impressions. Neither impressed here.

Both pasta dishes were more uninspired zuppa than anything else and the lamb chops, well … ho hum.  We shared chocolate cake for dessert – the final nail in this meal of mediocrity.

Perhaps the pizza is better.

Service: good. Valet and self parking available. Moderately priced. ©2010. Jane Feehan. All rights reserved. 

Tags: Italian restaurants, Florida, Palm Beach Gardens,lunch,  dinner

Asian Fin: A sophisticated taste of Asia in Palm Beach Gardens

Asian Fin

4650 Donald Ross Rd, Suite 106

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33418

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

Monday-Friday Dinner: 2:30-10 p.m.

Saturday – Dinner only: 4-10 p.m.

561-694-1900

www.asianfin.net

By Jane Feehan

Owner/Executive Chef Tsutomu "Yama" Yamamoto of Asian Fin aims to please with his sophisticated choice and preparation of sushi, seafood and steaks.

It’s a small, elegant eatery with more seating outside than in, for now. He's opening extended space – a bar serving food - in August.  Judging by the way they filled up shortly after 6 p.m. one Saturday evening, the new area should have no trouble reaching capacity.

I ordered a sushi special for the evening: a Berry Nutty roll with tempura shrimp, avocado, cream cheese and paper thin strawberries ($15). Delicious. Fellow diner, not a sushi fan, sampled lobster cakes on a bed of greens for $12. They were fresh, ample in size and well prepared. We asked for vegetable fried rice that was out-of-this-world-good. Made with brown rice, fresh bok choy and other vegetables, it was more sautéed than fried – a good thing. Asian Fin is also generous with their glasses of wine.

Seafood entrees change daily, average $18-$25. The menu offers lots of different price points and choices for any taste or wallet size. Make a meal of appetizers, salads, bento boxes or even burgers.  We’ll be back. Service: excellent. ©2010 Jane Feehan. All rights reserved.

Tags: Asian restaurants Jupiter, Asian restaurants Palm Beach Gardens, Asian Fin hours of operation