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.

Where Small Crowds Flock: Hog Snappers Shack & Sushi - Tequesta, Florida

Hog Snappers Shack and Sushi

279 S. US 1

Tequesta, FL 33469

561-972-4723

Open Monday-Saturday: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Sundays 11 a.m - 10 p.m. (May change in summer)

By Jane Feehan

Tucked away in a strip shopping center along US 1, Hog Snappers could be easily missed except for sighting a small crowd waiting to get in.  The place has been a hit since it opened August, 2009.

Sushi earns high marks but their signature hog snapper sandwiches ($8 ) served on house made ciabatta bread also deserve applause. Portions are fresh – and huge. They also serve salmon, lobster cavatelli, paella, chicken, steaks and even ribs for dinner.  Skip the paella – not good. But the crab cake I supped on was outstanding; it wasn’t like any I’ve eaten before. Set atop a bed of coleslaw, accented with just a few tiny pieces of bacon and drizzled in a fantastic remoulade, it was enough, with a salad, for a meal. Much of the lunch menu is available at dinner hours, a good thing for the budget conscious.

The caveat here is the atmosphere. With cement floors, just a few tables*, lots of noise and a bit of smoke that drifts into the dining area from an open kitchen, Hog Snappers Shack and Sushi is short on comfort.  It’s not for quiet, leisurely dining. Crowds waiting to get in  ramp up the pressure to turn tables (for dinner arrive before 6 p.m.). For good food at reasonable prices, Hog Snappers is on the list.

Wine and beer served. Dinner entrées average $23, lunch $8. Service: good. Casual but think twice about bringing active children.  Copyright © 2010 Jane Feehan. All rights reserved.  Enter city in search box on right for more restaurants in area.

*NOTE: Hog Snappers has recently expanded and has added another bar ... a GOOD thing!

Tags: Tequesta dining, Tequesta casual restaurants, Tequesta seafood restaurants, Jupiter restaurants, 

Puttin' on the Ritz at Temple Orange - Ritz Carlton Palm Beach

Ritz Carlton Palm Beach -CLOSED JULY 1, 2013 to operate as a Preferred Hotel Group property,Eau Palm Beach Resort and Spa

Preferred Hotel Group 

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/PalmBeach

 By Jane Feehan

To borrow words from composer Irving Berlin: Now, if you're blue … And you don't know where to go to … Why don't you go where fashion sits … Puttin' on the Ritz …

Those were the lyrics I had mind as soon as I stepped into the Ritz Carlton of Palm Beach for lunch at their Temple Orange.  This elegant hotel with its shimmering lobby overlooking the azure blue Atlantic will put anyone in the mood for puttin’ on the Ritz. 

We took our seats at Temple Orange on the covered terrace, the best place to dine in the Palm Beach area when the weather is spectacular. With a great view of the pool and ocean beyond, a light breeze and low humidity, the atmosphere could not have been better.

Even a few bumps in the food – tasteless, watery hummus served with pita and flat bread – and a dry shrimp salad wrap – didn’t mar the occasion. Others in the party were pleased with their seafood, salad and dessert choices. Lunch entrées average $20 – not bad in this setting. Drinks can rack up the bill at $15 for a Mimosa and more for a good glass of wine, but one shouldn’t expect to count pennies here; it’s the Ritz.   

Chef’s choice at Temple Orange is breakfast, either buffet or order-from-the-menu. Dinner transitions to an Italian theme. Service: outstanding. Reservations for this casual indoor or outdoor restaurant recommended. Copyright © 2010 Jane Feehan. All rights reserved.

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

Captain Charlie's Reef Grill - where seafood sings in Juno Beach

Captain Charlie’s Reef Grill

12846 US Hwy 1

Juno Beach, FL 33408  (near the split in the road)

Lunch: Monday- Saturday 11:30 A.M.- 3 P.M.

Dinner: Sunday – 5-9:30 p.m.

Dinner: Monday-Friday 5-10 p.m.

561-624-9924

By Jane Feehan

Captain Charlie’s Reef Grill – known to most as “the Reef” - tops many lists for best seafood in the area. The focus is on fresh food, great wines and a convivial atmosphere generated by owner Ross Mathison.

Reef Grill

Ross knows fish. His menu features lobster, clams, shrimp, and fresh fish every day that’s grilled, blackened, sautéed, broiled or fried. The Reef also serves up grouper cheeks, the most coveted part of that fish - excellent. Panko fried scallops rank as some of the best I’ve eaten. Throw in a few of Ross’s creative touches such as mixed vegetable garlic cream, citrus vinaigrette, spicy marinara, or blueberry teriyaki and - presto – the seafood almost sings. And about that housemade ice cream: it's unmatched in South Florida. 

His wine inventory may also be unmatched. Ross Mathison ranks second among purveyors of wine in Palm Beach County, just behind the Breakers Hotel.

Sit at the bar to watch cooks in the open kitchen and, if Ross is there, engage in some lively conversation that may include food prep secrets, wine histories and his world travels. Or, rub elbows with sports greats or some very interesting locals. No cell phone zombies here. One thing is certain, no one is rushed from their seat at the bar – and that’s a good thing. Casual, unpretentious atmosphere. Service: good. Expect a wait after 6 p.m. Copyright © 2019. Jane Feehan. All rights reserved.

Tags: Seafood restaurants Juno Beach, grouper cheeks, Jupiter, Florida, casual dining, best seafood Juno Beach, Reef Grill Juno 

Pomperdale: New York in Fort Lauderdale

Pomperdale – New York Style Deli
3055 E. Commercial Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33308
954-771-9830
Monday-Saturday: 7 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Sunday: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

By Jane Feehan

Pomperdale is the real New York thing. Located just west of the Commercial Blvd. bridge, it plugs itself as “Home of the overstuffed sandwich.” That’s an understatement.

Sandwiches (around $10), are meant for sharing. Corned beef and hot pastrami lovers leave happy with the quality – and quantity – of these sandwiches. Whether it’s because of their chicken salad, turkey-off-the-frame, or any of their other creations, Pomperdale draws a loyal crowd.

They also serve terrific bagels, lox and simple egg dishes for breakfast. Open since the 1970s, Pomperdale hasn’t changed much over the years. It’s a basic interior here with lots of tables (no booths) squeezed into a small area; it’s not the most comfortable of eateries. Customers don't seem to mind. Most who frequent this spot for breakfast seem to know each other making it pretty lively in the morning, comfort aside.

The staff, with requisite gruff New York personalities, takes and expedites orders quickly, so don’t despair if there’s a line. Pomperdale earns my vote for best New York deli in east Fort Lauderdale. Copyright© 2010. Jane Feehan. All rights reserved.

See kosher deli restaurants in Palm Beach Gardens at http://janesbits.blogspot.com/2010/09/kosher-deli-restaurants-in-palm-beach.html

Tags: New York deli in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale restaurants, bagels, best Fort Lauderdale deli, deli in fort lauderdale, Pomperdale's

Harry's and the Natives - Good and Funky in Hobe Sound, Florida

            

Harry’s and the Natives

US 1 and Bridge Road (west side of US 1)

Hobe Sound, Florida

772-546-3061

www.harrysandthenatives.com

Breakfast     Tuesday-Saturday: 11 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Lunch          Tuesday-Saturday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Dinner         Tuesday-Saturday: 5-9 p.m.

Sunday        Breakfast only 7 a.m.-1 p.m.

By Jane Feehan

Can’t get enough of that funky stuff… so go the lyrics from a 70s Kool and the Gang song and probably what most patrons of Harry’s and the Natives would say about the mood of this roadside eatery.

Earthy remarks greet customers on signs and menus like “Warning: We cheat tourists, drunks and attorneys” or “Never eat in a restaurant next to a pet store.”  A life size camel and bigger-than-life size figure of Marilyn Monroe in a pink hard hat are just a few of the funky “art” pieces throughout. All in good fun, it’s reminiscent of the 50s and 60s when the outlandish beckoned tourists.

Harry’s first opened (different owners and name) in 1941 as a road stop replete with cabins and a filling station; today, under the management of owner Harry MacArthur, it’s probably the busiest place in Hobe Sound. Patronized by blue and white collar types and the über rich of Jupiter Island, it’s the place to go to catch up on local news and gossip – and sup on good food.

The menu features the basics: burgers, salads, chicken, pork and steaks. A few gems, like house-made quiche and other baked items heighten culinary interest. Harry’s isn’t for the epicurean but their food keeps business booming.

Indoor and patio seating available; live music scheduled during winter months. Beer and wine. Service: excellent. Say hello to Harry and his mother, Pauline, who  helps run the place.

Copyright ©2010. Jane Feehan. All rights reserved.

Fort Lauderdale's Shining Star: Marriott Harbor Beach Resort and Spa

 


Marriott Harbor Beach Resort and Spa
3030 Holiday Drive

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316

954-525-4000 (Restaurant reservations)

800-222-6543 – Hotel reservations

www.marriottharborbeach.com

Sitting on the best beach in Fort Lauderdale, Marriott Harbor Beach Resort and Spa is one of this city’s shining stars. 

A memorable family vacation includes good food, clean, sparkling beaches (if it’s a beachside hotel), activities for kids, pampering, privacy, attentive staff, and, of course, relaxation. It’s all here at Harbor Beach.

An ocean side view shows off magnificent cruise ships and yachts entering and leaving Port Everglades. Rooms come with a comfortable (not large but ample) balcony and a sliding glass door that can be left ajar at night; guests can drift off to sleep to the sound of waves. A room with a west view offers a panorama of Fort Lauderdale, including the Intracoastal Waterway. It’s as picturesque as the ocean side.

The palm tree lined pool area presents comfortable lounge chairs, private cabanas and supervised activities for kids. There’s even an adult pool adjacent to a fitness room that provides an ocean view. A cool, quiet, pool side spa delivers an exceptional and regenerative experience.

To top it all off, the three restaurants (Riva, Sea Level and 3030 Ocean) at the Marriott Harbor Beach serve up some of the best food in Fort Lauderdale for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It’s why locals, including me, patronize the eateries here.

Every reason for a trip to Fort Lauderdale is at the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort and Spa. 

Service: outstanding. Copyright All rights reserved. Jane Feehan

Tags: Fort Lauderdale vacation, Fort Lauderdale spa, Fort Lauderdale fine dining, Fort Lauderdale family vacation.