Restaurants and Nightlife in Delray Beach and Boca Raton

When it comes to restaurants and nightlife few cities can compare to Delray Beach and Boca Raton.

Delray Beach was recently named the “Most Fun Town” in America by the Travel Channel and Rand McNally as a result of its incredible restaurant scene and vibrant downtown night life.

Atlantic Avenue has to be experienced to be believed. Very few streets in America have block after block of amazing restaurants, shops, galleries and nightclubs that appeal to all ages. Safe, with ample parking, downtown Delray ends at the ocean and is considered one of the finest Main Streets in America.

Boca Raton is also home to scores of incredible restaurants and has its own vibrant nightlife along Palmetto Park Road and in its renowned Mizner Park.

6 April, 2015 0 Comments

Random Thoughts on a Monday

April 6, 2015 By Jeff Perlman Leave a Comment

Pet Parade also raised funds for Dezzy’s Second Chance Rescue

Random thoughts on a Monday…

Happy 10^th anniversary to the Delray Beach Miracle League

It’s hard to believe that a decade has passed. I still remember the first presentation that Julia and Jeff Kadel did at City Hall.

Their passion, commitment and ability to deliver are simply remarkable. They got it done and our kids have benefitted immensely.

Sure, it takes a village, but the village has to include some amazing people and the Kadel’s certainly qualify.

Congratulations on a truly remarkable achievement.

Blaze Pizza

My day job requires that I keep up on some trade publications and so I have been reading a whole lot lately about a new franchise—Blaze Pizza.

Blaze Pizza is being billed as the Chipotle of the pizza business.

Explosive growth is being predicted for this concept, which is a build your own pizza and then watch it cook in 180 seconds.

Blaze recently opened on US 1 in Boca and we tried it last week.

The review: wonderful.

Fresh ingredients, gluten free, plenty of veggies available and a friendly staff.

Keep an eye on this concept.

Easter Bonnet Dog Parade

Every year I wait anxiously for the phone to ring, praying for the offer.

It came this year while sitting at the Solita Table at the Savor the Avenue event.

“Would you be a judge at the Easter Bonnet Dog Parade?” said CRA Green Market Director Lori Nolan.

Are you kidding? Of course!

There is no more fun under the sun than to watch the parade of dogs and sometimes cats, birds, goats and chickens that show up in their finest Easter wear.

The people are pretty interesting too.

This year, was no different. And the cat, 18 years old and brave, got a special award.

It was also interesting to note that most of the pets who participated were rescues; fitting since the parade highlighted the great work being done by Dezzy’s Second Chance Rescue, a fixture at the market.

Kudos to the Pineapple

Our friends at The Pineapple Newspaper did it again with a very cool April Fool’s prank outlining a new TV series featuring Delray politics.

There was some inspired casting including Ed Harris as Mayor Glickstein and Eva Longoria as Commissioner Jordana Jarjura.

Last year, The Pineapple created a stir when they reported that Boca Raton was purchasing Delray Beach. The report went viral on social media.

Kudos to Jeffrey Dias, Ryan Boylston and the team for their good work.

12 March, 2015 0 Comments

Seeding Entrepreneurs in Delray & Boca

March 12, 2015 By Jeff Perlman Leave a Comment

Loic at work.

Entrepreneurship is alive and well in Delray Beach and Boca Raton.

And the business activity is not just tech related, its food, fashion and social entrepreneurship as well.

Sometimes, entrepreneurial activity comes from sources that you least expect: a chamber program for youth, a reality TV show and the Delray CRA’s Green Market in the Park are only some examples of places that have given rise to new local businesses.

About a year or so ago, I had the pleasure of speaking to a group of 12-17 year old entrepreneurs participating in the Boca Chamber’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy.

I have stayed in touch with a few of the bright minds and met last week with Jake Artzi, the CEO of BoVault, which is a cool startup that provides solar powered “vaults” that allows people to store their valuables while they go to the beach, the pool, the gym or exercise in the park. BoVault is a next generation locker that uses biometrics and the sun to provide airtight security. Jake, a high school senior, has all the traits of a great entrepreneur. He’s passionate about his work, is constantly studying and improving his model and is out there knocking on doors to make it happen. He has a dream. And he will not be denied.

BoVault would be a smart solution for people who want a secure environment for wallets, keys, cell phones and other valuables while visiting Delray’s municipal beach or any one of Boca’s incredible parks.

I’m hoping that a smart city manager or elected official will give this young business a chance. Vaults are provided free to cities or hotels and can become a moneymaker because the model includes a revenue share for clients.

The local food scene is also teeming with entrepreneurs. Even this old blogger is in the game (shameless plug: Tabanero Hot Sauce and Bloody Mary mix, with more extensions on the way www.tabanero.com) some other examples are Celsius a Boca-based beverage company (full disclosure I’m a former COO of the company, a shareholder and still involved with the team), Amy’s Cookies (the wonderful Amy Robinson) and a soon to open French Bakery which first gained traction at Delray’s Green Market.

On Saturday morning at 9 a.m. fans of Loic Autret French Artisan Bakery can take an exclusive tour of the new business located 814 N.E. Sixth Ave. directly south of Plastridge Insurance. A grand opening is imminent. Tours will be offered until 1 p.m.

I recently took an impromptu tour of the bakery which is just wonderful.

Loic Autret became such a popular vendor at the market that lines form before it opens and often every baked good is sold out.

So Loic, sensing opportunity, decided to open a permanent location. I think he will be a smashing success. Kudos to property owner Connor Lynch for recognizing talent and helping to make it all work.

We often don’t think of the Delray Green Market as a business incubator, but it is. It gives budding entrepreneurs a chance to showcase their goods, test the market and if successful think about expansion. That’s really cool and very powerful.

So are the personal stories behind the businesses.

Loïc Autret’s first career was in the military. He was a Paratrooper in the French Army. As he tells it; one day, he met a beautiful American woman and fell deeply in love. As he was considering leaving the army to follow her to Florida, he thought: “What would a Frenchman who doesn’t speak English do in the United States? What do Frenchmen know best? Romance? Naturally! Fine Cuisine? Of Course! Baking? YES!”

So Loïc enrolled in “Ecole de Gregoire Ferrandi”, an exclusive French Baking and Pastry School in Paris to learn his new trade before moving to Florida and eventually marrying his dream girl.

In the last ten years, Loïc shared his new found passion for baking with South Floridians at the Four Seasons hotel in Palm Beach, the Barton G restaurant in Miami and the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Fort Lauderdale.

In 2013, Loïc started to make plans to open his own bakery one day. He has been honing his skills and perfecting his recipes while appearing at local green markets. And now his dream is coming true, with a built in fan base, courtesy of the Green Market.

Amanda Perna, also has a cool entrepreneurial story. Thanks to Karen Granger and the Delray Chamber I had a chance to meet Amanda at 50 Ocean recently for an event.

Amanda gained national fame on the hit show “Project Runway” and recently relocated her “House of Perna” fashion line from New York to Delray’s Artist’s Alley neighborhood. Take that Big Apple, Delray is cool too and we have better weather.

Amanda is a passionate entrepreneur who takes pride in her design skills and the fact that her clothing is sewn here in the United States, an important value for her.

Something very positive is happening. We are only at the beginning and the future is very bright.

14 January, 2015 1 Comment

Max’s Social House A Welcome Addition

January 14, 2015 By Jeff Perlman 1 Comment

Max’s Social House expands Delray’s smart culinary scene.

Dennis Max is a visionary restauranteur.

He has the ability to see trends and envision design elements that make restaurants special places.

Max’s Grille in Mizner Park has been a long time favorite, luring patrons to Mizner Park since the center opened and Max’s Harvest in Pineapple Grove is a hot spot.

Last weekend, we had a chance to sample Max’s Social House, the latest addition to the Max Restaurant Group line-up.

Housed in the former Ceviche and Falcon House building on U.S. 1, Max’s Social House is a welcome and unique addition to the city’s burgeoning culinary scene.

Smartly designed and cleverly conceived, Max’s Social House is designed to be a place where locals and visitors mingle, share, talk and enjoy familiar food prepared in a unique way.

So yes, you’ll find staples such as Mac & Cheese, short ribs and potato chips, but they’ll be prepared in a way you might not be familiar with, but you’ll be delighted nonetheless.

We had a chance to visit on a “Friends and Family” night ahead of this week’s soft opening courtesy of manager John Brewer, a local who will be familiar to Delray diners from his long time involvement in local restaurants, including Ceviche.

John and his friendly staff are engaging, knowledgeable and attentive and add to the “social” atmosphere of the restaurant.

We ran into Mr. Max himself and per usual, he was gracious to share his vision for Max’s Social House with us while explaining his goal of creating a warm and local friendly atmosphere.

We had the braised short ribs, which were fabulous, the burrata, an outstanding “rocket” salad and warm potato chips with a unique dip that was simply to die for.

We also sampled from the restaurant’s strong wine menu which includes Numanthia, a fabulous red wine that hails from the Toro region of Spain. We enjoyed a hoppy IPA from the local Saltwater Brewery which was excellent.

Delray’s restaurant scene is taking on new and interesting shapes. With restrictive parking codes enacted on Atlantic Avenue, new restaurants on the main strip are unlikely but the city’s nooks and crannies are beginning to fill up with interesting spots. Max’s Social House is the latest to lead in this new direction, it’s a welcome one.

Food culture is here to stay and Delray is a leader of this trend, which creates jobs, lures visitors and builds community.

The next step would be to grow and nurture local food purveyors and brands–many are being incubated in the CRA’s fabulous Green Market.

Am I believer? You betcha..I’m a partner and CEO of a Boca based hot sauce company Tabanero, an all natural sauce that is available in 1,500 restaurants in Florida and California and 155 HEB markets in Texas. We also have a Bloody Mary Mix and our chefs are busy cooking line extensions. We are inspired by the culinary scene in Boca and Delray and so are many, many others.

17 November, 2014 0 Comments

Who Offers The Best Bite On The Ave?

November 17, 2014 By Jeff Perlman Leave a Comment

Tryst Gastropub will be at Crane’s to defend its title as Best Bite on the Ave.

Cathy Balestriere, general manager of Crane’s BeachHouse Hotel & Tiki Bar, announced that the popular, Key West-style boutique hotel will be hosting its third annual Best Bite on the Ave on Thursday, November 20, from 6 to 8:30 pm.

“This is a win-win-win promotion in which everyone has a good time and savors some tasty food samplings from 10 outstanding restaurants while simultaneously raising much-needed funds for two worthwhile local nonprofit organizations: the HOW Foundation of South Florida, which provides hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) scholarship funding for wounded warriors and others in need, and Project Holiday, which supports local families who have loved ones serving in the armed forces around the world,” said Balestriere.

“Best of all – admission is only $5 per person, which includes one Best Bite token and five free raffle tickets for a variety of special prizes,” she added.

Ten competing restaurants will each set-up serving tables offering a variety of tasty goodies from their menus as they compete for the title of Best Bite on the Ave 2014.

This year’s local culinary competitors will be:

+ Caffe Luna Rosa

+ City Oyster

+ Pizza Rustica

+ Prime (The winner in 2012)

+ Rocky’s Bistro

+ Salt 7

+ Sundy House

+ Sweet’s Sensation

+ 3rd & 3rd

+ Tryst (The winner in 2013)

Attendees will select the winner by dropping special Best Bite tokens in their favorite restaurant’s token bowl. Everybody will receive one token with their $5 admission and an additional token with every drink purchase (be it alcoholic or not). At the end of the evening, the restaurant that collected the most tokens will be declared Best Bite on the Ave 2014.

The fun and festive event will be held throughout the hotel, around both beach-like swimming pools and the two large Tiki Huts. Live music will be offered throughout the evening, including the Atlantic High School Drum Line and Jazz Band. There will also be an assortment of free desserts that night from It’s Sugar and Two Fat Cookies at Crane’s BeachHouse Hotel, which is located at 82 Gleason Street in Delray Beach, just one block south of Atlantic Avenue and one block west of the Atlantic Ocean.

“Which restaurant will win the coveted title of Best Bite on the Ave 2014,” asks Balestriere. “That will be decided by those who come to Crane’s BeachHouse Hotel on November 20 for the final Third Thursday Fun-Raiser of the year.”

For more information please contact Crane’s BeachHouse Hotel at 561.278.1700 or visit the website at cranesbeachhouse.com.

8 September, 2014 0 Comments

Back from Vacation: Random Thoughts From the Road

September 8, 2014 By Jeff Perlman Leave a Comment

Charming, vibrant and walkable.

We’re back!

Thanks for indulging us during a vacation and the Labor Day holiday. We hope you had a great few weeks. We missed you.

Random thoughts…

We had a chance to visit Maine last week (Dave went to college at Bowdoin) and came away suitably impressed.

The coastline is gorgeous, the lobster and chowder is ubiquitous and the people are New England friendly.

We hit Portland, Boothbay Harbor, Rockland and Camden and got out on the waters of Casco Bay.

When you’re a recovering journalist, the first things you seek out in a new town are local publications. Newspapers and websites can give you a flavor for a place (much like we hope YourDelrayBoca.com does for our hometowns) and also give you some ideas for restaurants, day trips and shopping excursions. It’s always fun to see the issues that other communities are debating and read about local businesses, artists and people.

When we grabbed a copy of Portland Magazine and opened the page to the editor’s notes we were pleased and surprised to see a picture of Delray’s historic Colony Hotel and a column about how dishes and glassware from Delray often winds up at a sister hotel also called the Colony in Kennebunkport. The article talked a lot about Del Ray (spelled that way, with the space) and described us in kind terms. Colony owner Jestena Boughton would have been proud. We clipped the piece and will send it to her.

We also read a local alternative paper called The Bollard and read about Delray’s Ocean Properties in one of the stories. Ocean Properties, owner of the Delray Marriott and bunches of other hotels, is also a major player in Maine and New Hampshire. It’s indeed a small world and Delray’s tentacles extend Downeast as well.

Another great way to get a feel for a new locale is to walk the city’s streets, not just the main drag but the nooks and crannies. Portland is a great city for doing just such a thing, with cobblestone alleyways, charming old brick buildings and beautiful Victorian homes mixed in with newer development.

Armed with advice from some friends, we tried to avoid the touristy places and sought out local hang outs and live music.

Portland, like Delray, is a vibrant and walkable town. We highly recommend a visit.

All Hail Barbecue

We were pleased to come back to learn that our friend Scott Kennedy of Union Delray fame, was transforming his popular place into a world class BBQ restaurant he’s calling Smoke.

Pitmaster Bryan Terrell has been hired and he comes with incredible credentials. Terrell hails from Kansas City where he was the original smokehouse manager of the world famous Oklahoma Joe’s.

Anthony Bourdain named that place “one of the 13 places to eat before you die”.

Terrell has also achieved success in the world series of bbq. Now he’s coming to 8 East Atlantic Avenue.

Atlantic’s dining scene can use great barbecue. Smoke is set to debut this month. Stay tuned.

Food Scene Adds Player

Trader Joe’s opened in Delray last Friday and it’s a welcome addition to the local grocery scene.

As we’ve remarked before, competition is a good thing and with Whole Foods, Publix, Trader Joe’s, Winn Dixie, Wal Mart Neighborhood Grocery, The Boy’s and Fresh Market competing in Boca/Delray we expect to see high quality stores vying for local market share.

P.S. We can still use a public market.

Speaking of food…

Finally had a chance to have lunch at The Farmer’s Table in Boca.

This is a must see establishment with a wide array of healthy and natural food choices.

A shout out to FAU’s Kim Gramm of the Tech Runway for ensuring we went there.

25 November, 2013 1 Comment

Charity Dine Offers A New Way to Support Good Causes

November 25, 2013 By Jeff Perlman 1 Comment

50 Ocean is one of 200 SoFla restaurants on charity dine.

Going out to eat is a popular pastime in Boca Raton and Delray Beach.
But did you know you can help charity while dining at your favorite local restaurant?
Charitydine.com, an industry leader in connecting restaurants and patrons for the benefit of charity, has established a strong presence in Delray Beach and Boca Raton.
Among the local restaurants partnering with Charity Dine are: 50 Ocean, Boston’s on the Beach, Villagio, Japango, Jimmy’s Bistro, Prime, Karma Sushi Steakbar, La Cigale, La Stella’s, Patio Delray, Breathe, Tucci’s Fire N Coal Pizza, Scuola Vecchia, Solita, Rocky’s Italian Bistro, Kapow Mizner Park and Sushi Masa Hibachi.
The Charity Dine model is based on a win-win formula.
Restaurants receive new customers when charities reach out to their supporters and the non-profits benefit every time someone buys a dining certificate from Charity Dine.
Customers are motivated to spend their money at participating restaurants after purchasing 60% off dining certificates from Charitydine.com. Unlike Groupon and Livingsocial, Charitydine.com protects its restaurant partners with minimum purchase and gratuity requirements, which is why their program has been widely accepted by South Florida restaurants. The program is launching soon in Philadelphia. So far, about 200 restaurants in South Florida are participating.
Rich Anderson, Executive Director of the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League, is one of the charities benefitting from Charity Dine’s business model.
“We are extremely diligent when approached with a fundraising or cause marketing opportunity,” said Anderson. “Because of the League’s strong brand awareness in the community we are presented with these opportunities almost daily. Our partnership with Charitydine.com has been one of the most beneficial promotional programs we’ve ever entered into…easy, seamless, and completely transparent. CharityDine is truly a win-win-win program for the animals, for the socially conscious public, and for participating restaurants.”
Other charities involved include: Hospice of Palm Beach County, American Lung Association, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County.
For more information and to purchase certificates visit www.charitydine.com

26 September, 2013 0 Comments

Weekend Best Bet: Dig Deep for Dogs at Dig Restaurant

September 26, 2013 By Jeff Perlman Leave a Comment

Beau is up for adoption

Dogs are a man’s (and woman’s) best friend.

If you love dogs and we sure do, you’ll want to drop by DIG restaurant in downtown Delray Beach this Saturday, Sept. 28 for a fundraiser to benefit the 100+ Abandoned Dogs of Everglades Florida.

“Dig Deep for Dogs” will run from 3-8 p.m. at the DIG restaurant 777 E. Atlantic Ave.

The cost is a modest $20 per person and includes music, raffles, a live and silent auction, games, give aways, a free buffett and a cash bar.

Proceeds will help dogs that have been abandoned in the Everglades. The event will feature opportunities to foster and or adopt the dogs.

Visitors are encouraged to bring donations, food, toys, crates, beds and doggie gates. The supplies are needed to care for the abandoned dogs.

The event benefits an organization formed to care for the scores of dogs and cats being abandoned in the Everglades, Florida City, Redlands, Homestead areas by irresponsible owners. Some of the dogs are also abandoned in rural areas of Broward and Palm Beach counties.

The animals are left to fend for themselves in harsh and dangerous conditions.

When found they are often starving, sick, injured and struggling to survive.

An army of angels make regular pilgrimages to the Everglades to find these dogs and cats and bring them back to health. The ultimate goal is to find loving and caring homes for them.

We encourage you to visit the organization’s website at www.100plusabandoneddogsofevergladesflorida.com/

The site includes touching footage of actual rescue missions in which dogs are coaxed to come out of the brush to safety. They are often skin and bones and covered with fleas.

Once rescued, the dogs and cats receive expert veterinary care and are ultimately placed in carefully screened adopted homes. The adoption fee is $150. The fee covers the cost of food, health care, shots, neutering etc.

Most of the rescued dogs are boarded at Imperial Point Animal Hospital in Fort Lauderdale. Some are hosted at Camp Canine locations in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood. A few are hosted by foster families, also in South Florida. To meet any of the dogs, please call 561-860-3783.

All donations are tax deductible. Hope to see you at Dig Deep for Dogs this Saturday.

23 September, 2013 0 Comments

The Interview: “Big” Joe Stout of The Food Beat.com

September 23, 2013 By David Reeves Leave a Comment

Joe Stout, the visionary behind The FoodBeat.com

HUNGRY? VISIT THEFOODBEAT.COM

We recently caught up with Big Joe Stout, founder of www.thefoodbeat.com, a web site that reviews and features many of the restaurants here in Delray Beach. This is what he had to say about the culinary delights in Delray.

How did you come up with the idea for The Food Beat?: I was watching “Diner’s, Drive In’s, and Dives” one night and thought to myself, “Why couldn’t I do something like this for Delray Beach?” With the amazing popularity of the Food Network and Delray’s expansive array of eating places, it just seemed to make sense. And when you factor in that my life’s work has focused on food and video production, the marriage came naturally. I owned and operated a chain of five restaurants, a catering company, and a wholesale bakery in Michigan from 1980 to 1997, and then jumped into video production soon after. The Food Beat provides a restaurant and entertainment search engine where each business is featured in high definition video. This gives people looking for a place to eat a more comprehensive understanding of what they will be getting. We also have programs that provide an in-depth look at the restaurant and also gives viewers some unique insight. Everything we do is off-center and generally whimsical. Our show “Rollin with Murph” stars Danny Murphy, a chair-user for over 30 years. Danny has been in many major motion pictures including “There’s Something About Mary” and “Kingpin.” The show brings out the user friendly attributes of a restaurant’s accessibility. “The Nutrition Goddess” features bubbly nutrition expert Coco Fry who explores the healthier side of Delray dining, and “Food Woofers” is our version of “Man VS Food.” We even have a show called “Home Cook’n” that provides our viewers with video recipes they can also print out.

What are some interesting stories you can tell about exploring the world of restaurants here?: Two things kind of jump out at me. One, the majority of the locally owned restaurateurs are extremely passionate about their work. Part of that is because they know the competition is significant, but I believe more so because they have a tremendous amount of pride in what they do. There is a huge level of satisfaction knowing customers love your food and service, and of course, that generally equates to a growing business.

The other things that jumps out is the high level of skepticism most of these business owners have. I’m from Michigan where most people are more trusting and open…certainly more guarded here in south Florida. When I tell them the listing is free and they have no obligation, you can sense they are wondering what the catch is. You really have to work at building the trust, but once you do, the entire process gets much easier.

Overall, I have met some really good people who are hard working, community oriented people that love Delray Beach.

How many different types of restaurants are there in Delray?: On one of our shows, “Street Beat” where we ask locals random food related questions, we asked what restaurants is Delray Beach missing? There is certainly no shortage of Italian joints, but a few mentioned Indian and a Brazilian Steakhouse. Other than that, I believe most cuisine bases are covered nicely. We have really made a diligent effort to locate the unique and off the radar places a lot of people are unaware of. Believe it or not, there are many great places to eat in Delray Beach that are not in the downtown section of Atlantic Avenue. Although the “Ave” is hard to beat for food and excitement, there is a bigger food picture in Delray.

Any particular favorites that you can recommend for the following activities?:

Watching a football game: Delray gives you many sports bar options, but I tend to gravitate to the great food, great people spots where I can enjoy the camaraderie. Johnny Brown’s is always fun and has a great bar menu.

Taking wife/girlfriend out for birthday, anniversary, Valentine’s Day: Throw a dart. It all depends what you are looking for, but again, I tend to favor the places where the people are the most welcoming and make you feel special. My wife and have been going to Da Da since we moved here and always take out of town guest’s there for a great evening. Caffe Luna Rosa is wonderful and has a great beach location. SoLita’s has a really hip, chic atmosphere that relates to romance that my wife thinks is really cool. And if you want to feel like you are going to your Italian Uncle’s for a family like gathering, Casa Di Pepe in Pineapple Grove is a great option. I would also suggest a trip out to Patio Delray where Miss Lilly will treat you like a long lost friend.

Looking for the most diverse selection of brewskis?: Believe it or not, Puccini’s Pizza has some really great craft beers and they take it very seriously too. I have been there when they host events centered around the introduction of a new ale. I also enjoy throwing back a cold one at Tim Finnegan’s Irish Pub. Great bar, great people, and great food. And if you like Irish Whiskey, no one has a bigger variety in Delray Beach.

Other: The organic/health craze is well represented at The Green Gourmet on Jog Road. Joey and Wilson are the gurus of great tasting organic and they really know how to treat their customers. And of course, Fit Food Express brings healthy options right to your door .

3 September, 2013 4 4 Comments

100 Things We Love About Boca

September 3, 2013 By Jeff Perlman 4 Comments

Not necessarily in any order..but these are the things that we love about Boca. Send us your picks.

University Commons—As shopping centers go, this one is tops.
Mizner Park—As lifestyle centers go, Mizner Park works.
Patch Reef Park—Large, plentiful activities. Wonderful
Sugar Sand Park—We’ve seen some great hockey games at this standout park
Boca High—Teaching STEM, building leaders
Spanish River High’s Entrepreneurship Academy—Because entrepreneurship is not just the future, it’s the present.
DSW Shoe Warehouse—If you’re a guy, bring a book and relax
Town Center Mall—No better place to people watch
MedUTech—Great positioning for Boca’s brand. Medicine, Education, Technology
Don Estridge Middle School—If there’s a better middle school, we haven’t seen it
Lynn University—We love their international student body and entrepreneurial approach to learning
FAU Stadium—Now if we can only see it filled with fans
Max’s Grille- A classic, with the world’s best crème brule.
Brewzzi’s –Three words: Boca Blonde Ale
The offices of 3CInteractive—Ultra cool digs for an ultra-cool company
Deli On Rye—Always great pastrami.
Bagel Wit A Schmear- www.bagelwitaschmear.com. The owners are great
Saquella—Great sandwiches, great breads, great pastries.
Arturo’s—Classic Italian on U.S. 1 north end of town.
Trattoria Romano—The toast of Palmetto Park Road
Hotdogopolis—Would make the list, if just for the name. But the dogs happen to be delicious
SABR—Soccer Association of Boca Raton, great training ground for kids
Nordstrom’s—Legendary service and a piano player
Prime—We don’t smoke cigars, but we feel cool when we hang out here with friends who do
Uncle Thai’s—Classic Boca restaurant, fantastic Asian food and great service
The Young Entrepreneurs Academy—Progressive thinking by the Boca Chamber of Commerce
IPIC—A great movie going experience and Tanzy’s is wonderful
Villagio—Branzini never tasted so good. A taste of Northern Italy in east Boca’s Mizner Park
Boca Chamber Festival Days—Especially White Coats 4 Care which supports FAU med students
Jazziz Nightlife—A great place to catch great talent, half price wine on Mondays and Tuesdays
The Chris Evert Pro-Celebrity Classic Gala—Mingling with the stars at the Boca Resort
Boca Bacchanal-Food and wine, enough said
Boca Raton Historical Society—Preserving the past and Boca’s rich history
George Snow Fund—Investing in tomorrow’s leaders and CEO Tim Snow is simply terrific
Boca Surf and Sail—Great shop and Bob’s daily surf reports on twitter @bocasurfandsail are awesome
Junior League Boca Raton—A tradition of doing great things for so many
Free Summer Concert Series at Mizner Amphitheatre—Great live music helps us deal with the heat
Cinemark Boca—Still the mac daddy for its variety and comfy facilities
Living Room Theatres—Great concept, for the serious cinephile
Shadowood Theatre—A West Boca Oasis for some off the beaten track movies
The Boca Raton Symphonia-If you love classical and we do. https://www.bocasymphonia.org/
A round of golf at Southwinds—Appealing to all levels of duffers
Remembrance Plaza at Lynn University—A tasteful, beautiful and emotional tribute to those who lost their lives in the 2010 earthquake in Haiti
The Wold Performing Arts Center—Scene of the 2012 Presidential Debate, you’d be hard pressed to find a more beautiful venue
FAU’s Wide Array of Programs—Lectures, art, music, theater. It’s great to live in a college town. Visit https://www.fauevents.com/online/ for a full listing
Old Floresta—Just a great neighborhood
Boca Chamber Political Training Institute—Real world advice for those willing to seek it
Costco—Sure there’s no sign…but at least it’s there
Shake Shack—Danny Meyer’s hot New York concept is in Boca too
Grazing at Whole Foods—Sure it can be pricey, but the food is great.
Sonoma House—May be the best kept secret in Boca. A great, say that again, great venue for events, corporate retreats, conferences and weddings. www.thesonomahouse.com
The Allianz Golf Tournament—For one splendid week in February, the champions descend on Broken Sound. A can’t miss event.
Dancing With the Stars Boca Style—And all for a good cause, the Snow Scholarship Fund. www.ballroombattle.com
Boca Ballet—Even if you don’t love ballet, you have to be impressed that Boca has its own company. Awesome performances since 1991. https://www.bocaballet.org/
Boca Museum of Art—Paintings by the great masters, interesting exhibits and a convenient location at Mizner Park. www.bocamuseum.org
The 4^th Generation Organic Market-This east Boca gem is just a joy to visit. Shop or dine, it’s really cool and you’ll come back again and again. https://www.4thgenerationmarket.com/
Offerdahl’s Café Grill—Once “just a bagel place”, Offerdahl’s is so much more. Great sandwiches and a wide ranging menu. And yes, Offerdahl was one heckuva linebacker for the Dolphins. Nice guy too. https://www.offerdahls.com/
Boca Delivery Dudes—We can’t go out all the time, but we can bring restaurants to us thanks to Delivery Dudes. This smart concept puts convenience back into the delivery business with a roster of restaurants that grows every week. https://boca.deliverydudes.com/
Table 42—Grass fed burgers, a huge menu and more pizza toppings than we’ve ever seen.
Baja Café—Chef Pepe…a magician in the kitchen.
Red Reef Golf Course—There’s not too many places where you can golf along the ocean, but this jewel of an executive course is one of them. Magnificent views, reasonable prices, open to the public. www.ci.boca-raton.fl.us/rec/golf/redreefexec
Boca Beach Club—Ocean breezes, cold drinks, good food, attentive service. Paradise.
Boca Raton Children’s Museum—Located in downtown Boca, a great place for the kids and educational too. www.cmboca.org
Gumbo Limbo Nature Center—Fun for all ages, a great boardwalk, educational exhibits and lots to see and do. https://www.gumbolimbo.org/ Turtle releases are something to see.
South Beach Park—400 block of North A1A, a picturesque and serene scene.
Boca’s Tennis Centers—Three of them if you love the sport and we do. Patch Reef, Boca Tennis and the Racquet Center. Open 7 days a week. https://www.ci.boca-raton.fl.us/rec/tennis.shtm
Mizner Bark—A dog park with a cute name. But remember you need a permit. Here’s where you get them https://www.ci.boca-raton.fl.us/rec/dogparkflyer.pdf
Pine Tree Camp—a Boca tradition at Lynn U.
The historic Boca Train Depot and Museum—Why? Because we love trains and history. https://www.ci.boca-raton.fl.us/rec/traindepot.shtm
The Recreator-Boca’s bible for recreation. Available online at the city’s site and at City Hall and other public spaces.
Tin Muffin Café—This charming little place on East Palmetto Park Road is perfect for tea, sandwiches, snacks and hanging out.
The south entrance to the city—When you enter Boca from Deerfield Beach on US 1 you know you’ve arrived in a special place. Wide medians, beautiful landscaping, huge lush trees. Impressive.
Valet Parking at Publix—Yes, we’re serious.
Boca Inlet—Great place for boating and for watching some really cool vessels.
Boca Public Library—We love that the library has evolved with the times, with services like Zinio which allows you to read your favorite magazine online and Freegal which enables patrons to download as many as 156 songs a year (and keep them).
Coconut Cove Water Park—Long slides and a river ride make this a perfect place to beat the heat.
Sports Immortals Museum—If you love sports (and we do) you’ll want to visit this museum of memorabilia. Highlights: Josh Gibson’s jersey, autographed racquets from Agassi, Evert and Sampras and Sonny Liston’s robe. https://www.sportsimmortals.com/index.html
Boomers—Been around for a while, but still a fun place to play games, hit the mini golf links and take the kids.
Yamata Scrub—This piece of natural Florida at 601 Clint Moore Road is a great place to stretch your legs and catch a glimpse of nature.
Boca Airport—A fun place to see some really cool private jets. We once saw James Brown exit a nifty plane complete with entourage back in the day.
Royal Palm Plaza—When you think of how a shopping plaza in Florida should look, this is it. Elegant feel, eclectic businesses and walkable. Located on U.S. 1 in south Boca.
Athletes Edge—Located in the Tom Oxley Athletic Center, 7777 Glades Road, Athletes Edge is where the elite go to train. But weekend warriors are welcome as well.
Breakfast at The Bridge Hotel—A hidden gem, with great waterfront views.
Mozart Café—Modern Israeli cuisine in Boca Del Mar. Try the Balkan pizza, a blend of Israeli and Italian flavors. https://mozartcafeusa.com/
Starbucks on North Federal Highway—A lively scene every morning and afternoon, great for people watching.
Boca Farmers Market and Grill-Can’t beat the convenience of grilled food to go and fresh produce and vegetables. Located at 1949 NW Boca Raton Blvd.
Dubliner Irish Pub—Shepherd’s pie and fish n’ chips and lively conversation too. Mizner Park staple.
Boca Helicopters—Because an aerial view of a place gives you a whole different perspective. https://bocaratonhelicopters.com
The downtown Boca website–www.downtownboca.org
Saturdays at Sanborn—Fit and fun in downtown Boca every Saturday and 9 am and 10:30 a.m. Take a yoga class and then explore restaurants, shops and museums.
The Annual Brazilian Beat—A tribute to Boca’s burgeoning Brazilian population. This year’s street festival is Sept. 6. Music and a Zumba Showcase.
Sanborn Square Park—Any day. Picturesque and perfect.
Old City Hall—They don’t build them like that anymore..they should. Designed by Addison Mizner and opened in 1927.
Old Course, Broken Sound—For the discerning golfer
Karen Lynne Gallery—Karen Lynne chose Boca for her first east coast gallery. She has two on the west coast: LA and Beverly Hills. Oils and sculptures from exciting new artists in Royal Palm Place. www.karenlynnegallery.com
Great Place to Start a Business—No less an authority than www.zoomprospector.com ranked Boca #2 for best place to start a new company. We agree. The eco dev website cited 11 factors in ranking Boca so high including quality of the workforce, proximity to quality universities and number of startups.
We love that Boca punches above its weight—Despite still being a relatively small city, Boca ranks #3 in in concentration of the largest public companies in Florida. Boca tied with Miami! Impressive to say the least.
Boca Hospital—A community hospital in every sense of the word and among the top 50 in the nation.
The Schmidt College of Medicine—It’s great that Boca will feed its health care system with its own medical school on the campus of FAU.
1,497 acres of parks—And they are immaculate.

16 August, 2013 2 2 Comments

Places To See and Be Seen: An Insider’s Guide to Local Hot Spots

August 16, 2013 By Jeff Perlman 2 Comments

Where the action is…

Like lots of towns, Boca Raton and Delray Beach have what’s known as “it” places, haunts to see and be seen.

You know the description, restaurants, cafes and other hot spots where the movers and shakers make deals, break bread and toast the future.

Here’s a look at our subjective (with a capital S) list:

Boca Raton

The Grille—For years, this spot strategically located near tons of businesses on Congress Avenue near Yamato Road, has been a go-to place for business leaders. It’s so popular—and parking is so limited—that if you don’t get there at 11:45 a.m. you might not get a table for lunch. Who will you run into? Techies, investment bankers and real estate moguls.
Max’s Grille—This mainstay remains hugely popular. Located right next to the valet stand at Mizner Park, visitors can feast on good eats, the best crème brule on the planet and watch the steady stream of Bentley’s, Rolls Royce’s and Lexus’ pull up to dine. Who will you run into? Wealthy investors, visiting titans of industry, philanthropists and a smattering of politicians.
The Boca Resort & Club—The legendary pink hotel attracts a world class clientele and has hosted presidents and royalty. It also is well-known for its legendary conferences many of them business or finance oriented featuring speakers that range from Fed Chairmen to Fortune 100 CEOs. Who will you run into? Masters of the universe.
Abe & Louie’s—This Boston-based steak house attracts a large business crowd for lunch and for dinner. Who will you into? Count on seeing civic and business leaders, big wigs from FAU and and elected officials.
J Alexander’s –Located in the hugely popular University Commons, J Alexander’s is a smartly designed restaurant. The lunch crowd draws a lot of civic leaders, academics and business types. After six, the bar scene is lively and chock full of a who’s who of people making it happen in Boca.
Seasons 52—Located on the busy Glades corridor, Seasons 52 is busy for lunch and dinner. Who will you run into? Attorneys, bank presidents and people looking to watch their calories but still eat well.
Tom Sawyer’s—A breakfast and lunch hot spot for many, many years, Tom Sawyer’s on Second Avenue is non-descript from the outside, but step inside and you are sure to see lots of interesting peeps: Who have we seen there recently? Prominent land use attorneys, city officials, VIP’s from Delray looking to get out of town for a discreet lunch, a former editor of the National Enquirer and FAU coaches. Great food and reasonable prices make this a perennial favorite.
Uncle Thai’s—Boca Center is a major gathering spot for VIP’s for lunch and dinner. Uncle Thai’s is a long time institution popular with university figures, elected officials, real estate players and top sales and marketing professionals.
Houston’s—Yes, we know it’s a chain. But it is a cool chain and a very popular spot for business meetings. Boca’s tech and financial sector loves the place.
Capital Grille—Another chain, but this one is at the venerable Mall at Town Center, located near lots of businesses on bustling Glades Road. Hospital officials, public company CEO’s and investors love the ambience and the food.
Rocco’s Taco and Tequila Bar—Another Boca Center gathering spot for Boca’s most influential. Chock full of business visitors from the nearby Marriott and local leaders.
Prime Cigar and Wine Bar—Located at 2240 NW 19^th Street #916, Prime is…well…a prime spot for business men. This is the place that ad agency principals, restaurateurs, real estate investors, developers, bankers, high powered executives and others come to relax at all hours of the day. It was Mark Twain who said: “Eating and sleeping are the only activities that should be allowed to interrupt a man’s enjoyment of his cigar.” This is the spot for people who believe in that adage.

Tramonti: Ideal for business

Delray Beach

City Oyster—Delray’s business scene is a lot less formal than Boca’s, more board shorts than Bentley’s but don’t let the casual atmosphere fool you. There’s plenty of high commerce happening in the village by the sea. City Oyster is a political hot bed, with rivals eyeing each other to see who’s dining with whom. But aside from the political stuff (which is kind of silly), there’s plenty of business conducted over lunch at this beautifully designed restaurant which opens to the busy Atlantic Avenue.
Prime—This “supper” club also does a healthy lunch business with business types enjoying the view of Atlantic Avenue and nearby Worthing Park. Who will you see? Real estate investors, techies, bankers and non-profit execs.
Tramonti—Tramonti is busy for dinner and for lunch. Here’s where you’ll see visiting celebrities, high net worth investors, developers and their attorneys. The food is superb and so is the service.
Cabana El Rey—Popular with city leaders, local artists, non-profit leaders and creative types Cabana El Rey features a vibrant outdoor dining scene. We have seen Scottie Pippen of the Bulls and Sofia Vergara of Modern Family dining there (not together).
Brule Bistro—This smart and eclectic local bistro is a highlight of Pineapple Grove and popular with power players who don’t need to be seen on Atlantic Avenue. Developers, architects, philanthropists and foodies flock to Brule.
Caffe Luna Rosa—Busy for all three meals, but especially for breakfast. Popular with business types who need to remind themselves that they live near a beach. The restaurant offers great views of the Atlantic. Located at A1A and Atlantic. And some of the breakfast dishes are named after local figures (the French toast is named after me).
Smoke Inn Delray Beach—Popular with business types who like a good cigar. Cozy and cool perfect for good conversations.
The Sail Inn—Not an obvious choice, but a good one. This is where you’ll see locals go to blow off steam including ex mayors, former commissioners, city staffers, business types etc. Why? Because it’s a New York Yankee bar and that alone makes it cool.