Buzz Bite III

Brunch Time

Weekends were made for fun—and brunch. Here are some of our favorite local spots to unwind while sipping and savoring the afternoon away.

LOUIE BOSSI’S ITALIAN RISTORANTE

If you’re looking for a lively scene, this is the spot. Enjoy people-watching while you sip on unlimited mimosas, bloody Marys, Bellinis or Aperol spritzes. If you can’t decide on breakfast or lunch, pair one of its famous pizzas with the hearty French toast topped with fruit compote and then get ready for the best afternoon nap.

COSTA BY OK&M

Healthy doesn’t mean boring or bland here. At this organic kitchen, the dishes will please both your body and palate. Start with a cold-pressed mimosa before you dive into a menu that includes selections like the peanut butter and banana pancakes, cashew toast, and kale and salmon bowl.

THE FRENCH BAKERY

Stop into this quaint bakery before or after the beach. Toasty breakfast sandwiches like the spinach and gruyere cheese croissant share the menu with fruity bowls and quiches. And don’t forget the baked goods like its muffins, biscuits and always-fluffy croissants.

THE REGIONAL

Chef Lindsay Autry has relaunched her famous Sunday brunch with a succulent buffet. Look forward to classic dishes including Old Bay Florida pink shrimp, deviled eggs, fried chicken with honey biscuits and loaded grits. Cocktails, which will be served by the glass or carafe, include brunch favorites like mimosas and Bellinis.

—Christie Galeano-DeMott

What’s In a Name?

Sazio, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, takes its name from the Italian for “extremely satisfied.”

MIA Kitchen & Bar —7901 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. Contemporary American. Owner Joey Lograsso and chef Jason Binder have curated a balanced choreography of fascinating yet approachable dishes. The menu travels the world from Italy to Asia and showcases Binder’s formal training with elevated dishes that are exceptionally executed. It’s vibey with a great playlist, and the design, reminiscent of a cool Wynwood bar, is industrial with exposed ducts, reclaimed wood and sculptural filament chandeliers. It’s a place that amps up all your senses. • Dinner Tues.-Sun. 561/499-2200. $$$

The Office —201 E. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. Your office is nothing like this eclectic gastropub, unless your office sports more than two dozen craft beers on tap and a menu that flits from burgers and fries to mussels. Don’t miss the restaurant’s winning take on the thick, juicy Prime beef burger and simply wicked maple-frosted donuts with bacon bits and two dipping sauces. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/276-3600. $$

Papa’s Tapas —259 N.E. Second Ave. Spanish. This family-owned restaurant will make you feel welcomed, and its cuisine will satisfy your craving for Spanish tapas. Start with a few shareable plates and then enjoy a hearty paella that’s bursting with a selection of seafood, chicken or vegetables. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat., dinner Sun. 561/266-0599. $

Park Tavern —32 S.E. Second Ave. Contemporary American. Check out the high-top seating or bar stools during an excellent happy hour menu that includes deviled eggs, pork sliders, chicken wings and a happy crowd. Entrees are generous and well executed. Try the fish and chips, one of six burgers, fish tacos and more. • Dinner nightly. Brunch Sat.-Sun. 561/265-5093. $$

Racks Fish House + Oyster Bar —5 S.E. Second Ave. Seafood. Gary Rack, who also has scored with his spot in Mizner Park, certainly seems to have the restaurant Midas touch, as evidenced by this updated throwback to classic fish houses. Design, ambience and service hit all the right notes. Oysters are terrific any way you get them; grilled fish and daily specials are excellent. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/450-6718. $$$

Rose’s Daughter—169 N.E. Second Ave. Italian. While not your traditional Italian trattoria, it is a place to find new favorites and revisit old standards updated with delicious ingredients and high standards. Try the Monet-colored lobster risotto, or house-made pasta, pizza, bread and desserts. From the mushroom arancini to the tiramisu, you will be glad Owner/Chef Suzanne Perrotto is in the kitchen. Indoor and outdoor seating. • Dinner Wed.-Sun. 561/271-9423. $$

Salt7—32 S.E. Second Ave. Modern American. All the pieces needed to create a top-notch restaurant are here: talented chef, great food, excellent service. From the pea risotto to the crab cake to the signature steaks and a lot more, this is a venue worth the money. Thanks goes to Executive Chef Paul Niedermann, who won TV’s notorious “Hell’s Kitchen” show, and his talent is displayed here on the plate. • Dinner Mon.-Sat. Brunch Sunday. 561/274-7258. $$$

Sazio —131 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian. This long-lived venue on crowded Atlantic Avenue is a reason to sit down and take a breath. Then take up a fork and try the linguine with white clam sauce or the ravioli Sazio or grilled skirt steak or pretty much anything on the menu. Prices are reasonable; leftovers are popular. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/272-5540. $$

Sundy House—106 S. Swinton Ave. Contemporary American. Set in a lush, tropical garden, the outside tables here are the most coveted, second only to the tastes and combinations in the shrimp and grits, or the eggs Benedict, Taru burger, Nutella French toast and prime rib roast. This is a place to sit and savor your meal and the surroundings. • Brunch Sat.-Sun. Dinner nightly. 561/272-5678. $$$

Taverna Opa —270 E. Atlantic Ave. Greek. Yes, you can order a side of belly dancing and napkin tossing with your moussaka and baklava at this chain. But the moussaka and baklava are very good; so is the rest of the food at the downtown Delray outpost. Also worth your while (and appetite) are appetizers like melitzanosalata, whipped eggplant with orange zest and roasted red pepper, and tarama, a creamy emulsion of bread, olive oil and salmon roe. Whole grilled bronzino is finished with lemon and orange juices for a citrusy flavor boost, while tongue-tying galaktoboureko goes baklava one better by adding vanilla-scented custard to golden, flaky phyllo. • Dinner nightly. 561/303-3602. $$

Terra Fiamma—9169 W. Atlantic Ave. Italian. The pleasures of simple, well-prepared Italian-American cuisine are front and center here. Enjoy the delicate, pillow-y veal meatballs in Marsala sauce; lusty chicken Allessandro with mushrooms, spinach and artichoke hearts; and a finely crafted tiramisu that’s as satisfying as it is familiar. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/495-5570. $$

Tramonti —119 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian. In a world where restaurants chase trends with the relentlessness of Casanova in full Viagra heat, Tramonti stands out as a classic outpost of authentic Italian cookery. Not trendy hardly means stodgy, however, as evidenced by expertly crafted, robustly flavorful dishes like the signature spiedini di mozzarella Romana, spaghetti al cartoccio and braciole Napoletana. Torta della nonna is a triumph of the highly refined simplicity that lies at the heart of true Italian cuisine. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/272-1944. $$$

Veg Eats Foods —334 E. Linton Blvd. Creative Vegan This is comfort food for everyone; the dishes will impress carnivores, too. Smell the fresh coconut vegetable curry soup, which tastes as good as it sounds. Try the grilled brawt sausage, the Ranch chixn, the banh mi and a Ruben—all from plant-based ingredients that will fool your taste buds. • Lunch daily. 561/562-6673. $

Vic & Angelo’s —290 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian. People watching is a staple ingredient here, a complement to the Italian fare. The wine menu is robust, mainly grounded in Italy but with choices from around the world. Larger than personal pies, thin-crust pizzas are family-friendly, while you won’t want to share the Quattro Formaggi Tortellini, fluffy purses filled with al dente pear and topped with truffle cream. For a protein, try the traditional chicken parmigiana, a hearty portion of paper-thin breaded chicken breast topped with a subtly sweet San Marzano sauce under a gooey layer of fresh mozzarella, and a substantial side of linguine pomodoro. If you have room for dessert, the classic sweets include cannoli and tiramisu. • Dinner nightly; brunch weekends. 561/278-9570. $$

Lake Worth Beach

Paradiso Ristorante —625 Lucerne Ave. Italian. A Tomasz Rut mural dominates the main dining room, and there is also a pasticceria and bar for gelato and espresso. Chef Angelo Romano offers a modern Italian menu. The Mediterranean salt-crusted branzino is definitely a must-try. Plus, the wine list is a veritable tome. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/547-2500. $$$

Lantana

The Station House —233 Lantana Road. Seafood. If you’re hungry for Maine lobster, plucked live out of giant tanks and cooked to order, this modest replica of a 1920s train station is the place to go. Lobsters come in all sizes (up to 6 pounds) and are reasonably priced. • Dinner nightly. 561/547-9487. $$

Palm Beach

Bice —313 Worth Ave. Italian. Bice continues to hold the title of favorite spot on the island. The venerable restaurant offers a marvelous array of risottos and fresh pastas and classic dishes like veal chop Milanese, pounded chicken breast and roasted rack of lamb. The wine list features great vintages. • Lunch and dinner daily. Outdoor dining. 561/835-1600. $$$

Buccan —350 S. County Road. Contemporary American. Casual elegance of Palm Beach meets modern culinary sensibilities of Miami at the first independent restaurant by chef Clay Conley. The design offers both intimate and energetic dining areas, while the menu is by turn familiar (wood-grilled burgers) and more adventurous (truffled steak tartare with crispy egg yolk, squid ink orrechiette). • Dinner nightly. 561/833-3450. $$$

Café Boulud —The Brazilian Court, 301 Australian Ave. French with American flair. This hotel restaurant gives Palm Beach a taste of Daniel Boulud’s world-class cuisine inspired by his four muses. The chef oversees a menu encompassing classics, simple fare, seasonal offerings and dishes from around the world. Dining is in the courtyard, the elegant lounge or the sophisticated dining room. • Dinner nightly. 561/655-6060. $$$

Café L’Europe —331 S. County Road. Current International. A Palm Beach standard, the café has long been known for its peerless beauty, the piano player, the chilled martinis and the delicious Champagne and caviar bar. Try one of its sophisticated classics like wiener schnitzel with herbed spaetzle, grilled veal chop and flavorful pastas. • Lunch Tues.–Fri. Dinner nightly (closed Mon. during summer). 561/655-4020. $$$

Echo—230A Sunrise Ave. Asian. The cuisine reverberates with the tastes of China, Thailand, Japan and Vietnam. The Chinese hot and sour soup is unlike any other, and the sake list is tops. This offsite property of The Breakers is managed with the same flawlessness as the resort. • Dinner nightly (during season). 561/802-4222. $$$

Henry’s Palm Beach —229 Royal Poinciana Way. American Bistro. Part of The Breakers’ restaurant properties, this venue opened in 2020 and is an elegant addition to The Island. Try the pigs in a pretzel dough blanket, beer can corn, the lobster roll, butter crumb Dover sole and chicken pot pie. All comfort food with a Palm Beach twist, and it’s all delicious. • Lunch and dinner daily. 877/724-3188. $$$

HMF—1 S. County Road. Contemporary American. Beneath the staid, elegant setting of The Breakers, HMF is the Clark Kent of restaurants, dishing an extensive array of exciting, inventive, oh-so-contemporary small plates. Don’t depart without sampling the dreamy warm onion-Parmesan dip with housemade fingerling potato chips, the sexy wild boar empanaditas, chicken albondigas tacos and Korean-style short ribs. The wine list is encyclopedic. • Dinner nightly. 561/290-0104. $$

Imoto —350 S. County Road. Asian Fusion/Tapas. Clay Conley’s “little sister” (the translation of Imoto from Japanese) is next to his always-bustling Buccan. Imoto turns out Japanese-inspired small plates with big-city sophistication, like witty Peking duck tacos and decadent tuna and foie gras sliders. Sushi selection is limited but immaculately fresh. • Dinner nightly. 561/833-5522. $$

Meat Market—191 Bradley Place. Steakhouse

“Meat Market” may be an inelegant name for a very elegant and inventive steakhouse but there’s no dissonance in its food, service or ambience. Multiple cuts of designer beef from multiple sources can be gilded with a surprising array of sauces, butters and upscale add-ons. Whole roasted cauliflower is an intriguing starter, while a meaty Niman Ranch short rib atop lobster risotto takes surf-n-turf to a new level. Cast your diet to the winds and order the dessert sampler. • Dinner nightly. 561/354-9800. $$$$

Renato’s—87 Via Mizner. Italian with continental flair. This most romantic hideaway is buzzing in season and quietly charming all year long with Italian classics and a Floridian twist—like the sautéed black grouper in a fresh tomato and pernod broth with fennel and black olives and the wildflower-honey-glazed salmon fillet with crab and corn flan. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/655-9752. $$$

Ta-boo —2221 Worth Ave. American. This self-described “American bistro” is less typical “American” restaurant or classical French “bistro” than it is posh-casual refuge for the see-and-be-seen crowd in and around Palm Beach. The eclectic menu offers everything from roasted duck with orange blossom honey-ginger sauce to dry-aged steaks and an assortment of pizzas. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/835-3500. $$

WEB EXTRA: check out our complete tri-county dining guide only at BOCAMAG.COM

RHINESTONE COWBOY BALL, “BOOTS & BLING”

WHERE: Boca West Country Club

WHAT: Supporters of the George Snow Scholarship Fund pulled on their boots and saddled up for the 29thannual Rhinestone Cowboy Ball at Boca West Country Club. More than 300 guests were treated to a luxury cowboy experience that included a country-themed buffet, live music and dance, and whiskey tastings from Warren American Whiskey Kitchen. This year’s Cowboy Ball, emceed by Paige Kornblue and WPBF 25 Meteorologist Glenn Glazer, set a new fundraising record of more than $150,000 to benefit the George Snow Scholarship Fund’s mission of providing financial and support services to hardworking South Florida college students. During the night’s festivities, both the Boca Raton Airport Authority and Ed Ventrice were honored with Community Service Awards for their dedication in serving the City of Boca Raton. This year’s Cowboy Ball was sponsored by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (title sponsor), Amy & Mike Kazma, the James & Marta Batmasian Family Foundation and many more.

6: Andrea Virgin, Bonnie Halperin, Justin Ely, Rochelle LeCavalier

7: Mike Pontillo, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, Paige Kornblue, Glenn Glazer

8: Jackie Reeves, Robin Deyo

9: Matthew Maschler, Neil Glazier, Tim Snow, Cindy Sprott

10: Joe and Donna Biase, City Councilwoman Fran Nachlas, Dr. Nathan Nachlas, Linda Petrakis

11: Colonel Bobby Allen, Darlene Allen, Scott and Janie-Lyn McCleneghen

16TH-ANNUAL BOCA RATON CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE

WHERE: The Boca Raton

WHAT: Luxury car enthusiasts and fans of standup comedy were equally delighted with this year’s Concours d’Elegance in Boca Raton. The weekend-long event, chaired by Potamkin Automotive Group President Frank Peña, kicked off with a private VIP experience, then revved up the laughs the next night with a Grand Gala that featured a performance by comedian Howie Mandel and an awards ceremony that honored Dale Earnhardt Jr., General Motors Chair and CEO Mary T. Barra and Holman Enterprises Chair Mindy Holman with the “Automotive Lifetime Achievement Award.” The Boca Concours wrapped with a stunning car show that showcased hundreds of vintage and exotic vehicles, with “Chasing Classic Cars” host Wayne Carini serving as the event’s Grand Marshal for the 12th consecutive year. Founded by Rita and Rick Case of The Rick Case Automotive Group, the Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance has raised more than $10 million for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County since its inception.

YMCA OF SOUTH PALM BEACH COUNTY’S 21ST-ANNUAL INSPIRATION BREAKFAST

WHERE: Peter Blum Family YMCA in Boca

WHAT: The YMCA of South Palm Beach County hosted its 21st-annual Inspiration Breakfast to benefit the organization’s mission of connecting members of the community with each other and their own potential. NFL legend Emmitt Smith served as the event’s keynote speaker, delivering an impassioned speech about the services provided by the Y to local youths. Chaired by Alex Price and Vice Chair Brad Winstead, the sold-out event brought in more than 600 guests under the grand tent at the Peter Blum Family YMCA in Boca. The Inspiration Breakfast raised more than $400,000 to support the Y’s financial assistance program, which provides scholarships for individuals and families to participate in Y programs.

NINTH-ANNUAL BRAIN BOWL LUNCHEON

WHERE: Boca West Country Club

WHAT: This year’s Brain Bowl Luncheon brought together nearly 900 supporters to Boca West Country Club to raise awareness and funds for those living with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and dementia in our community. Pat Dean served as honorary chair for the luncheon, and Concussion Legacy Foundation CEO Dr. Chris Nowinski delivered a riveting presentation on the effects of post-concussion syndrome as keynote speaker, in line with the event’s theme of focusing on dementia-related concerns caused by traumatic injury. The luncheon also featured a fashion show which included former Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders and NFL football players as the volunteer models and local personalities Olivia Hollaus, Michelle Olson Rogers and Hollani Davis serving as emcees and commentators. In addition to addressing dementia in our community, the volunteer committee pledged a $100,000 commitment to the Brain Bowl Project, an intergenerational community room supported by the Fuller Center and Volen Center in which seniors and children can interact, play and enhance each other’s lives. This year’s luncheon was dedicated to members of the Boca Raton community who died in the past year due to Alzheimer’s disease, including former Mayor Susan Whelchel.

CONCERT-4KINDNESS

WHERE: Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts Auditorium

WHAT: Boca kicked off the new year with a compassionate start with the Concert-4-Kindness at Florida Atlantic University’s Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts Auditorium, presented by Marilyn and Jay Weinberg. Award-winning singer/songwriter Montana Tucker emceed and headlined the concert, which featured more than 125 performers from diverse backgrounds joining together for a stirring “We Are the World”-style performance. The concert was hosted by FAU’s Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, and conceived, organized and produced by longtime FAU supporters and Concert-4Kindness Co-Chairs and Vision Sponsors Bonnie and Jon Kaye of Kaye Communications PR & Marketing. Sponsors included Sklar Furnishings, Waterstone Resort & Marina, the Barry and Silvana Halperin Foundation and more.

May/June 2023 issue. Vol. 43, No. 5. The following are trademarks in the state of Florida of JES Media, and any use of these trademarks without the express written consent of JES Media is strictly prohibited: Savor the Avenue; Tastemakers of Delray; Tastemakers at Mizner; Florida Style and Design; Delray Beach magazine; Boca Raton , South Florida At Its Best; bocamag.com; Florida Table ; Boca Raton magazine. Boca (ISSN0740-2856) is published 8 times a year (September/October, November/ December, January, February, March, April, May/June and July/August) by JES Media. Editorial, advertising and administrative offices: 1000 Clint Moore Road, Suite 103, Boca Raton, FL, 33487. Telephone: 561/997-8683. Please address all editorial and advertising correspondence to the above address. Periodicals postage paid at Boca Raton, Fla., and additional mailing offices. Subscriptions: $19.95/8 issues, $29.95/16 issues (shipping fee included for one- and two-year rates). Single copy $6.95. No whole or part of the content may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission of Boca magazine, excepting individually copyrighted articles and photographs. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Boca magazine, P.O. Box 820, Boca Raton, FL 33429-9943.