Now open: Arabian Nights belly dances onto Las Olas; Pink Steak brings flamingos to West Palm Beach

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NOW OPEN OR OPENING

Chala Taqueria, Fort Lauderdale
911 NE Fourth Ave.; 786-464-6793; chalataqueria.com

This newcomer to Flagler Village’s dining scene opened Dec. 8 in the space that was formerly Aida and, before that, American Icon. Chala Taqueria started as a ghost kitchen in Coral Gables. Now there are plans not only to open a dine-in there in January, but also to expand with three other locations in SoFlo sometime in 2024. Co-owners Alberto Fenoll and Marco Bardon say their venture — billed as a “fast-fine-dining, taco-themed restaurant chain” — uses fresh ingredients and traditional Mexican recipes for tacos and dishes such as Chicharron de Pork Belly, Esquites (Mexican street corn salad), Guacamole and Chips and more. It was founded,” Fenoll says, “on the principles of offering customers fresh, healthy, tasty and high-quality meals.”

Arabian Nights, Fort Lauderdale
904 E. Las Olas Blvd.; 954-533-7130; ArabiaNightsFTL.com

Craving more Middle Eastern cuisine on the tony Las Olas Boulevard drag, restaurateur Frank Talerico converted a chunk of his Piazza Italia dining room into this new Mediterranean sit-down, which formally debuted Dec. 23. Also offering a side hookah lounge and belly dancing, the restaurant is operated by Syrian owner Lina Chikhali and her daughter, chef Zenah, who once ran the short-lived Pita Pride in Wilton Manors. The menu leans toward traditional Mediterranean fare, including falafel platters, grape leaves, chicken shawarma and baba ghanoush, along with prime filet kebabs, charbroiled chicken kafta, grilled salmon and branzino.

Crumbl, Boca Raton
2200 Glades Road, Suite 508; 561- 872-4515; crumblcookies.com/flbocaraton

This gourmet dessert chain opened its newest South Florida franchise location in Boca Raton on Dec. 8. Owned by Courtney Newell, a West Palm Beach native and former Miss Palm Beach County, and husband Jamil, an engineer, the store features a weekly rotating menu of more than 250 flavors including: milk chocolate chip, raspberry cheesecake, brown sugar cinnamon, chocolate cake and more. Crumbl was founded in 2017 in Logan, Utah, and now has more than 900 locations across the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada.

The Peach Cobbler Factory, Oakland Park
3161 W. Oakland Park Blvd.; 954-766-4446; peachcobblerfactory.com

SoFlo’s dessert destination continues its ambitious plan to roll out 30 locations from West Palm Beach to Key West, with the latest location now open inside Oakland Park Flea Market. The brand offers 12 cobbler flavors (served with ice cream), 12 banana pudding flavors, six cinnamon roll flavors, 11 Bigger & Better Cookies, 12 Cobbler Cookies, along with Sweet Peachy Tea, cold brew coffee and Latin blend coffee. “We want to serve more markets in the South Florida area,” CEO and co-owner Greg George says. “With locations downtown, our mega bus on State Road 84 and Pembroke Pines, the Oakland Park area was an easy decision. Up next, we will add our new fixed mobile unit in West Park in early January. We currently have 73 operating stores across the country.”

The Blue Tree Cafe, Fort Lauderdale
612 NW Ninth Ave, Suite A; 754-206-3098, BlueTreeCafe.com

Billed as a “vegan soul food” spot, chef Sharon Allen’s cafe debuted in late November on the corner of Sistrunk Boulevard and Powerline Road. The cafe lets customers build their own “Blue Soul Bowls” piled with their choice of protein (grilled mushrooms, barbecue mushrooms, crispy cauliflower), sides (collard greens, mac ‘n’ cheese, quinoa and brown rice) and cornbread muffin. There are also “crab balls” made with heart of palm and chickpeas and plant-based chili with lentils, kidney beans, corn, onions and tomatoes. Allen, a former private chef and Sheridan Technical College graduate, opened Blue Tree with help from a $295,000 grant from Fort Lauderdale’s Community Redevelopment Agency, after some initial success with a ghost kitchen during the pandemic.

The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, Boca Raton
9961 Glades Road; 561-420-0626; TheGreatGreekGrill.com

This Nevada-born, fast-casual Mediterranean chain has debuted its fourth South Florida outpost inside Boca Raton’s Shadowood Square plaza. The 2,700-square-foot dining room, operated by general manager Carlos Perez, features a menu of dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) and spanakopita (spinach and feta inside phyllo-dough triangles), along with gyros, falafel pitas and steak souvlaki. The restaurant joins recently opened locations in Oakland Park, Palm Beach Gardens and West Palm Beach.

An Banh Japanese Corn Dog and Bakery, Fort Lauderdale
2630 W. Broward Blvd.; 954-368-8934; Instagram.com/mamayatai.donut

If you, like us, wondered what exactly makes a corn dog Japanese, wonder no more: It’s deep-fried in the usual thick cornmeal batter and then, like a flavor bomb of snacky shrapnel, coated in potato chips, Hot Cheetos, Rice Krispies and bacon-ranch dressing. Such is the delicious street-food madness of An Banh, a whimsical sister bakery to Davie’s MaMa YaTai & Donuts. The restaurant hosted its grand opening on Dec. 12 in the Riverbend Marketplace plaza, a slight jog west of Interstate 95. An Banh comes from Ngoc Chau and Loc Nguyen, the same owners behind MaMa Yatai. And while the menu is similar — mochi doughnuts, coffee and corn dogs — Ah Banh’s dining room looks like Hello Kitty on steroids: photogenic walls and ceilings of pink flowers, tufted red banquettes, paper lanterns and upside-down, cherry-blossom parasols. Doughnut flavors include creme brulee, ube, yam and flan.

Pink Steak, West Palm Beach
2777 S. Dixie Highway; 561-557-9083; PinkSteak.com

With DJ booths in the open kitchen and Miami-esque decor (peep the dining room’s 15-foot brass flamingo statue), Palm Beach restaurateur Julien Gremaud (Avocado Grill, Avocado Cantina, Pistache) adds cosmopolitan class to his new steakhouse, which debuted Dec. 20. The 175-seat dining room and alfresco patio are helmed by chef Aaron Black (Josco Garden in Tequesta, PB Catch) and offers classic oyster platters, chops, sushi rolls, hamachi crudos, coconut lobster bisque and caviar service. But its specialties are high-end grilled meats, ranging from Bavette Wagyu and dry-age porterhouses to prime ribeyes and N.Y. strips.

Vitolo, Fort Lauderdale
551 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd.; 954-414-5127; VitoloItalian.com

Attention, Swifties: The chef behind one of Taylor Swift’s reportedly favorite Manhattan restaurants, Emilio’s Ballato, opened his first namesake Italian restaurant inside the Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach on Nov. 28. With chef Anthony Vitolo’s eponymous eatery comes an outsize reputation: His Soho restaurant is a celebrity magnet, courting the likes of Blake Lively, Sophie Turner, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Joe Jonas and President Barack Obama. That vibe — modernized New York-style red sauce joint — continues at Vitolo with dishes including linguini alle vongole and housemade tagliatelle with a 72-hour bolognese of beef, veal and pork ragu. “I’ve designed the menu with signature beloved classics that evoke a blend of nostalgia and innovation in a single dining experience,” Vitolo says in a statement, adding that his ingredients are sourced from a family farm in Sarno, Italy. There are entrees such as Vitello Antonio, a center-cut veal chop encrusted in Panko and covered in vodka sauce, sweet peas, prosciutto and mozzarella; a handful of pizzas; and the Sala Arco, a cocktail bar evoking Florida’s Art Deco age where liberations are crafted by mixologist Jarmel Doss.

Saverio’s at Yacht Haven, Fort Lauderdale
2323 W. State Road 84; 954-774-1090; SaveriosSouth.com

Tucked away off Marina Mile at Yacht Haven Park and Marina on the New River is this new Neapolitan-style pie shop, which opened to the public Nov. 12. The pizzeria is an offshoot of owners Emily and Saverio Cataldo’s A & S Italian Pork Store on the Long Island hamlet of Massapequa, N.Y. The restaurant’s namesake is a certified Neapolitan pie-maker (from Italy’s Associazione Pizzaiuoli Napoletani) who fires his 14 speciality pies at 600 degrees for three minutes in an imported Castelli oven. In addition to their signature margherita topped with San Marzano tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella and extra virgin olive oil, the menu features Alina (fried eggplant and ricotta) and Pinsa, a “gluten-friendly” variant made with a blend of soy, rice, sourdough and zero-wheat flour.

Ol’Days Farm To Table, Fort Lauderdale
200 E. Las Olas Blvd.; OlDaysCoffee.com

This restaurant-cafe created in Buenos Aires, Argentina, by two sisters has blossomed into a U.S. mini-chain with outposts in Manhattan and Midtown Miami — and its latest debuted Nov. 27 on ritzy Las Olas Boulevard. Owners Martina and Juliana Fracchia fuel their 92-seat, breakfast-lunch cafe with caffeine and childhood recipes. These include Champ-Pancakes (oats, yogurt, mashed banana, coconut flakes, fruit and honey); a brioche Wagyu burger served with yuca; a Buddha Bowl with quinoa, adzuki beans, goji berries and cashews; and grass-fed short ribs atop a mound of mashed potatoes and broccolini. The owners source their coffee beans from Miami roaster María Esther Thome-López, and their all-day breakfast menu includes mimosas, bellinis and sangria.

Aunt Jenn’s Tea & Spice Shop, Wilton Manors
2420 Wilton Drive; 561-221-4737; AuntJenns.com

This tea emporium that began its life as a vendor at the Yellow Green Farmers Market has expanded into its second shop, debuting in early November on the northern end of The Drive. The cafe, registered to Jennifer Malone, offers organic and kosher-certified tea and spice blends, along with locally brewed kombucha on tap, seasonal lattes, honey-lavender matcha and something called Unicorn Poop Bubble Tea, a whimsical concoction made with strawberry herbal tea, strawberry bubbles, whipped cream and sprinkles.

Fiolina Pasta House, Boca Raton
5377 Town Center Road, No. 300; 561-473-9400; fiolinapasta.com

James Beard Award-winning chef Fabio Trabocchi is now one of us. Not only has he opened Fiolina at Restaurant Row, but Trabocchi is also moving his family to Boca Raton, where he and his wife first met. Fiolina occupies the venue’s largest space at 7,000 square feet and, in addition to the main dining room, features a lounge, pasta room, show kitchen (with counter dining), private dining room, outdoor terrace and an open Mozzarella Bar Kitchen (with charcuterie station and wine room). The eatery opened on Nov. 16. “While memorable food and exceptional service will be the core draw, Fiolina Pasta House will be much, much more,” Trabocchi says. “It will be the place where you will always find a sense of community, and everyday life celebrations happen.” Trabocchi already has Fiola in Coral Gables, and his Washington, D.C.,-based restaurant group includes Del Mar and Sfoglina Pasta House.

Hallyu Korean BBQ & Bar, Tamarac
6800 N. University Drive; 954-761-5227; HallyukBBQ.com

At 10,000 square feet, this massive all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue house, which opened in November in the University Commons plaza, offers 60 tables (with built-in burners) and two karaoke rooms. It joins an already bustling Korean restaurant row on University Drive, packed with grocery and barbecue joints such as Gabose, ROK and Manna Korean. Hallyu, registered to owner Ray Park, features barbecued proteins like bulgogi and pork belly, as well as kimchi jjigae (stew) and banchan (tiny side dishes).

Maggie McFly’s Local Craft Eatery & Bar, Boca Raton
6000 Glades Road; 561-418-6688; maggiemcflys.com

We now have touchdown for this concept that flew into SoFlo out of Connecticut on Nov. 20. Celebrating its 30th anniversary with this first foray into Florida, Maggie MacFly’s did a total down-to-the-studs makeover of a space inside Town Center at Boca Raton mall (where Rex Baron once stood). The Maggie McFly’s menu has more than 180 items including burgers, pizzas, sandwiches, street foods (tacos, gyros, sliders), pastas, chicken dishes, salads, seafood, steaks and ribs, appetizers, snacks and desserts. “We will do seasonal specials that will be much more focused on Florida and Boca, more fresh fish,” says founder and owner Ray Harper, a snowbird in Palm Beach Gardens. The company also touts the use of locally sourced products, both in the kitchen and the bar.

Emmy Squared Pizza, Fort Lauderdale
468 N. Federal Highway; 754-296-0076; EmmySquaredPizza.com

Sure, their first South Florida entry is perhaps late to the local Detroit-style trend, but this Brooklyn-born chain is hardly a shrine to just square pizza. The 98-seat pizzeria (70 indoor, 28 on the patio) in Victoria Park, which replaces the former Spatch Peri-Peri Chicken, also slings Grandma- and New York-style pies, half-pound hamburgers and craft cocktails, salads and spicy chicken sandwiches. Still, the bestseller at Emmy, which debuted Nov. 24, remains the Detroit-style, a focaccia-like pizza with lacy cheese crust fired in a rectangular tray. Other pies are named after Italian patron saints, including “The Sopranos” character Artie Bucco (garlic confit cloves, caramelized onions, basil) and late VH1 “Mob Wives” personality Big Ang (vodka sauce, ricotta, double pecorino, Italian sausage, banana peppers). Finally, there’s the Le Big Matt Burger, a half-pound double patty on a pretzel bun, plated with waffle-cut fries. A second location is planned in Coral Gables later this winter.

CLOSED

Ocean One Bar & Grille, all locations
OceanOneFL.com

This trendy sports pub that blitzed into the South Florida market three years ago touting lunch entrees under $6 closed all six of its local restaurants in December. The news came without fanfare or explanation. In one cryptic Facebook comment left on the Ocean One Coral Springs page, the restaurant said it closed “for reasons we prefer to keep private,” confirming in the same thread that “All Florida locations are closed.” The restaurant, registered to owners David Stein, Ron Rowe, and Tony and Rosita Visone, offered $5.99 lunch entrees for grilled lemon-herb salmon, half-pound sirloin burgers and tenderloin quesadillas at outposts in Delray Beach, Royal Palm Beach, Davie, Dania Beach, Coral Springs and Kendall.

Andy’s Live Fire Grill, Fort Lauderdale
1843 S. Federal Highway; 954-903-9945; AndysLiveFire.com

After five years overlooking the bustle of South Federal Highway, this hub of wood-grilled meats, seafood and contemporary American cuisine permanently closed in December. Andy’s, named after the father of restaurateur Anthony Bruno (Anthony’s Runway 84, Anthony’s Coal-Fired Pizza), perfumed its two-story dining area with red oak and the heady aroma of fried chicken, short-rib stroganoff, smoked pastrami and seafood stew cooked in an open kitchen. No official explanation was given for why Andy’s went dark, and “For Sale” signs went up earlier this month. The restaurant had rebranded in May to Dolce Lounge Bar and Grill under new owners Larry Dolce and Susan Wellner.

Park & Ocean, Fort Lauderdale
3109 E Sunrise Blvd.; 954-357-2610; ParkandOcean.com

Nestled in the shade of sea grape trees since 2017, this oceanfront restaurant embodied Fort Lauderdale in a nutshell: local brews and burgers, island conch fritters and live music, accompanied by laidback vibes and a soothing seabreeze. The dog-friendly restaurant permanently closed on Dec. 26, the casualty of a concessionaire shake-up at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park. A Kansas-based concessionaire, ExplorUS, took over operations of the park on Dec. 28, with plans to replace P&O with a new brand and menu in 2024. “We are feeling so loved from all the support we received and kind words,” the restaurant posted in a Change.org petition on Dec. 22. “The (state’s) Parks Department is sadly standing by their decision to give the future of Birch to an out-of-state company.”