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NOW OPEN OR OPENING

Sweetgreen, Fort Lauderdale

The opening of this latest Sweetgreen on June 20 marks the eighth South Florida location for the national fast-casual chain, which touts healthy seasonal warm bowls and salads. The 2,602-square-foot venue can seat 37 diners inside at tables and banquettes as well as 30 outside with a bench and lounge chairs on the patio. Sweetgreen debuted on the then-burgeoning bowl scene back in 2007 as the brainchild of Georgetown University buddies Nicolas Jammet, Nathaniel Ru and Jonathan Neman. Since then, the brand has done bowl-partnerships with tennis star Naomi Osaka, rapper Kendrick Lamar and celebrity chef Nancy Silverton, among others. 2374 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale; 954-807-3731; sweetgreen.com

Artisan Deli, Hollywood

Goulash, chicken and pork schnitzel and ciorbă de perișoare (meatball soup) are on the menu at this Romanian-Hungarian restaurant-deli, which debuted in April from co-owners Reka Mathe and John Baleanu a few blocks south of downtown Hollywood. Though the deli specializes in Eastern European cold cuts, the restaurant offers kielbasa, tripe and bean soups, sarmale (stuffed cabbage), ceafa de porc (grilled pork steak) and, for dessert, kürtőskalács (or chimney cakes), which are cone-shaped pastries rolled in granulated sugar. 422 S. Dixie Highway, Hollywood; 954-842-3479; Facebook.com/artisandeliathollywood

Zuru Ramen Bar, Plantation

Joining the fray of ubiquitous ramen houses in South Florida, this minimalist shop debuted in early June inside the Plantation Towne Square strip mall from owners Tsz Lam, Bo Yang Liu and Jonathan Chen. Zuru offers nine configurations of ramen, including popular tonkotsu (with 18-hour pork bone broth), soy-based shoyu, brothless mazesoba, chicken pai tan and yasai (a vegetarian mushroom-based broth). There’s also Japanese street food such as donburi rice bowls and bao bun, gyoza and edamame appetizers. A sister Zuru location opened in Miramar in December. 6971 W. Broward Blvd., Plantation; 954-530-4386; ZuruRamenBar.com

First Watch, Boca Raton

Seventeen years after opening its first chain cafe in Boca Raton, First Watch opened a second location here in mid-June, inside the Polo Club Shops plaza. As with other South Florida outposts, the Bradenton-headquartered restaurant touts brunch fare that’s healthy (like steel-cut oatmeal, egg-white omelets and superfood bowls) and not-so-healthy, like Italian sausage skillet hash and lemon-ricotta pancakes. There’s also thick-cut brioche Floridian French toast and the Elevated Egg sandwich, brioche stuffed with bacon, avocado, Gruyere and lemon-dressed arugula, plated with a side of potatoes. 5022 Champion Blvd., Boca Raton; 561-354-7361; FirstWatch.com

Carmela Gourmet Toast & Coffee Bar, Boca Raton
This coffee-and-avocado-toast chain, cofounded in Parkland by owners Rainer Abreu and Rafael Baretta, is in rapid expansion mode, with a rebranded name (changed from Carmela Coffee Co.) and nine new locations planned later in 2023. Carmela’s newest Boca Raton location debuted inside the upscale Park Place plaza in May. A West Palm Beach outpost is set to follow this fall in the Village Commons plaza at 701 Village Blvd., Suites 101-102. Along with caffeine, they sling empanadas, avocado toast, flatbreads, salads and more. 5560 N. Military Trail, Suite 322, Boca Raton; 561-961-0332; CarmelaCoffee.com

Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar, Palm Beach Gardens

The newest Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar opened at The Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens on June 20, the ninth in Florida for the tropical lifestyle brand. The Tommy Bahama retail store that was on the first level has relocated to the new Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar location on level two, near Nordstrom and Saks, so that the 9,000-square-foot, open-floor plan now has a store, restaurant, bar and outdoor patio. The menu consists mostly of shareable dishes (and signature cocktails) with a dash of island flavor profiles such as Coconut Shrimp, Lomi Lomi Salmon, Blackened Mahi Mahi Tacos, Ahi Poke bowls, Chicken Breasts with Jerk Marinade, Piña Colada Cake and Key Lime Pie. “Over the last 30 years, we have seen how our guests enjoy shopping at Tommy Bahama when it is combined with a restaurant. It’s one of the ways Tommy Bahama is different from other lifestyle brands,” CEO Doug Wood says. 3101 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens; 561-909-1886; tommybahama.com

Taki Omakase, Boca Raton

Taki Omakase celebrated its grand opening in Boca Raton on June 2. The original — open since November 2022 — is at 632 E. Atlantic Ave. in Delray Beach, and is also owned by three brothers, all chefs: Bill, David and Ben Jiang. Omakase means the sushi chef prepares a guided multi-course meal of different sushi that has some sort of progression of flavors, with an emphasis on artistic presentation and seasonality. 1658 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton; 561-866-4765; takiomakase.com

Vicky Bakery, Plantation

The Miami-based company is continuing its ambitious plan to roll out franchise stores northward with this newest location that opened on June 12. This franchise is owned and operated by married couple Carolina and Pedro Escobar. “We are so excited to finally be open,” says Pedro Escobar. “Plantation is one of the best places to live and work in all of Florida.” Vicky Bakery’s signature is Cuban breads, pastelitos, croquetas, pastries, desserts, breakfast dishes, sandwiches, cakes and coffee. Carolina Escobar adds: “We’re comfort food at our heart and soul. Whether you’re celebrating a milestone with one of our custom cakes or desserts, or you want something heartier like a from-scratch pan con bistec or a quick pastelito from the bakery case — Vicky Bakery has it all.” 1773 N. University Drive, Plantation; 954-533-7760; vickybakery.com.

Whiskey Neat, Plantation

This classy, 2,500-square-foot den dedicated to brown liquor opened June 19 in Plantation, attached to an existing Quarterdeck seafood pub across the street from the Sawgrass Mills mall. The lounge — a sister location of the original Whiskey Neat on Southeast 17th Street in Fort Lauderdale — comes from Old School Hospitality, which operates five Quarterdecks in South Florida. The centerpiece of the bar is a multicolored liquor wall stocked with rare whiskeys. Patrons can order food directly from Quarterdeck’s full kitchen, which it shares with Whiskey Neat next door, co-owner James Flanigan tells the Sun Sentinel. “There’s no good craft-cocktail bar out west,” Flanigan says. “And I know we can capture a lot of customers from Sawgrass and FLA Live Arena.” 12310 W. Sunrise Blvd., Plantation; WhiskeyNeatBar.com

Austin Republic, West Palm Beach

Spare ribs, prime brisket … and Tex-Mex? That’s the ambitious premise behind chef Jimmy Strine’s smoky, new mobile kitchen that quietly opened in June, perched on South Dixie Highway next to Phipps Park in the city’s SoSo (South of Southern Boulevard) district. The barbecue spot, a shipping container on wheels, is a partnership between Strine (known for working in top-notch kitchens Café Boulud, Buccan, Grato and Sundy House) and Roxy’s Pub owner John Webb, whose hometown inspired the name. While the focus is smoked meats like pork spare ribs, rotisserie chicken and Texas hot links, Strine’s window also offers tacos and burritos filled with carnitas, plus brisket melt and pulled pork handhelds, and side dishes including mac-and-cheese pasta shells in queso sauce. Customers dine on outdoor picnic-style tables surrounding the container. The plan is to open a brick-and-mortar restaurant with a bar, billiard tables and outdoor games. 4801 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach; Instagram.com/TheAustinRepublic

Myth Gastrobar, Wilton Manors

Formerly Shawn and Nick’s Courtyard Cafe, a no-frills, 24-hour diner on Wilton Drive operated by Shawn Bombard and Nick Berry, the restaurant changed ownership on May 28 with a wholesale makeover. As Shawn and Nick’s, the diner represented an old-school, inexpensive option for breakfast-lunch staples, including corned beef hash, eggs benedicts, fried green tomatoes, potato pancakes, deli sandwiches, wraps and 26 different hamburgers. (The menu, for now, remains the same, although new ownership has teased the addition of Latin-themed items on social media.) “My business partners and I have bought the Courtyard Cafe and have started some cosmetic changes in order to make a better fun place for all of you to experience,” wrote co-owner Deiler Beltran on Facebook, who operates the rechristened Myth with partners Arthur Volmer, Javier Valdes and Branden Vidal. 2211 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors; 954-563-2499; WiltonManorsCourtyardCafe.com

Gen Korean BBQ House, Fort Lauderdale

The dream to replace Fort Lauderdale’s old Sushi Shack with Korean barbecue on Las Olas Boulevard has finally materialized 3 1/2 years later with this all-you-can-eat spot, which debuted June 10 under owner David Kim. Here are appetizers such as mandu (Korean-style dumplings stuffed with pork and vegetables), popcorn chicken, breaded calamari, crispy fish katsu and cheese tonkatsu (a deep-fried cheese pork cutlet). But its main attraction is bottomless feasts. Each dining table is equipped with heating plates where customers cook entrees from pork cheeks and beef tongue to Hawaiian chicken and premium top sirloin. There’s also banchan, side dishes like edamame, housemade kimchi and spicy ssamjang paste. 1301 E. Las Olas Blvd., Bay 150, Fort Lauderdale; 954-271-3343; GenKoreanBBQ.com

Wilton Wings Bar + Kitchen, Fort Lauderdale

Gastrothèque — the burnt-orange restaurant-lounge situated on Fort Lauderdale’s Gateway Shopping Center bend — closed after nearly three years on June 10. And in its place is a new location of Wilton Wings, Gastrothèque owner Gary Bouvier’s cheery neighborhood joint that has slung burgers and wings since 2007 in Fort Lauderdale’s Middle River Terrace neighborhood. The new location represents an “elevated” version of Wilton Wings, offering craft cocktails plus bestsellers from the old Gastrothèque menu. “At least 100,000 cars pass every day by the Gastrothèque location, but it catered to high-end dining,” Bouvier said. “With (Wilton Wings), I want to cater to everyone with lower price points, and it’s going to have Wynwood vibes.” Gastrothèque chef Aaron Croy is behind the new menu, which keeps that restaurant’s truffle mac and cheese, garlic confit skirt steak, and sticky buns with whipped cream anglaise and candied pecans. That’s in addition to Wilton Wings’ entire menu, featuring 10 hamburgers, ribs, salads, sandwiches, wraps, wings and soups. 1818 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; WiltonWings.co

Capital Tacos, Tamarac

This Tampa-based, Tex-Mex, fast-casual franchise opened its first South Florida location on June 8. Launched in 2013, it has already expanded to eight restaurants in other parts of Florida, with growth into Georgia, North Carolina and Colorado in the works. “We’ve had folks visiting from South Florida for years, asking time and again when they can expect the concept to expand into nearer markets,” says cofounder Josh Luger. “That wait is finally over. We’re very excited and humbled to be opening our first brick-and-mortar location in Tamarac.” The menu spotlights different taco flavors that you can also get as a burrito or bowl. There are also quesadillas, nachos, loaded fries, salads, kids’ meals and desserts such as mini churros and traditional Mexican cheesecake. 5707 N. University Drive, Tamarac; 954-366-1378; CapitalTacos.com ]

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, Delray Beach

After this beloved export from Wooster Street in New Haven, Conn., delivered its char-blistered pies to Plantation, Frank Pepe set its sights on Delray Beach. The “apizza” icon opened its second location on June 5 within The Fresh Market plaza on the corner of Linton Boulevard and Federal Highway. Frank Pepe, which has a rabid following among South Florida’s snowbirds and Northeastern transplants, fires its coal-fired apizza (pronounced “ah-beets”) at a super-hot 600 degrees Fahrenheit for a few minutes, yielding its trademark crispy-chewy thin crust. 1701 S. Federal Highway, Delray Beach; PepesPizzeria.com ]

Harry’s, West Palm Beach

If you’ve been anywhere near the Wall Street crowd in New York City, then you’ve probably heard of Harry’s, a mainstay in the financial district of Manhattan for a half-century. For the first time ever, the brand has expanded outside of the Big Apple, bringing its classic cuisine to the … um … Big Orange. Think Beef Wellington; 28-day, in-house, dry-aged steaks; house-made smoked Canadian bacon; Caesar salad and steak tartare. Harry’s debuted June 6 as the anchor restaurant at the 360 Rosemary office building — fittingly, a financial hub itself — in downtown West Palm Beach. A sister restaurant, Adrienne’s Pizzabar (known for square pizzas), recently opened, and both share a combined 11,000-square-foot indoor and outdoor space where patrons can intermingle and order from both. 360 S. Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach; 561-834-5010; harrysnyc.com

Yakitori Sushi House, West Delray Beach

Tina Wang and her husband, chef Jason Zheng, have opened a second Yakitori Sushi House in the Tuscany Shoppes in west Delray Beach (the original is in Boca Raton). The menu includes dishes from the robata grill, soups, salads, hot and cold appetizers, sushi, nigiri, sashimi, entrees, stir-fries and fried rice. “More and more people are discovering a passion for Japanese cuisine,” Wang says. “It’s healthy, it’s flavorful, it’s fresh — we just want to share this delicious food with as many people as we can.” They’re doing exactly that by owning and operating three other restaurant brands: Coco Sushi Lounge & Bar in Delray Beach; Saiko-i Lounge & Hibachi in Boca Raton (and soon in Plantation) and Koi Japanese Cuisine & Sushi Lounge in Fort Lauderdale. 7959 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach; 561-501-6391; yakitoridelray.com

Carrot Express, Plantation

This fast-casual, veggie-centric chain opened its newest storefront on May 24 inside everyone’s favorite plaza, Plantation Walk. “We specifically wanted to open in Plantation because, like us, the city is growing fast and has been named among South Florida’s most desirable suburban neighborhoods,” owner Mario Laufer said in a statement. The restaurant serves up turkey bacon and Scottish salmon wraps, a California “eggwich,” huevos rancheros burritos, avocado toast, and vegan picadillo bowls, among other specialties. There are also salads and desserts (including carrot cake, of course!). Founded inside an Alton Road gas station in the ’90s, Laufer’s chain is having a growth spurt, with future locations heading to Fort Lauderdale’s Las Olas, Hollywood and Miami’s Coconut Grove. 301 N. University Drive, Suite S2500, Plantation; EatCarrotExpress.com

Negroni, Weston

Peruvian and Japanese cuisines collide at this 5,000-square-foot kitchen that debuted in late May at Weston Town Center. It’s the second Florida location for the hip Argentine brand, joining outposts in Midtown Miami, New York and Los Angeles. The centerpiece of Negroni’s 220-seat dining room is a Nikkei-style sushi bar serving ceviche, tiraditos, nigiri and other signature rolls. Meanwhile, the Latin American-Italian-Asian menu includes a sharable parrillada spread of ribeyes, Argentine sausage and beef tenderloin; truffle gnocchi; provoleta (roasted provolone cheese) flambéed with rum and paired with Galician bread; and antipasti, salads, flatbreads, paninis and burgers. “We’ve been overwhelmed by the excitement and anticipation from the local community, and we are thrilled to finally welcome guests to our lively and fun establishment,” founder Pablo Sartori said in a release. And yes, the drink menu also features the restaurant’s namesake aperitif, along with craft cocktails, wines and nonalcoholic spirits. 1744 Main St., Weston; 954-444-0096; negronius.com/weston

CRU Lounge, West Palm Beach

This clubby hookah bar and small-plates franchise debuted June 2 in West Palm Beach’s hip, mural-splashed Northwood Village district. CRU, operated by local franchisee Stephon Williams, touts a hookah menu as sweet as its sugary cocktails, which include Liquid Hemp (coconut rum, pineapple juice) and Nyak Hulk (fruit juice, vodka, cognac, sour patch candy straws). The lounge also serves Philly cheesesteaks, lollipop lamb chops, garlic shrimp skewers and lobster mac ‘n’ cheese. CRU’s West Palm Beach location joins outposts throughout the country, including in Alabama, Georgia and Texas. 538 Northwood Road, West Palm Beach; 561-268-7551; CRULounge.com

Skillets, Delray Beach

This Naples-born, breakfast-lunch diner chain founded by Ross and Noreen Edlund in 1995 hosted the grand opening of its 14th Florida location on June 1 inside buzzy Delray Marketplace. True to its namesake, the diner slings skillets that include keto and corned beef hash, along with potato pancakes and blueberry blintzes, Denver omelets and smoked-salmon benedicts, and Crêpes Suzette and vegetable frittatas. For lunch, there are salads, paninis, wraps and sandwiches such as Reubens and triple-decker BLTs. 14851 Lyons Road, Suite 134, Delray Beach; SkilletsRestaurants.com

Lantern Local Tavern, Lantana

Offering what they describe as “elevated classic tavern food” from a scratch kitchen, this gastro pub debuted in May in the space that formerly housed The Hive Bar & Grill, offering breakfast, lunch, happy hour, dinner and late-night bites. Seating a total of 155 indoor and outside, Lantern Local Tavern is owned by Lindsay Lipovich, who also helms West Palm Beach’s BRK Republic as well as Lake Worth’s Lilo’s Streetfood & Bar. “Lantern Local Tavern is aiming to become the local neighborhood watering hole in Lantana,” Lipovich says. “Our location and building allows us to offer three unique atmospheres: Old-school Florida diner to enjoy breakfast and brunch, a tavern bar perfect for lunch and happy hour, and a candle-lit dining room for dinner.” 618 W. Lantana Road, Lantana; 561-612-5655; lanternlocaltavern.com

Pubbelly Sushi, Pembroke Pines

This Japanese-Latin fusion sushi restaurant founded by chef Jose Mendin (a five-time James Beard Award semifinalist) opened June 2 inside Pembroke Centre in Pembroke Pines. It’s the first foray into Broward and Palm Beach counties for the Miami-born mini-chain, with future taverns planned this year for Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach. The restaurant is adorned with bamboo furniture, granite accents and red tufted leather banquettes, and its popular menu items include short rib and truffle dumplings, tostones con ceviche and bao buns. 306 SW 145th Ave., Pembroke Pines; 954-367-7970; PubbellyGlobal.com

Sushi by Boū, West Palm Beach

This omakase experience opened inside West Palm Beach’s Vinyl Fish Club on May 25. Named after sushi master and Boca Raton native David Bouhadana, Sushi by Boū offers an hourlong meal of 12 courses for $60 per person or 17 courses for $100 per person. Patrons may also order regular a la carte specialties and seasonal mochi ice cream for dessert. Next up will be a Sushi by Boū freestanding restaurant in east Boca Raton, slated to open in June. Sushi by Boū first landed in SoFlo in Miami Beach at the former Versace Mansion before moving over to the SLS Brickell Hotel, where it remains today. In Broward County, the concept debuted during the summer of 2021 at the Residence Inn by Marriott in Pompano Beach before decamping to Salt7 Fort Lauderdale in early 2022, where it remains still. 340 W. Clematis St., West Palm Beach; sushibybou.com

I Heart Mac And Cheese, Wellington

The Fort Lauderdale-born restaurant that made its name elevating elbow macaroni from side dish to gooey main course opened its newest location in early June in the Marketplace at Wycliffe under local franchisees Robert Sukman and Mark McLeod, who also run outposts in Jupiter and Coral Springs. Patrons can customize their mac-and-cheese bowls and grilled-cheese sandwiches in assembly-line fashion. Bowls begin with a base of pasta, broccoli, cauliflower or quinoa, followed by a choice of vegetables, cheeses (vegan included) and proteins including short rib, chicken parmesan, Buffalo chicken and lobster and white truffle. 4095 S. State Road 7, Suite Q1, Wellington; 561-225-1020; IHeartMacAndCheese.com

Rock & Brews, Plantation

The slow drip of eateries opening at the Plantation Walk mega-shopping wonderland continues with this 8,000-square-foot scratch kitchen founded by KISS Hall-of-Famers Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. The restaurant, which opened in mid-May, boasts two bars — one indoors, one patio — serving craft beers on tap and full liquor. Its menu features “opening acts” such as crispy calamari, Gulf shrimp sriracha, garlic-herb bruschetta and chicken wings, along with “headliners” such as its Demon Chicken Sandwich, Extreme Pepperoni Pizza, barbecue baby back ribs and seven styles of craft hamburgers. 341 N. University Drive, Suite 1100, Plantation; 754-289-7625; RockandBrews.com

Pizza Cucinova, Wellington

Just shy of a year and a half ago, Pizza Cucinova opened three blocks from Fort Lauderdale beach, near where Las Olas Boulevard ends at State Road A1A. Then roughly 10 months later, that location suddenly closed with zero notice on their website or social media. Now, the restaurant has moved operations. Having opened at The Mall at Wellington Green on May 5, Pizza Cucinova offers pizzas, pastas and salads in the $8 to $15 range. 10300 Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington; shopwellingtongreen.com

Cluck Face, Boca Raton

South Florida is officially caught up in a chicken fight, with more than a dozen independently owned fried-bird joints opening over the past 12 months, each hoping to court diners with its seasoned wings. The latest contender is Cluck Face, a Nashville hot chicken-inspired spot registered to Shaban Malik and Sabri Arslankara that offers tacos, sliders and tenders in four different spice levels, from “mild” to “cluck it!” The restaurant also serves nacho-cheese fries, coleslaw, mac ‘n’ cheese and french fries a la carte, plus sodas, orange juice and Red Bull slushies. 1179 S. Federal Highway, Boca Raton; 561-465-4545; CluckFace.com

CLOSED

Rara’s Pizza and Wings, Boca Raton

Chef-owner Samir Changela’s pandemic-born obsession with Detroit-style pizza — Rara’s — permanently shut in late May in a west Boca Raton strip mall. A social-media post on May 27 reveals little about the closing, with a note that reads, in part: “We extend our deepest thanks to each and every one of you for your unwavering support, loyalty, and hard work.” Changela told the Sun Sentinel in 2021 that Rara’s was sparked by a visit to Detroit’s Buddy’s Pizza with his uncle, a Chrysler executive. That yielded a menu built around 14 Detroit pies made from 36-hour fermented dough, layered with Wisconsin brick cheese and fired in a blue steel pan. “If it’s not a blue steel pan, it’s not real Motor City pizza,” Changela said at the time. The restaurant also offered New York-style pies and garlic rolls. 11419 W. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton; 561-945-8984

925 Nuevos Cubanos, Fort Lauderdale

One of the rare, old-school ventanitas north of the Miami-Dade County border, the restaurant-cafe draped in many Cuban flags was a colorful stalwart of Havana classics, including medianoches, pastelitos de guayaba and even fritas Cubanas. The blue-and-red building off Sunrise Boulevard closed without fanfare in May, one of the last defiant holdouts of the rapid gentrification of Fort Lauderdale’s Progresso Village around it. Founded by Luis Valdes Sr. in 1976, the restaurant-cafe was passed on to second-generation owners Luis and Marcia Valdes. With kitschy murals and rooster cutouts and hand-painted “Scarface” signs as its decor, 925 also served cafecito, burritos, tacos, steak platters with plantains, black beans and rice, vaca frita, ropa vieja and seasoned lobster. 925 N. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale

Copper Blues Rock Pub and Kitchen, West Palm Beach

After nine years in the city, this live-music haunt and cathedral of pub-grub classics closed May 15 at The Square, the plaza formerly called CityPlace. Owner Joel Bachkoff confirms the industrial-chic restaurant will move to Tuttle Royale in Wellington, which is being billed as the “CityPlace of the West,” in 2025. (Bachkoff is also migrating his sister Square venue Palm Beach Improv — which also closed in May — to Tuttle Royale.) The entertainment venue is closing as a flurry of high-end office towers, financial firms and New York restaurants such as Milos, Felice and Harry’s are shuffling into The Square. Copper Blues offered brick-oven pizzas, hamburgers, beef sliders, quesadillas, salads, fish and chips, charcuterie boards and craft beer. 550 S. Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach; CopperBluesLive.com

Ta-boo, Palm Beach

Quick: How many South Florida restaurants can you name that were open during World War II and still exist? Now subtract one from that list: An 82-year-old institution in Palm Beach permanently closed on May 29 after an eviction from its perch on Worth Avenue. The restaurant had catered to high society since its outset, including Frank Sinatra and John F. Kennedy to current Palm Beachers Rod Stewart and James Patterson. Owner Franklyn de Marco, Ta-boo’s steward since 1990, revived the restaurant when it floundered in the 1980s savings-and-loan crisis. Ta-boo served a combination of new- and old-school fare, like baby back riblets, deviled eggs and fennel garlic mussels, as well as cauliflower tabbouleh, spicy pork tacos and short-rib empanadas. A spokesperson for restaurateur Thomas Keller (The Surf Club Restaurant, The French Laundry, Bouchon) told the Sun Sentinel that the renowned chef plans to take over the lease and open a still-unnamed restaurant in its place. 221 Worth Ave., Palm Beach; 561-835-3500; TabooRestaurant.com