Now open: Luka Restaurant dishes Latin fusion in Plantation; Whit’s Frozen Custard scoops up Lighthouse Point
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NOW OPEN OR OPENING
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Luka Restaurant, Plantation
This Latin eatery started out in Doral in 2020 and is now expanding into Broward County with a second location that debuted Oct. 9. The owners, Catalina Henao and Luis Villegas, combined have more than 20 years of gastronomic experience. Their concept is a variety of Latin flavors that are part of the mix in South Florida. That means there are appetizers such as Luka Guacamole served with chicharrón and ripe plantain as well as grilled octopus tacos and Picanha tacos. The menu also includes arepas, cachapas, burgers, salads and a wide variety of grilled meats. There are also favorites such as the Lomo Saltado Bowl, the Paisa Bowl, the Latin Luka Burger (with grilled cheese, chicharrón, guacamole) and a recent addition, Fresh Fish Ceviche. 244 S. University Drive, Plantation; 754-223-5332; LukaRestaurant.com/plantation
Raising Cane’s, Pompano Beach
This fast-expanding national chicken chain from Baton Rouge, La., specializes in one thing: hand-battered tenders in several combo specials, from its three-finger deal to the Caniac Combo (six tenders with crinkle-cut fries, coleslaw and Texas toast). The Pompano Beach location debuted Oct. 17, replacing the former steakhouse icon Bobby Rubino’s, and follows a blitz of spring and summer openings of outposts in Boynton Beach, Royal Palm Beach, Port St. Lucie and Cutler Bay. 2501 N. Federal Highway, Pompano Beach; 754-260-3180; RaisingCanes.com
Konro, West Palm Beach
What began as a pop-up supper club touting a dozen bite-sized courses paired with niche wines is now, after a raft of construction delays, a slick brick-and-mortar restaurant on the rim of downtown West Palm Beach. The pair behind the pairing are husband-and-wife chef Jacob Bickelhaupt and sommelier Nadia Bickelhaupt, whose intimate, 1,500-square-foot chef counter is named for the Japanese charcoal grill used in many courses. Bickelhaupt is best-known as the onetime owner of Michelin two-star 42 Grams in Chicago and a two-time James Beard Award semifinalist. At Konro, which debuted Oct. 13, he keeps doing what he did throughout his career: cooking, deep-frying and grilling 10 to 14 tiny courses on the fly. His food leans decidedly Asian, such as Japanese A5 Wagyu steak grilled in 12-year-old tare (a soy sauce marinade). Other dishes include edible floral arrangements of microgreens and crackling chicken-skin cones filled with foie gras and cloudberry jam. 424 Park Place, No. 101, West Palm Beach; 561-446-2791; KonroRestaurant.com
Whit’s Frozen Custard, Lighthouse Point
This Ohio-spun emporium for rich frozen custard scooped out its first Broward County outpost on Oct. 27 under franchisee John Khoury, in a storefront on the corner of Federal Highway and Northeast 49th Street. The sweet shop, which already has locations in Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Wellington and Jupiter, serves its custard in cups, cake and waffle cones coated or blended with a choice of 40 toppings, and presents specialty flavors of the day, week and month, such as s’mores and white-chocolate caramel brownie. A future location is heading to Coral Springs. 4850 N. Federal Highway, Lighthouse Point; 954-531-6950; WhitsCustard.com
Ana’s Killer Empanadas, West Palm Beach
After opening their flagship in Delray Beach in March, John and Ana Brice’s second location debuted Sept. 29 on South Dixie Highway. Here, owner Ana Brice stuffs her Argentine-style empanadas with bold, arguably trendy flavors, such as chicken and oregano, Cuban sandwich (slow-roasted pork, smoked ham, Swiss, dill pickle, yellow mustard), coconut curry chicken, meatball parmesan, Philly cheesesteak, and Southern barbecue beef brisket. There are also sides of black beans and cilantro rice. For dessert: apple pie empanadas. 3244 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach; 561-331-8097; AnasKillerEmpanadas.com
Bagels & Co., Fort Lauderdale
Philadelphia-based Glu Hospitality debuted the first of two Florida outposts of its bagel-centric breakfast chain on Oct. 20 in downtown Fort Lauderdale, replacing the revered neighborhood haunt Hardy Park Bistro. The cafe (which includes a patio) serves hot and iced coffees, lemonade, chai and matcha lattes, breakfast sandwiches as well as lunch sandwiches including turkey club and cheesesteak. There are also 17 bagel flavors and a raft of 30 specialty cream cheese flavors, from bacon-cheddar to birthday cake. 21 SW Seventh St., Fort Lauderdale; 954-652-1475; TheBagelsandCo.com
Grandma’s Secret, Dania Beach
The secret is out: Broward County’s only restaurant devoted to Uzbekistan cuisine debuted in late October inside the space formerly occupied by seafood spot Ocean’s 13. The small sit-down, registered to owner Bakhtiyor Ostonov, features Uzbek food, which for the uninitiated is a hybrid of Turkish and Asian dishes, containing skewered meats, shawarma, steamed dumplings (called manti, stuffed with mixed meats, onions and black pepper) and dry-fried noodle dishes. There is also tashkent pilaf (lamb, beef, onion, carrot, rice pilaf, nuts, kazi and quail eggs), dolma (stuffed grape leaves); and beshbarmak, a tender beef dish swimming in a bed of noodles and onion broth, which is traditionally eaten with bare hands — although, yes, forks are provided. 50 E. Dania Beach Blvd., Dania Beach; 954-639-7038
Motown Pizza & Wings, Boynton Beach
Detroit Eats, owner Mark Tocco’s Detroit-style pizzeria that closed last year, has been reborn as Motown Pizza & Wings. The new pizzeria and sandwich shop opened in October, replacing a former Sbarro’s at a primo corner stall inside the Boynton Beach Mall’s food court. Motown, like its predecessor, specializes in Coney dogs, pastrami sandwiches and square, focaccia-like pies topped with blistering Wisconsin brick cheese and dollops of red tomato sauce. There are also chili-cheese fries, Angus beef burgers and salads. 801 N. Congress Ave., Boynton Beach; 561-336-4378, or search for them on Facebook
The House, West Palm Beach
How much club can you handle? The answer is plenty at the House, a new seafood-driven kitchen where customers nosh on lobster club sandwiches on the patio while golfers swing clubs on the public green. The restaurant, which overlooks The Park, West Palm Beach’s revamped 192-acre municipal golf club, opened to the public in mid-October on city-owned land. Chef Jason Van Bomel (1000 North in Jupiter) is in charge of the menu, which features small and large plates, including spiny lobster corn dogs with Meyer lemon and Creole mustard aioli, clam and chorizo pizza, along with New York strip with red potato mash and chimichurri, crab cakes and a Florida snapper trio. 7301 Georgia Ave., West Palm Beach; 561-530-3791; TheHouseWestPalm.com
Baba’s Pierogies, Delray Beach
This Ukrainian restaurant specializing in housemade pierogies debuted Oct. 18 near South Congress and West Atlantic Avenues and is registered to Natalia Michael, who operates the shop with her mother and daughter. Although Baba’s offers borscht (beet soup) on its slim menu, the focus is, of course, boiled dumplings, which are filled with organic turkey, cottage cheese, potatoes and onions, cheddar cheese, blueberries and spinach and blueberries. Frozen pierogi bundles can also be purchased to take home. 1878 Dr. Andres Way, Suite 64, Delray Beach; 561-789-3840; BabaPierogies.com
Uzzo Mediterranean Restaurant, Boca Raton
This sit-down debuted in October on Glades Road, replacing the former Jimmy the Greek. Registered to Carl Kennedy and Anayit Dulger, Uzzo serves mains such as Iskender kebab (döner meat topped with hot tomato sauce over pita bread), stuffed cabbage leaves, moussaka, grilled branzino, lahmacun (a Turkish-style pizza), pastrami cheese pide and pastrami hummus, along with baklava, tiramisu and kazandibi (caramelized milk pudding) for dessert. 8221 Glades Road, Suite 12, Boca Raton; 561-918-0605; MyUzzo.com
Velvet Taco, Fort Lauderdale
Straight out of Texas comes Velvet Taco, which opened its first Florida location in downtown Fort Lauderdale’s Riverwalk enclave on Sept. 11. The brand brings to SoFlo its signature scratch-made, chef-driven menu of elevated and globally-inspired tacos such as Chicken & Waffle, Mediterranean Mushroom, The Cuban, Kobe Smash Burger and Fish n’ Chips. There’s also an all-day breakfast taco menu, a kids’ menu, a gluten-free menu, a namesake Red Velvet Cake (made in-house daily) and margaritas. “Our innovative scratch-made menu, combined with our commitment to inspiring our guests to ‘resist the ordinary,’ will resonate with Fort Lauderdale’s dynamic and diverse culinary scene,” says Velvet Taco CEO Clay Dover. “We look forward to welcoming taco enthusiasts to our first of many Florida restaurants and introducing them to tacos like they’ve never experienced before.” The restaurant has a 3,477-square-foot dining room that can seat 108 guests and an 842-square-foot patio to seat 38 people. 305 S. Andrews Ave., Suite 115, Fort Lauderdale; 754-216-4610; velvettaco.com
Van Horne Bagel & Deli, Coconut Creek
This bagel-centric deli registered to husband-and-wife owners Steve and Melanie Lippman debuted in September, specializing in Montreal-style bagels based on a recipe created in 1942 by Steve’s grandfather, Hyman Weiss. The shop features so-called tie-dye bagels dipped in holiday colors (orange and black for Halloween, etc.), along with smoked-fish platters, short-stack pancakes, parfaits, omelets and, of course, 14 bagel styles. There are also salads and deli sandwiches and wraps from hot corned beef to Buffalo chicken salads, Philly cheesesteak to turkey clubs. 5369 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek; 954-418-7100; VanHorneBagelCoconutCreek.com
Uncommon Path Brewing, Fort Lauderdale
You can’t go wrong with craft beer and wood-fired pizza — it goes together like hot dogs and Skyline Chili, after all — and that’s the spare menu at this brewhouse and taproom, which debuted in late September in Fort Lauderdale’s industrial-chic Progresso Village. Owners-beerheads Joshua Breault and Marcos Cabrera are behind the brews, which include the dark lager Eternal Darkness; hoppy wheat beer Dreimal; sherry barrel-aged imperial stout 5-3=2; and peach-pineapple-vanilla sour Gokana. There are also seven specialty pies and three salads, plus white and red wines. 710 NW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale; 954-765-6016; UncommonPathBrewing.com
Mama’s Up All Nite, Delray Beach
Touting pizza baked at an hour considered sacrilegious by Delray standards — 3 a.m.! Oh, the humanity! — this slice shop’s business model is built to appeal to downtown nightlife crowds. (Look no further than the partiers posing for selfies beneath the “Feed me pizza and tell me I’m pretty” neon sign.) The Pineapple Grove restaurant, which opened in August, is registered to Keith Chambers and Dominick Sarlo, and has as its chef, Bobby Orfanos, who ran pizzerias all over Manhattan in the 1980s under his “Mama” moniker. South Floridians may best remember Orfanos, however, by his Greek eatery chops, Taverna Opa in West Palm Beach, Zorba’s Taverna in Delray and the late Taverna Trela, which flopped in 2020 after being showcased on Food Network’s “Restaurant: Impossible.” Now Orfanos is back to square pies (and round ones), plus garlic knots and specialty pizzas including the New Haven-esque White Clam (mozzarella, garlic pearls and New England clams), Bacon & Onion Jam (goat cheese, mozz) and Sunday Dinner (mozz, ricotta, onion, meatball). There are also strombolis, calzones and vegan pies topped with plant-based cheese. 25 NE Second Ave., Delray Beach; 561-455-2442; MamasUpAllNite.com
Un Attimo coffee shop, Plantation
Another year, another restaurant at the live-work-play complex known as Plantation Walk. This bakery-cafe, which is registered to owner Nadia Piris, had a soft opening in mid-September with a suite of baked treats and handhelds, including pains au chocolat and eclairs; empanadas and salads; turkey and caprese on house-baked French and multigrain; and bagels with brie, blueberry jam and walnuts. There are also espressos, cold brews, frappes and coffee beans for sale. 331 N. University Drive, Unit M2-100; 754-457-2147; UnAttimoCoffee.com
Il Tartufo Ristorante, Parkland
Fans of this Italian restaurant that had a run in Fort Lauderdale decades ago — we’re looking at you Demi Moore and Robert De Niro — will be “molto felice” that the eatery is back. There was a soft opening on Sept. 21, with a grand opening planned in November. Chef/owner Luciano Balzano explains the restaurant renaissance with, “I decided to open Il Tartufo Ristorante to honor my customers with signature dishes from decades ago.” Those menu favorites include a table-carved all Prime Veal Shank braised in Chianti (and served with vegetable brunoise), Italian Cheese Burrata prepared tableside, and Neapolitan pizza – because, of course, chef Balzano is also a Neapolitan Pizza Master. Previously he helmed the kitchens of Il Porcino in Coral Springs, the Cheeca Lodge in Islamorada, and Trattoria Di Campo in Doral. 7367 N. State Road 7, Parkland; 954-775-0320; iltartuforistorante.com
Savvy Sliders, Fort Lauderdale
The 38th — and first Florida location — of this Michigan-born slider chain debuted in late September, a burger’s throw from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. The 2,300-square-foot joint, registered to Jonathon Dallo, serves sliders in the $3.79-$4.99 price range, stuffed with crab cakes, codfish, fried and grilled chicken, ribeye, Angus beef and spicy falafel. “Savvy Sliders is reimagining the consumer slider experience, and we are excited for the opening of the first location in Florida,” said Mark Wolok, the brand’s vice president of business development, in a news release. There are also chicken fingers, fries, onion rings, cheese curds and specialty shakes for dessert. 2400 W. Commercial Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-493-0000; SavvySliders.com
Sushi by Boū, Boca Raton
This speakeasy bar-omakase experience from sushi wizard David Bouhadana is expanding yet again, with its newest restaurant — with partner Erika London — opened in September in Royal Palm Place. The sushi house, adorned in 1920s Art Deco motifs, offers an hourlong meal of 12 courses for $60 per person or 17 courses for $125 per person. This is the 14th nationwide location for the chain, which began its life in Manhattan before migrating to South Florida via the former Versace Mansion in South Beach. Along with omakase and cocktails, patrons may enjoy a la carte mochi ice cream and other specialties. 409 SE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton; SushiByBou.com
Vale Food Co., Boca Raton
This Florida-born, fast-casual eatery has expanded with a new location in Town Center at Boca Raton. With signature rice, quinoa and sweet-potato glass noodles bowls that you can get topped with freshly prepared meats and vegetables, as well as boosts and sauces, Vale is also known for sustainability as much as for its health-conscious fare. (After all, “Vale” is an old English word that means “to live an earthly life.”) A cold “superfood” station features items such as acai bowls, poke bowls and avocado toast. You will also find whole grain chocolate chip cookies, coffees, matcha and smoothies. “After much success with our locations throughout Florida, and with a growing demand for healthy food, I’m excited to open our eighth Vale Food Co. restaurant in the heart of Boca Raton and offer the community an all-day healthy dining destination like no other,” says Sunny Ilyas, CEO and founder. 5250 Town Center Circle, No. 131, Boca Raton; 561-717-4275; valefoodco.com.
Pura Vida, Boca Raton and Royal Palm Beach
The Miami-based chain — owned by Omer and Jennifer Horev — has opened locations in Boca Raton and Royal Palm Beach, which they call Wellington. With its health-conscious approach, and an eye on food allergies and dietary restrictions, Pura Vida offers dishes such as pasture-raised egg sandwiches, salads, raw organic açai bowls, wraps and gluten-free vegan sweets. There are now 17 Pura Vidas throughout South Florida. 8170 Glades Road, Suite K-1, Boca Raton; and 440 S. State Road 7, No. 200, Royal Palm Beach; puravidamiami.com.
Black Flamingo Brewing, Oakland Park
After taking over a former Pompano Beach brewery in 2019 with Black Flamingo’s flagship brewhouse, partners Manny Jannes and Andres Wolff opened their second taproom in September a beer can’s throw from the Funky Buddha. Black Flamingo’s suds include Suavecita, a crisp German-style lager; and Hop Drop & Roll, an IPA. 3482 NE 12th Ave., Oakland Park; 954-933-1960; BlackFlamingoBrewing.com
Greek Guys Souvlaki, Fort Lauderdale
This fast-casual eatery from Ted Dranias, a Montreal-based restaurateur, opened about six weeks ago, going into the space vacated by Monster Subs. Dranias says it’s been going well and that he’s already thinking of expanding to a vacant space next door. The cuisine concept is Greek fast food and meals-to-go — think pitas, kebabs, gyros and, of course, grilled souvlaki.1978 E. Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale; 954-533-0355; greekguyssouvlaki.com
Goldberg’s Delicatessen and Bagels, Fort Lauderdale
Big Apple restaurateur Marc Goldberg, who in 2021 overhauled Dania Beach’s iconic Grampa’s Bakery, has taken his talents to Fort Lauderdale. The namesake owner of 13 Goldberg’s Famous Bagels locations in the Hamptons debuted his new bakery-deli in September where the short-lived Kraft Bistro & Deli once stood. As with Grampa’s, the new spot carries Goldberg’s signature New York-style water bagels, which are oven-baked, not steamed, imparting a crusty outer texture and chewy inside. Goldberg’s arrival marks the fifth restaurant to lease this location in nine years. 2701 E. Oakland Park Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-669-1000; GoldbergsBagelsFL.com
CLOSED
Eve on the Water, Fort Lauderdale
This Las Olas Boulevard restaurant — sitting right on the Himmarshee Canal — closed Aug. 1. Owners Vandana and John Janho bought the space that was formerly Asia Bay in March 2020, only to be shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Janhos quickly adapted, retooling the restaurant to more of a curated food and beverage service to cut down on the number of staff needed. The two also own Posh Lounge, which is celebrating 20 years at The Waverly at Las Olas. 1111 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; Facebook.com/evelasolas
