South Florida restaurants: Now open, coming soon and closed
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Now open
Avalon Steak & Seafood, Delray Beach
The owners of Avalon Steak & Seafood say you can expect a new take on the old steakhouse (”approachable elegance”), with lighter fare. 110 E. Atlantic Ave.; AvalonDelray.com
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, Fort Lauderdale
Opening Feb. 25, this “luxury dining destination” is the third Florida for the chain operated by Darden Restaurants, which also runs Seasons 52, Capital Grille, Yardhouse, Bahama Breeze Island Grille and other properties. With a wine list recognized by Wine Spectator, Eddie V’s will include a speakeasy-style cocktail space called the V Lounge. 100 Las Olas Blvd., EddieV.com.
Chuy’s, Pembroke Pines
Known for it’s Texas-sized dishes, the Tex-Mex footprint is expanding into Broward. The location on Pines Boulevard near Pines City Center opened Feb. 16. 10610 Pines Blvd.,Pembroke Pines; chuys.com
Vinos Wine Bar, Fort Lauderdale
A new and much bigger Vinos opened Feb. 11 just down the street from its old location on Las Olas Boulevard. Its outdoor lounge is covered. 901 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
Vivo Pizza + Pasta, Boca Raton
This is the first U.S. location for this casual Canadian chain, offering dine-in, takeout and a grab-and-go market. Boca Center, 5150 Town Center Circle; vivopizzapasta.
Even Keel Fish Shack, Lauderdale-by-the Sea
This is a casual spinoff of the original Even Keel Fish and Oyster restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, which closed in December. The new beachside eatery still promises great seafood just less square footage in a more laid-back environment. You may get mixologist “Bootleg Greg” behind the bar creating some natural craft cocktails. And there is a weekday happy hour. 112 Commercial Blvd Ste A, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea; evenkeelfishshack.com, 954-530-6276
Twice Removed, Fort Lauderdale
This gastropub at the former Bar Red Beard in Galt Ocean Plaza is focused on French fries: spiral-cut, wedges, chips, crinkle-cut. Fries are covered in ropa vieja, smothered in cheese curds, topped with curry chicken and tossed with cremini mushrooms. Even zucchini, yuca, turnips, rutabaga and other root vegetables get the treatment. 3301 NE 33rd St., TwiceRemovedFTL.com.
Grapes Wine Cafe and Market, Fort Lauderdale
Chef Lenore Nolan Ryan’s new cafe/market is in the same location on Galt Ocean Mile where she operated her catering business and cooking school. 3311 N. Ocean Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; grapeswinecafeandmarket.com, 954-491-2340
Riviera by Fabio Viviani, Fort Lauderdale
Top Chef star Fabio Viviani brings a new Italian concept to Fort Lauderdale Beach. The 200-seat waterfront restaurant is inside the Hotel Maren with local seafood inspired dishes. 525 S. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale; RivierabyFabioViviani.com, 754-241-2020
DiFarina Pasta, Pompano Beach
Pasta and sauces are made from scratch at this pasta factory and restaurant. Italian dishes including gnocchi, ravioli, and panzottis are available for dine-in or takeout. 1915 East Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach; difarinapasta.com
Amar Mediterranean Bistro, Delray Beach
The 60-seat restaurant including a patio serves modern Lebanese dishes crafted from old family recipes. 522 E. Atlantic Ave.,Delray Beach; AmarDelray.com.
Chicken Salad Chick, Coral Springs
The casual chicken salad restaurant is expanding its Florida footprint into Broward at the Walk of Coral Springs. Southern inspired dishes include a chicken salad BLT. 2908 North University Drive, Coral Springs; chickensaladchick.com
Uchi Sushi and Asian Bistro, Boca Raton
Aden Lee and Joy Chen’s new eatery samples a wide variety of Asian flavors. Lee brings 18 years experience as a chef in the couple’s native Hong Kong and as the sous chef at Mr. Chow in Miami Beach’s W Hotel South Beach. 8221 Glades Road, Boca Raton; 561-556-1688, UchiAsianBistro.com.
M.E.A.T. Eatery and Taproom, Boca Raton
This award-winning gastropub has moved from an office park that served a mostly lunchtime crowd to a 1,700-square-foot space. As a registered smokehouse, it makes chorizo with ground pork butt, pastrami and its specialty the Inside-Out Juicy Lucy Burger. 2831 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton; 561-419-2600, MeatEatery.com.
Salt7, Fort Lauderdale
“Hell’s Kitchen” winner, executive chef Paul Niedermann, is at the helm of the restaurant’s second location on Las Olas Boulevard at the Icon apartment building. The waterfont eatery uses a blend of seven exotic salts to season dishes and steaks. 500 E. Las Olas Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale; salt7.com
Tropical Smokehouse, West Palm Beach
A “Florida barbecue” concept with dishes including Cuban medianoche hot dogs and Jamaican jerk turkey chili. 3815 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach; 561-323-2573; EatTropical.com
Coming soon
Morelia Gourmet Paletas, Boca Raton
The gourmet Mexican popsicles shop, based in Miami with nine locations around South Florida, will have its grand opening March 5-6. Mexican Paletas are hand-made with fruits or rich creamy ingredients, dipped and topped. Royal Palm Palace, 125 Via Naranjas #45A; paletasmorelia.com.
Patrizia’s, Fort Lauderdale
This family-owned Italian restaurant will open sometime this spring in the space that formerly housed Jackson’s Prime steakhouse. This will be the first location outside of the New York area. 3300 NE 32nd St. in Fort Lauderdale; Patrizias.com
Phat Boy Sushi & Kitchen, Fort Lauderdale
The trendy Japanese mini-chain is rolling its flagship to bigger digs on Federal Highway: the former home of Even Keel Fish & Oyster in Fort Lauderdale. The original Phat Boy location, three blocks north, will close on the same day the new location opens on March 1. 4100 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale; 954-533-4218, PhatBoySushi.com
Tap 42 Craft Kitchen & Bar, Davie
This is the eighth location in the chain of attractive dining-and-drinking establishments that debuted nearly a decade ago in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The space formerly occupied by Mash’d restaurant is located inside the Tower Shops Center. 951 S. University Drive, Davie; Tap42.com
Cuba Libre, Fort Lauderdale
Opening in March, this is the fifth nationwide location from co-owners Barry Gutin and James Beard Award-winning chef Guillermo Pernot, executing modern twists on traditional Cuban dishes. 800 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-314-6500, CubaLibreRestaurant.com
Warren, Delray Beach
From Damn Good Hospitality CEO Jeff John, Warren will feature “American bistro with a world flair,” under the direction of Chef Jared Case, as well as more than 1,000 bottles of hard-to-find scotch and bourbon. 15084 Lyons Road, Delray Beach; WarrenDelray.com
Closed
Doc’s All-American, Delray Beach
An iconic joint open since 1951 known for hamburgers, milkshakes and footlong hot dogs, Doc’s abruptly closed in late January. The restaurant had been in disrepair for years as its owner sought ways to sell the property. Developers say they plan to preserve and reopen Doc’s by seeking historic-designation status. 10 N. Swinton Ave.
Jimmie’s Chocolates, Dania Beach
The iconic chocolatier and old-fashioned cafe that has served up delicious confections since 1947 has permanently closed and its owners have put the business and land up for sale. Owners are searching for new ownership to update and run the aging confectionery. 148 N. Federal Highway.
Mash’d, Davie
This Texas-based, moonshine-themed eatery didn’t last long after its 2019 opening inside the Tower Shops Center in Davie. Food and cocktail options were served up with Moonshine (corn mash) funneled in from distilleries in Kentucky and Tennessee. 951 S. University Drive, Davie; mashd.com
The Blue Fish, Boca Raton
After an 11-month run, the sushi restaurant shut its Boca Raton location on Jan. 4. Based in Dallas, Blue Fish previously had a location in Delray Beach. Mizner Park, 402 Plaza Real, Boca Raton; thebluefishsushi.com
Sette Bello Ristorante, Fort Lauderdale
Traditional Italian dishes were served at this family-owned business for more than a decade. Chef-owner Franco Filippone announced the Jan. 1 closure on the restaurant’s website, citing the pandemic. The family’s other restaurant, Sette Mezzo in Coconut Creek, remains open. 6241 N Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale; settebellofla.com
Mai-Kai, Oakland Park
A flood and ceiling collapse has closed the 64-year-old restaurant known for it’s Polynesian style meals and entertainment. Owners are looking for investors to rebuild the kitchen in hopes of reopening. 3599 N. Federal Highway, Oakland Park; maikai.com
