Now open, coming soon and closed
Got a tip for this weekly check on what’s happening in South Florida’s dining scene? Email Arlene Borenstein-Zuluaga at aborenstein@sunsentinel.com.
Stay up to date with the South Florida dining news:
Sign up for our twiceweekly Eat Beat newsletter, filled with restaurant news, guides and recipes. Go to SunSentinel.com/newsletters to sign up.
Join our Let’s Eat, South Florida Facebook group.
Now open
Calaveras Cantina, Boca Raton
A shrimp and calamari diablo with red chili butter and spicy lobster crema are now being served at the new Mizner Park restaurant. The eatery’s second location is south of its Jupiter flagship but has the same Day of the Dead themed setting. Indoor and outdoor seating available. 409 Plaza Real; 561-5762132, calaverascantinas.com.
Grampa’s Café Bagels Deli Bakery, Dania Beach
New owners and New York bagel-shop veterans Mark Fried (Bagel Boys Café) and Marc Goldberg (Goldberg’s Famous Bagels) have rebranded this 64-year-old bakery — closed since the beginning of the pandemic — as a New York-style deli serving New York water bagels, rugelach, housemade corned-beef brisket and other diner classics. The deli reopened Aug. 12. 17 SW First Ave.; 954-923-2163
Urban Crepes, Pompano Beach
A splash of France by the beach, crepe offerings are sweet or savory and suitable for breakfast or lunch. Prices are reasonable with a double espresso and crepe deal that’s $5. 3330 E Atlantic Blvd.; 954-960-2801
Chez Vincent, Fort Lauderdale
Vincent Maurin and his family left Bordeaux, France, to open this new wine bar in the Galt Ocean Mile. They offer 40 wines and various charcuterie platters, hot and cold sandwiches as well as breakfast service with baguettes, croissants, and ham and cheese plates. 3312 NE 32nd St.; VinceFrenchWineBar. com
Gesaria, Fort Lauderdale
Tucked inside the new oceanside Cambria Hotel Fort Lauderdale Beach, Gesaria is part eatery, part lobby bar. The fare of small plates and shareables focus on a mix with Floribbean style, sub-tropic food. Cambria Hotel Fort Lauderdale Beach, 2231 N. Ocean Blvd.; 754-243-7650, CambriaHotelFortLauderdaleBeach.com
We Shuckin Southern Eatery, Pembroke Pines
Nawlins-style gumbo, jivin’ shrimp and “get you some” cake are the type of Southern dishes offered at this Sweet Butter Hospitality Group restaurant in Pembroke Pines. The ‘60sand ‘70s-themed restaurant celebrates soul food from the Lowcountry, Louisiana, Georgia and Florida. 8913 Taft St.; 954-441-2537, weshuckin.com
The Pie House, Boca Raton
This west Boca pizzeria, which debuted in July, dishes by-the-slice pies amid the retro décor of linoleum floors, wood-paneled walls and red-brick accents. The pizzeria also serves Sicilian- and Grandma-style creations plus a suite of specialty pies. 9180 Glades Road; 561-483-5665, Pizza-Is-Everything.com
The Den Kitchen + Bar, Fort Lauderdale
Nightlife veteran Yaser Dashoush’s sporty, 4,600-square-foot eatery serves hamburgers, chicken wings, avocado salads, turkey wraps and other American pub grub, and shows NFL and University of Central Florida football games on the bar’s 10-foottall projection screen. 201 SW Second St.; 754-216-2736
Half Moon Empanadas, Pembroke Pines
For now, Half Moon will
share half the space with the Misha’s Cupcakes storefront inside the Shops at Pembroke Gardens, the Miami-born chain’s first location in Broward County. The eatery, from married owners Pilar and Juan Zavala, makes empanadas filled with flavors common (ham, chicken, beef ) and not (bacon egg and cheese, spicy chicken cordon bleu). 14539 SW Fifth St.; HalfMoonEmpanadas.com
Chim Authentic Thai and Sushi Bar, Plantation
This authentic Thai eatery from partners Patiwat Korwong and Monchai Yutthongkham debuted in late June and features a vast menu of curried dishes, stir fries, Thai noodle soups, teriyaki, sashimi and sushi platters. 130 S. Pine Island Road; 954-998-2395, ChimThaiSushi.com
Mister Ba’s Hotpot, Fort Lauderdale
A Chinese all-you-caneat hot pot and barbecue restaurant, Master Ba’s debuted in July and serves seven simmering soup stock bases including chicken, Thai, barbecue, spicy, tomato and vegetable. A robot server also delivers meat, vegetables and appetizers to customers’ tables. 2831 E. Commercial Blvd.; 754-206-2999, MasterBasHotpot.KwickMenu.com
True Food Kitchen, West Palm Beach
Co-founded by integrative medicine expert Dr. Andrew Weil, foods that boost your mood and overall health is this eatery’s vibe. A rotating menu of seasonally inspired dishes, handcrafted cocktails and fresh pressed juices are available for lunch, dinner or weekend brunch. 700 S. Rosemary Ave., Suite 112, truefoodkitchen.com
Twin Peaks, Fort Lauderdale
This mountain lodgethemed sports “breastaurant” chain replaced the former Walk-ons Bistreaux, which last year went bust in the pandemic. (The move effectively puts Twin Peaks next door to a direct competitor, Hooters.) The casual gastropub specializes in burgers, chicken wings and venison chili, along with beer-battered fish and chips, 13-ounce ribeyes and 29-degree beer. 6401 N. Andrews Ave.; 954-741-3330, TwinPeaksRestaurant.com
La Rural Argentine Steakhouse Boca Raton
Argentine business partners Fernando Chaganek and Diego Feldberg opened their tony steakhouse in a former Denny’s restaurant space in June offering prime cuts of tomahawk, skirt steak and top sirloin. There’s also a small market and butcher counter with take-home meals including empanadas, sauces, scratch-made pastas and sandwiches. 3249 N. Federal Highway; 561-717-6163, LaRuralBocaRaton.com
French Quarter Seafood Bar & Grill,
Hallandale Beach
This New Orleans-themed seafood house from owner Melissa William specializes in gumbo, crawfish, po’boy sandwiches, shrimp creole, blackened redfish and crab claws. 105 E. Hallandale Beach Blvd.; 954-367-6037
The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, West Palm Beach
This Colorado-born fast-casual Mediterranean franchise has added its second Palm Beach location (and sixth in Florida), and specializes in Greek salads, gyros, mezze plates, falafel pitas and entrees including Australian lamb souvlaki. 7038 Okeechobee Blvd.; 561-247-7278, TheGreatGreekGrill.com
Red Crab Juicy Seafood and Bar, Delray Beach
At this Cajun-spiced fast-casual crab shack from owner Zhuang Hua Lin, customers can build makeyour-own seafood combos (sides: corn-on-the-cob and potatoes) that include blue crab, shrimp, black mussels and king crab legs, along with steamed-oyster appetizers, lobster rolls and chicken po boys. 4979 W. Atlantic Ave.; 561-774-2997, RedCrabDelray.com
The Krazy Vegan, Hallandale Beach
Plant-based hamburgers, French fries and smoothies are the main attractions of this vegan comfort-food eatery, which opened in late May by partners Alex Chisholm and Darryl Harris Jr. But so are Krazy’s “Loko Tacos” trio, “Main Chick” vegan chicken sandwich, Philly “cheezesteak” and barbecue “wangs.” 645 W. Hallandale Beach Blvd., Suite 111; 305-475-7299, TheKrazyVegan.com
Goji Juicery and Kitchen, Fort Lauderdale
The Fort Lauderdale location of this Broward mini-chain of salad-bowl eateries (once called Toss Up Salads) has rebranded in name only to Goji Juicery and Kitchen, but its menu of salads, sandwiches and smoothies will be identical. 706 S. Federal Highway; 954-626-0968, GojiJuiceryandKitchen.com
Burger 48, Oakland Park
What began as a hamburger pop-up inside NYSW Jazz Lounge in downtown Fort Lauderdale is now a corner storefront from chef-owner Corey Jackson (formerly of Kaluz in Fort Lauderdale) and partner Kenny Philyaw. 2152 W. Oakland Park Blvd.; 954-522-0969, facebook. com/burger48
Fat Tap Beer Bar, Oakland Park
The Oakland Park Boulevard craft beer bar has moved to a new, expanded home in warehouses on North Dixie Highway. One building houses a craft-beer taproom and kitchen, and a 2,000-square-foot beer garden behind the warehouses connects to Fat Tap’s brewhouse, a nanobrewery whose one-barrel
system can pump out 31 gallons of suds per batch. 3553-3555 N. Dixie Highway, FatTapBeerBar.com.
Coming soon
Fogo de Chão, Fort Lauderdale
Founded in southern Brazil in 1979, the steakhouse is opening its fifth Florida location at The Main Las Olas early next year. Owners say the restaurant brings the centuries-old cooking technique of churrasco — roasting prime cuts of meat over an open flame. Offerings include Wagyu New York strip and 42-day aged tomahawk ribeye along with seafood and Brazilian-inspired cocktails. 201 E Las Olas Blvd; fogo.com
Matchbox and Big Buns Damn Good Burgers, Fort Lauderdale
Two Thompson Hospitality restaurants are coming to Society Las Olas, a mixed-use space along the New River. Matchbox will take on the larger space serving items like the “ginormous meatball” and “hangover burrito.” Big Buns Damn Good Burgers will offer all types of stacked burgers or burger bowls with side options like Jammin Sprouts (fried Brussels sprouts, bacon jam, sriracha drizzle) and milkshakes that can be boozy or not. eatbigbuns. com
Old School Philly Cheesesteaks, Pompano Beach
It’s the guilty pleasure of cheesesteaks with Cheez Whiz as one of the toppings. The Boca Raton eatery is expanding to a former Subway across the street from the Pompano AirPark. This location will showcase sandwich-making directly in front of customers who can choose to create their own Philly or get a classic. 898 N. Federal Highway, 561-488-6906. Added 8/11
Cali Coffee, Pembroke Pines and beyond
The Broward County-based, drive-thru coffee company is quickly expanding since opening its Hollywood flagship in 2018. The plan is to open four additional locations throughout Broward by 2023 starting with Pembroke Pines in early 2022, then Miramar, Coconut Creek and a second location in Cooper City. Their signature coffees including “breves” (an espresso based drink made with half-and-half milk) come hot, iced or frozen. They also offer fruit infused drinks with red bull as an option. calicoffee.com
Dvash Mediterranean Fusion, Boca Raton
The family behind Falafel Bistro & Wine Bar in Coral Springs will open Dvash Mediterranean Fusion in September in Lakeside Centre. Dvash is Hebrew for honey, which figures not only into the design of the restaurant but also in the cuisine that uses honey as a natural sweetener. The menu will have some of the same dishes as Falafel Bistro, but the Dvash kitchen will also reflect the family’s love of sharing plates, tapas style. Expected opening is Sept. 9. 8208 Glades Road; DvashBoca. com
Local Seoul Asian Kitchen, Boca Raton
Gary Rack’s newest venture aims to take you on “a walk through Asia” in east Boca Raton. The 1,100-square-foot restaurant will seat only 22 people, but the goal is also to attract take-out lovers. The concept is chef-driven with health-conscious ingredients similar to Rack’s other restaurants, such as Farmhouse Boca. The opening is slated for August inside the former Stateside Sandwiches location. 1159 S. Federal Highway.
Tacocraft Taqueria and Tequila Bar, Plantation
Expanding Tulum vibes into west Broward, this Mexican-themed eatery’s fourth location is set to open inside the new Plantation Walk complex, a mixed-use renovation of the old Fashion Mall. The restaurant from Handcrafted Hospitality (Henry’s Sandwich Station, Pizzacraft) touts an expansive tequila selection and homemade tortillas expected to hit booths and bar counters inside the new 4,200-square-foot space this December. 333 N University Dr.; Tacocraft. com
Ramen Lab Eatery, West Boca
This will be the third Palm Beach location specializing in ramen and other bowl concepts including donburi and poke bowls. Noodles are made in-house and toppings range from pork chashu to a seasoned poached egg. There are also Izakaya tapas and a beer/sake selection from Japan. Address TBD; RamenLabEatery.com Lazy Dog, Boca Raton This pooch-friendly Southern California gastropub chain dishes American comfort classics that spark joy — so long as you bring the Lipitor. Barbecue bison meatloaf, pot roast beef dips, peanut butter and jelly burgers, teriyaki bowls and St. Louis-style ribs distinguish the chain’s massive menu, which also features meatless and gluten-sensitive meals. It’s 10,900-square-foot eatery will debut this October inside the new Uptown Boca shopping village.
9636 Glades Road, Bldg. C6; 714-596-9960, LazyDogRestaurants.com
Sushi Maki, Fort Lauderdale
For entrepreneur Abe Ng, what began as his father’s Chinese takeout empire is now a thriving dynasty of sushi houses, the latest of which will debut this fall inside the former Beehive Kitchen on Las Olas. The 2,500-square-foot Sushi Maki will feature poke bowls, sushi boats, pad Thai and wok-fried rice. (For those who can’t wait in Broward, Sushi Maki has grab-and-go locations at Whole Foods Market and Nova Southeastern University.) 200 E. Las Olas Blvd.; SushiMaki.com
Throw Social, Delray Beach
A 12,000-square-foot entertainment village on Delray Beach’s Atlantic Avenue will open this September inside former clubby Italian grill il Bacio. The project is the second location of Throw Social’s Washington, D.C. flagship, and will feature ax throwing, darts, shuffleboard tables, two outdoor stages pumping live music and a menu of gastropub fare. 29 SE Second Ave.; 800-5610755, ThrowSocial.com
Asbury Ale House, Fort Lauderdale
Owner Matt Gullace will expand his New Jerseyborn gastropub into its second location this October on the ground floor of hip residential tower Society Las Olas, and feature a menu of coal-fired pizzas, burgers and the Drunken Bite (or drunken pasta that is Italian-breaded, deepfried and dipped in vodka sauce). The 10,000-squarefoot restaurant also will have 50 beers on tap, sports on dozens of TVs and an outdoor patio filled with Jenga and cornhole. 300 SW First Ave.; AsburyAleHouse.com
Ford’s Garage, Plantation
When visionary automaker Henry Ford invented the Model T, did he foresee a future where his genius is celebrated by people chowing down chicken tenders and truffle fries? The speakeasy gastropub’s second South Florida location (there’s a second in Wellington), opening this fall inside the new Plantation Walk strip mall, bustles with automotive themes, towers of onion rings, brawny burgers and mugs of beer. 321 N. University Drive; FordsGarageUSA. com
Pascal and Cathy Bakery, Pompano Beach
This husband and wifeowned French bakery will be open for breakfast and lunch, offering fresh baked items daily including: viennoiseries, pastries, sandwiches and paninis. 998 N Federal Highway, Suite 4-5; bakerypascal.com
Miso Japanese Tapas, Fort Lauderdale
Chef Thuan Lam, best known for creating Phat Boy Sushi & Kitchen, will open his newest venture in December in a recently remodeled, multi-tenant building on Progresso Drive. Miso will cross-pollinate Japanese and Latin cuisine in small plates. He’ll also have a sushi bar, and is planning to host a monthly omakase series and offer brunch on a patio out front.