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Restaurant now open: Verino's in Fort Lauderdale, Padrino's in Plantation

Jan 31, 2024

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Verino's Pizzeria & Grill, Fort Lauderdale

The recipes for Verino's Pizzeria & Grill come from pals with restaurants in Boston's North End neighborhood — with menu fare such as brick-oven, thin-crust pizza, lasagna, grilled skewers of steak tips, lamb, chicken or house-made sausage. That was the plan all along for husband-and-wife owners Brian Turnbull and Sayaka Tobimatsu, who opened Verino's on April 28 in the former spot of Jade Palace Restaurant, across Sunrise Boulevard from The Galleria mall. Tobimatsu is from Tokyo, where generations of her family ran an eatery in the entertainment enclave Asakusa for more than 150 years. After getting a hospitality management degree from Florida International University, she worked for Benihana and the Ritz-Carlton. Turnbull worked in the casino industry in Connecticut and Boston. Verino's is named after his grandparents who immigrated from Italy. "We love the art and science of making pizza," Turnbull says. 2465 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-999-5506; verinospizza.com

KAO Bar & Grill, Hallandale Beach

A spinoff of the KAO Sushi & Grill brick-and-mortar in Coral Gables, this two-story, Argentine-American fusion restaurant — with a May 19 opening date — occupies repurposed shipping containers. The 5,000-square-foot KAO Bar & Grill, splashed in rainbow-hued murals, is a project from restaurateur Matias Pagano (J&J's Fresh Kitchen in Boca Raton) and features an al fresco patio with lounge chairs, sofas and a 14-seat bar. KAO's menu includes Argentine-style prosciutto pizza, empanada platters, fire-grilled lamb ribs, ribeyes and branzino plated with housemade chimichurri, along with choripan handhelds and Angus cheeseburgers on brioche. 11 NE First Ave., Hallandale Beach; 786-864-1212; KaoBarandGrill.com

Pâté Bar, HollywoodWhether you know it as a pâté, patty, empanada or pastellio, the handheld snack is a staple among Caribbean, African and Latin fare. Chef The Rose (the nom de cuisine of Rose Jean) celebrated May's Haitian Heritage Month with the grand opening of her food kiosk at the Polo Bar and Grill on May 18. "Our menu is all about sharing the flavors from various cultures and traditions of my home country, and we can't wait to introduce our guests to these unique dishes," says Chef The Rose. Among other menu items, the signature pâté has 12 filling options, including seafood and vegan. Polo Bar and Grill owner Paul Neil adds, "This is a unique dining experience that you won't find anywhere else in Hollywood, and we’re looking forward to sharing the Pâté Bar experience with the community. This is one of South Florida's best-kept secrets." 5590 W. Hallandale Beach Blvd., No. 5329, Hollywood; thepolobarandgrill.com/pate-bar

MISO Japanese Tapas, Fort LauderdaleChef Thuan Lam, best known for creating Phat Boy Sushi and Poke Lolo, quietly opened his long-awaited restaurant to no social-media fanfare on May 18, inside a bold blue-and-white-streaked building in Fort Lauderdale's industrial Progresso Village. The restaurant has been in the works since mid-2021. A cross-pollination of Japanese and Latin cuisine in small plates, MISO, led by chef Julien "Jay" Barashari of Poke Lolo fame, will also feature a sushi bar. And there are plans to host a monthly omakase series and offer brunch on a patio out front. 801 NE Second Ave.; instagram.com/miso_ftl

Baked561, Delray Beach

This dessert shop specializing in Nutella pizzas, cookie dough, ice cream sandwiches and custom cakes has opened its first location in Delray Beach, in a small west-of-Interstate-95 strip mall shared with Rogie Pierogies and Proper Ice Cream. This pickup-only bakery, with no indoor seating, opened May 18 with delivery via Postmates and Grubhub, and is owned by Diana Grow, Juan Tunon and baker Carolyn Tunon Schmidt. The shop, of course, also offers over-the-top cookies studded with Lucky Charms marshmallows, Oreos and s’mores. 1445 N. Congress Ave., Delray Beach; 305-979-0667; Baked305.com

Padrino's, PlantationThe original location of this 31-year-old Cuban classics chain has relocated across the street into a 5,000-square-foot location, undergoing a decor and menu facelift to match its newest digs. The restaurant, which had its ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 11, comes from third-generation owners Eduardo and Mario Padrino and their sister, Laura Padrino Corredoria, and is adorned with art deco lighting, indoor palms, geometric chandeliers and tropical wallpaper. The menu — which uses recipes created by their grandmother — features lechon asado, churrasco, arroz con pollo and flan, plus mojitos and cocktails. The Plantation location joins other outposts in Fort Lauderdale, Dania Beach, Hallandale Beach and Boca Raton. 1039 S. University Drive, Suite 210; Padrinos.com

Cookie Plug, West Palm Beach

At this rapidly growing California franchise of sweet shops, the soft and brownie-thick cookies are dubbed "phatties," graffiti coats the walls, and ’90s West Coast hip-hop flows over loudspeakers. The bakery founded by Erik Martinez is bringing six locations to South Florida, the first of which had its grand opening on May 6 near Clematis Street and South Olive Avenue, a block west of the downtown waterfront. The menu includes the self-explanatory Snooperdoodle, Mac Daddy (white chocolate macadamia nut), Crunch Nugget (chocolate peanut butter), Bam Bam (fruity cereal) and the Pink Elephant (strawberry cheesecake). The five other locations are heading to Miami-Dade County, joining 300 total Cookie Plugs planned by the end of 2026. 105 S. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach; CookiePlug.com

The House on the River, Fort Lauderdale

The historic River House lives again. That's what restaurateur Steven D’Apuzzo of Society 8 Hospitality Group says about The House on the River, a seafood-centric restaurant with 270 seats (120 on the patio, 150 indoors) that will open on May 12. Built in 1903, the landmark was originally the home of city fathers Tom and Reed Bryan. The city owns the property and has leased it to various restaurant brands over the years, most recently the short-lived Jonny NoBones Old Riverhouse Vegan Village. Society 8 currently operates Sistrunk Marketplace & Brewery, Park & Ocean, and Wild Thyme Oceanside Eatery. 301 SW Third Ave., Fort Lauderdale; TheHouseOnTheRiver.com

Kanpai, Boca Raton

Shut nearly two years after an electrical fire caused structural damage to the restaurant in July 2021, this Japanese sushi-barbecue mashup from restaurateur Lixii Sun is back for its second act. "Transitioning from a fire can be challenging for a restaurateur, but it never stopped me," Sun says. "Kanpai has been reborn." The rebooted izakaya, which debuted May 10, will serve yakiniku (Japanese barbecue) on 13 smokeless grills, including prime steak and Wagyu beef sourced from Palm Beach Meats in West Palm Beach. New chefs Choum Loy and Jimmy Hernandez, meanwhile, will man the 256-seat Kanpai's new sushi bar. The menu includes paella with Wagyu fried rice, housemade kimchi, poached egg and nori furikake; mentaiko udon (a creamy, spicy cod roe udon) with ikura, shiso and sake butter; and flame-grilled bluefin salmon belly with togarashi sauce, scallion, seared foie gras and black garlic shoyu. The decor, also refreshed, is distinguished with black-and-gold line drawings from Takeshi Kamioka (of Kaminari Ramen), while the bar features Japanese whiskeys and Asian-inspired cocktails. 20 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton; 561-361-8688; Facebook.com/kanpaiboca; KanpaiBoca.com

South PMP Bar & Kitchen, Pompano Beach

If Jet Runway Café is owner Mike Linder's love letter to aviation and YOT Bar & Kitchen is his mash note to the sea, then his newest restaurant, South PMP, is stuck securely on terra firma. Linder's Southern comfort food kitchen debuted in early May in Pompano's Old Town district. The menu features smoked and chili-glazed spare ribs, buttermilk biscuits with pepper jelly and whipped honey butter, boudin balls stuffed with Cajun-roasted pork, roasted beef po’boys, pork belly BLTs, shrimp ‘n’ grits and 14-ounce ribeyes doused in cowboy butter. 165 NE First Ave., Pompano Beach; 954-890-2000; SouthPMP.com

Raising Cane's, Boynton Beach and beyond

This fast-expanding national chicken chain from Baton Rouge, La., specializes in one thing: hand-battered tenders served in several combo specials, from its three-finger deal to the Caniac Combo (six tenders with crinkle-cut fries, coleslaw and Texas toast). The first of four new South Florida entries had a grand opening on May 2 on Boynton Beach Boulevard — beside a Chick-fil-A, no less — while the rest are slated to open in Royal Palm Beach (100 N. State Road 7) by June and in Cutler Bay (19705 S. Dixie Highway) by July. In August, a fourth is scheduled to open in Pompano Beach (2501 N. Federal Highway) on the former site of steakhouse icon Bobby Rubino's. Other Florida outposts are planned this year in Largo, Gainesville, Tallahassee and Port St. Lucie. 1550 Boynton Beach Blvd.; 561-237-1300, RaisingCanes.com

Holy Bowly, Fort Lauderdale

This whimsically named build-your-own bowl shop registered to Gianpaolo Di Risio and Ryan Sproveri debuted in early March near the corner of South Andrews Avenue and Davie Boulevard. It serves 15 signature bowls such as the Green Goblin, a pan-seared salmon filet atop a bed of mango chunks, diced avocado, white rice and coconut flakes; and the Bar-B, a medley of slow-cooked pulled pork, mac ‘n’ cheese, sweet cornbread, glazed Brussels sprouts and southern slaw. 112 Davie Blvd., Unit B; 954-295-0086; HolyBowlyFTL.com

Serious Dumplings, Boca Raton

Serving soups, scallion pancakes, Shanghai fried rice and Chinese street foods, this restaurant debuted in April in the Shadowwood Square plaza, replacing the former Sushi Yama. The fast-casual spot registered to Wei Lin, who operates two other Serious outposts in Davie and North Miami, also features xiao long bao (steamed buns prepared in a xiaolong, or bamboo basket), dim sum (such as Peking duck buns, braised chicken feet and beef sanji), along with boba and iced green teas. 9845 Glades Road, Boca Raton; SeriousDumplingsUSA.com

Baresco Taqueria & Bar, Pompano Beach

This trendy coastal Mexican eatery touting bamboo basket lighting, hardwood communal tables and chic tropical accents debuted in mid-April across the street from the Pompano Beach Pier hullabaloo. Baresco — which comes from Brimstone Restaurant Group (Beach House Pompano down the block, Brimstone Woodfire Grill in Pembroke Pines) — offers seven taco flavors, from short-rib birria and barbacoa to al pastor and chipotle pollo, along with carnita flatbreads, taco salads, seafood quesadillas, mezcal oysters, enchiladas de pollo and salmon a la Veracruz. There are also craft cocktails, margaritas, domestic beers and wines. 225 N. Pompano Beach Blvd., Pompano Beach; 954-904-4567; EatBaresco.com

The Greek Joint Kitchen & Bar, Davie

The first sister location of Jimmy and Chris Sklaventis’ popular Greek mainstay in downtown Hollywood, this restaurant opened in April on the corner of University Drive and Stirling Road. The menu, from chef Alex Dzhugan, will be identical to the flagship's, and feature a variety of meze such as shrimp saganaki, tiropita and keftedakia. Meanwhile its entrees, straddling the line between modern and traditional, range from grilled pork chops and chicken souvlaki platters to filet mignon kebabs and spicy feta-encrusted salmon. 5810 S. University Drive, Suites 118-119, Davie; 954-541-5828; TheGreekJoint.com

Epazote Mexican Restaurant, Fort Lauderdale

Epazote, which opened April 8, bills itself as "a taste of Mexico" and that means a menu with a variety of tacos, fajitas, quesadillas, enchiladas, tortas, sopas, ensaladas as well as entrées such as the house special — half a duck roasted and coated in a mole sauce. "What makes Epazote unique is the authenticity," says co-owner Simonne Carrasco. "This is a Mexican-born, family-owned restaurant. Not only are all of our plates traditional and authentic, but they also have a gourmet-like presentation. A true Mexican culinary experience. Food, culture, love, that's what we want to share with our customers." 6206 N Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale; 754-220-6996; epazotemexicanrestaurant.com

Flanigan's Seafood Bar & Grill, Miramar

Locals know Joe "Big Daddy" Flanigan's joint by reputation, finger-licking ribs and those indispensable green plastic cups, and now this longtime neighborhood grill has opened its latest location in the new Miramar Park Place plaza on Red Road. The nautically-minded seafood bar — still unpretentious and refreshingly old-school despite the upscale surrounds — offers chicken wings, tumbleweed onions, garlic knots and rockin’ rib rolls, along with hamburgers, dolphin sandwiches, Cajun shrimp and pasta and prime rib with au jus. And green cups, of course. 11225 Miramar Parkway, Miramar; 954-251-4734; Flanigans.net

Mo:Mo: Avenue, Lake Worth Beach

Here's one reason to rock on through to Mo:Mo: Avenue: Nepalese-style dumplings. Nepali cuisine from owner Sujan Dhimal is devoted to the humble momo, a steam-filled dumpling. The new Lake Worth Beach eatery's menu, which is slim, does momo with chicken, pork, or vegetarian-style, and served steamed (traditional), fried or jhol (with a spicy sesame and tomato-based soup). There's also thukpa, a Himalayan noodle soup; spicy veggie-and-pea samosas; and choila, a Newari dish made with boiled and fried chicken or pork, plus spices and veggies. 7030 Charleston Shores Blvd., Lake Worth Beach; 561-530-4175; MoMoAvenue.com

RedWood Bar & Kitchen, Hollywood

This Mediterranean-Caribbean fusion spot from Hollywood chef Ivan Dorvil (Ivan's Cookhouse in North Miami) debuted in mid-March on Harrison Street, one of downtown Hollywood's charming restaurant rows. Dorvil, for the uninitiated, has racked up much Food Network clout in the past decade, winning an episode of "Chopped," competing on "Cutthroat Kitchen," and showing off his Carib-Asian eatery Ivan's Cookhouse for Guy Fieri on "Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives." RedWood's menu features shrimp tacos, mofongo (an open-face green plantain with pork belly glaze and a kimchi-pikliz slaw), slow-braised pork spare ribs doused in housemade barbecue sauce. There are also entrees including flatbread pizzas and pastas, kebabs with black mushrooms, and curry chicken with basmati rice and roasted plantains. 2009 Harrison St., Hollywood; 954-362-7152, RedWoodBarKitchen.com

Jackson's Chicken Shack, Lake Worth Beach

Fried-chicken purveyors are having a moment in South Florida, and the latest example is this shack registered to owner Stephen Difiore, which opened in early April in a Jog Road plaza shared with Walmart Neighborhood Market. Jackson's touts fried and grilled chicken handhelds, wraps, salads, fries — and tenders, naturally — slathered in toppings, dressings and cheeses. 6169 Jog Road, Lake Worth Beach; JacksonsChickenShack.net

Cali Coffee, Miramar

This Broward County-born, drive-thru coffeehouse has quickly expanded since opening its Hollywood flagship in 2018. Its new outpost debuted in Miramar in early April on the northwest corner of Pembroke and South Hiatus roads. Other locations are scheduled for 2023, including in Cooper City and North Lauderdale. Their signature coffees include breves (an espresso-based drink made with half-and-half milk), served hot, iced or frozen. They also offer fruit-infused drinks with Red Bull as an option. 2101 S. Hiatus Road, Miramar; CaliCoffee.com

Shuck Boys Oyster Bar, Fort Lauderdale

If you love oysters, then you just might love this new addition to the Sistrunk Marketplace & Brewery food hall. Shuck Boys Oyster Bar had a soft launch in February and was fully up and running by late March. Its original location — at the Yellow Green Farmers Market in Hollywood — opened last summer. The concept was developed by Kyle Lopez, Richard Lecorps, Alberto Davarro and Michael Ingenito, who also debuted a third location at Shoma Bazaar in Doral. "All of us have worked in the South Florida hospitality industry for 10+ years," Ingenito says. "Some of us have worked at small restaurants, fine dining and even restaurants with James Beard Award-winning chefs. Each partner brings the best of those places and experiences to each detail within our menu." Speaking of which, the menu includes a variety of East and West Coast Oysters, a Louisiana-Style Charbroiled Oyster (a crowd favorite), Warm and Cold Lobster Rolls, Lobster Grilled Cheese and a Lobster Mac and Cheese Trio (regular, spicy and truffle). The Fort Lauderdale eatery is the only one to offer a Lobster Grilled Cheese. Also look for that same location to offer oyster classes, where members of the Shuck Boys team teach the ins and outs of oysters, including how to shuck with the best of them and identify different types of oysters like an expert. 115 NW Sixth St., Fort Lauderdale; instagram.com/shuck_boys or linktr.ee/shuckboys

Cleo Royal Coffee, Fort Lauderdale

The "Cleo," of course, is short for Egyptian queen Cleopatra at this Middle Eastern-inspired cafe from owner Emilio Dominguez, who also operates acclaimed sister shop The Modern Rose at the Cove plaza in Deerfield Beach. The coffeehouse, wedged inside an art gallery, threw its grand opening on April 8 on Northeast Fourth Avenue and touts specialty drinks that probably wouldn't sound out of place at an Egyptian palace. There's the Luxor Breve, a fusion of espresso, organic date syrup with saffron in a rosemary-smoked cup; the Turkish Sunrise, a Turkish orange soda orange blossom, espresso and cinnamon; and the Pharoah's Cold Brew, which is topped with lavender sweet foam. There are also tea, chai and Guatemalan drip coffees, along with acai bowls, wraps and baked items such as cream cheese-stuffed za’atar bagel holes. 1444 NE Fourth Ave., Fort Lauderdale; CleoRoyal.com

Perillas Korean Kitchen, Fort Lauderdale

Also at Sistrunk Marketplace & Brewery, Perillas Korean Kitchen had its soft opening in March and a grand opening on April 1. In 2018, Perillas was founded by Korean-American James Choi in Boston, where there are now three locations. Brought to the SoFlo food hall by business partner Brice Williams, Perillas’ menu focuses on Bibimbap, which means "mixed rice bowl" in Korean. The fast-casual offers dishes such as Beef Bulgogi Bibimbap and Veggie Bibimbap with Crispy Tofu. "Growing up in Fort Lauderdale, I found my first career, and love, in hospitality at a few local favorites like The Floridian on Las Olas and Café Del Mar on the beach," Williams recalls. "Then I spent over a decade working with nonprofit and faith-based ventures in multiple cities before returning to South Florida in 2021. It's great to feel like James and I get to apply all the education and experiences back into an industry we love and that really needs a new playbook." In addition to being available for catering and pop-up events, Perillas offers Korean cooking classes and collaborative events with food hall mates Dream State Brewing. 115 NW Sixth St., Fort Lauderdale; 305-204-0071; perillasfood.com, instagram.com/perillasfood, facebook.com/perillasfood

Paris Banh Mi Cafe and Bakery, Davie

This coffeehouse chain devoted to the banh mi — Vietnamese handhelds with pate, pickled veggies and meat on French baguette — had the grand opening of its first South Florida location on April 9 on Stirling Road, across the street from Foodtown. Paris, founded by Hien Tran and Doan Nguyen, features 16 banh mi configurations such as grilled pork, pâté and pork roll and shredded chicken. The bakery also serves eye-popping baked goods such as mango Key lime cheesecake, lemon tartlet, apple custard, cheese croissants, almondines, Danish and cinnamon buns, along with milk teas and lattes. 7160 Stirling Road, Davie; 786-407-4999; ParisBanhMi.com

Adrienne's Pizzabar, West Palm Beach

Known for square-shaped pizzas, Adrienne's Pizzabar opened April 15 at the 360 Rosemary building in West Palm Beach. The new eatery is part of the restaurant brand that includes Harry's, a classic cuisine mainstay in the financial district of Manhattan for a half-century and a favorite of the Wall Street crowd. Sometime in late May, when Harry's is expected to join Adrienne's Pizzabar as a sister restaurant here in SoFlo, both eateries will share a combined 11,000-square-foot indoor and outdoor space where patrons can intermingle and order from both. 378 S Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach; www.adriennespizzabarnyc.com or instagram.com/adriennespizzabar

Prospect Pizza, Oakland Park

This slice shop from owner Kenneth Mooney debuted in mid-March on Prospect Road, replacing the former Tic Tac Dough Pizza, Subs & Brew, which shuttered in early 2022. The no-frills, New York-style menu slings plain pies for $12 to $16, along with calzones, strombolis and subs, including roast beef and chicken parmesan. There are also specialty pies such as the Hawaiian and the "Jimmy," topped with meatball, onion and ricotta. 53 NE 44th St., Oakland Park; 954-900-3678; ProspectSubs.com (website is under construction)

Naked Farmer, Sunrise

This casual American restaurant, which changes its menu with the seasons, opened on April 3 on West Sunrise Boulevard. A farm-to-fork born in Tampa, Naked Farmer created its own direct supply chain with Florida farms, where it sources proteins and vegetables. The restaurant specializes in build-your-own-harvest-bowls, filled with options such as rosemary-roasted chicken, Faroe Island salmon and grass-fed beef, and topped with "your choice of (un)dressing," per its website. Bowls also include sides such as chilled beets and feta, roasted sweet potatoes and carrots with lemon gremolata. The mini-chain operates three other outposts: in Coral Gables, Tampa and St. Petersburg. 13945 W. Sunrise Blvd., Sunrise; 954-507-0530; EatNakedFarmer.com

Black Rock Bar & Grill, Coral Springs

A new location of this Michigan-born, grill-your-own-steaks chain hosted its grand opening on April 3 in the space formerly occupied by The New York Bagel Factory. As with its Fort Lauderdale location (which opened in April 2019), Black Rock's DIY gimmick is simple: Customers grill and flip their raw Angus beef steaks and seafood to desired doneness over 755-degree volcanic bricks served tableside. The restaurant (which touts a mammoth 14-page menu) also features hamburgers, French dips and Reubens, rib slabs and Maine lobster tail. For dessert, there's a towering brownie "volcano" loaded with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate and caramel, and speared with shooting sparklers. 2554 N. University Drive, Coral Springs; BlackRockRestaurants.com

Tito's, Lake Worth Beach

This cult-favorite Mexican-Venezuelan food truck making the rounds in West Palm Beach has expanded south, shuffling into its first brick-and-mortar at a Marathon gas station on South Congress Avenue. The eatery, which debuted March 24, comes from co-owner Jose Viloria, who tells the South Florida Sun Sentinel that the comfort-food menu is identical to that of its food truck. The street-food menu features tacos, tortas, tostadas, burritos and quesadillas, along with pepitos, tostitos and cachapas (cheese-filled corn pancakes). There are also Venezuelan-style hamburgers with pineapple, ham, potato chips, fried plantains and pink sauce, and hot dogs loaded with Colombian chorizo. 3965 S. Congress Ave., Lake Worth Beach; 561-222-9570; TitosWPBFL.com

Nour Thai Kitchen & Bar, Oakland Park

Isaan food, from northeastern Thailand — think pungent spices, more chilies, fewer curries, more fermented fish — is the focus of William Manthy and Edric Espinoza's new "unapologetically bold" restaurant in Oakland Park. Nour Thai, which debuted in mid-March in Oakland Park's growing Culinary Arts District, is adorned with murals of fish from Thailand's Mekong River and features crispy money bags (deep-fried pockets of sweet potato, cornpeas, onions, curry powder), spicy basil fried rice and duck noodle soup. The menu also includes sashimi, sushi rolls and poke bowls. 3554 NE 12th Ave, Oakland Park; 954-533-0569; NourThai.com

Rice Mediterranean Kitchen, Fort Lauderdale

This Mediterranean build-your-own-bowl mini-chain with seven locations in Miami-Dade County debuted its first Broward County kitchen in mid-March. The eatery from chef-owner Ali Shabani (Rice House of Kabob), on tony Las Olas Boulevard inside the Bank of America building, spotlights family recipes drawn from his Persian roots. Bowls, wraps and salads may be customized with proteins such as braised brisket and lamb, basmati or brown rice, sriracha-tomato hummus and Greek yogurt sumac. There are also eight herb-infused dips (including charred carrot tahini and honey nut feta), wild-caught snapper wraps, and sirloin kubideh salads. 401 E. Las Olas Blvd., No. 115, Fort Lauderdale; 954-928-9620; RiceKitchen.com

Opal & Ore, Delray Beach

Chef-restaurateur Giovanni Geraca has debuted this Mediterranean-Italian kitchen on Delray Beach's ever-bustling Atlantic Avenue. The menu, which draws on French and coastal Italian techniques, includes starters such as Sicilian schiacciata, a flatbread topped with buffalo mozzarella, scallion butter and Greek olives, arancini balls, black truffle bruschetta and charcuterie plates. Entrees include pan-seared swordfish paired with caramelized onions, capers and a white wine-infused lemon-butter sauce. There is also fresh lobster with creamy tarragon sauce and beurre blanc (a French butter sauce) on a bed of fettuccine. For nonseafood eaters, the menu has pork and sage butter rigatoni and slow-cooked Bell & Evans chicken with mushrooms and cream sherry sauce. 506 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach; 561-265-5699, OpalandOre.com

Seabra Bakery & Café, Boca Raton

This Portuguese and Brazilian bakery from the owners of the Seabra Foods ethnic grocery chain (which has supermarkets in Parkland and Pompano Beach and out of state in New Jersey and New York) debuted in February in Boca Raton. Co-owners Antonio, Adam, Anthony and Aaron Seabra have opened a spot that specializes in custom-order cakes and housemade Portuguese rolls (pão da avó), along with wraps and paninis stuffed with grilled chicken, prosciutto, beef tenderloin and roasted turkey. There are also sandwiches named after South Florida cities, including the Boca Raton, a chicken cutlet handheld topped with Canadian bacon and vegetables. 465-475 NE Spanish River Blvd., Boca Raton; 561-631-9022; Instagram.com/seabrabakery

Bear's Food Shack and Tequila Bar, Lake Worth Beach

An unlikely fusion of Mexican and Hawaiian dishes — plus intoxicating tequila cocktails — distinguishes this beachy laidback shack that arrived downtown in early March. The eatery, from owner Mia Rizzo, actually combines two restaurants: the El Diablo that previously occupied this Lake Worth Beach space and Bear's Food Shack in Delray Beach, which shuttered last fall on Atlantic Avenue. The menu includes poke bowls, acai bowls and smoothies along with quesadillas, burritos, fajitas, tacos, enchiladas and protein bowls. 717 Lake Ave., Lake Worth Beach; BearsFoodShack.com

Sakura Ramen, Coral Springs

Asian street foods tantalizing enough to merit their own Instagram account are on the menu at this ramen house, which debuted in early March in the Coral Landings III plaza off West Sample Road and North State Road 7. The restaurant, registered to Zheng Xing Zheng, offers seven ramen bowls along with stir-fried Japanese curry, takoyaki (fried octopus balls), Korean spicy cheese noodles, shrimp tempura bao buns, pad Thai and Chinese scallion pancakes. For sweet tooths, there are bubble teas, milkshakes, powdered Thai doughnuts and something called "dirty bread," which is deep-fried, dusted with cinnamon, stuffed with Nutella and dunked into a coconut-based dipping sauce. 6192 W. Sample Road, Coral Springs; 954-247-9380; SakuraRamen99.com

Belladukes, Boca Raton

Belladukes‘ owners — Lisa Mullen and Lisa Klepper — say the gourmet market and coffee bar features a weekly rotating menu, bespoke grab-and-go meals, charcuterie specials and sweet treats, as well as craft beer and fine wines by the glass or bottle. There are three generations of friendships behind Belladukes. In addition to being childhood friends, both women's parents were friends and now their children are pals too. By the way, the name comes from each family's dog, Duke for the Mullens and Bella for the Kleppers. Free parking is available in the Tower 155 Garage and metered parking on the street. 155 E. Boca Raton Road, Boca Raton; 561-990-1516; belladukes.com

Crosby Kitchen & Bar, JupiterAfter 4 1/2 years on South Cypress Drive near the Jupiter Inlet, this grill devoted to modern American fare announced in a May 9 social-media post that it had permanently closed. "We are exceptionally grateful to our staff, friends, family, and patrons for so many absolutely wonderful moments and memories," the restaurant posted on its Facebook page. Crosby, owned by Peter Pace and Robert Gillin, featured beef short ribs, steak frites, soba noodle bowls and chicken and waffles, along with mahi and steak-blend hamburgers and spanakopita pizza. 1406 Cypress Drive, Jupiter; facebook.com/crosbykitchen

Fiorello's Fort Lauderdale

The oceanside Italian-Mediterranean restaurant opened in the winter of 2022 and closed this spring, sometime in mid-April, according to the real estate broker. Repeated calls and messages to Fiorello's went unanswered. The eatery's Facebook account's last entry was dated March 11. The Instagram page at instagram.com/fiorellosfortlauderdale has been deleted, though there is another page at instagram.com/fiorellosftlbeach that is now touting party events in Atlanta. 905 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 754-200-5146; Fiorellos-Fort-Lauderdale.Business.Site.

Martini's Tuscan Grill & Bar, Boynton Beach

This rustic grill devoted to Italian-American classics abruptly closed without fanfare in late April after three-and-a-half years in business on the Boynton Beach Boulevard drag. Along with soups and antipasto, there were 12-inch pies inspired by the Bronx's Arthur Avenue, along with chicken marsala, veal and eggplant parmigiana, baked gnocchi sorrentino and tagliatelle bolognese. 6655 Boynton Beach Blvd; 561-734-1866, MartinisTuscanGrill.com

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