May 16th, 2012
I hope Jimmy does not think I have forgotten about him. No way. On April 17th my husband and I arrived in Delray Beach, Florida. We knew where we were going for dinner that night. Lately, I have not been able to get reservations at Jimmy’s Bistro. And you know what? I was happy to hear that. I am happy to say that I knew Jimmy when he had just opened this, now, very popular restaurant in the Village by the Sea.
Word of mouth is such a powerful advertising tool. Around the beginning of November of 2009 I received an e-mail to my website from Ellen. I did not know her then or now. She told me that I should review Jimmy’s Bistro. That his food was incredible. That his Po’ Boy was delicious. And, that he was just starting out in Delray. I went for the first time to visit Jimmy’s Bistro on November 7th of 2009.
Jimmy’s Bistro is located at 9 South Swinton Ave., Delray Beach, FL 33444. Tel. 561-865-5774. E-mail jimmysbistro@gmail.com. The Chef and Owner is James Mills. You can call him Jimmy. He was originally from West Virginia. Worked in New York.
Call for reservations and if you can eat late, then do so. He now opens only for dinner.
Jimmy has not changed at all. From 2009 he is still as friendly, and gracious. What an amazing Chef!!
Jimmy
On this last trip to Delray I had a few disappointments from some of the restaurants that I have frequented in the past. That happens, I know. Jimmy has stayed true to his type of cooking; great flavors and colors enticing you to want some more.
The restaurant is small. We went late just so that we could unwind from our trip. We still waited outside with a drink; right on the sidewalk. Only one little table for outdoor dining and chairs for others to wait.
Inside, you will find tables and the bar. The bar will have the board with all the evening offerings.
By the time we sat down we, practically, had the restaurant to ourselves. Jimmy was able to leave the kitchen for a minute to say hello. A smile on his face said it all. I think his dream has come true.
He had great music playing in the background. We ordered appetizers, soups, and one main dish. That’s all we wanted.
Mozzarella Fondue with mushrooms, caramelized onions and peppers.
Ceviche with house potato chips. A little kick with wonderful flavors.
Local Zucchini Flowers, stuffed with eggplant and ricotta, over a yellow pepper coulis. My first try at the zucchini flowers and truly loved them.
Tomato Bisque topped with a parmesan pastry. This is my favorite soup. Hot out of the oven. Always on the menu.
My husband had the Fish Curry with Amberjack and coconut rice. He liked it very much.
No dessert for us on that evening. We were totally satisfied.
The quality of the ingredients, the culinary competence, the service, the ambiance, and the competitive prices make Jimmy’s Bistro so good and consistent.
Dear Jimmy: You probably don’t remember that when we first met you said: “You should spread the word out.” Haha, that’s what I have been doing.
So I am ending this post with…I have tried it, liked it and will be back again…Now it’s your turn.
Talk to you later.
January 22nd, 2012
In Delray Beach, Florida some restaurants come and go, just like anywhere else. But then, there are those who are now part of the established eateries that make this Village by the Sea such a South Florida destination. They are serving tried and true dishes; some are a house specialty and some are a customer’s favorite.
So, if you find yourselves in this Village by The Sea, enjoy the town, the beach, the shops and all the restaurants; some are more casual than others, but almost all of them offer al fresco dining.
I visit Delray often and the following restaurants are favorites in Delray. They all offer so much on their menu. But, there are some dishes that I am totally hooked on. Check my list.
Ziree Thai and Sushi is located at 401 West Atlantic Ave. (a few blocks west of the Delray Beach Tennis Center). Tel. 561-276-6549. Website? http://www.zireethai.com.
Sushi, sashimi, other Asian delights are among the many dishes. I have been visiting Ziree since they opened and have seen it grow and be such a part of the local community.
I love a dish called the Atlantic Ocean. It is a combination of salmon, shrimp, scallops, squid and mussels, steamed in thick curry sauce and basil leaves. It is a delicious dish and can you believe that it is only $19.95. It is served with your choice of white or brown rice.
Jimmy’s Bistro has been in Delray for a few years, at 9 S. Swinton. Tel. 561-865-5774. You can find Jimmy’s Bistro on Facebook. I was there when Jimmy first opened the bistro. I knew success was around the corner. It was a matter of time; a few passed the word around and Jimmy has become very much loved in the community. It is small, quaint and has great background music.
One of my true favorites and I imagine, a signature dish along with his Po’ Boy is Jimmy’s Tomato Soup with Parmesan Crust. It is served steaming hot; love poking through the crust to find a comforting soup. It is filling so get a lighter entree. Or, have a salad with it.
Cabana El Rey – It is referred to as Cabana, located at 105 East Atlantic Ave. Tel. 561-274-9090. Website? www.cabanarestaurant.com. This restaurant serves a variety of Latin dishes; tostones, mariquitas, coconut rice, morcillas, paella, rice in squid ink, but a favorite of mine and one that you will always find on its menu, is the Pollo Asado which is a half roasted chicken rubbed with adobo (garlic, oregano, lime and extra virgin olive oil). It is served with a choice of yellow or white rice and beans, of course. It is $17.95 and is the best; kid you not.
Tramonti is located at 119 E. Atlantic Avenue. Tel. 561-272-1944. Website? www.tramontidelray.com. This restaurant is one of those that is crowded all the time. Do anything you can to get ahead of the line; speak Italian? That’s even better. They serve a very good lunch too if dinner is not your thing or reservations are hard to get.
A signature dish of Tramonti is called Spaghetti in Cartoccio Areo. It is a baked spaghetti with shrimp, parma prosciutto in a cognac cream sauce. The baking is done in foil. Well seasoned, thick sauce, just enough cognac.
Another favorite? Carpaccio Di Manzo is a beef carpaccio on a bed of arugola, capers, balsamic vinegar and shaves of parmigiano cheese. It is more of an appetizer.
Brule Bistro is in what is known as Pineapple Grove. This Art District of Delray is becoming a second Atlantic Avenue. Brule is located at 200 NE 2nd Ave., Tel. 561-274-2046. Website? www.brulebistro.com. I have yet to make it for dinner; that will be soon, though. The restaurant has a good menu and an extensive wine list.
The chilled gazpacho with yogurt creme is excellent on a hot South Florida day. Homemade; not canned.
The Market Salad is a favorite and it has assorted veggies and white balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Topped with grilled chicken, it is certainly a beautiful meal.
City Oyster was one of the first restaurants I went to when I first came to Delray Beach about 9 years ago. It is located at 213 East Atlantic Avenue. Tel. 561-272-0220. Website? www.cityoysterdelray.com. Definitely it is defined as American Cuisine. It has a great bar and very impressive inside. I usually just sit outside having what I love there best; raw oysters. They are from different parts of the country. Served on ice, plump and salty. That’s all I need to say.
Vic & Angelo’s is located at 290 East Atlantic Ave. Tel. 561-278-9570. Website? www.vicandangelos.com. Great atmosphere, good bread, fine wings, and delicious pastas, but one dish that I order every single time is the V & A Caesar Salad. Romaine Hearts, hand shaved Reggiano, white anchovies with the homemade Caesar dressing makes this one of my favorite salads. It is large enough to share; I never do and I never offer either.
After that salad a veal picatta with artichokes, capers and lemon jus…is a favorite, as well.
Bru’s Room is a Sport’s Bar right in the heart of Delray. Along with many types of beers, and plenty of televisions for all the sport aficionados, they serve the best, bar none, Wings. I usually order the Triple Threat. It is a combination of all their wings; BBQ, Sweet ‘N’ Tangy and hot, grilled and topped with minced garlic. You can leave the garlic out or just get like I sometimes do, the Sweet ‘N’ Tangy, but the magic word is Grilled. You can order them for take-out, as well. Call 561-276-3663. Bru’s Room is located at 35 NE 2nd Ave. Website? www.brusroom.com. The wings are gluten free and it is one of the few restaurants that I have encountered in South Florida offering a gluten free menu.
The Office is located at 201 East Atlantic Avenue. Tel. 561-276-3600. Website? www.theofficedelray.com. No ordinary office this is. They serve outdoors, at the bar or indoors. I have had different salads at the office; some are specials but one that is always on their menu and a favorite is the Vinegar Maker’s Salad. Romaine, tomato, avocado, cucumber, carrot, onion, olives, chick peas, and roasted cauliflower. It is even better topped with a fish, beef or chicken. My choice is usually beef.
A resurgence of deviled eggs I have found to be in a lot of restaurants. Their Truffled Deviled Eggs with paprika and chives are so good.
The Dark english Ale Battered Fish with salt and vinegar “chips”, pan fried onion dip, and cole slaw does not have any rivals.
Lemongrass is located at 420 E. Atlantic Avenue. Tel. 561-278-0222. It is a happening spot with plenty of customers enjoying unique fare. I have had, just like in the above mentioned restaurants, plenty of what they have to offer, but, one dish that is outstanding, besides being a conversation piece is their Holly Snapper. Boneless and fried snapper, topped with a garlic sweet chili sauce. I take my time in eating it and savour every last bite. Love it!!
Another favorite and signature dish is the Lobster Monster Roll…crispy lobster, cucumber, scallions, asparagus, masago, I/O with sesame seeds. This is all you need to order.
Delray Beach, let me tell you that you have come a long way….good for you…talk to you later.
March 17th, 2011
Back on November of 2009 I received an e-mail from a person named Ellen. She suggested I went to check out a small restaurant that had just opened in Delray Beach. She thought the food was great and she wanted other people to experience Jimmy’s great food.
That’s all it took. One taste of his delicious food had my whole family sold. Jimmy’s Bistro is located at 9 South Swinton Ave., Delray Beach, FL 33483. Tel. 561-865-5774. You can also find Jimmy’s Bistro on Facebook.
I wrote a post on Jimmy’s Bistro on 11/27/09 and all you have to do to read it is click on the month of November, 2009 and scroll down to the date.
This past week I have gone to Jimmy’s twice. And, let me tell you that I was so happy for him. Jimmy himself is nice and friendly and vivacious. And my gosh, the restaurant is packed every night. No lunches anymore, just dinner. Reservations are a definite. The restaurant is small and cozy. It has a bar; it is small too.
I had so much faith in him and people have found him. The restaurant still has its daily blackboard with all of his offerings.
The first night I visited I had the Hog Snapper. I had never had it. It was fresh; caught on that day. It was a mild and white fish. This fish has a hog shaped head. It is found in and around tropical reefs in the Atlantic and Caribeean Sea. The Hog Snapper is not commonly caught by rod and reel. It has a reputation for being somewhat easy to shoot with a Hawaiin sling.
On Tuesday night there were four of us. A few appetizers were ordered.
Dave had the mussels. And, I had the goat cheese and beet salad. We were going to share. Both were very good. The combination of the beets with the fried goat cheese was excellent. The mussels were tender, accompanied by baguettes to dip in a well seasoned sauce.
Anita had the pear and Gorgonzola salad. She thought it was good even though at first we all thought that it was blue cheese. Upon questioning our waitress, she brought us the wedge of Gorgonzola. It did taste like blue cheese, though.
For our entrees, the choices were:
An Asian duck ordered by Marisa. She thought it was very well cooked and delicious.
Dave chose more of a comfort food dish; the braised short rib with mashed potatoes. He really cleaned the plate, so you know he liked it.
Anita chose the mussels for her entree. She really enjoyed them.
And, I chose a tomato soup with a Parmesan crust. This soup is fantastic and filling. It is served steaming hot. Then I pushed the crust into the soup and it was amazing. This soup is always on his menu.
Sharing food with friends on a somewhat warm evening was just priceless. The conversation was effortless and the music and the restaurant were very enjoyable.
P.S. I hope Jimmy reads this post. I want him to try benches instead of the chairs that are at present placed in front of the restaurant. Also the sign is only seen from the side and not very well. From the street on Swinton you cannot tell what it is.
Have a good one…talk to you later…
October 14th, 2010
I found myself thinking about Delray Beach. I guess the weather today in the Delmarva Peninsula has not been the best. But, why am I complaining? It has been so beautiful for the past couple of weeks. I guess I do not want it to change. I don’t like when it gets dark so early and takes forever to get light in the morning.
I look forward to visiting this Village by the Sea in Palm Beach County. It is really a fun town; enhanced by its residents.
I have a lot of expectations for the upcoming season in Delray. This town has fabulous restaurants and I want to see if they are still as good as the last time I was there. Most of the restaurants have “al fresco” dining and on warm evenings it is the best feeling to let your meal settle and your conversation flow while relaxing in a comfortable atmosphere.
Following is a list of the restaurants that I have reviewed this past year in Delray and all you have to do is click on the month under Archives and scroll down to the date, if you would like to read the review.
Vic & Angelo’s Enoteca, 290 East Atlantic Ave. – 9/29/09
Cut 432, 432 E. Atlantic Ave. – 11/4/09
Cabana El Rey, 105 East Atlantic Ave. – 11/25/09
Jimmy’s Bistro, 9 South Swinton – 11/27/09
Lemon Grass, 420 E. Atlantic – 12/1/09
The Office, 201 East Atlantic – 1/16/10
La Cigale, 253 S.E. 5th Ave. – 2/24/10
Tramonti, 119 E. Atlantic Ave. – 2/26/10
Like I said, I will go back to them but there are so many other ones to try.
If you are in Delray this week-end you might want to check the following events.
Friday, 10/15 – Pumpkin Patch at the Cason United Methodist Church, 342 North Swinton. Tel. 561-302-276-5302, from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and Sundays Noon until 7 p.m.
Friday, 10/15 and Saturday, 10/16 – Shark feeding at the Sandoway House located at 142 S. Ocean Blvd. For more info., please visit www.sandowayhouse.com.
Friday, 10/15 until 2/27/11 – “The Cat’s Meow” – A Purrfect Celebration of Cats…from Mild to Wild. Location? The Cornell Museum of Art & American Culture located at the Old School Square, 51 N. Swinton. Tel. 561-243-7922. Website www.oldschool.org. Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Friday, 10/15 is the Gallery Walk from 7 – 10 p.m. at Atlantic Ave. & NE 2nd Ave. Participating galleries open for extended ours so that you can visit and learn more about them. Delray has amazing artists.
Entertainment at Johnny Brown’s, 301 E. Atlantic Avenue. Besides music there is also food; burgers, ribs, sandwiches, salads and full bar.
Friday, 10/15 – The Jonsons from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m.
Saturday, 10/16 – The Flyers from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. I saw this group personally and it is fantastic. If you want to know more about them visit www.myspace.com/theflyersmusic.
Have a great week-end….talk to you later….
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