January 22nd, 2012

Delray Beach, Restaurants, Favorites, Tried & True and Always on Their Menu, Delray Beach, Favorite Eateries, South Florida, Palm Beach County

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.

July 11th, 2011

Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach, Florida, Restaurants, Village by the Sea, Palm Beach County, The Second Season

During the day the town of Delray Beach is somewhat quiet in this Second Season.  At night, well, it is a different story.  I think the snowbirds leave thinking that this town will just roll its streets and call it a night; shall I say?  Very mistaken.  They should have been here this week-end. 

Pineapple Grove (2nd St.) in Delray was sleeping in on Sunday a.m.

Delray is as lively as ever during the summer months as during the winter season.  Visitors are vacationing, shopping and enjoying that “al fresco” dining that I love the most.

So, I decided to walk and try some of them with Miguel and Rosalyn; brother and cousin.  This is what we found.

Crepes by the Sea is located at 6 NE 5th Avenue right by the intersection of Federal and Atlantic Ave.  Website?  www.crepesbythesea.com.

Mine was a tomato, spinach and cheese crepe.  To tell you the truth, it was good; but just that. 

Miguel had the ham, egg and cheese.  His was, definitely, better.

The Office is located at 201 East Atlantic Avenue.  Tel. 561-276-3600.  Website?  www.theofficedelray.com.  This restaurant is yet to disappoint me; no different in the Second Season.  A very enjoyable lunch.

Miguel had the lobster chowder.  It was nice and creamy with lots of chunks of that sweet lobster.

My two fellow diners had the Dark English Ale Battered Fish with salt and vinegar “chips”, pan fried onion dip, and cole slaw.  They both loved it with Rosalyn commenting that it had been the best she had ever tasted.

I had the Vinegar Maker’s Salad.  This salad had romaine, tomato, avocado, cucumber, carrot, onion, olives, chickpeas, roasted cauliflower and I topped it with steak.  The salad was perfect on such a hot, summer day.

The Office is a sister restaurant to the other well-known Delray Beach eatery, Vic & Angelo’s, located at 290 East Atlantic Ave.  Tel. 561-278-9970.  Website?  www.vicandangelos.com. 

We stopped at the fairly new Seagate Hotel to check out The Atlantic Grille located at The Seagate Hotel & Spa, 1000 East Atlantic Ave.  Website?  www.theatlanticgrille.com.

The restaurant is beautifully decorated.  Check the website for the weekly entertainment.

Our eyes shot to the breads sitting by themselves in the open kitchen.

Tramonti is one of the most popular restaurants on Atlantic Ave.  Early on Sunday evening you would have found us there.  It was not too crowded, which was perfect.  Georgio, our waiter, was fun and very attentive.

We had a Carpaccio di Manzo.  Thinly sliced raw beef, mixed salad, shaved parmigiano and balsamic vinegarette.

A simple arugula salad of roasted artichokes and shaved parmigiano is all I wanted.

My choice for an entree was a suggestion by Georgio.  It is a signature dish for Tramonti.  Spaghetti in Cartoccio Areo Special.  It was baked spaghetti with shrimp, parma prosciutto in a cognac cream sauce.  I came escounded in foil.  Very nice.

For a sweet ending, a Sicilian Cannoli is what we chose.  Rosalyn thought it was just good; I thought it was delicious, especially since I had not had one in a long time.

This is just a tiny tasting of the many restaurants found on Atlantic Avenue.  There is one for every palate, so get out and try them out.

Have a great day!!  Talk to you later…

October 14th, 2010

Delray Beach, Florida, What’s Going On?, Activities, Events, Village By the Sea, South Florida, Palm Beach County

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….