Two of this week’s newsmakers take their cues from history.
A gorgeous new tiki-inspired restaurant reminds me of Trader Vic’s, a super fun long-gone spot at New York City’s Plaza Hotel, once owned by POTUS who shuttered the restaurant in 1989 according to TikiCentral.com. (It was where you’d find me and my underage college clique sipping fancy scorpio bowls with paper umbrellas and fruit.)
And while Harvard is making national headlines, perhaps its New Haven rivals at Yale are indulging in a great deal from a legendary pizzeria that got its start there in 1925. The deal is also available in Delray Beach.
Last week, we touched upon faux food holidays taking over the calendar and this month is no exception with news of National Lobster Day. Read on for ideas on where to celebrate and find a deal.
Elsewhere, the Panthers’ road to the Stanley Cup earns a deal at a high-end whiskey joint, a very pretty West Palm Beach beef joint has a BOGO and Boca Raton welcomes a new Mediterranean cafe with a 100-year history.
Onward.
New restaurant in Juno Beach: Aquasan
On June 3, Aquasan replaced AquaGrille. The new décor and menu have a luxe Polynesian tiki vibe a la Hawaii Kai and Trader Vic’s only brighter, sexier and modernized.
The team behind the Waxin’s property tapped Stephen Aspirino to transform the space and menu. He’s nationally known from his stints starring on “Top Chef” but around these parts people know him as a local made good who graduated from Wellington high school before his star-making turn on TV.
Orlando-native Executive Chef Nicole Fey boasts a master’s degree in gastronomy from Boston University and local experience at Grato. Her goal is to make Aquasan “feel like the coolest tiki party in town and I want the food to reflect that.”
Consider it done: A menu of sharable snacks and plates is Instagram chic. I tried and loved her riff on chicken waffles with tiny purple wafers, gyoza ‘tacos & tequila,’ and ‘prosciutto & melon’ nigiri with wahoo, not ham despite its name.
Prices: Snacks are priced per piece and start at $5; main courses top out at $38 for local catch prepped a la plancha. Cocktails are $14 and up with fun scorpion bowls serving two and more.
Hours: Sunday through Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m. Daily happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m.
Details: 14121 U.S. Highway 1, Juno Beach, 561-355-0438, aquasanrestaurant.com
Trending now: Israeli-Mediterranean restaurants
From shawarma and shakshuka to salmon and schnitzel, Israeli-Mediterranean restaurants are having a moment. The past few months saw the debuts of Motek and the kosher Malka. Add the new Cafe Landwer, set for a June 4 opening, to the list. In 1919, founder Moshe Landwer opened his coffee cafe and roastery in Berlin. Following the Nazi uprising, he relocated to Tel Aviv in the 1930s. It’s now an 80-location international chain. Boca Raton is the first outpost to get a wood-fire pizza oven. Given its coffee-centric heritage, betting that its halva espresso martinis are fantastic.
Prices: Entrees under $30.
Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Details: at 9858 Clint Moore Road, Boca Raton, 561-576-2850, landwercafe.com
Panthers’ deal
Hit Warren Delray while the bar offers limited all-night happy hour specials as defending NHL champs, the Panthers, play their way through another Stanley Cup. On tap: $10 cocktails, $5 beers and menu specials. The restaurant is renowned for its premier whiskey collection, and the displays are stunning.
Details: 15084 Lyons Road, Delray Beach, 561-455-4177, warrendelray.com
Pink Steak summer deals in West Palm
The gorgeous Pink Steak offers several specials through summer. They include:
Details: 2777 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, 561-557-9083; pinksteak.com
Pizza deal
Through June 30, Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, the iconic New Haven-based pizzeria known for its coal-fired pies, celebrates 100 years with a dine-in deal. Score a large, family-sized 18-inch cheese pizza (16 slices) for $19.25, a number nodding to the pizza company’s founding in 1925. Limited to one redemption per table and cannot be combined with any other offer or discount. A few weeks ago, we told you that the pizzeria recently introduced The Char Bar, the first full bar at any Frank Pepe’s location, at its Delray Beach outpost.
1701 S. Federal Highway, Delray Beach, 561-431-5601, pepespizzeria.com
Lobster indulgences
Through July 25, Eddie V’s “Golden Nights” summer event promo pairs a Maine lobster roll (your choice of warm or chilled) and fries with a glass of wine for $38. Among the wine choices is the very trendy Whispering Angel Rosé. Live music too.
Details: 201 Plaza Real at Mizner Park, Boca Raton, 561-237-0067, eddiev.com
National Lobster Day is June 15
The Beacon observes National Lobster Day on June 15 with several specials including spicy lobster rigatoni as an appetizer for $32 or entrée at $47. There’s also a separate Maine lobster cocktail ($24) to top a seafood plateau stacked with Florida shrimp, oysters, tuna crudo and fluke ceviche.
Details: 1107 Lighthouse Road, Jupiter, 561-532-3280, thebeaconjupiter.com
The content for this story originally appeared in Thursday’s At the Table, our free weekly restaurant newsletter. Sign up here to subscribe. Diana Biederman is the Palm Beach Post’s new-ish food and restaurant writer. If you have any news tips about the local dining scene, please send them to dbiederman@pbpost.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Top dining: New restaurants in Juno Beach and Boca ; plus deals include steak BOGO, pizza
Reporting by Diana Biederman, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
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