After 50 years of dominating the culinary scene in Chicagoland, restaurateur Alex Dana decided to venture south. Two years ago, Rosebud Restaurants opened its first location outside of Illinois with Mia Rosebud Boca Raton. Since then, it has become a popular spot for locals and visitors alike, featuring a spacious indoor-outdoor bar and terrace that’s prominently visible as you pass by on Palmetto Park Road. It’s consistently lively, encouraging you to stop in for at least a cocktail, if not dinner as well.
Inside, the aesthetic and ambiance reflect its classic Italian menu, with dark wood throughout, dim lighting, cozy burnt-orange banquettes and waiters dressed to the nines. There is also live music on Thursday and Friday, which adds to its convivial vibe.
Tantalizing aromas from the open kitchen welcome us as we settle into our table. The menu is precise, focused on what Mia Rosebud does well: USDA Prime steaks and Italian specialties, including housemade pastas. I appreciate a menu that doesn’t overwhelm me with choices that don’t even fit its story.
We started with a signature dish, the Fried Calamari Diavolo ($24). The server warned us it was quite spicy, but in my opinion, as long as you avoid the red peppers, the tender and lightly fried calamari deliver a manageable level of heat. However, if you like it very hot, the accompanying fra diavolo sauce that you can pour over the calamari will do the trick.
The restaurant is known for its substantial portions, so come prepared. For first-timers, our server recommended another signature dish, the Rosebud Original Pappardelle Square Noodles ($33), which was indeed a generous serving of pasta. You can add a protein such as meatballs or Italian sausage if you’d like to make it your main course. We chose to enjoy it as a pasta course before the steak. The wide, flat noodles are tossed in a fresh tomato and basil sauce and come with a small dollop of creamy house-made ricotta. Sometimes you just crave simple, artisanal pasta like this.
The meat is imported from Chicago. We tried The Carmine ($90), a 16-ounce USDA Prime bone-in filet that conveniently arrived presliced. It was perfectly cooked with a pink center and a gorgeous, char-grilled crust. We also tried a side of Velasco steak sauce, a blend of peppers and herbs that added a spicy kick to the meat.
As I tapped my foot along to “The Boys of Summer,” our final course arrived. We had seen desserts zip by throughout the night—massive slices of cake. But when the Coconut Cake ($18) appeared, we were still speechless. The five towering layers of moist yellow vanilla cake are enclosed in coconut cream and topped with shaved coconut. I felt like I was in a tropical dessert paradise and enjoyed its whimsical nod to Palm Beach.
IF YOU GO
150 E. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton; 561/462-3000
PARKING: Complimentary valet
HOURS: Monday – Thursday 4 – 9:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 4 – 10:30 p.m.; Sunday 4 – 9 p.m.
PRICES: $19 – $90
WEBSITE: rosebudrestaurants.com
Hungry for more food news? Visit our food page, and subscribe to the magazine for the most delicious coverage of Boca and beyond.
