**This is an abbreviated version. To view the full Best of Boca feature, clickhere. Note that this article was published in May 2014 and menu items/personnel may have changed in the interim.
Best New Restaurants
13 American Table (Pictured)
451 E Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton // 561/409-2061
1 S. County Road, Palm Beach // 561/290-0104
5 S.E. Second Ave., Delray Beach // 561/450-6718
141 Patio de Fuente, Boca Raton // 561/990-7969
See spotlight on Chef Ron Weisheit here.
1901 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton // 561/417-5836
See spotlight on Chef Joey Giannuzi here.
Best Foodie Event
Every year in March
Best Makeover
5 S.E. Second Ave., Delray Beach // 561/450-6718
Best Kept Secret When Mizner is Packed
201 Plaza Real, Boca Raton // 561/300-0730
Five Reliable Local Standouts
404 Plaza Real, Boca Raton // 561/368-0080
5050 Town Center Circle, #239, Boca Raton // 561/392-3777
1400 Glades Road, Boca Raton // 561/347-9875
233 S. Federal Highway, Boca Raton // 561/392-0773
499 E. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton // 561/393-6715
Best Fountain of Youth
309 Via De Palmas, #90, Boca Raton // 561/395-7462
297 E. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton //561/353-5888
Most Decadent New Menu Item
Taco Bell’s Breakfast Waffle Taco
Best Go-To Comfort Foods
As picked by locals
Dorothy MacDiarmand’s Pick: BLTE at Brulé
200 N.E. Second Ave., #108, Delray Beach // 561/274-2046
Jay Van Vechten’s Pick: Grilled New York Strip Steak at Casimir
416 Via De Palmas, Boca Raton // 561/955-6001
Joyce DeVita’s Pick: Chicken Milanese at Couco Pazzo
915 Lake Ave., Lake Worth // 561/585-0320
Tim Snow’s Pick: Jambalaya Entrée at Yard House
201 Plaza Real, #1201, Boca Raton // 561/417-6124
Bill Bathurst’s Pick: Burger and Fries at Tryst
4 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach // 561/921-0201
Five Best Food Trends
1. Farm-to-table dining
2. Small plates
3. Gastropubs
4. Independent chef and ingredient-driven restaurants
5. Craft beers get equal billing with wine
Gone But Not Forgotten
1. Red the Steakhouse, Boca Raton
2. Spice & Tea Exchange, Boca Raton
3. Ovenella, Boca Raton
4. Rosso, Boca Raton
5. The Mexican, Boca Raton
6. Legal Sea Foods, Boca Raton
Best Place to Score Dinner Any Night of the Week
101 Plaza Real S., Boca Raton // 561/362-2984
Best Brew-haha
1201 N.E. 38th St., Oakland Park // 954/440-0046
Best Happy Hours
As picked by locals
S. Chris Palmermo’s Pick: Boca Raton Resort & Club Palm Court Bar
Sharon R. Ramsey’s Pick: Oceans 234
234 N. Ocean Blvd., Deerfield Beach // 954/428-2539
Stephanie Miskew’s Pick: City Oyster
213 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach // 561/272-0220
Anthony N. Dardano’s Pick: Yakitori Sake House
271 S.E. Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton // 561/544-0087
Best Places to Propose
The Blue, Boca Raton Resort & Club
501 E. Camino Real, Boca Raton // 561/447-3222
87 Via Mizner, Palm Beach // 561/655-9752
50 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach // 561/278-3364
Best Music of the Night
6750 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton // 561/997-7373
Trends That Won’t Go Away
1. Kale
2. Pork Belly
3. Sliders
4. Quinoa
5. Bacon on everything
6. Fried egg on everything
7. Wacky-maki sushi rolls
8. Microgreens
Five Great Italian Dishes
Veal meatballs with marsala sauce, Terra Fiamma
9169 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach // 561/499-9419
Stuffed baby artichokes, D’Angelo Pizza, Wine Bar & Tapas
16950 Jog Rd, Delray Beach // 561/381-0037
Sautéed escarole with cannellini beans and sausage, Tucci’s
50 N.E. First Ave., Boca Raton // 561/620-2930
Wood-roasted mushroom pizza, Burt & Max’s
9089 W. Atlantic Ave., Suite #100, Delray Beach // 561/638-6380
2621 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton // 561/395-5206
5 Tasty Dishes That Won’t Break the Diet
1. Spicy chipotle shrimp flatbread, Seasons 52
2300 N.W. Executive Center Drive, Boca Raton // 561/998-9952
2. Sushi grade sesame seared rare tuna, Max’s Grill
404 Plaza Real, Boca Raton // 561/368-0080
3. Rock shrimp and scallop ceviche wraps, Max’s Harvest
169 N.E. Second Ave., Delray Beach // 561/381-9970
4. Pad Woon Sen, Fah Asian Bistro
7461 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton // 561/241-0400
5. Warm rice salad, J&J Seafood Bar & Grill
634 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach // 561/272-3390
Five Chefs to Watch
301 N.E. Third Ave., Delray Beach // 561/303-1939
2. Anthony Fiorini, 13 American Table
451 E. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton // 561/409-2061
187 N.E. Second Ave., Delray Beach // 561/266-3750
4. Daniel Naumko, Sybarite Pig
20642 Florida 7, Boca Raton // 561/883-3200
5. Wilson Wieggel, Farmer’s Table
1901 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton // 561/417-5836
