Pepperoni Grill 

5 out of 5 stars

 I was brought here recently by my in-laws, and it was a spectacular choice.  We were waited on by a lovely woman who is the best type of waitress to have.  She tells you what to order, has been working there forever years, and has pride in the dishes.  We ordered a lovely portabella pasta and she suggested we add blackened chicken to it, which took it up a notch.  We also ordered a delicious antipasto salad, and got one of the most delicious bowls of tomato bisque I've ever had, which freshly roasted garlic and tomato.  We ended up also getting a stromboli which we were too full to eat, and enjoyed the next night for leftovers.  I highly recommend this place!

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All my South Florida favorites, indexed by location !

5/5 stars

Talias is amazing!  It's a tiny unpretentious little deli hidden away in a Boca strip mall.  We walked in not knowing what to expect but were given some samples of cheese, delicious homemade ciabatta bread, and an olive oil with freshly prepared pesto and roasted garlic, which could have filled us up before we even ordered!  I had a prosciutto de Parma panini which came with fresh mozzarella, greens, and a bounty of delicious prosciutto.  My husband ordered a smoked salmon hero with apple, goat cheese, greens and tomato and red onion.  For $10 each we got the sandwich, a drink, and the bread.  These 

2.5 out of 5 stars

Hole in the wall sushi

My husband and I stopped in to Yokohama for a quick bite of sushi because we were starving and we had that craving. It's a tiny hole-in-the wall place that happens to have half price sushi rolls Tuesday-Thursday 5-7 and then half price rolls for Ladies on Friday nights. Unfortunately I guess we wandered in around 7 so we missed that deal. We also missed the specials board which said some rolls were on sale.

We ordered miso soup (which was pretty bland for miso, $2), a J.B. roll ($5), a Spicy girl roll, which is spicy tuna roll with tuna on the outside. We requested to have white tuna on the outside instead of regular ($2 extra to bring it to $12), and a Morocco roll, which was a selection of raw fish, no rice and a cucumber wrap ($9). The rolls were pretty good but there were 4 rather unprofessional looking sushi chefs. They were all deshelling shrimp in between doing other activities with no evidence of hand washing. It just looked like an unsanitary environment and put me off my sushi.

Service wasn't especially good either. Two waitresses for the tiny place and we still had to wait a while for the waitress to take our order and bring the check.

This might be a good place to go on half price nights if you have a craving but are low on cash. I probably won't go back, though. They did seem to have some regulars (a younger crowd).

Yokohama Sushi

60 N Federal Hwy

Boca Raton, FL 33432

(561) 392-9328

2 out of 5 stars

Seasons 52 needs more seasoning…

I have been watching what I eat lately and so has my husband so we were looking forward to our trip to Seasons 52, which boasts that every dish is under 500 calories. We had gotten a gift certificate for our birthdays, but it took a while to find reservations that fit our schedule. Often you'll have to plan about a month ahead of when you'd like to go here!

We noticed when we arrived that we were the youngest in the place, and a piano player was playing that night (but not a very good one). We were seated quickly but unfortunately ended up on the border of the kitchen, which is in the center of the restaurant. There was a prep station just on the other side of the glass from our table with waiters clanging dishes and silverware the whole time, it was hard to hear each other beyond the noise, and it wasn't a particularly private seat since they faced us in order to prep the soup bowls. I wondered why this wasn't addressed, I mean this isn't the first restaurant from this large chain. Surely they've dealt with complaints about this before? The table behind us complained to the manager while we were there.

We ordered an appetizer of crab and shrimp stuffed mushrooms, which was cheesy and delicious, probably draining away all of our calorie reserves for the evening. They say each dish is under 500 but apparently that includes appetizers, so watch out!

Our entrees were underwhelming. My husband ordered a snapper curry on rice with some vegetables. He ordered it mild but this was beyond mild. It only had the faintest hint of curry flavor! I can only assume the restaurant is catering to the older patrons with this dish, because it was incredibly bland. I ordered seared scallops with a garlic pearl pasta and asparagus. My scallops were cooked properly but completely devoid of flavor. The pearl pasta had a hint of garlic and a few tomato pieces but not much else. Considering these dishes were about $20 each, I'd hope the chefs could be a little more inventive than this. Fresh herb crust, a glazed sauce, something! How often have you had scallops so bland you left a few on the plate?

The desserts are full flavor, I don't think they even attempt to lower calories, but instead give you a tiny shot glass sized serving that costs only $2. They were pretty good, but nothing exceptional. We each had one and enjoyed them – a Boston creme pie and a carrot cake. Each one of these little shot glass darlings sets you back about 250 or so calories. I've done really inventive desserts at 150, so I wasn't really impressed.

Our bill for the two of us came to about $64, which included a drink. In the end, Seasons 52 did not live up to the expectations or the month-long wait for a reasonable reservation time. How hard could it be to have make low calorie fish?  Perhaps someone who has tried one of the meat dishes would have a more favorable impression. I've also heard the flatbreads are very good.

One great aspect of the restaurant was that the service was wonderfully attentive. Our server was always accessible and very polite to some of his rude guests. Unfortunately the loud and inconvenient location of our table prohibited us from fully relaxing and enjoying that service.

Seasons 52

2300 NW Executive Center Dr.

Boca Raton, FL 33427

(561) 998-9952

4/5 stars 

Bizaare's Second level takes it to another level 

My husband and I went out for dinner here (upstairs from the Bizaare Cafe on Lake Ave in Lake Worth) with another couple and really enjoyed our meal.  Prices for entrees range from about $15-$26, and the portions were large.  We all ordered a fish dish.  I had sea bass in a white bean ragout with fried potato shreds, my husband had a lovely seared tuna with noodles in a slightly vinegary broth.  Our other friend had pancetta wrapped monkfish with a polenta cake.  We all loved out dishes, the fishes were excellently prepared, tender and to exactly the right done-ness.

Just like Bizaare's downstairs original cafe, all the furniture and decor is for sale, and it is artsy.  A few of the cozy tables have curtains around them for a private space.  It would be a lovely date location, or a great place to meet some friends for dinner.  They have a huge wine selection, but also a full liquor bar and beer selection.  Check out the menu here .

One of my favorite things about going to Bizarre is always the peanut butter pie and other homemade desserts they offer.  Delicious!  Like a slice of a giant reese's peanut butter cup.  Our friends split a piece of chocolate tiramisu which was also to their liking.

Bizaare Ave. Cafe The Next Level

921 Lake Avenue, 2nd Floor

Lake Worth, FL 33460

(561) 588-4488

3/5 stars

Cozy French restaurant, excellent desserts

My husband and I came here to celebrate his father's birthday. It's a small restaurant in a corner of this shopping center which I hate because it is impossible to ever find a spot anywhere near any of the stores. Regardless, they do have valet in front of the Carabba's if you are into that.  Once you do get into the shopping center, it has a lovely deck in the back that overlooks a man-made lake.

This restaurant has an old-fashioned olmost grandmothery decor, which is kind of cute. It has various flowery tablecloths and an old china cabinet in the back.  The chef has won some soft of top chef award about five years ago, but perhaps has gotten tired since? Generally the food is excellent (the in-laws say), but I found the shrimp in my shrimp and scallops in lobster sauce overcooked and a bit rubbery. The dishes all seem to come with a fancier looking version of scalloped potato (not fancier tasting) and a few roasted vegetables which are casually tossed on the plate. My husband had a roast duck dish, which was cooked to the proper rareness but apparently very light in flavor. The chef is famous for preparing things lightly, instead of with oodles of cream sauce, and is willing to accomodate different diets, which is always a bonus.

The best deal here is the fixed price dinner ($35 on weekends), which comes with a salad or appetizer or soup of the day, choice of entree, and choice of dessert. I didn't get the fixed price because I wanted a fancy dessert, and the fixed price only gives you three to choose from. I ended up with a creme brulee ($7) which was much better than the entree. Unfortunately I didn't realize that if you want the grand marnier chocolate souffle ($12), you have to order it at the same time that you order your entree, so I missed out on trying that treat.

Le Rescatore

6909 SW 18th St

(18th & Powerline, North East Corner)

Boca Raton, FL 33433

(561) 750-8088

4 out of 5 stars

Neat little International (Spanish) Coffeeshop/Bakery

My husband and I stumbled upon Don Pan looking for a quick breakfast one day and really enjoyed it. They have a selection of specialty coffee drinks, specializing in Cafe Cubanos, as well as a large bakery case of breakfasty danishes and snacks and many choices of dessert items. Don Pan also serves sandwiches, arepas, omelettes and loaves of bread.

We loved our breakfast sandwiches and coffees, and the staff let us try a sample of horchata, which is a popular white beverage that has a rice puddingy taste to it. We'd definitely return for a tasty "international" bite to eat.

They also cater, check their website for more info.

Don Pan International Bakery

3 out of 5 stars 

Delray's Saki Room is pricey, needs honing

Saki Room is a new restaurant next to my favorite sushi place in town- I had to check it out. Menu is much more inventive and more expensive. Decor is of the same vein, beautiful dark woods, contemporary style, but has a hip vibe with house music playing.

Food is good- inventive combinations usually work. But don't always, and for the price, every dish should be perfect. It doesn't meet the quality of my old favorite, Blowfish, which used to be in West Palm or my current favorite Sushi Jo in Boynton Beach. 

This place has just opened a lounge which adjoins the restaurant. I think this will be their bread and butter.. seems like it will be a hip place to go to which will be open till 2am with lite bites.

Dishes: Rainbow rolls were excellent and traditionally prepared. I had to ask for my usual favorite, J.B. roll, and they used smoked salmon (no-no #1) which was VERY smoky (no-no #2). We got the special which was a scallop dynamite on top of an asian potato salad. It was delicious.. wonderful sea scallops cut up on top of a asian potato salad with small apple bits in it. Spider roll was good but not excellent.

Dessert was a banana spring roll with vanilla ice cream and toasted almonds. Spring roll had "candied bananas" which were strongly flavored with cinnamon and clove. My friends liked it a lot, I liked it a little.

If you are a saki aficianado, try one of their million different types of cocktails made with saki (saki martinis too?). They have saki that costs up to $80!

In summary- try this place out for some late night drinks with a bite of sushi, not for a serious dinner.

Saki Room

401 W. Atlantic Ave. #R9

Delray Beach, FL 33444

5 out of 5 stars 

Cafe Siam – Delightful New Thai Place

I took a chance on a new local Thai place with some coworkers and we were pleasantly surprised. They have a menu with lots of choices, and different prices for lunch entrees and dinner entrees. Bu tthe best deal is the lunch special, which gives you a choice of two entrees. It comes with appetizer or salad, soup, and dessert for only $8.95.

Our choices that day were chicken pad thai or sweet and sour beef. I chose the pad thai and thought it was delicious, with plenty of sauce, tender chicken and egg bits, and of course bean sprouts and some ground peanuts. It was a plentiful helping that I couldn't finish. A friend ordered the beef and thought it was delicious as well, it included some very fresh-looking red and green peppers and onions in a reddish sauce with a side of rice.

Here are pics of two of their dishes:

Shrimp Salad

Chicken Pad Thai from Mealme.com (my favorite)

I thought it a little odd that they didn't have any limes when I asked for one, but other than that the meal was wonderful. The salad was small but with a tasty dressing which tasted peanutty and with a ginger flavor. The soup was good, with ground chicken and cilantro and rice.  On another visit I have tried a coconut chicken soup with a little bite to it that was also delicious without being too rich.  The wontons were ok, with just a little bit of filling, but the curry puffs are amazing, with some sweet potato and a lot of savory curry flavor. The dessert was a nice touch, it a small coconut custardy pudding. They also have ice cream if you prefer that.

Since my first visit I have been back here many times, and I love it.  Service is great and the staff are very friendly. 

Hours:
Monday through Saturday
11 AM to 2:30 PM, 4:30 PM to 10 PM
Sunday
4:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Cafe Siam

802 SE 5th Avenue (southbound Federal Highway)

Delray Beach, FL 33444

(561) 279-4199