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Now open Santiago’s Bodega, Fort Lauderdale
The Key West stalwart for the last 17 years quietly opened a fourth location in downtown Fort Lauderdale’s booming Flagler Village. Founder and operator Jason Dugan says, “Flagler Village is a neighborhood on the move — art, restaurants, music, great energy and walkable, everything one can ask for in a neighborhood. We are excited to be a part of the growth.” The latest Santiago’s Bodega can handle 160 people inside and, later on, another 30 on the patio. There will also be a full bar, weekend brunch service, two happy hours daily and the kitchen will remain open until 1 a.m. 445 NE 4th St., Fort Lauderdale. SantiagosBodega.com.
Prison Pals Brewing Co., Oakland Park
Four months after the late Fat Tap Beer Bar abruptly closed its doors on Dixie Highway, this craftbeer taproom has shuffled in. The latest arrival in Oakland Park’s Culinary Arts District comes from owner Juan Pipkin, and is an offshoot of his Doral-based brewery that debuted in early 2021. Prision Pals, which opened April 29, pours blonde and American Pale Ales, amber lager and D10S, a Mexican lager whose name pays homage to Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona. 3555 N. Dixie Highway; PrisionPals.com
Torero’s Mexican Restaurant, Coconut Creek
This Lake Worth Beach restaurant from owner Narciso Baldovinos opened its second location on the western edge of Coconut Creek in late March. Along with an enchilada bar and build-your-own bowls, the Mexican grill carries a vast menu of tried-and-true classics such as tacos, burritos, chimichangas, molcajetes, mariscos al mojo de ajo (shrimps or scallops over rice) and even trendy tacos de birria. 6588 N. State Road 7; 954-482-0007, TorerosMexicanGrill.com
Bubbakoo’s Burritos, Deerfield Beach
Fans of this fast-casual Mexican-fusion chain will be glad to learn that a second location has opened in Deerfield Beach. Like its predecessor in Coral Springs, the new restaurant is owned by franchisees Suresh Prasel and Mital Patel. Pick and choose ingredients to create a burrito bowl, quesadilla, taco, taco salad or something called a Chiwawa (fried panko-breaded rice balls with nacho cheese and your choice of burrito toppings). There are also signature dishes, many of them with a little spicy heat. 3636 W. Hillsboro Road (in Deerfield Mall, Unit 7). 754-212-2784. Bubbakoos. com/location/deerfieldfl.
Planta Queen, Fort Lauderdale
This Asian-inspired offshoot of South Beach vegan hotspot Planta bloomed on Las Olas Boulevard on April 14. The upscale menu, from restaurateur Steven Salm, features spinach shiitake, potato truffle and crab Rangoon dumplings without a trace of meat or fish, along with plant-based sushi, cauliflower tots and dan dan noodles tossed with szechuan kamut, cilantro and coconut milk. 1201 E. Las Olas Blvd.; PlantaRestaurants.com
Ocean One Bar & Grille, Davie
If this trendy sports
bar is constantly teeming with crowds no matter the location, there’s a good reason why: Everything on the menu is $4.99 — except the $3 domestic and imported beers, of course. (Even the premium cocktails, at $10, are 3-for-1.) The partners behind the five-buck entrees — Ron Rowe, David Stein, and Tony and Rosita Visone — opened their latest Davie location on April 8, with future outposts coming to Coral Springs and Royal Palm Beach. Meals range from orecchiette pasta and herb-crusted chicken chop to half-pound sirloin burgers and Mediterranean wraps. 15531 Sheridan St.; OceanOneFL.com
The SoSo, West Palm Beach
At this “fast-fine” café owners Kye Akavia, Alex DiSchino and chef Cesar Brea bring modern American dishes such as Sichuan-seared tuna salads, herb-marinated chicken sandwiches, soups and other light entrees. The restaurant debuted April 12 and specializes in takeaway dishes that are easy to reheat. 4802 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, TheSosoWPB.com
Blue Dog Cookhouse & Bar, Boca Raton
Billed as “New American fare with New York City roots,” this Florida offshoot of JM Spear and Morgan Nobles’ Manhattan restaurant debuted April 7 inside Boca Town Center, next to the Container Store. The restaurant will dish braised short rib and grilled octopus entrees, 11 types of hamburgers, brunch and craft cocktails. 6000 Glades Road, Suite 108, Boca Raton; BlueDogBoca.com
Carousel Club at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach
Described as an “openair gathering spot” for food, cocktails and entertainment, this dining destination had a celeb-filled sneak peek at the Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 30. But plans to open at Gulfstream Park Racing and Casino in February were delayed until April 1. So named because of the antique carousel bar at its center, the trackside venue has pop-ups by Spris Artisan Pizza, Los Altos Taqueria and Ms. Cheezious with more to come. Carousel Club is open noon until late evening (with DJs spinning) Fridays-Sundays. 901 S. Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach; 954-228-3378, CarouselClub.com.
Gelato & Co., Fort Lauderdale
This high-end gelateria chain opened its 14th worldwide location on Las Olas Boulevard in March, following outposts in Portugal, Puerto Rico, Italy and the Cayman Islands. The sweet shop, registered to Luca Saponaro and Carlos Duarte, features 23 flavors including stracciatella,
tiramisu, Nutella and cherry cheesecake, along with coffee cakes, pastries and lemon-spearmint vegan sorbet. 1201 E. Las Olas Blvd.; 754-7014825, GelatoEco.com
Wow Wing House, Tamarac
This chicken shack devoted to comfort foods of the crunchy and deep-fried variety opened in March on the corner of Commercial Boulevard and 441. Wow — whose slogan is “We will WOW! you at the first bite & keep you WOW! until the last bite” — is registered to Coral Springs wingmen Dilip Jambhekar and Raveendran Sambanthan. Along with 123 flavors of wings from spicy garlic parm to “Bubba’s Butt Blaster,” there are sandwiches, wraps, quesadillas and nachos, breaded shrimp and calamari, and 25 types of French fries and poutines. 4231 W. Commercial Blvd.; 954-900-9890, WowWingHouseTamarac. com
Skunkworts Brewing Concern, West Palm Beach
This oddly named brewhouse and taproom debuted in March inside West Palm Beach’s funky Northwood neighborhood, and comes from Steve Karlson, a pilot who flew cargo planes around the Caribbean before retiring. The brewery takes its moniker from Skunk Works, the cutting-edge Lockheed Martin laboratory that produces some of the world’s most sophisticated aircraft, and features aviation-themed brews like Kill Devil Pils (a Germanstyle pilsner) and Bird Strike ( an American IPA). 525 Northwood Road, West Palm Beach; 561-855-1603, Skunkworts.com
John the Baker, Davie
There was a ceremonial “lighting of the ovens” when the new John the Baker franchise opened in the Plaza 7601 shopping center. The Bautista family owns the latest location of the venerable concept that enjoys a sizeable and loyal fan base. With another franchise in Coral Springs and the original (dating back to 1996 with a precursor Mario the Baker opening in 1960) in Pembroke Pines, the boutique-brand is known for generous portions, signature garlic rolls and, of course, pizza. “This is a dream come true and I know customers are going to love it here,” says patriarch Gilmer Bautista. The new 2200 squarefoot eatery will seat 45 and will offer dine-in, takeout, delivery and catering. 7613 Davie Road Extension (between Stirling and Griffin), Davie. 954-404-9143. JohnTheBaker.com.
Matchbox and Big Buns Damn Good Burgers, Fort Lauderdale
Two Thompson Hospitality restaurants are sideby-side at Society Las Olas along the New River. Big Buns Damn Good Burgers
debuted in late February with 40 indoor and 75 outdoor seats, and offers all types of stacked burgers or burger bowls with side options like fried Brussels sprouts and milkshakes that can be boozy or not. Matchbox, the other restaurant opened in early April, took on a larger space with 90 indoor and 124 outdoor seats, serving items like the “ginormous meatball” and “hangover burrito.” 221 SW 1st Ave, Fort Lauderdale; eatbigbuns.com, matchboxrestaurants.com
Coming soon Salento Coffee Shop, West Palm Beach
This 4-year-old Colombian coffeehouse from owners Jaime and Johona Lara is moving later this fall from its downtown West Palm Beach perch exactly two blocks north to the hip, coveted nightlife hive of Clematis Street. The new storefront, awarded to the Laras by West Palm Beach’s Downtown Development Authority, puts them inside Mandel Public Library, and cafe seating will use the library’s patio. Named after the small Colombian town from which they source their beans, the shop serves smoothies, juices, arepas, paninis and Colombian bites like pasteles de pollo and carne (beef and chicken patties) pan de bono and pastel gloria (guava-and-cheese pastry). Until they move, Salento’s flagship at 120 S. Dixie Highway will remain open. 407 Clematis St.; 561-8416138, MySalentoCoffee.com
Tough Times Tavern, Pompano Beach
Old-fashioned posters of mustachioed pugilists - the ones striking that put-yourdukes-up posture - appear on the walls of this new trendy bar hosting its grand opening on May 14. Tough Times is the brainchild of owner Challo Schott (co-founder of Oceanside Grocers in Delray Beach), and the bar will feature cocktails and a beer garden. 537 S. Dixie Highway East; WeNeverRest.com
Mickey’s Downtown Bistro, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
Owners Michael Josephs and Luis Linares have rebranded the former Beef ‘N Reef Steakhouse, which opened a month before the pandemic and shuttered a year ago, into this dueling piano bar that will debut on May 13. The surf-andturf restaurant will offer a rotating lineup of national dueling-piano acts, such as the Flying Ivories. 4331 N. Ocean Drive; 954-351-0310, MickeysDuelingPianos.com
Baires Grill, Fort Lauderdale
This Argentinean steakhouse will debut May 11 on Las Olas Boulevard, making Fort Lauderdale the fifth location after Weston, Sunny Isles, Brickell and Coral Gables. “We’ve been wanting to expand further
north,” says Alejandro Koenig, chief financial officer for Baires Grill. “There is a lot of potential there, a lot of young people.” Baires Grill will fill the space formerly known as Talento Restaurant. 1307 East Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. BairesGrill.com
Lickie Stickie BBQ, Sunrise
Pitmaster Juliette Johnson’s popular Southern Caribbean food stand — and sellout brisket— is restaurant-bound. After setting up at farmers’ markets around Broward County every weekend for seven years, Chef Juliette will open Lickie Stickie on May 21, offering barbecue fixings all week long: spare ribs, salmon, chicken, cheesy grits, collard greens and her homemade jerk and barbecue sauce. Her catering services will also continue. 7794 NW 44th St.; 954-638-2324, LickieStickieBBQ.com.
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, Boca Raton
This fine-dining brand has a reputation for picking locations with plenty of people-magnet buzz such as Fort Lauderdale’s Las Olas Boulevard. So it says a lot about the al fresco fabulousness of Boca Raton’s Mizner Park that the restaurant plans its second SoFlo site to open there sometime this year. Eddie V’s will take over the 10,000-square-foot space Ouzo Bay formerly occupied. With a menu focused on seafood and hand-cut, specially-aged steaks, the eatery is part of the Darden Restaurant stable, which also includes The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Yard House, Olive Garden, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Bahama Breeze and LongHorn Steakhouse. 203 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. EddieV.com.
Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, Lighthouse Point
This Orlando-spawned frozen-treat shop will debut its ninth South Florida location inside the Venetian Isle Shopping Center. Franchisees John Kontos and Nicolas Leblanc are in charge of the sweet spot, which serves 40 flavors of Italian ice (such as mango margarita, gingerbread and blueberry limeade), soft-serve and “gelati,” a layered blend of both. The parlor, which also includes a takeout window, is part of a new Jeremiah’s expansion, with new shops coming later this year to North Miami, Stuart and Jupiter. 3650 N. Federal Highway; 954-5325337, JeremiahsIce.com
Mamma Mia Italian Bistro, Wilton Manors
Expected to open in May, this is the first U.S. eatery from Federica Priolo, who comes from a family of restaurateurs in Italy. “Mamma Mia is gonna be an Italian bistro, not a gourmet restaurant,” she says. “Here people can taste the traditional Italian recipes.
But the signature is going to be 100% the handmade fresh pasta that we are sure Americans will love.” True to its name, Mamma Mia will have Federica’s mother Lory helming the kitchen. The restaurant is opening in the same space as the recently shuttered Via Vai Italian Deli & Wine Bar (and before that, Wolsen Caffe). 2043 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors. Instagram. com/mammamia.bistro.
Fantasy Room Bar & Grill, Hollywood
Opening sometime this summer, this venue will be a sports bar with a Caribbean-themed menu during the day and early evening before transitioning into a nightclub in the late evening. 1818 S. Young Circle; 754-267-9046, Instagram.com/fantasyroomfl
La Piazzetta, Hallandale Beach
Wood oven-fired pies distinguish this upscale pizzeria scheduled to reopen in the summer after moving from its former perch near Little Haiti to the trendy Atlantic Village shopping complex in Hallandale Beach. There are 33 Neapolitan-style pizzas on the menu, some with unusual toppings (homemade pistachio and artichoke creams, pecans, oven-baked potatoes, spicy ‘nduja), along with fresh burrata, paninis, carpaccio and insalata. 801 N. Federal Highway; LaPiazzettaMiami.com
Sushi Sake, multiple locations
This sushi chain that Cuban-American founders Angel and James Aguayo once described to Forbes as the “the Cheesecake Factory of sushi” is rapidly growing, with new shacks coming to Davie in May, Fort Lauderdale in June and Coral Springs later this year. Sushi Sake features hibachi, teriyaki, ramen noodle soup, sashimi and sushi, with bestsellers like the Miami Heat, Miami Marlins and ham croquette-inspired Calle Ocho rolls. 7750 Nova Drive, Davie and 200 SW First Ave., Unit #106, Fort Lauderdale; 954-368-5846, SushiSakeMiami.com
Kaluz, Plantation
Rising across the street from the mega-shopping complex Plantation Walk is the third location of owner David Baldwin’s upscale New American restaurant. Kaluz — which opened on the Intracoastal in Fort Lauderdale in 2013 and Wellington in 2018 — will debut in June inside a former Romano’s Macaroni Grill near the corner of University Drive and Broward Boulevard. Sweet ginger calamari and cracker-crusted shrimp-andgoat-cheese flatbreads are on the menu, as are salads, a prime-rib hamburger and entrees of Hawaiian-marinated tenderloin kebabs
and maple-leaf duck confit. 100 N. University Drive; KaluzRestaurant.com
Gen Korean BBQ, Fort Lauderdale
The dream to replace Fort Lauderdale’s Sushi Shack with Korean barbecue has finally materialized after the sushi house mysteriously went dark on Las Olas Boulevard two-and-a-half years ago. Former Sushi Shack owners Justin and Yeeling Lee, who planned to reopen as Las Olas Korean Barbecue
in that space, have come and gone, and now Gen Korean BBQ will take its place later this summer. 1301 E. Las Olas Blvd.
Ela Curry Kitchen, Palm Beach Gardens
After two years of global small plates at his Stage Kitchen & Bar, chef Pushkar Marathe (Ghee Indian Kitchen, 3030 Ocean) veers into traditional Indian entrees with Ela Curry Kitchen, opening this May inside the Donald Ross Village plaza. The 65-seater, which Marathe is opening with Stage business partner Andrew Dugard, will serve a la carte Indian street food and thali-style entrees, in which small bowls of chutneys, naan, rice, lentils and protein are served on a large platter. 4650 Donald Ross Road
Kava Jive, Wilton Manors
Billing itself as Wilton Manor’s “elite elixir bar,” Kava Jive will offer a variety of specialty botanically infused teas and, of course, kava when it opens in June. Owners Anthony Kessler and Vincent Russo say that Kava Jive will be “an upscale bar conducive to productivity during the day ... where you can vibe and jive at night.” The space located in the people-magnet Shoppes of Wilton Manors strip mall will feature local art and live entertainment (bands, DJs, spoken word artists, etc). 2242 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors.
SoFresh, Fort Lauderdale
This Tampa-based buildyour-own-bowl chain is opening five new Florida locations, with the first debuting early summer in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Bowls, salads, wraps and quesadillas begin with a base of kale, spinach, brown rice or cauliflower and include proteins (garlic-herb chicken, salmon, ahi tuna), mix-ins and sauces. The chain also serves smoothies, pressed juices and lemonade. 506 N. Federal Highway; LoveSoFresh.com
I Heart Mac & Cheese, Fort Lauderdale
The Fort Lauderdale-born franchise that made its name elevating elbow macaroni from side dish to gooey main course will open its latest location this spring in the Cypress Creek Station plaza, adding to its deep roster of fast-casual eateries in 24 states. Customers here can customize their mac and cheese bowls or grilledcheese sandwiches in assembly-line fashion with a choice of vegetables, eight cheeses and nine proteins including short rib, Buffalo chicken and mojo pulled pork. 6317 N. Andrews Ave.; IHeartMacAndCheese.com
Walt’s American Grille & Bar, Plantation
Rising in the space once occupied by a Carrabba’s Italian Grill, which closed after a Plantation gas explosion destroyed a strip of businesses behind it in 2019, Walt’s will debut later this spring in the Market on University plaza. The American restaurant comes from Steve Swanson’s Nosnaws group, which is also planning to open three Big Whiskey American Restaurant & Bar locations in South Florida, starting in Sunrise. Walt’s dishes a farm-to-table-style menu including New York strips and honey-glazed salmon, along with a happy-hour menu that includes habanera chicken wings, tuna nachos and shrimp ceviche. Walt’s opened its first location in Boca Raton last May. 1003 S. University Drive; WaltsAmerican.com
Bar 25, Delray Beach
This new gastropub replacing the former Mellow Mushroom off Atlantic Avenue will debut this spring. In a testament to how fast Delray Beach’s dining scene moves these days, Bar 25 owners Nick Laudano and Anthony Giovanniello — who operate Boca Raton’s Nick’s New Haven Style Pizzeria & Bar — snapped up the lease last summer, just five days after Mellow Mushroom closed. No menu is available yet. 25 SE Sixth Ave.; Bar25.com
Closed
Death or Glory Bar, Delray Beach
This decadently dark and gothy drinking den started by four serious mixologists in 2017 permanently closed on April 25 — fittingly — with a black-attire-only funeral bash, co-owner Annie Blake posted this week on social media. Customers celebrated the gastropub as much for its cocktails as its kitschy décor: inflatable humping reindeer for its Christmas pop-up bar; IV blood bags for Halloween. (Also a hit among regulars: Death’s vegan bar food, such as crispy Cheeto chickpeas and jackfruit crabcake sliders.) Death, which had occupied the historic Falcon House (circa 1925), will be rebranded as The Falcon, and will reopen in May with a revamped menu of cocktails and global street food. 116 NE Sixth Ave.; 561-808-8814, DeathorGloryBar.com
Tucker Duke’s, Boca Raton
Tucker Duke’s, the craft burger-and-beer joint known for its mammoth handhelds, has permanently closed its Boca Raton location after six years, a manager at Tucker Duke’s Deerfield Beach flagship confirmed. The Boca location debuted in April 2016 by chef-founder Brian Cartenuto and his partners, Jay Oakes and John Cortes, and the Deerfield original will remain open. 1658 N. Federal Highway; 561-717-8153, TuckerDukes.com
The Hungry Pelican, Deerfield Beach
After three months inside the Cove Shopping Center, owner William Sakowski’s barbecue spot and sister pizzeria, Cove Pizza, have permanently closed. Sakowski left a brief message on the front door of his short-lived storefront, writing, “Permanently closed. Thanks to those who supported us!” Along with pies, calzones and strombolis, the Pelican turned out slow-roasted beef brisket, burnt ends, St. Louis-style pork ribs, Philly-style cheesesteaks and Angus hamburgers.