In a county filled with outstanding restaurants and stellar chefs, it's nearly impossible to issue superlatives. There is no best bite. But there are many delectable plates that have passed through our lives — forkfuls and stolen grabs and dishes that linger in memory long after we scrape the plate clean. These are dishes that lead us to return to the same restaurant time and time again.
Here are 10 mouthwatering bites where the flavors and textures all come together to create food memories.
Located a quick stroll down the plaza from chef Tim Lipman’s beloved Coolinary Café, The Parched Pig, Lipman’s second restaurant/bar, offers a place to grab a drink and a dozen oysters while you wait for your table at Coolinary. At least, that’s how we originally thought of The Pig, until we settled in and realized that, chicken and waffles waiting or not, The Pig was a destination in and of itself.
Once you settle back with your favorite local beer, order the charcuterie board. It bests all charcuterie boards you’ve had. And while it’s big enough to share, you won’t want to, and we don’t blame you. Take your time. You’re not going anywhere for a while.
Parched Pig: 4580 Donald Ross Road, Unit 100, Palm Beach Gardens, 561-360-3063
Since The Cooper opened in July 2014, this beautiful farm-to-table eatery has never not been busy, be it at brunch, lunch, happy hour, dinner or late-night. Working with local farms and purveyors, chef Adam Brown relies on seasonal ingredients to craft an ever-changing menu that keeps both him and his diners interested in the latest concoction. And while high-quality meat is definitely a mainstay on the menu, Brown uses grains and vegetables in creative, delectable ways. Take General Tso's Cauliflower — a dish he created as a special on Christmas Eve that was met with such delight he kept it on the menu permanently. A riff off the popular Chinese takeout dish, this dish is vegetarian and gluten-free. Served in a sweet and spicy sauce, it's addictive and delicious.
The Cooper: 4610 PGA Blvd., Suite 100, Palm Beach Gardens, 561-622-0032
Chef Matthew Byrne changes his menu frequently, but the beloved, towering coconut cake, made with a secret recipe, never gets touched. Byrne originally made the cake three years ago for his wife, Aliza’s, birthday and the staff loved it so much, they persuaded him to put it on the menu. Since then, it has become Kitchen’s most popular dessert.
The light, subtle cake is a basic genoise cake with house-made lemon curd filling and is available whole to-go. It sells for $65 and serves 10-15 people.
Kitchen: 319 Belvedere Road, #2, West Palm Beach, 561-249-2281
From the startlingly cold acai bowl — how do they get it so cold? — to the stunning avocado toast, options are pleasing here, be it during business meetings, catch-up sessions with friends or early meals during Blind Monk’s AM Shift breakfast service.
Still, our heart belongs to the Gravlax Toast. Fresh pumpernickel bread topped with crème fraîche and arctic char, which we always think of as salmon’s chic older sister. It’s just the right amount of luxury and crispy — and even though we always say we’re going to save half, we never do.
The Blind Monk: 410 Evernia St., #107, West Palm Beach, 561-833-3605
Just in case you’re ready to knock avocados off your list due to one too many orders of avocado toast, visit Chez L’Epicier on Palm Beach for a dish that will transport you on an avocado odyssey. The avocado, sesame oil and yuzu tartare appetizer, topped with red puffed quinoa, is light and subtle with a tasty crunch and a hefty portion. This beloved appetizer has been on the menu since it opened in July 2015. In fact, Martha Stewart ordered this dish when she visited during their first season.
“If you go to any sushi place, yuzu and avocado is a classic pairing,” said Veroniqué Deneault, co-owner and wife of the restaurant’s renowned French-Canadian chef Laurent Godbout. “We knew it was a perfect match. But because it’s pretty boring by itself it needs texture, which is why it needs the puffed quinoa. It’s a superfood, and we know our Palm Beach clientele loves quinoa. Laurent loves to get acidity, creaminess and different textures in every dish.”
Chez L’Epicier: 288 S. County Road, Palm Beach, 561-508-7030
Ever since Grato opened its doors on Dixie Highway, signifying a new era of dining on the Dixie Dining Corridor, pizza has never been the same.
Whether you stop in for appetizer and a cocktail at the bar or equally chic pizza bar, grab takeout or enjoy a vibrant brunch with friends, you can detect chef/co-owner Clay Conley’s expert flair in each dish. And no dish wins our heart as much as the pizza. The Margherita Pizza, made simply with tomato, fresh mozzarella and basil, is served throughout the day and cooked in a wood-burning pizza oven. It’s particularly good late at night. Or at brunch. Or for happy hour. Or … you get the idea.
Grato: 1901 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, 561-404-1334
There’s so much to love about Aioli, the charming neighborhood nook serving breakfast and lunch on Dixie Highway. Chef Michael Hackman’s fresh-baked bread, his dinners-to-go and his “bullet coffee” (don’t even get me started) are must-haves. But his simple, healthy salads are must-must. The Roast Pear and Gorgonzola Salad is filled with crunchy walnuts, spicy arugula, perfectly roasted pears and sprinkled with a generous layer of Gorgonzola cheese and a delicious balsamic vinaigrette. It satisfies every lunch craving. You’ll return for it again and again and again. Order online for the ultimate grab-and-go lunch.
Aioli: 7434 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, 561-366-7741
There’s comfort food and then there are Lynora’s meatballs. Now made at multiple locations throughout Palm Beach County, these meatballs are never too far away. If you’re a longtime resident, you may remember Lynora’s original restaurant, which opened in Lake Worth in 1976. Maria Abbenante, who created all the recipes, served as the original chef. These days, you’ll often see her back in the kitchen at the Clematis Street location.
Large, steaming and made in-house with a classic blend of beef, pork and veal, the meatballs are freshly ground by Maria’s husband, Raffaelle Abbenante, and served with Maria’s classic (house-made) tomato sauce and Raffaelle’s (also house-made) ricotta cheese. We only wish we had an Italian grandmother who made meatballs half as good as these. And on Mondays, they’re only $2 a ball.
Lynora’s: 207 Clematis St., West Palm Beach, 561-899-3117
With just 20 seats inside and 20 seats outside, this darling hotspot is tucked inside a via away from the hustle and bustle of Mizner Park. Owned by husband and wife Ron and Rhonda Weisheit, Chef Ron uses organic, farm-raised produce, line-caught seafood and sustainable grass-fed meats to create what he calls “modern day art cuisine.” We call it delicious. Reservations are highly recommended.
And while we love just about everything on the ever-changing menu (try the Duck Duck Tacos to start), you must try the Twenty Twenty Profiteroles made with Vanilla Pate Choux, a rotating ice cream and topped with a homemade fudge sauce.
Twenty Twenty Grille: 141 Via Naranjas #45, Boca Raton, 561-990-7969
It’s sometimes hard to order dessert after you’ve been stuffing yourself on gastropub food here. Still, try to encourage your dinner mates to try as well and go for the shareable, addicting Tableside S’mores at The Alchemist in downtown West Palm Beach. Both the crackers and the marshmallows are made in-house. The chocolate is a jar of creamy pots de crème.
“The whole idea is a feeling of campfire,” says executive chef Joe Pebbles. “I’m a huge camper and hiker, and we always make s’mores. This brings back the memories because you smell the campfire smells and you have all the flavors. You get the idea of bringing back your childhood.”
The Alchemist: 223 Clematis St., West Palm Beach, 561-355-0691
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