Bijou Cafe

We are coming to the conclusion that the state of Florida is one large wasteland crossed with awful roads with beautiful coasts. The East Coast is much more developed and attractive with A1A running the length of the state. The West coast is much grimmer between Naples and Sarasota. Sarasota itself was a breath of fresh air. Here there are wide streets and beautifully landscaped surroundings. Our stay at the Ritz in the downtown area was a short 10 min. walk from the Bijou Cafe. Paul is getting into the swing of early arrivals which gives us time to check out the bar. We took our drinks to the small outdoor seating area and enjoyed the warm evening enjoying some serious people watching. There are fewer manufactured "tight smiles" here in Sarasota and we see a more diverse age group and a more mixed population. Maybe this is because of the large student population.

Dinner was a joy from beginning to end. Both Paul's and my shrimp appetizer were excellent, his SHRIMP PIRI-PIRI were wonderfully spicy, sauted with just the right amount of garlic, lemon, and cayenne pepper. My
Boursin-Glazed Shrimp with fresh sliced Strawberries and Baby arugula, and toasted hazelnuts, was perfectly complimented with sherry vinaigrette and herbed croutons. For the entre, Paul selected the ROAST DUCKLING which was slow roasted, boned and served extra crispy with a fruit dressing and port wine sauce. It was delicious with none of the ugly fat sometimes associated with duck. I enjoyed a serving of the restaurants SIGNATURE CRABCAKES. They were perfectly sauted fresh lump crabmeat, served with Louisiana remoulade sauce, on a small bed of greens. Our wine wine selection was a surprisingly good California merlot.

We enjoyed dessert and coffee at the hotel where we eagerly watched some of the olympic events we'd been missing.

Bijou Cafe
1287 First St. (Pineapple Ave.)
Sarasota, FL 34236
941-366-8111

Zagats says:
No longer a diamond in the rough, this Downtown Continental (once a gas station) is now a “beautifully remodeled” “little jewel”, gratifying regulars with “rack of lamb to die for” and shrimp piri-piri courtesy of chef-owner Jean-Pierre Knaggs, who’s laid in a large wine list from his native South Africa, and a “precise, friendly” staff that “treats you like family”; book way ahead in winter to beat opera-bound crowds worried about curtain time.

Nektar - there's no excuse for this restaurant

We went here based on a brief review in the NYT Travel section that described it as a new Mediterranean-style restaurant--an in place with a younger crowd. The place was crowded, but with a reservation we were seated promptly. This was only a minor blessing considering our choice of two tables (one near the entranceway right in the line of traffic, the other while more inside, was next to the serving lane where busy staff whizzed by with armloads of dinner items and drinks. We, unfortunately, chose the one inside the restaurant! It was extremely noisy but we decided to hang in and found a nice bottle of wine to get us started. The menu was interesting with many Albanian family specialties. Unfortunately, all our courses were served reheated but not hot. I had a fried calamari appetizer that was very oily and not crisp. It was served with a sauce reminiscent of Campbell's tomato soup. When I asked for marinara sauce, it took another ten minutes during which time, the calamari became inedible. When I have doubts about a restaurant I order something simple, like roasted chicken. It was served overcooked and dried out. It had clearly been on a heating plate for hours. Chris' linguine with red sauce, eggplant and cheese was equally tasteless. There's no excuse for a nice restaurant to be this bad. We were unwilling to even try coffee and dessert.

Nektar
849 7th Avenue South
Naples, Florida 34102
Phone:239.435.1882

Chop's City Grill - Naples

This hip restaurant is in downtown Naples on the local "Fifth Avenue". At night the street is alive with people "promenading" and all the stores are open. We noted, with delight, that these stores are local places - the large chains are relegated to the Tamiami Trail (Rt 42) where there are more malls than in NJ! We really enjoyed walking after dinner and looking in the galleries and shops along the Avenue. Overall, Naples was a disappointment because it's very overbuilt and not especially attractive. In Old Naples there are no high-rises and the dense single family homes make it feel crowded. It didn't help that it was a holiday weekend with crowds of people and many young children all out looking for a good time.

The restaurant is primarily a steakhouse with a southern-Florida flair - lots of fish and some Asian vegetables.

I had the Stacked Tomato Salad – Beefsteak, Golden, and Orange Tomatoes with Roquefort Cheese, Onions and Black Pepper Ranch Dressing. This seems to be a Florida specialty found on many of the menus we've seen, but it was well done here.

Chris had Red Oak Salad with Portobello Mushrooms, Gorgonzola, Pecans and Pear, served with a Miso – Maple Dressing. It was very fresh and tasty.

She also had the Grouper special which came with fresh asparagus, and an interesting cauliflower mash that I'm sure she's going to try to recreate and make me eat when we get back home!

I had a pepper steak with a Blackberry – Cabernet Sauce, Grilled Sweet Potato and fried Onion Rings. We also tried something called Chop's "Steakhouse Style" Vegetables which were grilled broccoli Rabe, spinach, and mushrooms with garlic.


Zagats says
“Hip and happening” types frequent this “lively”, often-“noisy” Pan-Asian surf ’n’ turfer (think “grilled-to-perfection” Mongolian beef, teriyaki-glazed sea bass, etc.) where the “warm” atmosphere is made even more so by the “friendly” staff; almost as alluring as the prime “people-watching” are “great wine flights” that allow you to “sip some pretty good choices without losing your shirt.”

Chops City Grill
837 Fifth Ave. S.
(US 41)
Naples, FL 34102
239-262-4677

Cafe Chardonnay

It would be easy to give this resturant a miss given it's location in a strip mall. Afterall, who wants to sit among attractively arranged tables amidst the foilage and gas fire pits only to look out at a parking lot and traffic on the main road! Having said this, it would be a shame to miss a good meal because once inside, it's cozy, there's a long bar to accomodate wine tasting and the staff is friendly and efficient.

We had a fine meal both starting with a salad of red and yellow beefsteak tomatoes with feta cheese, Tuscan Olive Oil and 1891 Acetain Dodi Vinegar. The flavour was good but like so many large resturants, a good salad would become excellent if it were made fresh when ordered. Our salads seem to have been prepared LONG in advance.

Paul's entree consisted of an oven roasted veal chop, ricotta, broccoli rabe, cipollini onions and porcini mushroom sauce. Paul felt that the chop was good, but nothing special and the veggies were a bit overcooked, but the meal was generally satisfying. Christina's skillet roasted sushi grade tuna with shrimp, asian vegetables and dumplings (very like potstickers) were with the exception of the veggies cooked to perfection and tasted great. We washed this all down with a very good bottle of red wine (Rosso Di Montalcino, Argiano '02).

We probably will go back next year.


Cafe Chardonnay
Garden Square Shoppes
4533 PGA Blvd. (Military Trail)
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
561-627-2662

Zagats says:
It’s “hard to believe” it’s in a strip mall, but this Palm Beach Gardens “jewel” defies expectations with “divine” New American food delivered by an “excellent staff”, a “stellar wine list” and “pretty decor” that contributes to an overall “unpretentious” ambiance; all in all, it’s a “winner”, albeit one that comes with a “high price” tag.

Leila's Restaurant and Belly Dancer

For Valentines Day we went to a Syrian restaurant with our friends the Fleischers and the Sharfsteins. Dorothy, whose heritage is Sephardic, and whose family enjoyed middle-eastern food and entertainment, was our guide to the food and customs. We really enjoyed the different tastes and ambience. You can see the menu on-line at Leila’s.

We ordered, and shared, a number of "Mezzes" - a Syrian tapas. They included:

• Hommous - a chickpea pate.
• Baba Ghanouj - smoked eggplant dip.
• Falafel - chickpea croquettes.
• Kibbe - fried beef kneaded with burgha wheat, sauteed onion, and toasted pinenuts.
• Jibnee Mishwieh - grilled halloumi cheese.
• Feta Puffs - petite fried feta cheese pastries scented with mint.
• Hommous Bi Lahmeh - topped with sizzling minced meat and toasted pine nuts.
• Ma anek - spiced sausages with Port and pinenuts.
  

For entrees we ordered various types of lamb, beef, chicken and shrimp kebobs. Everyone enjoyed their dishes, but I thought the lamb I ordered was the best. The small pieces of meat remained tender after grilling. All were served with grilled veggies and couscous or rice. The couscous served at room temperature was a surprise to some of us but tasty with rasins, nuts and peppers.

We didn't have dessert but Barry and I had turkish coffee that was delicious - dark, thick, strong and sweet. They offered a Hookah or Arguileh (waterpipe), filled with tobacco (a smooth, molasses-fused blend with the fruitiness of apples, apricots, mint and cherries). We did not try it because you had to smoke outside and it was cold that night. I have read that these water-pipes are very trendy in NY right now.

Zagats says;
It's always a fun night at this downtown West Palm Beach Middle Eastern, which feels straight out of the most chic South Beach hotel, complete with sophisticated, helpful service; as for food,it's fresh, tasty and prepared with style., though some complain of “big prices for small portions”; P.S. check out the “cute outdoor seating” area and “entertaining belly dancing” on some nights, and hookah-smokers can indulge on the patio.

Leila’s
120 S. Dixie Hwy. (Datura St.)
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
561-659-7373

San Gennaro in Palm Beach

Our Concierge strongly recommended this "family" italian restaurant (he knows the chef). We checked it out in Zagats. They described it as:

Diners “never leave hungry” from this “popular” Italian in North Palm Beach that would be right at home in “NYC”; the food’s “reliable”, and since the portions are “family-style”, it’s little wonder that it’s a “great place to take the kids.”

We went anyway with our friends Barry and Dorothy who have a home in the area. The restaurant was very comfortable and we had a great table in a little nook of our own. Overall, the food was just adequate, prepared with too much sauce and salt. More importantly, the portions were large, even when shared. Unfortunately, we succumbed, and overate even thought the food was un-memorable.

We shared an appetizer of Sausage with Broccoli Rabe. The sausage was good but the Broccoli was overcooked and stringy with too much olive oil. Chris would have been happy with a salad but I love sausage.

Our main course was "Country Chicken" - small pieces of chicken (on the bone the way we like it) sauteed and served with sausage (again), potatoes, mushrooms and peppers. It reminded me of Cacciatore but was too oily and salty.

We shared a nice Chianti Classico

And shared a Tartufo with our friends for dessert. It was large enough for 4, but seemed like a standard commercial preparation.

This time our “Restaurant Challenge” will not be a challenge!

San Gennaro's Italian Restaurant
1201 US 1 (Crystal Tree Plaza) south of PGA Blvd.
North Palm Beach, FL 33408
561-625-0611

Seasons 52 restaurant

We had dinner at the newly opened Seasons 52 in Palm Beach. This chain of 5 restaurants in southern Florida focuses on fresh ingredients prepared in a "healthful" way (Our friend Estelle told us that the chain was owned by the same people who own 'Olive Garden'). No single menu selection is more than 475 calories and actual calorie counts are available. We both came in at about 1,250 calories. This included an appetizer, glass of wine, salad, main course but no dessert. We enjoyed our meal and left feeling like heroes!

Scotch (250 calories)
Baked Flatbread (similar to thin crust pizza) (450 cals for 2)
The flatbread was really good. It looks a lot like a rectangular pizza. They make it with all kinds of toppings but we like the traditional "marguerita).

Appetizer:
Tossed Salad (227 cals)
Vegetable Soup (238 cals)
Pretty good, but not great. The soup was good but it's hard to ruin a salad?

Entree:
Grilled Salmon on cedar plank (458 cals)
Venison Chop served with greens (471 cals)
Baked Onion with mushrooms (200 cals) This was their "seasonal vegetable" and we both had it. It was wonderful!
The portions were a little small and there was no bread on the table but the entrees were delicious and we didn't leave feeling hungry.

Coffee (0 cals)

Glass of White Wine (100 cals)

While we did pass on dessert, they sure looked worth trying. Waiters bring a variety of sweets presented in small tall glasses arranged on a wire rack. There are about a dozen in total to choose from. They're so cute, that I'm sure people are tempted to have the entire 'rack' put on the table for consumption! However, the 475 calorie limit applies to each one in the flight a little misleading!

Overall, we enjoyed the meal and would go back if we could. They have 2 other restaurants in the area. I wonder if that counts as "going back". Maybe next year.

Seasons 52
On the Intracoastal waterway at PGA Blvd.
11611 Ellison Wilson Road
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33408
561-625-5852

Colony Hotel Cabaret

The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach is a great venue for cabaret. Last night we had dinner and were entertained by K.T. Sullivan and Marc Nadler who performed Dorothy Fields Broadway standards. You may recognize her from the work she did for the production of Sweet Charity. The show was lively, and the performance professional. The space at the colony is intimate without seeming crowded and there isn't a bad seat in the house. This night, however, the room was half empty. We've both noticed that there are less people in Palm Beach this year.

We both had the same dinner, a salad followed by potato-crusted grouper served on a bed of very buttery spinach. It was adequate for a nightclub. After the show we went next door to the Polo Bar where there is entertainment every night. The same couple were performing as last year; Jill and Rick. They're terrific and there's no cover charge. They even have a dance floor so it can't be beat for a couple of hours of entertainment and people-watching. We say the same thing every year - this is a great bar and we should go there after dinner every night! So far, we've made it back only once - but we're going tonight as soon as we finish this!

Cafe Boulud, Palm Beach

As in past years, dinner hear was wonderful. It gets my vote for the best restaurant in Palm Beach. I should note that I haven't tried most of the other top-rated restaurants! But never let it be said that I let facts get in the way of opinion. The creativity of the menu, which follows the same pattern of four styles of dishes (Classic, Seasonal, Market and International) is exceptional. I should point out that last year we had the same impression and went back for a second time (the only time we did that) and were disappointed.

Cafe Boulud
(Brazilian Court Hotel)
301 Australian Ave. (Hibiscus Ave.)
Palm Beach, FL 33480
561-655-6060

Appetizer:
Mushroom Risotto - absolutely perfect. The risotto was just firm enough.
Heritage Tomato Caprese - always good.

Entree:
Grilled Swordfish with Fennel - the fish and the fennel were grilled perfectly.
Pan-fried Pompano - A new fish for us, flaky with a thin crisp crust sauted and served along side a puree of eggplant and a tomato salsa.

Dessert:
We shared an apple crisp. This dish was unusual because the apples were shredded and served in their natural juices. The vanilla ice cream added all the sweetness that was necessary.

Cafe L'Europe Palm Beach

One of the prettiest and most elegant restaurants in Palm Beach. Two lovely rooms with a piano player and surroundings that are like eating in an elegant home. Unfortunately, the food does not live up to the room. It was quite ordinary. I don't agree with the Zagat rating of 25 for food. I believe their ratings outside of NYC tend to be biased upwards, possibly because of the lack of high quality restaurants.

Cafe L'Europe
331 S. County Rd. (Brazilian Ave.)
Palm Beach, FL 33480
561-655-4020

Appetizer:
Tomato/Mozzarella salad - lacked real flavour which might have been improved with some fresh basil.
Breaded Sweetbreads - the breading was too oily and soft, lending a mushy flavor to the meat.
Entree:

Muscovy duck with pancake - the pancake was excellent but the duck seemed reheated and oily.
Wienerschnitzel with spaetzl, red cabbage and asparagus. This dish was very good. The veggies were crisp and while the spaetz were not like my mom's, they were pretty good. Veal cutlet lightly breaded and not oily in any way.

Wines - an excellent list of quality wines by the glass. We had a nice California Chardonnay and an Austrian Riesling.

No dessert tonight--the cookies at the Breakers are waiting for us!
Expresso - just OK