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.