Passport: Florida A Northern Palm Beaches Food Adventure!
Submitted by Doll Lil on June 29, 2011 – 9:31 am5 Comments
Eating out for me can be a challenge. I’m gluten, casein, and mostly soy free. It’s been tough to give up favorite foods but it turns out with enough research and Sally Albright-style ordering I can eat out with the family and even enjoy a ice cold gluten free beer at West Palm Beach’s World of Beer.
So now I would like to take you on a short road trip to my favorite places to eat, drink, and dance…….
We’ll start out in North Palm Beach. For a small Intercostal village there are plenty of locally owned dining choices. The Brass Ring located on US 1 in North Palm is known for it’s juicy burgers and Buffalo Wings. I grew up in Buffalo, NY. I happen to be an expert on chicken wings…. Buffalo natives call them chicken wings by the way. The Ring’s wings are cooked to order but I’ll give you a tip. Order them hot and extra crispy. Trust me I know what I’m talking about. As for their burgers well let’s just say it’s as close to complete satisfaction as you can get in public. The half pound burgers are cooked to order with several options of yummy toppings. The bacon burger is good. The mushroom burger with Swiss is even better, but if you are looking for a burger to satisfy your bar food cravings all in one the Spicy Burger with Blue Cheese Dressing. It’s heaven on a plate. Of course I can’t experience heaven on a plate anymore but thanks to a very understanding staff if you bring your own gluten free bread they will plate your naked burger with chips and pickle on a bed of lettuce. ;)
Next up is the Vietnamese Express Cafe also on US 1 in North Palm. Located in a tiny plaza you will miss it if you blink. The food here is so fresh and well done I can’t pick a favorite. They use rice noodles and authentic soy sauce (wheat free). The service is quick and polite and take out is available. I suggest dining in though. The atmosphere is relaxing and the food taste so much better served fresh from the kitchen. After lunch you can take a walk through the quiet streets of North Palm. Anchorage Park has a marina, volleyball courts, a dog park and a walking trail with two fishing piers or head over to North Palm’s Lakeside Park. A well shaded park, it has a small Intercostal beach and walking trail. Bring your book and a blanket!
We have to drive North a bit to get to my next favorite place for lunch. Little Moir’s Food Shack is located in Jupiter also on US 1. It’s such a local favorite that their is often a two hour wait on Fridays for dinner. We once waited for 20 minutes for lunch. We were lucky we showed up just a few minutes after they opened for lunch. The Food Shack is known for their fresh fusion style with quick service, intimate atmosphere and some of the happiest and content employees in the restaurant business. I have never once been disappointed in the service or food quality at The Food Shack.
Classified as American fare in almost every review I’ve read about this tiny casual restaurant is simply to confining a description. Fresh seafood served in some of the simplest recipes remind the diner of Asian cuisine. But the influence of the Caribbean is prevalent on the menu. I never do this but I am ordering for you…. the Fried Tuna and Basil roll, The Shack Bowl and of course the Dark Chocolate Nut Mash. I’m getting the Sweet Potato Crusted Wahoo and the White Chocolate Coconut Creme Brulee Cheesecake with macadamia crust. Moderately priced it’s a must do on everyone’s list.
We have to turn around and head South on US1 to reach our cocktail hour destination. The Tiki Waterfront Sea Grill is definitely casual. Located in Riviera Beach, Fl steps from Riviera Marina and views of some pretty impressive fishing boats tied to their moors just off the patio style restaurant. Known for their fresh seafood and live entertainment the Tiki is always fun and relaxing. I happen to love their Dirty Martinis and their Sunday Brunch all-you-can-eat features their amazing seaweed salad along side carved meats, an omelet and waffle bar, biscuits and gravy, chilled stone crab claws, and one heck of a Spicy Bloody Mary. One word: Yum.
Now that we are almost full it’s time to head over to two of my favorite places. They just so happen to be right across from each other on the Intercostal Waterway in Palm Beach Gardens. The Waterway Cafe is located on the west side of the PGA Drawbridge. Featuring a floating bar, the only one is Florida, a Tiki bar, and an open airy dining room experience I love to spend long lunches there. We often go to sit at the small tiki bar, take in the afternoon live entertainment, fish tacos, and a full bar selection. The Grilled Bayou Dolphin is my favorite. It’s dolphin (also called Mahi Mahi) is topped with Cajun shrimp and corn salsa. Accompanied by black beans and rice and jicama slaw. Another favorite item is the Seafood Rice Bowl. Shrimp, scallops, and fish oriental veggies in curry sauce (it’s not super spicy) over rice. I love curry but I tend to need lots of hydration while enjoying my curry so I often indulge in one of the killer margaritas. Then after lunch a Dirty Martini is called for. They have the best Dirty in town. They also have some amazing yacht watching available.
So now we need to take the water taxi across “the pond” to Panama Hatti’s and Rum Bar. It’s a great place to end the night. Live music, more seafood, fun atmosphere, and waterfront dining. I mean how else should we end our trip? I’m thinking a tropical drink in the sand at Rum Bar! I’m not a huge fan of rum but it’s all good because they serve a full array of yummy tropical drinks. If you are feelin’ the martinis a little to much from the Waterway they even have frozen virgin options to cool you off while keeping you from jumping in the Intercostal in slap happy vacation haze. The Rum Bar is an open air bar where you can stick your feet in the warm sand while you sit back and relax in a beach chair among friends. And let’s face it after the day we had we have made some long lasting food loving friends.
Now you probably think this is where I leave you, but alas we have one more stop in the wee hours of the morn. Buddy’s Cafe on Singer Island is a stone’s throw away from the Atlantic Ocean. A greasy spoon with a walk through to the only bar that can serve alcohol 22 hours a day. I usually avoid eating at Buddy’s but on occasion I have been known to enjoy a spinach omelet and a Bloody Mary with lots of coffee. The best way to end our time together is to park in the public parking lot between Buddy’s and the ocean. We are heading for the beach to see a spectacular sunrise on Singer Island’s public beach. We’ll sit close to the water and watch quietly as the sun breaks over the waves and reflect on an amazing adventure in my backyard. Now let’s head over to Buddy’s for that Bloody Mary…….
Thanks for coming on this little food vacation with me! Okay it was a drinking vacation at the end there. Now that I have gotten you full and drunk I thought I would let you relax and enjoy some down time. While visiting the Palm Beaches you may find yourself needing a breather from all that crazy fun and excitement of water taxis, outside dining and open air mall shopping (especially if it’s 92 degrees out). Head on over to The Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens and bring a book. I happen to spend more hours than I can count in the mall thanks to my job and while on my break I head to one of two Starbuck’s or the tea shop Teavana. From there I head to one of several benches throughout the mall where I can curl up with my book. If you want you can shop too. I’m not much of a shopper but the mall does have a load full of high end shops with smatterings of middle of the road stores like H&M; and The Gap. It’s a cheerful mall with fountains and occasional events that can be fun like fashion shows and fundraisers for local charities. Also near by is Downtown at The Gardens where you can take in a movie, live music in the courtyard, ride a carousel. A french pastry shop and cafe will be opening soon. I sure miss their goodies….. Paris In Town.
If you feel the need to enjoy the outdoors more then I suggest Juno Pier and public beach or Loggerhead Beach and Loggerhead Marine Life Center. Bring your book, your Ipod, or your family and enjoy the natural wonders of our community. Thanks and come back soon!!!!
* Most of the restaurants named will discuss your dietary needs with you. I suggest asking for a gluten free menu and if one is not available ask to speak with the chef.
** A few of our stops were not linked because I simply couldn’t find a website or in one case their server was down.
Lil is an avid reader who gave up TV so she could greedily read every book she could get her hands on. In the process she discovered a love for contemporary romance heavily laden with humor. Lil is formerly a True Blood blogger who discovered there is more to the world than her annoying love/hate one-sided relationship with the writers of TB. She credits JR Ward for pulling her from the two dimensional world of TV viewing.
This post is full of Awesome! Thank you Lil for sharing!
xoxo
Thanks for sharing Lil :) I'm low carb gluten free too. I'm sure when I go to florida, I'll look up some of these places!
Yum… Lil! Now you made me hungry!
After I wrote this I thought of another dozen or so places I could have included, but I'm not up to writing a novel about food! heh heh
BTW thnx ladies!