NOW OPEN OR OPENING
Emily’s Garden
347 SW Second St., Fort Lauderdale; 954-955-9582; emilysgarden.us
This new addition to Himmarshee Village in downtown Fort Lauderdale opened on September 20, replacing the former O-B House. The space was reimagined by the Mele brothers behind the Pummarola Pizzeria Napoletana concept. The idea behind Emily’s Garden is to bring together some culinary artists in the local food scene: On The Run Coffee Bar, Burgermeister, Patio Tapas & Beer and, of course, Pummarola. Coming soon will be breakfast and healthy lunch items from chef Diego Pasqualicchio of River Café. There’s also a sports car that’s been redesigned into a gelato station, as well as a variety of live entertainment in the works, from DJs to acoustic music artists. By the way, the name comes from the former property owner’s pet dalmatian.
Maman
473 S. Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach; 561-660-7716; MamanNYC.com
Say "au revoir" to your willpower at this all-day bakery-café, which tempts with Oprah-blessed Nutty Chocolate Chip Cookies, fresh-baked croissants, and apéro-hour drinks. Founders Elisa Marshall and Benjamin Sormonte’s fast-expanding New York City chain debuted its newest café on August 12 inside CityPlace, the second Florida location after a Wynwood outpost opened in February. Its dining area, dressed in Spanish moss and air plants, serves an expansive menu that includes Crème Fraîche Pancakes, Smashed Avocado Tartine, Eggs Ratatouille, and an Everything Croissant and Salmon Sandwich, which tastes exactly how it sounds. There are also soups and salads, coffee and teas, and cases of pastries. The restaurant plans to continue expanding in Miami-Dade County this fall.
Just Salad
1841 S. Federal Highway, No. 400; Delray Beach; 866-673-3757; justsalad.com
Located in Delray Place shopping center, this is the seventh Palm Beach County location for Just Salad. The New York-based, fast-casual restaurant chain had an August soft opening in Delray Beach and then a grand opening the first week of September. The menu includes chef-designed salads, wraps, warm bowls, avocado toast, soups, and smoothies. Foodie faves include Crispy Chicken Poblano, Thai Chicken Crunch, and Tokyo Supergreens. Just Salad also has a reusable bowl program: If you purchase a bowl, you get a free salad topping with each reuse.
Kirin Restaurant
4285 N. State Road 7, Lauderdale Lakes; 954-486-8885
When one dim sum palace closes, another opens. Such is the cycle of restaurant renewal in South Florida. The space that once housed the late, great Silver Pond restaurant has been overhauled and reopened by the family behind Baoshi food hall in Pembroke Pines and the Yip stall at Marina Village at Bahia Mar Fort Lauderdale. Kirin’s owners, the Ip family, are Chinese-Venezuelan restaurateurs who previously ran Gold Marquess Cantonese restaurant in Pembroke Pines until retiring in 2022. "My dad, Phillip, decided to come out of retirement and do a dim sum restaurant again," co-owner Filbert Ip said. "We’re using the same menu as we did at Gold Marquess: tableside dim sum carts, Peking duck, authentic Cantonese cuisine." Along with afternoon dim sum service, other menu items include sui mai, chicken and beef wok-fry noodles, stir-fried scallops and vegetables, steamed lobster, and black pepper lamb chops.
Manta
2410 N. Federal Highway, Lighthouse Point; 954-400-9859; manta-restaurants.com
This is the second SoFlo location for Manta, with the other in Wynwood (opened in 2021). It can seat 190 guests inside and 45 outside, and serves Peruvian fare, which the restaurant explains "results from the fusion of indigenous Peruvian, European, and Asian cuisines." The menu features choices such as Tacos de Cebiche, the classic Mahi Mahi Cebiche, and a Pisco Sour cocktail. Andres Lozada Zuzunaga and business partner Renzo Mercado Cansino also own two other Manta locations as well as another concept called Tinta in Arequipa, a Peruvian city known for its culinary mecca. There was a soft opening for the Lighthouse Point eatery this summer, and a grand opening is planned for December. "I was impressed by the Lighthouse Point neighborhood and see the location as a perfect bridge between more sophisticated culinary hotspots in Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton," Lozada Zuzunaga says. "Plus, we have great visibility on the busy Federal Highway."
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CLOSED
Bar Rita
1401 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale
A month shy of its sixth anniversary, this two-story Mexican restaurant and rooftop margarita bar from Tapco Restaurant Group, which operates next-door gastropub Tap 42, quietly shuttered in September on South Andrews Avenue. "Bar Rita has closed permanently. Please visit our sister restaurant Tap 42 located next door," read a sign posted on the restaurant’s front doors. The eatery, which debuted in October 2018, served up eight tacos styles from carne asada to crispy mahi-mahi, along with knife-and-fork burritos, grilled prime skirt steak, baja grilled shrimp fajitas, and bottomless brunches.
Nino’s Italian Restaurant & Pizza
7120 Beracasa Way, Boca Raton
A neighborhood southern-Italian staple for 42 years, owner Marco Tornabene’s classy sit-down permanently closed its doors on September 15 in the Del Mar Shopping Village plaza. "The challenges posed by changes in the economy and other hardships have led us to this difficult decision," the restaurant posted on social media. Known for belly-warming chicken Parmesan and thin-sliced pizza (and even a Detroit-style pie, which it called Sicilian), Nino’s specialized in comfort classics from veal scaloppini and baked littleneck clams oreganata to penne alla vodka and calzones.
Steam Horse Brewing Co.
1500 Elizabeth Ave., West Palm Beach
More proof that South Florida’s golden craft-beer renaissance has turned bitter in recent months, Fran Andrewlevich’s brewery has closed after six years in the city’s Warehouse District. The railroad-themed taproom served its final brews during an off-the-rails closing party on September 20 dubbed Kick the Keg. "We have made the challenging decision to end our journey at Steam Horse," Andrewlevich, also head brewer, said in a social-media post. "To our amazing patrons, a huge hug for all the laughter, friendship, and great times." Andrewlevich’s sister Palm Beach County breweries to the north, Tequesta Brewing Co. and Twisted Trunk Brewing Co., will remain open and continue serving Steam Horse’s flagship brew, Steam Horse Lager.
Mustard Seed Bistro
256 S. University Drive, Plantation
This family-owned restaurant permanently closed on September 21 after 15 years on University Drive, citing an expiring lease on its social-media page. Run by Lara and Tim Boyd, the restaurant offered a cosmopolitan menu of rotating entrees and desserts (especially cupcakes), such as pear ravioli and fried green tomatoes, Peruvian fish stew, and braised short rib bourbon, and crispy duck and lobster rigatoni.
Almond
207 Royal Poinciana Way, Palm Beach
This swanky indoor-outdoor bistro, which debuted in early 2020 just before the pandemic struck, isn’t coming back from summer hiatus. The sister to the quarter-century-old Almond on New York’s Long Island, the restaurant wrapped up its Mother’s Day service in May and decided against renewing its lease in Palm Beach. "Regretfully, we are here to tell you that we have closed our location in Palm Beach," an automated voice told customers who dialed the restaurant’s Palm Beach phone number. The 100-seater specialized in comforting French cuisine and global street food like oysters, tri-tip steak and fries, and kimchi fried rice.
FAQS
Q: What are some of the new restaurants opening in South Florida?
A: Some of the new restaurants opening in South Florida include Emily’s Garden, Maman, Just Salad, Kirin Restaurant, Manta, Osmow’s Shawarma, Crema Gourmet Espresso Bar, Stephanie’s Crepes, Tacocraft Taqueria & Tequila Bar, and Bunnboh Churros, among others.
Q: What are some popular restaurants that have closed in South Florida?
A: Some popular restaurants that have closed in South Florida include Bar Rita, Nino’s Italian Restaurant & Pizza, Steam Horse Brewing Co., Mustard Seed Bistro, and Almond.
Q: Are there any restaurants that have undergone changes or expanded in South Florida?
A: Yes, some restaurants that have undergone changes or expanded in South Florida include Manta, which has opened a second location, and Tacocraft Taqueria & Tequila Bar, which has expanded to new locations.
