South Florida Restaurant Openings and Closings

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Moody Tongue Sushi
600 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; 561-494-9650; moodytongue.com

Known as the first brewery to have a Michelin star, Moody Tongue has brought its Chicago-based concept to South Florida, inside the Hilton West Palm Beach. After a series of pop-ups, this location opened on Jan. 7, helmed by brewmaster Jared Rouben and executive sushi chef Hiromi Iwakiri. The eatery spotlights a 15-course omakase experience with beer pairings, with dishes including Hokkaido Sea Scallop, served with edamame and Ossetra caviar and paired with a Pressed Asian Pear Saison farmhouse ale, and Florida Stone Crab Hand Roll, paired with a Cherry Oud Bruin (old brown ale). Rouben has created a West Palm Beach Pilsner exclusively for Hilton West Palm Beach’s dining outlets. “Opening Moody Tongue Sushi in West Palm Beach is a dream come true,” says Rouben. “We blend the artistry of brewing with the richness of culinary craft, creating a unique experience where every sip and pairing tells a story.”

Pierogi One
898B N. Federal Highway, Pompano Beach; 954-205-3700; pierogione.com

Located in the Beachway Shopping Plaza, the second location for this Polish restaurant (the first in downtown Miami) opened on Feb. 18. In addition to its signature pierogis, the fast-casual restaurant’s menu features a Polish Hot Dog, Zapiekanka (toasted baguette with toppings) and a Schnitzel Sandwich (chicken or pork), as well as Red Borscht and Zurek soups. Sides include salads, fries and more.

D’s Sports Bar
620 S. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale; 954-960-4888; danielssteak.com/ds-sports-bar

With decor evoking a 1950s-era car service garage and a dozen high-definition screens, the D’s Sports Bar that opened Feb. 20 is the sister concept to Daniel’s, A Florida Steakhouse, which is next door. Both are high-end concepts from Gioia Hospitality Group (GHG), with D’s Sports Bar offering signature dishes such as French Dip Steak Sandwich, Daniel’s Double Patty Smash Burger, Crispy Hog Fish Sandwich and Grilled Mahi Taco. There are also craft cocktails and locally sourced beers. “At D’s, we’re bringing together the excitement of live sports and an upscale, welcoming atmosphere where guests can enjoy amazing food and drinks with their friends and family,” says GHG co-owner Tom Angelo. “Whether you’re a die-hard sports fan or just looking for a great night out, D’s delivers an outstanding experience.” A private dining area called The Florida Legends Room has memorabilia and signed jerseys from the likes of Dolphins icon Jason Taylor, Inter Miami’s goal-getter Lionel Messi and Marlins ball player Jeff Conine.

16 Handles
3231 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach; 561-249-1944; 16handles.com

This NYC-born, self-serve frozen yogurt and dessert concept opened in West Palm Beach on Feb. 15. The name comes from the menu’s 16 soft-serve flavors (with 50-plus toppings and sauces). This sweet spot also offers frozen cakes, take-home pints and coffee. Recent limited-edition froyo flavors included French Fry, Butter Beer, Dune Spice and Keto Chocolate Brownie. The West Palm Beach franchise is owned by married couple Lindsay Hemstreet and Benjamin Goldberg, who say they plan on hosting food trucks and pop-ups. “Whether it’s a good day or a tough one, 16 Handles is a place where people can come together over frozen yogurt and be happy,” Goldberg says.

Earls Kitchen + Bar
1002 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; Earls.ca/locations/las-olas

This Canadian steak-and-seafood chain with 70 locations opened its latest sit-down on March 5, filling a 9,500-square-foot perch with a global menu tailored by “world travelers.” Executive chef Del Diseko, a self-described explorer, told the Sun Sentinel in October that he scours the world with creative teams in search of trendy cuisine, constantly adding fresh items. Along with Tomahawk maple-glazed pork chops and Cajun blackened steak, new menu additions will include sticky Korean ribs, spicy Calabrian pasta, an ahi tuna poke bowl and bourbon pecan pie. “These dishes are approachable, they check so many boxes, and they can be bold and addictive,” Diseko said. “This is really a restaurant for everyone’s palates.” The two-story Earls features two central bars and a rooftop indoor-outdoor patio and dining area adorned in what Diseko dubs “coastal reef colors.”

Fat Tuesday
220 SW Second St., Fort Lauderdale; 754-312-2182; FatTuesday.com

Simply not content to scoop up Spring Breakers at Fort Lauderdale beach, the revelry-heads over at Fat Tuesday have expanded their bar to Himmarshee Street. The clubby party palace, which debuted Feb. 22, is open until 4 a.m. daily and specializes in frozen fruity daiquiris and margaritas in branded souvenir cups, with concoctions bearing eyebrow-raising names like the Panty Dropper, Bloody Smurf and Cat 5 Hurricane. There are also a small handful of bar bites, including mozzarella sticks, boneless chicken wings and personal-size Buffalo chicken pizzas.

Sixty Vines
800 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; SixtyVines.com

Cabernet-infused burgers and many wines — 60 of them, in fact — are on tap at this Texas-raised chain, which debuted March 3 inside the former Cuba Libre space. CEO Jeff Carcara says the name refers to the number of wines on tap, a sustainable measure designed to reduce waste and evoke the experience of drinking straight from vineyard barrels. Expect communal-style seating for up to 280 guests in the 10,000-square-foot space, which has white-oak farmhouse tables, a second-floor mezzanine lounge and a menu leaning into items such as charcuterie boards, wood-grilled flank steak, and fried chicken. “These are meant to be unpretentious, pinkies-down sharing sessions,” Carcara, a former Broward County resident who worked at Seasons 52 and Mark’s Las Olas, told the Sun Sentinel in October. “There’s great value and memories in having shared-plates experiences. You throw some pizzas and charcuterie down, or a sliced-up pork chop, and you have a really good night.”

Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina
1000 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach; 561-665-4800; MichaelMina.net

The Delray Beach cut of Michael Mina’s steakhouse brand, which debuted March 3, marks the chef-restaurateur’s first foray into Palm Beach County. The new 6,000-square-foot restaurant within the just-overhauled Seagate Hotel & Spa is resplendent in gold and hunter-green accents, and being operated by executive chef Pablo Valencia (The Dalmar Fort Lauderdale, MAASS). The menu traffics in high-end excess: slow-poached Japanese A5 Wagyu, dry-aged or wood-fired steaks, Maine lobster pot pies and pastrami-spiced short rib — paired with rich dipping sauces. Black truffle mac and cheese and duck-fat french fries are also among the highlights.

Mistah Lee’s Smokin’ Good BBQ
8240 S. State Road 7, Suite 250, Boynton Beach; 561-617-3654; Facebook.com

It’s a good time to be pitmaster Lee Stransky, the owner and meat maestro who finally opened his first brick-and-mortar pit-stop on Feb. 17 at the Melrose Shoppes, a strip mall in West Boynton Beach nursery country. In March, Stransky’s roving food truck won “Best BBQ” in the Sun Sentinel’s Best of South Florida Dining series (readers’ choice), following recent wins at the St. Pete Bacon & BBQ Festival and The Red Meat Lovers Club Best Sandwich of South Florida cook-off. His new shop uses custom Gladiator smokers from Gator Pit of Texas to turn out 16-day, house-brined pastrami, beef brisket, chicken, beef and pork ribs. Also on the menu are four-cheese mac ‘n’ cheese, collard greens, Southern potato salad and cornbread slathered in Stransky’s “sticky” sauce.

Stage Kitchen & Bar
5377 Town Center Road, Suite 200, Boca