South Florida Restaurant Openings and Closings

Introduction to South Florida’s Vibrant Dining Scene

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NOW OPEN OR OPENING

Elysium Immersive Dining
3128 N. Federal Highway, Lighthouse Point; 754-444-4151; ElysiumImmersiveDining.com

Want video projections of Europe and Asia paired with your steak and wine? That’s the eye-catching novelty behind Elysium, which soft-opened on March 1 and is billed as a “unique, one of a kind dining experience” on its website. Picture a six-course omakase-style (chef’s choice) meal on a communal round table, where video projections of global landmarks and piped-in audio fill the room. Elysium, which takes over a former Legends Tavern & Grille space, comes from owner Telmo “Tommy” Pires and features themed menus that change frequently, mood-setting music and decorative props.

Fat Boyz Barbecue
706 S. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale; FatBoyzBarbecue.com

Fat Boyz is growing yet again — this time with its first location south of Fort Lauderdale’s New River, which soft-opened March 28 across the street from Phat Boy Sushi, roughly a half-mile north of barbecue stronghold Tom Jenkins BBQ. Pitmaster Jarael Holston-Jones announced his new ‘cue shack in a social-media post. Longtime Fat Boyz fans have watched his smoky empire of meats expand and shrink over the past decade, but this new location will join outposts in Deerfield Beach, Coral Springs and another in Fort Lauderdale. It specializes in dry-rubbed St. Louis spare ribs kissed with hickory and spice, Texas-style brisket, smoked lean pastrami and its Big Daddy sandwich, a combo of pulled pork, chopped brisket and mac ‘n’ cheese on a Kaiser roll.

New Restaurants in South Florida

Steak Shop by Rancher’s Reserve
500 Palm St., Unit 22, West Palm Beach; ranchersreservefl.com/steak-shop 

There’s a new boutique butcher shop/sandwicherie in town — and even the meats are hyperlocal. Its wood-fired burgers, chicken wings, Wagyu bratwurst, smash burgers, steak hoagies and steak pizzas all come from hormone- and antibiotic-free Akaushi cows and Berkshire pigs raised on a 100-acre pasture in Okeechobee called Rancher’s Reserve. That ranch’s owner, Nick Scalisi, also operates Fern in downtown West Palm Beach. The new Steak Shop soft-opened March 25.

Voodoo Brewing Co.
3492 NE 12th Ave., Oakland Park; 954-395-8179; www.VoodooBrewery.com

This Pennsylvania-born beer franchise is the latest to bewitch the drink-happy Oakland Park Culinary Arts District, whose cup runneth over with three breweries, a distillery, a meadery, an arcade bar and a wine bar. Voodoo threw its grand opening on April 15. The brewery operates 26 other locations nationwide, and Oakland Park joins four Florida franchises in Fort Myers, St. Petersburg, Jacksonville and Valrico. Brews include Lacto-Kooler (a Berliner Weisse), Good Vibes (a West Coast IPA) Empty Calories (American lager) and Where Our Secrets Go (an imperial stout), paired with a gastropub-style menu of burgers, chicken wings and mac ‘n’ cheese.

More New Openings

The Char Bar
1701 S. Federal Highway, Delray Beach; 561-431-5601; PepesPizzeria.com

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, the Connecticut-born apizza icon known for its char-blistered pies has debuted its first full-liquor bar to mark the brand’s 100th birthday, The Char Bar, which opened in early April inside the Delray Beach location, is the first bar in any Frank Pepe location and features cocktails inspired by the eatery’s century in business. They include the Wooster Sour, named after its original New Haven spot, and Maiori Spritz, a nod to founder Frank Pepe’s birthplace in Italy. There are also Old Fashioneds, wines, draft beers and daily happy hour specials.

Dave’s Hot Chicken
320 N. Congress Ave., Boynton Beach; DavesHotChicken.com

Can Usher, Samuel L. Jackson, Drake, Maria Shriver and Michael Strahan be wrong? Well, yes, they can, but they also happen to be the celebrity backers behind this mega-spicy chicken chain, which threw a grand opening on April 18 on North Congress Avenue. It’s the fifth South Florida cluck shack for Dave’s, joining outposts in Boca Raton (which opened in March), Pembroke Pines, Aventura and Miami, with a sixth expected to open later this summer in West Palm Beach. The California-based Dave’s touts tenders and tender-packed handhelds with seven spice levels, and the hottest — the Reaper — requires customers to sign a waiver before eating them.

CLOSED

Maxwell’s Plum
12300 S. Shore Blvd., Wellington; MaxwellsPlum.com

Owner Jenny “Oz” LeRoy was behind the reincarnation of this famed, flamboyant Manhattan singles bar that shuttered after three years on March 29. This is technically Maxwell’s second closing after Maxwell’s founder, Warner LeRoy, brought the original to New York’s Upper East Side from 1966 until 1988, courting celebrities from Barbra Streisand and Warren Beatty to President Donald Trump, who met his first wife, Ivana Zelníčková, there in 1976. The restaurant revival featured decorative callbacks to “The Wizard of Oz” (LeRoy’s grandfather, Mervyn LeRoy, produced the Hollywood classic) and a supper club-style menu of dry-aged N.Y. strips, chilled Maine lobster and oyster towers. Last June, the restaurant was plagued with multiple shutdowns by the state for roach-related and other issues.

Conclusion

The South Florida dining scene is constantly evolving, with new restaurants and bars opening and closing every month. From immersive dining experiences like Elysium to craft breweries like Voodoo Brewing Co., there’s always something new to try. Whether you’re in the mood for spicy chicken or a cold beer, there’s a spot in South Florida that’s sure to satisfy your cravings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are some new restaurants that have opened in South Florida?
A: Some new restaurants that have opened in South Florida include Elysium Immersive Dining, Fat Boyz Barbecue, Steak Shop by Rancher’s Reserve, Voodoo Brewing Co., and The Char Bar.
Q: What types of cuisine can I find in South Florida?
A: South Florida offers a wide range of cuisines, including barbecue, Italian, seafood, and Asian fusion.
Q: Are there any new breweries in South Florida?
A: Yes, Voodoo Brewing Co. is a new brewery that has opened in Oakland Park.
Q: What are some popular spots for spicy food in South Florida?
A: Dave’s Hot Chicken is a popular spot for spicy food in South Florida, with multiple locations throughout the region.
Q: Are there any new bars or cocktail lounges in South Florida?
A: Yes, The Char Bar is a new bar that has opened in Delray Beach, featuring cocktails inspired by Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana’s century in business.