Taste of the Island returns on Monday, Nov. 14. The highly anticipated event sells out every year and features dozens of the top restaurants and food purveyors from Wilton Manors and the surrounding area offering samples of the delicious bites and sumptuous sips.
It’s all held under the stars at beautiful Richardson Historic Park & Nature Preserve right on Wilton Drive, with plenty of parking available at nearby Hagen Park. Entertainment will be provided by The Synergy Twins. A limited number of tickets are available making this a very exclusive gastronomical extravaganza. Tickets are available at tasteoftheisland.org.
Dining deals coming to an end. Every summer dine-out promotions, tempt with deals at both high-end and casual restaurants. These promotions are designed to prop up sluggish restaurant sales. During the summer months when snowbirds have flown the coop. Some of the deals have already passed, but a few continue until the end of this month. Flavor Palm Beach features 64 eateries. Downtown Delray Beach Restaurant Month touts 59 participating establishments. Dine Out Lauderdale dishes up 57 restaurants with multi-course lunches and dinners and Miami Spice boasts a whopping 262 high-end restaurants, including some recently awarded Michelin stars. Best to check them now before the calendar catches up with you.
After sitting empty for nearly three years, Timpano Chop House reopened in August after a massive renovation. Rebranded Timpano Las Olas, it’s all very high-end. Signature entrees include an 8-ounce Westholme Wagyu hanger steak for $65, veal chop Parmesan ($58), and Siberian caviar ($45 for 14 grams). Two-person meals include Uni Alfredo, with house-made fettucine, pecorino Romano, and uni (sea urchin roe) for $65, a 32-ounce tomahawk steak with fennel pollen, charred lemon, roasted garlic, and rosemary ($155); and a 48-ounce porterhouse cut ($175).
Opening this month, Greek Guys Souvlaki will be the second South Florida restaurant from Ted Dranias, who is also opening a Greek Taverna next door to the storied Gateway Cinema in the space formerly occupied by Mod. Greek Guys Souvlaki, is going into the space vacated by Monster Subs on Sunrise. It will offer Greek fast food and meals-to-go.
Harat’s Irish Pub has opened in Lauderdale-by-the Sea. It is part of a European franchise owned by Andrey and Dmitri Serebrianik and Yuri Denisenko (all good Irish names). The global franchise with many Eastern European locations will take over the space next door to Vinnie’s and Even Keel Fish Shack.
Chow Won Korean Steakhouse has moved into the space formerly occupied by Outback Steakhouse in Imperial Point. The Korean steakhouse is from George Yuan, the owner of Chow One in Pembroke Pines. It is planned to be the first of a chain of Korean steakhouses.
Well, that was quick! Moréa, the Mediterranean fine-dining restaurant in the Paramount condominium on Fort Lauderdale beach closed seven months after opening. Owned by LM Restaurants (the same folks behind Oceanic in Pompano Beach), the owners gave no reason for shuttering the place so quickly, although it’s rumored the space already has a new tenant.
You know those warnings on menus about eating raw seafood? There’s a reason for them. About a week after dining on raw oysters at Rustic Inn Crabhouse, Roger “Rocky” Pinckney died, after it was found he tested positive for vibrio vulnificus, a pathogenic bacterium. Before passing he underwent a week of emergency surgeries and a double amputation.
Taste of the Island Participating Restaurants
(As of our deadline, more are expected to sign up)
Another Perfect Party
Bahama Breeze
Black Rock Bar & Grill
Bolay Fresh Kitchen
Bravo Peruvian Cuisine
Buoy One Seafood Restaurant & Market
Burgers & Beer
Caruso Italian Market
Casa Monarca Mexican
Delacaseas Café & Catering
Dolce Salato Pizza & Gelato
El Guanaco Taqueria Y Antojitos
Funky Buddha Kitchen
Huey Magoo’s Chicken Tenders
Inika Foods
Kelly’s Landing
La Mexicana Taco Bar
Lasso Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse
Mamma Mia Italian Bistro
Montego Bay Grille
Noodle Station
Palmyra Lounge
Papa Duke’s Deli
Pink Donuts
Pots & Pans
Rendez-Vous Bakery & Bistro
Rossini Italian Bistro & Bar
Sicilian Oven
Smile Empanadas
Union Kitchen & Bar
Wilton Dough
Zona Fresca
Confirmed Libations
Brewlihan Mead Company
Captiva Spirits
Funky Buddha
Gulf Stream brewery
The Best Cellar
Tito’s Vodka
Wilton Liquor
Rick Karlin is SFGN’s food editor. Visit SFGN.com/Food to read his previous reviews. Have a culinary tip to share? Email Rick at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
