One of Taylor Swift’s fave eateries opens in Fort Lauderdale

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Vitolo, Fort Lauderdale

Consideration, Swifties: The chef behind considered one of Taylor Swift’s reportedly favourite Manhattan eating places, Emilio’s Ballato, opened his first namesake Italian restaurant contained in the Conrad Fort Lauderdale Seashore on Nov. 28. With chef Anthony Vitolo’s eponymous eatery comes an outsize fame: His Soho restaurant is a star magnet, courting the likes of Blake Full of life, Sophie Turner, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Joe Jonas and President Barack Obama. That vibe — modernized New York-style crimson sauce joint — continues at Vitolo with dishes together with linguini alle vongole and housemade tagliatelle with a 72-hour bolognese of beef, veal and pork ragu. “I’ve designed the menu with signature beloved classics that evoke a mix of nostalgia and innovation in a single eating expertise,” Vitolo says in a press release, including that his components are sourced from a household farm in Sarno, Italy. There are entrees comparable to Vitello Antonio, a center-cut veal chop encrusted in Panko and lined in vodka sauce, candy peas, prosciutto and mozzarella; a handful of pizzas; and the Sala Arco, a cocktail bar evoking Florida’s Artwork Deco age the place liberations are crafted by mixologist Jarmel Doss. 551 N. Fort Lauderdale Seashore Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-414-5127; VitoloItalian.com

Campi at The Ray Resort, Delray Seashore

This new idea from restaurateur Curt Huegel opened in The Ray Resort on Nov. 15, taking the house that previously housed Ember Grill. Identified for Manhattan’s Campagnola, Invoice’s Townhouse, American Reduce and Scarpetta, Huegel additionally has Avalon Steak & Seafood in addition to Lulu’s Café & Cocktails in Delray Seashore’s eating and leisure enclave. “We’ve discovered a brand new culinary residence right here in Delray Seashore, with this being our third restaurant we’ll open within the downtown space,” Huegel says. “Coming to The Ray Resort was one thing of a no brainer for us, because the property itself exudes that vibrant, beachy-yet-modern really feel, an ideal match for what Campi is.” 233 NE Second Ave., Delray Seashore; 561-739-1700; therayhotel.com.

Saverio’s at Yacht Haven, Fort Lauderdale

Tucked away off Marina Mile at Yacht Haven Park and Marina on the New River is that this new Neapolitan-style pie store, which opened to the general public Nov. 12. The pizzeria is an offshoot of homeowners Emily and Saverio Cataldo’s A & S Italian Pork Retailer on the Lengthy Island hamlet of Massapequa, N.Y. The restaurant’s namesake is a licensed Neapolitan pie-maker (from Italy’s Associazione Pizzaiuoli Napoletani) who fires his 14 speciality pies at 600 levels for 3 minutes in an imported Castelli oven. Along with their signature margherita topped with San Marzano tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella and further virgin olive oil, the menu options Alina (fried eggplant and ricotta) and Pinsa, a “gluten-friendly” variant made with a mix of soy, rice, sourdough and zero-wheat flour. 2323 W. State Highway 84, Fort Lauderdale; 954-774-1090; SaveriosSouth.com

Carrot Specific, Fort Lauderdale

This South Florida-based, health-conscious eatery opened its twenty fourth fast-casual location on Nov. 10 in Las Olas Sq. at Truist Place. The idea is understood for a variety of salads, bowls, wraps, pressed juices and smoothies. Greatest-sellers embody: the LIV Wrap (grilled hen breast, avocado, quinoa, kale, jack cheese and basil pesto); Inexperienced Goddess Salad (child arugula, child spinach, kale, alfalfa, avocado, cucumber and toasted pumpkin seeds); Paradise Acai Bowl (Brazilian acai topped with do-it-yourself granola, strawberries, blueberries, banana, pineapple and uncooked coconut flakes) and the Veggie Burger (made in-house with mushrooms, brown rice, onions, black beans and corn). Based inside a fuel station on Alton Highway in South Seashore by Mario Laufer again in 1993, there are actually 22 places in South Florida and three in New York Metropolis. Subsequent up might be Hollywood someday in early 2024, in response to the corporate. 515 E. Las Olas Blvd., Suite 100, Fort Lauderdale; 954-440-7093; carrotexpress.com 

Ol’Days Farm To Desk, Fort Lauderdale

This restaurant-cafe created in Buenos Aires, Argentina, by two sisters has blossomed right into a U.S. mini-chain with outposts in Manhattan and Midtown Miami — and its newest debuted Nov. 27 on ritzy Las Olas Boulevard. Homeowners Martina and Juliana Fracchia gas their 92-seat, breakfast-lunch cafe with caffeine and childhood recipes. These embody Champ-Pancakes (oats, yogurt, mashed banana, coconut flakes, fruit and honey); a brioche Wagyu burger served with yuca; a Buddha Bowl with quinoa, adzuki beans, goji berries and cashews; and grass-fed brief ribs atop a mound of mashed potatoes and broccolini. The homeowners supply their espresso beans from Miami roaster María Esther Thome-López, and their all-day breakfast menu consists of mimosas, bellinis and sangria. 200 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; OlDaysCoffee.com

Discipline of Greens, West Palm Seashore

SoSo Cafe lasted a 12 months within the metropolis’s fashionable SoSo (South of Southern) neighborhood earlier than shuttering in April, however that informal healthy-eats spot now lives on in spirit with its alternative: Discipline of Greens. The brand new eatery, which was once referred to as Pixies on Dixie, can be health-focused and debuted on Oct. 30, in response to its web site. Not solely has former SoSo chef Cesar Brea been rehired at Discipline of Greens, however the brand new restaurant carries a couple of of its predecessor’s dishes, together with hen empanadas and a Mediterranean salad bowl. Additionally on the menu: herb-marinated hen sandwiches, acai bowls and chorizo tostadas for brunch. (Hess Musallet is the operator of three extra Discipline of Greens mini-chains in Palm Seashore, Wellington and North Palm Seashore, with a fourth opening quickly in downtown West Palm Seashore.) 4802 S. Dixie Freeway, West Palm Seashore; 561-429-5232; ILoveFOG.com

Nativus, Wellington Inexperienced

The newest addition to The Mall at Wellington Inexperienced, this wholesome fast-food chain is legendary for its Yuca Cheese Bread and Tropical Yogurt Smoothies. The model has sturdy Palm Seashore County connections: There’s one other location in West Palm Seashore, and the entire idea began as a small challenge on the West Palm Seashore GreenMarket in 2018. 10300 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington; 561-201-2188; nativus.wpengine.com 

Aunt Jenn’s Tea & Spice Store, Wilton Manors 

This tea emporium that started its life as a vendor on the Yellow Inexperienced Farmers Market has expanded into its second store, debuting in early November on the northern finish of The Drive. The cafe, registered to Jennifer Malone, presents natural and kosher-certified tea and spice blends, together with regionally brewed kombucha on faucet, seasonal lattes, honey-lavender matcha and one thing referred to as Unicorn Poop Bubble Tea, a whimsical concoction made with strawberry natural tea, strawberry bubbles, whipped cream and sprinkles. 2420 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors; 561-221-4737; AuntJenns.com 

QDOBA Mexican Eats, Pembroke Pines

This fast-casual chain has bold plans for South Florida — 30 franchise places coming to Palm Seashore, Broward and Miami-Dade counties over the following 10 years. There are greater than 730 places in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. However the South Florida franchise deal is the most important for the model identified for its burritos, bowls, tacos and quesadillas with no synthetic colours, excessive fructose corn syrup (aside from the sodas), lard, partially-hydrogenated oil and added MSG. On the helm of the franchise enlargement into SoFlo is Boca Raton snowbird Michael Guiffre. “QDOBA’s idea resonates with me on a number of ranges,” Guiffre says. “The recent, customizable menu aligns completely with my imaginative and prescient of offering a various vary of high-quality choices to the local people. I’m thrilled to convey QDOBA to Pembroke Pines and to extra communities all through Florida within the close to future.” 16040 Pines Blvd., Unite P102, Pembroke Pines; 754-283-8282; qdoba.com 

Livia Bar & Grill, Fort Lauderdale

This Southern Italian restaurant soft-opened Nov. 30 in Fort Lauderdale’s Flagler Village nabe, on the bottom ground of the Motif residence midrise. The 150-seat Livia, which is registered to Daniel Mendoza, serves seven types of Roman pizza (from spicy soppressata with orange fennel and sizzling honey to Adriatica with calamari, shrimp, bay scallops and lemon mint pesto), together with sandwiches, salads and entrees together with grilled swordfish, fennel pollen-dusted pork chops and hanger steak. There are additionally flat-screen TVs mounted for sports activities video games. 500 N. Andrews Ave., Unit 106, Fort Lauderdale; 954-306-3407; LiviaBarandGrill.com

Narbona, Boca Raton

Equal elements restaurant and market, Uruguay-based Narbona lastly soft-opened in mid-November inside The Retailers at Boca Middle strip mall, about 2 1/2 years after challenge chief Santiago Balduzzi introduced it was coming to South Florida. Narbona, which replaces the previous Joseph’s Basic Market, options avocado toast and pancakes for breakfast in addition to charcuterie boards, tapas, salads, sandwiches and Uruguayan-style pizza (thicker crust, sliced into squares), together with pastas, branzino and N.Y. strip steak. Its hooked up market presents wine, cheese, chilly cuts, pastas, olive oils, preserves, jellies, coffees and teas from Narbona’s Uruguayan farms and warehouses. 5250 City Middle Circle, Boca Raton; 561-692-3933; Narbona.com

Fiolina Pasta Home, Boca Raton

James Beard Award-winning chef Fabio Trabocchi is now considered one of us. Not solely has he opened Fiolina at Restaurant Row, however Trabocchi can be transferring his household to Boca Raton, the place he and his spouse first met. Fiolina occupies the venue’s largest house at 7,000 sq. toes and, along with the principle eating room, incorporates a lounge, pasta room, present kitchen (with counter eating), non-public eating room, outside terrace and an open Mozzarella Bar Kitchen (with charcuterie station and wine room). The eatery opened on Nov. 16. “Whereas memorable meals and distinctive service would be the core draw, Fiolina Pasta Home might be a lot, rather more,” Trabocchi says. “Will probably be the place the place you’ll at all times discover a sense of neighborhood, and on a regular basis life celebrations occur.” Trabocchi already has Fiola in Coral Gables, and his Washington, D.C.,-based restaurant group consists of Del Mar and Sfoglina Pasta Home. 5377 City Middle Highway, No. 300, Boca Raton; 561-473-9400; fiolinapasta.com 

Maggie McFly’s Native Craft Eatery & Bar, Boca Raton

We now have landing for this idea that flew into SoFlo out of Connecticut on Nov. 20. Celebrating its thirtieth anniversary with this primary foray into Florida, Maggie MacFly’s did a complete down-to-the-studs makeover of an area inside City Middle at Boca Raton mall (the place Rex Baron as soon as stood). The Maggie McFly’s menu has greater than 180 objects together with burgers, pizzas, sandwiches, avenue meals (tacos, gyros, sliders), pastas, hen dishes, salads, seafood, steaks and ribs, appetizers, snacks and desserts. “We’ll do seasonal specials that might be rather more centered on Florida and Boca, extra recent fish,” says founder and proprietor Ray Harper, a snowbird in Palm Seashore Gardens. The corporate additionally touts using regionally sourced merchandise, each within the kitchen and the bar. 6000 Glades Highway, Boca Raton; 561-418-6688; maggiemcflys.com 

Smith & Webster Restaurant and Bar, Coral Springs

The newish restaurant empire of Starex Smith, aka meals influencer-blogger “The Hungry Black Man,” has grown by one with this soulful American restaurant that opened Nov. 18 within the Turtle Crossing plaza at State Highway 7 and Wiles Highway. That is Smith & Webster’s first outpost after its flagship arrived in North Miami in Might 2022, and a partnership from Smith, retired Tremendous Bowl champion Kayvon Webster and pro-basketball participant Brandon Knight. (Smith and Knight additionally opened Southern eatery Brandon’s Bistro final March in Pembroke Pines.) The upscale sit-down, which replaces the Knight-owned Holy Hog Barbecue, serves entrees together with Hawaiian-seasoned, bone-in ribeye; Cajun hen pasta; braised oxtail lasagna with whipped lemon zest ricotta; 12-hour brined and smoked fire-grilled hen wings; miso-glazed Scottish salmon; and Ethiopian-spiced branzino. 4372 N. State Highway 7, Coral Springs; SmithxWebster.com

Hallyu Korean BBQ & Bar, Tamarac

At 10,000 sq. toes, this huge all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue home, which opened in November within the College Commons plaza, presents 60 tables (with built-in burners) and two karaoke rooms. It joins an already bustling Korean restaurant row on College Drive, full of grocery and barbecue joints comparable to Gabose, ROK and Manna Korean. Hallyu, registered to proprietor Ray Park, options barbecued proteins like bulgogi and pork stomach, in addition to kimchi jjigae (stew) and banchan (tiny aspect dishes). 6800 N. College Drive, Tamarac; 954-761-5227; HallyukBBQ.com

Emmy Squared Pizza, Fort Lauderdale

Positive, their first South Florida entry is maybe late to the native Detroit-style pattern, however this Brooklyn-born chain is hardly a shrine to only sq. pizza. The 98-seat pizzeria (70 indoor, 28 on the patio) in Victoria Park, which replaces the previous Spatch Peri-Peri Hen, additionally slings Grandma- and New York-style pies, half-pound hamburgers and craft cocktails, salads and spicy hen sandwiches. Nonetheless, the bestseller at Emmy, which debuted Nov. 24, stays the Detroit-style, a focaccia-like pizza with lacy cheese crust fired in an oblong tray. Different pies are named after Italian patron saints, together with “The Sopranos” character Artie Bucco (garlic confit cloves, caramelized onions, basil) and late VH1 “Mob Wives” persona Massive Ang (vodka sauce, ricotta, double pecorino, Italian sausage, banana peppers). Lastly, there’s the Le Massive Matt Burger, a half-pound double patty on a pretzel bun, plated with waffle-cut fries. A second location is deliberate in Coral Gables later this winter. 468 N. Federal Freeway, Fort Lauderdale; 754-296-0076; EmmySquaredPizza.com

A’Lu Mexican Delicacies, Boynton Seashore

Richard Charleston and government chef Wes Newson teamed up for this idea impressed by San Diego/Tijuana avenue tacos in addition to the traditional native delicacies of coastal Mexico. The grand opening was Nov. 24. With 82 seats inside and 116 exterior, the restaurant overlooks Quantum Lakes. “Whether or not you might be sitting inside or on the patio, your view is barely that of a serene lake surrounded by bushes,” says Charleston. “You simply overlook that you’re in South Florida and in the midst of Boynton Seashore.” 1080 Gateway Blvd. (within the Quantum City Middle), Boynton Seashore; alupalmbeach.com

Luka Restaurant, Plantation

This Latin eatery began out in Doral in 2020 and is now increasing into Broward County with a second location that debuted Oct. 9. The homeowners, Catalina Henao and Luis Villegas, mixed have greater than 20 years of gastronomic expertise. Their idea is a wide range of Latin flavors which might be a part of the combo in South Florida. Meaning there are appetizers comparable to Luka Guacamole served with chicharrón and ripe plantain in addition to grilled octopus tacos and Picanha tacos. The menu additionally consists of arepas, cachapas, burgers, salads and all kinds of grilled meats. There are additionally favorites such because the Lomo Saltado Bowl, the Paisa Bowl, the Latin Luka Burger (with grilled cheese, chicharrón, guacamole) and a latest addition, Contemporary Fish Ceviche. 244 S. College Drive, Plantation; 754-223-5332; LukaRestaurant.com/plantation 

Elevating Cane’s, Pompano Seashore

This fast-expanding nationwide hen chain from Baton Rouge, La., focuses on one factor: hand-battered tenders in a number of combo specials, from its three-finger deal to the Caniac Combo (six tenders with crinkle-cut fries, coleslaw and Texas toast). The Pompano Seashore location debuted Oct. 17, changing the previous steakhouse icon Bobby Rubino’s, and follows a blitz of spring and summer season openings of outposts in Boynton Seashore, Royal Palm Seashore, Port St. Lucie and Cutler Bay. 2501 N. Federal Freeway, Pompano Seashore; 754-260-3180; RaisingCanes.com

Whit’s Frozen Custard, Lighthouse Level

This Ohio-spun emporium for wealthy frozen custard scooped out its first Broward County outpost on Oct. 27 underneath franchisee John Khoury, in a storefront on the nook of Federal Freeway and Northeast forty ninth Avenue. The candy store, which already has places in Delray Seashore, Boca Raton, Wellington and Jupiter, serves its custard in cups, cake and waffle cones coated or blended with a selection of 40 toppings, and presents specialty flavors of the day, week and month, comparable to s’mores and white-chocolate caramel brownie. A future location is heading to Coral Springs. 4850 N. Federal Freeway, Lighthouse Level; 954-531-6950; WhitsCustard.com

Bagels & Co., Fort Lauderdale 

Philadelphia-based Glu Hospitality debuted the primary of two Florida outposts of its bagel-centric breakfast chain on Oct. 20 in downtown Fort Lauderdale, changing the revered neighborhood hang-out Hardy Park Bistro. The cafe (which features a patio) serves sizzling and iced coffees, lemonade, chai and matcha lattes, breakfast sandwiches in addition to lunch sandwiches together with turkey membership and cheesesteak. There are additionally 17 bagel flavors and a raft of 30 specialty cream cheese flavors, from bacon-cheddar to birthday cake. 21 SW Seventh St., Fort Lauderdale; 954-652-1475; TheBagelsandCo.com

Motown Pizza & Wings, Boynton Seashore

Detroit Eats, proprietor Mark Tocco’s Detroit-style pizzeria that closed final 12 months, has been reborn as Motown Pizza & Wings. The brand new pizzeria and sandwich store opened in October, changing a former Sbarro’s at a primo nook stall contained in the Boynton Seashore Mall’s meals courtroom. Motown, like its predecessor, focuses on Coney canine, pastrami sandwiches and sq., focaccia-like pies topped with blistering Wisconsin brick cheese and dollops of crimson tomato sauce. There are additionally chili-cheese fries, Angus beef burgers and salads. 801 N. Congress Ave., Boynton Seashore; 561-336-4378, or seek for them on Fb 

The Home, West Palm Seashore

How a lot membership are you able to deal with? The reply is a lot on the Home, a brand new seafood-driven kitchen the place clients nosh on lobster membership sandwiches on the patio whereas golfers swing golf equipment on the general public inexperienced. The restaurant, which overlooks The Park, West Palm Seashore’s revamped 192-acre municipal golf membership, opened to the general public in mid-October on city-owned land. Chef Jason Van Bomel (1000 North in Jupiter) is in command of the menu, which options small and huge plates, together with spiny lobster corn canine with Meyer lemon and Creole mustard aioli, clam and chorizo pizza, together with New York strip with crimson potato mash and chimichurri, crab desserts and a Florida snapper trio. 7301 Georgia Ave., West Palm Seashore; 561-530-3791; TheHouseWestPalm.com

CLOSED

The Blind Monk, West Palm Seashore

After warning clients for a 12 months a couple of pending transfer, wine bar and hip tapas hotspot The Blind Monk closed its Evernia Avenue location after 13 years on Dec. 2, forward of its imminent transfer to the stylish AKA Resort, additionally in vibey downtown West Palm Seashore. (For now, that eight-story, extended-stay AKA is predicted to open someday in mid-December.) The Blind Monk first debuted in 2010 underneath the auspices of former U.S. Marine Capt. Ben Lubin, who’s additionally a graduate of the French Culinary Institute and a licensed sommelier. The brand new location — triple the dimensions of its OG perch on Evernia — lets Blind Monk leap from wine bar to bistro, and provides new lined terrace seating on the patio. The brand new menu, nonetheless not finalized, will start with dinner, adopted by breakfast and lunch subsequent 12 months. 410 Evernia Avenue, No. 107, West Palm Seashore; TheBlindMonk.com