Palm Beach Gardens locals enjoy golf and good food.
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, is known for its quiet gated communities, MacArthur Beach State Park and passion for the game of golf. The Professional Golfer's Association of America (PGA) is headquartered in this city that is home to 17 golf courses. The city has hosted several PGA tournaments as well as the Honda Classic, where participants and spectators ended the day by relaxing over dinner and cocktails at some of Palm Beach Gardens' best restaurants. Does this Spark an idea?
Cafe Chardonnay
Its strip mall location and nondescript façade belie the upscale dining room that awaits guests of Café Chardonnay. Neutral tones, floor-to-ceiling windows, exposed brick walls and strategically placed lighting lend a sophisticated elegance to the room. No newcomer to the culinary scene in Palm Beach County, Café Chardonnay has been serving new American cuisine since 1986. Zagat, who awarded the restaurant a food rating of 25 out of 30, says that it is "still living up to its fabulous reputation." An extensive wine list complements the food, with many selections available by the glass and half bottle.
The concise menu features a selection of appetizers, salads and beef, seafood, lamb, veal and poultry main dishes. Daily specials reflect the freshest available seasonal ingredients. Popular dishes include the herb and dijon-crusted rack of lamb with goat cheese mashed potatoes and lamb jus and the hand-cut fettuccine with Maine lobster and diver scallops in a truffle-Parmesan cream. Reservations are strongly recommended.
Café Chardonnay
4533 PGA Blvd.
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
561-627-2662
cafechardonnay.com
Spoto's Oyster Bar
When Palm Beach Gardens locals want fresh seafood, they head to Spoto's. Diners can choose to sit at the marble-topped oyster bar, the cocktail bar or one of the dining room's intimate booths. An outdoor patio is also available for al fresco dining or casual cocktails. The Sun-Sentinel calls the Asian-inspired atmosphere "warm and welcoming," offering a dining experience that is "relaxing and tranquil."
The raw bar features oysters on the half shell served 14 ways, as well as clams and crab on small plates or platters big enough for sharing. Appetizers, salads, sandwiches and soups are also available, as well as seafood, beef, pork, poultry and pasta entrees. Popular oyster preparations include the oysters Rockefeller with spinach, fennel and pernod, the pan-fried oysters with a lemon aioli and the oyster shooter with Tabasco, horseradish and cocktail sauce. Reservations are suggested.
Spoto's Oyster Bar
4560 PGA Blvd.
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
561-776-9448
spotosoysterbar.com
The River House Restaurant
The River House offers two floors of casual-chic dining with panoramic water views. The dining rooms feature dark wood tones, oversized wrap-around windows, an open kitchen and expansive gourmet salad bar. Boat dockage is available for those arriving via water. An outdoor patio and tiki bar are available to enjoy a simple cocktail and light nosh. The restaurant's extensive wine list with more than 125 selections has earned it the Wine Spectator's "Award of Excellence" year after year.
Fresh seafood and char-grilled steaks and chops dominate the menu that also offers appetizers, soups, salads and sides. Popular dishes include the South African rock lobster tail with prime sirloin steak, the wood-grilled swordfish and the 24-ounce Porterhouse steak. Reservations are available for the upstairs dining room on the weekends only.
The River House Restaurant
2373 PGA Blvd.
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
561-694-1188
riverhouserestaurant.com
Tags: Palm Beach, Beach Gardens, Palm Beach Gardens, Blvd Palm, Blvd Palm Beach