When it comes to food, South Florida is a great place to be. So many new places open up every day. Below, find what’s coming soon to a city near you.
Filomena’s Bean Coffee, Fort Lauderdale
This two-year-old café in Davie’s Shenandoah Square is expanding into the former Dive Bar on State Road A1A on Galt Ocean Mile later this fall. Along with Americanos, espressos and other caffeinated drinks in fun configurations (such as s’more cappuccinos, honey-cinnamon lattes), the menu also features breakfast sandwiches, empanadas, wraps and salads. Filomena’s also stages live comedy, music, theater and dance nights. A third location of Filomena’s in Sunny Isles Beach is planned for 2023. 3233 N. Ocean Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; FilomenasBeanCoffee.com
Bacon Bitch, West Palm Beach
This provocatively named breakfast spot — and celebration of all things pork belly — is expanding, and plans to open its fifth location in mid-November on Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach. Owned by Joseph Natale and Peter J. Bolanis II, the restaurant debuted its flagship in 2017 at Miami Beach’s Essex House by Clevelander. It serves croissant breakfast sandwiches (“Main Bitch”), including the Juicy, with marinated flank steak, Swiss cheese, a fried egg, onions, peppers and chimichurri aioli. There are also breadless versions (“Naked Bitch”), side dishes (“Side Bitch”) and coffee (you guessed it: “Café Bitch”). The restaurant, which also serves frozen daiquiris, margaritas, beer and wine, has outposts in Miami’s Bayside Marketplace, Orlando andstalkSt. Petersburg. 330 Clematis St.; BaconBitch.com
Big Chicken, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach
NBA Hall-of-Famer Shaquille O’Neal is sending his Big Chicken franchise to Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, the first two of 45 fast-casual restaurants destined for the Sunshine State in 2022 and 2023. Big Chicken’s play for South Florida comes from a partnership between O’Neal and Davie-based DMD Ventures, owner of multiple local Papa Johns and Twin Peaks. Founded by O’Neal in 2018, and inspired by the favorite flavors of the former Miami Heat player’s childhood, the fast-casual eatery slings fried-chicken sandwiches such as the Big & Sloppy with mac and cheese and fried onions and the Shaq Attack with pepper jack, jalapeño slaw and spicy chipotle barbecue sauce. No addresses are yet available, but future outpost are planned for Miami, Tampa, Orlando and Fort Myers. BigChicken.com
Soba Asian Noodles, Fort Lauderdale
The fourth restaurant to occupy this storefront in as many years, Soba Asian Noodles is expected to debut in September in Fort Lauderdale’s Imperial Shopping Plaza. Soba is owned by Teera Jiriyasin, whose family also operates Tee-Jay Thai Sushi in Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors. The menu will include takoyaki (octopus), chicken bao buns, buckwheat soba noodles and other fast-casual dishes. The noodle house replaces Mr. Q Crab House (which closed this spring), Bufarella La Pizza Di Napoli (closed in 2020) and Hurricane BTW (2018). 5975 N. Federal Highway, No. 103, Fort Lauderdale; 954-595-2923; SobaAsianNoodles.com
Pummarola Pizzeria Napoletana, Fort Lauderdale
With any luck, this eighth location, in Fort Lauderdale, will open in about six months. The newest Pummarola Pizzeria Napoletana has to do a complete buildout, turning what was an attorney’s office into a restaurant. But the location — behind the Broward Center for the Performing Arts at the foot of the drawbridge on Avenue of the Arts — was irresistible to the four brothers who own the boutique chain of Pummarolas. Lorenzo, Alessandro, Adelchi and Larry Mele imported their grandmother’s original eatery from Naples to South Florida, where there are now locations in Boca Raton, Midtown Miami, Miami Beach, Kendall (in The Falls) and Coral Gables. There are also two Spanish locations, in Ibiza and Barcelona. The first thing that catches your eye when you go to a Pummarola Pizzeria Napoletana is the sawed-in-half Fiat 500 mounted on the wall, a nod to nonna Rosa Donna Rummo, who was known to tool around town in her red sportscar (which Neopolitans said looked like a tomato, or “pummarola” in the dialect of southern Italy). But once you get past that, “the ingredients are what really shine at Pummarola,” says Larry Mele. “They range from San Marzano tomatoes to imported [double 0] pizza flour, smoked buffalo mozzarella … [Protected Designation of Origin] Parma Prosciutto. These are just a few of examples of the premium products used.” 620 W Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; Pummarola.us
The Blind Monk, West Palm Beach
Wine bar and hip hotspot The Blind Monk will relocate from The Whitney condominium on Evernia Street to the chic soon-to-open AKA Hotel, also in vibey downtown West Palm Beach. As of now, the eight-story hotel is expected to open in November. The Blind Monk opened in 2010 under the auspices of former U.S. Marine Capt. Ben Lubin, who is also graduate of the French Culinary Institute and a certified sommelier. 695 S. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach; TheBlindMonk.com
Death by Pizza, Delray Beach
Koby Wexler’s popular pizza pop-up is expected to begin slinging Detroit-style pies this October out of a new brick-and-mortar in Delray Beach, on the corner of Northeast Second Street and South Federal Highway. Early in the pandemic, customers who saw Death By Pizza’s tantalizing rectangles (and death metal-reminiscent logo) on Instagram first had to prepay online, then wait all week for Wexler’s “pizza drops” the following Wednesday or Sunday. The foundation of his pizza crust is sourdough, created with a 9-month-old starter Wexler fed daily out of his family’s Two Fat Cookies bakery off Atlantic Avenue. The new space gives him breathing room – and gives customers freedom to eat pies on-site or order them to-go. Until it opens, Death by Pizza orders will be filled at Two Fat Cookies. 528 NE Second St., Delray Beach; Exploretock.com/DeathByPizza
Stalk & Spade, Coconut Creek
Touting plant-based, dairy-free comfort food, this Minnesota-made vegan chain plans to debut an outpost this fall inside the Promenade at Coconut Creek. Stalk’s 1,800-square-foot space, behind World of Beer, will offer six meatless hamburgers, so-called “chick’n” sandwiches and nuggets, fries, wraps and oat milk shakes. It’s one of five new South Florida locations for Stalk, with others scheduled in Plantation and Miami later this fall. 4437 Lyons Road, Suite E105, Coconut Creek; StalkandSpade.com
Mama Yatai, Davie
Replacing the Cantonese/Hong Kong style eatery Tasty Café in Davie, this Japanese restaurant registered to Ngoc Chau and Loc Nguyen plans to open later this fall. The space is inside the popular Carriage Hills Plaza (also known as Foodtown), a strip-mall fantasyland of Asian cuisine. Mama’s menu will features items such as yakitori (chicken on skewers), Japanese corn dogs and mochi doughnuts. 6477 Stirling Road, Davie; no website or phone number yet available
Fat Boyz Barbecue, Deerfield Beach
After shrinking his smoky empire from three brick-and-mortar locations to one during the pandemic, owner and pitmaster Jarael Holston-Jones is on the barbecue rebound. Fat Boyz is expected to debut its second storefront in mid-September inside the former Charlie’s Fish Fry & Seafood east of Federal Highway (next to Hillsboro Square plaza). The new pit-stop marks Holston-Jones’ homecoming to Deerfield Beach, where he closed his flagship — inside a trailer with a red caboose attached — pre-pandemic. His barbecue serves dry-rubbed St. Louis spare ribs kissed with hickory and spice, Texas-style brisket and smoked lean pastrami. His Fort Lauderdale outpost on Cypress Creek Road remains in operation, as does a food truck. 1200 E. Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach; FatBoyzBarbecue.com
Vinyl Fish Club, West Palm Beach
This new chic social hub doesn’t officially open until around October, but the venue has been hosting pop-ups — called “Motel No-Tell” — for the past six weeks as part of what the owners say is “a chef-driven culinary and sound experience.” These events are generally from 6 to 11 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays (reservations are recommended). Later on, when Vinyl Fish Club debuts this fall, the owners say it will be as “South Florida’s first NFT membership restaurant” (that’s Non-Fungible Token for the uninitiated). As a club member, you’d be investing in ownership via an NFT. As of right now, 17 NFTs have been sold, leaving 33 memberships available. The current price is $1,658.38 for a membership. Vinyl Fish Club is owned by Mykel Stevens (nightlife impresario), Uthman “Moose” Yamusenor (restaurateur) and Jaclyn Milford (founder of the Women of Wall Street organization). 340 Clematis St., West Palm Beach; VinylFishClub.com
Chow Won Korean Steakhouse, Fort Lauderdale
Replacing a former Outback Steakhouse in Imperial Point, this Korean steakhouse registered to George Yuan is expected to debut this fall. Chow Won is from the same owner as Chow One in Pembroke Pines, which serves all-you-can-eat, cook-it-yourself Korean dishes. Dining tables are equipped with heating plates, and customers cook one of 24 proteins, ranging from pork belly and Cajun shrimp to beef bulgogi and curry chicken. They’re paired with sides cooked to order from the kitchen, including ramen, egg custard and seafood pancakes. Future locations are planned for Plantation, Tallahassee and Pensacola, plus Alpharetta, Ga. 6201 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale; ChowOneKoreanSteakhouse.com
Mazza Kitchen, Fort Lauderdale
This fast-casual eatery from Faris Bushnaq, owner of the 15-year-old Mazza Mediterranean Cuisine in Pembroke Pines, is expected to open by mid-September in Fort Lauderdale’s 1600 Commons plaza (where Trader Joe’s is located). Customers will be able to choose from proteins, as well as vegetarian and vegan options, to build their bowls, pitas and salads. 1530 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale; 954-630-3777; MazzaKitchen.com
Portside Breakfast & Lunch, West Palm Beach
This daytime diner-style restaurant registered to Francis Cecere Jr. and sons Phillip, Matthew and Francis III is scheduled to debut in September in West Palm Beach’s Golden Lakes neighborhood. Along with breakfast combos with 8-ounce ribeyes and slow-roasted pork belly, the menu will feature french toast casserole and eight types of eggs benedict (salmon, Cajun shrimp). Lunch specials will include handhelds (shaved ribeye, Buffalo chicken), smash burgers and blue crab cakes. 8480 Okeechobee Blvd., Suite 7, West Palm Beach; 561-619-7172, PortsideOnline.com
Ramen Lab Eatery, West Boca Raton
This Japanese izakaya chain plans to open its fourth outpost sometime later this summer, in West Boca Raton’s Mission Bay Plaza, replacing the former Rotelli. The noodle house will sport a different design than its counterparts in east Boca Raton, Delray Beach and West Palm Beach, with underground Tokyo vibes and an expanded menu of stir-fry and Wagyu steak dishes, along with its usual tapas, donburi and build-your-own ramen bowls (chicken, pork, spicy lemongrass tom yum). 20449 State Road 7, Boca Raton; RamenLabEatery.com
Greek Guys Souvlaki, Fort Lauderdale
This fast-casual eatery is coming from Ted Dranias, a Montreal-based restaurateur. Greek Guys Souvlaki is going into the space vacated by Monster Subs, and Dranias says it will be Greek fast-food and meals-to-go. Think moussaka, pastichio and grilled souvlaki, as well as chicken and vegetarian brochettes. 1978 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
Harat’s Irish Pub, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
With just five out of its 38 menu items evoking the Emerald Isle, it’s probably best to describe Harat’s as a loosely Irish pub. (Think Twin Peaks but with shepherd’s pie.) Pub classics, instead, are far more common at this franchise run by Andrey and Dmitri Serebrianik and Yuri Denisenko, opening later this fall in the primo corner space at Commercial Boulevard and El Mar Drive, next door to Vinnie’s and Even Keel Fish Shack. Harat’s, a global franchise with many Eastern European locations — and one that opened on Hollywood’s Young Circle last spring — serves loaded fries, flatbread pizzas, burgers, Reuben sandwiches, and fish and chips. 100 Commercial Blvd., Lauderdale-by-the-Sea; Harats.com
El Camino Mezcal and Tequila Bar, Boca Raton
The fiesta’s on its way to Boca Raton’s planned Restaurant Row, where the popular Mexican restaurant chain is expected to debut its fourth location this winter. El Camino will offer indoor and outdoor seating, along with Mexican beers and handcrafted margaritas. Other locations are in Fort Lauderdale, Delray Beach and West Palm Beach. 5355 Town Center Road, Unit 4, Boca Raton; ElCaminoBocaRaton.com
Blackbird, Jupiter
Expected to debut in early fall, this restaurant has an impressive ownership team behind it: restaurateurs Scott Frielich (SubCulture Group) and Angelo Abbenante (Lynora’s) as well as nightlife maestro Cleve Mash (Pawn Shop, Clematis Social) and executive chef Tim Nickey (Komodo, China Grill, Joe Namath’s Lucky Shuck). Taking the space vacated by Shipwreck Bar & Grille, the two-story eatery will have a view of the Jupiter Lighthouse and the Loxahatchee River. The design — evoking 1940s-era Shanghai — will be by Kat Solomon, who worked side by side with Venus Williams at V Starr in West Palm Beach. The Pan-Asian cuisine will have menu dishes such as smoked salmon with everything bagel ragoons; Shanghai soup dumplings; sweet and sour pork with pineapple and dragon fruit; Australian Wagyu tomahawk with truffle ponzu butter sauce; and Szechuan ribs inside a smoke-infused glass dome that will be removed tableside. 1511 N. Old Dixie Highway, Jupiter; BlackbirdModernAsian.com
Down the Rabbit Hole, Delray Beach
When he planted his flagship Rabbit Hole in Pompano Beach last year, chef Samuel Woods crafted an all-vegan menu aimed squarely at meat-eaters. He created hot dogs, chicken wings, Korean-style meatballs and hamburgers without dairy or meat, but instead with plant-based ingredients that mimic their crunch and texture. His new sister restaurant, set to open this November in Delray Beach’s Pineapple Grove, is even curiouser. This part-restaurant, part-art event space will be a partnership with local historian Emmanuel George, serving plant-based wings and burgers alongside exhibits from local Black artists and pioneers. Many works will be sourced from nearby Delray Beach Historical Society, the Arts Warehouse, Spady Cultural Heritage Museum and Arts Garage, and the space will also host book clubs, poetry readings and film screenings. Rabbit Hole’s Pompano original will remain open. 311 NE Second Ave., Delray Beach; TheRabbitHole.Life
Just Pizza & Wing Co., Coral Springs
This Buffalo, N.Y.-born franchise is expected to open its first South Florida pizza-wing stop this September under local franchisee Noel Morreale. The eatery’s name, to be fair, sells short its sheer number of specialty configurations, such as the 3 Cheese Steak Pizza with a mozzarella-Swiss-white American blend atop thin-sliced sirloin steak, and wings with intriguing (bourbon whiskey, blackberry barbecue, Cajun honey) and scald-your-mouth-out flavors (“lethal hot” Buffalo style). 2359 N. University Drive, Coral Springs; 716-341-2744; JustPizzaUSA.com
South PMP Bar & Kitchen, Pompano Beach
If Jet Runway Café is owner Mike Linder’s love letter to aviation and YOT Bar & Kitchen is his mash note to the sea, then his newest restaurant, South PMP, is securely on terra firma. Linder’s Southern comfort food kitchen expects to debut in early 2023 in Pompano’s Old Town district, anchoring a wave of new restaurants and art spaces opening soon off the corner of Atlantic Boulevard and North Dixie Highway. 165 NE First Ave., Pompano Beach; SouthPMP.com
Anthony’s Runway 84, Fort Lauderdale
Back in May, Anthony’s Runway 84 closed its doors in preparation for a $3 million makeover. If everything goes right, the dining institution hopes to reopen in late October, just in time to commemorate its 40th anniversary. The vibe will have a modern Italian supper club feel. In addition to a new look, Runway 84 plans to unveil a revitalized menu, a new beverage program and the addition of a private dining room. Owner Anthony Bruno (Andy’s Live Fire Grill & Bar) has partnered with fellow restaurateurs Pat Marzano (ex-owner of Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza) and Marc Falsetto (Handcrafted Hospitality restaurant group). 330 W. State Road 84, Fort Lauderdale; 954-467-8484; Runway-84.com
Raising Cane’s, Royal Palm Beach
This national chicken chain, based in Baton Rouge, La., specializes in one thing: hand-battered tenders in several combo specials, from its three-finger deal to the Caniac Combo (six tenders with crinkle-cut fries, coleslaw and Texas toast). A Royal Palm Beach location should debut sometime this fall, followed by another in Pompano Beach, on the former site of steakhouse icon Bobby Rubino’s. 100 N. State Road 7, Royal Palm Beach; RaisingCanes.com
The Hen and The Hog, Boca Raton
This rustic greasy spoon with pig roasts every Friday, an all-day breakfast and pork-centric decorative signs (“Don’t go bacon my heart”) is plotting a second location later this summer, replacing the former Blue Ocean Poke in Boca Raton. The flagship sits on North Federal Highway in Pompano Beach. Operated by Yardlene Tabora and George Abbondante, The Hog serves smoked meat platters, sandwiches, burgers, bowls and salads. 2151 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton; 954-366-1572; TheHenHog.com
Flamingo Seafood, Pompano Beach
An abandoned Marathon gas station between the Intracoastal Waterway and an Umberto’s is being revived as Flamingo Seafood, a raw bar, wholesale market and seafood retailer scheduled to open later this summer. Owner Jamie Mattocks says the eatery will “serve sustainably caught, traceable, locally sourced seafood, as well as a selection of raw and cured fish, including oysters on the half shell, ceviche, crudo and assorted caviar.” 2798 E. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach; FlamingoSeafood.com
The House on the River, Fort Lauderdale
The historic River House will live again. That’s what restaurateur Steven D’Apuzzo of Society 8 Hospitality Group is saying about his plans to reopen the venue as The House on the River in late summer or early fall. Built in 1903, the landmark is the second-oldest building (behind the 1901 Stranahan House) in Fort Lauderdale and was originally the home of city fathers Tom and Reed Bryan. The city owns the property and has leased it to various restaurant brands over the years. Society 8 currently operates Sistrunk Marketplace & Brewery, Park & Ocean, and Wild Thyme Oceanside Eatery. 301 SW Third Ave., Fort Lauderdale; Society8.com
Lickie Stickie BBQ, Sunrise
Pitmaster Juliette Johnson’s popular Southern Caribbean food stand — and sellout brisket— is restaurant-bound. After setting up at farmers’ markets around Broward County every weekend for seven years, Johnson plans to open Lickie Stickie this summer, offering barbecue fixings all week long: spare ribs, salmon, chicken, cheesy grits, collard greens, and her homemade jerk and barbecue sauce. Her catering services will also continue. 7794 NW 44th St., Sunrise; 954-638-2324, LickieStickieBBQ.com
Tin Roof, Fort Lauderdale
This Nashville-spawned, music-minded, bar-food chain with a popular location on Delray’s glitzy Atlantic Avenue is moseying south to downtown Fort Lauderdale to open this fall inside the former Township bar, CEO Bob Franklin told the Sun Sentinel. Tin Roof will feature nightly live music acts and a menu nearly identical to that of its Delray Beach outpost: Nashville hot chicken, fried pickles, barbecue pulled pork quesadillas, burgers, mac ‘n’ cheese, and a suite of a la carte tacos. 219 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale; TinRoofBars.com
Fiolina Pasta House, Boca Raton
Michelin-star chef and restaurateur Fabio Trabocchi plans to debut his Pasta House in 2023 at the soon-to-open Restaurant Row in Boca Raton. The restaurant would occupy the venue’s largest space at 7,000 square feet and include a market, a walk-through pasta room and an open kitchen. Trabocchi, also a James Beard Award recipient, already has Fiola in Coral Gables. His Washington D.C.-based restaurant group includes Del Mar and Sfoglina Pasta House. 5355 Town Center Road, Boca Raton; FabioTrabocchi.com
Dave’s Hot Chicken, West Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens
This mega-spicy chicken chain backed by the star wattage of Drake, Samuel L. Jackson, Maria Shriver and Michael Strahan plans to open seven locations in Palm Beach and Martin countries over the next three years. (There’s currently one Florida outpost in Orlando.) No lease has yet been signed, but the first is expected to debut in West Palm Beach or Palm Beach Gardens in late 2022 or early 2023 under franchisees Blair Bitove (daughter of Toronto Raptors founder John Bitove) and barbecue veterans Rob Shawger and Matt Abdoo (Pig Beach BBQ in West Palm Beach). The Los Angeles-based Dave’s touts tenders with seven spice levels, and the hottest — the Reaper — requires customers to sign a waiver before eating them. DavesHotChicken.com
