Page 14 - Boca Exposure - September '21

Page 14, Boca Exposure
Dining Out: Nothing More American

Than Opening A New Restaurant Now!

By Alan Serinsky of Bocaire the best crab cake in town,” keep it simple with Calamari As for Hungry Al (that’s me), I selected the “Salmon-on-
Country Club. Hungry Al’s love or their version of a Flatbread. the-plate” ($28) with hopes of a perfectly cooked medium-
for food started very young. Hungry D kept it simple with a basic “how can you mess translucent interior. Sadly, this was not my lucky night.
Never satisfied with his Mom’s it up” Pesto Flatbread. Unfortunately, it fell flat in both crust Normally, I can tolerate a salmon slightly overcooked, but
dishes, he started to cook his and flavor. I would prefer that a flatbread consist of a thin tonight I reluctantly sent this swimmer back upstream to
way through her “Betty Crocker pizza, rather than a cracker. In this case, the chicken was the kitchen for another lap.
Cookbook.” During the years diced so fine (almost minced) that it was hard to decipher in This situation can result in a two-fold outcome. First,
to follow he spent many hours the “I-wanna-be-pesto sauce.” It lacked the taste and punch you must sit idly at your table as your fellow diners
working in restaurants, both as server and cook, attending of fresh basil with pine nuts, and seemed more like an aioli. piecemeal a token portion of their plate, so you don’t seem
cooking classes and traveling the world in an effort to expand For a nice salad, I would recommend the Roasted hungry or bored waiting for your second round. Or, as in
his palette. As a professional writer, Hungry Al offers his Beets and Goat Cheese. You’ve got to like the sweetness most cases, Walt might decide to rush the cooking time so
perspective on current food trends and guides you through of the beets as it offsets the acidity of the Dijon mustard as not to delay its re-entry to the finger-twirling patron who
your local restaurant options. vinaigrette, which drapes the freshness of arugula salad. simply wants to eat dinner with his company. Unfortunately,
I would make note that many of the appetizers, salads, the second slice of salmon took this shortcut to the table
Walt’s American Grill & Bar and flatbreads start out of the gate at $16 and cross the and left Hungry Al … hungry.
Village Pointe Shopping Center finish line at $22. Walt must believe our wallets are full
6030 S.W. 18th Street from sitting idle at home this past year and a half. From the dessert tray: We gave a pass on dessert this
Boca Raton, FL 33433 evening, but for those interested Walt offers four basic
(561) 961-4767 Straight from the kitchen: Where in the world is American choices. Fork into a two-layer chocolate cake, a
Walt? I ask this question because it seemed right from the New York cheesecake, a banana custard pie or a bourbon
Food for thought: When it comes to new restaurants start that no one was watching the “pass.” This is the point bread pudding … each at $8 a slice. Let me know if Walt
in Boca Raton it’s not easy, and especially courageous where the dish sits right after plating with garnish, and has any baking skills!
following a pandemic. Now that the green light is shining upon delivery to the waitstaff. Tip: Watch Gordon Ramsey
bright and everyone is rushing back to their dining out in Hell’s Kitchen and you’ll learn that you could live or die Check please: Even though Walt’s American Grill &
norms, it’s important to capture the curious crowds. So, at the pivotal moment. Bar might be reminiscent of J. Alexander’s or Houston’s,
getting off the starting blocks fast is essential. Just as I have to assume that Walt is no Gordon Ramsey. But it doesn’t come with the expected prime cut of meats,
important is delivering what Boca eaters demand: quality neither am I. What I do know is that it’s vital that someone sustainable fish, locally-sourced vegetables, or a pastry
food, fair portions, and service fit for royalty. with the knowledge or understanding of proper plating and chef out back. As for the service, it was minimal and
Basically, Walt has his work cut out for himself! temperature control work this counter before delivery. At inexperienced. Then again, the post-COVID help shortage
Especially if Walt is not the chef. our table we witnessed too many inconsistencies. doesn’t help.
Walt also has to know that food quality reigns supreme Hungry J, who was dealing with a tooth extraction from I do have to thank Walt for accommodating my salmon
with most diners. Everything comes down to quality the early morning hours, kept it easy on his jaws with a misfortune with a credit on the check, but Hungry Al’s
ingredients, proper food temperature, plate presentation, very ordinary Lemon and Rosemary Half Chicken ($24). dinner of a baked potato doesn’t seem to compensate for
and prompt delivery to the table. I self-labeled this dish “chicken on a plate.” Even though the lower bill total.
Is Walt up to this monumental task? Let’s see … this free-range rotisserie chicken was moist, the plating With all the missed hits, I might have to return and
was bare of anything that went along with the described hope it was a bad night, or simply beginning kinks in the
First impressions: For those of you who have been in dish. Outside the two stalks of asparagus there was nothing. kitchen. I really want Walt to succeed. With too many
these sticks-of-the-woods before, you will remember this Obviously, someone forgot the baked potato or even a twig restaurant closings in the past 18 months, we should
location as being the former Outback Steakhouse. Well, it of rosemary. Could that someone be … Walt? all welcome Walt’s with our
has now made the kangaroo leap to become another Boca Hungry M is a devoted meat eater and I wasn’t newfound appetites.
contemporary restaurant. Inside you will find tiled floors, surprised with her choice of the Strip Steak ($39). I’m So, to be a good American
black and white everything, the bling appointed lighting sure Hungry M sets her bar very high as a loyal attendee I’m going to give Walt two
and the ever so popular inside/outside bar. at Abe & Louie’s. So, her review of the steak was not patriotic flags for food, and one
The one thing Walt forgot was to take into consideration earth-shattering as this cut of meat didn’t win any red ribbon to salute his outstanding
the acoustics. If you don’t like to eat at concert level ribbons at the meat auction. Then again, 12 ounces at restaurant décor!
decibels, I highly recommend that you sit at the tables or $39 should have been the first clue.
booths on the east side of the restaurant.

Prime your taste buds: Walt has tried to mix things Council Corner:
up – some predictable, some inventive. You can go trendy
with the common Bangin’ Shrimp, the traditional “I have
So Much To See And Do ... And Enjoy!

By Monica Mayotte, who or want to learn more about our community garden,
Captain’s was established in 1980 servicing was re-elected to another please visit www.jlbr.org/community-garden/ for more
Palm Beach County and is a privately term on the Raton City information.
owned and managed company. Council, and who is CRA The City of Boca Raton has two extraordinary
Captain’s is committed to providing Chair. Ms. Mayotte has events happening this fall. The first is the Boca
dependable, reliable and professional been a resident of Boca Raton Museum of Art World Premier exhibition titled
ground transportation to and from all
South Florida Airports and Seaports. PBCVH212 Raton for more than “Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru,”
To reserve your vehicle: 20 years, active in the which opens Oct. 16. To read more about this fully
561-798-2180 or 800-634-7890 www.captainsairport.com community both in our immersive exhibition and purchase your tickets, please
local schools and as a city visit https://bocamuseum.org/golden.
advisory board member. The Boca Raton Historical Society is also
Southern Exposure Technologies I hope everyone’s celebrating an exciting milestone. The Old Town
Computer Install/Setup/Repair summer is going well. I implore everyone to do what Hall has been undergoing restorative repairs during
2020/21 and will be reopening to the public with its
is necessary to keep themselves, their family, friends
(561) 315-0144 and community safe from the surging COVID-19 new “History Alive!” installation. Come learn the
getsetgo.annie@gmail.com delta variant. Please remember to wear your mask and history of Boca Raton, including Boca’s relevance to
* DSL, Broadband,Wireless Install keep socially distanced in indoor spaces, regardless of World War II, the creation of the IBM PC, and Addison
* Networking, Troubleshooting vaccine status. Let’s all work together to get through Mizner’s architectural significance in our city. All of
* Instruction to the end of the virus, so our local businesses can this is scheduled to reopen Fall 2021. I hope to see
* Hardware/Software Installation stay open, our schoolchildren can learn safely and our you there.
* Virus/Spyware/Adware Fix community can get back to some sense of normalcy. Our city council meetings are back to being held
* Cleanup/Maintenance/Backup
* Business Consult/Startup/Move The Boca Raton Brightline train station has had in person at the 6500 Congress Avenue building. The
* Website Design/Maintenance some forward momentum in the past few weeks. The auditorium in this building allows for more social
Call S.E.T. to install your “new computer, printer Brightline trains can be seen doing test runs on the distancing than our city council chambers in City Hall.
and wireless network”! track right now. Their service between West Palm Please join us at any of our upcoming meetings:
GET S.E.T. GO! Beach and Miami will resume on their regular schedule Sept. 22, 6 p.m. – Final Budget Hearing
REASONABLE HOURLY, WEEKLY, MONTHLY RATES in November 2021. One of the first items that needed Sept. 27, 1:30 p.m. – CRA/Workshop Meetings
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES FOR AS LOW AS $50.00 AN HOUR, to be addressed before work on the Boca Raton station Sept. 28, 6 p.m. – City Council Meeting
WITH A MINIMUM OF 6 HOURS A MONTH, could get underway was moving our community Oct. 12, 1:30 p.m. – CRA/Workshop Meetings
OR 2 HOURS A WEEK, OR ON AN AS-NEEDED
BASIS RATE OF $75.00 P/HOUR. garden. The garden has successfully moved to across Oct. 13, 6 p.m. – City Council Meeting
START YOUR NEW YEAR WITH SECURE BACKUPS, from Meadows Park, adjacent to Boca Raton Middle As always, I can be reached at mmayotte@myboca.
QUALITY MAINTENANCE, ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND School. I’d like to thank both Brightline and the Boca us. Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns
PERSONABLE ON-SITE SUPPORT! Raton Junior League for making this happen. If you are you may have regarding the City of Boca Raton.
(561) 315-0144
CALL S.E.T. TODAY FOR YOUR COMPUTER NEEDS! interested in leasing a plot in the community garden,