Restaurant news: CVI.CHE 105 brings Peruvian fare to Boca; what’s going on with The Modern Rose?

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NOW OPEN OR OPENING 

CVI.CHE 105 Boca
6000 Glades Road, No. 1230, Boca Raton; 561-221-0940; ceviche105.squarespace.com 

Having debuted on Jan. 9, this eatery at Town Center at Boca Raton is the latest location — and the first in Palm Beach County — for this Peruvian restaurant brand. Founded by chef Juan Chipoco, it can be found throughout Miami-Dade County. Some signature dishes include Pulpo Grillado, Parihuela Amelcochada and Acevichado Roll. “This new location represents not just the growth of our brand but our commitment to sharing the vibrant Latin culture and authentic flavors that define CVI.CHE 105 across South Florida,” Chipoco said. “We look forward to being a part of the Boca Raton community and contributing to its thriving dining scene.”

Juici Patties
11735 City Hall Promenade, Miramar; 954-335-7379; juicipattiesusa.com 

This Jamaican fast-food chain is continuing its ambitious expansion into the U.S. market, starting with South Florida. This latest location opened Jan. 24, joining other Juici Patties already open in Hollywood, Lauderhill, Sunrise and Lauderdale Lakes. The menu includes signature beef, chicken and vegan-spinach patties, as well as coco bread, fried plantains, desserts and more. “The spicy beef patty with cheese is the most popular item in Florida so far,” CEO Daniel Chin told the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Estiatorio Milos
170 Lakeview Ave., West Palm Beach; 561-437-8889; EstiatorioMilos.com

This high-end outpost of chef Costas Spiliadis’ globetrotting Greek empire debuted on Feb. 7 within the city’s downtown One Flagler tower, with 299 seats spanning two floors. Its bar, showcasing rare Greek wines, is adorned in sumptuous Pentelikon marble, while the dining room has oak planks, earthy textured stones, custom banquettes and a grand staircase connecting both floors. “This new location feels like a natural progression of our journey,” said Spiliadis, who founded Milos in Montreal in 1979 and has since expanded all over, including Miami Beach, New York, London, Dubai, Athens and Singapore. “It’s about creating a place where people feel at home, enjoying authentic Greek flavors in a warm and welcoming setting.” An in-house fish “marketplace” offers Ossetra caviar, Florida Keys-caught stone crabs and other daily catches on crushed ice. Entrees include Athenian-style lobster linguine pasta, charcoal-broiled Mediterranean octopus, sesame-crusted bigeye tuna, and prime lamb chops.

Catch & Cut
1309 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-533-1838; catchandcut.com 

Chef André Bienvenu opened his own surf-and-turf eatery after 26 years of helming the kitchen at the iconic Joe’s Stone Crab in Miami Beach. Taking over the space that formerly housed The Balcony, the new 9,618-square-foot, two-story restaurant opened to the public on Jan. 21 and had a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 28. The menu focuses on seafood, premium stone crabs, sushi and USDA prime steaks. “The culinary direction, to me, is simplicity. It’s simple dining with a little upscale twist to it,” Bienvenu told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “We got some staple items, but then we’ve got some new items you’ve never seen before. But still, they’re very simple dishes.”

Eataliano Bakery & Wine Bar
99 SE Mizner Blvd., Suite 112, Boca Raton; 728-777-5163; eatalianobakery.com

Owners Fabio Trulli and Maida Tamma came to SoFlo from Bari, in Italy’s Puglia region, back in October, settling in Boca Raton with their four children. On Dec. 17, the couple opened Eataliano after teaming up with Simone Raccanello, formerly with the now-shuttered Via Vai Italian Deli & Wine Bar in Wilton Manors. The breakfast and lunch menu at Eataliano includes croissants, omelets, paninis, lasagna, salads and more, all celebrating the “bel paese,” or beautiful country, that is Italy. “Bel Paese is the key, or perhaps better, the spirit for what every Italian business that focuses on authenticity should have,” Raccanello said. “We want to offer a culinary experience as if they were in Italy to our customers, make them feel at home, through food, coffee, wine, music, our market, always with the smile and passion that every Italian who lives from this job can offer.”

Floza
6271 PGA Blvd., Unit 207, Palm Beach Gardens; 561-247-7928; flozacraftpizza.com 

This pizza palace at the Mirasol Walk shopping center opened Nov. 15 and is owned by local chefs Erwin Toribio and Eddie Sherwood, who have more than 30 years of combined experience. Sherwood began his culinary journey in Connecticut with The Max Restaurant Group, then relocated to South Florida to work at The Ben, Max Fish and The Cooper. Toribio started in New York City, honing skills at The Clocktower and Nix before becoming head chef at Grato in West Palm Beach. Floza’s menu highlights cooking with fire and revolves around wood-fired craft pizza and handmade pasta. “We named Floza as a playful nod to ‘Florida pizza,’ blending the vibrant spirit of Florida with the deliciousness of pizza,” Toribio said. “It captures the essence of vibrant flavors and laid-back lifestyle that define Florida, inviting everyone to enjoy a slice of paradise with every bite!”

Swizzle Rum Bar & Drinkery
4 W. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 786-459-4383, SwizzleRumBarDrinkery.com

If you’re not sure what to think about a speakeasy that calls itself a “drinkery,” we get it. But this Miami Beach-born, craft-cocktail haven does, in fact, have a dress code (“casual elegance,” per its website) and a mighty lineup of beverages, many paying homage to Caribbean rum. Swizzle comes from founder-bartender-author Danilo Božović, who won a gold medal at France’s Remy Martin Global Cocktail Competition 2018. His new, sleek downtown bar, which hosted its opening on Jan. 24, hash 60 seats indoors and 40 on the patio. Its cocktails span the exotic and the oddball, including the Vienna Strudel, with mascarpone cheese, apple caviar and cinnamon raisins, and the Tokyo Drift, a blend of Japanese shochu, mezcal and vermouth crowned with lychee-wasabi air bubbles. There are also Cuban sandwiches, wings, fries, burgers, steaks and pasta.

Mary Lou’s Palm Beach
250 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach; marylouspb.com 

This chic and sophisticated lounge had a Black Tie Surrealism Affair grand opening on Jan. 23 in the West Palm Beach space that once housed The Corner Store, aka Berto’s Bait and Tackle. Along with staging live entertainment, Mary Lou’s serves light fare with small bites (such as Pesto Burrata, Beet Carpaccio Salad, Fried Chicken Bites and more); big bites (including A5 Wagyu “Big Mac,” Crispy Octopus, Lady’s Purse Pasta) and desserts (Burnt Honey Ice Cream, Banana Crème Brûlée, Mini Angel Food Cake). There are also craft cocktails and wine.

Big Whiskey’s American Restaurant & Bar
4599 S. University Drive, Davie; BigWhiskeys.com

This Missouri sports-bar franchise devoted to wings, steaks and banks of flat-screen TVs hosted the grand opening of its first Florida location on Jan. 31, more than 16 months after announcing it. The 5,500-square-foot space on South University Drive replaces the former Crab-Holic. “You could say it’s another sports bar, but I think of it as more of a fun, energetic hangout, and that’s what sets it apart from sports bars like Duffy’s or Chili’s,” said franchisee Steve Swanson, who operates Walt’s American Grille & Bar in Boca Raton and once ran six South Florida IHOP franchises, says Big Whiskey’s serves 120 types of whiskey and bone-in wings with 14 sauces, along with salads, soups, New York strips, baby back ribs and seven handhelds from turkey gouda to Philly cheesesteak.

Duck Donuts
11051 Southern Blvd., Suite 200, Royal Palm Beach; 561-791-6464; DuckDonuts.com
This North Carolina-born franchise slinging fried-to-order doughnuts rolled into Royal Palm Beach in late January in the Southern Palm Crossing plaza. Childhood best friends Kevin Harris and Spencer Carpenter operate the shop, offering vanilla cake-based rings topped with glazes (blueberry, lemon, maple), toppings (chopped bacon, Oreo cookies) and drizzles (hot fudge, raspberry). Breakfast sandwiches, made with halved donuts, are equally decadent, as are its doughnut sundaes and milkshakes. The franchise’s other South Florida location is in Miramar; its eatery in Boca Raton closed last year.

Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza
7381 W. Boynton Beach Blvd., Suite 305, Boynton Beach; Mistero1.com

Renato Viola’s Miami Beach-born pizzeria, known for its cheesy octagons (star-shaped pies with pouches of ricotta in its points), has grown its empire yet again. Its latest bowed Dec. 10 in west Boynton Beach, joining outposts in Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines and Doral, among others. There are also locations in Texas. The pizzeria is so named for Viola’s O-1 visa, granted to individuals who show what the U.S. government sees as “extraordinary ability or achievement.” Neapolitan-style pies include the Star Luca, topped with spicy salami Calabrese, mozzarella, Italian tomato sauce and basil, and the Coffee Paolo, with gorgonzola blue cheese, honey and — yes — espresso.

The Modern Rose
142 SE Sixth Ave., Delray Beach; 561-266-3287; TheModernRose.com

This cozy, Yelp-blessed mini-chain from founder Emilio Dominguez and wife Jimena is fittingly flush with flowery thrift-store finds, from frilly carnation lampshades to plush rose-print chairs. The couple’s newest all-day bruncherie in Delray Beach debuted Jan. 4 a block south of Atlantic Avenue, with another new shop expected on Valentine’s Day in St. Augustine, per its website. The menu includes rose-iatto (rose-vanilla macchiato), mango-marinated shrimp on avocado toast with chopped spicy peanuts and a Boca Egg Sammie with vegan eggs and cheeses. Although one Rose has bloomed, however, three other locations — Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale and its Deerfield Beach flagship — may be wilting, after temporarily closing in early February due to “over-staffing” and heavy debt loads, the restaurant’s Instagram account posted on Feb. 3. Meanwhile, diners have reported seeing a Final Sheriff’s Notice sign taped to the Hollywood location’s front door.

Black Jack’s Rum Bar & Grille
3890 Davie Road, Davie; 954-314-7025; BlackJacksRumBar.com

This shipshape surf-and-turf hangout has dropped anchor on the ground floor of the Zona Village apartment complex on Davie Road, bringing with it burgers, steaks and a library of 200 rums rare enough to attract swashbucklers. The 200-seat pub comes from Ted Sabarese, the restaurateur behind the Drunken Taco chain and late Giovanni’s Coal Fire Pizza. The menu features churrasco skirt steak, fried whole snapper, Argentine choripanes (grilled chorizo on a roll), pork-belly chicharrones, a frita Cubana and ropa vieja.

Vampire Penguin
3908 Northlake Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens; VampirePenguin.com

What began as a snowy salute to Taiwanese shaved ice in 2013 has grown into a thriving franchise from ambitious founders and brothers Paolo and Leo San Luis. Now the sweet shop is taking another run at the South Florida market after a Fort Lauderdale franchise closed its coffin in 2023. The newest location comes from franchisees Troy and Darcey Wilkes, with a shaved-ice menu that includes strawberry cheesecake, tuxedo (chocolate, sliced almonds, strawberries, chocolate sauce) and Mexican candy (a twist on the mangonada with chili-and-lime tajin seasoning, chamoy sauce and tamarind).

Sirocco Mediterranean Restaurant & Lounge
170 N. Pointe Drive, Dania Beach; 754-837-3626; SiroccoMediterranean.com

The second location of owner Tarek Younes’ Lebanese sit-down had a soft-opening on Dec. 26 in the bustling Dania Pointe shopping complex, joining a Pembroke Pines flagship that opened in 2018. Along with weekly belly dancing, hookahs and a shawarma station, there are hot and cold mezze that includes makanek (flame-grilled Lebanese sausage in lemon-garlic sauce) and muhamara (red pepper paté with walnuts and pomegranate oil). Entrees include New Zealand lamb shank braised in tomato sauce over vermicelli rice pilaf and shish tawook (grilled chicken with garlic aioli).

OTHER RECENT OPENINGS

Michelangelo Pizza & Kitchen, 11419 W. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton; 561-916-1122; MichelangeloPizzaKitchen.com. Grand opening on Dec. 20.

Sushi House, 5818 Stirling Road, Hollywood; 305-692-0300; SushiHouseFlorida.com. Soft-opened on Jan. 13.

Cannoli Kitchen Pizza, 9180 Glades Road, Boca Raton; 561-872-4440; CannoliKitchen.com. Grand opening on Jan. 8.

Savia, 130 NE Second St., Boca Raton; 561-617-5424; Savia.us. Grand opening on Dec. 21.

Panda’s Hideout, 1440 10th St., Lake Park; 561-791-6605; PandasHideout.com. Grand opening on Dec. 20.

La Birra Bar, 1830 Main St., Weston; 786-979-2693; labirrabarusa.com. Grand opening on Jan. 17.

Milky Moo in Broward Mall, 8000 W. Broward Blvd., Plantation; milkymooshakes.com. Opened Jan. 12.

Volcano Hot Pot & Korean BBQ
2906 Oakwood Blvd., Hollywood; 954-534-7578; VolcanoKBBQHollywood.com

As the name implies, all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue fires up alongside Chinese hot pot at this restaurant that debuted inside Oakwood Plaza in December, replacing a Sweet Tomatoes location. After picking barbecue or hot pot — or both — diners begin by selecting a soup base (pork bone, miso, szechuan spicy, Thai curry, tomato), followed by a variety of proteins including beef bulgogi, spicy pork belly, “volcano” steak, short ribs, fish filets, fresh salmon, mussels and jumbo shrimp. Finally, they cook their meats on heating plates or boil them inside a covered pot of boiling broth. Volcano also serves bubble tea, soju, sake, white and red wines, craft cocktails and snow ice for dessert.

Nerea Seafood
1611 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale; 954-314-7384; NereaSeafood.com

This Guatemalan-born restaurant is serving up a twist on modern seafood since debuting Dec. 12, per its social media, in the space that formerly housed Spanish-Cuban eatery Cubano’s Restaurant. Nerea is registered to Graciela Navas and features a menu of ceviches and entrees such as green mussels, aguachile, shrimp tostadas, whole octopus, spaghetti frutti di mare and paella. There are also “Out of the Sea” items such as beef fajitas, picanha, entranha (marinated skirt steak), plus housemade coconut flan and tres leches for dessert.

Talkin’ Tacos
1619 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-419-4218; talkintacos.net

This fast-casual started out in 2020 as buzz-worthy food truck in Miami. Pals since attending West Broward High School in Pembroke Pines — Mohammad “Moe” Farraj and Omar Al-Massalkhi, both from Miramar — have gone from that mobile kitchen to 20 locations including, now, 15 in Florida. And there are seven confirmed locations throughout Florida in the works for 2025. The new 1,850-square-foot restaurant in Fort Lauderdale can seat 45 people and features Talkin’ Tacos’ signature authentic Halal Mexican cuisine with menu items such as Birria Tacos, Birria Ramen, Southwest Chicken Tacos, Street Corn in a Cup, churros, and homemade specialty drinks including horchatas and mangonadas. “We’re excited to expand our presence in Fort Lauderdale and share our love for authentic, bold Mexican flavors with this amazing community,” Farraj says.

Miraggio Italian Grill
3100 E. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach; 954-876-1066; miraggioitalian.com 

This waterfront restaurant and bar, which opened to the public on Dec. 1, has indoor/outdoor seating for 350 guests. For now it’s dinner-only, but in January the eatery expects to add lunch service. The menu includes pastas, meat, fish, lamb chops, wood-oven pizza and charcuterie/antipasto boards. Among the highlights: Mediterranean Mussels, Hand Rolled Meatballs, Buffalo Caprese Salad, filet mignon, Australian Lamb Chops and North Atlantic Salmon.

Līla Coastal Mediterranean
187 Tequesta Drive, Jupiter; 561-406-6509; lilajupiter.com 

Wife-and-husband Sunday and Vance Campbell have been in the restaurant and nightlife business for more than 20 years, managing numerous venues in Manhattan. Now here in SoFlo with Līla — which opened Dec. 2 — the dynamic duo is serving Mediterranean coastal cuisine. “So if you were sitting in a restaurant in St. Tropez or St. Barts, you would see a menu that resembles ours,” Vance Campbell says. “We are seafood-heavy with fresh crudo and ceviche dishes. Our most popular menu items would be the Lobster Pasta, the Hamachi Crudo, octopus and Grilled Lamb Chops.”

CLOSED

New York Grilled Cheese
493 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton; NewYorkGrilledCheese.com

This comfort-food staple known for majestic, belly-busting, panini-pressed waffle melts — picture rivers of mozzarella, Swiss and brie over caramelized onions, Applewood bacon and slow-roasted beef — shut its Boca Raton location in early December. The sandwicherie, across from Mizner Park, first opened in 2016 from founder Leor Barak as an offshoot of his Wilton Manors flagship. NYGC also featured waffle-less bowls, pizza- and poutine-topped french fries and “munchies” like bacon lollipops and tomato-basil bisque. Their Wilton Drive location remains open, and a Wynwood shop is expected to open later this year.

Rock & Brews
341 N. University Drive, Suite 1100, Plantation; RockandBrews.com

Among the earliest eateries to grace the buzzy Plantation Walk shopping complex, this beer-and-music pub chain became one of the plaza’s first food casualties when it closed Jan. 13, the restaurant confirmed on social media. The 8,000-square-foot scratch kitchen founded by Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, of KISS fame, featured two bars, “opening acts” like crispy calamari and chicken wings, and “headliners” including the Demon Chicken Sandwich, barbecue baby back ribs and craft hamburgers.

OTHER RECENT CLOSURES

Isla Pilipinas Cafe
1083 SE 17th St., Fort Lauderdale. Closed on Jan. 26.