Jan Norris100+ restaurants are participating in Flavor South Florida deals starting Tuesday.
Just when the wallets of local diners are worn down to the leather, relief comes in the form of Flavor South Florida.
The monthlong dining event encompassing Palm Beach and Martin counties returns Tuesday. It promotes restaurant deals at more than 100 restaurants, specialty food shops and quick-serve spots — many high-end.
Restaurants from Boca Raton to Jensen Beach are participating, with established and new restaurants in the Flavor South Florida program. Cuisines featured are international and American: Mediterranean, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Greek, and chophouses, grills and seafood restaurants.
Prices range from $44 to $87 per person for a three-course dinner, $30 to $55 for three-course lunches, and include old and new restaurants. Many are for high-tier restaurants that diners might not frequent, and include appetizers or desserts that some diners skip.
Slowest month for restaurants
Before you think it’s just for the diners, consider that September is the slowest month for all hospitality in the state. Restaurants offer deals to fill seats.
Tourism is at a low, kids are back to school, and traveling and dining out aren’t a priority, so hotels and restaurants put marketing into high gear.
To get diners into seats, entice them to try a new-to-them restaurant, and get them back later, owners offer special three-course menus for a set price.
Some of the prices and what you get
Flavor South Florida created the format 19 years ago as Flavor Palm Beach. Diners can search the Flavor website to find participating restaurants, view menus and make reservations. A filter allows searchers to find restaurants by location, cuisine or view the menus offered.
Through the program, diners can eat at award-winning restaurants and with chefs who’ve also earned accolades.
Dine with chef Jeremy Ford at PGA National’s The Butcher’s Club, and you’re dining with a Michelin-starred chef.
Try Ela Curry Kitchen in Palm Beach Gardens — it’s a Michelin-recommended restaurant.
New restaurants on the list include Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, which opened this year in Palm Beach Gardens, and the mod-American, Man Ray from the Subculture group in Lake Worth Beach.
Established favorites in Palm Beach Gardens, such as the Capital Grille, Cafe Chardonnay and La Masseria as well as Aquasan in Juno Beach, offer Flavor menus.
Haven’t been to The Melting Pot in a while? This quirky cook-your-own spot in Palm Beach Gardens is participating.
A number of waterfront restaurants are on the list, including Seahawk Prime, overlooking the marina in Lake Park, and serving lunch and dinner Flavor menus; Latitudes in the beachfront Jupiter Beach Resort; or ONA Coastal Cuisine in the Marriott on Singer Island with oceanfront views.
Most of the menus offer three choices for their first and second courses, but Il Professore in Tequesta offers several more dishes to choose from.
Take a trip to visit Kyle’s Seafood on Hutchinson Island or visit one of the oldest restaurants on the list, the casual Conchy Joe’s in Jensen Beach (go for their shrimp cake).
Oceano Kitchen in Lake Worth Beach is a James Beard Award-nominated restaurant, noted for Jeremy Bearman’s creative dishes.
Restaurants are still being added and menus updated. All the information about Flavor South Florida is online at flavorsouthflorida.com.
What to do before you go
Check out the restaurants, cuisines and menus online before you go. Be aware of limitations on menus; many will not offer substitutions for these specials. Most offer a vegetarian option along with their regular fare.
Many are dinner-only menus; lunch or other specials are listed separately if available. Some have a set time the menus are offered — usually 5-7 pm.
Reservations are booked online for the Flavor menus and are almost always required because the restaurants will book limited numbers of tables for the Flavor diners per service. This is most important on weekend nights.
Without a reservation, as a walk-in, you will need to ask for the Flavor South Florida menu; it’s not guaranteed.
Restaurants do not combine their specials menu with any other deals. All offer their regular menus, however, at regular pricing.
A prix fixe menu is for one diner only.
Tax, tip and alcohol are not included. Many restaurants offer wine or a special cocktail for an additional price. A few charge extra for desserts.
Participating restaurants in north, central county
Palm Beach Gardens
La Masseria
Cool’a Fish Bar
Honeybelle
The Butcher’s Club
Ela Curry and Cocktails
Cafe Chardonnay
Spoto’s Fish and Oyster Bar
The Melting Pot
Seasons 52
Stage Kitchen and Bar
Sushi by Bou
The Capital Grille
Red Phoenix
Limoncello
Seahawk Prime
Juno Beach
Aquasan
Kee Grill
North Palm Beach
Barcello
The Clubhouse at North Palm Beach Country Club
DeSano Pizzeria Napoletana
Jupiter
1000 North
ARA
Blackbird
Latitudes
Lucky Shuck
The Beacon
REM Bar
Tavolena
The Twisted Tuna
The Woods
Singer Island
Ocean Ave. Bar and Kitchen
TULA
Ayre by Karma
Buccaneer Waterfront Bar & Grill
Caretta Caretta
ONA Coastal Cuisine
Tequesta
LILA Coastal Cuisine
Il Professore Italian
West Palm Beach
Cafe Med
Del Mar
Galley
Eataly’s La Pizza & La Pasta
Hullabaloo
Kyma
Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar
Lynora’s Clematis
Moody Tongue Sushi
Malka WPB
Osteria by Capri
Pistache French Bistro
Proper Grit
Raindancer Steakhouse
Shanghai’d
Society 48
Sports and Rec
Spruzzo
The Restaurant at Norton
True Food Kitchen
West Palm Cowboy Club
Palm Beach/Manalapan
Angle
Bice Ristorante
Cafe Boulud
Cucina Palm Beach
Echo Palm Beach
Florie’s by Mauro Colagreco
Henry’s Palm Beach
Nobu Manalapan
Salute Ristorante
Stir at the Eau
Lake Worth Beach
Lilo’s Street Food
Man Ray
Oceano
Oceanwalk by Benny’s on the Beach
