In South Florida, the summer solstice brings mercury-busting heat and afternoon thunderstorms … as opposed to oppressive humidity and random rainstorms the rest of the year.
It also brings special summertime menus at restaurants throughout the region. Here are some of our favorites. (Please note: Prices do not include taxes and gratuities.)
SPECIAL MENUS
Blackbird Modern Asian
1511 N. Old Dixie Highway, Jupiter; 561-589-7505; blackbirdmodernasian.com
Through Aug. 31, this Pan-Asian restaurant will have a three-course prix fixe menu for $39 from executive chef/partner Tim Nickey.
- Some small plate and dim sum starters are: Singapore Chopped Salad, Short Rib and Bone Marrow Dumplings, Spicy Kung Pao Calamari and Salmon or Hamachi Crispy Rice.
- Some entree selections include: Sweet and Sour Pork with pork belly, dragon fruit, pineapple and crispy shallots; Dan Dan Noodles with minced pork and beef, pickled mustard greens, radish, Sichuan peppercorn and chili oil; as well as Vegetarian Chow Fun with wide Cantonese rice noodles, shiitake, garlic chive, mushroom soy sauce, and truffles.
- The two desserts by executive pastry chef Denise Elrod are: Toasted Coconut Sundae with coconut gelato, toasted coconut, caramelized peanuts, sesame tuile, miso caramel and palm sugar whipped cream; and a Chocolate Mochi Banana split with chocolate cake, chocolate mochi, caramelized bananas, strawberries, peanut brittle and warm dark chocolate sauce.
Bonefish Grill
Multiple locations; bonefishgrill.com
Through Sept. 4, Bonefish Grill restaurants will have a snow crab entree plated with a pound of snow crab legs served with drawn butter and a choice of two sides for $24.90. Or you can pair any entree with a half-pound of snow crab legs for $9.90.
Sarpino’s Pizzeria
Multiple locations; gosarpinos.com
As a shout-out to Sarpino’s roots in the Windy City, the restaurant chain is offering a Chicago Hot Dog Pizza through Sept. 30. The pizza pie homage, which recreates the flavor of a Chicago-style hot dog, features Vienna beef hot dogs, yellow mustard, onions, relish, tomatoes and celery salt on the brand’s made-from-scratch dough and hand-shredded signature cheese blend. Costs are $12.99 (8-inch pizza), $16.99 (10-inch), $22.99 (12-inch), $25.99 (14-inch) and $29.99 (16-inch).
Timpano Las Olas
450 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-462-9119; timpanolasolas.com
Timpano has a new summertime 2-course, prix-fixe lunch for $28 available from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. The menu rotates weekly and features dishes such as:
- Mediterranean Tuna Tartare with Castelvetrano olives, tomato, capers and bottarga
- Florida Tomato Panzanella with Tuscan bread, cucumber, red onions and basil
- Calabrian Sandwich with chicken cutlets, arugula, fresh mozzarella, and chili and tomato aioli
Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletanapepespizzeria.com341 N. University Drive, Plantation; 954-906-73731701 South Federal Highway, Delray Beach; 561-431-5601
For the past 15 years, devotees of this New Haven, Conn.-based pizza place have looked forward to the Fresh Tomato Pie, a special summertime menu item that features native tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, garlic, basil, grated Pecorino Romano cheese and imported olive oil on top of a signature crispy-yet-chewy, slightly charred crust. Now it’s available in South Florida’s two new locations too.
Prices are $17.25 for small (12-inch), $26.75 for medium (16-inch) and $33.50 for large (18-inch).
“Years ago, we decided to try something new by introducing the Fresh Tomato Pie, and itbecame an instant favorite among our guests,” says Jennifer Bimonte-Kelly, granddaughter ofFrank Pepe, who opened the company’s original pizzeria in 1925. “Today, we proudly continue this tradition by sourcing locally grown tomatoes and ensuring that every bite tastes just like summer.”
TooJay’s Deli, Bakery, RestaurantMultiple locations; toojays.com
TooJay’s has added a Limited Time Summer Cake to its menu. The dessert is a strawberry cake mixed with strawberry simple syrup and iced with creamy strawberry frosting. A slice is $7.99, while a whole cake is $34.99.
Vicky BakeryMultiple locations; vickybakery.com
This South Florida-based and family-owned Cuban bakery brand has launched a Sol, Playa y Pastelitos Summer Escape Tote Bag for $29.99. The totes at participating locations in Broward and Miami-Dade counties include:
- Limited-edition printed Sol, Playa y Pastelitos tote bag
- 2 guava pastries
- 1 cheese pastry
- 1 guava and cheese pastry
- 1 meat pastry
- 1 coconut pastry
- 6 Vicky croquetas
“Summer is about having fun, escaping from the ordinary, and getting out to enjoy everything that living in South Florida has to offer,” says Mauricio Romero, CEO of Vicky Bakery. “And now you don’t need to worry about showing up empty-handed to the next boat day, BBQ or summer party thanks to our limited-edition summer tote bags.”
Bolay Fresh Bold KitchenMultiple locations; bolay.com
Bolay Fresh Bold Kitchen is offering a Summer Sip & Sizzle menu that includes a pairing of a Summer BBQ Bol for $8.99 and a Strawberry Dragonfruit Fresca for $1.50.
- The Summer BBQ Bol is chef-curated and includes jasmine rice, chopped kale salad, fire-roasted corn, BBQ chicken, pickled red onion, with a garlic sauce.
- The Strawberry Dragonfruit Fresca is from Tractor Beverage Co. and, as the name implies, features strawberries and dragonfruit with notes of pomegranate and black cherry.
SweetgreenMultiple locations; sweetgreen.com.
This fast-casual chain that touts healthy seasonal warm bowls and salads has started its Summer Bowl Drops through Aug. 14 (prices may vary by location):
- Peach + Goat Cheese salad with in-season, locally sourced peaches paired with mint and goat cheese ($13.95)
- Chicken Teriyaki with blackened chicken, wild rice, sesame teriyaki dressing, roasted okra and sweet onions or roasted zucchini and yellow squash, market-dependent ($14.95)
- BBQ Chicken made with apples, tortilla chips, cabbage and two dressings — Honey BBQ Sauce (from a partnership with chef Charlie McKenna of Lillie’s Q in Chicago) and Sweetgreen’s signature Green Goddess Ranch dressing ($13.95)
- Mediterranean Mezze, featuring roasted chicken, chickpeas, roasted sweet potatoes and hummus and olives ($15.95)
- Pesto Paradise, made with locally sourced roasted okra and sweet onions or roasted zucchini and yellow squash, market-dependent, as well as basil, parmesan crisps and pesto vinaigrette ($15.45)
Circle House Coffee727 NE Third Ave., Fort Lauderdale; 954-870-6456; circlehousecoffee.com
Just in time for summer, retired NFL Linebacker and SoFlo son Stephen Tulloch’s coffeehouse in Fort Lauderdale’s Flagler Village has added two frozen lattes to their vegan menu of plant-based treats:
- The Frozen Oat “Mylk-iato” Latte is a double espresso shot with sugar-free vanilla syrup, maple syrup, oat milk and ground cinnamon ($6.85 large, $6.35 medium).
- The Frozen Toffee Nut Latte is made with espresso beans, toffee nut, oat milk and finished with chocolate drizzle ($6.55 large, $6.05 medium).
Also, the family and pet-friendly coffeehouse has a Free Summer Series of theme nights with live performances and exhibits highlighting local artists, poets and musicians.
Medi Terra301 Via De Palmas, No. 99, Boca Raton; 561-367-9779; facebook.com/mediterraboca or mediterraboca.com
Medi Terra has a Summer Specials menu from co-owners chef Michael Velicu and his son, Daniel. There is a three-course, prix-fixe lunch menu for $25, as well as Tapas Tuesdays with three tapas for $42 and five for $68.
There’s also a Connoisseur’s Night Dinner highlighting the cuisine of one of the Western Mediterranean countries — Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and Morocco — each Thursday for $75 per person (with a wine pairing as well). Medi Terra will be offering half-off on bottles of wine, from the sommelier’s selection with the purchase of an entree on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The offers last through Aug. 26.
Le Colonial601 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach; 561-566-1800; delraybeach.lecolonial.com
The new French-Vietnamese restaurant Le Colonial has launched lunch and dinner prix-fixe menus: The Rosé Lunch and the Saigon Sunset Supper.
The lunch features a choice of a small plate, a large plate and an iced tea or soft drink for $35 per person, as well as suggested Rosé pairings from a wine list ranging in cost from $14 to $18. The menu includes dishes such as crispy shrimp and pork roll, chilled vegetable roll, pork noodle bowl, roasted salmon, a beet salad and more.
The dinner is $40 per person and includes those dishes in addition to baby back ribs, spicy chicken stir fry and green shrimp curry.
Keep in mind that Le Colonial has a dress code, which includes no ball caps, athletic wear, sweats and flip-flops, among other items.
Sunset Club Rooftop Bar & Lounge777 N. Ocean Drive, Hollywood; 754-764-0311; sunsetclubrooftop.com
Sunset Club Rooftop Bar & Lounge on Hollywood beach has trial-launched a new curated sushi menu (with a couple of tartare and ceviche dishes as well). Highlights include a Dragon Roll ($22), a Bang Bang Roll ($21) and a Veggie Roll ($16).
The offer is available Thursdays through Sundays after 4 p.m.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine BarMultiple locations; flemingssteakhouse.com/promotions/taste-of-summer
All locations of Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar have a Taste of Summer menu with Pickled Nectarine and Smoky Corn Salad and a Filet and Maitake Leek Confit entree starting at $57 to $59 (based on location). You can also add a trio of Seared Scallops for $12 or Jumbo Seared Shrimp for $10. The special offer runs through Sept. 4.
