I LOVE Grand Luxe Cafe. I've only eaten at the one in Vegas (The Venetian) and downtown Chicago. Didn't realize Boca had opened.

Owned by the Cheesecake Factory people.

Hi all,

We went for lunch to "JB's On the Beach".
300 North Ocean Blvd,
Deerfield Beach

Turns out to be the same JB from the Blue Water Grill.

An unpretentious, beachfront place with a limited menu, well prepare at reasonable prices.

The She Crab Soup is cream of crab with chives - very tasty, as is the Seafood Chowder. $6/bowl

BBQ pork was very tasty and comes with French Fried Sweet Potato. 9.95

Spinach and crab salad is for spinach lovers - I think there was a whole bag of spinach. 14.95

The Horse Heaven Sauvignon Blanc that was $38 at the Grand Lux is only $27.

((I))

Now Ira, don't make it sound worse than it is. The Grand Luxe is a good piece of the mall away from Sears. Like Boca doesn't have enough of an image problem already...

This afternoon was beautifully bright and sunny, although high was only 63, so we provisioned and loaded the camels for our annual trek to the Sea Watch restaurant in Ft. Lauderdale.

(If Fort Lauderdale were in England, would it be pronounced Fuddle?)

This is a very pleasant, Old Florida style place, back in the dunes with lovely views of the beach and the ocean, which today was a bright blue.

Best views are from the upstairs bar and terrace, but we were with my Lady Wife's aunt and ended up downstairs in a corner in the back in the dark.

Get there before 12:15 or after 1:30 for best seating.

Valet parking is free, so just give the guy $2 and go in style.

Lunch for 3 was $120 with tax and tip:

2 soups - one lobster bisque and one New England style chowder - both very, very good.

2 crab cake sandwiches - large and good.

1 shrimp and scallops over linguini. Fresh seafood, al dente pasta - quite good (but why does it come with garlic bread on top?)

A very pleasant bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and two cappucinos rounded out the repast.

The 2 shot cappucino is much better than the 1 shot - $4.50 vs $3:50.

Recommended for lunch or dinner.

((I))

Hi Cimbrone,

Thanks for the correction. The Grand Lux is near the Macy's - no?

((I))

Ira, don't know if you've tried any of the restaurants in the Cove shopping center on Hillsboro, just before the intracoastal. The Cove is on the water and a nice casual spot to sit outside for lunch and watch the boats go by.

Somewhere between Macy's and Sears, Ira.

I agree about the Cove shopping center. Went to a retirement party at a very nice restaurant there--maybe with Crab in the name. Been meaning to go back there.

"we were with my Lady Wife's aunt and ended up downstairs in a corner in the back in the dark."

Is she that unattractive? Or is she part vampire?

A very fine French restaurant, charming, reasonably-priced, is Bistro Provence on N.Federal Hwy.in Boca, around the 2300 block. It is really quick to zip over to the next town north, Delray Beach, to the trendy Atlantic Ave., loaded with good eateries, many with outdoor seating. A few are Old Calypso (best brunch/lunch menu I've ever seen), the Shore (on A1A just south of Atlantic Ave.), and Boston's on the Beach (for mountains of New England seafood like Maine lobstah and Ipswich clams, in an atmosphere loaded with Red Sox paraphenalia-the password to get in is "Yankees suck," which rolls off my tongue real easily.

Hi X,
>Bistro Provence ...<
Very nice restaurant. We are having our final meal there tonight.

The Lion and Eagle Pub, in the same strip, is a nice place for a pint before dinner.

>Delray Beach...<

Did that last year. Started with cocktails and ended with Espressos before heading home. Not cheap though.

Hi M,
Charley's Crab Cove? A very nice place.

Hi C,
>Is she that unattractive? Or is she part vampire?

She is a very nice lady (both of them), it's just that they went in ahead of me while I parked the car and took what they were offered.

Unfortunately, I didn't have anything smaller than a twenty with which to bribe the hostess.

((I))

Didn't make it to La Belle Provence.

Someone sneezed on my Lady Wife last week and now she has a cold.

Home now.

Nothing more to Report.

Hope this helped someone.

((I))

Hey Ira,

I was just surfing the US site and pulled your report up...I missed it the first time around!

I have an idea however...when you make your 2008 pilgrimage to Boca, how about a Fodorites get together? I think we could pursuade NeoPatrick and JulieVikmanis, Cimbone, McLaurie, and zkenz to join us, among many others! (We could meet at the Bistro Provence--our personal favorite) Sounds like there are quite a few who live right here! What do you think?

Topping for Ira!

This is just like those "Just back from Europe" posts I always open only to discover they are from 2002.

I'm definitely up for it. Used to love Bistro Provence. Haven't been in a while.

bardo--The info from Ira is still accurate however!

Just topping this to say-
>Charley's Crab in the Cove shopping center is gone and nothing has taken it's place.
La Val D'Loire in the same center is still good though.

>Max's Grill in Mizner Park was very good. They do a "sunset dinner" til 7 (we ordered at 7) that's very good value. You get a 3 course dinner for the price of the entree. Sat outside at the fountains and had a lovely evening.

>Cucina Dell 'Arte in Palm Beach was excellent for lunch.

Hi Ira - I know this is an old post but we winter in Deerfield Beach. If there ever is a Fodorites get together in the area please include us. Just missed you and Cimbrone a few years' ago in Dijon.

Well, here we are again.

It's been cool, but a lot better tan the freezing rain, snow and ice farther north.

King's closed a couple of years ago, leaving us with only the new yuppie Publix in Town Center or the Whole Foods near FAU.

A real find:

We very much liked "Efes Bistro", 8903 Glades Rd, in the shopping center next to TJ Maxx. Done in polished wood with Turkish carpets, it gives the impression of being in a courtyard. It is also quiet and calm, which was a very welcome change from the other places we have been to this week.

Very good Turkish cooking.

The grilled fish was very nice. The spinach pie was excellent.

Fresh made bread.

Mezes of yogurt, chopped tomatoes and peppers, eggplant, hummus, babaganoush - all made in house every day - would make a lovely lunch.

Mrs Yilmaz - a lovely lady - is in the kitchen every morning at 06:00 to do the prep work, and is there when the doors close at 10:00 PM.

Dinner with a bottle of Turkish wine and tip - $90.

There is a 4 course fixed-price dinner for two at $39.95 which, unfortunately, my dinner companion wasn't in the mood for.

((I))

Sounds great.

Ira, go to Toojay's near the Town Center and have a corned beef on rye with matzo ball soup. Here in Ohio, especially on a cold snowy day, it would be heaven on a roll. We love this deli probably because we can't get this kind of food at home.