4 Best Restaurants in Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast, Florida

Palm Beach socialites just can't get enough of this prized restaurant by celebrated chef Daniel Boulud. This posh, French--American venue in the Brazilian Court hotel is casual yet elegant with a large and inviting bar that hosts a daily happy hour and a plush dining room that features a seashell-clad ceiling. A prix-fixe lunch menu features homemade charcuterie and entrées of mushroom risotto and smoked brisket sandwich, while dinner is a more formal affair with classic French, seasonal, and vegetarian offerings, plus a rotating roster of international dishes. Sunday brunch in the lush, tropical courtyard is a must in season.

The Palm Beach outpost of the famed New York City French restaurant, this shiny brasserie gets busy (and loud) on the weekends, when locals in blazers dine on bistro classics like onion soup gratiné and steak tartare. The dining room looks and feels like its Gallic sibling, with Majorelle chandeliers, a pewter bar, oak paneling, and brown banquettes. Dinner dishes include a lobster linguine with cherry tomatoes and garlic butter and petite as well as "grande" seafood towers with all the essentials (lobster, oysters, and shrimp). The branzino cooked in a salt-pastry crust is presented with a flourish, and the truffle Parmesan fries are worth every calorie. Save room for profiteroles with hot fudge sauce for dessert.

French and American influences are clear in the Swiss chef's dishes, from rack of lamb with Dijon mustard to grilled filet mignon stuffed with Roquefort and fresh spinach. The formal dining room has subtle, elegant touches, such as votive candlelight and white tablecloths. A more casual menu is available at the bar.

Although "the island" is no doubt a bastion of French cuisine, this cozy bistro across the bridge on the Clematis Street waterfront entices a lively crowd looking for an unpretentious good meal. The outdoor terrace can't be beat, and the fabulous modern French menu with twists such as roasted sliced duck with truffle polenta is a delight. Save room for dessert: the homemade pudding Breton, a fluffy, raisin-accented brioche bread pudding paired with crème Anglaise, could be straight out of a Parisian café.