Tucked away in the northwestern part of West Palm Beach and adorned with handcrafted objects, this stylish spot serves Ethiopian fare.  Appetizers include pastries filled with lentils or meat, and there is a hearty version of Doro Wat, the fiery chicken stew that is Ethiopia’s national dish.  Marinated beef and tartare with cardamom and chili also share the menu with many vegetable options like red lentil stew, sauteed cabbage with turmeric, and roasted ground flax seed.  

The beachy vibe and the service are utterly professional at this coastal restaurant in Juno Beach. Smaller options include a raw bar, along with small plates like American Wagyu steak tartare with preserved wild mushroom, black truffle, and bone marrow toast, while tuna tataki salad with pineapple, cashews, avocado, and veggies; jerk chicken with papaya and Madeira; and wood-grilled twin Maine lobster tails are among the larger entrees.  There are butcher cuts and local catch grilled a la plancha for purists. 

Don’t expect typical Florida menu choices at this unique, Indian-influenced restaurant where chef Pushkar Marathe’s creations are captivating diners. The plantain chaat appetizer is an orchestra of tastes and textures, with yogurt, pomegranate, tamarind, mint, and crispy potato enhancing the bananas, while the duck confit rolls with peanut chutney are a burst of crunch and flavor.  Wood-grilled chicken peri peri with butternut squash and curry vinaigrette is comfort food with a kick; short rib is served with bone marrow korma on rice grits; and wagyu tenderloin with a buttermilk miso sauce.  You can add even more punch to a dish with cucumber raita, eggplant pickle, or apple chutney. 

Vegetarians will be as happy as carnivores at West Palm’s North African accented French bistro, serving up a cauliflower tagine with lentils, spicy cashews, coconut milk, and coconut milk minted yogurt; and Tunisian eggplant with pomegranate and pistachio sukkah.  Seafood options include a whole roasted branzino with salsa verde, swordfish schnitzel, Moroccan lamb shank, and Korobuta pork chop with Brussels sprouts and Asian sweet potatoes are among the meat selections. Choose an indoor table in the classically designed dining room for an intimate meal, or grab outdoor seats to engage in the action on hopping Clematis Street. 

Lamb is a lure at this affordable Middle Eastern kitchen that prepares the meat as kofta, ground with spices; shank with Lebanese red wine; kebab; or classic half rack, seared and finished in the oven.  Seafood selections include flame-grilled salmon and mahi mahi with a citrus sesame sauce.  A range of salads, such as fattoush and Greek can be topped with protein for a single-course meal.  

An enchanted patio setting with vivid orchids is one of the draws of this old-world Italian in a Mediterranean villa off Worth Avenue. Start with an vegetable stew of Swiss chard, artichokes, fennel, fava beans, and mint; or risotto with lobster and saffron; and move on to tagliolini Bolognese; roasted hen in Barolo; or center cut veal chop with porcini truffle sauce.  It’s not easy to score a table, so plan ahead. 

This outpost of the Milanese cucina has become a canteen for the cognoscenti, serving up simply prepared Tuscan favorites in a rustic setting.  Enjoy pillows of ravioli stuffed with roasted veal or crab salad studded with chunks of pumpkin while locals with their furry friends and celebs like Rod Stewart and Sarah Jessica Parker mingle in the garden. 

Tucked away in south Palm Beach, steps from the sand, and under the radar, this Italian retreat (no relation to Aqua Grille) has a large terrace that allows guests to breathe ocean air while sampling everything from thin-crust pizza to grouper steamed en papillate.  Pan seared octopus with chickpea puree and Spanish chorizo; beetroot gnocchi with gorgonzola sauce and toasted walnuts; mixed seafood kebabs; and short ribs braised in red wine on soft polenta are among the other standouts. 

Paella lovers will be happy they found this casual Latin spot serving classics like freshly made guacamole, empanadas, and ropa vieja.  For those who prefer lighter fare, there is an adobe-rubbed double breast of chicken with spinach and plantains and a list of salads.

The newest outpost of this buzzy spot, a sister of the famed but now-shuttered New York Indonesian, is a chic cluster of rooms, indoor and out, with mosaic tiles, wooden shutters, and lush plants. Summer rolls are filled with vegetables; galangal cured halibut sits in a heady lime broth with poached saffron fennel, and branzino rests on coconut risotto. Tapioca pudding or flambeed warm chocolate cake make a perfect finish.  

For those looking for a low-key yet sophisticated spot in Delray, this Mediterranean restaurant, that’s a bit off the beaten track is a great find.  A char-grilled jumbo artichoke with olive oil, parmesan, and crushed red pepper; or veal sweetbreads with chanterelle sauce are great starters, while roasted duck or cioppino in a white wine saffron broth are among the stellar entrees.  The large bar is perfect for couples or solo diners.

Whether you are with family or on a date, there is something for everyone at this Italian juggernaut in Boca Raton.  Local catch, chicken, chops, and steak come from a wood-burning oven, and daily specials range from eggplant parmigiana to lobster fra Diavolo.  The small, soft amaretti cookies that come with espresso are addictive. 

A large selection of locally caught seafood like golden tilefish and pumpkin swordfish is the draw at Corvina, where live music adds to the ambiance Thursday through Saturday, and women drink champagne gratis at the bar Thursday nights. In addition to grilled fresh catch, there are luxe sushi rolls like the Bar Harbor, with warm lobster, blue crab, and avocado, along with composed dishes such as crab-crusted halibut.