Page 9 - Boca Exposure - February '25

Boca Exposure, Page 9
Dining Out: Here’s The Only Review You Need To Read!

By Alan Serinsky of Bocaire First Impressions. For a bit of history, this restaurant my share of crab cakes in and out of Baltimore I would wage
Country Club. Hungry Al’s love chain started in Chicago in 1976 by a restaurateur and resident a bet these might top any other options you throw my way.
for food started very young. of Boca named Alex Dana. With eight restaurants now in Save the gas money! Mia Rosebud’s cakes are totally void of
Never satisfied with his Mom’s the windy city, this restaurant group has cast its first bait to any filler and are huge enough to make a meal out of them.
dishes, he started to cook his downtown Boca. If they can consistently please their patrons Worth every dollar!
way through her “Betty Crocker with family recipes and hearty portions (an understatement) Straight From The “Open Kitchen.” After all we had
Cookbook.” During the years they will win the best catch of the year! eaten to this point we figured it was going to be a long day
to follow he spent many hours As for the ambiance, it doesn’t get any better. Contrary to in the gym tomorrow, so why not go for broke! Hungry A
working in restaurants, both some reviews, the noise level is not blaring. Yes, it probably and Hungry D ordered three entrees to boot hoping to leave
as server and cook, attending cooking classes and traveling will get louder on weekends but they are playing to a different a slither of room for dessert. And it’s not going to be Jell-o!
the world in an effort to expand his palette. As a professional demographic on those days. If you are looking for a great Hungry D gravitated to the fish-of-the-day, which was
writer, Hungry Al offers his perspective on current food trends dining experience you will have no issues on weekdays. Swordfish ($48). You’ve got to love a fish entrée when
and guides you through your local restaurant options. As for the décor, you can definitely imagine the famous you can say it’s as good as a filet mignon! With just a bit
rat-pack of celebrities eating here. The interior design mirrors of seasoning and a mild lemon-wine Beurre Blanc sauce
Mia Rosebud their Chicago Rosebud on Taylor Street. They cleverly it was my trophy catch for the evening. I do note that the
150 E. Palmetto Park Road created a modern setting with a transitional blend of light roasted potatoes were a little overcooked and seemed like
Boca Raton, Florida 33432 and dark chocolate-wood furnishings with fresco-inspired an afterthought.
(561) 462-3000 wall coverings. As for Hungry Al, I decided to try their signature Veal
rosebudrestaurants.com For you outside diners there is a nice open patio with fans Chop Milanese ($79). This pan-fried parmesan breaded
and cooling misters. For those of you who like grabbing a stool bone-in chop was pounded to the size of a frisbee. It was then
Food For Thought. Before I visit any new restaurant, at the bar this one is a well-appointed mahogany-bar where topped with a fresh arugula, tomato salad. The breadcrumb
Hungry Al does a bit of research online. My method is to cocktails are masterfully mixed. If you’re having a special coating on the chop had to be freshly made, packing plenty of
read the negative reviews before the good ones. And yes, I occasion definitely consider the elegant semi-private room that flavor and far from any food store variety. I will admit most
can decipher between the ones generated from foolishness to handles at least 30 and is a throwback to years gone by with of it came home with me and lasted for another two meals.
those more sensible. Most comments lean toward the obvious: velvety-red walls, crystal chandelier and photographs of the How can you leave an Italian restaurant without sampling
the food, the portions, the service. This is acceptable. We all owner alongside such greats Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. at least one of their pasta dishes? Not me! On request, the
have different expectations due to our taste palette, personal Prime Your Taste Buds. By now you know, if there is a waiter was able to serve us an appetizer size of Rosebud’s
demands on how much we eat and how it’s delivered. meatball on the menu Hungry Al is going to try it. It’s one Spicy Rigatoni Alla Vodka. These large noodles cooked
What I scratch my head about is why folks leave of my favorite measures of the authenticity of an Italian perfectly were dressed with a smooth and creamy sauce that
comments that are mean and destructive to any new business restaurant. This one didn’t fail my high standards. A mixture was well-balanced with a hint of Calabrian Chile. Somehow
trying to make a go of it. It’s not a week after opening and of beef and veal, this baseball-size portion was actually there was no noodle left standing, and obviously never made
reviewers are throwing hurdles before the restaurant gets off cooked with a medium-center temperature, not like most that it into our take home bag!
the starting block. are pulverized well done. From The Dessert Cart. I’m stuffed! Oh...Mia has a
So, if you are about to complain about the noise levels, We also sampled the Baked Clams ($21), a favorite of dessert menu? I’m a cake lover. Mia Rosebuds bakes them
the service delays, the poor drink pours, the prices being so Hungry D since she hails from the shores of Rhode Island. I’m in-house and most likely ships them from their Chicago
high, and even the parking and traffic, keep in mind that not not a fan of this preparation, only because I think the flavor of bakery. I decided on the mile-high Coconut Cake ($16) and
every restaurant can please every patron. Besides, it beats the clams is buried in breadcrumbs. The clams were slightly it also took me three days to finish it at home. It was worth
cooking at home! over-done in the broiler, but the sauce made up for it. every calorie. Hungry D thought she could handle a dish
With that said I can assure you that the positives Since we are labeled the “Hungry Squad” we had no of vanilla Gelato ($12) but needed reinforcements before it
outweigh the negatives when it comes to reviews about problem taking on another appetizer with Rosebud’s Crab melted. I happily obliged since most of my “half-mile high”
Mia Rosebud. It’s going to be worth the drive downtown Cake ($33) special. Close friends from Baltimore claim the cake was homeward bound.
to experience what most Chicagoans would say is the best best version of crab cakes is from a small dive restaurant in
Italian restaurant in town! Greenacres called Eagle Grill and Oysters. Since I’ve had Dining Out on page 10

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