Super 7: Best Restaurants in West Palm Beach
If you're here for the boat show, here's where to go
Buccan
Though technically it sits across the bridge on Palm Beach Island, Buccan can lay claim as the best restaurant in Palm Beach County. Chef Clay Conley created destination dining without pretension, something once thought impossible in Palm Beach. Make no mistake, it’s an upscale spot. But as long as you appreciate brilliant food like sweet corn agnolotti with bacon and espelette butter, and grilled wagyu short rib with lemongrass and basil, everyone is welcome.
Pro tip: For the same quality food at a fast-casual price, hit the Buccan Sandwich shop in West Palm.
@buccanpalmbeach // 350 S. County Road, Palm Beach
Palm Beach Meats
I used to be one of those people who saw stuff like “wagyu taco meat” on a menu and thought it was just an excuse to charge $14 for a quesadilla. Then I went to Palm Beach Meats, where everything from their Philly Cheesesteak to, yes, their Frito Pie are made with Wagyu. And now I’m a believer. The Katsu Sando and the Philly draw packed houses daily, but everything on the menu is phenomenal. You can also buy gourmet Wagyu to take home and try preparing yourself, along with other gourmet items like local sauces and binchotan charcoal.
Pro tip: If you’re adventurous, the wagyu tallow peanut butter and jelly sandwich is the best PB&J you’ve ever had. So I’m told.
@palmbeachmeats // 4812 S. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach
Kyma
The days of plate breaking and table dancing at Taverna Opa! in City Place may gone. But rest assured you’ll find better food and far less wasted dishware at Kyma, which maintains the Aegean celebratory vibe with a touch more class. Grilled, lemon-kissed seafood is the name of the game here, where whole branzino, snapper, and Dorado come carved at your table. The festive atmosphere lends itself well to shared plates like the requisite selection of dips. Just make sure not to fill up on their signature Kyma chips – fried zucchini served with tzatziki.
Pro tip: If you’re not into seafood, just share a bunch of apps and forego the mains. It’s where Kyma does its best work.
@kymawpb // 151 N. Olive Ave, West Palm Beach
Isla & Co.
Even if you’ve been to Australia, you’d be hard pressed to tell anyone what, exactly, Australian food is. Except for maybe kangaroo. Isla & Co. is about as close as it comes, blending Thai, Chinese, European, and American influences, with kangaroo skewers and tahini for good measure. The resulting menu is one that’s small but diverse, with Kung Pao chicken, cheeseburgers, and chicken parm. It’s a bit like a pub feed, if said pub was set in a verdant garden in the middle of a warehouse district.
Pro tip: They literally have an espresso martini flight. What could go wrong?
@islaandco // 1401 Clare Ave., West Palm Beach
Tropical Smokehouse
Though waiting in line for food is a sure sign of societal breakdown, driving two counties for barbecue sauce? Totally fine. This is my logic, anyway, every time I stock up on sauce at Tropical Smokehouse, one of the best restaurants in West Palm Beach. These guys have effectively pioneered Florida-style Barbecue, offering up unique items like cajun gator sausage, and adding tropical touches to BBQ classics like mojo pulled pork and smoked mahi.COPY HERE - Make sure to hyperlink restaurant website in copy
Pro Tip: Add pro tip here. @IGHandle // Address, Neighborhood
Grato
Finding the best Italian restaurant in West Palm Beach can be tough, with nearly as many pretty good, very-overpriced options as we have in Miami. You can never go wrong with Buccan chef Clay Conley, who does equally great work at his Italian outpost Grato. Despite his culinary acumen, Conley doesn’t try and impress anyone here, instead plating up classics like spaghetti pomodoro and chicken parm better than anyone in the 561. Same with the wood-fired pizzas, which keep it simple with margherita, diavola, and mushroom, which satisfy every time.
Pro tip: The Power Hour from 5-6 pm is a straight up deal, where you can get meatball or hot chicken sliders for $5.
@gratowpb // 1901 S. Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach
SeaHawk Prime
I give an historic nod to the great Okeechobee Steakhouse here, but if you’re looking for the best steakhouse in Palm Beach County it’s a little north at David Burke’s SeaHawk Prime. No relation to the Super Bowl champions, this waterfront spot on the Intracoastal embodies everything a modern steakhouse should be, with grilled chops and seafood that showcase Burke’s creativity. Think ginger and black pepper salmon steak; bison short rib with black truffle mushroom cavatelli; and the Seahawk prime roll filled with fried lobster tail and topped with filet mignon. The steaks are all dry aged in Burke’s patented Himalayan salt aging room, and bring a flavor no other steakhouse in South Florida can match.
Pro tip: If you’ve got a group, there’s a private dining room with pink salt brick walls. It’s like eating steak in a spa.
@seahawkrpimebyDB // 220 Lake Shore Dr., Lake Park
Now please, jump down to the comments and tell me how Lake Park isn’t in West Palm. Do you wanna know where to get great steaks? Or do you want a geography lesson?