City: Delray Beach, FL

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (561) 276-7868

Address: 32 East Atlantic Ave.

Description: Even on Delray’s fabulous Atlantic Avenue, this smart, sophisticated eatery will catch your eye for its smart, sophisticated crowd eating outside, and for the innovative two-level design inside. This restaurant was established in 1996, on the site of an old auction house. It’s a true American bistro, with the street-side terrace allowing you unlimited access to the great people-parade. The interior’s a testament to contemporary American style, with upper- and lower-level dining areas, and hardwood floors on the upper level, a full-service bar, a grand piano, and different wines pictured on the walls.The food matches the ambience. Executive chef/partner Nick Morfogen was named one of America’s top new chefs in 1996, by Food & Wine magazine. Try his pan roasted Mississippi quail appetizer, stuffed with chorizo, corn, and manchego, on mashed potatoes with sherry wine pan sauce. For your entree, you might try the brine cured prairie grove pork chop with pancetta braised escarole, along with cinnamon spiced mashed yams with autumn fruits brown butter. And if you still have room for dessert after this, go for the crème brûlée or the cacao berry chocolate truffle cake.