Global Goodness
Take a culinary trip around the world—without getting on a plane—at these 5 local eateries that offer a truly international experience
Spain: BARCELONA WINE BAR
There’s nothing quite like enjoying a nice bottle of wine and sharing some tapas with friends—and that’s what Barcelona Wine Bar in Delray Beach is all about. The swank wine bar offers a looooong list of wines to sip on, including varietals from the U.S., Portugal, France, Italy, Spain, South America, Austria, Lithuania, and more. The the 30-plus tapas are absolutely to die for, but the menu also includes charcuterie and cheese options, salads, and large plates (like paella, yum!). Click here to see what we had on a recent visit to Barcelona.
Sweden: WAXIN’S
When the Waxin family opened their namesake restaurant at Palm Beach Garden’s Alton Town Center in 2020, it was an immediate hit with locals, who flocked to the chic eatery for a taste of Scandinavia. Within a few years, two more locations opened, in West Palm Beach and Naples. The menu offers American fare like grilled T bones, filets, and chicken and a variety of hearty pastas, but the true Waxin’s experience means ordering something off the menu that truly speaks to the restaurant’s Swedish roots. Try starting with the toast Skagen with peeled shrimp and horseradish, or the Nordic crudo (snapper, strawberry dressing, cucumber, jalapeño, bread-crisp, spring onion). Then feast on authentic Swedish meatballs or wallenbergere (double ground veal steak, brown butter, green peas, lingonberries, potato purée). For dessert? A classic Swedish cinnamon bun with buttermilk caramel and vanilla ice cream.
Italy: SALUTE RISTORANTE
If you’ve been to Italy, you already know that the country is incredibly diverse in landscape—from the lush Italian countryside to the chic city streets of Milan and everything in between. Salute Ristorante in Palm Beach melds everything into one, offering the amazing flavors of the Mediterranean in an elegant ambience. On the menu, Italian classics like veal Parmesan, tagliolini, and polpettini (meatballs) are given a gourmet boost and sit alongside delicately delicious entrées like the housemate ravioli filled with snow crab, potato and sheep ricotta, crustacean jus, and herbs and the salmon reale “Ora” with melted fennel, blood orange, Champagne sauce. The pastas are all made fresh in-house daily.
Mexico: DOS AMIGOS
There’s certainly no shortage of tacos here in South Florida, but if you want to try something a little bit more on the creative side of things, head to Dos Amigos in Delray Beach. Their affordable bites (just $4.50-$6 per taco) include specialty fillings like Korean pork belly and crispy grouper, plus a few kooky (but tasty) choices like The Big Mick, which is a taco with all of the fixings of a Big Mac—ground beef, shredded lettuce, onions, pickles, and Mac sauce. All ingredients are made from scratch and are free of hormones and GMOs. On Margarita Mondays, wash it all down with a $5 house margarita.
France: THE PARISIAN RESTAURANT & WINE BAR
Owner Tarzi Cenador recently celebrated 10 years of success at his French brasserie in Jupiter. Cenador, who grew up near Paris, built the restaurant to offer locals a genuine Parisian experience nearby, opening its doors back in December 2015. Start things off with foie gras terrine or escargots before indulging in a duck l’orange, poulet Cajun, or ribeye au poivre. If you love mussels as much as I do, this is your spot: They have three incredible variations on the menu—mussels Provencale, marinere, and blue cheese. Don’t forget to save room for an after-dinner crêpe.