Courtyard By Marriott Boca Raton

Exotic American Fare

by TRimer about Zemi

This sparcely decorated, elegant dining room finds beauty in simplicity, providing a yin counterpoint to the cuisine's eclectic yang.

Lunch Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm; dinner Mon-Thurs and Sun 6-10pm, Fri-Sat 6-11pm Chef Michael Schwartz, formerly of South Beach's Nemo, is responsible for the fabulous fare. Hot and cold starters feature pan-fried chicken and foie gras potstickers or seafood ceviche, while noodle dishes mine Japanese, Vietnamese, and Italian cultures for inspiration. Main courses include such delights as pan-roasted diver scallops, wood oven-roasted rack of lamb, tamari and ginger-basted salmon, and miso barbecued skirt steak. The wine list is quite extensive (Conundrum, Grhich Chardonnay).

Excellent Seafood, Shellfish, and Steaks

by nicolaitan about Trulucks

This very upscale and expensive seafood and steak house is located at the center of the Mizner Park shopping complex in downtown Boca and offers an impressive meal. Entrance is to a large modern bar with nightly live piano music. The two dining rooms are steakhouse classic with comfortable red leather banquettes and widely separated tables, one room overlooking the Mizner Park thoroughfare. Outside dining is also available. Service on our several visits has been quite competent as well as friendly, no rush service. Trulucks emphasizes that their seafood is acquired through their own fleet of fishing vessels, assuring fresh products.

The wine list is extensive, many by the glass. The martinis have generally been excellent - the house vodka is Svedka, a personal favorite. Appetizers range from tuna tartare to crabcakes approx $15. Salads are about $10 and have been the only relative disappointments here. But Trulucks ultimately is about their star entrees. Steaks average $45 - a recent strip steak for $42 was superb, sizeable and delivered perfectly medium rare as ordered. Grilled fish is served with parmesan mashed potatoes or locally sourced vegetables and are also superb - we have sampled their salmon, snapper, and Chilean sea bass, the latter locally acquired from Georgia- all excellent. The ultimate specialties are the Florida Stone Crab claws ( expensive ), the lobster, and the gigantic Alaskan king crab legs ($55/lb) preferred by our frequent dining companions here.

As an alternative to the stone crab claws, a cheaper Jonah Crab claw offering is available, also very good - maybe a bit less taste, more flaky in texture, and considerably cheaper. One of our party made this choice an entree and did not see that much difference from the real thing. There are a number of side dishes at $7-10 including properly prepared french fries and superb mushrooms. Desserts look great - we all shared the dessert provided for one special dinner order, a large slice of intensely flavorful chocolate cake.

The heavily promoted $35 Date Night Special is not so special. It includes a salad, a choice of four of the cheapest entrees, and a shared dessert with total saving probably not more than $2-3 per person.

Trulucks provides a superb dinner at high cost - close to $100pp would be a fair bet including tip and a drink. Expensive, but absolutely worth the splurge. Valet parking is offered outside the door at a scandalous $5, plus tip. The multilevel parking lot just behind the restaurant is free. The valets were deservedly not very busy.

Boca Raton in Spring 2005

by windoweb

"Red Reef Park"

Red Reef Park – 1400 N. State Road A-1-A, Boca Raton, FL
(561) 393-7974

We went to snorkel the unique rock and reef outcroppings near the offshore area - unfortunately it was too choppy the day we were there.