Ok, so I should preface this by saying that we do not get compensated in any way for these posts or opinions and they are just that opinions and we decided early on to be totally honest about our experiences. You may have different experiences than we have depending on the night or your expectations. With that said, we have been to Banana Boat several times and the experiences vary from wonderful to underwhelmed. This visit just happened to be the underwhelmed experience.

The parking is always a bit challenging here unless you choose to valet (which we recommend). The valet service is complimentary and you tip based on your level of comfort. We will typically tip between $10-15 at most places all in (these folks are trying to make a living and provide a service that feels special). There is a parking garage nearby but there is a charge for that also so I would rather support the hard-working valet team for a few extra dollars. Unfortunately, they sometimes struggle with my car (not their fault) because it can be a little complicated to figure out. I always ask if they are familiar with the car and they always respond with a slightly incredulous “yes” but then struggle to figure out how to get it out of park or turn it off. We haven’t shown you the date night car because while it makes our night a little more special it is certainly not necessary for you to have a great time. The car is a Ferrari California convertible (OK, I know what you’re thinking but to be fair my daily driver is a 7 year old Prius so we are not really pretentious but enjoy special moments and items, this is one of those. The car was a gift from my wonderful wife and a dream come true since I was a kid). To be honest the car is not intuitive and the day we bought it the dealership had to teach me how to drive it. We had to look up how to put it in park on Google the first day 😊. So, sometimes we must teach a humbled valet how to take it out of gear, put in park, start, etc. I will include some pictures of it this time.

The Location at Banana boat is spectacular with direct intercoastal views and a beautiful nearby bridge (E Ocean Ave). They have a casual atmosphere, but the wait can be long if you don’t have reservations, so we definitely recommend you use Open Table or call ahead. They have a wonderfully comfortable indoor and outdoor setup with protection from the sun and a nice breeze. It sort of reminds me of an upscale bar type atmosphere (light hearted and fun) with mostly beautiful seating outdoors. On this occasion we sat at possibly the worst seat in the house (up against the wall, next to the bar, on a corner that everybody hangs over your shoulder, and anyone smoking nearby seems to blow it in your direction) but have been fortunate in the past to have some really amazing tables. Now, I realize that these are first world problems and we are super fortunate to even be together sharing a dinner in this wonderful place but the truth is that if this was the experience we had the first time we probably would not have ever come back.

The service is usually rather good, and we have never had a complaint before this visit. Unfortunately, our service was poor this time. The waitress seemed to also be the bartender and not focused on her tables. She struggled with the drinks, no straws (my wife’s pet peeve) and I had to get up several times to get my own straws (that she said she couldn’t find) from the other side of the bar and ask them to change a slightly inappropriate and distracting television station. She got a little better as the night went on but it was too late. We still tip at least 20% no matter what because the staff is working to take care of their families and they cannot always be perfect. We also realize that the service is a big part of the overall experience and can immediately change your perception of a restaurant, so we try to take each part of the experience separately.

The menu is casual and slightly upscale bar food. No matter the other variables the food always seems to be good and put us in a better mood. We ordered the lobster nachos and they are surprisingly generous with the amount of lobster so we would recommend these as a great shareable appetizer. I ordered the seafood crepe which was incredibly unique and a good blend of flavors. My wife ordered the sliders but we filled up on nachos, so we took them to go (they did make a nice lunch for the next day) and they were delicious. Both came with a side and we chose the house salad. We sometimes enjoy a basic side salad that keeps it simple and that is exactly what you get here.

After dinner we try to take a few moments to enjoy the drinks and relax in this fun environment. Sometimes they have live music and we were surprised and a little disappointed that they did not tonight.

We ended our meal at Banana Boat a little less impressed than in the past but we would certainly go back. The valet struggled to start the car and I had to teach him how to put it in park (which was slightly funny and he was appreciative saying “I wont forget that, thank you”). Then we went for a nice cruise down A1A in the beautiful evening, convertible top down, and just appreciated getting to spend this time together.

As a good friend and mentor would say “Uncomfortable and bad situations always give you the best stories so remember that and learn to laugh about it”.

One of the best trips my wife and I have ever had was a spur of the moment trip to Paris. It was terribly cold (some days around 17 degrees) and they had just had torrential flooding but we fell in love with the city. Our favorite thing was the relaxed general attitude of “assez bien” (good enough) on most things. I say most things, but I don’t mean their food (especially bread, wine, and coffee) which they take very seriously. We have struggled to find a French restaurant that recreated the feeling and food over the years and have been on a search for a basic staple in France called a “Parisian Baguette” or as we know it “Ham and cheese” sandwich. When in France we enjoyed finding small shops and local cafés that served this as a simple and basic light lunch. We feel like we finally found such a little bistro in Casimir French Bistro and are very excited to share this little secret with you.

The parking at Royal Palm Place in Boca is a bit strange with one ways and angled parking so take your time and have some patience. It’s a short walk from anywhere so park wherever you like.

We have not had the need to make reservations (although they do them) but we have only gone for a nice casual lunch so you may want to do that for dinner. The atmosphere is perfect and reminds us of every bistro in Paris with a casual attitude and friendly service. We have had what must be the owner or manager serve us several times and I get the feeling they really take pride in delivering a good experience. They have indoor and outdoor seating and depending on the weather we like to sit outside as it is reminiscent of the patio seating in Paris. The interior is clean and has plenty of wall art and décor to be very interesting and cozy.

Yes, yes, but the food…… When we first sat at a bistro in Paris and ordered a basic sandwich they asked how we wanted it and we replied with “however you normally do it”. They served it with butter not mayo (as traditional in the states) and this strikes me as funny considering that Mayonnaise was invented in Paris, and toasted or cold (but typically toasted). There must be something about the ham and cheese that is different and the combination of flavors with the butter and crisp fresh baguette is unmistakable and amazing. You can get a half sandwich and soup combo or the full size sandwich and salad which we prefer when it’s hot out. I am not sure what they put on the salad but its excellent and a perfect amount of food for a nice lunch.

We enjoy the service, the food, and the atmosphere here and if the weather is right we will take a stroll around the plaza to see the local shops. If you want to escape to Paris for an hour or so this is a great spot. We hope you enjoy the simple things and this is one of them!

We love to stop at Mizner Park for window shopping and a nice lunch. This is a beautiful place just to cruise through with outdoor dining, fountains and often live music. The parking lately has been quite nice and its not difficult to find a spot on the main drive. Normally they have valet service right in front of The Blue Fish but with COVID-19 the valet service has been paused. There are also parking garages with easy access close by.

The Blue Fish is in the center of all the action and a beautiful spot for lunch or dinner with good options for outdoor dining and people watching. Now, I will say that Palm Beach Florida in the middle of August can get a little warm (the feels like while we were there was probably 104) so make sure you find a shady table with some breeze. They do have seating outdoors under cover and shade with fans that is quite nice, or you can eat in the main dining indoors with air conditioning. We chose a spot outside in the shade because of the nearby fountains and lively atmosphere. The interior has a cozy feeling and an amazing wall of wine.

The service was quick and attentive with a friendly attitude. Our server was genuinely nice and made us feel welcome. We ordered water and drinks. I had a cold beer and my wife had a glass of white wine and we relaxed in the shade. My wife ordered the chicken teriyaki rice bowl and a side salad with ginger dressing, I had the Hawaiian roll. The rice bowl was delicious, and my Hawaiian roll was excellent. I was taking a risk with a roll that had pineapple in it and was not sure how it would turn out, but I was surprised at how great the flavors worked together. It was bright and light (perfect for lunch) with a great mix of sweet and salty. I would definitely order it again.

There was live music nearby and this made for a wonderful overall experience that makes you appreciate being in the moment with your significant other. After lunch we went for a walk and some window shopping before ending our enjoyable afternoon at Mizner Park.

Some of the fun of date night is the drive to and from the restaurant where it is just the two of us. One of the things we love about the restaurants on A1A is the beautiful drive down the coast lined by stunning houses that inspire our dreams. The traffic at 7pm in Deerfield Beach gets a little slow so have some patience and plan on driving the speed limit while enjoying the scenery. It always feels special to have valet service and especially nice to have preferred up front parking. JB’s on the beach offers three options for parking: preferred up front valet, regular valet, and self-parking. The valet service is excellent, and they take good care of premium and difficult to drive cars (sometimes I get nervous when they are not familiar with my car or don’t know how to drive it).
They are practicing safe operations with masks required, a quick digital scan of temp and social distancing. We showed up early and had a short wait (8 mins past reservation), but if you are adventurous you can take a quick walk on the pier for some added romance and they will text you when your table is ready. You can choose inside or outside and need to let them know at time of reservation. We prefer the outside because of the beautiful views from just about every table and the cool ocean breezes. The interior is beach themed and casual with a full size Hobie catamaran hanging from the ceiling. The atmosphere is relaxed and romantic, somehow you feel like you have your own private space even in a full restaurant.
The service is quick to greet with a friendly attitude but also lets you have your space. The drink options are nice with classics like wine and mixed drinks as well as some fun and creative options. I always like to experiment with new drinks so I tried the Spicy Pineapple Margarita (which is different and delicious but I have to warn you, there is some heat) and later the Bloody Mary (which was also perfectly spiced) and my wife had a nice glass of wine.
There is a lot of seafood on the menu (which I love but my wife does not always care for) but enough options to suit any taste. We sometimes just order appetizers because we like to try lots of different foods and BJ’s has a wonderful selection. We ordered the Dynamite Scallops and the Lobster Flatbread. We thought both were excellent and we would recommend either. The service was perfectly timed, and they cleared plates and refilled drinks without being bothersome. For the main course we ordered the Land and Sea “Popper” (New York Strip, crab and potato hash, and bacon wrapped stuffed Jalapeno) and we like to share (mostly because it’s too much food) so seeing how a restaurant handles that is always telling of the service. They brought out the main plate and a second sharing plate which was nice. The main course was excellent, I was surprised how well the crab and potato hash blended in flavors. My wife does not care for crab, but she seemed to like the combination of flavors also. The steak was perfectly cooked and had great seasonings which did not require additional salt or pepper. The popper was amazing and I would order just these as an appetizer if they offered it. The overall experience was great and delivered on a romantic and fun date night. After the dinner we like to drive along the coast and relax then go home and finish the night off with a bottle of basic champagne (I should say inexpensive sparkling wine). Our rule is always to have a cold one in the fridge.
Have fun, love life, love each other and make the most of every day.