Ten Best New Restaurants in Broward and Palm Beach Counties in 2013

While it had its ups and downs, 2013 was a pretty good year overall. South Florida's economy picked up with rises in real estate and drops in unemployment, and more important, we got plenty of new places to eat.

Though some were here and gone in a minute, others seem to have firmly rooted themselves in the South Florida food scene.

From trendy Southern-inspired eateries to breweries to casual spots with great bar programs to upscale eateries near the beach, 2013 brought with it a wide selection of emerging concepts, and we're hoping to see the same for 2014.

We're excited about all most of the restaurant gifts we've received, but a list is a finite thing, and we could pick only ten out of the hundreds that sprouted up over the past 365 days.

See also: Restaurant Closings in Broward and Palm Beach 2013: Year in Review

Also, we want to give credit where it's due with honorable mentions of Fort Lauderdale's Red Cow, the Boca Raton location of Danny Meyer's Shake Shack, and Delray Marketplace's Burt & Max's.

With that, here our our picks for the ten best new restaurants in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

10. Southern Swank Kitchen

It's no secret: Southern food is hot right now -- and it has been for a while. But like much else in the food world, it took a while to find a place in Broward and Palm Beach. With a group of classically trained chefs from Miami behind the menu, here you'll find modern takes on traditional dishes from the South in country-Western Davie. From chicken and waffles ($16) with homemade marshmallow sage sauce to 18-hour pulled pork sliders ($10) to low-country shrimp and grits ($14), everything served is lowbrow but with a haute twist -- and that's just the way we like it.

See also: Restaurant Openings in Broward and Palm Beach Counties 2013: The Year in Review

9. Del Frisco's Grille

"The island" is known for being a stuffy playground for wealthy socialites -- generally, not our cup of tea. However, at this newly opened location of the boutique chain, stale is the last thing you'll find. A social bar offers a wide selection of wines as well as cocktails shaken by hand and on draft. Pompous? No way. The new American menu features a large array of comfort foods prepared with a South Florida twist, such as pulled pork empanadas, kale and Brussels sprouts salad, plantain-crusted grouper, and a Southern fried chicken sandwich. Obviously, being that it's a grill, you can still find yourself a steak, but the fare and the vibe is anything but staid.

8. Lobster Bar & Sea Grille

Occupying the space that housed Jackson's Steakhouse for years, this place is filling the void for high-end cuisine that was left in its wake. The classic steak-house decor was switched out for shiny white subway tiles, warm woods, and vintage-inspired light fixtures, reminiscent of the old-school oyster bars from back in the day. The menu, however, is the opposite of antiquated: The food has been hailed as some of the best on the block in dishes like razor clam and scallop ceviche, flash fried lobster tails, and Mediterranean octopus. Sure, it's pricey, but its style and substance are hard to come by.

7. Green Bar & Kitchen

A great dish doesn't need to include meat or gluten: This place is proof. Opened in early February, this Fort Lauderdale vegan and gluten-free spot has been garnering a following of health-conscious eaters since day one. Dishes like the Buffalo Tempeh Sandwich ($8) and the GBK Burger ($10), made in-house with brown rice, chickpeas, quinoa, carrot, onion, and parsley, and sunflower seeds as a binder with a spicy chipotle sauce, are enough to satiate even the most die-hard carnivore. With South Floridians' newfound awareness of health and wellness, it's no surprise that this place is always packed -- and we hope to see the trend expand in 2014.

6. The Kitchen

Founded by chef/owner Matthew Byrne and his wife, Aliza, Kitchen opened in October in West Palm Beach. The concept is quite simple: Buy only the highest-quality, freshest ingredients and do as little to them as possible, just as the Byrnes do in their kitchen at home. With a constantly rotating menu and private chef table that hosts up to ten, the kitchen experience offers a new way to dine for foodies in Palm Beach County. With his restaurant labeled a contemporary American brasserie, Byrne channels his passion and discipline to create refined yet approachable dishes. For November, highlights included a duck ragout over fettuccine and seared salmon with corn and leek risotto in a lobster and tomato broth. It may be bit off the beaten path in terms of the scene, but the best things usually are.

5. Hot & Soul

This is South Florida: Most of us don't feel the need to don more than shorts, a T-shirt, and a pair of flip-flops. Here you can come as you are and eat some damned good fine cuisine. Husband-and-wife team Mike Hampton and Christy Samoy, both of whom attended culinary school in New Orleans, churn out a wide array of global soul food in dishes like chicken adobo, a classic Filipino dish from Samoy's family background; Aunt Dewey's Gumbo Yumbo, with duck and andouille sausage; and Gnaughty Gnocchi, with oxtail, San Marzano tomatoes, basil, and pecorino cheese. A constantly rotating selection of craft beers and boutique wines follows the artisanal bent. It's this level of authenticity that has us going back again and again.

4. 13 American Table

This place has brought a piece of South Florida's burgeoning foodie ethos straight from Delray Beach to Boca Raton. Owners Albert and Melanie Aletto opened the spot last summer, and they brought in some heavy hitters from Atlantic Avenue. Both chef Anthony Fiorini and general manager Oliver Tito have worked at the highly respected grandfather of the Delray food scene, 32 East. At 13 American Table, you'll find a somewhat similar approach to cuisine, with high-quality ingredients prepared in simple but exquisite form. The New American-style fare incorporates international influences, with dishes ranging from Josper-grilled octopus and family eggplant with burrata, crostini, and basil to Florida grouper ceviche and BBQ pork belly. Sure, it has influences from all over the world, but it's the perfect example of the American melting pot.

3. Jove Kitchen & Bar

Making its debut at the Palm Beach Food and Wine Festival earlier last month, this Palm Beach spot has some of the most interesting Italian fare that can be found. Italian-born chef Mauro Zanusso is straight from the Old Country -- well, by way of a Four Seasons in Egypt, actually -- and he brings with him new Italian cuisine that is unlike anything you've ever had. He's working alongside the Four Seasons' longtime executive chef, Darryl Moiles, to create new takes on classics, such as tomato and burrata salad with a prosciutto broth and cocoa-tuille basil; gnocchi with tomato broth, chili and herbs; and bone-marrow ravioli with short rib. Though it hasn't been around for long, with a name like the Four Seasons, you know it has to be good.

See Also: Five Best Dishes at the Palm Beach Food and Wine Fest's Grand Tasting (Photos)

2. S3

Owned by the group that owns YOLO, Vibe, and Tarpon Bend, the Restaurant People, like their other locales, this is one of the busiest spots to hit the area. Located at the base of the Hilton Beach Resort, appropriately named for its close proximity to the shore, the S3 offers views of the water from almost every seat. The food and drinks trump the ambiance. Local favorite executive chef Chris Miracolo has created a menu of global eclectic fare ranging from European-inspired ricotta gnocchi with fennel leek fondue, peas, baby shiitake, and truffle to Southern heritage pork loin accompanied by sausage bread pudding, heirloom carrots, and pole beans to sushi and everything in between. Cocktails follow the cuisine with drinks featuring ingredients from across the world, like S3's Sexy Summer Seduction with Pisco Porton, citrus juices, and passion fruit foam; and Thai-Coconut Crush, vanilla infused Bacardi, basil, mint, cilantro, and coconut milk gin. With unparalleled views, creative fare, and cool craft drinks, no wonder it's always packed.

1. Hullabaloo

Opened last January, this Italian-inspired gastro pub is the latest spot to come from longtime South Florida restaurateur Rodney Mayo. Like many of his other spots, the concept here is "craft everything," with well-picked microbrews, artisanal fare, boutique wines, and handcrafted "kitchen" cocktails in a down-to-earth setting. Even the coffee is sourced from small-batch roasters. Executive chef Frtiz Cassell churns out handcrafted dishes like heirloom tomato and house-made buratta salad; braised duck ravioli served with calamari, grilled asparagus, and lemon crema; and house-cured fennel salmon served with toasted flatbread and a soft-poached egg. Here, it's not about glitz or trendy cuisine; it's about real food for authentic people -- something we could stand to see more of in transient South Florida.

Follow Sara Ventiera on Twitter, @saraventiera.