Now that I've committed my heart to a non-foodie, it's really up to me to throw out the suggestions for where we eat. If it were up to him, we'd be eating pancakes for breakfast every day,
grilled chicken for lunch, and a burrito every night for dinner. But recently, we left our selection up to the restaurant gods and were
blessed.
I felt like going for a little drive and insisted we bypass Boca and Delray in search of something less commercialized. So, on a whim, we exited Lantana Road and headed east to the ocean. We saw a sign announcing The Dune Deck Cafe, serving breakfast, lunch, and brunch on the sand. Sold.
We walked through the open-air, split-level space to our table. Each chair
We walked through the open-air, split-level space to our table. Each chair
overlooked the ocean and was encircled by a lovely cool breeze. A chalkboard announced the daily specials: stone crab claws, hog snapper, spinach pie, and surprisingly, lots of great Greek choices.
The French toast stuffed with an apple, pear, raisin, date, and fig filling sounded appealing, and I was tempted to get the Mickey Mouse pancakes with chocolate chips for a laugh, but I stifled my sweet tooth and went for the grilled hog snapper. Of course, the boyfriend ordered a grilled chicken sandwich (geesh!) that came well marinated and with super crunchy fries. My hog snapper was artfully grilled and served hot atop a generous serving of seasoned rice.
We looked around at what others had ordered -- toppling salads, loaded gyros, and beefy burgers seemed the most popular. But the customers appeared mesmerized by the turquoise ocean's waves. Even in broad daylight, this spot was blissfully romantic and charming.
Just before we left, a prismatic tropical fruit salad for two was delivered to a table nearby and my sweet tooth snapped back to attention once again. Mr. Perfection recommended we stop for a couple Slurpees on the way home, apparently reading my mind. See why I'm so in love with this guy? Most men would think a slice of cake or a pint of ice cream would be the ultimate comfort food, but mine knows those neon-colored, sugar-packed icy drinks strum my heart strings every time.
Who says it costs a lot to please me? That $3 gift made me gosh-darn giddy the whole ride. You guys can have your football; for me, there's nothing like a Sunday spent playing Fantasy Foodie with my guy on the dunes and having a Cherry Coke/Strawberry/Blue Raspberry Slurpee (created in tribute to the suicides we used to make at the roller rink) along for the ride.
The Dune Deck Cafe is located at 100 North Ocean Blvd. in Lantana. Call 561-582-0472, or visit dunedeckcafe.com.
Freelance writer Riki Altman eats everything that won't try and eat her first (with exceptions, of course) and dates younger men, older men, and older men who act like young men, along with locals, tourists, illegal aliens and just plain aliens. Love Bites is a compilation of what happens when her dining and dating ordeals collide. Sometimes, it just ain't pretty.
