Mike Saperstein and Evan David, the duo behind Charm City Burgers and El Jefe Luchador, will debut the Rebel House, a casual, chef-driven restaurant at 299 E. Palmetto Road, by mid-January.
As is the case at Miami's newly opened Yardbird, whiskey and bourbon will be a focus at the bar. The duo highlights liquor that has seen increased popularity nationwide, paired with appreciation for Southern-inspired cuisine: fried chicken, shrimp and grits, and fried green tomatoes, for example. Steering the kitchen is a well-known local chef whose identity is under wraps until the opening draws near.
Saperstein predicts that the area will be the focus of a restaurant renaissance because of cheap rents and a discerning clientele. "Right now,
Boca is becoming a food destination for restaurateurs," said Saperstein.
Before Misner Park was built, "little French bistros" and Trattoria
Romana serviced the area's dining habits, notes Saperstein. Construction and the debut of
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Mizner Park resulted in stagnancy on the stretch. Now, "rents in this
area are really friendly," said Saperstein, "especially when compared to
the rising costs of opening a restaurant in Mizner Park." Chef driven,
locally sourced restaurants are also more expensive, prompting creative
types looking to capitalize on a nationwide trend to cut costs by
seeking out less expensive real estate.
"Imbibe, Ingest, Indulge" is the catch phrase conceived by the duo, who are
in the process of engineering the cocktail list and menus. "Eat Your
Veggies" has already made the menu cut. "People looking for local,
organic vegetables have been underserved in this area over the past five
years," says Saperstein. "Chefs are scared of the costs of sourcing,
especially when vegetables will be the highlight of plates and not just
the garnish." That section of the menu isn't just for
vegetarian-friendly: Think Brussels sprouts and bacon, or greens with an
anchovy dressing.
Look to this blog for updates on the Rebel House. And for those of you missing Charm City Burgers, which has been closed for updates and renovations the past few weeks, fear not: The reopening is days away.
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