Known for its diverse dining and retail offerings, the Clematis District in Downtown West Palm Beach has recently welcomed three new dining and nightlife destinations: 33480 Bar & Grille, Oh My Chocolates and Mystique. Vendome, an edgy, hip clothing retailer, also opened recently on Clematis Street.
Owned by well-known local restaurateur and retailer Richard Day, 33480 Bar & Grill is the newest addition to Downtown’s bustling dining scene. Located on the ground floor of the Esperante building at 222 Lakeview Ave., this casual restaurant with an impressive menu offers indoor and outdoor seating for up to 200 patrons in a sophisticated setting. Its expansive menu features a variety of ethnic cuisines, with lunch options that include an array of salads and wraps, 12-oz. burgers, filet mignon sliders, blackened trout, ahi tuna, and more. For dinner, guests can sample sophisticated dishes such as lobster sliders with caviar, ahi sliders, beef carpaccio, crisp breast of duck, lamb chops and almond-crusted grouper at a moderate price. 33480’s fried calamari comes with three of Day's trademarked “Imaginaise” non-fat, low- calorie dipping sauces and dressings, which are also available for purchase.
“With new properties like CityPlace Tower and the Hyatt Hotel now open nearby Downtown, we’re experiencing a brisk business from people who enjoy indulging their palettes with creative dishes from our extensive menu,” said Day, who has owned restaurants in Palm Beach and North Palm Beach, and currently owns Crescent Tie Company, a men’s and women’s clothing line.
33480, which offers complimentary valet, features happy hour specials daily from 4 to 6:30 pm with $5 mojitos, martinis and wine by the glass. Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, Day said the average lunch tab is $12 and dinner is $18. The bar is open until 2 a.m., with a late-night menu served on Fridays and Saturdays until 11:30 pm. For more information, call (561) 832-5144.
Need a fine chocolate or gelato fix? Get ready to feed your addiction at the new store, Oh My Chocolates, now open at 219 Olive Avenue, between Evernia and Datura streets. The shop will carry chocolate by Abdallah, a 100-year old company that’s recognized as one of the country’s leading purveyors of fine chocolate. With more than 75 varieties available, patrons can sample everything from butter cream dark chocolate, pecan-topped vanilla cream, almond clusters and heavenly hash milk chocolate to cream caramels, dark chocolate orange jell sticks, chocolate-covered graham crackers and amaretto, raspberry or champagne truffles. Chocolate will be available for purchase by the piece, by the pound, or in gift boxes.
Owned by Raymond and Flor Nordine, Oh My Chocolates will also feature at least 12 flavors of home-made gelato, produced on-site with fresh organic ingredients, as well as an assortment of sugar-free candies. Coffee is also available, freshly ground from selected Central and South American coffee beans. In addition to traditional coffee, the shop will also offer a selection of fresh-made espressos and cappuccinos, including special flavors. Oh My Chocolates will also serve a limited menu of food in the late afternoon, which will include soups and pizzas.
“Oh My Chocolates fills a need in the community and fits nicely with the mix of nearby retailers, including O! Hair Salon, Paris Café, Impress Printers, Palm Beach Café and Uomo men’s retail and tailor shop,” said Raymond Nordine, who’s owned and developed properties in Downtown West Palm Beach since 1977. “The shop is a delight for those who want something sweet, and offers locals a place to pick up a delicious treat as a thank you to a friend, colleague or a dinner party host.”
Oh My Chocolates will be opened daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Outdoor seating is available. For more information, please call 561-8328017.
For hipsters looking for the new “it” location, Mystique is the place in the spotlight. Located at 114 S. Narcissus Ave., the 3,750-sq.-ft. nightlife venue offers a lounge-type atmosphere in a South Beach setting. The interior, styled in red, silver and black, features two bars, comfortable couches and six VIP tables. Owner Steve Supino said the venue also boasts a strategically placed sound system to allow for socializing and intimate conversation at the front bar with heavier beats on the dance floor. Mystique plays soft lounge-type music until about 11:30 pm and then picks up with beat with Top 40 and House music through the late night.
Mystique is open Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday from 7 pm to 3 am, and Friday and Saturday nights from 8 pm to 4 am. Starting April 10, famed local DJ Supreme 1 will be the resident DJ on Friday nights and currently Saturday nights are themed “Get Busy” with famed-DJ Jean Marc spinning. Sundays are themed “Revive Sundays” and Wednesdays are “In the Biz” night featuring $3 drinks, $5 shots and $125 bottles. Thursdays are Ladies Night, where women receive complimentary entrance, drink free until midnight and groups of four or more women receive a free bottle of champagne.
For more information about Mystique or to reserve a VIP table, call manager Mike Piraino at 561-294-5996 or visit www.myspace.com/mystiqueloungewpb.
On the retail front, Vendome, which opened in December 2008, is quickly becoming the go-to location for hip clothing and accessories. Located at 215 Clematis Street, this 4,000-sq.-ft. retailer stocks the hottest resort, club wear and active wear, plus a wide assortment of accessories, including jewelry, shoes, sunglasses, belts and scarves. The store also just added Bia Brazil, a new sport collection from Brazil that is crafted from fine Lycra and beautifully finished in the latest colors and designs. Manager Lisa Ballet said she added the line after noticing that models in South Beach were donning the popular brand day and night. The average price at Vendome is $50, with special discounts available: the store offers 10 percent off on Mondays; on your birthday; and for those who work on Clematis Street and City Place.
“Clematis Street is the hottest area in Palm Beach County, complete with great restaurants, lively nightlife and now cutting edge, designer-inspired fashions from Vendome,” said Ballet. “Our merchandise and atmosphere reflects the energy on the street and we stay open until midnight throughout the weekend so people can shop after dining or before going out.”
The store is open Monday and Tuesday, 11 am to 7 pm; Wednesday, 11 am to 8 pm; from 11 am to midnight Thursday, Friday, Saturday. It is closed on Sunday.
Since January 2008, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has announced more than 29 new restaurants and retailers that have opened in the Clematis District. For more information about Downtown West Palm Beach and its businesses, please contact the DDA at (561) 833-8873 or visit www.westpalmbeachdda.com.
