Southern Hospitality: Best Golf Course & Coastal Dining in Palm Beach

Dining on a golf course is one of the joys of being in Florida, and something you can’t appreciate in the winter up north. Sweeping views of greens make a nice backdrop and the experience is often relaxed, but with a low key elegance.

One of the best is Al Fresco, located on a par-3 course in South Palm Beach.  Not only does it have a vista overlooking the greens, but it also has views of the Atlantic and the Intracoastal, and, best of all, it’s owned by the people who also own Renato’s on the island, so you know the food is exceptional.  You can choose from 12 different pizzas, (there are gluten free versions); beautiful salads including beet and goat cheese with balsamic reduction; lobster over mixed greens; and such classics as veal scaloppini with shiitake mushroom cognac sauce; chicken parmigiana; and branzino in lemon sauce.

The House, located on a golf course in West Palm Beach called The Park, has vaulted ceilings and oversized windows.  Dishes, often creative, run the gamut from spiny lobster corn dogs and shrimp scampi pizza, to crab salad with minted yogurt and mango chutney, or local snapper with hearts of palm, ginger-scented spinach, lobster potato mash and smoked tangerine sauce. Though the focus is coastal, carnivores can enjoy grilled baby back ribs with tamarind-guava BBQ sauce.

The NorthPalm Beach Country Club is an uplifting spot with extremely convivial service, panoramic views of the Jack Nicklaus course, and a lively bar.  You can opt for a burger with caramelized onions and cheese, a juicy NY strip, or a thick cut of salmon, perfectly seared over risotto with peas and shrimp.

Amar, the tiny Delray Lebanese and Mediterranean restaurant that drew raves, has relocated to a larger, colorful dining room off Atlantic Avenue.  The charming staff delivers hummus several ways – simply made with lemon and tahini; or with the addition of chicken shawarma, beef shawarma, or braised lamb. Fattoush, lentil, and tabouleh, are among the salads.  Kebabs include wagyu and prawns, and entrees include lamb chops with mint pesto; branzino; salmon with sumac potatoes; and eggplant stuffed with beef. Save room for desserts like dark chocolate and fig tart, bread pudding with rosewater; and baklava.

In addition to La Goulue’s menu of beloved favorites like cheese soufflé, string bean salad and cog au vin, there are some dishes served only certain nights of the week. Frog legs were offered on Tuesday, and because they were so popular, they are now available Fridays as well. Wednesday and Sunday, prime rib is presented on a trolley, and on Thursday the trolley wheels up Beef Wellington. At lunch all week you can find the bistro’s uber popular club sandwich – an inch think version with thinly sliced chicken, bacon, tomato, egg and mayonnaise.  Says La Goulue’s owner Jean Denoyer: “We make it the same way I did it when I was at the Ritz in Paris in the 1960s.’’

Some of the most exquisite pasta in the county is being served at Serena Pastificio, including handmade creations such as trenette with pesto, fingerling potato, green beans, lemon and parmesan; pappardelle with short rib, wild mushroom, thyme and mascarpone; lobster mezzelune; fondutelli with truffle and taleggio; and simple but perfect spaghetti with zesty pomodoro. You might want to share a pasta and move on to a large whole branzino or crave-worthy bone-in ribeye.

Lovers of Italian fare should also check out Elisabetta’s, which has locations in West Palm as well as Delray. A selection of pizzas come in red and white varieties, or you can order cheeses and salumi to start.  Pastas are offered in long and short, and include a linguine fruiti di mare chock full of shellfish; butternut squash agnolotti; and rigatoni bolognese with braised beef and veal in Barolo sauce.  A wood burning grill turns out aromatic pork porterhouse; market fish, and a bone-in bistecca.