Restaurant review: Upscale seafood and grilled meats are worth crossing two bridges for
If you live in Palm City, you don’t have to travel far to get a bite to eat. Sometimes, you don’t feel like crossing a bridge or two to find a restaurant. Thankfully, we have wonderful choices in the neighborhood.
Fin & Flame Grill and Oyster Bar opened in the space that formerly housed the renowned Palm City Grill. Some of the ship vibe remains with lots of wood, booths and copper-topped tables. But the space is brighter and lighter with modern pendants, and the bar area feels more spacious and open with plenty of high-top seating.
Overall, the ambiance is warm, welcoming and relaxing.
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Our waiter, Matthew, stopped by immediately and greeted us while wearing a luminescent lighted bow tie, captain’s hat and neon shutter glasses that resembled the grill of a car. No one would accuse him of being inconspicuous. He was also fun and attentive. Who knew Fin & Flame provided dinner and a show!
Appetizers include Bam Bam Shrimp, tuna poke stack and hog wings, plus oysters and raw bar selections. Salads, soups, sandwiches and burgers are on the menu, as well as dinner entrees such as Caribbean snapper, BBQ pork ribs, salmon, short rib ravioli, and lamb chops.
The Better Bleu ($25) was a moist, hefty chicken breast stuffed with tavern ham, Swiss cheese and smeared with creamy, herby Boursin cheese. (I personally cook with Boursin often. It’s like a secret flavor weapon.) The chicken was rolled in crisp panko, baked, drizzled with a honey demi-glace, and served with a mound of mashed potatoes. Although the dish had humble aspirations, it was comforting, flavorful and imbued with a winning combination.
The queen prime rib ($31) was a gorgeous hunk of beef on the plate, hot from the grill, with all of the juices intact and ready for the first mouthful of savory deliciousness. It was artfully seasoned with coarse salt and cracked black pepper. On the side, a mound of mashed potatoes, which is typically grossly unappreciated but magical with a pat of butter, completed the team.
The Flame Burger ($18) also got a big thumbs-up at our table. Seared on a griddle, the blend of brisket, short rib and chuck had a nice char and pink interior. It was topped with aged white cheddar and smeared with a roasted garlic aioli, all piled onto a soft kaiser roll.
The pistachio crusted black grouper ($29) was an appetizing dish topped with vanilla and Key lime butter and served on wild rice. The vanilla lent a sweet quality, which was cut slightly by the lime. Both the pistachios and the wild rice bestowed nuttiness and texture.
Fin & Flame Grill and Oyster Bar is a welcome addition to the Palm City neighborhood scene. There are many dishes on the menu that would entice me back, including opting to park myself at a table in the bar with a cool glass of Chardonnay and a tempting appetizer during happy hour from 4-6 p.m. If you don’t live in Palm City, it’s worth it to cross a bridge or two.
Fin & Flame Grill and Oyster Bar
Cuisine: American
Address: 3208 S.W. Martin Downs Blvd., Palm City
Phone: 772-220-4745
Hours: Dinner is 4-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 4-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. The bar is open until 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday and until 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Alcohol: Full bar
Online: thefinandflame.com
Lucie Regensdorf dines anonymously at the expense of TCPalm for #WhatToDoIn772. Contact her at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Restaurant review: Fin & Flame Grill and Oyster Bar in Palm City
