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Italian Restaurant in Boca Grande

By RACHEL ALEXANDER, STAFF WRITER
Charlotte Sun-Herald Newspaper. Reprinted with permission. September 18, 2006

Boca Grande’s best kept year-old secret

By RACHEL ALEXANDER STAFF WRITER

BOCA GRANDE — Boca Palms Restaurant on Gasparilla Island might be last year’s best-kept secret.

It’s Italian fine casual dining.

The food is just fine and dining is laid back and comfortable.

“You can’t get this food anywhere else,” owner Steve Garrett said. “It’s absolutely fivestar dining. I’d put my food up against anyplace.”

Garrett opened the restaurant in July 2005 where the former Jam’s restaurant was, but recently decided to change and improve the menu.

The Palms is open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and has Italian-style wraps, a choice of burgers and an assortment of ciabalta bread paninis.

It is a family restaurant and Garrett didn’t forget to offer a few Italian items and chicken tenders for children.

The dinner menu includes appetizers such as camberi all griglia, stuffed artichokes with four cheeses served with tomato sauce, and cozze alla torantino, New Zealand mussels sauteed with garlic, capers, kalamata olives and chunky tomato. The appetizers average around $10.

Dinner entrees offered are pastas, fish, veal, and chicken. The chicken is cooked to exact tenderness and the lasagna is not too heavy, said one guest.

The presentation is enticing, evoking a desire not to touch the all-edible display, yet it conjures thoughts that “this just has to be great.”

Chef Carlos Bertram garnishes his dishes with tasty sauces, herbs and an orchid flower that can be eaten.

“It’s healthy and it’s unique,” Garrett said. “Everything is all fresh. (Bertrams’) presentation is out of this world. The taste will knock your socks off.”

Bertram has trained in culinary arts all his adult life in famous New York City and Miami restaurants.

Most dishes do not include a salad, but they do include fresh sauteed vegetables done al dente.

Salads are, however, provided on the menu.

Dinner values range from around $12.95 up to $28.95, but average between $15.95 and $19.95.

For a less expensive evening, Boca Palms offers a variety of freshly baked pizzas, stromboli and calzones.

The dining room seats 60 and there are 40 seats outside under huge old oaks.

For more information about Boca Palms Restaurant, or to request a take-out order, call 941-964-2002.

The restaurant is at 480 Railroad Plaza, Boca Grande.

You can e-mail

Rachel Alexander at ralexander@sun-herald.com.

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