Butcher Block Grill, Boca Raton

The Butcher Block is a warm and friendly restaurant

located at 7000 W Camino Real, Boca Raton, FL 33433 - (561) 409-3035. The hostess, manager and wait-staff were pleasant, courteous and attentive. You can't help but enjoy that part of it. To start, the generous cocktails, martinis and wine list are priced nicely to go along with the great food.

John Savarese (formerly of the Flagler Steak House at the Breakers in Palm Beach) is the new head chef running the kitchen. We were offered a fine sampling of many of the new menu items. The Polenta & Crab Wonton with roasted red pepper truffle butter appetizer was delicious and flavorful. Then the Fried Green Tomatoes (arugula, radicchio, roasted red peppers,goat cheese and more) were perfectly prepared. Mom's Meatball and the Beef and Veal Bolognaise with whipped Ricotta was a meal in itself. But wait, there's more... Out comes the lemon spiked farro, shiitake mushroom Pan Roasted Salmon - mouth watering, seared and medium rare - perfect... After a short break to relax, out comes the Braised Short Rib in a cauliflower puree, braised fennel, roasted for 3.5 hours, in a chicken stock, lemon grass, garlic and other seasonings, it melted in our mouth.

I've been here before so I could not help but notice some very recent improvements around the bar area now with a new full cover awning canvas and improved lighting. So, they are clearly in the process of making some changes which will clearly add to the overall enjoyment of the dining experience. They also offer a great happy hour and lunch menu. Give them a try, I think you'll be pleased. Go to www.butcherblockgrill.com for menu and other details.

Chef John Savarese is the new Executive Chef at Butcher Block Grill. Previously, he was the Executive Chef at the Flagler Steakhouse at The Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach and The Italian Restaurant for eight years. It was here that he received the DiRoNa award. He was also the Executive Sous at Addison Reserve Country Club for four years.Chef John Savarese was born in raised in Queens, New York to a large Italian family. He developed his love of cooking while watching his mother and grandmother in the kitchen. He moved to Florida to start his culinary education and graduated from Florida Culinary Institute in 1998 with honors. John has worked in high-end resorts and prestigious country clubs over the past 16 years.

From the moment you step inside the intimate, contemporary West Boca location, you’ll understand why the Butcher Block Grill has earned a reputation among steak lovers as one of the best ‘all-natural’ steakhouses in Boca Raton. The rustic, trendy interior at Butcher Block Grill combines rich, dark wood and warm, inviting colors to create the ideal setting for romantic dinners, family meals, corporate functions and special occasions alike. Our dining room seats up to 145 guests, and can be reserved for private parties.Butcher Block Grill, a unique steak and seafood concept, is the first steakhouse in Boca Raton to utilize local, all-natural ingredients.

All of the restaurant’s meat and poultry is antibiotic and hormone-free, and humanely raised on a vegetarian diet. The restaurant’s seafood is wild-caught and locally sourced, and its produce is grown pesticide-free on Florida farms.

Butcher Block Grill, located at 7000 W. Camino Real, is open seven days a week, Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. Happy Hour is twice a day, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. and again from 9:00 p.m. to closing. In addition, Monday night is Prime Rib Special night, which includes a 12 oz.-16 oz. Prime Rib dinner for just $20.00. Ladies Night is every Thursday from 7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Ladies receive their first well or house drink free and can also enjoy $5.00 bar bites. Lunch specials are “Pick 1 for $9.” Butcher Block Grill is now open for Brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.