Gatsby’s Offers Live Music and Upscale Fare

While I tend to spend much of my time frequenting fine dining establishments (sorry, it’s a job for me), sometimes it’s nice to just throw on a pair of jeans and let my hair down.  This weekend the destination was Gatsby’s in Boca Raton for a TasteCasting event  – yes, that’s where a group of my socially connected foodie friends are invited in to try out new food/dining establishments and in return, we tweet about our experiences.

With that said, Gatsby’s is not a fine dining establishment, but rather a relaxed gathering spot with a neighborhood feel. I actually hadn’t been to Gatsby’s in quite some time, but when there was a location in West Palm Beach, I found it to be a perfect destination for when those late night hunger pangs struck. When it closed, I had completely forgotten that there were three other destinations in South Florida – Boca Raton, Kendall and Davie – so I was excited to check it out once again. We visited the Boca Raton location. When you walk inside, you will immediately be drawn to the bar area. We came in on a Friday evening and the chairs in the bar area were full – many were sports fanatics cheering on their favorite team, while others were participating in their Ultimat Happy Hour. You sure don’t have to worry about the energy being dead here (yes, we’ve all walked into venues that were dead inside and as quickly as we walked in, we just as quickly walked out as we were not about to hang out by ourselves on a Friday night). Their Happy Hour is fantastic here too, if you are looking for an inexpensive night out. Ladies drink free Ultimat Vodka on Fridays between 5:00 – 8:00 pm and everyone can nosh on 25-cent wings and $4 pizzas during that same time. While we didn’t hang out in the immediate bar area, we could still feel the pulsating energy present. Sure they do have the typical bar area, but Gatsby’s has some pleasant additions that not everyone knows about.

Pork Dumplings

1. They have private rooms available to rent out in the back for your next private party. These rooms are filled with comfy chairs, a private bar area, tables and some great pool tables to challenge your fiercest competitors.
2. Live music on the weekends. Sometimes it is tough to find a place to listen to live music, but you can always be assured you can find it at Gatsby’s on Friday and Saturday nights. It usually starts around 10:00 pm, though there are always exceptions so be sure to check out their website. With names like The Edge, Eric Vick and Hollywood Lovescene making regular appearances, get ready to strut your stuff on the dance floor. Sometimes I forget how much live music livens up the scene, but now I’m ready to hunt it down.
3. Get ready for some upscale bar fare. While typical bar food like Chicken Wings, Chips and Salsa and Calamari do grace the menu, their menu is a lot more extensive and everything is made from scratch. Their menu looks like a book and be ready to enjoy scrumptious appetizer selections such as Jumbo Sea Scallops, Thai Chicken Satay, Sesame Cold Seared Tuna and Baby Lamb Chops. If you’d like something more substantial, why not try out one of their gourmet pizzas, a sandwich (Blackened Mahi, Filet Steak or the Cajun Chicken Wrap) or a tempting salad (Gorgonzola, Sesame Ahi Tuna or a Blackened Chicken Salad).
4. I was also surprised with their extensive wine selection and you certainly don’t have to worry about finding something to enjoy here. Classic selections that you find at some of the better restaurants around town, like La Crema Pinot Noir or Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio, make welcome appearances on the menu.
5. Smoking is allowed at Gatsby’s. Depending on who you are, this could be a positive or negative piece of information, but regardless, it’s something to be aware of.

Gatsby’s is located at 5970 SW 18th Street in Boca Raton. (561) 393-3900 There are also locations in Davie and Kendall.

Photos from personal collection.