Operating out of the historic Paradise Building on South J Street, Coast Seafood Restaurant has opened in downtown Lake Worth Beach.
Setting up shop near the venerable Bamboo Room, the new restaurant opened on Aug. 8 and is run by the mother and daughter duo of Blair Jones and Lexe Leeman.
With a name like Coast Seafood their focus is pretty clear and that’s serving excellent ocean-derived fare including appetizers like their tuna poke and shrimp ceviche, along with entrees like the ahi tuna tostada or their daily fish specials.
No stranger to the food industry, Jones has run her own catering business out of Delray Beach for three decades with Leeman working alongside her for nearly 20 years. In addition, Jones was the executive chef at the Colony Hotel in Delray Beach for nine years.
Coast Seafood restaurant moves in where Da Vine Fusion Tapas moved out
Taking over the space previously occupied by Da Vine Fusion Tapas Wine Bar, Jones and Leeman said the buildout was a bit long. “Too long,” Leeman joked before adding that they had a lot of equipment to relocate within the space to get it the way they wanted it. Though the buildout took six months, Leeman said that their landlord was absolutely amazing throughout the process.
Both Delray Beach natives, Jones said “I’ve never had a business in Lake Worth Beach” and that opening a restaurant in the bohemian downtown is “kind of a new venture for us.”
The crab cake served with a warm corn salad and coast sauce at Coast Seafood Restaurant on November 15, 2024, in Lake Worth Beach, Florida.
She added that when scouting out the location “we really liked the Key West, artsy vibe” of the city and “thought it would be the perfect fit for us.”
Focused on fresh seafood, Jones said their menu is based on “some of my favorites” and that she and her daughter have worked together to create a menu that features “some fun interesting ideas.”
Though only open a little over three months, Jones said that several favorites have already emerged including their crab cakes, the blackened shrimp po’boy, the seafood salad roll (made with lump crab, shrimp and lobster) and the ‘fresh catch of the day’ featuring their tomato artichoke broth and creamy asparagus risotto.
Focused on serving the freshest possible fish, shrimp, lobster and more, Jones said that she’s been fortunate enough to have worked with Independent Seafood in West Palm Beach for years and always gets excellent product from them.
Stone crabs at Coast Seafood Restaurant on November 15, 2024, in Lake Worth Beach, Florida.
Though focused on seafood, the new restaurant also offers several steak and chicken appetizers and entrees.
They add specials daily and have adjusted the main menu based on what is popular.
Coast Seafood does not serve alcohol and is in the process of getting a beer and wine license, but guests are welcome to bring their own beer or wine.
“We’re really embracing Lake Worth Beach… the love and support… has been fantastic,” Leeman said.
Coast Seafood restaurant opens in Lake Worth Beach
Coast Seafood Restaurant has opened at 17 South J Street in Lake Worth Beach, Florida.
Where: 17 S. J St., Lake Worth Beach
Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday; 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Information: instagram.com/coast.seafood.lwb
Eddie Ritz is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at eritz@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Delray caterer opens new Coast Seafood restaurant in Lake Worth Beach
