A bit off the beaten path from many of the restaurants in West Palm Beach, Mr. B’s Tavern might just be that oasis you’ve been looking for.
A haven from the heat and focused on fun, this new restaurant is located along the industrial section of Georgia Avenue. Officially opened in late December, it is the creation of the husband and wife team Matt and Aliza Byrne. Yes, the same dynamic duo behind the wildly-popular and critically-acclaimed Kitchen.
Though still featuring body shops, painting contractors and sheet metal work, Georgia Avenue has become quite the eclectic mix that also includes several high-end design studios and antique dealers like Danielle Rollins, Authentic Provence, James & Jeffrey Estate Sales and more.
Not actively looking to open a new venue, Aliza Byrne said the restaurant “sort of fell into their lap.” She said Joey Molina, the owner of Independent Seafood, where they get their seafood for both of their Kitchen locations, reached out to them letting them know about the vacant space next to his store.
Intrigued and investigating further, Matt and Aliza took one look at the location, and despite being a disaster inside, they immediately knew they wanted it.
She said the second they walked in they thought “This place is so cool. We just felt it.”
Though Aliza said she and her husband love Kitchen, which is more upscale, “we’d always wanted a dive bar/tavern.” Though a tavern vibe, she said “We wanted something elevated… with the integrity of Old Florida.”
Menu at Mr. B’s Tavern uses same principal as restaurant Kitchen: KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid), with focus on fewer items made well
Though maybe a bit nondescript at first glance, Mr. B’s Tavern on Georgia Avenue in West Palm Beach, will take guests on a trip with their ‘Old Florida’ vibe, chill atmosphere, cocktails and casual, yet elevated menu.
Aliza said that the name ‘Mr. B’s’ is a take on their last name as well as their beloved dog Bentley.
After signing the deal for the space, Aliza said she reached out to a well-known designer friend of hers David Lucido. More than just any designer, he also happened to live just two streets away. She said when she was pitching the idea she told him “I know I can’t afford this, but this is going to be your watering hole.” “He took one look at it and said ‘I’m in.'”
Though the place was a wreck and had to be gutted, they made excellent time and had it ready to open in only four months.
Wanting to get the ‘Old Florida’ look and feel just right, Byrne said they worked with several nearby shops to outfit Mr. B’s with furniture and more from Show Pony, Eclectic Patina and others. “It was a no brainer that we would take advantage of all those sources.”
Though their menu isn’t massive, she said it was created with the same KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) principal they use on their Kitchen menu. Basically, Byrne said we do fewer things, but we do them really well.
While the vibe is ‘fast, casual’ the food concept is in “keeping with the integrity of Kitchen,” she said.
One of several tempting appetizers at Mr. B’s Tavern, the French onion dip comes with house-made chips.
Sourcing the best ingredients they can, they make everything in-house including their sauces and dressings and use no seed oils.
Options include appetizers like Mr. B’s fish dip with Old Bay crackers, French onion dip with house-made potato chips and wings including Buffalo or, in a nod to two dear friends who are French and Korean, the sweet and spicy Grandma Han’s.
Handhelds include options like the fried chicken schnitzel sandwich, the blackened fish sandwich, tavern burger and the vegetarian crispy eggplant ‘burger.’
Salads range from the grilled chicken cobb, Greek, and a chopped Italian that Aliza said “it’s like an Italian hoagie without the bread.”
There are also entrées like the NY strip, mussels, Mr. B’s roast chicken and their rigatoni vodka which has gotten rave reviews from customers already. “Everyone’s obsessed with our rigatoni,” she said.
Open seven days a week, requiring no reservations and with a motto that says “It’s always 5 o’clock at Mr. B’s,” they have a rocking list of libations including signature cocktails, wines and beer.
Featuring four signature cocktails that include the Las Brisas, Georgia Ave, The Stanton and Mr. B’s New Fashion, they all have ties to the area or tavern itself. Though the Georgia Ave and Mr. B’s New Fashion are pretty obvious, the other two might take a bit more thought. Give up? Las Brisas, featuring Citron Vodka, triple sec, charcoal lemonade and a lemon twist, is named for the Mexican restaurant that once occupied the space and The Stanton, with a blend of Cucumber Vodka, Elderflower Liqueur, lime and club soda, is named for the building directly across the street.
The beer selection is equally unique and includes drafts Modelo, Stella Artois, Michelob Ultra and a rotating local craft on tap. Mr. B’s also goes way cool, old school with bottles and cans including Coors Banquet (those short fat bottles), Miller High Life (yes, the champagne of beers) and, coming in 16-ounce tall boys, Pabst Blue Ribbon.
Weekends are insane, “It’s just a great vibe,” Byrne said. With a diverse mix of clientele, she said age-wise it runs the gambit and works. “People are happy, it’s not pretentious.”
They feature a DJ on Fridays and Saturdays and there’s an actual, coin-operated pool table keeping things thoroughly grounded in tavern coolness.
Maybe gushing just a little bit, she said “I’m so excited for the community, for West Palm Beach… so excited at how well this has been received.”
Mr. B’s Tavern in West Palm Beach
Though maybe a bit nondescript at first glance, Mr. B’s Tavern on Georgia Avenue in West Palm Beach, will take guests on a trip with their ‘Old Florida’ vibe, chill atmosphere, cocktails and casual, yet elevated menu.
Where: 5201 Georgia Ave., West Palm Beach
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 seven days a week; Happy Hour from 3 to 6 p.m.
Information: mrbspb.com; 561-838-7186
Eddie Ritz is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at [email protected]. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: West Palm Beach’s Kitchen open tavern with ‘Old Florida’ vibe, food
