As younger people have been moving to Tequesta in increasing numbers, more trendy dishes and hidden-gem restaurants have followed.
Someone stumbling upon this 2-mile stretch of coastal village just north of Jupiter might be surprised by the mix of tasty food options they can find in its modest, stout shopping plazas.
From jam-packed sweet crepes fit for Sunday brunch to a vegan version of chicken wings and perhaps the best pierogies in northern Palm Beach County, this village has something for every foodie.
Here are three down-to-earth eateries with dishes that will satisfy diners and chefs with stories to tell.
“A Taste of . . . “ is a Palm Beach Post series that aims to highlight the county’s lesser-known culinary gems and the people behind the food. Tell us what area and restaurants to write about next!
Bagel Bistro: Where sweet French crepes meet decadent bagels
Address: 173 U.S. Highway 1
Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
An everything bagel with cream cheese, salmon lox, tomato slices and capers from Bagel Bistro in Tequesta.
At Bagel Bistro, consider the crepe with Nutella, banana, blueberries and strawberries ($8.65).
The soft and sweet French-style crepe is served warm, stuffed with fresh fruit and creamy Nutella and topped with whipped cream, strawberry sauce and powdered sugar.
Bagel Bistro also (perhaps obviously) sells bagels — and baked goods, sandwiches, quiches and salads. Its 25 bagel variations — including cinnamon raisin, bacon, cheddar and jalapeno and sun-dried tomato and provolone — are made fresh daily.
Frank Picard owned a private security guard company for 20 years but has always loved cooking. Still, running a restaurant was not something he dreamed of doing — until he started making bagels.
In 2014, he moved to Tequesta from Canada looking for a new challenge. He bought what was then called “Bagel Deli,” which was in desperate need of more customers, a new menu and fresh paint.
He scrapped the deli’s bagel recipe and formulated his own.
“I had no idea what kind of work I was getting myself into,” Picard said.
In Bagel Bistro’s early days, he would arrive at 2 a.m. to make bagels in time for opening. Now, he has a more efficient system with a bigger staff. He also opened a second location in Hobe Sound in 2020.
“Regulars make this place what it is,” Picard said. “This is their place.”
Tequesta Table: Discover traditional Ukrainian dishes with flair
Address: 233 U.S. Highway 1
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday
Tequesta Table sells pillow-soft pierogies with various fillings: potato, sauerkraut, blueberry and cherry.
At Tequesta Table, consider the pierogi ($12 for half-a-dozen). These are pillowy soft and succulent dumplings packed with fillings ranging from savory potato and sauerkraut to sweet blueberry and cherry.
The recipe has been in owner Victoria Shparber’s family for generations — it goes as far back as her great-grandmother.
Many of the dishes — like the pierogi — reflect Shparber’s Ukrainian roots. The restaurant even hosts a five-course traditional Ukrainian dinner monthly, which is by reservation only.
She owned a restaurant in Pennsylvania for 20 years before moving to Singer Island and opening Tequesta Table two-and-a-half years ago. She recently opened Sweet Juno in Juno Beach, which is like a smaller version of Tequesta Table.
Victoria Shparber at Tequesta Table, a restaurant she owns, on Oct. 16, 2024. She uses recipes loved by her Ukrainian family for generations and also some she creates herself.
“Cooking is my passion,” Shparber said. “I’ve worked in restaurants my whole life and it stuck with me. I experiment all the time. I don’t even use a cookbook or anything like that.”
Shparber said she tries to cook everything “the healthy way,” adding that she buys vegetables and bread locally.
Mood: A vegan restaurant with options for everyone
Address: 235 U.S. Highway 1
Hours: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday
The “cauli wings” at Mood in Tequesta are deep-fried crispy pieces of cauliflower coated in a spicy buffalo sauce served with carrots, celery sticks and a side of dairy-free “bleu cheese” dressing.
At Mood, consider the cauli wings ($15).These are deep-fried crispy pieces of cauliflower coated in a spicy buffalo sauce and served with carrots, celery sticks and a side of dairy-free “bleu cheese” dressing.
Mood is a vegan restaurant with a full bar, bohemian decor and shelves covered with plants for sale. The name is a nod to the menu that caters to whatever people may be in the mood for, said owner Megan Woodard. The dishes hit many notes including Italian, Mexican, Asian and more.
Woodard, a longtime vegan herself, opened Mood three years ago to share dishes that she loves with others. She said she often encounters a lack of vegan options at restaurants and wanted to close that gap.
Her grandmother taught her to cook at a young age. Woodard learned to take recipes and adapt them to be vegan.
Megan Woodard at Mood, a restaurant she owns in Tequesta, Fla., on Oct. 16, 2024. She opened Mood three years ago to share vegan dishes that she loves with other people.
“People seem to be scared of the word ‘vegan,’ but it’s real food,” said Woodard, who lives in Hobe Sound and also owns Perk Coffee House. “The flavors are amazing. This is good, creative, healthy plant-based food.”
Maya Washburn covers northern Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida-Network. Reach her at [email protected]. Support local journalism: Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: These 3 restaurants help Tequesta pack big flavor into small village
