Tucked away on Belvedere Road in West Palm Beach, a treasure has been found. This treasure centers around what is pure, simple and comes from the heart — and it is known simply as Kitchen. Husband and wife team Matthew and Aliza Byrne — new comers to the Palm Beach County restaurant scene — took their dream of building an extension of their at-home kitchen and opened up Kitchen in October 2013, an intimate space that seats 36 people inside and 16 outside.
Chef Matthew Byrne comes to Kitchen from the private chef industry. He spent about 12 years working between Philadelphia and Palm Beach, before being recruited as Tiger Woods’ personal chef. His wife, Aliza, with a sunny disposition, brings her enthusiasm and passion for the restaurant to the front of the house. Together, they run a seemingly flawless gathering spot for foodies and visitors alike, where fresh ingredients and simple preparations shine.
Although Kitchen has been on my list of places to go for quite some time now, it wasn’t until a few weeks ago that I made it in (thanks to an invite in from the owners) — and I’ve been kicking myself for not going in sooner, ever since, as it’s nearly picture perfect. From the moment you walk in, you’ll see why — beautiful design (Aliza’s other passion is interior design); comfortable seating; clean crisp tables; and a friendly and knowledgeable staff.
While the little side bits complete the experience, they are small in comparison to the big flavors that Chef creates in the kitchen. For him, it’s all about taking top-of-the-line ingredients and making them shine. This is evident in his ingredient-focused menu, that changes with the seasons, and using only fresh, high-quality ingredients. Our experience started with a dip into the appetizer menu where Chef offered a modern take on comfort food. A simple, comforting asparagus dish – Byrne’s twisted version of bacon, eggs and toast – came with crisp asparagus slathered with a dollop of Chevré and then wrapped in thinly sliced Prosciutto and topped with a poached egg, while the Ahi Tuna Appetizer, a melangé of fresh ahi, mango and avocado was given a welcome kick with a spicy soy dressing to finish it off.
When something is marked on a menu as the chef’s favorite, you know that it’s not to be missed. Such was the case with Chef Matthews’ Chicken Schnitzel, where a juicy piece of chicken was pounded thin and was dressed with a salad of arugula, red onion and mushrooms and a fried egg. Take all of the ingredients in with one bite and your senses will surely be aroused. While this dish is noteworthy, and I highly recommend it, there were other stellar items on the menu including meat and seafood dishes. My favorite of the night was the Fish of the Day, featuring a fresh piece of sea bass (it was caught just hours before) served with heirloom tomatoes, and dressed with a lemon-caper sauce. To complete the dish, two sides were included (who said vegetables couldn’t be a highlight of your meal?) and the Dill Roasted Cauliflower and the Butternut Squash with truffle oil and goat cheese shined here.
Don’t rush out before treating yourself to dessert, as I’m still dreaming about the sweet ending to our meal. The Coconut Cake was as addicting as it was delicious, and we savored 5 moist layers of cake smothered in a cream cheese frosting and set in a strawberry sauce. This one is big enough for 2, but somehow it just manages to disappear. Second to the cake, but a very close second, was the Strawberry Shortcake. For you dessert lovers, you’ll be happy to know that their Coconut Cake is available to go and you can also order an entire cake for a special occasion.
In addition to the main dining room, Kitchen just opened up their new addition — The Den. It’s a cozy spot comprised of a 3-person bar and 4 small tables, perfect for waiting for your table or stopping by to enjoy a glass of wine with a little sweet something or anything off the menu, as the full menu will be available. For those wanting a taste of Chef Matthew’s cuisine with a small group, you can opt for the Chef’s Tasting Menu. Enjoy a 4-course dinner for $70 at the Chef’s Table (seats up to 12) or in The Den (seats up to 21). A $30 corkage fee will apply for those wanting to bring their own libations at the Chef’s Table and throughout the entire restaurant.
If you’re drooling like we still are and are eager to make your reservation, you are going to want to note that Kitchen has two (2) sets of seatings. The early seating is at 6:00, 6:15 and 6:30 p.m., while the later seating takes place at 8:00, 8:15 and 8:30 p.m. You will also want to note that reservations at Kitchen fill up quickly, so be sure to plan in advance. For parking, you can park in Kitchen’s small lot in front of the restaurant or in the adjacent lot where Sushi Jo is located (just east of the restaurant).
Kitchen is located at 319 Belvedere Road #2 in West Palm Beach; (561) 249.2281
