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There was a time Jupiter, Fla., was most famous for its Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, a red-brick stalwart that had survived the Civil War and many a hurricane. Throughout the ‘705 and ‘8os, though, there was Harpoon Louie’sa restaurant that was just as recognizable to tourists as the lobster-red lighthouse across the inlet that became something of a second home for locals who came once, twice, even three times daily to enjoy quality dishes served up with a side of Florida ambiance.
For more than 20 years, Harpoon Louie’s offered more than modestly priced breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Diners were invited to take a dip in the pool and to use an on-site locker room to tuck away their belongings while they spent days or eveningsor maybe bothtrolling the surrounding beaches soaking in the spectacular waterfront. Signature dishes like the Mascarpone-Stuffed Challah French Toast and the Crabarooneya filet crowned with a savory crab cakehad visitors popping in for breakfast and often coming back for dinner later the same day. When Owner Ken DePasquale sold the restaurant in 1989, after serving more than 600,000 meals a year to loyal diners, many a Louie’s devotee felt aches in both heart and tummy.
“I never really wanted to sell it,” owner Ken DePasquale says. “But the offer was just too good to refuse.” Indeed, the 23rd highest-grossing restaurant in the nation was sold for a record-breaking $7.5 million.
Well, for those foodies whose hearts sank along with Harpoon Louie’s decades ago, your day has arrived. The beloved restaurant has returned oceanfront at the Deerfield Pier with all the same passion, great food, and unforgettable highlights that made Harpoon Louie’s a full-fledged culinary experience.
Bringing back a restaurant with a legend has been a huge undertaking. For Louie’s return, DePaswuale called on Tom Prakas, the noted broker of restaurant properties who has put together more than 400 restaurant deals from the Keys to Palm Beach. “Tom coming in is a rare opportunity for us to join forces. It’s an unusual twist,” DePasquale says. “Together, we’re a formidable team.”
In January 2007, after scouting dozens of locations, Prakas found their spot the former Ristorante Luna Rosa, located at the end of the Deerfield Beach Pier. The restaurant, with a wraparound oceanfront patio, has a stunning panoramic view of the pier and the surfers who weave in and out of the rolling waves.
Ensuring the integrity of Harpoon Louie’s was a necessity for both men. The decor of the new restaurant features the original photos and souvenirs that the first location showcased, and vintage photos supplied by the Deerfield Beach and Boca Raton Historical Societies were transformed into wall art. (DePasquale also kept all the hand-drawn drafts of the menu he created 20 years ago and plans to display them in the new property.) Contemporary additions include two exterior lit-from-within gigantic metal fish sculptures, and a pair of oversize Adirondack chairs emblazoned with the Harpoon Louie’s name guarding the entrance.
Plenty of classic touches from the original Harpoon Louie’s came along for the ridethe new Louie’s will have beachfront lockers for patrons to store valuables. A “Louie Crew Card” will provide incentives for frequent diners, and DePasquale and Prakas are currently brainstorming even more amenities for patrons. “Maybe kayaks,” DePasquale muses.
DePasquale and Prakas didn’t stop at the tried and true classics, though. Bar Sushi, a trendy separate sushi bar located in Louie’s Lounge, will appeal to modern diners with an assortment of salads, rolls, sake, and the soon-to-be-famous Saketini. The menu, prepared by a Nobu-trained chef, entices a completely different crowd in the eveningsfolks keen on enjoying trendy rolls and cocktails with complementary flavors. So, if you’re looking for a drink to cap off your day, take a sharp right at Louie’s hostess stand.
As for the original fare, DePasquale has not only tracked down the same baker who fired the sandwich rolls and the beloved towering challah French toast guests devoured years ago, he’s also returned to the seafood purveyors that helped make the original Louie’s renowned. You can taste the results in dishes ranging from a grilled cheese with lobster and Brie to Boston-style clams in a melted butter sauce.
Peak dining experiences include the signature Down East specials (baked and stuffed, fried, or broiled shrimp dinners); the Wicked Good dinners (including fish-and-chips with hand-cut french fries served in miniature frying baskets; and the Chicken and Crab Mandarin, a breast topped with crab and orange slices). Market-price Maine lobsters can be prepared in one of seven ways.
“We have original Harpoon Louie’s diners who have come in to try us and are thrilled about how great everything still is,” Prakas says.
Whether you stop in to say hello to the old Harpoon Louie’s regulars, or to sample menu favorites from tried-and-true classics to trendier sushi additions, or even just to take in the world-class view of the Atlantic horizon silhouetted by the Deerfield Pier, you have to stop in at Harpoon Louie’s. Whether it before breakfast, lunch or dinner, for sushi or for cocktails, Harpoon Louie’s feels like home once again. And this time, it’s for keeps.
Originally posted 2009-10-02 00:00:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter