Here’s a first look at El Camino restaurant coming to Boca Raton’s Restaurant Row
El Camino is looking to park in Boca Raton.
The restaurant concept — scratch kitchens turning out what’s billed as “Mexican soul food” — will open its largest location yet this winter at the cuisine centric Restaurant Row, a dining destination next to the Town Center mall. The other El Camino locations are in Delray Beach, West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, all under the Modern Restaurant Group umbrella that is owned by Brandon Belluscio, Brian Albe and Anthony Pizzo (the same trio behind Cut 432 and Park Tavern in Delray Beach).
This is a full-circle moment for the cofounders, who all started their hospitality careers in Boca Raton and met as teammates while working at Pranzo before owning Vertical 114 Modern Wine & Bistro.
“Since we were in Boca, I think this was 17 years ago, it’s evolved and changed so much,” Belluscio says. “But when you really think about Boca, it’s been so long since something new is coming along in Midtown. So I really do feel like all the customers and the guests are really going to embrace us. … We’ve been away from it for a while. And, yeah, it certainly feels like coming back home. For sure.”
THE VENUE
Each El Camino location has grown in size and stature, according to Francis Lake, vice president of operations for Modern Restaurant Group. There will be more than 300 seats in the restaurant, with 80-plus seats outside, he said.
“We’re happy to say that this location in Boca in its evolution is certainly going to be our largest location, with 10,000 square feet,” Lake says. “A few things unique about this location is we’ve really embraced the outdoor part of it … in a larger format than we have in the past. So this restaurant, not only is it going to be our largest one, it’s going to be our largest one with the offering of outside seating.”
The interior design is by Pam Manhas of Fort Lauderdale-based Manhas Design.
“The main patio dining area features two live trees with banquette seating below them to create a more intimate dining experience. There is also a series of high-top tables with umbrellas, along with various dining table configurations including a drink rail and soft seating in one of our favorite spaces — the outdoor fireplace,” Manhas says. “The fireplace anchors the entire corner of the patio while providing a cozy dining and lounge experience. The indoor/outdoor bar wraps around our building to create an engaging experience for all bar guests.”
As with the other El Camino eateries, the featured muralist is Miami street artist Ruben Ubiera.
“After working with El Camino for all their projects, I have a feeling for what marries their look,” Ubiera says. “The new El Camino Boca Raton location is a very elevated space, very modern. They’ve really pushed the envelope, and that’s what I am trying to do with the murals in this space. I’m trying to making things very three-dimensional.
“The murals will be very funky and pretty edgy. I’m going to keep them a surprise, but I’ll say that people will really enjoy taking pictures in front of them.”
THE FOOD
The El Camino menu focuses on tacos, quesadillas, fajitas, burritos, enchiladas and nachos — or what they call their signature “Mexican soul food.”
“The reason that we say that, it really comes from the heart,” Lake explains. “Everything that comes out of our kitchens is made from scratch. The same love is put in with our beverage program. … We have over 25 sauces that are made from scratch fresh daily. We have tamales, we have empanadas. We have things that are like labors of love, that are literally handmade, day in and day out, to preserve freshness and quality.”
There will, however, be some dishes unique to the Boca Raton location.
“We’re doing a Red Snapper Ceviche Veracruz with Manzano chilies, pickled Cambray onions, caper berries and organic green olives,” Lake says, as well as an El Camino Chop Salad and a Cochinita Pibil Taco with a habanero salsa.
THE COCKTAILS
Drinks that will debut at El Camino in Restaurant Row include:
- Mango Lassi Margarita with Mezcal, Tequila Reposado, lime, Firewater Bitters and a special Mango Lassi Mix (mango puree, spiced green mango powder, lime, sheep’s milk yogurt and turmeric-chili salt)
- Blueberry Margarita with Tequila Reposado, Mezcal, Pasubio Amaro, Palo Cortado Sherry and lacto-fermented blueberry syrup
- Avocado Margarita with Blanco Tequila, orange Combier, ripe avocado, fresh lime and avocado pit orgeat
Other cocktail highlights include:
- Michelada (a beer-based cocktail) using a house-made michelada mix (El Camino hot sauce, Maggi seasoning as well as michelada salt made in-house using Tajín, alder-smoked sea salt and ground chipotle peppers)
- Prickly Pear Gin & Tonic with Las Californias Citrico Gin and herbal botanicals from Mexico and California
- Hibiscus-Guava Margarita with house-made spiced hibiscus syrup (piloncillo, dried hibiscus flowers and cinnamon)
- Banana Tequila, in which 30 pounds of bananas are used to make 12 bottles; Reposado Tequila and bananas are sous vide for four hours (the house-made banana peel demerara uses the restaurant’s leftover banana skins so there’s zero waste)
THE LOCATION
In addition to the owners’ career foundation in Boca Raton, and the menu being a good fit here, Belluscio feels another advantage is that Restaurant Row has the right vibe for El Camino.
“I certainly feel like the product and the value and just the space that we have is super special, so we’re going to embrace that,” Belluscio says. “I think what we deliver, it’s just going to bring the crowds.”
Boca Raton-based PEBB Enterprises is the developer of Restaurant Row, a 22,500-square-foot ground-up, restaurant-only project that is surrounded by class A office buildings and at least 10 hotels within a 10-minute drive. Fiolina Pasta House, Pubbelly Sushi and Shabibi (the latest concept from “Hell’s Kitchen” alum Ralph Pagano) also signed on.
“(It’s) strategically located. We think that area is an up-and-coming part of Boca, a resurgence of Boca’s greatness,” says Lake. “One of the things that we love about that area is that we’ve done well in the financial districts, so that holds true with that there … And then the location of the mall certainly helps as well.”
There’s also “the stature with other restaurateurs that are going in there, the elevated food scene,” Lake adds. “We certainly felt that was an area where we could continue our great success.”
THE GRAND OPENING
You can register to attend the grand opening by signing up at the restaurant’s website. The new El Camino will be at 5535 Town Center Road, Unit 4, Boca Raton. To sign up for the grand opening, or for more information, go to ElCaminoBocaRaton.com.