Sassafras West Palm Beach 6.20.20

A Socially Distant Southern Feast

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Located in downtown West Palm Beach, Sassafras is the perfect blend of Southern charm and Palm Beach chic. Chef John Thomas and his crew didn't let masks slow them down in the kitchen, and the plates came out with such efficiency that we were stunned. It's evident that the entire menu has been so finely honed that each dish is consistently delicious. I'm confident that I could order anything off of the menu and it would leave me feeling as if I'd made the right choice. Moreover, the menu offers an array of shareable plates that make Sassafras a great place to come with friends (when it's safer to do so, of course).

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If you're a vegetarian, there are delicious, thoughtful menu options like the Hoppin' John, a hearty dish with sea island red peas, Carolina gold rice, and summer vegetables. After indulging in a large portion of the menu, it's nearly impossible to narrow it down to my favorites, but I'll try: the sour cream and onion style crispy chicken skins, for one, were incredibly flavorful, innovative, and fun to eat. Think of a potato chip - only better. The Edward's surryano country ham with pickled peached and hoe cakes was a new experience for me. I had never had hoe cakes before, but now they've got a new fan. The sweetness of the corn cake paired with the salty ham was the perfect melody of flavors. Finally, I was absolutely stunned by the pasta dish. The sweet pea and ricotta cappelletti in a parmesan-carrot broth was the perfect summertime pasta. Imagine my surprise when it was more delicious than any Italian restaurant's I can remember having. The only thing I disliked was having to share it! Dining at Sassafras is an experience that feeds all of the senses. The aromas are hypnotizing, the plating is gorgeous, and weeks later, I'm still thinking about when I can eat there again.

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