Deerfield Beach: Two Georges at the Cove (December 2016)

My spouse and I dined with two family members for a late dinner at Two Georges at the Cove on a Saturday evening (New Year’s Eve) in late December 2016. Two Georges is open daily for lunch and dinner, and accepts reservations via telephone. Boynton Beach hosts another location of the Two Georges restaurant, but the Deerfield Beach location has been open since 2010. (For 34 years prior, “The Cove” restaurant occupied the space.)

Two Georges is located along the Intracoastal Waterway in Deerfield Beach almost in the shade of the drawbridge and along the water. You access the restaurant’s dedicated parking lot by driving through the Cove Shopping Center (which features other restaurants such as American Rock Bar and Grill, Tipperary Pub, Le Val de Loire, Casa Maya, Los Andes, Taj Indian Cuisine, and the Sticky Bun). You can walk to Two Georges from nearby hotels like the Comfort Inn and the Wyndham (and although it is a bit farther, you can also walk from the Embassy Suites, where we stayed). Even more uniquely, you can “dock and dine” at Two Georges (sail in on your boat, dock it, and enjoy a meal before you sail off again).

Two Georges is a large restaurant that can accommodate many patrons either indoors and outdoors. Indoor seating is at booths and tables in a large spacious room surrounded by windows. Indoor décor features light wood and an “Old Florida” and sports-fishing theme. Outdoor seating is beneath a huge canopy on a deck several feet down from the main restaurant level and on an even elevation with the water. The restaurant offers two bars, one indoors and one outdoors, both of which have large TVs. Two Georges is a popular happy hour spot, and space at the outdoor bar and on the deck is popular. (Although the restaurant accepts reservations, it cannot guarantee outdoor seating.)

Two Georges serves seafood as well as “land” options, and their all-day dining menu features appetizers, salads, soups, sandwiches, and entrees. (We particularly appreciated being able to order from the entire regular menu even though it was a holiday evening, and we liked that the menu allows for smaller appetites with reasonably-priced sandwich options in addition to pricier entrees and daily specials.) We shared the “bang bang” shrimp as an appetizer, followed by several fish entrees and one fish sandwich. The standout menu item was the blackened dolphin sandwich served with fries. We were slightly disappointing that the full entrees did not come with any sort of bread service or appetizer-size salad. We shared a slice of key lime pie for dessert, which was woefully tiny and seemed store-bought and then defrosted. 

But we visited Two Georges for the ambience as much as the food, and the restaurant certainly delivers great atmosphere with its waterside dining.

Deerfield Beach: Tipperary Pub (December 2016)

My spouse and I stopped at the Tipperary Pub for drinks on a Saturday evening (New Year’s Eve) in late December 2016 as part of a self-created pub crawl. (We began at nearby American Rock, then proceeded to Tipperary, and finally ended at Two Georges at the Cove.) The Tipperary Pub is open daily from early until late and offers food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The Tipperary Pub is located in the Cove Shopping Center (which features other restaurants including American Rock Bar and Grill, Le Val de Loire, Casa Maya, Los Andes, Taj Indian Cuisine, the Sticky Bun, and Two Georges at the Cove). Tipperary Pub offers free parking in the Cove parking lot. You can also walk to the Tipperary Pub from nearby hotels like the Comfort Inn and the Wyndham (and although it is a bit farther, you can also walk from the Embassy Suites, where we stayed).

The Tipperary Pub is a friendly neighborhood no-frills bar. The neatest thing about the pub is its retro “Cocktails” sign outside. Indoors, the atmosphere is dark and windowless and somewhat Irish, with functional tables and chairs and a large rectangular bar with seats on all sides. Guests can entertain themselves with the Tipperary’s many TVs, free Wi-Fi, jukebox, billiards tables, dart board, shuffleboard game, and occasional karaoke. 

The pub offers breakfast, including Irish items like bangers and blood pudding. Its lunch and dinner offerings tend toward the usual pub food of chicken wings, French fries, sandwiches, and burgers plus a few entrees. Daily happy hour specials offer a few discounts.

Although the Tipperary is not generally what we look for in a restaurant, it was a fun and welcoming atmosphere in which to enjoy a few rounds of drinks.

Deerfield Beach: American Rock (December 2016)

My spouse and I stopped at the American Rock Bar and Grill for drinks on a Saturday evening (New Year’s Eve) in late December 2016. The bar/restaurant is open daily for lunch, dinner, and drinks. 

American Rock is located in the Cove Shopping Center (which includes other restaurants such as the Tipperary Pub, Le Val de Loire, Casa Maya, Los Andes, Taj Indian Cuisine, the Sticky Bun, and Two Georges at the Cove). American Rock offers free parking in the Cove parking lot. You can also walk to the American Rock from nearby hotels like the Comfort Inn and the Wyndham (and although it is a bit farther, you can also from the Embassy Suites, where we stayed).

American Rock features two seating areas: the main room (with seats at the bar, tables, and booths) and a second room (unused when we visited, but reportedly with a second bar, dance floor, and billiards table). Outside of the front entrance, a few small tables are arranged on the concrete landing (and under the roof overhang), plus a larger outdoor patio area (also unused when we visited) is accessible from the rear dining area. The interior restaurant décor features rock posters and other music memorabilia. Entertainment and events (such as karaoke, comedy night, samba dancing, live music, DJs) is sometimes available on particular nights of the week.

American Rock serves American cuisine including wings, nachos, potato skins, burgers, pizza, and entrees (such as pasta, steaks, and seafood). We did not sample the food because we planned to have dinner elsewhere later that night. The restaurant offers two-for-one drink specials (but both drinks must be the same kind), and even three-for-one specials at specific times. Truthfully, the frozen pina colada that I ordered was not particularly tasty, but I drank a second one anyway since it was basically included (as a two-for-one). We sat at the bar, and our female bartender was friendly and efficient.

Stop in at American Rock Bar and Grill for a drink (or two or three!)

Deerfield Beach: Oceans 234 (December 2016)

My spouse and I dined at Oceans 234 for lunch on a Saturday afternoon (New Year’s Eve) in late December 2016. (We visited the restaurant previously because we have family who live in the area.) Oceans 234 is open daily for lunch (or Sunday brunch) and dinner. You can make a reservation using the Open Table online system or via telephone, although walk-ins are also accepted. 

Oceans 234 is located in “downtown” Deerfield Beach near the intersection of NE 2nd Street and A1A (next to JB’s on the Beach, the International Fishing Pier, and across the street from Flanigans). You can easily walk to Oceans 234 from nearby hotels like the Wyndham and the Comfort Inn (and it although it a bit farther, you can also walk from the Embassy Suites, where we stayed).The numbers in the restaurant’s name indicate its address on A1A (North Ocean Boulevard). Many years ago, a diner called the Ranch House stood on the same spot. Oceans 234 offers valet parking, or you can park yourself in a nearby public lot or garage. 

Oceans 234 lies adjacent to the beach promenade, so you can enjoy an ocean view from many of the tables. The 6,000-square foot restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating for about 220 patrons. Indoors, a large rectangular bar offers seating on all four sides and adjoins the rear dining room with regular-height table seating. Both indoor areas connect to the large outdoor awning-covered beachside terrace by retractable doors. (Outdoor seating cannot be guaranteed, even with a reservation.) The restaurant opened in 2002 and was renovated during the summer of 2015.

In addition to a full bar offering beer, wine, and cocktails, Oceans 234 serves continental cuisine with an emphasis on seafood. We shared the Vietnamese summer roll as a starter, then two entrees (fish tacos, fish sandwich), and followed by the chocolate trilogy for dessert.

We always enjoy the food, drinks, atmosphere, and view at Oceans 234.