It’s clear upon entering the elegant dining room of Boca Raton’s Meat Market that there’s more to be had here than just a meal — you’re about to enjoy an experience. For starters, to get to one’s table, one must pass through the expansive outdoor patio area (complete with a lounge and bar), then the main bar inside, which is bustling with happy patrons sipping an array of cocktails.
Old-Fashioned
The restaurant interiors are a feast for the eyes. Warm woods, textured walls lined with cowhide and comfortable seating in the main dining area invite diners to stay a while. Striking light fixtures cast an inviting glow that exudes both intimacy and glamor and there are three private dining rooms (two of which can connect as one) for those wanting complete privacy.
If you are a fan of the Old-Fashioned cocktail, as I am, you are in luck. There are four varieties (fig, praline, coffee and basil), all equally delicious. In fact, anyone wanting to kick off the evening with a drink will find plenty to choose from. I noticed the table of friends to my left happily toasting with a trio of refreshing Watermelon Breeze cocktails, a blend of tequila blanco, vermouth, watermelon, lime and agave, while a couple to my right exchanged sultry gazes as they sipped I Love Gold (añejo tequila, lemon, orange, honey and cinnamon). And wine lovers will be smitten by the wide assortment of bottles and wine-by-the-glass options to choose from, or, better yet, ask the sommelier to select.
Main Dining Room
Photos Courtesy Of Meat Market
While steaks take center stage, Meat Market’s ample selection of appetizers, salads, sushi and seafood items are prepared with the same level of excellence. There is also a Chef’s Daily Selection: a curated menu based on freshness and availability created by Executive Chef Sean Brasel. The night I visited, these included Grouper Ceviche, Baked King Crab Handroll, Wood Grilled Peach & Burrata Salad and a 14-ounce Bone-in Filet.
A-5 Wagyu King Roll
Whether you are dining at the Boca Raton, Palm Beach, Tampa or San Juan, Puerto Rico, location, there are must-try dishes emblematic of the restaurant.
Take, for example, the Crunchy Kale Truffle Salad, an addictive and refreshing combination of fresh kale, parmesan, roasted pine nuts, currants and black truffle vinaigrette. Fish is flown in daily from its place of origin (in many cases, Japan), for ultimate freshness, making sushi a popular choice. The A-5 Wagyu King Roll has it all: a seared A-5 Wagyu Tenderloin, Miso Roasted Crab, Asparagus and Garlic Cream Cheese, topped with Black Truffle Caviar and Truffle Yaki Sauce. Craving a traditional steakhouse appetizer? The Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail and fresh oysters will not disappoint. Following our server’s suggestion, my table sampled the Wagyu Beef Dumplings (Charred Kimchee Cabbage and Brown Miso Aioli) and the White Truffle “Kobe” Tartare, which came crowned with a black truffle deviled egg and parmesan crostini. The dumplings were tender and packed with flavor, while the tartare was rich, velvety and seasoned just right.
32-ounce Wagyu Beef Tomahawk Ribeye
As the restaurant’s name implies, meat is taken very seriously; specifically, signature steaks and reserved cuts. Diners have the option to customize dishes with add-ons like seared foie gras, lobster tail and roasted Wagyu bone marrow. There are also six house made butters and sauces that hold legendary status for Meat Market fans. These include Aji Panca Chimichurri, Atomic Horseradish Truffle, Peppercorn Cognac and Bleu & Borsini. Expect to find filet mignon (including Wagyu filet), prime New York and The MM Steak, a charbroiled Prime Picanha (the South American equivalent to sirloin cap) as options. I decided to go big or go home and ordered the 32-ounce Wagyu Beef Tomahawk Ribeye from Australia. It arrived sliced (bone included for display purposes) and practically melted in my mouth. There’s also a 32-ounce kosher ribeye, an almost impossible find anywhere else.
My table also ordered the Seabass (served with truffle ash, wild mushrooms, sweet corn, tomato concasse, truffle nage and soybeans) and could easily envision returning for just that dish. Keeping true to the joy of a steakhouse, Meat Market offers numerous sides (almost 20, by my count) like Lobster Mac & Cheese, Truffle Cream Corn and Scalloped Potatoes With Goat Cheese.
I could tell you all about the desserts, but you may get overwhelmed, so I’d advise you to order the Meat Market Boca Sampler. It’s comprised of a chef-selected tasting of favorites like Double Chocolate Cake, Warm Cinnamon Roll and Cookies and Milk.
Meat Market is a welcome addition to Boca Raton’s restaurant scene, offering an upscale dining experience buoyed by attentive service and extraordinary flavors. And with its sumptuous selection, it’s easy to sample something different every time — promising culinary discoveries with each visit, a surefire way to feel like you’ve hit the restaurant jackpot.
Meat Market is located at 2000 N.W. 19th St., Boca Raton. For more information, call 561-245-6777 or visit meatmarket.net.