Three new restaurants will open soon in East Boca. Mizner Park will host two of them. Ouzo Bay will open in the space formerly occupied by the Jazziz nightclub. Ouzo Bay has one other location, in Baltmore, and is part of the Atlas Restaurant Group which also has the Azumi (Japanese) and Loch Bar (seafood) restaurants in Baltimore. This appears to be their first venture outside of Maryland.
Replacing Ruby Tuesday in Mizner Park will be Junior’s Restaurant, a New York City based restaurant that is best known for its cheesecake. We’ve had their cheesecake, love it, and gained 10 pounds just by hearing the news.
Last and probably not least, Louie Bossi will open in the new Hyatt Place hotel. The building is under construction now at 120 East Palmetto Park Road (near Federal Highway). This is a second location for Louie Bossi. The original is on Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale.
Tag: mizner park
Weekend Roundup: July 23-26
Get an Introduction to Canoeing on July 23rd at Daggerwing Nature Center. For ages 8+, $10 per participant. An ACA certified instructor will teach the parts and terms associated with canoeing as well as the basic skills needed to successfully navigate a canoe. Call 561-629-8760 for reservations.
Go hear the Turnstiles, a Billy Joel Tribute Band on July 24th at Mizner Park Amphitheater. The free concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Blankets are chairs are welcome but no pets, umbrellas, or outside food and beverages.
Build with Lots o’LEGO Bricks on July 24th at 3 p.m. at the Glades Road Library. Ages 5 and up. Call 561-482-4554 to preregister.
Try something different on July 24th at The Center Stage Performing Arts. The Sick Puppies Improv Show starts at 9:30 p.m. Center Stage is located at 7200 West Camino Real, Suite 330 in Boca Raton. Tickets are $15.
Get tickets for Slightly Stoopid with the Dirty Heads and Stick Figure on July 25th at Sunset Cove Amphitheater. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Show starts at 6:30 p.m. No chairs, strollers, cameras, pets or outside food or beverages. Advance tickets are $34.50. Call ticketmaster at 800-745-3000.
Laugh out Loud at “The Royal Family” on July 25th at Studio One Theatre on the FAU Campus. This comedy was nominated for a TONY Award in 2010. Shows are 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Call 800-564-9539 for tickets. Tickets are $20
Enjoy a night of music with Idina Menzel on July 26th at Mizner Park Amphitheater. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m. Purchase tickets at Ticketmaster. Tickets start at $70 with fees.
Bad Uncle Julio? Restaurant Inspections for East Boca
When we first moved to Boca, Uncle Julio’s in Mizner Park was one of our favorite places to go. Over time we found other restaurants that were closer but we still have a positive image of the place. That feeling takes a dent in our latest inspection report for a scary Halloween.
Uncle Julio’s was hit with a total of 26 violations including 6 marked as high priority:
Employee failed to wash hands before putting on new set of gloves to work with food. **Corrected On-Site**
Employee handled soiled equipment or utensils and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Observed employee go From cleaning to prepping without washing hands . Observed employee touch his hat and hair then continue prepping without washing hands first, changed gloves only without washing hands first. Employee handled cellphone and failed to wash hands before returning to prep. **Corrected On-Site**
Food-contact surfaces not sanitized after cleaning, before use. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. Dicer not going through a sanitization step when warewashing.
Quaternary ammonium sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized, the authorities suggested they took some advice from an industrial cleaning company, they’d been given a firm talk and told to learn more about the regulations. Employee washed and rinsed dicer but failed to sanitize the equipment. No sanitization step observed.
Single-use gloves not changed as needed after changing tasks or when damaged or soiled. No glove change from cleaning to prepping. **Corrected On-Site**
Small flying insects in bar area. Observed bug retention devices by managers office and front line full of dead insects.
One bad inspection is not enough to stop us from eating at the place. But it is important for restaurants to have high standards when it comes to keeping their place of work clean, especially as there is food involved.
Their previous inspections had far fewer violations though some of the same cleanliness issues seem to be repeating themselves.
Also in Mizner Park, Kapow Noodle Bar had 23 violations with 4 high priority:
Employee handled soiled equipment or utensils and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. **Corrected On-Site**
Nonexempt fish offered raw or undercooked has not undergone proper parasite destruction. Fish must be fully cooked or discarded. Hamachi served raw.
Potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Sriracha cream 50° F. Corrective action taken- added ice to food level. Bach Choy at 72° F at cookline under no temperature control. Corrective action taken – placed inside cooler.
Raw animal food stored over ready-to-eat food. Raw burgers over sauces at cookline cooler. **Corrected On-Site**
Their previous inspections were better in total numbers, though as with Uncle Julio’s we see that some of the same issues seem to be repeated. Kapow will face a follow-up inspection though it’s not clear why.
One other East Boca restaurant had over 20 violations – Sushi Masa Japanese at 2200 Glades Road just east of Butts Road. Two of the violations were high priority, and a follow-up inspection is required because of a paperwork issue.
Turning to the good news, the best in this report was Big Joe’s Burgers and Wings on Federal Highway with a perfect inspection. Looking at their past history they have one of the best inspection records we’ve ever seen. Their previous inspection in April had only one violation and the one before that a year ago was another perfect one. We’re going to have to try this place.
The McDonald’s at 2140 N. Federal Highway was the runner-up with only one minor violation.
Good inspections were also reported for Moe’s Southwest Grill at 2200 Glades Road (2 violations); Wendy’s and Jimmy John’s on the 800 block of Yamato (2 each); Chipotle at 2301 Glades (3 minor violations); Cafe Gelato Panini in Town Center Mall (3 minor); and Rocksteady Jamaican Jerk Cafe on Federal Highway (3 violations). The popular Rebel House on Palmetto Park Road had 5 violations but all were minor.
Other notables include two of our favorite Mexican places. Rocco’s Tacos in Town Center Circle had 18 violations with 2 high priority related to hand washing and food temperatures. The food temperatures were only a few degrees off so this one seems a bit picky. Las Fajitas on Dixie Highway had 13 violations including one high priority.
The Grille on Congress and Mario’s Osteria near Whole Foods had 12 violations each. Four of Mario’s violations were high priority related to hand washing, glove use, and food temperatures.
Brewzzi on Glades had 11 violations with two high priority. These also were food temperature issues that were close and look picky on the inspector’s part.
In Mizner Park, Max’s Grill had 6 violations with 4 high priority, including a stop sale for temperature abuse, and a follow-up is required:
Nonfood-grade containers used for food storage – direct contact with food, spray bottle containing oil. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
Potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit, butter 55°, garlic and oil 54°pasta station. Corrective action taken. Employee time marked and will discard at 4:00 pm. Sautée station reach in cooler drawers dolphin 49°, salmon 50°, crab 51°, pasta 49°, rice 48°, meatballs 48°. Chef stated food in drawers over 4 hours. **Warning**
Raw animal foods not properly separated from one another based upon minimum required cooking temperature in reach-in cooler, raw beef over raw fish and raw chicken over beef in reach in cooler. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
Stop Sale issued on potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food due to temperature abuse. **Warning**
Also in Mizner Park, Truluck’s had 6 violations including a stop sale on the lobster bisque for “temperature abuse.” This also looks a little picky as the target temperature is 41º and the measured temperature was “42º-47º.”
There’s more in our spreadsheet, below. Readers can look up any restaurant on the Florida restaurant inspections page.
[gview file=”https://westbocanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/eastboca-october.xls”]
Matt Klotz – Legal Analysis
We previously reported that Matt Klotz, a resident of West Boca and Olympic Heights graduate, was arrested for what appeared to be a bomb threat. We now have more details and have reviewed the law he’s accused of violating, as well as the court docket.
Klotz is accused of violating section 790.163 of the Florida Statutes, which is titled: “False report about planting bomb, explosive, or weapon of mass destruction.” According to police, Klotz was at or near the John Legend concert in Mizner Park, and told a private security guard that he had “put a bomb on all the buses.”
That guard then contacted Boca Raton police, who detained Klotz and questioned him. Klotz then admitted making the statement and claimed he did so as a joke and that he thought the guard would have thought it was funny.
Apparently some people take such things more seriously than Mr. Klotz imagined. Police allege that 100 employees were disrupted from their duties, the area was evacuated, the bomb squad was called in and examined eleven vehicles.
Section 790.163 states: “It is unlawful for any person to make a false report, with intent to deceive, mislead, or otherwise misinform any person, concerning the placing or planting of any bomb … and any person convicted thereof commits a felony of the second degree.” Most felonies we report are third degree so this is considered more serious.
The law specifically prohibits suspended or deferred sentences, as well as withholding adjudication.
There is one key legal and factual issue that may work to Mr. Klotz’ favor. The law requires that he acted “with intent to deceive, mislead, or otherwise misinform.” Since he said it was a joke and that he thought the guard would think it was funny, there is a question as to whether this case meets that intent requirement.
Our legislators in Florida did consider that, so they included an important provision in the law:
Proof that a person accused of violating this section knowingly made a false report is prima facie evidence of the accused person’s intent to deceive, mislead, or otherwise misinform any person.
The term prima facie means that Klotz having knowingly made the false report (which police say he admitted) is enough proof that a jury can conclude he had the intent to deceive. So a judge would not dismiss the case for lack of such proof. It still might be a challenge for the prosecution to persuade a jury that he intended to deceive.
While it doesn’t look good for Klotz, brief analysis suggests he scores low on Florida’s sentencing guidelines. While in theory the maximum sentence for a 2nd-degree felony is 15 years, we think he’s unlikely to get any state prison time. Some time in the county jail would seem more reasonable and he may qualify for a few mitigating factors that would lead a judge to sentence him to probation, and/or mental health treatment, rather than jail.
Mr. Klotz is also accused of violating section 509.143 for resisting the security guard’s effort to detain him. That statute is within a chapter on “lodging and food service establishments” and does not appear to apply to the facts in this case. It will hopefully be dismissed.
One other big consequence of this case is also in the statute:
In addition to any other penalty provided by law with respect to any person who is convicted of a violation of this section that resulted in the mobilization or action of any law enforcement officer or any state or local agency, a person convicted of a violation of this section may be required by the court to pay restitution for all of the costs and damages arising from the criminal conduct.
We’re guessing the cost of the bomb squad examining 11 vehicles, plus the costs of the evacuation, will probably exceed $10,000. Paying that restitution can be one of the mitigating factors that will help reduce the sentence.
The Sheriff’s blotter shows that Mr. Klotz was released from jail in the evening, after spending around 24 hours in custody.
Weekend Roundup: July 25-27
Classic Rock Therapy, July 25th at 8 p.m., Amphitheater at Delray Marketplace. The Band plays 70s, 80s and 90s music.
Summer Tribute Series: U2 by UV, July 25th at 7:30 p.m., Mizner Park Amphitheater.
Minecraft and Your Craft, July 26th at 10:30 a.m., West Boca Library. Challenge other players to a game. Ages 7 and up. Preregister at 470-1600.
Have your DNA and Eat it Too, July 26th at 3 p.m., West Boca Library. Learn the basics of DNA structure while you make your own edible candy DNA model. Grades 6-12. Please preregister.
Scooter Jam is on for July 26th at 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Drop In Action Sports Complex. $5 entry. Music, prizes and more.
311 in Concert, July 26th at 6:30 p.m. Sunset Cove Amphitheater. See our previous story.
Fire & Ice Show, July 27th from 10:30 a.m. to noon at The Shops at Boca Center. Climb aboard a classic fire truck for some water fun.
Fundraiser at Brighton for SOL Children Theatre, July 27th from 10:30 a.m. to noon. At 4425 Lyons Rd, Coconut Creek.
Live Nation presents: John Legend in concert, July 27th at 7:30 p.m., Mizner Park Amphitheater. Tickets available through Ticketmaster.