1. EAT LOCAL: Cósta is more than a Delray Beach establishment for locals and visitors to experience. It focuses on using freshly sourced ingredients from local farms and fisheries to ensure the eat local mantra isn’t just the location of the restaurant but in its offerings as well. “We believe that creating memorable meals and meaningful moments provides respite from a hectic schedule,” said Chef Coton Stine, the Executive Chef and Proprietor. “We work with local foragers, farmers and fisheries to ensure our guests have a truly unique dining experience every time they visit Costa.”
2. EAT CLEAN: Cósta is an eco-conscious restaurant that takes sustainability to heart, embracing a holistic approach to environmental stewardship. Its commitment to reducing waste is evident in its use of 100% compostable containers crafted solely from renewable resources like sugar cane and Ingeo plant-based bioplastic. The establishment prioritizes local, organic and non-GMO ingredients, forging partnerships with foragers and artisans to source sustainable products with a minimal carbon footprint. Extending its green practices beyond the menu, the restaurant composts all food scraps, maintains a robust recycling program and employs chemical-free disinfectants and essential oils for cleaning.
3. FRENCH-AMERICAN CUISINE: While Chef Coton’s culinary experience began in Las Vegas, the French influence in her career as a classically trained Le Cordon Bleu chef is evident on the menu and in every bite. The restaurant offers a blend of modern American cuisine with a touch of traditional French influence. The menu includes a variety of dishes, such as steak, seafood, pasta and enticing sauces. A recent visit allowed me to experience the culinary gem, starting with the baby beet tartare that showcases the chef’s creativity. The vibrant dish artfully combines a variety of local baby beets, creating a colorful base with a refreshing taste. I moved on to the “Wagu of the Sea,” featuring an Ora King Salmon exquisitely flavored for a clean, rich taste. The dish was complemented by shaved Brussels sprouts, perfectly crisp and glazed for a delightful contrast. For a sweet ending, the berry croissant bread pudding offered a delightful conclusion. The use of vanilla beans speaks to the restaurant’s commitment to quality, with every dish deserving high praise for presentation, texture, and flavor.
4. ALL-DAY MENU: Not only does Cósta offer an excellent dinner menu, but it is also open for breakfast and lunch with robust brunch offerings on the weekend. The brunch menu features favorites like P.B. Nana pancakes, Mimi’s maple walnut granola bowl, strawberry fields brioche French toast, the Doda Day omelet with bio-farmed eggs, the fat “Cochon” with glazed heritage pork belly and a unique “Toast Bar”. Guests can also enjoy cold-pressed juices and a variety of coffees. The lunch menu features the Wagyu steak burger, which is topped with muenster cheese, onion, arugula and truffle aioli on a brioche bun. All sandwiches, burgers and tacos come with house-made taro chips for a nice side dish treat.
5. ORGANIC SOURCES: Cósta is not shy about sharing the businesses they source their high-quality ingredients from. Biofarm Grass-fed Provisions in Okeechobee provide eggs from hens living on a pasture for natural foraging. Swank Farms Greens in Loxahatchee specializes in delivering high-quality, fresh vegetables for local chefs. Cósta also works with Gratitude Farms Organic Farm in Loxahatchee Groves, Tiny Leaf Urban Microgreen Farm in Riverland and sources fish from Captain Clay’s in Delray Beach to ensure the eat local, eat clean vibes are practiced every step of the way.
SHORT TAKES
- Happy Hour is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. It includes $5 local brews on tap, $6 global wines and $6 happy hour bites.
- Weekend brunch is offered on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., including two-for-one mimosas and Bloody Mary’s.
- Costa has a neighboring beachside café called OK&M Café in Boynton Beach.
WHERE: 502 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach
PHONE: 561-501-6115
WEBSITE: https://costabyokm.com/
