Guide Me Home 2 Palm Beach County Fl

Hog Snappers Shack & Sushi
279 S. U.S. Highway One (Village Square)
Tequesta

We have so many great restaurants in Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens and Juno Beach, my husband and I never really have to think of driving any further than a couple of miles to dinner. Of course, now and again we drive (20-30 minutes) to West Palm Beach, Hobe Sound, Delray Beach and Boca Raton to try other restaurants but we generally agree that our “neighborhood” restaurants are just as good, if not better so, why drive so far?

Then, about six months ago, some friends recommended we try the new Hog Snappers Shack & Sushi restaurant in Tequesta. We kept putting it off because it was “too far to go” – about a 10-15 minute drive – it’s only about 7 miles but lots of stop lights along the way! Since our friends kept raving about Hog Snappers we eventually decided to give it a try one evening and see what all the fuss was about. Well, let me tell you, they were not exaggerating! We are now totally addicted to this wonderful restaurant: the food, the ambiance, the servers and the owners dedication to their dreams!
It’s a small, casual restaurant but very inviting with its tropical theme and island music. They serve a good selection of reasonably priced wines and beers and the menu is huge! So many appetizers, salads (7), soups (8), sandwiches, entrees (fish and meat) and sushi to choose from. You’ll never be bored with this menu! Hog Snappers has a great menu - everything is so fresh plus it’s very reasonably priced and the atmosphere is great. You don’t come here to dine, you come here to eat!

On our first visit we ordered a salad to share, a sushi dish (JC Lopez roll) to share and then two entrees. We quickly realized this was way too much food for two people but it didn’t stop us from trying to finish everything - it was so incredibly delicious. The salad, the Mixed Salad, has become one of our most favorite salads and it’s hard to visit the restaurant and not order (and share!) it. The first main course I tried at Hog Snappers was the Crab Crusted Hog Snapper ($23) – it was absolutely delicious! The generous portion of lump meat crab, topping the freshest, tastiest piece of hog snapper I’ve ever eaten, sat atop a very generous portion of lobster mashed potatoes and perfectly sautéed asparagus – totally awesome! The sauce is delicate and not at all overpowering as many sauces served with fish can be. I’m not a fan of heavy, rich sauces and this is just perfect – you can taste all the individual flavors of the fish, crab, lobster and vegetables – just as it should be!

Since our first visit to Hog Snappers I’ve totally fallen in love with the Bouillabaisse soup – order a cup for just $8 – a very generous portion. Try everything: the crispy fried Hog Snapper ($23), the huge Hog Snapper Sandwich ($8 - not a typo!!!), the ceviche (which is unbelievable!), several of the sushi dishes. Oh, and by the way, don’t think this is just a “fish” restaurant. Hog Snappers serves great burgers, the best Argentinian Churrasco and awesome Rack of Ribs – I’m not a meat eater but all my friends and family are and they love these dishes, especially the Churrasco.

Other entrees include Whole Key West Hog Snapper, Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna, Cedar Plank Salmon, Paella, Delmonico Steak and an unbelievable dish, Tequesta Seafood Feast, that includes crab legs, lobster, clams, mussels, dolphin, soft shell crabs, scallops, squid, red skin potatoes, corn on the cob – the menu warns “be ready to get durty!” and they mean it – the dish is HUGE!

Of course it’s not just us that love Hog Snappers – the place is jammed with people of all ages at all times of the day. They are open every day except Monday – I hate Mondays!! Of course being so popular has its drawbacks … at dinner time, you may have to wait 20-30 minutes since, being such a small restaurant, they can’t take reservations. Like a lot of other people we’ve gotten smart and will either go for a late lunch around 2pm or an early dinner at 5pm or just be ready to hang out and wait outside – after all, it’s so worth it and we meet such interesting people all the time.

Owner/chef, Arthur Rivaldo, has been in the restaurant business for many years in New York, Washington, DC and now in Florida. He wanted to open a restaurant that featured food that most people enjoy hence the snapper and sushi combination. There’s definitely a Latin/Caribbean twist. Together with his partner and fiancee, Melanie Varquez, opened Hog Snappers in August 2009 and they haven’t rested since! But they came to have fun and provide good food and something different for the community and that’s exactly what they’re doing!

Now of course a weekly trip to Tequesta is a must – don’t be surprised if you see us there much more frequently – we can’t get enough!

Posted by:  Marion Suro

I recently sold a beautiful home in The Island at Abacoa and I have to tell you every single person who saw this home loved it and absolutely adored this very popular community.

The Island was built by DiVosta in 2000-2001. It’s a fairly small community with just 170 Victorian-style single family homes and townhomes. With both one and two story single family homes to choose from there’s something to suit everyone’s lifestyle. The homes in The Island feature some very popular DiVosta floor plans ranging from just under 2,000 square feet to over 3,400 square feet of living space. Many of the homes have lovely front porches where you can relax and chat to your neighbors as they stroll by. Because The Island is surrounded by waterways and the golf course, many of the homes have stunning golf course and water views. It’s such a tranquil, relaxing area – no wonder everyone loves The Island at Abacoa!

Like most Abacoa neighborhoods, The Island also has a wonderful community swimming pool, clubhouse and children’s playground. Residents can enjoy the many parks and nature trails throughout Abacoa and the “town squares” where neighbors meet and get to know each other at the community clubhouses.

You can easily walk to the Abacoa public golf course & driving range and the Abacoa Golf Club where you can eat lunch or dinner while enjoying spectacular golf course views. You’re also just a short walk from Downtown at Abacoa with all the shops, restaurants and events it offers. Florida Atlantic University’s campus and Scripps^® Florida’s state-of-the-art biomedical Research Facility are also within walking distance as are the Edna Hibel Museum and Roger Dean Baseball Stadium. Something for everyone – just a short walk or bike ride away!

One day when I drove in to The Island at Abacoa to show a home, I passed the lake on the right just after the entrance and saw this absolutely amazing sight! I stopped for several minutes to marvel at this spectacular scene – thank goodness I had my camera with me as everyone would have thought I was totally exaggerating about how many beautiful birds were gathered in one small area! Of course, for those of us who are lucky enough to live here, this was just an average day in paradise!

Posted By: Marion Suro

When you think of Tuscany, you probably conjure up images of life in the sun, gorgeous landscapes, wonderful architecture and a very relaxed lifestyle. Of course, this is the Tuscany in Italy right? Well … maybe not! There’s a reason DiVosta selected the name Tuscany for one of the most popular communities in Abacoa.

The architecture of Tuscany at Abacoa is very reminiscent of the homes and villas in Tuscany, Italy. The homes in Tuscany have warm, earthy colors plus striking terracotta roofs to give the true look and feel of living in the original Tuscany in Italy. The barrel-tiled roofs, pavers in the driveways and walkways work so well aesthetically and, together with the carefully chosen warm exterior paint colors, blend so well with Florida’s natural environment. Put this all together with Jupiter’s sunny blue skies and lush tropical foliage and you really do have a slice of heaven right here in Tuscany at Abacoa. It’s no wonder so many people choose to call Tuscany their home!

The Tuscany neighborhood features a mix of single family homes and townhomes – 453 in all – with most of the townhomes around the perimeter of the community. The developer, DiVosta, presented a totally different townhome in Tuscany and it has proved to be extremely popular. You can choose from 3 or 4 bedroom townhomes with a bedroom and full bathroom downstairs for the convenience of those who don’t want to deal with stairs. Some townhomes offer two huge master suites upstairs plus a third bedroom and full bathroom downstairs while others offer 3 bedrooms upstairs and a fourth bedroom downstairs.

The single family homes offer from 2 bedrooms to 5 bedrooms - this flexibility of floor plans makes sure there’s a home to suit everybody in Tuscany!

Tuscany also has a wonderful community pool – stop by and enjoy a little exercise swimming or relax and enjoy some sun while meeting your neighbors and making new friends. Abacoa is all about lifestyle and it really is a wonderful one! Call me today if you’d like a tour of this terrific neighborhood – Tuscany at Abacoa. Love it!

Posted By: Marion Suro

A well-respected real estate professional since 2001, Marion Suro, with Illustrated Properties Real Estate, Inc., has been a consistent Top Producer in North Palm Beach County. Her success is largely due to her exceptional marketing systems using cutting edge technology, industry networking and comprehensive real estate market knowledge. Specialties include residential sales, luxury homes, relocation and first-time home buyers.

Marion believes that there is a material difference between average and exceptional service. She is a dedicated marketing professional and a skilled negotiator who is committed to helping you achieve your buying or selling goals – references are available upon request. To learn more, contact Marion Suro at 561-310-6120 or e-mail Marion@MarionSuro.com.