Former Tiger Woods Personal Chef Opens Second Kitchen Location In Palm Beach Gardens

Longtime West Palm Beach dining staple Kitchen has opened a new location in Palm Beach Gardens.

Chef-owner Matthew Byrne and his wife, Aliza, first launched Kitchen in 2015 on the far east stretch of Belvedere Road in West Palm Beach's El Cid neighborhood. The restaurant immediately caught the atttention of nearby Palm Beach with its charming atmosphere and unique concept. The couple's idea: re-create the "kitchen experience" of their home for guests. A two-hour dinner service channels dinner party elegence, with little distraction and a lot of attention to detail.

Now, six years later, Kitchen is not only thriving — it's growing. The couple quietly opened their second location on November 16 off Belvedere Road in the Alton Twon Center in Palm Beach Gardens, and have hit the ground running despite the pandemic.

"We've been lucky," says Aliza, who credits the staff — many of them who've been there since day one — with their continued success. "If we can do this, we can do anything."

Labeled a contemporary American brasserie, Byrne channels his passion and discipline to create refined yet approachable dishes.

"Our approach hasn't changed with the new restaurant. We still buy only the highest-quality, freshest ingredients, and do as little to them as possible," says Aliza. "This is a true neighborhood bistro. It's a special thing we have going on here. And definitely an experience you won't find anywhere else.

It's a philosophy that has been with Matthew, a private chef hailing from Pennsylvania, for a long time. Before welcoming diners into his quaint El Cid neighborhood eatery, the chef cooked in private homes — most notably for Tiger Woods — and Philadelphia's most lauded fine dining establishments, including French landmark Le Bec Fin, prior to that.

Keeping with the same black-and-white decor of the original location, the new 150-seat establishment comes with a few upgrades: a spacious 15-seat bar, a large private dining room that holds up to 24, an event space that accomodates up to 60, and — of course — an open-air outdoor patio for socially-distanced dining.

At Alton, Aliza says the restaurant continues to offer its timed seatings, and strongly suggests making reservations (which are necessary to dine or the outdoor) to help the staff adehere to its two-hour dining experience.

"The menu's the same, which our regulars are happy about, but there are unique dishes we've added for each location," adds Aliza.

Diners can begin their meal — or create a tasting table of small plates — with a wide selection of starters ($6-$38) that includes popular staples like Bacon, Eggs, and Toast, a combination of asparagus, prosciutto, and chèvre topped with a poached egg or the fresh Beet Salad finished with blue cheese, walnut oil, and sherry vinegar served on a bed of baby greens.

Dinner continues with a choice of more than a dozen entrees ($20-$46), with longtime favorites like the chef's favorite Chicken Schnitzel finished with a fried egg atop a bed of arugula; the Kitchen Burger, an indulgent blend of grass-fed chuck, brisket, short ribs, and foie gras topped with American cheese and charred onions; or the Simple Grilled Fish, prepared simply with olive oil, salt, and parsley and served with charred lemon and two sides.

Right now, rotating menu highlights at Kitchen North also include a poached shrimp cocktail, as well as a 14-ounce grilled pork chop served over corn and leek risotto.

"We're so fortunate to have this opportunity, and a great staff to help us keep Kitchen regulars happy at both locations," says Aliza. "I'm so proud of what my husband and I have created, and we are so excited to be a part of this new neighborhood."

Kitchen North. 5250 Donald Ross Rd., Palm Beach Gardens; 561-328-8825; kitchenpb.com. The restaurant is open at 5 p.m. on Monday through Saturday.