Buccan — Restaurant in Palm Beach

We had an anniversary dinner at Buccan last night. I had been trying to get a reservation during this time for a couple years now and finally was able to snag a later time. All my high expectations were met. There's complimentary valet at the front door which was fast and friendly. We arrived about 5 mins early and got seated right away. The ambience is a very casual but energetic feel to the entire room. Some people wearing coats and some dressed more casually. All in all, everyone you could tell was very happy to be eating there. It was VERY loud when we first got there because there was a party in the other room with a lot of people but by the end of our meal it was much quieter and we didn't have to talk very loud to hear each other.

Our waiter Francisco was amazing and had a great personality. He was very attentive and never had to look for him. I had already done my research so I knew what to order but he was great in his suggestions. The food came at a very good pace starting with the short rib enpanadas which we originally just ordered a single one to split but they ended up giving us 2 on accident and said was on the house. The enpanadas were very good. The texture of the meat was more finely chopped than I've ever had before with enpanadas but the crisp and flavors were great.

Next came the crispy duck leg confit. This was wonderful and was the best duck I've had in south Florida. There is an asian flavor to it with the green onion soubise and the sourdough pancake which reminded me of an asian scallion pancake. It was so good I would have ordered a second order if I didn't want to try a lot more stuff from the menu.

The burrata was next with great toast and prosciutto butter. The mint they used really gave this a refreshing and palette cleansing element to it which was nice after the somewhat heavy enpanadas and duck. We ended up packing half of it since we wanted to bring some of the food in general home so the kids could try it.

At that time, Francisco made it known that the next course might be a little later than expected since he didn't ask to fire the next dishes yet because he thought we'd eat all of the burrata. The food came very timely but I'm pointing this out because the food comes out fresh, hot, and just cooked unlike some of the reviews I saw.

The final 2 dishes came out at the same time. We had the Corn Agnolotti and the Hand rolled Busiate w/ lobster. I love all lobster dishes so I really enjoyed the Busiate and the very uniquely rolled pasta but it was probably the least unique dish of the night. But the corn agnolotti lived up to expectations. It was incredibly good and obvious why this is their signature dish. I'm not a fan of tortellini/ravioli/etc pasta normally because of the ricotta but the butter/corn in the agnolotti made the ricotta a little less grainy and a very good texture. I felt like I was eating more of a corn dumpling at times with just a tiny bit of juices which was very pleasing to me.

We took some of this home as well and Francisco packed after each serving for us.

We finished it off with the Butterfinger desert which was their own made peanut/caramel chocolate bar with coconut ice cream. The bar was fantastic with a lot of great peanut, chocolate, and caramel flavor and the ice cream surprisingly was like an icy sorbet and only had a slight hint of coconut flavor. The ice cream was there not for flavor but to create a cool icy texture in tandem with the chocolate bar bit. It lessened the sweetness which was a great balance for the dish overall. Eating the bar by itself was extremely sweet so it was good to have the ice cream in each bite. To do so, we had ordered an extra scoop of coconut ice cream since many people had recommended it in other reviews I saw. Definitely do it.

Overall Buccan might be the best restaurant we've gone to in Palm Beach County. The food was top for sure and we had a good time. The price is at the right level too so highly recommend and we'll definitely be going back many times if I can get the...

I reserved an 8 top for a familyl dinner on a Sunday night.  We arrived on time and were promptly sat by the gracious hostesses.  Our table was in the corner, under a set of ventilation ducts, toward the back of the restaurant, on the left side.

Immediately upon sitting on the booth cushion and sliding over I was overwhelmed by the noise and vibration coming from the vent system.  Everyone at the table could hear it when seated.  Servers could not hear when standing.  Seated, unbearable; standing, nothing to hear.  We kindly asked the server for another table, but were told nothing was available.  I asked the group to make the best of it and hoped that we wouldn't hear it after a few minutes.  Sadly, that never happened.   We measured the noise level in the booth at over 80 decibels.  We could not measure over 70 dBA at the two top next to us.  Houston, we have a problem.  I demanded the server sit in my exact spot.  He couldn't believe the noise level and apologized profusely.  We brought the issue to the attention of what we thought might be the manager, a man asking every table, except ours, how their meal was.  His statement was that the owners were aware of it but could not fix the problem.

(1) If you are too moronic to not be able to find a way to fix the problem, then don't seat people at that table in your restaurant.

Or

(2) Fix the problem.  You have a harmonic resonance issue.  You can fix the problem by stiffening the fan plenum and/or the duct.  Any HVAC specialist can help you.  You never tried because you don't care.  Yes, I am a mechanical engineer with years of fan and ductwork experience, so please don't respond that you tried, because if you did, you didn't trust very hard.

We suffered through the meal with everyone bitching about the experience.  I demanded a check and rejected the offer for free desserts.  Who would want to stay there any longer?  Everyone had a headache, literally.  The server heavily discounted the check, which was appreciated.  He was tipped accordingly, as there was nothing he could do to fix the problem.

And what a shame, because the steak tartare may have been one of the best I have ever had, anywhere in the world.  The shrimp scampi, while having a slightly fishy smell when dropped, turned out to be fantastic.  Empanadas, a tad spicy, but really nice finish.  My loda NY Strip was under cooked by one temp, cold center is not mid rare, but the flavor was outstanding.  My daughter reported her burger was excellent.  My wife's beet salad was excellent. The pickled fennel on that salad was a great touch.

Watermelon martini and Buccan T were great cocktails.  I have no idea if there was a more extensive wine list beyond what was on the back of the menu.  Regardless, I would not have ordered any considering the environment was not conducive to enjoy any good grape juice.

Swing and a miss, Buccan.  You know you have a problem and you think people will suffer through it?  No food is that good, and I have eaten at much better places  than this.

Fix your noise/vibration issue and take a look at your napkins.  They have holes in them.  Classy.  My daughter posted one for you on Google reviews.

One and done....

Buccan - A Must-Visit Every Time We’re in Palm Beach

Buccan is a staple for us whenever we’re in Palm Beach—we’ve dined here at least five times now, and it never disappoints. The atmosphere is lively yet upscale, perfect for a night out with friends or family.

One of the best things about Buccan is their small plates concept, which allows you to order and share a variety of dishes. A must-order for us every time is the short rib empanadas—flavorful, rich, and perfectly crisp. The spicy pork taco is another essential, packed with bold flavors and a little heat. On the other hand, the hot dog panini wasn’t particularly impressive and is probably the only dish I wouldn’t reorder.

The crispy confit duck leg is another standout dish that my husband always gets—it’s rich, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. From the “plants” section, the grilled carrot salad is a great lighter option. One dish I deeply miss is the cauliflower with pine nuts that they used to have—it was hands down one of my favorites, and I keep hoping they’ll bring it back!

Now, let’s talk about the pastas, because Buccan truly excels here. Their pasta dishes are always cooked perfectly al dente, and you really can’t go wrong with any of them. The sweet corn agnolotti is a fan favorite, though it leans on the sweeter side—I can only handle about two before needing to share. My personal favorites are the squid ink pasta with spicy sausage, the mushroom pasta with shaved truffle, and the lamb tomato ricotta cavatelli—each offering incredible depth of flavor. If you’re a pasta lover, this is the place for you.

While I typically stick to small plates and pastas, my family has enjoyed their branzino and half chicken, both of which received great reviews from them.

On the drinks side, I absolutely love their watermelon martini and pineapple whiskey cocktail—both refreshing and well-balanced.

Reservations & Walk-Ins

Buccan is a popular spot, so reservations are highly recommended, especially during peak dinner hours. I’ve been able to walk in once on a whim when visiting for work and grabbed a high-top table by the bar around 5 PM on a weekday, but it quickly filled up. If you’re hoping for a guaranteed table, definitely book ahead.

Parking & Imoto

Buccan also has valet parking, but if you don’t mind a short walk, it’s fairly easy to find street parking nearby. Another great perk is that it’s connected to Imoto, their sushi spot next door, and you can even order from Imoto while dining at Buccan—expanding the menu with even more delicious options. Imoto itself is fantastic and worth visiting separately as well.

Pricing • Small plates: $15-$25 • Pasta dishes: $25-$35 • Larger entrées: $40-$50

The quality justifies the cost, and I always leave feeling it was worth every penny.

Buccan remains one of my all-time favorite spots in Palm Beach, and it’s an absolute must-visit....