But there is the good old Scandia Bakery on Dixie Highway with its fresh-baked Finnish treats and a few tables for the locals to snack and sip coffee in the best Scandinavian tradition. There's also a bulletin board announcing upcoming events of interest to the Finnish-American community and listing Finnish-speaking doctors, dentists, lawyers and the like. Scandia's downtown surroundings have never looked better, with spruced up galleries, antique shops and the greatest variety of restaurants and cafes in Lake Worth's history, including these favorites:
Bizaare Ave. Cafe
921 Lake Ave. 561/588-4488
I like this off-beat funky and antique-filled hideaway as much now as when it was included in last July's column. Soups, rollups and wraps are noteworthy as are the designer pizzas. Lunch and dinner, with entrees $7 to $15, served Monday through Saturday.
Couco Pazzo
915 Lake Ave. 561/585-0320
The name means crazy chef, but Martin Servidio has been demonstrating for eight years he's anything but that in his modestly outfitted Tuscan-type storefront where meals commence with complimentary onion bruschetta, olives and cheese, leading into starters of roast eggplant fritters sprinkled with pine nuts and raisins, followed by veal pizzaiola or a saltimbocca, with deliciously delicate flourless chocolate cake as climax. Dinner, entrees $14 to $25, is served nightly.
Daniel's Lake Ave. Grille
One Lake Ave. 561/540-6000
Holiday Inn
In the heart of a handsomely reborn historic 106-room landmark known for years as Gulfstream Hotel, this oasis specializes in fresh-shucked shellfish, a parade of pastabilities, fresh luncheon salads, Long Island duckling and free-range chicken turned on the rotisserie, and a short stack of steaks and chops. Breakfast, lunch and dinner, entrees $10 to $23, served nightly.
La Bonne Bouche
516 Lucerne Ave. 561/533-0840
A French-American couple opened this bakery-cafe last year as phase one of their dream to do something far more elaborate, and they add a welcome Parisian touch with their superior pastries and breads and the best brioche and croissant for miles around. I also like the quiche of the day and the fresh-brewed soups. Breakfast and lunch, $4 to $10, are served daily.
L'Anjou
717 Lake Ave. 561/582-7666
This family-run, homey, French encampment has been gracing the avenue since 1977, introducing local palates to the pleasures of provincial fare with such headliners as veal with a unique orange sauce, beef bourguignonne and frog legs proven?ale, each included on the $16.50 fixed price dinners that start with paté and end with dessert. Tops of the tariffs are the chateaubriand and rack of lamb, $49 for two.
Michael's Pub & Downtown Grille
819 Lake Ave. 561/582-2981
Michael Farmer has been serving his justly "Famous Downtown Burgers" for a quarter-century, and you'll agree they're "just plain good," as the menu promises, whether you have one perfectly grilled and smothered in fried onions or sauteed mushrooms or covered with Farmer's own homemade herb cheese after a teriyaki marinade. But don't overlook the glorious gumbo and heaped high salads, with such add-ons as dolphin, salmon, shrimp and steak, and the mouth-bending sandwiches that include Michael's turkey reuben. Lunch and dinner, entrees $6 to $17, served daily.
Paradiso Ristorante
625 Lucerne Ave. 561/547-2500
Antonio Tasca and chef-partner Angelo Romano are the proud pros of this outstanding menu, featuring beef carpaccio on arugula with parmesan shavings, broccoli rabe and polenta sauced with wild mushrooms and risotto Milanese, scaloppine blessed with lemon-butter, grilled scampi with egg noodles and grilled chicken paillard comforted by spinach and goat cheese in a honey mustard sauce. Dinner, entrees $18 to $32, nightly.
Rina's Cucina Italiana & Pasta D'oro
701 Lucerne Ave. 561/547-2782
A real budget-happy find in the simplest of settings with a dozen subs pegged from $4 to $8, four equally bargain salads and a pair of "Signature Dishes," grilled Italian chicken on a bed of romaine with portobello and roast peppers and a portobello burger crowned with provolone, sauteed onions and peppers on fresh garlic focaccia for $6.50 to $8. Open for lunch Monday through Saturday and dinner on Friday.
Rosie's Key West Grille
606 Lake Ave. 561/547-0740
I've never met Rosie in either this newly restored stunning rebirth or in her other two winners in Delray and West Palm Beach, but then she's no doubt fully occupied delivering on this just-won't-quit menu with 19 appetizer and raw bar choices, three soups, a half-dozen salads, 20 sandwiches, four pastas and nine entrees for the heavy-hitters: fall-off-the-bone baby back ribs, honey-dipped fried chicken, pot roast and pork chops, crabcakes and top sirloin. Lunch and dinner, entrees $7 to $13, served daily.
Saito's
15 North J St. 561/588-1785
My favorite picks are grouper garlic roll baked on top of a California roll, Palm Beach roll with fresh salmon, shrimp and crab, and $15.95 all-you-can-eat specials with strict rules -- no sharing, no doggie bags, fish must be accompanied by rice and charges for returned food. Lunch and dinner, entrees $11 to $20, served daily.
Sassafras
17 South J St. 561/586-0707
"Southern Food with a Twist" is defined here as fun and flair with stuffed meatloaf, pita pancake pizza topped with shrimp, scallions and cheddar with basil, collard-wrapped penne with shrimp and little neck clams and black-eyed peas and tomato -- all climaxed with "Lord Have Mercy Banana Puddin' Pie." Dinner, entrees $14 to $20, served Tuesday through Sunday.
Toojay's Original Gourmet Deli
419 Lake Ave. 561/582-8684
Standard link in the south Florida chain serving all the deli classics at moderate prices to a usually packed-in-tight army of deli-doers. Lunch and dinner daily.