One of my most-anticipated new restaurants in our area is now open in Royal Palm Beach.
Pura Vida opened Friday with a soft launch preview Thursday in its new home at 440 S. State Road 7, just north of the Shoppes at Isla Verde shopping plaza, next to Aspen Dental.
Thursday featured a ribbon-cutting with the Wellington Chamber of Commerce and a peek at the incredible menu offered at Pura Vida, which is based in Miami and offers freshly made dishes and drinks.
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Pura Vida was founded in Miami Beach in 2012 by Omer Horev. He met his now-wife and business partner Jennifer in 2015, and together they’ve expanded Pura Vida throughout South Florida. The Royal Palm Beach restaurant is the third in Palm Beach County, with one in downtown West Palm Beach and another west of Boca Raton, which opened just two weeks before the Royal Palm store.
“We are thrilled to be bringing our slice of tropical paradise to Wellington,” Omer Horev said. “It’s the perfect place to continue expanding our footprint in Palm Beach County and also fives us the opportunity to serve and connect with its neighboring communities of Royal Palm Beach, Greenacres and Loxahatchee Groves among others. Wellington and its surrounding neighborhoods are the ideal family-friendly communities we wish to immerse ourselves into.”
I stopped by for a quick takeout order and grabbed my favorite menu item, the perfect egg sandwich with turkey bacon. Yes, it’s really called the “perfect egg sandwich.” It’s served on a large bagel. I had mine with a soft-boiled egg and turkey bacon, and it also comes with mozzarella cheese, arugula, avocado, tomato and red pepper flakes. It’s served with Pura Vida sauce on the side.
I also tried one of their new coffee drinks: the iced banana brew, with espresso, oat milk, banana, date and cinnamon.
Pura Vida specializes in fresh, healthy meals. Their includes all-day breakfast of avocado toasts, egg sandwiches — my favorite — and fresh bagels. The restaurant also has a lineup of salads, wraps, sandwiches, bowls, treats and a kids’ menu that features items like grilled cheese and acai bowls, made kid-friendly. The restaurant also sells cold-pressed juices and shots, smoothies, kombucha, coffees and teas.
The inside of the 3,100-square-foot Pura Vida in Royal Palm Beach has a very relaxed feel, like you’re stepping into someone’s living room. After ordering at the counter, people can grab a seat to eat or wait for their food to be ready. The tables and chairs are comfortable. Because I had a takeout order, I took a spot at the window counter toward the front of the restaurant, sitting on a high-top stool. These seats offer power outlets and charging ports for those who have a working lunch.
The Horevs put an emphasis on community partnerships, working with local organizations on beach cleanups. They also work with local groups to develop and maintain sustainable business practices including composting food waste and donating soil back to local Miami farmers.
The Pura Vida app, available for Apple and Android smartphones, offers benefits like scheduled pickup or delivery, exclusive offers and a loyalty points program that could earn you free coffee, food or a $50 reward.
If you go
Pura Vida, 440 S. State Road 7, Royal Palm Beach
Open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily
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