The Boca Raton Adds Japanese Bocce Club to Culinary Offerings

The Boca Raton in South Florida recently opened Japanese Bocce Club, a new signature dining concept that overlooks the property’s bocce courts.

Iconic South Florida property The Boca Raton, which is renowned for its rich history, grand architecture, luxury spa and exemplary service, is also home to an array of world-class dining options including Marisol, The Flamingo Grill, and Harbor House, among others.

Among recent additions to its culinary offerings is Japanese Bocce Club, a fresh new signature dining concept that combines traditional Japanese cuisine with a modern, playful spirit. The restaurant is located within the architecturally magnificent Cloister, overlooking bocce courts that will serve as the property’s unofficial clubhouse.

“Japanese Bocce Club is an all-new concept for Major Food Group. Its location alongside The Boca Raton’s original bocce courts served as the inspiration to re-envision the space and infuse elements of my Italian heritage, showcasing modern Japanese cuisine that is precise and flavorful, fresh and exciting,” says Mario Carbone, Managing Partner of Major Food Group.

Designed by renowned architecture firm Rockwell Group, Japanese Bocce Club features a minimal, contemporary aesthetic, which celebrates the beauty of Japanese design by mixing clean lines with playful elements like traditional shibori tie-dyed upholstery. The modern dining room showcases custom paper lanterns, bocce-inspired sconces, and a 15-foot hand-painted waterscape mural. Other outstanding features include a carved monolithic sushi bar and a serene patio overlooking the outdoor garden and bocce courts.

Overseen by Chef de Cuisine Takao Soejima, the menu includes a wide selection of sushi, crispy rice, and one-of-a-kind BBQ spareribs among other classic dishes.

The menu will be overseen by Chef de Cuisine Takao Soejima, who has more than three decades of experience specializing in Japanese cuisine. Trained in traditional Japanese and modern American style sushi, he has worked at restaurants in Los Angeles, West Palm Beach, and Philadelphia, where he was head sushi chef of Morimoto for five years. In 2008, he joined The Boca Raton as executive restaurant chef at Morimoto Sushi Bar where he worked closely with Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto for over a decade.

Menu highlights include sushi, a curated selection of crispy rice, and one-of-a-kind BBQ spareribs among other classic dishes. Guests can enjoy an assortment of true Wagyu beef, in addition to a comprehensive menu of sake, cocktails and more. They can also indulge in a game of bocce under glowing lights strung among Royal Palm Trees.

“As we dream up each of our distinct new culinary concepts, we try not to take ourselves too seriously, so you’ll also discover unexpected flavors, and a touch of whimsy and fun woven into the experience,” says Daniel A. Hostettler, President & CEO of The Boca Raton. “This especially holds true for Japanese Bocce Club, and we are excited to take our members and guests on this delicious new journey.”

The Boca Raton is an iconic property that dates back to 1926 and has set the standard for South Florida luxury and hospitality.

Japanese Bocce Club is exclusive to members of The Boca Raton Club and resort guests. For more information about The Boca Raton, visit the website and follow on Instagram: @thebocaraton

[Photos courtesy of The Boca Raton]

Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk