Howard Wein Hospitality (HWH), The Diplomat Beach Resort, and Thayer Lodging Group, unveiled The Diplomat Restaurant Group, the heart of the extensive culinary program revamp at the iconic resort in Hollywood, Florida. Currently undergoing a $100 million transformation, The Diplomat Beach Resort will be a high-energy destination resort, from coast to Intracoastal, offering multi-dimensional entertainment experiences and programming that pays homage to the hotel's storied past, which originally began in 1925.
Helmed by HWH, The Diplomat Restaurant Group is comprised of more than 10 innovative culinary destinations that range from chef-driven restaurants to uniquely branded accessible eateries to a casual grab-and-go market and a family-friendly sweets shop. The bar offerings, also led by HWH, will feature cocktail creations from acclaimed bartender Willy Shine.
“It has been exceptionally difficult to keep this secret under wraps and we are excited to finally unveil our larger plans for the new culinary program at The Diplomat Beach Resort,” says Howard Wein, founder of Howard Wein Hospitality and The Diplomat Restaurant Group. “We have top chefs from across the country creating brand new concepts juxtaposed with completely original restaurants and culinary experiences that can’t be found anywhere else in the country. The Diplomat is set to become the top culinary destination in South Florida.”
Set to open early 2017:
Monkitail
Celebrity chef and restaurateur Michael Schulson (Schulson Collective) brings his modern Japanese fare to Hollywood, Florida with the opening of Monkitail. Schulson's menu is a contemporary take on the classic izakaya, featuring sharable small plates and sushi as well as an array of specialty cocktails and saké. An open robatayaki kitchen sits at the heart of the restaurant, a 15-seat sushi bar and a private dining area overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Tucked away beyond the main dining room is a discreet karaoke bar offering tunes, cocktails and signature dishes late into the night.
Point Royal
Point Royal is a Coastal American restaurant and bar by celebrity chef, restaurateur and television star Geoffrey Zakarian. In keeping with Geoffrey’s reputation for producing some of the country’s most relevant restaurants, he created Point Royal exclusively for the Diplomat Beach Resort. With an accessible, modern take on a seaside restaurant, the indoor-outdoor venue features the property’s only raw bar and a menu featuring the full gamut of Zakarian's American cuisine and seafood preparations. Complimented by a center bar focused on fresh juice based cocktails and the largest wine list on property, Point Royal delivers a lively bustling environment and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.
Counter Point
Geoffrey Zakarian's extension of Point Royal offers the best coffee and fresh juice in Hollywood. Designed for everyday convenience but dedicated to Chef Zakarian’s commitment to quality, Counter Point is the place for specialty espresso drinks, cold brew coffee and a daily selection of house baked breakfast pastries, salads and sandwiches with wine, beer and savory snacks for later in the day and evening. Offering guests options to carry-out or dine-in, Counter Point is open all day and everyday.
Playa
Playa is a poolside, beachfront Nuevo Latino concept, featuring food designed by chefs Sue Torres and Darren Carbone. Along with an extensive bar highlighting Rum and Tequila specialties, Playa redefines the resort’s outdoor experience through perfectly executed tacos on house-made tortillas, an array of fresh salsas and guacamoles, and only fresh juice-based cocktails. Everything is served with unobstructed views of the sand, sky and waves, like no other location in South Florida.
The Hotel Bar
The Hotel Bar is the center hub of the resort. This indoor-outdoor bar highlights classic cocktails from famous hotel bars around the world, crafted by celebrated bartender Willy Shine, and is open day and night. The bar offers extensive indoor and outdoor bar and lounge seating suitable for parties of all sizes.
Candy & Cones
Candy & Cones is one of the most memorable and engaging culinary destinations at the resort. Ice creams are churned fresh onsite and folded into customized sundaes or into one of hundreds of varieties of ice cream sandwiches and pops. The modern penny candy wall features dozens of favorites offered by the pound. All confections can be enjoyed at the classic soda fountain counter as well as taken away.
The Canteen
The Canteen is a supply & trading company offering convenience food and beverage items for hotel guests. Beer and wine, chips, nuts and other snacks, prepared salads and sandwiches, cookies and brownies and anything else you can imagine are available.
Recently opened:
Diplomat Prime
Diplomat Prime is a luxury boutique steakhouse led by Executive Chef Nicolay Adinaguev. The restaurant boasts a reimagined menu of prime beef aged in-house, seasonally-driven seafood dishes, and select delicate fare. The beverage program includes a variety of old world and new world wines available by the glass and bottle, as well as an extensive list of cocktails designed to complement the steakhouse fare. Inspired by the hotel’s iconic period through the 1950s, the design of the 108-seat restaurant incorporates elements of sophistication and playful femininity to a steakhouse space that historically had masculine overtones.
Bristol’s Burgers
Bristol’s Burgers, located at The Diplomat Landing Marina overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway, is a timeless burger joint. The menu features ingredient-driven burgers and a wide selection of starters, boozy and non-boozy milkshakes with house made ice cream, and a full bar celebrating throwback cocktails. The unique oval-shaped burgers, created using a proprietary signature blend of beef, are served on house-made sub rolls and accompanied by ingredient-driven toppings. A modern take on a fast-casual burger restaurant, Bristol’s Burgers features an open kitchen, surrounded by red leather booths and tables for both indoor and outdoor seating. This old school décor allows guests to sit back and enjoy great food in an atmosphere guaranteed to take you back in time. The space also has an arcade off to the front of the restaurant, free for all guests to enjoy.
Portico Beer & Wine Garden
Portico, located at The Diplomat Landing, is a waterfront beer and wine garden serving sharable, light-Italian favorites with an exclusively on-tap beer and wine program. Portico offers old and new world wines, local craft beers, beloved imports and even a signature Americano cocktail, all on tap and served in 7 oz. pours, encouraging sipping, tasting and swapping. The Portico experience is well suited to its location just steps away from the Diplomat Landing Marina, where in addition to gazing at the resident yachts, guests entertain themselves with outdoor games like ping pong, corn hole, and ring toss. Seating is both covered and uncovered with canopies draped throughout the area. Several styles of seating are available including Adirondack chairs, picnic tables and round tables, all offering guests different ways to lounge as they enjoy drinks and food.
The Diplomat Restaurant Group restaurants and bars will feature unique dishes and drinks and will highlight ingenuity and variety, using locally-sourced ingredients as often as possible. Each dining destination is rooted in strong culinary sensibilities, emphasizing brand individuality and creating distinct spaces and experiences throughout the resort.
