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Eleven Maple Street is located in Jensen Beach, Florida.
This was my second visit to 11 Maple, a gourmand’s destination in the so-called treasure coast area of southeastern Florida. Located in a small cottage among more touristy destinations, this quaint, eclectically-styled restaurant serves creative interpretations of excellent cuisine. Two menus were presented to us; one a long list of “small plates” and another of entrées. Our server Joy was a pleasant host.
I had their kobe hanger steak small plate, served with fried onion rings and a mayonnaise-based sauce. The beef was excellent, and the flavors all combined nicely with the wine choice of the evening, a Shiraz/Cabernet blend from Lake Breeze in Australia.
My larger plate of duck breast and confit duck leg was also tasty. The confit leg was less well executed; the breast was good, and the accompanying sauce (with smokey sweetness) was great. Other entrées and dishes included sea bass, elk, tofu soup, and a calamari salad.
Two desserts were ordered: pear cake and their white chocolate bread pudding. Both were very well received by all at the table. We of course left too full, but everything on the plate was enjoyable, and as my dad remarked, “A work of art” (referring to presentation). I have no reservation in recommending your visit to 11 Maple Street in Jensen Beach. From the decor, to the variety of dishes, to the relaxed atmosphere, there is bound to be a good time for all.
11Maple Street is billed as “Casual Dining in a Quaint Old Florida Home,” and it is that. Step inside this old-Florida home and you will be pleasantly surprised by a series of cozy dining rooms and a covered patio surrounded by gardens. With owners, chef Mike Perrin and his wife and restaurant’s hostess Margie at the helm, 11 Maple Street consistently delivers on atmosphere and flavor.
The menu here changes often but items you may find on the menu include: A Roasted Beets and Chevre salad with spiced hazelnuts, sunburst tangerine, watercress and extra virgin olive oil or a Pan Fried Caicos Conch appetiser with balsamic vinegar and lime.
Entrees range from seafood, steak, game and more. Some items you may find are the Grilled British Columbia Natural King Salmon with a stew of littleneck clams, broccoli rabe, leeks, saffron gnocchi and tomato or Oak Grilled Muscovy Duck Breast with duck leg confit, fall root vegetables and pomegranate molasses entree.
A “small plates” category is also available on the menu. This really encourages trying and tasting more of what the restaurant has to offer without having to be rolled out afterwards. A trend that we just love and hope to see catch on in our area.
11 Maple Street is easily near the top of our list for fine restaurant and would certainly be among the top five or better and if it were actually in Vero Beach. With it’s pleasing atmosphere and some of the best California/Contemporary cuisine available in Jensen Beach, it could even be in the running for our editor’s choice. So if you are in the Jensen Beach area we would highly recommend that you give it a try!
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TCPALM
Posted on 2 April 2009 by Maitre'd
After Christmas this year, my family and I dined at 11 Maple Street in Jensen Beach, Florida. My parents had chosen the location, and deemed it “the best we can offer.” It had supposed been rated #1 in the “Treasure Coast” area of south-central Florida, on the Atlantic coast.
It’s an old house, and during warmer weather, you can eat both inside and out; for us, we sat in the largest of the interior rooms, off to side of the main building which also included restrooms and the kitchen. I’ve eaten at many good places in my life (I’m not boasting, but I am rather fond of reminding myself how good life has treated me), and it seems restaurants can do two things to impress people, their guests: good service, good food. I think good service is easier than good food. And great service
says nothing about the quality of food. True exceptions in the business are those that excel equally well at both food and service, but this distinction is important.
The decor of the restaurant was special, and I imagine eating in one of their little alcove rooms is special too. The menu changes regularly, and their selection of appetizers and main entrées was impressive for its variety. I could hardly pick too many from their list that might disappoint. We ended up choosing 2 sea bass entrées, 1 hanger steak entree, and one beef tenderloin entrée. For appetizers we sampled the arugala/balsamic pear salad, the crisp artichokes, and the spinach/calamari salad. All were delicious. Pear, blue cheese, and the sweetness from balsamic vinegar was excellent. Scent was imposed by way of porcini mushrooms. Odd mixtures of ingredients, but satisfaction followed.
The fish entrées had strong flavors. I loved mine; it was characteristic of a strong woody, smokey flavor. The favorite, for me, was the smokey, dense flavor of roasted tomato and corn which served as a base for this dish. The hanger steak entrée was stunning.
The Riesling wine I chose went superbly with the fish. It was a less-than-excellent match with other things I sampled. Despite any good judgement I had by meal’s end, I had to try one of their desserts.
Their coconut sorbet was served in a martini glass; the glass was anchored on the plate using chocolate sauce. This dessert was creamy and rich; the glass was composed of pineapple chunk-sized pieces of frozen coconut sorbet. The texture when biting into each one was incredible, a real treat, and a 5-star dessert.
In all, the meal at 11 Maple St. may in fact be one of the best the Treasure Coast has to offer.
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