Callaro's Steak House in Lake Worth re-opening in December
LAKE WORTH — Christmas is Dec. 25, but for Michael Meyers, the holiday is coming sooner.
"Tentatively we'll be open by the end of the first week of December," said Meyers, director of operations for Callaro's Steak House in downtown Lake Worth. "We’re hoping by the second week of December."
717 Lake Avenue, LLC (also the address of the restaurant), bought Callaro's from Danny Callaro in July for $1.4 million. The restaurant closed during the summer for renovations, with Meyers saying the company is spending about $250,000 to upgrade the site, including adding new light fixtures, tables and kitchen equipment.
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"It's been a challenge," Meyers said. "But truthfully, in the 3-1/2 months I've been on this site and doing this job, I'm proud and excited. I thought it would take much longer."
The original plan was to open Callaro's, formerly occupied by L’Anjou, in August or September. The steak house relocated in 2011 from Manalapan, where it operated for 10 years.
“We had a lot of great customers who liked the vibe and feel of the restaurant, and hopefully they’ll come back when it reopens," Callaro told The Palm Beach Post in July.
Meyers said the menu will be 85 percent the same and 15 percent in upgrades, including pasta dishes, steak a la carte and natural pork chops. He also said customers should look for a Happy Hour from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and a 1,500 bottle wine room.
"We'll have about 200 bottles that will be rotated to seasons," Meyers said. "It's a fresh new look."
Callaro's will also feature an event space for rent for up to 50 people.
"No party is too small for us," Meyers said. "Whatever you need to do — a birthday celebration, a meeting after work — this is the place to be."
He said 50 percent of Callaro's waiters will be back.
"Right now we've hired 12 waiters and waitresses and we're looking to hire more," he said. "We're hoping to bring other restaurants to this town of Lake Worth and to get this city to what Delray Beach was 15 years ago — growing."
Callaro said he couldn't turn down Meyers' offer.
"I did it because they were frequent customers in the restaurant and they loved everything about it," he said.
He said the deal was done quickly.
"Back in December they came to me and then I had a deposit check three days later," Callaro said. "They didn't want to take over the restaurant in the middle of season, so they signed to let us stay until July."
kthompson@pbpost.com
