On July 1, Harpoon Louie’s opened its doors in Deerfield Beach, after a 20-year hiatus from the original restaurant in Jupiter. If anyone was ever fortunate enough to dine at the Jupiter location, they will be thrilled to know that many of the signature dishes are back on the menu and as good as ever. My husband and I sampled many different items on the menu and each one was prepared to perfection. We started with the scrumptious crab cake, loaded with large chunks of crab meat and seared to a crispy finish. It was delicious. A sample of their “wickedly good” fish and chips arrived at the table with hand-cut French fries served in a mini fry basket lined with newspaper. The fish was flaky, the batter was light and crunchy, and the fries were fresh and homemade. Next came a portion of their famous lobster roll. I can see why it is famous. The dish was elegant in its simplicity. Big pieces of lobster, mixed with a light dressing of mayonnaise, salt and pepper, were just enough to enhance the sweetness of the lobster. This was served chilled on a warm toasted roll. Each bite of this creamy concoction was sublime.

Harpoon Louie’s not only offers salads and seafood, but also gourmet pizzas, eggplant parmigiana, spaghetti and meatballs, penne ala Vodka, chicken and steaks. Keeping in this vein, we tried a sample of the eggplant parmigiana. It was aromatic and flavorful, full of smooth, rich cheese and covered with a hearty tomato sauce.

Our waiter, Richard, was wonderful. He explained several of the dishes and helped us navigate through the menu. My husband chose the wahoo cooked “on the coals” with grilled vegetables. I decided to try something less exotic — the bacon cheeseburger. Both were beautifully plated and delicious. To finish our dining experience, we chose the cinnamon apple crumb pie nestled in a flaky crust and topped with a crunchy, sweet topping. It was a little slice of heaven. Just when we thought they would have to carry us out, General Manager Bill Sch-wartzbach brought over a serving of the restaurant’s signature dessert, the fudgie wudgie. This warm chocolate cake with a gooey center was topped with ice cream and whipped cream. Before we even finished it, Bill brought over a bowl of strawberry shortcake “just so we could try it too!” The shortcake was made using a true southern biscuit, covered with vanilla ice cream. The strawberries and whipped cream are added tableside, enhancing to the uniqueness of the presentation.

Last Sunday, my husband and I returned to try out the breakfast menu. I ordered the stuffed challah French toast and my husband chose the meat lovers omelette. The omelette was packed full of bacon, ham and sausage, and the French toast was filled with sweet mascarpone cheese and sprinkled with fresh blueberries, bananas and strawberries. The stuffed French toast definitely lived up to its reputation. The incredible view of the ocean, beach and pier only made our relaxing Sunday morning meal more so. What a wonderful way to start off our day in beautiful South Florida.

Owner Ken DePasquale likes to convey a casual, comfortable and familiar ambiance in his restaurant. We believe he has achieved that and so much more, and are certainly pleased he has chosen Deerfield Beach to reopen his legendary establishment. Until we eat again …