Jardin, a new restaurant brought by newlywed chefs Jordan Lerman and Stephanie Cohen, will open in April at 330 Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach.
The restaurant is named for the ground floor of Via Jardin, the building it occupies, as well as the restaurant’s tree and flower-filled courtyard, according to a release. Jardin, which means garden in French, Spanish, and Italian, will feature a menu that reflects “the melting pot that is modern American cuisine, with international influences as well as flavors that celebrate South Florida’s seasonal bounty,” the release said.
The restaurant will occupy 3,300 square feet, with seating for more than 150 people. The space is configured with two outdoor areas — a covered patio in front and a courtyard out back. The interior will have a dining room, a chef’s counter overlooking the open kitchen, and a bar/lounge. The decor is neutral tones, concrete tile and wood floors, and natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows, the release said.
Lerman, a Palm Beach County native, is returning to West Palm Beach after spending time in New York, Israel and most recently, Boca Raton. “I always hoped I’d be able to return home to open my own restaurant — and the timing is perfect here in West Palm. There is a movement afoot, a revitalization that definitely includes the dining scene, and Stephanie and I very much want to be a part of it,” Lerman said in a statement.
Lerman (27) and Cohen (25), met at the Culinary Institute of America before working in some of New York’s notable restaurants and bakeries, including Eleven Madison Park, Momofuku Ssam Bar (Lerman), Ai Fiori and Dominque Ansel Bakery (Cohen), according to the release. After relocating to South Florida, the two worked at Boca Raton’s Rebel House — he as sous chef and bar manager and she as executive pastry chef. Now, the two will divide duties at Jardin: Lerman as executive chef and bar manager, while Cohen will be general manager and pastry chef. — Ina Cordle