11 August 21-27, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES | CONTENTS | LETTERS | NEWS | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | CAFE | MUSIC | BRUNCH EVERY SAT & SUN BEST WATERFRONT VIEWS IN MIAMI 3201 RICKENBACKER CWY, KEY BISCAYNE, FL 33149 | 305.361.3818 WWW.THERUSTYPELICAN.COM BE SOCIAL WITH US! /RUSTYPELICANMIAMI miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | CONTENTS | LETTERS | RIPTIDE | METRO | NIGHT+DAY | STAGE | ART | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | ▼ BOCA RATON HAIL CAESAR The man behind Boca Raton’s most internet- famous lunch has opened a new restaurant with the same wholesome and delicious in- gredients that made his original wraps a suc- cess — but without the long lines out the door. Chef Vinny Carbone, the original creator of Vinny’s Café’s viral chicken caesar salad wrap, has opened VC’s Kitchen, bringing his signature wrap to a larger, all-day space just a few miles from the original. At Vinny’s Café, Carbone built a following that stretched far beyond Boca. Videos of his marble-slab chopping technique, where grilled or crispy chicken, romaine, Parmesan, and croutons were diced into a perfectly coated salad before being wrapped in spinach or whole wheat, racked up millions of views on TikTok and Instagram. Influencers called it “the best chicken caesar salad wrap in Flor- ida,” with one viral review rating it a “ten out of ten” and declaring the 35-minute wait worth it. The wrap’s size didn’t hurt either; stuffed to the point it could feed two, it became a social media sensation and a local obsession. Now Carbone is giving his growing fan base a new home. VC’s Kitchen opened two months ago in the Shoppes of Blue Lake at 1200 W. Yamato Rd. Unlike Vinny’s Café, which focuses on lunch, the new spot by Car- bone serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a menu that expands well beyond the origi- nal’s offerings. Breakfast starts with avocado toast topped with grape tomatoes, arugula, sliced egg, and black sea salt. It also includes an oatmeal bar, muffins, crumb cake, and a chocolate chip cookie that is nearly a meal on its own. Cof- fee, tea, bottled juices, and sparkling water round out the morning lineup. By lunchtime, the menu shifts into a broader mix of wraps, salads, paninis, bowls, and sandwiches. Paninis range from the Italian with salami, roasted red peppers, provolone, lettuce, and balsamic vinaigrette to the “Boca’s Best” made with chicken pesto, roasted red pep- pers, arugula, and balsamic vinaigrette. The chicken caprese adds mozzarella, basil, and roasted peppers, while the “Paulie’s Pro- sciutto Panini” layers chicken cutlet, arugula, prosciutto, and provolone. Specialty grilled cheeses include the “Nashville Hot” with buf- falo fried chicken, coleslaw, and pickles, and “Richie’s Avocado” with bacon, tomato, aru- gula, and chipotle aioli. Other sandwiches offer heartier options like the “Philly” with shaved ribeye, caramel- ized onions, roasted red peppers, and Ameri- can cheese, or the “Cousin Angelo” with prosciutto, salami, provolone, mozzarella, ro- maine, and red onion. Bowls include a quinoa- based salmon version with avocado and mango and a shrimp-and-kale mix with mush- rooms, roasted peppers, and chipotle aioli. Sal- ads and wraps range from the “Classic Greek” to the “Italian Chopped,” plus Carbone’s famed yet reimagined “Chicken Caesar.” It is not yet clear whether VC’s Kitchen’s expanded menu will capture the same viral buzz as the original wrap. The feedback is still rolling in, and regulars from Vinny’s Café now have two Boca spots to choose from. Vinny’s Café, still owned by Kristena and Richard Bartlett, continues to operate in Boca Raton with its own menu and version of the chicken caesar wrap. VC’s Kitchen is a separate concept owned by Carbone, offering an expanded menu, modern seating, and longer hours. VC’s Kitchen. 1200 W. Yamato Rd., Ste. B3, Boca Raton; 561-617-7033; vcskitchen.com. OLEE FOWLER ▼ PINECREST ESCAPE FROM MIAMI As someone born and raised in Pinecrest, I’ve spent my whole life wandering the lush paths of Pinecrest Gardens, even back when it was still Parrot Jungle, before Watson Island took it, and our parrots, away. I’ve seen the special place transform from a beloved attraction into a community hub for area families, bike riders, and those frequenting the Pinecrest Gardens Sunday Farmer’s Market (add it to your late summer bucket list). But until now, | TASTE TEST | ▼ Café Vinny’s Cafe photo The creator of the viral chicken Caesar salad wrap from Vinny’s Cafe in Boca Raton has opened a new restaurant called VC’s Kitchen with the famed wrap, salads, and no long lines. register to win at miaminewtimes.com/promotions COOL STUFF go here to WIN
