Rex Gryphon Brings “Art of Food/Art of Survival” to South Florida,
Its Rex Baron – Survivors Kitchen/VRex Lounge: An Experience to “Live” For
Ready to excite, astound and surprise, Rex Gryphon restaurant group brings its newest REX (Restaurant, Entertainment, Xperience) destination to South Florida; its Rex Baron Survivors Kitchen/VRex Lounge will open Wednesday, October 16 at Town Center at Boca Raton beginning with lunch at 11 a.m. The second in a network of casual, upscale “vigilante posts” set for national expansion, the 8,500-square-foot “none like it” interactive, multi-sensory experiential destination meeting place, dining haven, watering hole and hi-tech virtual reality escape lounge is “where the art of food meets the art of survival.”
The avant-garde post-apocalyptic themed restaurant concept — where food, culture, community, interactive tech and art thrive — engages guests (aka survivors) with characters (aka vigilantes, the “good guys…and gals”) who together are building a peaceful, inclusive new world. As its sister outpost to Rex Gryphon’s Mad Rex in Philadelphia, the South Florida outpost is named for its own lead vigilante Rex Baron and features a collection of authentic fashion-infused vigilante persona art exhibits (clothed in post-apocalypse recovered remnants of Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Prada, John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Isaac Sellam and Carol Christian Poell couture) each with their own personal stories. “Style so good it intimidates.” To help survivors spot and learn about each vigilante, guests are provided a pocket-size gallery guide as an app is currently under development.
“To disrupt and excel in an ever-evolving industry, we have created and mastered the REX at our posts by offering a high quality, healthy and delicious menu with a storied, rustic, new world cross-generational atmosphere that engages and stimulates,” shared hospitality industry veteran Michael Norris who leads the development of Rex Gryphon’s vigilante posts. “We look forward to sharing the REX with greater South Florida, its residents and businesses, and visitors, as it is an easy drive from Miami to Stuart.”
Flame Thrower
“Everyone Loves A Good Story”; Rex Baron Has More Than 20 to Share
Norris shared that guests themselves will become part of the South Florida outpost ReStoryä (RG’s term for restaurant story), as they dine and get to know more about Rex Baron and his 18 vigilante character personas (nine men and nine women) who each play an impactful role in the New World. Among those helping create a sanctuary for all survivors (including the animals) by protecting them against a lawless society while replenishing the earth, health and wellness in the New World are:
- Rex Baron leading the regional vigilante outpost
- Farmer Yamato tending and protecting the land
- Nurse Angel and former surgeon Cobra saving and healing those in need
- Roughneck drilling for water and protecting the wells
- Drifter exploring for new territories while recruiting, and rescuing deserted pets he finds and takes care of them in the outpost’s own Animal Sanctuary
- Watson (nod to IBM)
Watson (nod to IBM) leading technology
- Former police officer Boca Blade in charge of transportation and developing new law enforcement
- Mossad in charge of intel and infiltrating insurgents
- Warhorse driving outpost security
Perfect for lunch, dinner and late-night dining with family and friends as well as large private celebrations and corporate events and team-building sessions, Rex Baron is where ‘urbanites’ are encouraged to create and share their own experiences, the food and cocktails surprise, and visits to the hi-tech HD Sports Hangar and ‘Lamborghini-level’ 2,500-square-foot VREX Lounge (with 32 virtual reality and simulation stations) engages survivors in “thrill and chill” seeking “bucket list” escapes.
Food Amongst the Art…and Conversation
Driven by Rex Gryphon Culinary Director Ralph P. Fernandez, Rex Baron’s Modern American cuisine is based on classic world techniques with new and old-world flavors with a focus on high-quality locally-sourced ingredients; fresh vegetables and highest-grade organic meats, seafood, poultry and spice blends and “unusually served” themed cocktails.
BURRATA CAPRESE SALAD
REX RIBS
HUNTERS TABLE
Guests indulge in a Survivors (Scratch) Menu inspired by Mother Nature and the human instinct of eating well and spoiling palates. Seated at literally the “hottest tables” in town, diners can be their own chef, cooking at their table on a 600-million-year-old Pink Himalayan Salt Block heated to 350°C or a Black Lava Rock heated to 650°C. An in-house butcher brings out the finest steaks, seafood, poultry and gives guests tips on personal seasoning and block/rock cooking that offers many health benefits. To prepare their meals, those choosing the Hunters (Meat, Poultry, Seafood) Table cooked on the Black Lava Rock or Foragers (Vegetable) Table cooked on the
Pink Himalayan Salt Block, select from three collections of signature spices, rubs and sauces: Wasteland, Guts & Glory and The Grasslands.
There are plenty of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options on the menu, with allergens noted with each dish. Starters include Chicken Pesto Flatbread, Fried Green Tomatoes, Calamari (buttermilk marinated, flash-fried served with Cajun remoulade), Tuna Tartar and Mushroom Ricotta Toast. Featured salads include Ancient Grain, Wild Rex Southwest Wedge, Broken Heart Caesar and Burrata Caprese. Sandwiches include the popular Shrimp Po’ Boy, Surf ’N Turf (filet and crab cake), Grilled Portobello and the towering half-pound Rex Baron Burger. Chef selections that wow include the Lobster Pappardelle, Pan Seared Scallops,
St. Louis Spareribs and Roasted Airline Chicken. Sides include Goat Cheese Arancini, House-cut Fries (with choice of Rex Dry Rub, Salt & Vinegar, Truffle Parmesan) and Asian Slaw.
All of this can be topped off by Rex Baron’s choice of 16 signature cocktails, some emboldened with fire, others presented in post-apocalyptic barware or a few playfully “administered” in military-grade IV bags perched on rolling frames. The latter enables guests to move to and from indoor sanctuary and outside terrace dining, the VRex Lounge, the HD Sports Hangar and Battle Bar next to the live weekend entertainment. Among the most popular libations are Flame Thrower, Vigilante, Tea-Rex, Gryphon, Ginslinger, Survivor Espresso and Salvation Sangria.
Begin or Finish Dining with a Virtual Reality “Bucket List” Escape
When guests want to step out of their world and their day-to-day routine to replenish or invigorate, they can step into the VRex Lounge (with full-service bar) for their choice of Oculus, Valve Index and XTAL experiences. The Rex Baron’s VRex Lounge, exclusively outfitted for Rex Gryphon by VRgineers based in Prague, will be the only VR venue in the world offering the XTAL, the world’s first VR headset with AutoEye and embedded Leap Motion with 5k resolution. With VRex Lounge access to the highest level job-training VR and simulator technology never before available to the general public hosted at stations surrounding the lounge bar, along the perimeter walls and in the intimate, glass-enclosed VR Chamber, guests can take a walk in space, climb Mt. Everest, venture on safari, leap from a plane, dive the oceans, swim with the turtles in the Galapagos, pilot a plane, hit the track in a high performance race car, tour cities and countries, etc.
VRex Lounge Experience
“We are excited to welcome Rex Gryphon’s newest Vigilante Post to Town Center at Boca Raton,” shared Town Center General Manager Sal Saldaña. “We are certain this vibrant, high-energy new dining and entertainment destination will become an instant favorite for our shoppers and visitors.”
Located in the Nordstrom wing at Town Center at Boca Raton (6000 Glades Road, Boca Raton, Fla.) and offering inside and outside terrace dining and bar services, Rex Baron is open seven days a week, on Sundays to Thursdays from 11 a.m. to midnight and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Reservations are not required but can be made via Open Table, www.TheRexBaron.com or by calling (561) 447-6993. For large private groups and corporate events and team-building email at events@therexbaron.com or call (561) 447-6993.
