M.M. Cloutier
| Special to Palm Beach Daily News
A Palm Beach new-year prediction: You’ve resolved or someone you know has resolved to eat healthier fare in 2026 when dining out on the island.
Is that realistic? After all, many restaurants here feature sublimely rich sauces and desserts.
But there’s much more.
The Daily News asked our local restaurateurs and chefs about what healthier-choice dishes they’d recommend from their menus.
Their responses indicate, among other things, what we know: that low- or no-fat flavor relies on herbs, spices, salsas and more. But also a touch of something “sinful” (such as butter).
You be the judge about the dishes they chose as they think of their patrons’ start to 2026.
Swifty’s at The Colony
155 Hammon Ave.
One of the most popular dishes at this indoor-outdoor society poolside restaurant also happens to lean healthy: chicken paillard ($49).
It’s a chicken breast pounded thin, lightly seasoned and served with a house vinaigrette, a little lemon and butter and an arugula, tomato and Parmesan salad.
“The chicken paillard is a guest favorite because it’s light, clean and deeply satisfying,” The Colony’s executive chef Tom Whitaker told the Daily News.
“The simply prepared lean chicken paired with a bright, fresh salad makes it a balanced entrée that feels indulgent without being heavy. It’s a generous portion — enough to satisfy your appetite and often still enjoy later.”
Acqua Café
2875 S. Ocean Blvd.
Known for its Mediterranean “coastal cuisine” — which also includes everything from beef bao buns to pizza and rich pasta dishes — indoor-outdoor Acqua Café, just a stone’s throw from the beach, features lots of tempting light seafood dishes.
A healthful winner is Acqua’s seafood kebab, featuring chargrilled branzino, jumbo shrimp, swordfish and diver scallops.
The kebab dangles on a stand over a mixed-greens salad with tomato, red onion, kalamata olives and red-wine vinaigrette.
Guests love the dish ($46) “not only for the presentation, but for its simplicity” and that it’s “healthy and delicious,” managing partner Jose Duran told the Daily News.
La Goulue
288 S. County Road
As La Goulue proves, French bistro fare isn’t an ode to stereotypical heavy-sauced French fare.
There are several French dishes that emphasize flavor and fresh ingredients — and not fat — whether one thinks of ratatouille or salad Nicoise.
Enter La Goulue’s classic Dover sole meunière (market price): Yes, it is prepared with brown butter, but beyond that, the dish highlights lean, protein-rich fish, lemon, parsley and French string beans.
La Goulue’s executive chef Gwenaël “Gwen” Le Pape told the Daily News, “I have been making sole meunière since I was 15 years old and I do not cut corners. This dish is about respecting the ingredients and the technique. When it is done properly, it is both comforting and light.”
Meat Market
191 Bradley Place
When you’re ready to splurge, you can’t miss with one of Meat Market’s signature steaks or chops served with a choice of flavored butters and sauces, but there are several healthful choices, too.
In addition to sushi offerings, try the plum-and-miso-glazed Scottish salmon.
As a fan of the dish who also happens to be Meat Market’s marketing director, Isabella Denaro told the Daily News, “It’s a beautifully balanced option pairing rich, flavorful salmon with cauliflower fried rice and seasonal vegetables with kale, green peas and shimeji mushrooms.
“The result is a dish that feels light, vibrant and satisfying with depth from the plum-miso glaze and freshness from the vegetables.”
The Polo Room
251 Sunrise Ave.
The Polo Room — co-owned by famed international polo star, businessman, model and widely acknowledged heartthrob Nacho Figueras — has only been open since its December debut, but a menu favorite has emerged: caramelized Chilean sea bass “Veracruz.”
This is a healthier choice guests “dream” about, the restaurant’s officials told the Daily News. The dish ($58) is served with artichokes, tomatoes, peppers and capers.
Restaurants at The Breakers
1 S. County Road and 2 S. County Road
There are countless healthful options at The Breakers’ numerous restaurants covering everything from Italian to seafood to Asian.
Among the best examples of such fare?
At The Breakers’ Seafood Bar, which features floor-to-ceiling windows with up-and-close ocean views, the fish tacos ($39) are a fine choice and feature salsa, guacamole, queso fresco and cascabel aioli.
Elsewhere, grilled Atlantic salmon at Flager Steakhouse ($62) is an option. It’s served with vegetable risotto and a lemon-dill beurre-blanc.
“Our entrées are designed to be both wholesome and indulgent,” The Breakers’ executive chef of restaurants, Anthony Sicignano, told the Daily News.
“The grilled Atlantic salmon with vegetable risotto and lemon-dill beurre-blanc offers lean protein and heart-healthy omega-3s, while the fish tacos at Seafood Bar combine fresh, vibrant ingredients for a lighter yet flavorful experience. Each dish delivers balance and satisfaction without sacrificing taste.”
Cucina
257 Royal Poinciana Way
This longtime and popular Italian restaurant that doubles as a nightclub, of sorts, in the late evening on weekends offers a menu that’s “healthy with minimal seed oils and lots of all-natural organic ingredients,” executive chef and co-owner Kent Thurston said.
While there are indulgent menu choices, Thurston said one of the healthiest ones is Moroccan Chicken ($45) that’s “full of nutrition and on the lighter side,” he said.
It includes feta-cucumber salad, labneh, hummus and house-made pita.
Salute Ristorante and Bice Ristorante
44 Cocoanut Row and 313 Worth Ave.
These two sister restaurants have various dishes that are worth an embrace as you start the new year.
Colorado lamb chops ($72) in a Castelvetrano olive crust with stuffed baby peppers, baby artichokes and lamb jus if offered at Salute. At Bice, try grilled King salmon ($56) with Kalamata olive and sundried tomato pesto, braised lentils and spinach.
Dining and Cooking