Del Mar West Palm Beach: Chef Tyler Budzinski on What to Order
Meet the Chef · West Palm Beach
Meet the Chef Behind Del Mar West Palm Beach: Tyler Budzinski on the Nora District's Mediterranean Table
Eight years, five restaurant openings, and three Del Mars in — the executive chef on the open-fire shellfish platter, the best seat in the house, and what he wants you to feel walking out the door.
When Del Mar opened in West Palm Beach's Nora District in April 2026, it brought Cameron Mitchell Restaurants' Mediterranean concept to Palm Beach County for the first time — a made-from-scratch menu drawing on the flavors of Greece, Southern Spain, Morocco, France, Italy, and Turkey, set inside a 12,000-square-foot space of lush greenery and courtyard tables. Running the kitchen is Executive Chef Tyler Budzinski, who came up through the Columbus State culinary program and has spent his career with CMR, taking part in five restaurant openings and three Del Mar debuts. We sat down with him to talk about what to order first, where to sit, and why the shifts after the holidays mean the most to him.
"Our goal is to have guests leave happy, full, and as if they just left a friend or family member's house for dinner. That is true hospitality."
A Career Built One Opening at a Time
Budzinski's path to the top of the Del Mar kitchen began in a classroom in Ohio. He came up through the culinary program at Columbus State, and it was there that he first crossed paths with Cameron Mitchell Restaurants — the Columbus-based group that would become his professional home. Eight years later, that early connection has carried him through five restaurant openings, three of them Del Mars, a run of launches that has made him something of a specialist in the hardest part of the business: getting a brand-new dining room to run like it has been open for years.
That opening experience shows in how he talks about the work. Ask him what he is proudest of, and he does not reach for a signature dish or a glowing review. He points, instead, to the shifts that follow the calendar's biggest nights.
"I'm most proud of the shifts after holidays — New Year's Eve, Mother's Day. It's all the work and prep that leads up to those days, and seeing the ultimate teamwork and camaraderie."
It is a telling answer from a chef who has spent his career opening restaurants. The measure of a kitchen, in his telling, is not the plate but the team behind it — the days when months of preparation collide with a packed dining room and everyone moves as one. "It's truly special to be a part of," he says.
What to Order First
For a first-time diner, Budzinski does not hesitate. The dish to order, he says, is the open-fire roasted shellfish platter — the closest thing Del Mar has to a signature statement. "This is a showstopper," he says. "From presentation to taste to flavor, it has it all." The platter arrives loaded with South African lobster tails, scallops, prawns, clams, and mussels, rounded out with blistered tomatoes and roasted garlic cloves, all bathed in a lemon butter sauce and served with crostini for the perfect bite. It is, in his words, a head-turner — the kind of dish that stops conversation at neighboring tables.
If one plate defines the kitchen, one category of ingredient defines the menu, and it is a humbler one than the lobster might suggest. Pressed on the local ingredient or producer that anchors his cooking, Budzinski answers simply: produce. Del Mar's made-from-scratch, seasonally rotating menu leans hard on freshness, from the heirloom tomatoes to the herbs to the greens. It is the quiet backbone beneath the Mediterranean flavors of Greece, Southern Spain, Morocco, France, Italy, and Turkey that run through the menu.
Where to Sit, and When
Del Mar's 12,000-square-foot space gives Budzinski plenty of ground to play favorites, and he has two. The first is the courtyard patio at sunset, when the light softens over the greenery. The second is inside, in the main dining room — specifically the tables set among the trees, best after dark when the lighting is dimmed and you can watch the open kitchen work. Either one, he suggests, is the seat to request when you book.
Off the Clock
When the aprons come off, Budzinski's own cooking turns unpretentious. At home, away from the Mediterranean coast that shapes his professional menu, he gravitates toward Italian, Mexican, and comfort food — the kind of cooking done for its own sake rather than for a dining room. And at the end of a long service, his post-shift pour is about as unfussy as it gets: an ice-cold Michelob Ultra.
The Feeling That Matters Most
For all the talk of platters and seasonal produce, Budzinski measures success by something less tangible: how a guest feels on the way out. His goal, he says, is for people to leave happy, full, and as if they had just come from dinner at a friend or family member's house. "That," he says, "is true hospitality." It is a standard rooted less in fine dining than in warmth — the sense that a restaurant this polished can still feel like an invitation into someone's home.
Beyond the Restaurant
A visit to Del Mar, Budzinski suggests, deserves a full day in West Palm Beach around it. His local list runs from beach to nightlife to games: Juno Beach, which he rates as the area's best dog beach and a reliable spot to catch sight of sea turtles; a late-night bite and drink down on Clematis Street; and a night of fun at PopStroke or Drive Shack. It is an itinerary that captures the range of a city still coming into its own as a destination — the same energy that drew Cameron Mitchell Restaurants to the Nora District in the first place.
As for the restaurant itself, Budzinski makes the case plainly. Del Mar West Palm Beach, he says, is built for a truly special dining experience with great food and great drinks — right for a date night, a family gathering, a celebration, or a post-work happy hour. The menu, he adds, is designed to take you on a tour throughout the Mediterranean. "Our restaurant has it all," he says, "and I'd love to host you here."
Del Mar West Palm Beach — At a Glance
- Executive Chef
- Tyler Budzinski
- Cuisine
- Mediterranean coastal — Greece, Southern Spain, Morocco, France, Italy & Turkey
- Restaurant group
- Cameron Mitchell Restaurants (CMR)
- Neighborhood
- Nora District, West Palm Beach
- Address
- 1015 North Railroad Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
- Signature dish
- Open-fire roasted shellfish platter
- Best seat
- Courtyard patio at sunset, or the main dining room by the open kitchen
Plan Your Visit
Del Mar West Palm Beach serves dinner nightly and weekend brunch in the Nora District, with a made-from-scratch Mediterranean menu, handcrafted cocktails, and a courtyard built for lingering. Reserve a table to plan your visit.
Reserve a TableFrequently Asked Questions
Who is the executive chef at Del Mar West Palm Beach?
Tyler Budzinski is the executive chef at Del Mar West Palm Beach. A graduate of the Columbus State culinary program, he has spent his career with Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, taking part in five restaurant openings and three Del Mar openings.
What should I order on my first visit to Del Mar West Palm Beach?
Chef Budzinski recommends the open-fire roasted shellfish platter — South African lobster tails, scallops, prawns, clams, mussels, blistered tomatoes, and roasted garlic cloves in a lemon butter sauce, served with crostini. He calls it the restaurant's showstopper.
What kind of food does Del Mar West Palm Beach serve?
Del Mar serves Mediterranean coastal cuisine drawing on the flavors of Greece, Southern Spain, Morocco, France, Italy, and Turkey. The made-from-scratch menu rotates seasonally and showcases seafood alongside fresh produce, house-made cheeses, rich olive oil, and earthy spice blends.
Where is Del Mar West Palm Beach located?
Del Mar West Palm Beach is located at 1015 North Railroad Avenue in the Nora District of West Palm Beach, Florida. It is Cameron Mitchell Restaurants' first location in Palm Beach County.
What is the best seat in the house at Del Mar West Palm Beach?
According to Chef Budzinski, the best seats are on the courtyard patio during sunset, or in the main dining room among the trees when the lighting is dimmed and you have a view into the open kitchen.
How do I make a reservation at Del Mar West Palm Beach?
You can reserve a table through the Del Mar West Palm Beach location page at delmarmediterranean.com. The restaurant serves dinner nightly and brunch on weekends in the Nora District.
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