***** Copper Canyon Grill, 2006 Northwest Executive Center, Boca Raton, Florida 33431 (561) 893-8838.
Back on September 12, 2009 I did a writeup on Copper Canyon…at that time, Copper was a new “American Style” restaurant which had just opened in Boca Raton. If you like, you can read or re-read that review at your leisure…suffice it to say, old Jeff Eats found Copper Canyon to be a total disaster…horrendous food and piss poor service.
Now, let’s fast forward to April, 2010…to make a long story short, I got a call from Mike “Bucky” Buckner who use to own Bucky’s BBQ (which use to be one of my favorite casual-bbq ribs restaurants in all of South Florida–why Bucky’s is no longer in business is a whole other story, but the quality of the food and service was never an issue at this joint…) in Boca Raton, which served outstanding bbq beef ribs–bbq pork ribs–bbq chicken–burgers–salads–sides. In a nutshell, Bucky told me that he had recently been made Copper Canyon’s GM.. was revamping its menu and had “improved” the food and service. Bucky asked me to “come by for dinner” and give Copper Canyon another shot.
A few weeks ago, my wife and a couple of friends took Bucky up on his offer. Just so you know, our meal was “comped”…
Here’s what I found…Decor-wise, Copper Canyon looks exactly as it did, the first time I was there. Think–Houston’s and you’ll know what the joint looks like. I really don’t recall the “exact” original menu…but the new one has a “fair” selection of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, meat-seafood-chicken entrees. You can check www.ccgrill.com for menu/prices—Personally, I think that the current menu is way too-light in the selection department…not enough appetizers or sandwiches to choose from. Now don’t get me wrong, no-one is going to starve here, but the selection is kind-a on the lame side. Hopefully, Bucky isn’t done “revamping” the menu!
Now for the food…I “sampled” bbq beef ribs, St. Louis bbq ribs, bacon cheeseburger, rotiserrie chicken, crab-cakes, french fries, macaroni & cheese, corn bread, caesar salad. Apparently– Bucky has taken-full control of the kitchen, because the food—is now quite good. Just a word to the wise, Bucky’s ” beef ribs” often have what I call a zing–to them, so if zing ain’t your style, mention to your waiter-waitress that you prefer a mild sauce.
On the service front…we had a terrific, attentive waiter. I will tell you, I watched “this guy” handle some other tables and he was also terrific-attentive with them…just in case Bucky had asked him to pay special attention to my group.
Let’s call Copper Canyon a work-in-progess. There is absolutely no question in my mind, that if Copper Canyon’s owners let Bucky RUN this joint his way, they will have a successful-homerun restaurant. Mike “Bucky Buckner (no relation to the Red Sox player who helped my New York Mets win the 1986 World Series) knows exactly how to please the folks of South Florida.
Cliche time…it is now safe to get back in the water.
Copper Canyon is open Sunday-Thursday 11am-10:05pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-11:05pm.