Story by Matthew Auerbach | Photos by Jacquie Porcaro Photography
Alacruz Grill has brought the tempting tastes of Argentina to Wellington. But if you’re thinking, “Isn’t that nice, a new steakhouse in the village,” you’d better slow your roll. It’s so much more than that. And trust us, in this place, they like things hot.
“We are a family-operated business, where we welcome our guests from the moment they step in, and we love to make them feel like they are coming to our house,” owner Alejandro Copley said. “Honoring our passion and love for fire, our menu was designed with that identity, where every dish on our menu has at least one ingredient that was in contact with fire.”
And that’s not all that makes Alacruz special.
“As far as we have been informed, we are the only ‘open live fire kitchen’ in Palm Beach County,” Copley explained.
The grill didn’t just pop up overnight. It took a few stops and starts until things finally fell into place.
“Alacruz Grill was a dream my whole life,” Copley said. “We decided to take the risk and move forward and open in Wellington. It was not easy; we tried for almost three years with different locations until we found, by chance, this spot. We wanted to be located inside Wellington, where we have been living for 14 years. We realized our beloved community and the West Palm Beach area were in deep need for a unique dining experience.”
Choosing Wellington as the restaurant’s home was anything but hard. It was obvious to all involved that this was the right spot to set up shop, particularly with the strong Argentine presence in Wellington’s equestrian community.
“We fell in love with the tranquility of the community and its surroundings,” Copley said. “Having grown up in close contact with horses in my hometown of Tucumán in Argentina, and as a former polo player, and my wife, Jacquie, being a former rider and jumper, we found living in an equestrian community, where horses are a constant presence, made it the perfect place for us. We wanted to give back some of that love and respect we felt. This is our legacy in Alacruz, to become a unique destination place, being grateful to our guests and giving back to our community.”
As soon as you enter Alacruz, the love of the equestrian lifestyle is evident, courtesy of Copley’s wife, who is also known for her work as an equestrian photographer.
“Jacquie was the main driver of the interior design,” Copley said. “Her photos of horses and equestrian activities give Alacruz’s ambience a unique atmosphere. You can realize it in every detail in our décor, from the lighting to the logo in our placemats and so on.”
Before digging into the mouth-watering dishes that are waiting for you, here’s the low-down on the food’s preparation. It’s called “Asado Alacruz.”
“It’s the style/technique that gauchos use in the Pampas,” Copley said. “We cook our meat on indirect heat for four to six hours. Besides the tenderness of the premium cuts we offer, the flavor from the coal we use produces a mix of cherry oak and mesquite. It’s unique.”
The atmosphere at Alacruz envelopes you as soon as you sit down at the table.
“It’s a rustic, fine-dining experience,” Copley said. “After welcoming our guests, we explain the concept of the restaurant’s DNA; to make them feel they are coming to our home. Our pursuit of excellence in service, great food, top-notch ingredients and simplicity is applied to just let them enjoy the moment. We are an elaborate kitchen, where every dish is particularly made with love. Our kitchen is driven by a very famous quote from chef François de Mélogue: ‘Cooking is purely an act of love!’”
Surely, you’ve developed quite an appetite up to this point, reading about the wonders of Alacruz Grill. Here’s a little “taste” (so to speak) of the menu.
“From our appetizers, I would recommend Empanadas Tucumanas; they are a tribute to my hometown and are a mix of hand-cut beef, boiled egg and green onion,” Copley said. “Our entrees are very much influenced by European techniques. In my case, the UK and Italy. So, besides our amazing steaks, the combination of our fresh, homemade sauces make our pastas a really good option.”
In the mood for dessert? Of course, you are. “Mr. Tango, our dulce de leche lava cake, is one of our top sellers,” he said.
Alacruz Grill is not your typical Argentinian steakhouse. But the restaurant’s roots and hoped-for success are firmly planted in a time-honored tradition.
“We believe it might be related to a combination of our passion for cooking on fire and quality steaks,” Copley said. “The asado in Argentina is truly a ceremony, and we honor that in Alacruz.”
Alacruz Grill is located in Wellington Town Square plaza at 11924 W. Forest Hill Blvd. Visit www.alacruzgrill.com or call (561) 328-0007 to learn more.
