Thomas Keller’s highly anticipated revival of the iconic Ta-boo restaurant in Palm Beach won’t be happening after all. The famed chef and jeweler Win Betteridge, who had planned to bring the 82-year-old eatery back to life, have mutually agreed to part ways. Their vision for the restaurant didn’t quite align, and after several discussions, the deal has officially fallen through.
While Ta-boo won’t be revived as planned, the good news for Keller fans in South Florida is that he’s not giving up on the area. Sources say Keller has struck a new deal with developer Stephen Ross to bring a new restaurant to West Palm Beach instead. Ross, who’s known for transforming the City of West Palm Beach and who has a history with Keller, having previously worked together on high-profile restaurant projects in New York.
This move marks a fresh chapter for Keller, who has deep ties to Florida — his restaurant career started as a dishwasher at the Palm Beach Yacht Club, and he already has two restaurants in South Florida (with the Surf Club at the Four Seasons Miami and Bouchon Bistro in Coral Gables).
As for the Ta-boo space, it’s unclear what will come next. The property is still a hot topic, with other notable chefs rumored to be eyeing the location. Whether Ta-boo will be revived under new leadership or something entirely different is still up in the air, but one thing’s for sure: Palm Beach’s restaurant scene is far from done evolving. Stay tuned!
