Creative Restaurant Concept
Takes Community By Storm

Open Just a Month This Lunch/Dinner Place Often has
Patrons Waiting for Hog Snapper and Sushi Delights

TEQUESTA -- Arthur Rivaldo has been described by a Washington D. C. food critic as “imaginative, adept and openly accepts challenges.” Once one has dined at his new Hog Snappers Shack and Sushi restaurant, 279 S. U.S. Highway One (Village Square), it becomes obvious he is, indeed, creative. Rivaldo, who has been involved in the restaurant business for several years in New York, Maryland, Washington, D. C. and Florida says he has had this concept in the back of his mind for quite awhile.

“We wanted to start a restaurant that features something most people enjoy. Many people like snapper and others like sushi, so it seemed like a good combination,” Rivaldo said. The owner/chef developed the concept through culinary experiences he has had along the way. “Our food is influenced with a “Latin/Caribbean twist,” he says. He learned to make sushi while serving as chef at Ocean’s Grill in Palm Beach Gardens, where he also met his future wife, Melanie, and most of his kitchen staff.

Rivaldo, with his partner and fiance, Melanie Vazquez, opened the restaurant August 11 with a huge welcoming reception and it has been busy ever since. “We couldn’t be happier,” he says. “Although we are having good crowds, fortunately we have a good staff that has been able to keep up with the demand.” The Hog Snapper Shack and Sushi serve both lunch and dinner.

The restaurant is a casual place, rather small, but inviting. It offers a tropical ambience and features a beer/wine bar. The entire facility is blended with a rich, warm wood decor. Upon entering the restaurant, patrons are greeted immediately and the banter continues to be pleasant.

The owners have devised an exceptionally large menu with many entree, appetizer, salad, soup, sandwiches and sushi choices. At least eight soups are available every day, some unusual. Such soups as short rib and a goat stew attract much attention. There is also a conch chowder, gumbo and a clam chowder that are quite good.

Rivaldo says his main idea is to keep people happy and keep them coming back. “We wanted to offer some items that are not available everywhere, but pleasant to the taste.” Among those items offered is the thing most people are there for - Hog Snapper. This snapper variety is rarely served in other restaurants, but is a mainstay here. Another dish offered is an Argentinean Churrasco, seldom available as standard menu fare. This dish is extremely delicious and is served with a delicate buttery yucca. Certainly, this is one of the Latin influences, yet Rivaldo has incorporated a touch of Caribbean into the dish.

Other popular entrees include Blackened Chicken Penne, Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna, Cedar Plank Salmon and the Delmonico Steak. The restaurant also has some excellent Ribs and a unique dish called the Tequesta Seafood Feast. This dish is unbelievable as it includes crab legs, lobster, clams, mussels, dolphin, scallops, squid, soft shell crab and is served with red skin potatoes and corn on the cob. Rivaldo believes this is going to become a local favorite, among others.

Many of the various dishes are named after Rivaldo or Melanie’s relatives. There’s the Arthur’s Drunken Mussels - named after Rivaldo - and Melove Salad, a tribute to Melanie. Also, the Spike Burger is named after Melanie’s brother. The Spike Burger is a unique opportunity to test your food gorging prowess. It’s a two pound burger that comes with a lot of other things including Jalapenos, fried eggs and fries. Eat the whole thing and you’ll receive a free Hog Snapper Shack T-shirt. You can get a free T-shirt, too, if you can eat all of the Anaconda Roll. It’s four sushi rolls in one, Chef’s choice. It isn’t named after a family member, but it is a real test. There are two other sushi rolls that feature the monikers of Melanie’s father - The Vaz Roll and the JC Lopez Roll, named after Arthur’s uncle. The children’s menu is named after Melanie’s daughter, Vanessa. It’s called Vanessa’s Corner.

Basically, it is an experience in itself just reading the Hog Snapper Shack’s menu. There’s a lot of creative names for the various items. For instance, there’s a Sushi Platter called the Titanic. It includes 35 pieces of Sashimi, 15 pieces of Sushi, a Crunchy Tuna Roll and a Tequesta Roll. What is a Tequesta Roll, you say? It’s coconut shrimp, asparagus and cream cheese topped with mango avocado.

Rivaldo says the Crab Crusted Hog Snapper has been the most popular entree. The Tequesta Roll and Lobster Roll have been the favorite sushi rolls. Most of the appetizers are popular, too.

Melanie spent several years as a bar tender at Ocean’s Grill, where she met Arthur. The Pennsylvania native previously served as a massage therapist before going into the hospitality field. Arthur was born in Colombia, South America, but grew up in New York, having moved there with his parents as a small child. Most of his chef’s experience has been in fine dining restaurants, but he is trying to make Hog Snapper Shack & Sushi fun and casual. Rivaldo says he was influenced by his mother to become a chef. “She was an excellent cook,” he explained, “and I learned a lot of basics from her before graduating from the French Culinary Institute in New York.” The owners decided on the name of the restaurant because it is catchy and a very good fish.

“It is a lot of work doing a food concept like we’re doing here,” Arthur says, “but, a whole lot of love goes into it.” That statement is convincing when one digs into some of his creations, and another reason why people are clamoring to dine here, maybe even having to wait in line.

Owners Arthur Rivaldo and Melanie
Vazquez, are shown in front of a
coconut painting at the restaurant.

Server Amanda takes an order from smiling customers at Hog Snapper Shack & Sushi.

The kitchen at Hog Snapper Shack & Sushi.

The bar area at Hog Snapper Shack &
Sushi is rich looking wood.

Chef Arthur prepares a delicious dinner
in his spacious kitchen.