Borago’s Silver Celebration

25 Years of Food, Family, and Flavor

By Jack Kirkendall | Photography by Hunter Burgtorf

While trends come and go along Florida’s Scenic Highway 30-A, Trattoria Borago has spent an impressive number of years doing one thing exceptionally well: feeding people like family. Some restaurants become local favorites thanks to their design, menu, or vibe; Borago is a rare blend of all three. Tucked into the heart of Grayton Beach, this culinary hot spot is marking its twenty-fifth anniversary of offering guests consistently good cuisine and growing deep roots running through the local community and beyond.

Since its opening in March 2000, Borago has been ideal for enjoying date nights, family gatherings, and apéritifs. The soft glow of the lights and the buzz of patrons at the bar create an unassuming charm complemented by the true mastery happening in the kitchen. With a menu including specialty cocktails, appetizers, pasta, and entrées (plus an ever-iconic off-menu item regulars swear by), there’s a reason diners return time after time. With favorites like three-meat bolognese with cheese tortelloni, wild mushroom ravioli, veal meatballs, fresh grouper Niçoise, and pan-seared scallops, every dish feels like it was made for a Sunday table—wholesome, satisfying, and shared with love.

The restaurant itself can’t receive all the praise, though. The institution’s heart comes from its founders: current chef/owner Michael Dragon and the late Chef Mark Anton. The VIE team had the privilege of dining there recently and chatting with Chef Dragon about the establishment’s past, present, and future. He credits a lot of the success to Borago’s incredible staff and their innate ability to treat patrons like family.

While his vision for the future of Borago is ever-evolving, he noticeably kept Chef Anton front-of-mind with every word. The plaque honoring the late co-owner stands glimmering and proud just beside the restaurant’s front entrance.

As they enter the restaurant, guests are met with the moody and intimate bar, which emits an inviting hum. Beyond, the main dining room opens up to a welcoming area fit for a familiar meal. With its soft lighting, big windows, and intricate murals by local artist Katherine Boggs, the restaurant balances upscale and casual with all the mastery of a family-style trattoria. The front of the kitchen is partially visible beyond a pony wall decorated in Italian-inspired tiling, creating a warm, homey vibe that evokes the heart of Italy.

In a world where plenty of restaurants come and go, Borago’s roots have been firmly planted in the 30-A restaurant community. It has remained essential to Grayton Beach for twenty-five years—even surviving a fire that displaced the restaurant to a couple of temporary locations in the 2010s. Locals rejoiced when it returned to its villa-style home fronting the scenic highway and bike path. It’s the kind of place that reminds you why dining out, trying new foods, and finding community is so magical. Cheers to a quarter century of Borago and all the appetites and hearts it has fed. The next chapter is sure to be just as delicious!

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To learn more about Borago, visit BoragoRestaurant.com and follow along on Instagram @boragorestaurant.