James Sapirstein’s Favorite Restaurants For Business Meetings In Boca Raton, Florida

Argentinian-born James Sapirstein is a veteran in the world of venture capital and pharmaceuticals. He has over 30 years of experience in the industry and is current Chairman, President, & CEO of First Wave BioPharma, Inc. From sales, marketing, pharmaceuticals and market research, to business development, licensing, clinical trials and finances, he’s done it all.

He describes himself as having grown up, “not on the other side of the tracks, but under the tracks,” in Buenos Aires. As a Latin American immigrant on the cusp of his career, Sapirstein consistently worked hard to build his brand, expertise and trustworthiness in order to achieve results and grow businesses. To date he’s helped in 23 product launches, six of which were global launches he led.

Previously, he was the CEO of Alliqua Therapeutics; the founding CEO of Tobira Therapeutics; as well as Executive Vice President, metabolic and endocrinology for Serono Laboratories. Most recently he was the CEO and board member for ContraVir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Today he’s in charge of First Wave BioPharma, Inc.’s growth and overall success.

For him, breaking bread with clients and investors allows the opportunity to develop a genuine, trusting relationship — one that he compares to horse racing. “An investor knows he’s betting on the right horse by looking a jockey in the eye and getting a read on him,” says Sapirstein. “A strong business lunch isn’t much different.”

Here are three of James Sapirstein’s favorite restaurants for business meetings in his town of residence, Boca Raton, Florida.

Arturo’s

For investor meetings, Sapirstein consistently goes to Arturo’s, one of the classiest and long-lived restaurants in town. He describes it as a fabulous “white glove, white table cloth” venue offering authentic, traditional Italian cuisine. The staff is tuxedo-clad and they have eye-catching features like an antipasti trolley filled with decadence that includes stone crabs, grilled vegetables, layer pastries and more.

Popular dishes include the Saltimbocca alla Fiorentina with veal in white wine sauce topped with sage, a slice of prosciutto and melted mozzarella cheese, served over spinach; the Zuppa di Pesce with lobster tail, snapper, shrimps, calamari, clams and mussels in a light tomato sauce; the Spaghetti alla Gismondi prepared tableside with smoked salmon, onions, marinara sauce and a touch of cream, flambé with vodka; and the Spaghetti alla Carbonara with pancetta, onions, cream, Pecorino cheese and egg yolk.

New York Prime

Sapirstein is also a fan of New York Prime, a beloved Boca Raton steakhouse with high-end, tender cuts ranging from prime, aged beef, tomahawk ribeye and more. They also a seafood selection with dishes like live Maine lobster; seasonal stone crabs; pan roasted sea bass; and seafood platters featuring oysters, colossal shrimp and more. Other popular entrees include the lamb chops and double rib veal chops.

This upscale restaurant also offers live music and indulgent desserts to wrap up the meeting. Don’t miss out on the table sized desserts that include the iconic butter cake with vanilla ice cream and the gigantic chocolate cake, also served with vanilla ice cream.

Villagio

In Boca Raton’s famous Mizner Park, Sapirstein recommends the Villagio Restaurant & Bar. The Villagio is highly-regarded in the area for its impeccable service. White-cloth, modern, and elegant, the staff pays close attention to their patrons. Serving traditional Italian cuisine from various regions, the menu is vast and offers a selection of pastas, fish, meat, salads, pizzas and more.

Popular pastas include the agnolotti del magnifico with ricotta cheese and spinach; ravioli porcini with a saffron truffle sauce and the classic spaghetti bolognese. Other filling entrees include the veal scaloppini; salmone montarosa with a brandy lobster sauce and the chicken Milanese.