Dining in the Miami Design District

Updated: The Miami Design District has evolved from a sleepy neighborhood of showrooms restricted “to the trade,” into a creative night time destination that is rapidly becoming a viable option for trend-driven diners who’ve grown somewhat weary of South Beach. While the area is still a work-in-progress, the buzz on the street is attracting celebrities, star chefs and more than a few prominent socialites to the area.

An active street scene in Wynwood might still be a year away, but the Design District is definitely ready for prime-time. With swank eateries like Michael’s Genuine Food and Drink, a meal in the District may soon require an advanced reservation.

Venturing north past the 1-95 highway overpass that defines the border between Wynwood and the far less rustic Design District, visitors will note the preponderance of pricey showrooms and expensive cars. While the District is a hive of activity during business hours, the late night scene is still hit-or-miss. Because there is strength in numbers, both Wynwood and the District host “Art Walks” to promote larger group gatherings that make night visits less intimidating. The effect is striking. On a random Tuesday at dusk, it might just be you and a man pushing a rusted shopping cart. On Gallery Nights, you’re more likely to push past the designer-clad Mercedes crowd.

However, the Miami Design District is like a sexy secretary, all business by day and ready to party after hours. The area teems with top-tier restaurants offering fine dining, breezy Sunday brunches and an extremely vibrant happy hour scene. If you are visiting Miami Beach and want to taste Miami’s new food culture, taxi over to 40th Street and follow our lead to the best restaurants in the area…

Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink / 130 NE 40 Street, Miami, FL

Chef Michael Schwartz

Perhaps the most influential person in the evolution of Design District dining is Chef Michael Schwartz, proprietor of  Michael’s Genuine Food and Drink – the red-hot center of this new culinary Mecca. Serving lunch and dinner to a well-heeled clientele, the restaurant divides into two worlds; the outdoor patio and the cozy dining room.

Guests inside the arty space enjoy watching the presentation of dishes in small, medium, large and extra large portions breezing through the open-hearth kitchen. Devoted foodies vie for a seat at the kitchen counter bar so they can chat with the chef while he works his magic.

The patio and 14-seat lounge area are home to a far more social scene. Guests enjoy gourmet-inspired snacks, small plates and heartier entrees from the wood-burning oven including whole chickens and fish served family-style and a pork shoulder and cheese grits entree that is Michael’s signature dish. Pastry Chef Hedy Goldsmith adds a sweet ending to every meal so be sure to leave a little room for her innovative desserts. Reservations are strongly suggested and Sunday brunch is always delicious.

Sra. Martinez / 4000 NE 2 Avenue, FL

Michelle Bernstein's Sra. Martinez

Miami’s most telegenic chef, Michelle Bernstein lends her support to two fun restaurants in the Design District – Sra. Martinez tapas bar, and a daytime carry-out spot called Crumb on Parchment. “Sra. Martinez” is Bernstein’s married name and the busy bistro is a reliable source for interesting riffs on classic Spanish small plates served indoors or alfresco.

Popular for happy hour, dinner and brunch service both Saturday and Sunday, the lofty dining room was once a working post office built in the 1920s. Craft a meal of small cold and hot bites or linger over a cocktail with friends to watch Miami’s best dressed diners wander by.

The recent addition of Crumb on Parchment (3930 NE 2 Avenue) relies on a steady drumbeat of social media to get the word out about daily specials and adds a homey touch to Bernstein’s offerings. Inspired by her mother’s baking talents, the shop serves soups, sandwiches, cakes and confections weekdays starting at 8:30am. The best way to find out what’s cooking each day is to follow the eatery on Twitter @CrumbMiami.

Harry’s Pizzeria / 3918 North Miami Avenue, Miami, FL
There are few Miami chefs as popular as Michael Schwartz and indeed many would thrill to have a taste of the success and acclaim he enjoys at Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink in Miami’s Design District. Adding to the luster of his appeal, he recently opened a second eatery – Harry’s Pizzeria – at a small storefront just a few streets away from his busy urban bistro.

Named for his son, Harry’s has just 40 seats and a menu limited to gourmet pies topped with interesting stuff like rock shrimp and pulled pork, caramelized onions and artisanal cheeses. With no pastas and entrees to get in the way of the pies, Schwartz and Co-Chef de Cuisine Manny Sulbaran feel free to innovate and modify the menu like Jazz musicians searching for that perfect groove.

Ingredients are fresh, locally sourced and so are the craft beers which Schwartz brings in from cool Florida breweries. Service is friendly but the wait can be long because Harry’s – like Schwartz – seems to have a lot of friends in Miami who have no reservations.

Mandolin Aegean Bistro / 4312 NE 2 Avenue, Miami, FL

Mandolin Aegean Bistro

There is a sweet spot in the Mediterranean where the Greek Islands reach out to meet the Turkish Coast and that picturesque region is the inspiration for the delightful dishes prepared at Mandolin Aegean Bistro which sits at the gateway between the Design District and historic Buena Vista in a uniquely modified 1940′s house.

The action centers on the open air patio where husband and wife restaurateurs have crafted a romantic setting that’s the perfect oasis for dining alfresco on a breezy Miami night.

Ideal for vegetarians and the carnivores who love them, the menu includes a roster of small plate starters like olive oil poached leeks, crispy calamari, and trios of piquant Greek or Turkish dips made with fresh tomatoes, eggplant and fava beans pureed to a velvety texture and ready to slather on house baked pide bread.

Simple and rustic, entrees include a whole sea bass, a tender pulled lamb sandwich with crispy fries and a traditional Moussaka casserole with layers of meat and eggplant baked beneath a blanket of rich Bechamel sauce. Popular at both lunch and dinnertime, guests should call in advance to reserve a table outside or in the tiny 17-seat dining room.

Fratelli Lyon Driade / 4141 NE 2 Avenue, Miami, FL

Fratelli Lyon Driade

Happy hour at Fratelli Lyon Driade is like watching an episode of Style.com where fashionably dressed Design District habitues waft by in the latest looks, air kissing their friends and enjoying La Dolce Vita! Ideal for a sundown respite, the $5 appetizers and $6 cocktails flow freely weeknights from 4-7pm.

At lunch and dinnertime, things get a bit more serious – starting with the kitchen’s online Manifesto which promises to keep a distance from mass produced food stuffs and to promote sustainable farming practices. A generous variety of imported Italian smoked meats and artisanal cheeses add authentic flavors to the house made pastas, home-baked breads and organically farmed beef and poultry.

Chef Kenny Lyon brings years of passionate experience catering top South Florida events to this unique Design District destination which is housed within the Driade furniture showroom.  Menus include small plate antipasti – platters of meats, cheeses and veggies – which pair perfectly with a choice of over 60 regional wines. Weeknight specials vie for pride of place on the menu which includes many pastas, fresh Florida seafood and authentic tastes of Friuli, Piedmont, Sicily and Sardinia.

With each dish prepared to order, plan to linger over your meal, to savor the distinct flavors and reconnect with friends and family. Fratelli Lyon offers a respite from the busy streets of Miami and a return to time-tested Italian cuisine.

If you want to plan a nighttime visit to the Design District, attend Art + Design Nights on the 2nd Saturday of each month. For more information, call (305) 573-8116