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Washington Avenue's top restaurants
include Osteria del Teatro and Joe's Stone Crab |
Update: As the
high season winds down, a number of high profile Miami restaurants have
closed their doors and a few new hotspots are looming on the culinary
horizon. In Midtown, foodies were saddened to learn Sustain
Restaurant and Fratelli Lyon have closed, but cheered by the
arrival of MC Kitchen - helmed by "M&C" Chefs Dena Marino
and Brandy Coletta - in the former Lyon spot. In Surfside, Chef Joshua
Marcus shuttered Chow Down Grill and revamped the menu to reopen
as Josh's Deli, a Jewish-style restaurant with house-cured
meats and smoked salmon - even the mustard is homemade! The restaurant
will also host a pop-up Harding Dinner Series with guest chefs starting
in June. South of Fifth Street suddenly finds it has a Restaurant Row as
pricey Greek eatery Estiatorio Milos launches on 1st
Street with prices that do not reflect the country's recent austerity
programs ...
Also on South Beach, a trio of prominent
restaurateurs opened
Villa Azur,
an elegant supper club with a popular daytime takeaway counter
(11am-8pm) that's received stellar reviews from New Times food
critics for their ethereal macrons. Nearby Eden Restaurant
shuttered operations but Haven and
Tudor House
are celebrating anniversaries and Chef Sam Gorenstein's pop-up My
Ceviche is still going strong. Liza and GiGi Meoli who ran the local's
favorite Greek eatery Ouzo have partnered with David Long to renovate
the divinely dive-y Anise Taverna and reopen as River Shack
just off the Biscayne Corridor. And in other news from the foodie world,
the gourmet food trucks have FINALLY been given a limited permit to sell
their off-price treats at the North Beach Bandshell this summer.
Frankly, they say it's "better late than never" - but WOW, is the City
of Miami Beach tardy to the food truck party.
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BLT Steak Restaurant at the Betsy Hotel |
Season Five's "Top Chef" Jeff McInnis left the
Ritz-Carlton South Beach after 5 years serving Mediterranean tapas at
the DiLido Beach Club and joined the Amir Ben-Zion restaurant group at
their newest late night venture GiGi—then left again to open his own
Yardbird Southern Table & Bar. GiGi, a fast-casual Asian dining spot
near Wynwood's
Bardot nightclub serves buns, noodles and beer to a
growing MidTown hipster crowd. Yardbird is South Beach's hottest
destination for Southern-Fried goodness!
Chef Michael Bloise left Wish Restaurant at the
Hotel of South Beach for a short stint at the American Noodle Company on
the Biscayne Corridor which is now Blue Collar - serving American
comfort food. Bloise now heads the kitchen at Lincoln Road's
Sushi Samba Dromo. The laid back Asian-fusion spot joins
Sakaya Kitchen and
Chow
Down Grill on local foodie radar this season. Sakaya Kitchen's Chef
Richard Hales worked at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and Chow Down
Grill's Joshua Marcus and Jason Suttmiller worked at BLTSteak at the
Betsy Hotel on Ocean Drive before striking out on their own in Surfside
and South Beach. Sakaya expanded operations to include two popular Miami
Food Trucks and a second brick & mortar location in the heart of
Downtown Miami.
Jeffrey Chodorow shuttered SoFi's El Scorpion,
Nemo
is now Lolita Cocina & Tequila Bar and Books & Books' Bernie Matz
launched a fast casual Latin American Cafe on the west side of town
where Burger & Beer Joint is the local's favorite for juicy patties and
giant onion rings. New Yorker Danny Meyer brought Shake Shack to Lincoln
Mall and foodies are testing the waters of the ever-expanding
Pubbelly
/Sushi & Barceloneta group in nearby Sunset Harbour.
Construction and renovations continue all over town
as developers ink deals with big-name restaurateurs who launched Zuma at
the Epic Hotel, Jose Andres new venture on South Beach, Jean-Georges'
J
& G Grill at the St. Regis Bal Harbour and Stephen Starr's glam sushi
spot Makoto in Bal Harbour Mall. As the season warms up, you'll want to
score a table at some of these culinary hot spots to taste the Best of
South Florida...
—Miami Beach—
BLTSteak
1440 Ocean Drive / South Beach / 305-673-0044
The stampede of pricey steakhouses on South Beach leaves most diners wondering
which restaurant merits the hefty price tag for pounds of porterhouse and gobs
of lobster topped mac and cheese.
Chef Laurent Tourondel's BLT Steak may not be
the scene-iest (that's Prime 112), and it may not be the loudest (STK by a
mile), but it is by far the tastiest combination of quality beef, delectable
sides, professional service and civilized atmosphere in town. While most of
Ocean Drive seems tawdry and commercial, interiors at the Georgian Revival Betsy
Hotel are conservative and cool. Waiters drop off complimentary crostini with a
liver mousse and then steaming hot popovers to enjoy while perusing the menu and
sipping cocktails. By the time the appetizers are gone, one message is clear;
BLTSteak is no mere chop house - it's a culinary destination.
The Dining Room at The Villa by Barton G
1116 Ocean Drive / South Beach / 305-576-8003
When Gianni Versace discovered the particular charms of South Beach living years
ago, he purchased a 1930s-era landmark property on Ocean Drive and set about
creating an ornate, mosaic tile-covered mansion that bespoke his signature style
of over-the-top Roman opulence.
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The Dining Room at The Villa by Barton G |
He added a large garden, a grotto pool and
gold-plated fixtures that he enjoyed until his untimely death in 1997. This
luxurious palazzo is now open to the public as a restaurant and lounge with fine
dining service created by Executive Chef Jeff O'Neill. Inspired by the Caribbean
and Mediterranean influences no doubt learned during stints under star chefs
Daniel Boloud and Eric Ripert, O'Neill's menus benefit from Barton G's daring
culinary pyrotechnics. After a number of restaurateurs have invested a king's
ransom into Casa Casurina, perhaps this new team can break the Medusa's curse
that has turned diners hearts to stone.
Joe's Stone Crab
11 Washington Avenue / South Beach / 305-673-0365
Stone crab season runs from October through May and this classic Miami Beach
dining room serves the best crabs in town to a crowd more than willing to wait
in line for a taste of the ocean's bounty. Much like celebrity Chef Anthony
Bourdain, Joe's has No Reservations. While insiders debate about the loaded
handshake that might transport savvy diners to the front of the line, we find
it's best to visit at lunch or early evening to sample the coveted claws, crisp
fried chicken, onion-filled Lyonnaise potatoes, steamy clam chowder and chilled
Key Lime Pie that have made Joe's Stone Crab a South Beach landmark since 1913.
De Rodriguez Cuba on Ocean
101-B Ocean Drive / South Beach / 305-672-6624
Miami is filled with workmanlike renditions of Latin American cuisine from
humble Cuban storefronts to tiny South American bistros. While the local ex-pat
community may frown upon attempts to create upscale fusions of their native
dishes, Chef Douglas Rodriguez elevates the simple to the sublime every night of
the week at his eponymous restaurant De Rodriguez Cuba on Ocean. From
sparkling ceviche to savory croquettes and empanadas, the essential home made
quality of each offering remains intact while his clever flavor profiles take it
to new heights. Enjoy the best of the Nuevo Latino scene including a heady
sangria Sunday brunch at De Rodriguez at the Hilton Bentley Hotel.
Casa Tua
1700 James Avenue / South Beach / 305-673-1010
Secluded behind a dense hedgerow that surrounds a 1925-era palazzo in the heart
of South Beach, Casa Tua feels like a posh private club on the Italian Riviera.
The price of all this exclusivity makes this a special occasion destination,
especially the private, second-level lounge that's so popular with celebrities
and socialites. Escape the everyday at this upscale Italian restaurant with a
wildly romantic garden terrace just steps from the South Beach scene.
Osteria del Teatro
1443 Washington Avenue / South Beach / 305-538-7850
Servers who know the ins-and-outs of running a dining room set the stage at this
classic 25-year-old Miami Beach Temple of Italian cuisine perched on the edge of
one of the most thumping dance clubs in the city. This ironic pairing of the old
and the new captures what is best about South Beach and what makes Osteria work.
While the menu is a comprehensive collection of traditional pastas, seafood and
meats, the daily specials posted on the blackboard make it difficult to bother
reading any further.
Prime One Twelve
112 Ocean Drive / South Beach / 305-532-8112
This South Beach hot-spot enjoys a loyal local and international celebrity
following and consistently dazzles with huge steaks, giant lobsters and decadent
truffled macaroni and cheese served in a noisy see-and-be-scene dining room that
crackles with excitement until midnight.
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Prime One Twelve Restaurant |
From Presidents to Pro Athletes, from
Supermodels to Rap Stars, if it's happening in Miami it's happening at Prime
One Twelve.
Sardinia Ristorante
1801 Purdy Avenue / South Beach / 305-531-2228
Miami Beach fairly groans with the weight of dozens of Italian restaurants, but
regional Italian cuisine is a fairly new concept on these shores. Sardinia
showcases the best of the tiny island's cookery with a menu that works
seamlessly with Miami's own peculiar gastronomy and geography. House made flat
breads and imported salumi and formaggi (cured meats and artisanal cheeses) pair
deliciously with big-bodied wines. From salt-roasted branzino to succulent
rosemary-scented roast baby pig, the chef's mastery of the wood-burning oven
lends a rustic flair to each dish.
The Forge Restaurant
432 Arthur Godfrey Road (41st Street) / Miami Beach /
305-538-8533
While most Miami Beach restaurants have been around for very few years and
strive toward whatever is new and trendy, the Forge offers a long-standing,
traditional fine-dining experience at every touch point.
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The Forge Restaurant in Miami Beach |
Valet parkers whisk
away your car, dressy hosts escort your party, and formal captains oversee your
table service. A futuristic enomatic wine bar and a newly renovated interior set
the stage for Chef Dewey LoSasso's clever culinary riffs on classic, continental
cuisine including lobster PBJs, prime steaks, and decadent desserts. Locals
celebrate birthdays and anniversaries here and have since the 1930s.
—DownTown Miami—
Zuma
270 Biscayne Boulevard / Downtown / 305-577-0277
The Epic Hotel trumps the odds-makers scoring two top rated restaurants
under a single roof as Zuma joins Chef Michael Reidt's Area 31 serving
pristine fresh seafood to an adoring crowd.
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Zuma Restaurant in Downtown Miami |
With raw granite walls, pale wooden tables and a
modern Japanese teahouse design, the interior soothes even as the sushi,
sashimi and grilled items dazzle with artful presentations and bold
flavors. Executive Chef Bjoern Weissgerber may indeed be German (with a
side of Swiss), but he definitely understands the complexity and
precision required to craft stunning Japanese plates with unique flavor
combinations that make Zuma one of Miami's brand new heavy hitters!
Gigi
3470 North Miami Avenue / Wynwood / 305-573-1520
During the first half of season five of Bravo-TV's Top Chef, all of
Miami cheered for local toque Jeff McInnis who brought his blue-eyed
blonde good looks and complex flavor profiles to the table before being
sent back to the Ritz-Carlton's DiLido Beach Club without the big prize.
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Gigi Restaurant in Miami |
Television's loss was our gain and for five years,
the southern chef toiled over a Mediterranean tapas menu served out on
the sand. He briefly joined the Amir Ben-Zion restaurant group to launch
Gigi, a fast casual Asian dining spot next to Bardot nightclub in the
hip Wynwood Arts District where he prepared a variety of buns, noodle
dishes and inspired small plates for late night revelers looking for a
tasty midnight snack. Though he has since returned to South Beach to
open his own restaurant, GiGi rocks on!
Il Gabbiano
335 S. Biscayne Boulevard / Miami / 305-373-0063
Downtown Miami takes back the night at this pricey temple of classic Italian
cuisine served overlooking the Bay by an old school, highly attentive wait
staff. Offering gratis chunks of fragrant Reggiano Parmesano and just-made
Fritti to temp your palate and ruin your diet, hosts Gino and Fernando Masci
bring more than 25 years of service at New York's Il Mulino to this heavenly
high-rise culinary destination. By the time you've sipped the last of your
limoncello digestivo, you'll be fortified enough to face the dinner check.
Orantique on the Mile
278 Miracle Mile / Coral Gables / 305-446-7710
Cindy Hutson's "Cuisine of the Sun" is as bright and warm as a mythical
Caribbean marketplace. Serving Bahamian black grouper in an orange liqueur or
jerk-seasoned pork in a rum-guava glaze, the kitchen meets it's match in the
deliciously colorful dining room and terraced outdoor garden. Take your taste
buds on an island holiday without leaving the cozy confines of Coral Gables.
—MidTown Miami—
Michael's Genuine Food and Drink
130 NE 40th Street / Miami / 305-573-5550
Transforming the Design District from stuffy decorator showrooms to a dynamic
nighttime destination, Michael Schwartz deserves the key to the city. If opening
a successful restaurant with trendy small, medium and large-sized plates
designed for pairing and sharing weren't enough, the innovative chef managed to
capture the imagination of New York Times restaurant critic Frank Bruni and
every vacationing celebrity and super star chef passing through town as well. If
you can get a reservation, run, don't walk to MGFD. Create your own menu of
beautifully prepared, locally sourced entrees and dazzling small plates at this
hip MidTown bistro. Save room for dessert because pastry chef Hedy Goldsmith got
the nod from James Beard this year too. While it might be awkward to order more
than one of her sweet treats after dinner, her coffee cake, hand made poptarts
and doughnuts are the best part of Sunday brunch.
Michy's
6927 Biscayne Boulevard / Miami / 305-759-2001
James Beard Award Winning Chef Michelle Bernstein owns and operates this
successful Biscayne Corridor restaurant with her husband David managing the
dining room.
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Michy's Restaurant in Miami |
Together they create a quirky but casual gathering place for
mid-Miami hipsters and knowing foodies in an area that used to be our seedy
red-light district. While parts of the neighborhood still feel sketchy, the
restaurant is always crowded with fans of Bernstein's small plate presentations
including crisp baby quail, grilled sweetbreads, truffled parmesan polenta and a
fabulous strawberry shortcake or baked alaska for dessert. Portions are served
in half of full orders to mix and match and sharing is definitely encouraged.
Red Light Little River
7700 Biscayne Boulevard / Miami / 305-757-7773
Chef Kris Wessel took a small coffee shop in a downtrodden "hourly" motel in
Miami's red light district and turned it into a culinary destination with a
decidedly down home appeal. Serving dishes inspired by New Orleans and the
Caribbean, Wessel's BBQ shrimp, oyster stew, and gourmet grilled cheese
sandwiches inspire raves from bloggers and critics all over town. Perhaps the
best part of this No-Tell-Motel restaurant is it's hidden waterfront dining deck
along Miami's Little River where wild birds and manatees join in the fun. As
soon as the weather turns cooler, drive past the strip clubs and into the Motel
Blu parking lot to check out Red Light.
—North—
Hiro's Yakko San
17040 West Dixie Highway / North Miami Beach / 305-947-0064
When the chefs around town finally call it a night, they head to this
decidedly off-the-radar Japanese kitchen known for just-caught fish and
small plates of exotic tapas crafted from the fresh offerings of the
marketplace that change each day. Chef Hiro and his team enjoy cult
status in a town of jaded foodies who appreciate their culinary skills
and unstuffy presentations served until the wee hours to an in-the-know
crowd. You may need a GPS to find the IntraCoastal Mall, but once you've
tried Hiro's, you'll be back!
Michael Mina's Bourbon Steak
19999 W Country Club Drive / Aventura / 786-279-6600
Our northernmost destination is worthy of a foodie's pilgrimage if only to
sample the crispy fries cooked in duck fat and served with a trio of house made
sauces. The chef makes his own onion ketchup and barbeque dipping sauces that
truly offer the taste of success. Mina is famous for his luxurious spins on
modern American comfort food and diners can indeed take comfort in the chef's
remarkable ability to create upscale lobster pot pies and truffle-speckled
macaroni and cheese. All this goodness comes with a hefty price tag, but this
21st Century steakhouse really dazzles.
NAOE
175 Sunny Isles Boulevard / Sunny Isles / 305-947-6263
Fans of this storefront 17-seat Japanese restaurant where Chef Kevin
Cory crafts perfect bento boxes for reservations-only diners who pay
rapt attention to the mastery of an artist doing what he does best will
thrill to learn he is now moving to new digs on tony Brickell Key. Cory
ventures to nearby marinas to secure the day's fresh catch and airlifts
the rest straight from Japan to fill out his daily menus. Every night's
meal is determined by the chef and served in an atmosphere of Zen-like
simplicity at three sittings. After the last bento box is served, the
chef slices perfect duets of sushi and sashimi for each guest until
everyone is ready to go home and dream in fluent Japanese. We'll post an
update on the NEW NAOE as soon as it launches!
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