Our Pick for Miami’s Most Romantic Valentine’s Restaurants 2023
Valentine’s Day is next week and if you haven’t made plans yet, now’s the time. Whether you want to impress a romantic interest for the first time or finally confess your feelings, Miami has a restaurant — and special Valentine’s Day menu — to match your intentions on the most romantic holiday of the year.
Here are our top restaurants to visit in Miami on Valentine’s Day, ranging from lounge-like restaurants to waterfront dining establishments. Reservations are highly advised.
Carbone
Carbone’s retro glam and universally acclaimed Italian-American cuisine have made their way to Miami. If you get a table, you can expect one of the best veal parmesans in the world, dapper servers who can practically read minds, and tons of vibe in a legendary Ken Fulk-designed space. To make reservations, click here.
The Queen Miami Beach
Tucked inside the meticulously restored Paris Theater on Washington Avenue in South Beach, Queen breathes new life into the storied Art Deco landmark, embodying a wildly lavish and extravagant 21st-century Japanese-style grill that pays homage to its history of opulence and theatricality. Click here for reservations.
Contessa Ristorante Miami
Contessa, a glamorous dining destination by Major Food Group that transports guests to Lake Como, is inspired by the old-world sophistication of Northern Italy’s iconic resorts and estates. Antipasti include a Carpaccio of Chianina Beef and the most coveted Italian prosciutto; signature pizzas and perfectly crafted pastas such as Tortellini en Brodo and Garganelli Verdi Bolognese; and celebratory secondi that highlight the world’s best meat, poultry, and fish. For reservations, click here.
COTE Miami
COTE is Simon Kim’s vision for the Michelin-starred and James Beard Award-nominated KOREAN STEAKHOUSETM. The restaurant is known for combining the excitement and fervor of Korean barbeque with the hallmarks of a classic, regal American steakhouse. The end result is a one-of-a-kind and convivial environment that infuses a fine dining experience with world-class ingredients and service, complemented by a show-stopping beverage program. Click here to reserve a table.
Klaw
Klaw provides a beef and king crab selection that focuses on raw product preservation, sustainability, and environmental concerns. Executive Chef Michael Paley and his team carefully select the best suppliers and believe that treating the product with respect and cooking it properly can greatly enhance the flavor. Martin Brudnizki Design Studio created our main dining room, which honors its Spanish Renaissance roots with a large dining room decorated in deep colors and dark woods, massive colonial arched windows, a private dining room, and a theater kitchen. The roof top bar has an amazing view and a great selection of cocktails created by beverage manager James Macinnes. We are close to the Opera Tower, Margaret Pace Park, and the DoubleTree by Hilton.
Avra Estiatorio
You’d almost think you were in the Greek islands, with the salt stone sculptures and bougainvillea-filled pergola, not to mention the sound of crashing waves in the background. This New York mainstay is large, opulent, and glam, with a menu full of seafood specialties that transport you to the Mediterranean with every bite. For more information or reservations, click here.]
Komodo Miami
Komodo is a three-story indoor/outdoor eatery and lounge in Miami’s booming Brickell neighborhood that combines contemporary Southeast Asian cuisine with a South Florida vibe to elevate the dining and nightlife experience. Signature dishes on the menu include Peking Duck, Tuna & Toro Roll, and Lobster Dynamite. The 300-seat restaurant and lounge features several unique multi-level dining options, including three bars with handcrafted cocktail menus and the signature outdoor floating “birds nests” seating, which creates a playful treehouse feel perfect for any occasion day or night. Komodo serves dinner seven days a week. Reservations can be made here.
Major Food Group’s Mario Carbone Buys Palm Island Estate
Major Food Group’s co-founder, Mario Carbone and girlfriend Cait Bailey, have recently bought on Palm Island in Miami Beach.
The 3,422-square-foot refurbished home cost Carbone roughly $4.3 million. According to the listing, George Fink, an architect, created the two-story house in 1925. It was listed at the end of June for $4.2 million and closed at the end of August 2022.
The estate located at 275 Palm Avenue in Miami Beach features 5 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms with a 2 car attached garage. The Mediterranean style home boasts high-impact windows, high-end stainless steel appliances, renovated bathrooms, and a spacious courtyard. There are guest quarters located over the garage.
The sellers are listed as Gregory Rumpel who is the senior director of JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group and his wife, Jacqueline. They originally purchased the home in 2013 for $1.3 million.
Since landing in Miami in late 2020, the New York-based Major Food Group, led by Carbone, Rich Torrisi, and Jeff Zalaznick, have experienced rapid growth in South Florida. Last year, Zalaznick and his wife Alison spent $15 million on a property on Miami Beach’s Sunset Islands. Mike Piazza, a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, and his wife, Alicia, sold the land to the Zalaznicks.
A gourmet market will be a part of the 10,000 square feet Sadelle’s Restaurant and Market Place that the company hopes to open at 1212 Lincoln Road in Miami Beach.
Palm Island is an 82-acre man-made island just south of Hibiscus Island in Biscayne Bay, and only accessible by land via the MacArthur Causeway. It is known for its gorgeous landscaping, luxurious homes, breathtaking bay views, and exclusivity, making it a premier location for the Miami Beach elite.
First Rendering Revealed of New Supertall Tower by Major Food Group-Major Residences
JDS Development Group has partnered with Major Food Group to build one of the tallest residential towers in Brickell. Today, the developer has released the first official rendering along with some construction updates.
The project (now renamed 888) will be located at 888 Brickell Avenue with 259 branded units. Rising 82 stories or 1,049 feet tall and just over 1 million square feet in, this will be Major Food Groups’ first residential project.
Studio Sofield is the architect designing the tower, lobby, and units. Ken Fulk Inc. will be responsible for the club, food, and beverage spaces.
With Major Food Group expansion in South Florida with Carbone, ZZ’s, and many more, you can expect to have 2 to 3 Major Food Group restaurants and bars.
Major Food Group has more than 30 restaurants, clubs, and hotels in the United States and overseas. This project is currently being reviewed by Miami-Dade planners for approval.
There are currently 8 supertall towers planned for Miami including:
Thanks to Major Food Group, they are bring another one of their successful New York restaurants to Miami. Located in the heart of Brickell, Dirty French Restaurant will bring culinary sophistication through this Parisian Fare steakhouse to further add to the ever-expanding Miami scene. Oh, and did we mention…the decor is 80’s era themed?
From the high-quality meat and fish to the comprehensive 700-bottle wine list, Major Food Group co-founders Zalaznick, Mario Carbone, and Rich Torrisi have brought this innovative menu to life with a menu full raw bar items, seafood dinners, aged steaks, and your favorite classic side dishes.
The menu itself ranges from prime aged steaks, including Filet Mignon, Ribeye, and New York Strip, all of which are presented with a variety of sauces ranging from Au Poivre to Cajun. Forty-ounce Porterhouses and a Wagyu Tomahawks, are the chef’s favorites and Diners will be surprised by a range of off-menu cuts offered weekly at the restaurant as well. The menu also includes a savory Dover Sole Meunière served table-side, a Duck à l’Orange, and an excellent soufflé program, all of which pay homage to the restaurant’s Parisian roots.
The design of the interior can only be described as French elegance. Designed by Ken Fluk, Dirty French Steakhouse mixes the early 80’s French era with contemporary tropical designs. Throughout, you’ll notice the golf-leaf ceiling, Jungle Bar, onyx bar, glass leaf chandelier, leopard bar stools and banana pendants. The pieces blend elegantly and really make the steakhouse inviting.
According to Co-Owner of Major Food Group, “After making this paradise home, we realized that there was a tremendous opportunity to bring a sensational steakhouse to Brickell in true MFG fashion—a sophisticated, contemporary, high-energy culinary blockbuster fit for the most exciting city in the world today. It simply does not get any more major than Dirty French Steakhouse, which is the beginning of a series of big projects in the neighborhood.”
French Dirty Steakhouse has officially opened and if it’s like Major Food Group’s other Miami restaurants, Carbone, ZZ’s Club, and Sadelle’s, you may want to book your reservations now. Make your reservations through DirtyFrench.com.
