Niu Wine Miami Named One of the Best Bars in America for 2023
One of the top bars in the nation, according to Esquire magazine’s annual top Bars in America for 2023, is a small, intimate wine bar in downtown Miami with seven tables, two bar stools, a tiny bit of outdoor space, and some of the most intriguing natural wine you’ll find in Miami.
Consider Niu Wine an extension of Niu Kitchen, a bustling tapas restaurant and wine bar located a few doors down on Second Avenue. One of the Catalan restaurant’s proprietors, Karina Iglesias, promotes natural wine, a movement that advocates organic grapes and approaches agriculture ethically, as one of Miami’s earliest proponents.
According to the Esquire editor, “Niu Wine is a place I find myself wanting to visit more than any other in Miami at the moment. Warm, tiny, confident, its walls are lined with bottles that reflect an understanding of good wine-making and the pleasures it can bring.”
However, you don’t need to be an expert to have fun at Niu Wine. Wines by the glass are frequently changed, so check the chalkboard and discuss your preferences with the staff. They can suggest a wine for you to take home or consume at the bar. It might even be a Californian mass-produced liquid butter bomb called chardonnay, the white nectar of the gods that has a poor reputation.
A modest, regularly updated tapas menu is also offered at Niu Wine; if it’s available, Esquire suggests the thinly sliced, melting Iberico ham on a warm platter. Anchoa del Cantabrico (anchovies), tomato salad, oysters, patatas bravas, and charcuterie plates are typical small plates. However, the wine steals the show. All-natural wines from South America, Europe, and even eastern Europe are the main focus of Niu Wine.
Niu Wine is located at 134 NE Second Avenue in downtown Miami and ope Tuesday through Saturday.
King Goose Hospitality Introduces 3 Story Food Hall-Julia & Henry
The much-anticipated dining and entertainment destination in the iconic downtown Miami Walgreens building debuts on June 3 with 26 renowned food and beverage vendors from across the country. Some of the concepts will include, ventanitas, an underground retro sound room, and speakeasy lounge, and eventually a music incubator with recording studios, shared workspaces, and a tattoo parlor.
The restaurant Torno Subito by Massimo Bottura, the mastermind behind the renowned Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy, which received three Michelin stars, will serve as the development’s crowning achievement. The second outpost of Bottura’s one-star Michelin restaurant Torno Subito in Dubai will debut in Miami later this year.
The project’s operator, King Goose Hospitality, led by CEO Andrea Peterson, feels that the rising downtown development and the fact that Flagler Street will be closed to vehicular traffic on weekends would drive both locals and tourists to the area.
The name Julia & Henry, which honors Miami’s creator Julia Tuttle and businessman and developer Henry Flagler, has roots in history. Built in 1936, the structure stood tall during the Great Depression as a testament to optimism, demonstrating financial commitment and tempting guests with an 88-foot soda fountain.
Naturally, Julia & Henry’s won’t feature a soda fountain, but the three-story food hall will be dominated by a massive wine tower. An elevator brings you to each floor of the tower, which houses the natural wine bar La Epoca. The Alonso family owned the structure until 2018 and ran it as La Epoca, a retail outlet that was previously the third-largest department store in Havana before being taken over by the government.
Restaurants Include:
Michy’s Chicken Shack
Yann Couvreur Pastries
Renzo Garibaldi BBQ
Bazaar by José Andrés
Mensch
June
HitchiHaika
J Wong; Rozu
Julia & Henry’s will be located at 200 E. Flager Street in Miami with the Grand Opening set for June 3, 2023.
Shaquille O’Neal to Open First-Ever Big Chicken Restaurant in Miami Florida
Shaquille O’Neal, NBA Hall of Famer, partial owner to restaurant chain Big Chicken, and has recently signed a lease for its first South Florida site.
The new facility is a part of a deal for DMD Chicken, a division of Davie-based commercial hospitality development firm DMD Ventures, to open 45 units throughout Central and South Florida.
According to Fred Burgess, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of DMD Venture,“From the moment we came across Big Chicken, we knew it was a concept worth investing in. We’re thrilled with the progress that we’ve made in opening our first South Florida location in Doral. Doral Place 87 is a bustling shopping center and prime location for the new restaurant.”
The DMD Chicken leadership group also includes co-CEO Jack Flechner and COO Kurt Petterle in addition to Burgess. Together, they manage franchise locations for numerous companies, such as Candlewood Suites, Papa John’s, and Twin Peaks.
Along with Burgess, the co-CEO Jack Flechner and COO Kurt Petterle make up the DMD Chicken executive group. Each of them is in charge of a franchise location for a different company, such as Twin Peaks, Papa John’s, or Candlewood Suites.
Currently, Big Chicken has eateries in Houston, Seattle, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and a number of sports arenas, in addition to three Carnival cruise ships.
The original KFC restaurant The Big Chicken is located in Marietta, Georgia. It was erected in 1963, damaged by a storm in 1993, and restored again in 2017. In 2017, it underwent a $2 million rehabilitation project.
Before the end of the year, the fast-casual chicken chain is expected to operate at 5635 NW 87th Avenue in the Doral Place 87 shopping area.
Two Miami Restaurants Added to the Michelin Guide 2023
Two additional Miami restaurants have recently been included in the Michelin Guide’s 2023 edition including Rosie’s in Little River and Jaguar Sun in downtown Miami. The two restaurants were chosen as “Bib Gourmand” restaurants.
The certification indicates that the restaurants are “approachable in terms of price and atmosphere,” according to Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guides.
Rosie’s, a restaurant that serves Southern food and prime brunch favorites includes fluffy banana pancakes with vanilla custard, deviled eggs with chicharrones, and biscuits in guanciale sauce. Larger appetites can be satisfied with heartier dishes like fried hot chicken and waffles or a hearty serving of fried fish and grits with collard greens.
Jaguar Sun is a popular restaurant noted for its homemade pasta and drinks and is situated in the downtown Miami Alea building. Warm Parker House buns and towering Caesar salads serve as the prelude to dishes like spicy strozzapreti with plump mussels, ‘nduja, and breadcrumbs or umami-packed mushroom tagliatelle.
Other Miami restaurants are on the list and include Brasserie Laurel, Fiola Miami, Lido, Lion & the Rambler, Tambourine Room by Tristan Brandt, The Gibson Room, and Walrus Rodeo.
The news was released ahead of the Michelin Guide Ceremony for 2023, which will be held on May 11 at LoanDepot Park in Miami. When the Michelin Guide Ceremony was first in Miami in 2022, 19 local eateries were named Bib Gourmands, and 11 Miami restaurants received Michelin stars.
Vivo! Entertainment at Sweetwater Mall to Open Summer 2023
Thanks to a sizable new entertainment complex that combines popular national hotspots and a little bit of hometown Cuban flair, Miami’s Dolphin Mall is getting a little makeover.
Vivo! Dolphin Mall, a 62,000-square-foot dining and entertainment area, is slated to debut this summer at the Sweetwater Mall, which already contains a movie theater and a bowling alley. It is the creation of Live! Hospitality and Entertainment.
The new venues will make use of a vacant structure and be situated next to the Cheesecake Factory and the parking lot at the entrance to the mall.
Vivo! will feature Sports & Social, a restaurant, bar, and sports viewing venue with three bars, live music, and other entertainment. On game days, a 50-foot LED screen with fan live cameras, competitions, and music and lighting effects can display many games and matches while also having arcade games, foosball tables, and other amenities.
James Beard candidate Chef John Suley, who will handle lunch, dinner, and brunch options, will curate the cuisine. Consider beef barbacoa tacos, cacio e pepe arancini, crispy kataifi-wrapped shrimp, and truffle mushroom flatbread. A sandwich with Nashville spicy chicken will also be available.
PBR Cowboy Bar is located right next to the enormous sports bar concept and may be unfamiliar to Sweetwater. The lack of cowboy and country music-focused bars in Miami, according to Judy Moore, senior vice president of Live! Hospitality is what makes the location ideal. The entertainment ranges from mechanical bull riding to VIP bottle service.
The Blue Moon Garden Bar and a Miller Light Bar will serve beverages, and Miami classics like croquetas and pan con lechon will be available from neighborhood star Sergio’s Cuban American Kitchen. There will also be a variety of food trucks at the plaza, according to Moore.
Vivo! Dolphin Mall is located at 11401 NW 12th Street in Miami and will open this summer.
Cigar Bar El Vecino Set to Open May 5th at Miami Worldcenter
A distinguished cigar bar with expertly chosen wine and beverage menus, award-winning service, and a relentless passion for bringing people together at the table will open at Miami Worldcenter May 5th, 2023, El Vecino.
Courtesy of Ariete Hospitality Group (AHG) and Chef Michael Beltran, El Vecino wants to be among the best cigar shops in Miami and a top cigar destination nationwide.
Modern air filtration and humidification technologies were used to build the exquisitely constructed area, which provides a luxurious environment with soft furnishings and amenities. This ensures that visitors are comfortable. The interior of El Vecino is 1,600 square feet and features historical furnishings, premium wood, booths, velvet and leather furniture, a 10-seat bar, and a specially made walk-in humidor for cigars.
The ScapeGoat in Miami Beach, The Gibson Room on Coral Way, and most recently Brasserie Laurel (Michelin Guide mention) and Chug’s Express at Miami Worldcenter in Downtown are just a few of AHG’s expanding family of eateries and bars. Ariete (Michelin Star), Navé (Michelin Guide mention), Chug’s (Bib Gourmand recipient), and The Taurus are all located in Coconut Grove.
A large variety of quality cigars, as well as a variety of whiskey, bourbon, wine, beer, and seasonal creative cocktails, will be available at the upmarket cigar lounge. Customers will also be able to place orders for snacks and light cuisine from the nearby Brasserie Laurel restaurant.
El Vecino is situated along the 7th Street pedestrian promenade of Miami Worldcenter at 698 NE 1st Avenue Suite G-172, near the base of the Caoba residential tower. In the core of Downtown Miami, the $4 billion mixed-use attraction called Miami Worldcenter, which spans ten city blocks and 27 acres and is one of the largest private urban real estate developments now under construction in the United States, offers top-notch residential, commercial, hospitality, and retail applications. Three residential buildings and a sizable amount of the retail component of the project have already been finished and are occupied, while a hotel construction is scheduled to open in Q4 of 2022.
Three Story Food Hall to Open in Brickell April 28th
The popularity of food halls in Miami is still growing. Okeydokey, the newest multi-concept dining spot in the city, is scheduled to open in Brickell on Friday, April 28.
Okeydokey bills itself as a food-driven dining and entertainment hub and occupies three floors in a gleaming standalone structure close to Brickell City Centre. Six full-service kitchens, three bars, and a 3,000-square-foot outdoor patio with seating for more than 300 people are all included in the 15,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor area.
The Doce Provisions team’s rotisserie chicken and burgers at Little Bird, Yoso Ramen’s Japanese cuisine, MAC’s Asian fusion cuisine, Dal Plin’s Italian cuisine, and JAFFA’s Israeli cuisine are among the first-floor eateries. Coffee Break, located on the second level, offers fresh-pressed juices, croissants, pies, empanadas, and artisanal coffee.
In addition to beer, wine, and sake, Okeydokey’s three bars will provide a selection of specialty drinks crafted with premium liquors, freshly squeezed juices, handmade syrups, and unique garnishes. The Bye Fe-Lychee! is a tiki-style drink made with reposado tequila, sake, lychee puree, mint, and grapefruit. The Freshly Squeezed is a refreshing combination of vodka, St. Germain, and fresh strawberries. Sun’s Out, Buns Out is an Old Fashioned spiced with ginger, cinnamon, and orange bitters.
The third, adult-only floor of Okeydokey will debut in the second phase. Although an opening date has not yet been set, guests can anticipate an enlarged beverage menu and nightly entertainment options like live music and DJs.
Stephane Benkemoun, a French businessman and co-founder of Okeydokey, created it with the intention of turning a fast-casual dining idea into a classy, immersive location. Okeydokey will be open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 268 SW 8th St. in Miami. Coffee Break will be accessible every day at 8 a.m.
Is Miami the ‘Best Food City of the Year’ in the Country? Bon Appétit Thinks So
Miami is experiencing a dining moment with its 11 Michelin-starred restaurants, renowned wine and food festival, multiple James Beard Award semi-finalists, and an average of one new restaurant opening every 15 seconds.
Now, another celebration is in order! Miami has been hailed as the “food city of the year” by Bon Appétit magazine in its most recent issue.
While editors toured the nation in search of daring new restaurants, they agreed that Miami was the one city they kept wanting to visit, according to editor-in-chief Dawn Davis.
According to Davis, “The always-evolving city is buzzing with opportunity, and a wave of creative chefs and restaurateurs have picked up on that air of possibility. It’s led to a spate of daring, exciting restaurants that are contributing to the city’s rich culinary history while bringing entirely new dimensions to the dining scene.”
Numerous popular eateries in Miami have been singled out by the magazine as “restaurants we fell for.” Itamae, a Peruvian-Japanese restaurant in Miami’s Design District that was recognized by the Michelin Guide as a Bib Gourmand (a restaurant that offers exceptional value) last year, came in first place on the list. The restaurant, which began as a seller in the previous St. Roch food hall, was where the magazine’s cover photo of seafood was taken which is now called MIA Market.
Other establishments applauded by Bon Appétit writers include Suite Habana Café in Wynwood, El Turco Turkish Restaurant in Upper Buena Vista, Rosie’s in Little River, a favorite for Southern brunch, Zak the Baker in Wynwood, Broken Shaker cocktail bar at the Freehand Hotel in Miami Beach, which was named one of the 50 best North American bars in 2022, Paradis Books & Bread wine bar and pizza restaurant in North Miami Beach, and Jaguar Sun in Miami.
In 2022, the Michelin guide also named El Turco and Zak the Baker as Bib Gourmands.
The magazine also gives Chef Sebastian Vargas accolades for opening Krüs Kitchen, a Bib Gourmand restaurant, and Los Félix, a Michelin-starred establishment, under one roof in Coconut Grove.
Award-Winning Chef Tom Aviv Opens First United States Restaurant in Miami-Branja
Branja, the first restaurant opened by award-winning chef and restaurateur Tom Aviv in the United States, has officially opened its doors. Located in Miami’s Upper Buena Vista and Banja serves food inspired by Aviv’s Israeli heritage in a retro, industrial environment.
Branja is a classic restaurant with 3,000 square feet of area that is divided between a sizable outside terrace and a cozy interior. Each night, the 12-seat Chef’s Table serves two omakase-style seatings for guests with a side of retro Miami. The Chef’s Table is housed in the famous bar from the Lenny Kravitz-designed Florida Room of the Delano Hotel.
The covered outdoor terrace features a bright stained-glass ceiling, terrazzo-topped tables, repurposed synagogue benches, a sizable artwork by Tel Aviv-based artist Paul Curran, while diners use silverware and pastel porcelain plates from the 1970’s.
With a strong focus on Israeli food and recipes, Branja’s menu draws inspiration from all over the world. Customers will find inventive interpretations on traditional dishes like the Falafish, a blend of juice fish and falafel, and Fishwarma, which is cooked with a spiced fish mixture that resembles traditional shawarma.
Other meals include the Tuktuk Kebab, made with Thai ingredients like tamarind glaze, and Krouv. On the sweeter side of the menu, Branja serves Halva Crack Pie made with tahini and Layali Beirout, a contemporary version of a Lebanese classic. Drinks like the vibrant Purple Rain, an allusion to the traditional Margarita created with tequila infused with za’atar and butterfly pea and garnished with salt and dry za’atar, complete the meal.
Despite having no official culinary training, Aviv, who was born and raised in Tel Aviv, won MasterChef Israel in 2016 and quickly rose to fame. He has opened a number of eateries in Israel and Morocco since winning.
Located at 5010 NE 2nd Avenue in Miami, Branja is open for dinner Tuesday – Saturday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Meet Miami’s Newest Mediterranean-Basque Restaurant Now Open in Brickell- Zeru
The Mediterranean-Basque cuisine that has made Zeru famous in Mexico City has now open its first overseas location in Miami’s Brickell.
Zeru is located on the bottom floor of the Hotel AKA Brickell, and the location allows guests up to a 200-seat indoor/outdoor capacity with a modern design and a 20-seat bar.
Founder of Zeru, Israel Aretxiga states, “We will maintain Zeru’s essence and its signature interpretation of Basque and Mediterranean food, but we’ll also welcome the excellent ingredients and products that Miami has to offer and, in some ways, adapt to the local gastronomic culture.”
According to Aretxiga, Zeru’s cuisine is based on the century-old roasters in the Basque Country of Getaria, Orio, and San Sebastián, a method he describes as “as ancestral as the origin of gastronomy, with inspiration from the variety of foodstuffs from the Mediterranean coast of Spain.”
Seafood, as well as healthier and lighter options, will be extensively emphasized on Zeru’s menu. Highlights include the mojo octopus, grilled fresh clams with grilled lemon and espelette miso, and socarrat mellow rice saffron with seafood.
In 2009, The Zeru Group opened its first eatery in México City’s southern region. Since then, Gentleman Mexico magazine has given the restaurant an award for creativity in food.
Zeru is open daily from 12:30pm to 3pm and 6pm to 11pm.
