Tag Archives: best restaurants

Mika Coral Gables

Six Michelin-Starred Chef Michael White to Open First Standalone Florida Restaurant in Coral Gables: MIKA

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Mika Coral Gables

Culinary icon and six Michelin-starred chef Michael White, creator of New York City’s legendary Marea, is set to debut his first standalone restaurant in Florida. Located in the vibrant Coral Gables neighborhood of Miami, MIKA will showcase White’s celebrated Riviera-style cuisine while paying homage to the region’s rich bounty of local seafood and produce.

The restaurant’s menu will feature White’s signature dishes, including carpaccio-style crudos, handmade pastas, and expertly grilled proteins. Guests can anticipate beloved classics like langoustine carpaccio, fusilli with octopus and bone marrow, and the indulgent rosemary sea salt bistecca alla fiorentina. With a focus on fresh ingredients and Mediterranean flair, MIKA promises to be a celebration of flavor and innovation, anchored in the unique culinary traditions that White has mastered over his illustrious career.

While Chef White is renowned for his fine dining expertise, MIKA will offer a more approachable, yet sophisticated experience. The restaurant aims to serve as a welcoming neighborhood spot, offering unapologetically delicious food in a warm, convivial setting. White’s fresh take on hospitality will blend his extraordinary skillset with a genuine, down-to-earth dining atmosphere, setting MIKA apart as a destination for both locals and visitors alike.

White’s vision for MIKA is backed by an impressive partnership with Alex Pirez, founder of the luxury design-development firm Mocca Group, and Matt Safchik, a seasoned Miami food and beverage operator. Together, they chose Coral Gables for its burgeoning culinary scene and the opportunity to serve a truly local audience. Their collaboration brings not just another restaurant to Miami but an elevated and thoughtfully curated dining experience that integrates seamlessly with the neighborhood’s evolving food culture.

Chef Michael White’s legacy in the culinary world is well-established, with accolades that include six Michelin stars, a coveted two-star rating at Marea, a James Beard Award, and a three-star New York Times review. Known for his Mediterranean coastal cuisine, White spent nearly a decade living in Italy, where he honed his craft and developed his distinctive style of cooking that draws from the coasts of Italy, France, and beyond. His culinary expertise has graced the kitchens of top-tier restaurants such as Spiaggia, Fiamma Osteria, Alto, Convivio, Osteria Morini, and Ai Fiori.

MIKA is set to open later this year within The Plaza Coral Gables, a new upscale hub for shopping, dining, and entertainment. For those eager to experience Chef Michael White’s latest culinary venture, more information can be found at mikacoralgables.com.

Niu Wine in Downtown Miami

Niu Wine Miami Named One of the Best Bars in America for 2023

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Niu Wine in Downtown Miami

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.

Lettuce Entertain You-Aba

Chicago’s Mediterranean Restaurant Aba to Launch in the Bal Harbour Shops Miami

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Lettuce Entertain You-Aba

With its most recent expansion news—the launch this fall of Chicago’s Mediterranean restaurant Aba on its first floor—The Bal Harbour Shops in Bal Harbour shows that it is more than just a place to shop. It arrives in Miami courtesy of former Top Chef contestant CJ Jacobson, senior partner Marc Jacobs, and Chicago-based hospitality company Lettuce Entertain You, which is working with Aba for the first time on a South Florida project.

Aba, a sister establishment of Ēma in Chicago’s River North, features chef Jacobson’s more casual approach to Mediterranean cooking. The cuisine emphasizes vegetables and offers a variety of dips, such as avocado hummus with Dungeness crab and carrot sunflower with sunflower tahini.

Other notable meals are the shawarma Spiced Skirt Steak with Black Garlic Mushroom Jus, the grilled Mahi Mahi with Roasted Garlic Yogurt, and the torched toro toro with watermelon and crystalized Castelvetrano olives.

A wine list that focuses on wineries that use sustainable, organic, and/or biodynamic farming methods was chosen by mixologist Liz Pearce and has cocktails that combine elements of the Mediterranean and Southern California.

Hebrew named Aba which translates as “Father,” is a continuation of Chef CJ Jacobson’s earlier eatery, Ema, which means “Mother.” Chicago and Austin currently house the two Aba sites.

The first floor of the mall will include Aba, which will have an indoor dining room with more than 240 seats, a covered patio, a mezzanine bar, and a terrace. It goes without saying that it will be a spacious and much-needed contrast to the slew of other Mediterranean eateries that are opening this season, including the tapas-focused Mazeh, the stunning Lebanese Amal, and the modern Israeli restaurant Neya.

Café La Trova Miami Best Bar in the World

Miami Bar Ranked No. 21 for 50 Best Bars in the World

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Café La Trova Miami Best Bar in the World

One of the top bars in the world is once again located in Miami. The cocktail bar, restaurant, and music venue known as Café La Trova in Little Havana has climbed the list of The World’s 50 Best Bars for 2022 for the third year in a row!

Café La Trova was ranked No. 21 in the yearly list of 50 Best Bars in the World with a ranking of No. 6 for Best Bars in the United States.

This old-world Cuban bar in Little Havana was founded by Michelin-starred chef Michelle Bernstein, her husband David Martnez, and cocktail guru Julio Cabrera.

Cabrera’s father owned a bar in Cuba before Castro was in power. His father taught him everything he knows which he showcases through Café La Trova’s nightly mixing shows. Along with the shows, it’s very common for Cabrera to dance among the patrons.

Café La Trova’s menu includes classic daiquiris and cervacas but their award-winning drink is the Buenavista cocktail. This drink includes Bombay Sapphire gin, cucumber, mint, elderflower liqueur, lime juice, and sugar.

Café La Trova also features a dinner menu with classics like handout steak empanadas, jamon Serrano croquetas, arroz con pollo, and vaca fritz sliders.

Café La Trova is located at 971 SW 8th Street in Miami.

Gekko Brickell Restaurant

New Japanese Steakhouse Coming to Brickell by Bad Bunny and David Grutman

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Gekko Brickell Restaurant

Bad Bunny is partnering with David Grutman and his hospitality group, Groot Hospitality, to open a new Japanese steakhouse known as Gekko. Coming this July to Miami’s Brickell, Gekko will be located under the SLS Lux tower at 801 S. Miami Avenue where Katsuya is currently located.

Its menu will feature prime cuts and various Wagyu beef dishes with dashes of Korean BBQ spices. Guests may also expect sophisticated table-side culinary displays, such as flame-seared steak courses, as well as traditional Japanese fare including a full sushi menu and a six-seat omakase bar.

Gekko’s design will be created by The Rockwell Group, and will have “luxurious-yet-contemporary” graphic wall coverings, jewel tones, light and natural wood accents, and seating for 185 guests. On the very colorful and Instagrammable South Miami Avenue area, the location is located on the northwestern ground floor portion of the SLS Lux Brickell tower.

Gekko will join Grutman and Groot Hospitality’s ever-expanding Miami restaurant portfolio, which already includes Papi Steak, Komodo, and Key Club, as well as Swan and Strawberry Moon, his two restaurants with Pharrell Williams.

The Japanese word “Gekko” means “moonlight,” which is appropriate for a city known for its nightlife. It’s also a double entendre reference to Michael Douglas’ famous Wall Street character Gordon Gekko. “On the day we were deciding on a name, Bunny was smitten with ‘Gekko. That night, I watched a Carl Icahn documentary,” Grutman says. “It all came together, and we had it.”

Jatto Wynwood Miami

Peruvian Restaurant Jattö Opens in Wynwood Miami

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Jatto Wynwood Miami

Chef Henry Hané of B Bistro + Bakery, the owner and executive chef, has officially opened a new Peruvian restaurant in Wynwood Miami, Jattö. Located at 223 NW 23rd Street at the former Wynwood Alter location.

Jattö is derived from the Peruvian word “jato,” which means “house,” according to Hané. For the chef, home is where is drew his inspiration for his recipes from all over the world, including Thailand, Peru, Cuba, and Italy.

Hane is known for his work not only at B Bistro + Bakery, but also at Eating House, Bebito’s Cafe, Le Manoir Aux Quat Saisons, as well as at Two Michelin Star Miramar in Llanca, Spain. At Jattö, he uses his multi-sensory culinary expertise to prepare the avant-garde cuisine. Aleric Constantin is the Chef de Cuisine in the kitchen with him.

This multifaceted culinary restaurant has a contemporary indoor dining room, a chef’s table, and a beautiful alfresco dining terrace with an exotic cocktail bar. The room has been renovated by Jattö into a vivid culinary vision with lush green and gold tones. Guests can dine indoors, outdoors, or at the chef’s table, which offers views into the kitchen.

Jattö will serve dinner during the opening month of November and December with weekend brunch options. Small plates range from $12-$22 and bigger meals range from $65-$85 for sharing.

The ingredients for his dishes are locally sourced, the food is prepared with cutting-edge techniques bringing together Miami vendors and farmers.

Menu

  • BREAD Sullivan st. – colada butter
  • FUFU CROQUETAS plantain skin relish – lime
  • OCTOPUS CHIPS botija aioli – parsley
  • CHOCLO five spice butter – lime – cebolla criolla
  • MR. BENEDICT soft egg – hollandaise – bacon – panela gel – smoked paprika
  • PATATAS BRAVAS AJ’s brava sauce – egg snow – roasted garlic espuma
  • IKURA AREPA whipped cream cheese – caper – pickled shallots – dill – EV bagel
  • DIPPIN DOTS foie gras – seasonal fruit – savory pastry cream – sweet wine gelee
  • STRACCIATELLA PANZANELLA balsamic croutons – charred squash –
    pickled shallot – herbs
  • GEORGE STONE CRAB CAUSA acevichado sauce – avocado –
    egg yolk fudge – choclo chalaquita
  • CHOPPED SALAD carrot ginger dressing – daikon – avocado –
    white beans – rice noodle

Jattö officially opened on November 16. Their hours are Monday- Friday 6 pm-11:30 pm with later hours on weekends. Reservations are required.

Botanica Gin and Cookhouse

New Gin Focused Restaurant Opens in Coconut Grove

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Botanica Gin and Cookhouse
Photo Credit: Botánico Gin and Cookhouse

Botánico Gin and Cookhouse has officially opened its doors in Coconut Grove’s Cocowalk and it’s exactly what you think it is! Botánico is the first ‘gin-centric’ eatery offering the most extensive and unique gin-focused cocktails in Miami.

The co-owners, Ricardo Ordoñez and chef Gerardo De Negri are the brains behind the menu and unique concoctions. Ordoñez and De Negri have created such a unique dining experience focusing on modern American cuisine that highlights some Ecuadorian ceviche family recipes.

The gin menu includes 15 gin and tonic botanical variations infusing lavender, lemon, grape, crystallized ginger, and/or green apple. Whether you enjoy citrus, herbs, or fruits, flavors can be fully modified to appeal to any gin connoisseur. Not only does it have a well-versed gin menu but it also features a fully stocked bar with an extensive wine menu.

Botanico Gin and Cookhouse
Photo Credit: Botánico Gin and Cookhouse

Botánico not only features the best gin drinks in Miami, but they also have an extensive wine program featuring over 2,000 bottles from around the world including; Mexico, Croatia, and Uruguay. The wine is stored in a state-of-the-art glass-enclosed and temperature-controlled cellar.

If the cocktail menu doesn’t appeal to you, then you will definitely be satisfied with the food options. The menu highlights octopus carpaccio, duck confit, short rib, and pulled pork. French-themed burgers, marinated shrimp, and their artisan cheese boards are the stars of the menu.

Botánico’s atmosphere is a relaxed sophistication with marble touches, porcelain tiles, and natural woods strategically placed throughout. The rainforest green marble bar wraps around the space creating the perfect ambiance. Two expansive patios with lush landscaping will create the perfect al fresco dining experience. The building itself located at 3015 Grand Avenue, Suite 123 is a 3,009 square foot space with 150 seating availability.

Cocowalk Rendering
Photo Credit: Cocowalk
Renderings of La Real Bar

Curated by White Feather Management-Bar La Real Opens in Downtown Miami

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Renderings of Bar La Real
Photo Credit: Bar La Real

Downtown Miami’s hottest new bar just opened and it’s nothing like you would expect. Bar La Real, located 100 NE 1st Avenue in the attic of a historic 1917 building.

Bar La Real will intertwine the historic concepts of the building with the old-school glamour all within a tropical setting, coining the term ‘Tropiglam.’ Just think Little Havana meets South Beach.

The creators, White Feather Management are behind this cool bar and are the same team behind Wynwood’s El Patio and Mayami Latin. The Art Director, Carols Perez Fleta states “At Bar La Real we walk the line between elegant and extravagant in everything that we do.”

White Feather Management is headquartered in Miami with 25 years of experience in curating entertainment and multi-sensory atmospheres. According to their website, White Feather is ‘united by art, sensibility, and creativity.’

Not only will you experience an elegant environment, but unexpected concoctions will have you coming back for seconds. The cocktail menu consists of caviar topped drinks and wasabi sake-infused cocktails. You can also enjoy the classics as well as enjoy a hookah experience.

CEO, Nicolas Hoyos also announced that there will be themed nights weekly, “Our mission has been the same from inception: to make Bar La Real a unique environment that can only be understood through having lived it.”

Bar La Real in Downtown Miami
Photo Credit: Bar La Real
Before Photos of Bar La Real
Photo Credit: Bar La Real
Gordon Ramsay will Open His First South Florida Restaurant

Gordon Ramsay is Set to Open his First South Florida Restaurant in South Beach

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Gordon Ramsay will Open His First South Florida Restaurant

London-based Asian-infused restaurant Lucky Cat is making its way to South Beach, thanks to Gordon Ramsay. The celebrity and Michelin-starred Chef recently signed a lease for the restaurant in the South-of-Fifth neighborhood.

Lucky Cat will be located at 119 Washington Avenue on the ground floor of the Yukon building. According to the listing, at 9,000 square feet, the space was asking for $75 per square foot for 10 years. Other noteworthy restaurants that are within walking distance include; Prime 112, Carbone, and Joe’s Stone Crab.

The restaurant itself will feature Ramsay’s classic open kitchen, private dining rooms, raw bar, chef’s table, and a lounge. You will also be able to enjoy some of Lucky Cat’s classic recipes like spiced Herdwick lamb chops, Lucky Cat Oscietra Caviar, Monkfish Tikka Masala, and much more!

Gordon Ramsay's Lucky Cat Restaurant
Photo Credit: Sim Canetty-Clarke

RAW & SALADS

  • CHIRASHI  DONBURI chopped egg, ikura, shiso soy
  • AVOCADO  DONBURI chopped egg, shiso soy
  • TUNA BELLY & SHISO TT green mango, chilli relish
  • RARE BREED BEEF  TATAKI truffle ponzu, wild herbs
  • SLICED YELLOWTAIL wasabi leaf & apple
  • SASHIMI SELECTION salmon, yellowtail, akami, chutoro
  • LUCKY CAT OSCIETRA CAVIAR 15G, koffmans potato chips, wasabi cream

FISH & MEAT

  • DRY AGED CHAR SIU PORK CHOP nashi pear, crackling
  • WEEPING TIGER rare breed dry aged 250g rib eye, coriander, lime
  • SPICED HERDWICK LAMB CHOPS chilli sauce, tofu cream
  • 1KG RARE BREED  T-BONE smoked bone marrow & black garlic sauce
  • PRESSED PORK BELLY SKEWERS nikka whisky, yuzu mustard
  • BBQ NORFOLK CHICKEN tandoori marination, lime
  • OX HEART & BACON SKEWERS sweet soy & shichimi
  • MONKFISH TIKKA MASALA tomato gravy
  • OCTOPUS & SMOKED EGGPLANT sweet roast onion, fragrant herbs
  • DAY BOAT BBQ MACKEREL black vinegar, smoked olive oil

BUNS & DUMPLINGS

  • PORK & GINGER GYOZA spiced black vinegar
  • SHRIMP & HERB DUMPLING brown butter soy
  • BEEF & SMOKED MARROW PUFF smoked hot sauce
  • BONITO FRIED DUCK BAO spicy hoi sin, pickled cucumbers
  • TOFU & SPICY AVO BAO
  • SMOKED BRISKET BAO yuzu mustard, pickled cucumbers

VEGETABLES, RICE & NOODLES 

  • PADRON PEPPERS holy basil
  • BBQ CORN smoked ponzu cream
  • MAITAKE & SUMMER TRUFFLE
  • STEAMED RICE
  • SWEETCORN XO RICE
  • SWEETCORN & CRAB XO RICE
  • SZECHUAN & CASHEW NOODLES

Gordon Ramsay has many restaurants in the United States including Atlantic City, Orlando, Baltimore, Lake Tahoe, and Las Vegas. This will be his first-ever South Florida restaurant. The Lucky Cat is expected to open in the fall of 2022.

Lucky Cat Set to Open in South Beach
Photo Credit: Londonontheinside.com
Sexy Fish Brickell Flatiron

Sexy Fish Coming Soon to Brickell

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Sexy Fish Brickell Flatiron

London hotspot Sexy Fish, will open its first United States restaurant in Brickell in September 2021. Located inside Brickell Flatiron at 1001 S. Miami Avenue, it will be the hottest restaurant this fall!

The Japanese-style restaurant was created by British hospitality entrepreneur Richard Caring, who is responsible for Annabel’s, Ivy Collection, Soho House Group. Chef Bjoern Weissgerber will be running the kitchen at Sexy Fish. He made his first debut at Zuma Miami in 2010 and received his first Michelin star when he was 27 years old.

Sexy Fish Brickell

The menu will feature a wide variety of makis, sahishi, sashimis, and tartares. The bar menu will feature drinks inspired by its London counterpart.

It is unclear what the aesthetic for the Miami location will be but its London location features a golden ceiling, bronze mermaid statue, and exotic fish with coral in large tanks.

Signature Dishes:

  • tuna belly, kombu cured & smoked
  • Yellowtail sashimi & mandarin ponzu
  • crispy duck & watermelon salad, pomegranate & cashew
  • eringi mushroom tempura, summer truffle & aka miso
  • isle of mull scallop, jalapeño sauce & pickled apple
  • wagyu gyoza, foie gras & black truffle
  • caramelized black cod, spicy miso
  • king crab & bone marrow, summer truffle & toast
  • beef tenderloin, 200gr, ginger & black pepper

Late Night Menu:

  • oyster gillardeau & smoked chili sauce
  • salt and pepper squid
  • wagyu tataki, Japanese mustard & summer truffle
  • prawn gyoza, soy & ginger dressing
  • seasonal vegetable tempura (9 kinds)
  • lobster, smoked Marie rose dip
  • green asparagus smoked creamy ponzu
  • Kimichi fried rice
  • lobster Sancho pepper & shiso butter
  • Japanese wagyu A5 sirloin 150g*
  • Japanese wagyu A5 fillet 150g* Sex
Sexy Fish Brickell Flatrion