Top 10 New Restaurants of 2015 in Miami via South Beach Magazine

5/4/2015

La Savina Mediterranean Grill / 1100 West Avenue, South Beach

Vibe: Chic & Breezy
Offering panoramic waterfront views of the Miami skyline, La Savina Mediterranean Grill is a welcome new addition to the South Beach dining scene featuring Chef Tien Ho’s culinary interpretation of the flavors of the Balearic Islands.

Oolite Restaurant & Bar / 1661 Pennsylvania Avenue, Miami Beach

Vibe: Hip & Healthy
A native of Miami Beach, James Beard Award Nominated Chef Kris Wessel showcases healthy regional fare at Oolite, his Lincoln Road restaurant where locals and visitors gather to enjoy fresh flavorful dishes with a Latin and Caribbean flair. Starters of spicy BBQ shrimp, Coconut-Conch broth and Ginger Snapper Crudo set the tone for a meal that dazzles the palate. Offering meat and vegetarian options, Wessel imparts his extensive culinary experience on fresh local seafood and healthy grains with equal aplomb. All items on the menu are gluten-free and wherever possible, organic. Sunday brunch service often features live music and weeknight happy hours span a generous 3pm-7pm.

Traymore Restaurant & Bar / 2445 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach Vibe: Casual & Classic
A casually elegant eatery tucked within the Metropolitan by COMO Miami Beach Hotel, the Traymore Restaurant & Bar features Chef Jonathan Lane’s locally sourced freshwater fare as well as the hotel’s signature healthy dining menu called Shambhala Cuisine. With more diners actively seeking out healthier dishes, Chef Lane brings years of experience to his menus which incorporate seasonal Florida ingredients and simple, flavorful preparations. Start with towers of pristine shellfish presented on iced plateaus or garlicky Key West shrimp served with grilled country bread to sop up the delicious sauce. Seafood is prepared whole or roast on cedar planks to impart a special flavor. Landlubbers will appreciate the chef’s hearty Midwestern upbringing when they bite into a perfectly char-grilled steak served with bone marrow butter and a wild mushroom ragu. Saturday brunch service features live jazz until 3pm.

Matador Room & Bar / 2901 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach Vibe: Relaxed & Retro
A night at the Matador Room at the newly refurbished EDITION Hotel on Miami Beach is like stepping back in time to an era of tropical refinement. Some might mention Old Havana while strolling through the lushly appointed gardens, but we’re all about the colorful photos of toreadors lining the walls of the bar area where friendly bartenders shake up a tart Barcelona Gin & Tonic with citrus and fresh herbs before or after dinner. The dining room is all about retro glamour with an emphsis on the hotel’s 1950s pedigree. Acclaimed Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten crafts his menu with a nod toward Miami’s Latin and Caribbean influences and serves up locally-sourced produce like gently charred Florida octopus with crispy potatoes, roasted red snapper with a tart tamarind glaze, and crunchy Florida grouper tacos topped with a bright citrus slaw.

Bodega Taqueria y Tequila / 1220 16 Street, South Beach

Vibe: Funky & Fabulous
Billing itself as “a Hip Taqueria with a Covert Lounge” catering to taco lovers and late-night snackers, Bodega Taqueria y Tequila is the perfect antidote to the glitzy South Beach scene with streetside picnic tables and an awesome secret pub out back where savvy party people meet and mingle late night. Located on an unassuming side street on the residential west side of town, this converted warehouse took the city by storm with flavorful tacos and tortas prepared inside a converted stainless steel Airstream trailer parked just inside the doors. Owned and operated by Miami’s Menin Hotel Group, Bodega boasts an ice chest of bottled beer, grab & go munchies like queso frito and chips with guacamole plus signature tacos of beef, pork and seafood starting at $5 for two.

Tongue & Cheek / 431 Washington Avenue, South Beach

Vibe: Friendly & Fun
Fans of BravoTV’s hit series “Best New Restaurant” flock to this whimsical SoFi eatery, Tongue & Cheek where Chef Jamie DeRosa crafts flavorful comfort food for locals and visitors. Popular at Happy Hour when the bar pours off price drinks from 4pm-8pm, the restaurant also serves up a cool roster of bar snacks like short rib quesadillas and poutine fries topped with braised brisket and melty cheddar cheese for just $8. Hungry diners can also choose the nightly happy hour Family Meal, a set 3-course dinner for just ten bucks! During major sporting events, the bar overflows with happy fans and plenty of good cheer.

Corsair / 19999 West Country Club Drive, Aventura

Vibe: Classic & Clubby
More than just a critical voice on FoodTV’s cooking challenge “Chopped,” Chef Scott Conant lends his talents to Corsair Restaurant at the Turnberry Isle Resort where his Farmhouse Mediterranean flavors get rave reviews from area foodies. Focusing on seasonal produce and more rustic presentations, the kitchen follows Conant’s notion of sprezzatura; a casual elegance that captures the way Floridians like to dine. Overlooking the resort’s Miller Golf Course, Corsair offers indoor and outdoor tables and maintains brisk professional service all day long. The popular bar menu features appetizers of seafood tartare with crispy shallots, boneless wings in a spicy dipping sauce, and a variety of freshly shucked oysters on the half shell – in other words, snacks that pair perfectly with a well crafted cocktail. The dinner menu benefits from the chef’s passion for pasta and also offers a hearty variety of roast meats and seafoods from tender diver scallops to a juicy spice-crusted 24 ounce rib eye.

Siena Tavern / 404 Washington Avenue, South Beach

Vibe: Glam & Gregarious
Miami’s celebrity chef obsession has definitely upped the ante on dining options this season with the opening of Siena Tavern, the rustic Italian eatery owned and operated by Top Chef All Star Fabio Viviani and his Chicago partners who just opened the second branch of their successful trattoria on South Beach. Taking on a venture of this scale in a popular tourist destination is a major challenge, but these dedicated restaurateurs have filled the 10,000 square foot space with charming accents, warm lighting and a friendly waitstaff. Create a meal of small plates from the antipasti menu, the crudo and mozzarella bar and the impressive variety of imported meats and cheeses, or indulge in Chef Viviani’s hearty Short Rib Ravioli with roast porcini mushrooms topped with taleggio cheese. Find a friend to share the majestic 36 ounce garlic rubbed dry-aged porterhouse steak and save room for the house made bomboloni doughnuts for dessert.

Coya / 999 Brickell Avenue, Miami Vibe: New World Romantic
An exciting new addition to the Brickell dining scene, London hotspot Coya offers a colorful Peruvian menu, a dedicated ceviche bar, and a sizzling charcoal grill where the chefs prepare hearty anticuchos, flavorful skewers of seafood, meat and fresh vegetables. Delight in the wonders of the Pisco Bar with over twenty different options of fruit- and herb-infused liquor while enjoying the Latin American art assembled within the Coya Collective. If you’re new to Peruvian food, start with a chilled Tiradito de Hiramasa, a tart ceviche of kingfish marinated with truffle oil and chives. The Solomillo de Res is a spicy grilled fillet of beef with bright spring onions. The dining room showcases regional antiquities and the work of native artists who adorned the walls with colorful murals. Coya’s UK flagship location was recently named Restaurant of the Year which definitely bodes well for the first American outpost.

Blackbrick Chinese / 3451 NE First Avenue, Miami Vibe: Mod & Memorable
Fans of Chef Richard Hales’ Sakaya Kitchen and Dim Ssäm à GoGo food trucks will thrill to his latest endeavor in Midtown Miami, Blackbrick Chinese Restaurant. Nominated by Bon Apetit Magazine one of the Best New Restaurants of 2014, the mod storefront eatery serves flavorful updates to traditional Asian recipes including steamed and fried dim sum dumplings, bao and buns. Showcasing products from top South Florida purveyors, Hales’ menu reads like a who’s who in the Miami food scene (Swank & Borek Farms, Wynwood Brewing Company, Azucar Ice Cream). Nothing like your neighborhood Chinese Go-To, Blackbrick serves lamb, gator and rabbit where most might offer pork or chicken and adds key words like “numbing & hot” or “explosive” to some of the spicier dishes. Cool your palate with a local La Rubia beer or a house signature cocktail crafted at the bar. Definitely try the cumin scented lamb dishes and the Hong Kong style wonton soup topped with fake (meat-free) pork rinds. Vegetarians can substitute tofu for any protein on the menu or select from a number of locally-sourced veggie preparations stir fried with ginger, black beans or house made hoisin sauce. Top off any meal with something sweet from Chef Hales’ wife Jenny’s delicious pastries and witty, handcrafted fortune cookies. At our Number One spot, Blackbrick Restaurant is rock solid!

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KLIMA brings Barcelona inspired cuisine to South Beach.

3/29/2015

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KLIMA Restaurant and Bar (210 23rd St. Miami Beach) opened earlier this month after an intensive renovation process at the former location of Talula. Spanish restauranteurs Pablo Fernández-Valdés and Yago Giner, the former CEO and COO respectively of the prestigious Grupo Tragaluz restaurant group out of Barcelona, teamed up to transform the space into a high-end loft-like spot for Mediterranean-inspired eats.

The kitchen is headed up by David ‘Rusti’ Rustarazo, Chef Rustarazo's resumé includes the well-known Coure in Barcelona. At Klima, he wants to pay homage to his roots while staying true to the ingredients of his newfound home. "We don't want to import all these products from Spain but work with what we have available and local farmers," he says. "Sure, we'll miss some products, but we're looking forward to all the Florida fish and introducing cod from Alaska." More than anything, Rustarazo wants to have fun. "We're not trying to invent anything or change up the status quo. We come humble." He's also a romantic, at least when it comes to food. "As a chef, I want people to know something has been worked. If the sauce needs two days to get ready, then it needs two days. There are faster ways to get to the end product, but it's not as adoring. We like things well done."

As for the menu, Klima will start with dinner service only. Appetizers include oysters with ponzu sauce and salmon roe ($3.50); Andalusian salmorejo (a tomato-and-bread-like purée) with quail egg ($18); half cooked egg with potato parmentier and ibérico ham ($20); and tuna toast with brava chipotle, leek, and lime ($20).

There are also salads and a raw bar with selections such as tuna belly, tomatoes, and spring onion ($20); truffle steak tartare ($32); beef carpaccio with foie and truffle ($30); and local fish ceviche with avocado, Chilean green onion, salmon roe, and togarashi ($26).

Pastas, fish, and meats make up the entrée portion of the menu. They include rigatoni stuffed with lobster and stew ($30); black cod with spinach pesto and one of Spain's go-to comfort foods, haricots verts ($34); rib eye with smoked eggplant and mustard ($42); and chicken terrine and foie in a slow-roasted chicken reduction ($24).

The atmosphere in Klima is warm and inviting and looks like the interior of a nice home. The space is cozy with natural wood dressing the walls and cement floors providing an earthy contrast. Sculptures and art have been carefully curated by the duo. They also designed the rugs, which were handcrafted in Turkey. A lounge and bar area invites you to sink into one of the leather couches and read one of the provocative books while sipping a handcrafted libation. You'll almost feel like you've been transported to someone's private bungalow on the coast of Spain.

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Restaurant Review: Proof Pizza & Pasta

1/18/2015

Midtown Miami has yet another new indie breakout and rising star in the restaurant world. The Proof is all in the name and the food. Proof Pizza and Pasta is as warm, inviting space with a friendly and courteous staff ; The exterior keeps the Wynwood art tradition alive with graffiti style monsters and the interior maintains a sense of elegance & artistic balance with several nice paintings. An outside,terrace area with wonderful lighting hibiscus hedges make a perfect setting.

The menu is more diverse then the typical pizza and pasta you would expect given the name. You'll find several great less carb filled options as well. Chef partners Justin Flit and Matt DePante, both graduates of the French Culinary Institute bring experience and refinement to the casual dining experience.

Service was excellent, knowledgeable, and courteous above and beyond the norm.

Fresh made pasta such as angel hair with crab meat and lemon breadcrumbs or pappardelle with roasted mushrooms and sherry vinegar are unique, balanced, and taste wonderful. Gemelli with homemade beef bolognese sauce and whipped ricotta provides a more traditional but still excellent option.

The standout appetizer is definitely the shaved brussels sprouts. Traditionally an item I've disliked since childhood, I was at first very skeptical. However, the combination of blue cheese crumbles, pecans, and dried cranberries make this a winner and something I've never seen or tasted before.

The pizzas provide several unique options but lack a consistency to the overall pie. Some were a bit bland and needed a bit of salt. However, the Shredded Oxtail Pizza w/ fresh mozzarella, caramelized onions, and black garlic is a standout.

The wine list is varied and reasonably priced and the dessert menu simple but well designed. The brown sugar poundcake with lemon curd, and pistachio crumbles or the red velvet ice cream sandwich with cream cheese are winners.

Overall, Proof is a winner in the Miami restaurant scene and I have a feeling they will be here to stay for years to come.

Lobster Bar Sea Grille is a Las Olas highlight.

11/26/2013

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Las Olas Restaurant Spotlight

2-month-old Lobster Bar Sea Grille packs a crowd in Las Olas...

Lobster Bar Sea Grille, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is one of Las Olas newest hot spots. The Ft.Lauderdale based restaurant opened on August 6, 2013. The upscale seafood restaurant is the newest concept from the national award-winning Buckhead Life Restaurant Group of Atlanta, Georgia, and owners of the popular Chops Lobster Bar and City Fish Market in Boca Raton, Florida. Guests can look forward to a restaurant with a casual, sophisticated atmosphere complete with modern-contemporary nautical touches. Principle designer and award winning architect, Bill Johnson, noted, "The design is timeless and full of energy."

The dining room features soft white herringbone subway tiled walls and arched ceilings, reminiscent of the famous Oyster Bar in New York City's Grand Central Station. Warm custom lighting creates an intimate and inviting ambience. Just off the main dining room is a Honduran mahogany paneled private dining room that can accommodate up to 40 guests.

The vibrant spacious lounge has a U-shaped communal bar with a white Carara marble top and three exquisite led crystal chandeliers, custom-made to resemble light house lenses. The lounge offers guest more relaxed dining, with comfortable banquettes and Pullman booths. Channel-backed seating surrounds the bar with the plush comfort of a luxury yacht. Clusters of comfortable club and settee sofas are located near the bar for cocktails before or after dinner, making it the perfect place to meet friends or business associates. Adjacent to the lounge is a fully covered outdoor patio with cushioned furniture, ideal for cocktails and light dining.

At the entrance to the dining room, an ice display showcases each day’s catch. Buckhead Life’s dedicated staff is committed, through extensive travel and research, to procure through direct relationships with some of the most reliable and reputable fishing contacts in the United States and Europe. As a result of these direct relationships, Buckhead Life has eliminated the need for the local, middle-man suppliers providing Lobster Bar Sea Grille with the unique ability to air freight, transport and serve the most pristine fish available.

The menu offers four signature categories:

·    The “Whole Fish Experience” featuring whole European and local fish. Expertly prepared in the Mediterranean technique of grilling and basting, the fish is served filleted by our chefs for the guest's enjoyment.

·    The live “Lobster Experience” featuring superior Canadian hard shell lobsters from the deep, icy waters of Nova Scotia - considered to be the Rolls Royce of Lobsters. These succulent lobsters are offered with a variety of basted butter flavors. For the purest, live lobsters up to 4 pounds, are offered steamed to 145 degrees, fully cracked and served with traditional drawn butter and lemon.

·    A full line of USDA Prime signature steaks from Chops Lobster Bar hand selected and custom aged by Allen Brothers of Chicago and Halpern's Black Diamond Prime. Legendary at both the Chops Lobster Bar in Atlanta and Boca Raton, these steaks are a hallmark for the company.

·    Seafood Specialties which are smaller composed entrees that round out the menu.

·    An array of appetizers starts the menu and includes a variety shellfish on ice, crudo of prisitine fish, sashimi, ceviche, tiradito and tartares, as well as buttery house-cured salmon and other appetizer specialties.

Buckhead Life, known for creating opportunities for its dedicated staff, announced that George Mollas, a veteran of the company since 2006, has been chosen as the General Manager for the new restaurant. Mollas served as Assistant General Manager of Chops Lobster Bar and General Manager of City Fish Market, both in Boca Raton. “We are proud to have George at the helm of the new Lobster Bar Sea Grille,” said Karatassos. “In addition to George, we are proud of the team of Buckhead Lifer's who make up the staff including, Assistant General Manager, Ramien Balouch, and Assistant Managers Jackie Yeaple and James Montelone.”

The culinary team will be headed up by Executive Chef Eric Baker, who returns to the company having worked in some of the most prestigious restaurants in Europe and Cafe Boloud in Palm Beach. Chef Eric was Chef de Cuisine of Buckhead Life's popular Chops Lobster Bar in Boca Raton and he too is surrounded with talented chef assistants, Laura Culbreth and Burch Godwin both Buckhead Lifer's from Atlanta, and Chef Gady Barrios, who has worked as Sous Chef with Chef Eric for several years.

Buckhead Life owns and operates two highly successful restaurants in Boca Raton: Chops Lobster Bar and the City Fish Market and 10 nationally acclaimed restaurants in Atlanta. The Fort Lauderdale Lobster Bar Sea Grille will be Buckhead Life's third major restaurant in South Florida. The design of the restaurant was created by award-winning Johnson Studios and Oliver Carter & Associates, both based in Atlanta.

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Restaurant Spotlight & Review: Shinju Japanese Buffet (South Fl)

11/23/2013

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Shinju Buffet= South Florida Sushi, Hibachi, Japanese, and Chinese Food at its finest!

I will admit it...At first, combining the words sushi and buffet can be an awkward, scary, and downright intimidating thought. Bringing back memories of low budget, low quality college lunch specials that got me sick more then a few times! Shinju Japanese Buffet is the exact opposite! It is in my opinion, one of the finest and freshest Sushi/Asian Fusion restaurants in Florida period! With locations in Miami, Coral Springs, Davie, Boca Raton and Pembroke Pines a trip to Shinju isn't too difficult a drive.

Upon entering the restaurant the first thing you will notice is the wide selection of items Shinju offers from the classic Chinese inspired items to the large selection freshly made Sushi, Rolls and Sashimi. Also a favorite of mine is the hibachi station which offers on the spot platters of steak, chicken, and shrimp not to mention Grilled Salmon (AMAZING), teriyaki beef, octopus, and much more. Be sure to ask for extra spice and garlic if you want to add a nice kick to your hibachi meal. The dinner menu is more diverse then the lunch and you get the choice of additional items such Crab Legs.

Service is always polite, efficient, and friendly. They manage to keep the restaurant very clean as well despite the overwhelmingly large crowds at times! Overall, if you're not a Sushi Snob but just a fan of quality food at a great price $10-20 (Per person depending on lunch or dinner) you can't go wrong at Shinju. It is a staple to the South Florida Sushi & Buffet scene and definitely worth a visit!

Disclaimer: My review is based off numerous visits to the location at 8800 SW 72nd St
Miami, FL 33173. I have only visited the Pembroke/Davie locations once each but the experience was also excellent!

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Top 10 New Restaurants of 2015 in Miami via South Beach Magazine

KLIMA brings Barcelona inspired cuisine to South Beach.

Restaurant Review: Proof Pizza & Pasta

Lobster Bar Sea Grille is a Las Olas highlight.

Las Olas Restaurant Spotlight

2-month-old Lobster Bar Sea Grille packs a crowd in Las Olas...

Restaurant Spotlight & Review: Shinju Japanese Buffet (South Fl)

Shinju Buffet= South Florida Sushi, Hibachi, Japanese, and Chinese Food at its finest!

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