Miami will once again host Carbone Beach at Formula 1, a restaurant pop-up that is as extravagant as pop-ups come, from May 4–7. The Miami Beach “supper club on the sand” was developed by Major Food Group in collaboration with American Express. Meals prepared by Mario Carbone and a star-studded attendance will all be taking place during Miami Race Week.
Each of the four nights, location TBD, costs $3,000 per participant. Visitors can now request a table (for eight to 14 people) or a place on the waiting list by visiting CarboneBeach.com. Individual tickets will be made available on Resy on April 6, with AMEX Platinum and Centurion cards receiving first access.
More caviar, extravagant seafood towers, enormous dry-aged steaks, unique new dishes, and crowd-pleasing classics can all be found at this year’s Carbone Beach, which may bring back memories of dining at Carbone in South Beach, New York City, Las Vegas, Dallas, Hong Kong, or Doha. Cocktail hour will be the first part of each evening, followed by a seated dinner.
Last year, notables including David Beckham, Serena and Venus Williams, LeBron James, Hailee Steinfeld, Jamie Foxx, and many more were among the throng that were wowed by performers Andrea Bocelli, Wyclef Jean, Kygo, and Chloe Flower. Additionally, previous year’s evenings featured intricate ice sculptures, race vehicles, and extremely upscale fare like enormous caviar cones.
Jeff Zalaznick, a co-owner of Major Food Group, received a key to the city from Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber at Carbone Beach last year. “We’re always trying to push the limits of what we can do,” he adds. “Last year was a spectacular success that astounded and delighted everyone. The evening genuinely straddled the line between a Great Gatsby-style dinner party and a fantastic show. The cuisine and everything else we did last year will thus be improved upon. The craziness will increase this year. It will be more luxurious and exclusive. American Express is a fantastic partner, and we are excited to work with them once more.”
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.
The upscale, well-known Italian concept Contessa has officially debuted in the Miami Design District thanks to Major Food Group, the renowned hospitality company that is responsible for bringing Carbone, Rao’s, and Dirty French Steakhouse to Miami.
Contessa is a classic yet utterly modern Italian restaurant created by MFG Co-Founders and creative powers Jeff Zalaznick, Mario Carbone, and Rich Torrisi. It is inspired by the old-world refinement of Northern Italy’s famed villas and estates.
Visitors at Contessa Miami can begin their dinner with one of the several antipasti starters, which include Proscuitto, Chianina beef carpaccio, and squash carpaccio. Of course, the menu features a number of sumptuous pasta dishes, such as the fiery lobster cappelli, the tortellini in broth, the rigatoni carbonara, the fusilli Genovese, and the rigatoni carbonara. Entree choices include grilled branzino, the traditional veal Milanese, and a 40-ounce dry-aged Fiorentina steak. The meal is finished with a variety of sweets such as gelato and cakes with pistachio, amaretto, and gianduja chocolate.
Contessa’s original location made its debut on the rooftop of The Newbury Boston last year, and it rapidly established a reputation as one of the most opulent and outstanding Italian restaurants in America.
It was hailed as the city’s “crème de la crème” of restaurants by the opulent publication Boston Common. Boston Magazine has also raved about the restaurant stating that it is one of the best Italian restaurants in the city.
Contessa Miami promises exquisite Northern Italian cuisine in addition to MFG’s renowned warm, charismatic, and polished hospitality, which is specially tailored to the city the company has called home since 2021. At that time, the company began a historic run of restaurant openings in the area, including ZZ’s Club in the Miami Design District and Sadelle’s in Coconut Grove.
Over 40 restaurants, pubs, hotels, and private clubs are now managed by the organization across the world. The company has numerous new openings scheduled for South Florida over the next six months, in addition to Contessa Miami and a variety of upcoming projects in the United States and internationally.
The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and is housed in a two-story building in the renowned neighborhood at 111 NE 41st Street.
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.
With Valentine’s Day falling on a Monday this year, you’re probably trying to decide what day to celebrate this year’s romantic occasion. While we can’t help you choose the day, we can help with dinner!
This year we have compiled some of the most unique and romantic restaurants that we love and that we think you’ll love too.
Sexy Fish
Sexy Fish’s menu is a work of art, featuring classics influenced by Asia and Japan. Bjoern Weissgerber, the Chef Director, has produced delectable dishes such as Duck Salad, Smoked Tuna Belly, Black Cod, King Crab, Bone Marrow, and crispy Eringi Mushroom. Don’t miss the Sexy Gold Fish or Crispy Caviar with gold-flake sea bass marinade. There is also a large wine and champagne selection, as well as unique cocktails such as Chocolate and Wine, Yuzu, and Elderflower.
Sexy Fish, designed by SeaVisions, exudes an aquatic ambiance with a big-lit fish tank that spans the wall of the private dining room and serves as the restaurant’s focus. Throughout, you’ll find stunning artwork by Damien Hirst as well as 26 bespoke fish lights designed by Frank Gehry. Click here to make reservations or browse the menu.
ZZ’s Sushi Bar
ZZ’s Sushi Bar menu includes classic tuna and salmon selections, as well as unique salads and Wagyu meat. ZZ’s also has the greatest assortment of Wagyu beef in the country. Don’t miss out on one of their most well-known specialty dishes, the Caviar Temaki.
The first level is bursting at the seams with bentwood banquettes, sculptural, handpainted finishes, and animal print rugs. Every surface is adorned with antique furniture and brass lights. The terrace is dubbed a “tiki bar on acid,” with wicker furniture and banana prints complementing the futuristic building.
Although ZZ’s is advertised as a member-only restaurant, there is an optional invite-only membership available, so as long as you can secure a reservation, you may enjoy all of the amenities that a member does! Click here to make reservations or browse the menu.
Carbone
Carbone has become a South Beach neighborhood mainstay in such a short time, thanks to its exceptional food, retro-style French décor, and landmark location. Raw-bar platters with stone crab claws, crab knuckle sandwiches, spicy rigatoni, or veal parmigiana are some of our favorite menu items.
The sumptuous Ken Fulk design, as well as the Captains dressed in Zac Posen tuxedos, guide clients through menu selections, and salads are produced tableside for the entire Carbone experience. The atmosphere continues with intimate tables, low lighting, and classic French and Italian music playing. Did we forget to say it’s Michelin-stared? To make a reservation or to browse the menu, click here.
Elcielo
Located in Brickell, Elcielo features modern yet classic Colombian dishes. Chef Juan Manual Barrientos uses an avant-garde approach to cooking the signature Latin dishes. Barrientos utilizes small and medium plates that feature avocado tempura, Colombian Arepas, Tuna Tartare, and Yuca Gnocchi.
The delectable food is served with breathtaking river views and stylish décor enhanced with flora, leather, and wood. Private dining experiences for couples or groups are provided in VIP lounges. The Experience menu will have more than 22 moments.
The Waterfront Terrace is great for special occasions and gatherings. Enjoy our a la carte food and beverages while listening to upbeat music, surrounded by palm trees and flora, the breeze, and river views. Check out the menu or make a reservation here.
Cote Miami
Executive Chef David Shim, a native of Seoul, South Korea, is responsible for the one-of-a-kind masterpieces at Cote Miami. Shim acquired expertise and recognition in New York City at Gramercy Tavern, Veritas, and L’Atelier de Jol Robuchon. Chef Shim’s specialty dishes include 45-day USDA dry-aged beef, delectable side dishes, stunning slices of Korean beef, and a Steak OmakaseTM experience. Other menu items include East/West Coast Oysters, Maine Lobster, caviar service, steak tartare, and Korean bacon.
COTE Miami has a 100-seat dining room with interactive smokeless state-of-the-art tabletop grills at each dining table, a dry-aging room, and two private dining rooms. The setting is intimate and pleasant, and the meals are incredibly innovative and awe-inspiring! Click here for their full menu or to make reservations.
