Miami’s dynamic dining scene is about to get a taste of unprecedented luxury and sophistication with the opening of Lafayette Steakhouse this Friday. Nestled in the bustling Brickell district, Lafayette is not just a restaurant; it’s a statement of style and an ode to culinary mastery.
Previously known as El Tucán, this iconic space has been transformed by Mr. Hospitality Miami, the brains behind local favorites like Queen Miami Beach and Marion. Lafayette Steakhouse promises an experience that fuses the mystery of speakeasy culture with the plushness of European elegance. The ambiance is designed to offer a sophisticated retreat amidst the lively energy of the city, making it a perfect escape for the elite and the epicureans.
According to Mathieu Massa, the visionary owner and founder of Mr. Hospitality Miami, “At Lafayette Steakhouse, every detail is meticulously crafted to exude opulence and refinement.” This dedication to perfection is evident in every aspect of the establishment, from the decor to the dining experience.
The culinary delights at Lafayette are helmed by the renowned French Chef Kylian Goussot, known for his work in Michelin-starred kitchens and luxury hotels. At Lafayette, he brings his expertise to a menu that features premium meats, fresh seafood, and vibrant, flavor-rich dishes—all perfected in a wood charcoal Josper oven.
Complementing the menu is an impressive collection of wines, spirits, and inventive cocktails, meticulously curated by Head Sommelier Gabrielle Neuberg. The dining experience is sweetened further by Pastry Chef Nelson Mendonca, whose exquisite desserts are sure to leave a lasting impression.
The artistic touch at Lafayette is unmistakable, with menu illustrations by the acclaimed artist Octave Marsal adding an element of visual feast. Meanwhile, the interior design by Carlos Rodriguez of Escala Forma Studio seamlessly blends European charm with modern elegance, creating a space that’s both inviting and impressive.
Lafayette Steakhouse is more than a dining venue; it’s a cultural hub that celebrates the rich heritage and diverse culinary landscape of Miami. Inspired by Major General Marquis de Lafayette, the steakhouse embodies the historic bond between France and America, making it a landmark of luxury and a beacon of fine dining in Miami.
Ready to experience the pinnacle of dining in Miami? Lafayette Steakhouse opens its doors at 1111 SW 1st Ave, Miami, FL 33130. Whether you’re a visionary, artist, or socialite, Lafayette promises an unmatched dining experience in the heart of Miami.
Discover Culinary Elegance at Casa Ya’ax Miami
Chef Omar Montero, a talent hailing from Mexico, has brought his unique flair to Miami’s dynamic food scene. In 2017, he started with La Santa Taqueria, initially a food truck and later a standalone restaurant in the Little River neighborhood, specializing in simple yet exquisite street tacos. Now, Montero has expanded his culinary repertoire with the opening of Casa Ya’ax in Wynwood, a more sophisticated venture that still holds true to his philosophy of simplicity, but within a more upscale setting.
Casa Ya’ax, situated on 24th Street, near the bustling Oasis Wynwood, is the perfect spot for those seeking to indulge in the rich and authentic flavors of Mexico. Chef Montero, a graduate of Anahuac University in Mexico City with experience at the Setai Hotel Miami Beach and Veinte Deli & Cafe in downtown Miami, has long envisioned Casa Ya’ax as a place to celebrate Mexico’s diverse and exquisite coastal cuisine.
Unlike La Santa’s playful pink exterior, Casa Ya’ax offers an earthier ambiance with carved wood tables and woven rattan lampshades. Its covered outdoor patio doubles as a lounge, featuring a DJ, special lighting, and a cooling misting system for warmer days. The menu is a culinary adventure, featuring dishes like beef short ribs with three chiles, white corn and red quinoa with pork belly and rock shrimp, and aguachile arrachera in black sauce. For those who enjoy the finer things, there are raw bar items and grilled selections, including Takamori A5 wagyu, OMI wagyu, and USDA prime cuts.
Casa Ya’ax isn’t just about food. It offers an exquisite cocktail program with signature drinks like the Sel Va Tik and the Espresso Oaxaca, a unique take on the espresso martini. The wine list boasts a selection of fine Mexican wines, adding to the upscale experience.
Located at 51 NE 24th St., Suite 101, you can find more information at casayaax.com or by calling 305-456-9258.
Erba and Maty’s Miami Named Esquire’s Top Restaurants of 2023
In the ever-evolving landscape of American dining, a wave of radical authenticity is making its presence felt, bringing a thrilling edge to our culinary experiences. This isn’t just about food; it’s a narrative of chefs daringly sharing their personal stories through their creations. This movement might be an unconscious reaction to the looming shadows of artificial intelligence and virtual realms, or simply a celebration of the human spirit in its purest form. Whatever the catalyst, the result is a dining scene that is raw, vulnerable, occasionally bizarre, but above all, profoundly human.
Consider the whole fish, a dish of ultimate realness that graces the menus of many establishments in the forty-first edition of Esquire’s “Best New Restaurants” guide. This year, real people like Jeff Gordinier, Joshua David Stein, and Omar Mamoon, ventured across the United States, tasting offerings from over two hundred new eateries. Their journey, fueled by passion and discerning palates, led to select fifty exceptional restaurants, each a beacon of culinary brilliance.
Erba Miami
When you step into Erba, you’re immediately enveloped in an atmosphere of grandeur. This isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a realm where each evening promises an immersive experience in both luxury and warmth. The magic begins with the team led by Chef Niven Patel and his partner Mo Alkassar, whose hospitality is as heartfelt as it is impeccable.
At the core of Erba’s allure is its unique culinary approach: a fusion of Italian tradition with a distinct Florida twist. Imagine the wonders of handmade mafaldine pasta intertwined with the exotic flavors of Bahamian conch. Or consider their tiramisu, which creatively embraces a hint of tres leches, offering a delightful surprise to your taste buds.
However, what truly sets Erba apart is its crudo. Prepared with locally-sourced wahoo and garnished with freshly plucked star fruit from Rancho Patel, Chef Patel’s own farm, the dish is a testament to the restaurant’s deep respect for fresh, local ingredients.
The philosophy of honoring simple ingredients is also vividly reflected in their other venture, Ghee—an Indian restaurant where Patel and Alkassar serve a steamed green millet that transforms a modest ingredient into something utterly sublime.
Erba isn’t just about serving Italian cuisine; it’s about elevating it through simplicity and a profound respect for the ingredients. Whether you’re a fan of Italian food or just someone who appreciates culinary excellence, Erba promises an experience that goes beyond the ordinary. It’s not just a place to dine; it’s a destination to become a regular, where every visit feels like a new journey into the heart of flavor and hospitality.
Maty’s Miami
In the world of upscale dining, small plates featuring raw fish, such as crudos, have become a staple. These dishes, while delightful, often blend into the background of many high-end menus, serving more as an elegant accessory than a standout feature. However, this culinary narrative takes a dramatic turn at Maty’s, where Chef Valerie Chang transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary.
At Maty’s, the ceviches and tiraditos – a Peruvian specialty where fish is sliced in the style of sashimi and paired with vivid sauces – offer an experience akin to jumping from a 3D movie into a 4D spectacle. Here, the dining becomes an immersive journey, with each flavor and texture creating a vivid, multi-sensory adventure.
Take, for instance, the ocean trout, which embarks on a tropical escapade with the addition of passion fruit, each morsel crowned with thinly sliced gooseberries. Or consider the kanpachi, elegantly arranged with layers of kohlrabi, kiwi berry, and a bright, zesty aji dulce sauce. These dishes don’t just tantalize the taste buds; they transport you to another realm of culinary delight.
While it’s tempting to indulge solely in these aquatic delights, overlooking other menu items would be a misstep. The choclo, a concoction of sweet corn, pecorino, and a spicy Huancaína cheese sauce, rivals the comfort and addiction of the finest mac and cheese. It’s a dish that marries simplicity with sophistication in a way that’s both comforting and novel.
And then there’s the Wagyu oxtail saltado – a dish that redefines luxury. The contrast of crisp potatoes with the rich, buttery oxtail creates a symphony of textures and flavors, elevating the dish to a surreal level of deliciousness.
Maty’s isn’t just about dining; it’s about experiencing a culinary world where every dish is a star, and every bite is a journey. Chef Valerie Chang’s menu invites you not just to taste, but to explore a universe of flavors that are as enchanting as they are exquisite.
True innovation in the kitchen is a gamble, but when it pays off, it’s transformative, filling not just our stomachs but our souls with an indescribable spark. It’s a rare gem, this combination of fulfillment and delight, but it’s a pursuit worth every effort. Let this be your map to a culinary adventure that celebrates not just food, but the essence of what it means to be authentically, wonderfully human.
Good Morning America Awards Uptown 66 Mexican Cantina in Miami as Having the Best Taco in America
Uptown 66 began as a pop-up restaurant in 2020, and like many other new eateries in Miami, Nuno Grullon, the owner and chef, wasn’t confident the restaurant could succeed in the face of COVID-19 and government shutdowns. Three years later, the small but well-liked outdoor Mexican cantina has a devoted following and was just named “Good Morning America’s” taco champion.
The “United States of Tacos” tournament, which lasted a full week and featured preliminary rounds in Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, and Miami, was held last week. A panel of judges, which included actor Alex Moffat, fitness expert and makeup artist Tunde Oyeneyin, actor and singer-songwriter Christian Chávez of RBD, and chef Chris Valdes, selected Uptown 66’s birria taco as the best of the bunch. Grullon defeated Mika Leon, chef and owner of Caja Caliente, who created her renowned Cuban-style lechon taco for the Miami round of the tournament, to win the ultimate prize of $20,000 provided by Taco Bell.
Nuno Grullon, the owner of the Mexican cantina didn’t expect to be so anxious about the contest but overall said that the experience was fun. Grullon relocated to Miami from the Bronx in the late 1990s and didn’t start out in Mexican food but was a dishwasher in New York. He eventually advanced to line cook, and then steadily moved up to more upscale eateries serving Mediterranean, French, and Italian cuisine.
When he founded Uptown 66, he discovered the greatest ingredients for Mexican food, the chiles that went well with specific dishes, and the tastes that should be the star. He explains, “I need to comprehend the culture behind the food.” “Where does it come from? How were those things made? Even the initial menu for Uptown 66 didn’t include Grullon’s renowned birria taco, which is constructed with three distinct cuts of braised beef, mixto cheese, and consommé. When Grullon originally established his business, he only offered four types of tacos: barbacoa, carnitas, chicken, and wild mushroom.
People kept approaching and requesting birria tacos, says Grullon today. They appeared everywhere on social media. I remarked, “I’ll have to create one of those.” According to Grullon, birria tacos are typically cooked with goat meat. However, he claimed that his job in Miami’s restaurant industry led him to choose the less unusual beef which cooking birria, for instance, requires 20 hours, with the meat smoldering at a low temperature.
The cuisine is highly sophisticated, he claims. “Building a burger is simpler than this. No offense intended; I enjoy a good burger! But it’s simple. Get top-notch meat, grill it, add lettuce, onion, and cheese, and presto! You need to make a marinade for birria. Two hours are required. Make sure to remove the seeds from the chilies. It takes a lot of work. What I adore about it is that. In that manner, it reminds me of French cuisine. Grullon is thinking about the future of Uptown 66 and potential openings or franchises in additional locations.
Near 79th Street and Biscayne Boulevard, he intends to establish a full-service American concept restaurant. He is, however, taking some time right now to reflect on the “Good Morning America” accolade. We had a significant victory, he claims. “The brand is very important to our devoted customers. They are devoted to us and want us to succeed.”
Uptown 66 is located at 6600 Biscayne Boulevard in Miami and is open 7 days a week with varying hours.
New Restaurants to Open at Miami Worldcenter in 2024
The long list of tenants at Miami Worldcenter, a $6 billion, 27-acre mixed-use complex remaking the center of Downtown Miami, will grow by four national food and beverage concepts.
A dual-concept location for BurgerFi and Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza & Wings has been signed by the development’s ownership group, as well as leases with Serafina, an internationally renowned Italian restaurant group founded in New York City; Sixty Vines, a sustainable restaurant with an exciting wine-on-tap program and food inspired by vineyards.
The development’s exceptional lineup of recently opened food and beverage outlets, which already includes three concepts from Michelin-starred Chef Michael Beltran of Ariete Hospitality Group’s Brasserie Laurel, Chug’s Express, and El Vecino Cigar & Cocktail Bar, as well as two more eateries anticipated to open soon, Earls Kitchen & Bar and Chicago’s Maple & Ash, will be strengthened by the development’s newest restaurants, which are anticipated to open in 2024.
The 300,000 square feet of retail, dining, and entertainment space at Miami Worldcenter, one of the largest privately owned and developed urban real estate developments in Florida, complement the diverse mix of residential, commercial, and hospitality uses that it offers. Approximately 84% of the retail space in the property is leased. In collaboration with CIM Group, Miami Worldcenter is being built by master developers Miami Worldcenter Associates, headed by Managing Partners Art Falcone and Nitin Motwani.
Ten city blocks make up Miami Worldcenter, which is next to Museum Park, home to the Frost Museum of Science and Pérez Art Museum Miami, Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, and Wolfson Campus of Miami Dade College. Miami Worldcenter is the largest and best-connected transit-oriented development in Florida thanks to its proximity to Brightline’s MiamiCentral station, which provides direct train service to Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Orlando and access to Tri-Rail, the Metromover, and the Metrorail.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Rooftop Restaurant Giselle to Open Friday February 3rd
On Friday, February 3, the glitzy new restaurant Giselle will open on the rooftop of the illustrious nightclub E11EVEN Miami. Giselle is brought to you by E11EVEN and hospitality group The Restaurant People, where executive chef Gustavo Zuluaga will weave together global flavors in dishes like whole crispy snapper with aji amarillo aioli and Peruvian salsa criolla.
Giselle’s menu is extravagant, with items such as bluefin tuna truffle cones topped with 24-karat gold leaf. Truffle toast, flaming lobster thermidor, Peking chicken, Japanese A5 snow-aged wagyu, a flaming Australian wagyu tomahawk, caviar, seafood towers, oysters with Champagne mignonette granita, and other extravagant offerings are available.
Truffle toast, pork ribs, Chilean sea bass, filet mignon, and a flaming lobster thermidor are among the dishes on the menu. For those who can’t decide, a six-course tasting menu is available.
The cuisine incorporates French, Asian, South American, and Mediterranean flavors. This makes sense given his background, which includes stops at L’Atelier de Jol Robuchon in Miami, Zuma, Komodo, and Juvia before becoming executive chef at Laurent Tourondel’s Dune in Fort Lauderdale.
Guests enter the restaurant by taking a private elevator up to the rooftop restaurant, where they will walk through the mosaic-lined tunnel into the space, which features a retractable roof that spans the entire indoor-outdoor restaurant.
Giselle’s marble-adorned 14-seat bar features digital art display cases showcasing the work of Miami-based filmmaker and producer Frank Kelly, who was commissioned to create a custom short film series for the space. The adjacent lounge and terrace area features black marble dining tables with views of the Miami skyline, while a neon sign that reads “I’ll be here, if by chance, you’ll be here too” rules the space.
Giselle is located at 15 NE 11th St, Miami, FL 33132 with hours at Wednesday through Sunday 6pm to 3am.
