BRICKELL AND DOWNTOWN MIAMI
La Petite Maison
1300 Brickell Bay Dr. / Miami, FL 33131 / +1.305.403.9133 / www. La Petite Maison
La Petite Maison, the Mediterranean-inspired Brickell gem, is the place to see and be seen in Miami today. With an extensive menu of perfectly curated dishes, it has become the talk of the town, just like their other locations in London and Dubai.
La Mar by Gaston Acurio
Mandarin Oriental Hotel / 500 Brickell Key Dr. / Miami, FL 33131 / +1.305.913.8358 / www. La Mar by Gastón Acurio
Diego Oka, the chef of La Mar by Gaston Acurio, has elevated the “food print” of Acurio’s world-renowned Peruvian culinary brand. Their ceviches and causas, are authentic and beautifully presented. Panoramic views of Miami complement the experience.
Komodo
801 Brickell Ave. / Miami, FL 33131 / +1.305.534.2211 / www. Komodo
At Brickell Avenue’s exuberant and lively Komodo, buzzing bars and revisited Southeast Asian cuisine, including house specialty crispy Peking Duck, are all brought together by nightclub impresario David Grutman (LIV) and restaurateur Jeffrey Chodorow (China Grill).
Tacology
Brickell City Centre, 4th Floor / 701 South Miami Avenue / Miami, FL 33131 / +1.786.347.5368 / www. Tacology
Tacology, at Brickell City Centre, is the creation of Chef Santiago Gomez, who also executes the menu at the elegant Cantina La Veinte. His casual Mexican eatery offers a festive atmosphere with standouts like its gigantic chicharron and tacos al carbon, and a menu that is viewed on an iPad.
Fi’lia by Michael Schwartz
SLS Brickell / 1300 South Miami Avenue / Miami, FL 33130 / +1.305.912.1729 / www. Fi’lia by Michael Schwartz
Brickell area’s favorite neighborhood restaurant Fi’lia by Michael Schwartz is the place to go for a freshly tossed Caesar salad prepared table side and Schwartz’s honest Italian/American cuisine.
Alloy Bistro Gourmet
154 SE First Avenue / Miami, FL 33131 / +1.786.773.2742 / www. Alloy Bistro Gourmet
The location of Alloy Bistro Gourmet, tucked inside a hidden courtyard in downtown Miami, is unexpected. The charming Luna Bertolotti will guide you through the menu created by executive chef Federico Genoves. Try their hand-rolled pasta of the day.
DESIGN DISTRICT, MIDTOWN & WYNWOOD
Plant Miami
Plant Miami at the Sacred Space / 100 NE 25th St. / Miami, FL 33137 / +1.305.814.5365 / www. Plant Miami
Karla Dascal and Gingi Beltran’s Plant Miami is a raw-food phenomenon, with unbelievably delicious plant-based dishes that are prepared without sugar, gluten and animal fat, and are organic, kosher and good for you!
Mandolin Aegean Bistro
4312 NE 2nd Ave. / Miami, FL 33137 / +1.305.749.9140 / www. Mandolin Aegean Bistro
Always packed, the alluring and popular Mandolin Aegean Bistro, serves authentic Greek-Turkish fare, with owners Anastasia and Ahmet celebrating life with their guests, night after night. Best Greek crudo and lamb chops.
KYU
251 NW 25th St. / Miami, FL 33127 / +1.786.577.0150 / www. KYU
Zuma alums Chef Michael Lewis and Steven Haigh bring Japanese barbecue knowledge to KYU, serving uncommon Asian-inspired cuisine in Wynwood’s graffiti district. Try their memorable roasted cauliflower and goat cheese with shishito-herb vinaigrette and fabulous wagyu beef brisket with black shichimi pepper.
Alter
223 NW 23rd St. / Miami, FL 33127 / +1.305.573.5996 / www. Alter
Chef Bradley Kilgore has been recognized as Miami’s most riveting young chef since he opened Alter and was able to let loose and create playful dishes. This season he offers tasting menus (seven- and nine-course, plus chef’s full experience). Expect Parmesan ice cream with tomato glass, “terrain” terrine of hen pâté, foie gras, sweetbreads, and pickled ramp and bone marrow crème brûlée with porcini ganache.
MIAMI BEACH
Forte dei Marmi
150 Ocean Drive / Miami Beach, FL 33139 / +1.786.276.3095 / www. Forte dei Marmi
Forte dei Marmi is this year’s Art Basel meeting point in Miami Beach. Meticulously created a year ago by art collector Tatiana Silva, along with two-Michelin-star chef Antonio Mellino and his son Raffaele, who is permanently in Miami serving the most amazing dishes in town. I bet you never tried a mille-feuille of tenderloin and wild mushrooms.
Stubborn Seed
101 Washington Ave. / Miami Beach, FL 33139 / +1.786.322.5211 / www. Stubborn Seed
Jeremy Ford, winner of season 13 of Bravo’s cooking competition Top Chef, has opened Stubborn Seed, with a concept meant to elevate the culinary landscape of Miami Beach. Try the herb roasted wagyu with its perfectly seared trumpet mushrooms, heirloom carrots and the best short ribs with miso mustard butter I have had to date.
Upland Miami
49 Collins Ave. / Miami Beach, FL 33139 / +1.305.602.9998 / www. Upland Miami
Named after the town in California where Chef Justin Smillie was born, Upland Miami (sister restaurant in NYC) brings his signature cuisine to Miami Beach. Check out his crispy Parisian gnocchi and coal roasted salmon with Florida grapefruit, pickled beets and faro salad.
Tanuki
1080 Alton Road / Miami Beach, FL 33139 / +1.305.615.1055 / www. Tanuki
Tanuki is a pan-Asian restaurant that everyone needs to discover. Check out the crispy snapper wrapped around bundles of crispy kataifi sitting atop a butter lettuce leaf with a bit of jalapeño relish and aioli softly kissed by horseradish.
Stiltsville Fish Bar
1787 Purdy Ave. / Miami Beach, FL 33139 / +1.786.353.0477 / www. Stiltsville Fish Bar
Stiltsville Fish Bar is the dream concept of chefs Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth, featuring classic seafood cookery inspired by McInnis’ childhood in the Florida panhandle.
Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann
3201 Collins Ave. / Miami Beach, FL 33140 / +1.786.655.5610 / www. Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann
No one treats fire with more ceremonial reverence than master chef Francis Mallmann. At Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann his passion for nature and building big fires to create full flavor profile dishes like his roasted lechón and a variety of Argentinean-inspired “parrilladas” (seafood and meat) speak for themselves.
The Forge
432 West 41st St. / Miami Beach, FL 33140 / +1.305.538.8533 / www. The Forge
Shareef Malnik and his family have kept this culinary legend, The Forge, thriving since the late 1960s. Perfect for a night of pampering with great steaks and fabulous wines, it’s also an excellent respite after gallery hopping. For a nostalgic taste of the past, try their super-chocolatey Blacksmith Pie and their wonderful soufflés.
Le Sirenuse
9101 Collins Ave. / Miami Beach, FL 33154 / +1.305.381.3333 / www. Le Sirenuse
This grand and elegant Miami Beach outpost of the Michelin-starred restaurant concept from the iconic La Sirenuse resort on Italy’s Amalfi Coast is located at the Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club, with Chef de Cuisine Antonio Mermolia at the helm. Gorgeous Alaskan crab terrine, an elongated swirl of linguine from Gragnano with a variety of clams, and organic chicken with black truffle, are simply musts. ■
