In the foodie world, anyone who’s anyone has heard of the famous Michael Mina. He’s a James Beard Award-winning chef. He’s a restaurateur with 18 restaurants worldwide. He wrote a best-selling cookbook with all of his famous recipes. He brought us the lobster pot pie, his signature dish.

And this summer only, the legend himself has transformed his namesake Magic City restaurant, the fine-dining Michael Mina 74 {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.674.4636}, into a laid-back pop-up. Called Pizza & Burger–Michael’s Backyard Kitchen, this summer-centric spot was inspired by Chef Mina’s own fun-filled backyard barbecues with childhood family and friends. And as casual as it is in feel and appeal, like any Michael Mina mainstay, its menu of pizzas, burgers, drinks, salads, and more is anything but ordinary… unless, of course,  you’re talking about its (surprisingly) affordable prices.

The Food:  Turn your sides into starters and kick-off your meal with The Toast—a slice of fresh-baked sourdough bread slathered with house-made ricotta, black pepper honey, toasted pecans, prosciutto, and stone fruit—and The Wings, chicken wings covered in spiced honey gastrique, pickled apple, and popcorn peanuts. Throw in some farm-fresh healthy eating with the Market Salad, where guests can choose their own greens, vegetables, fruits, cheeses, nuts, seeds, croutons, and dressings, and top it off with premium proteins like Gulf prawns, king salmon or grilled skirt steak, to name a few.

For the main event, order one of the handcrafted burgers, made-from-scratch pizzas, or better yet, both. Inspired by its Miami roots, The Cuban Frita burger boasts a beef and chorizo patty topped with smoked paprika aïoli and crispy potato, while The Hippie Chick was made with veggie-lovers in mind: it’s a layered “burger” of grilled marinated eggplant, tomato jam, crispy zucchini, red onion labneh (Lebanese cream cheese), and Haloumi cheese. Pizzas like The Standard are topped with crushed San Marzano tomato, fresh mozzarella, basil and sea salt, and more indulgent versions, like The Surf, is Mina’s lobster pot pie reincarnated into a delicious, charred corn and butter-poached lobster pie. Whatever you choose, like Mom always taught you, no meal is complete without a sweet ending. Try the Rocky Road Profiteroles, Caramel-Roasted Peaches and Gelato, or the Guilty Pleasure Sundae, and thank us (or rather, Chef Mina) later.

The Drinks: At this seasonal pop-up, even the drinks taste like summer. Local beers from MIA Brewing will always be on tap, while select wines by the glass pair perfectly with any dish on the menu. If you’re craving a more traditional cocktail, the house-made margarita blended or on the rocks is a sure thing, and the $15 Mark It Zero (High West Silver Whiskey, orange, blueberry, and soda) will add a “zing” to your summer spread.

The Verdict: Do you even need to ask? It’s a star-studded restaurant turned into your neighborhood barbecue hotspot. It’s at the famed Fontainebleau, and it’s serving up dinner Tuesday through Sunday nights, from 6 p.m. to midnight, through Labor Day. Go. Now.

Happy dining!

By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor