For a restaurant with that special “je ne sais quoi,” look no further than French 27 {850 Commerce Street, Miami Beach; 305.764.3948}, Miami’s newest fine dining French spot in enchanting South of Fifth. As elegant as it is surprising, at French 27, no detail is left unattended. In addition to a fabulous menu representing all 27 regions of France (hence the name), it has a long list of fine wines and cocktails, like the Champagne en Rosé; which is served on a dazzling silver platter and comes with Veuve Clicquot Rosé, French rosé wine, maraschino juice, berries, and fresh rose petals. As if that’s not enough of a draw, the locale sits in an open-air setting with soft lighting, charming décor, a sea of red roses everywhere you turn, a fountain with floating candles, and enchanting, delicate presentations of only the freshest food.
And while we’re on the topic of the restaurant’s true heartstrings, its food, Executive Chefs Andreas Trilk and Yann Rio have created an extensive menu for any type of palate. Seafood is imported fresh daily from different parts of the world, fueling dishes like Chilean Sea Bass with tomato confit, cured shallots, and almonds; Scottish Salmon with a lemon beurre blanc, capers, and pommes de terre nouvelles; and Loup de Mer.
Traditional French favorites are also an obvious choice, like the classic French delicacy, Escargots Tartiflette; or the mouthwatering French Onion Soup, a mix of Brie, Emmenthal cheeses and puff pastry that has been passed down to Chef Andreas Trilk through three family generations of master chefs. You’ll get an explosion of flavor from the Duo Duck Confit, a plate of fresh duck imported directly from France, cassis sauce, and pommes de terre nouvelles; or savor the Steak Frites, where you can choose from an array of tender meats, dry-aged 21-28 days, topped with France’s famous Café de Paris butter.
And finally, you can’t leave without tasting the crème de la crème, dessert: where options like Crème Brulée made with a Jack Daniel’s infusion, Krispy Kreme Pudding with vanilla ice cream, or Bombolini–mini doughnuts filled with warm Valrhona chocolate and paired with vanilla ice cream–promise a sweet, sweet ending.
French 27 is open from Sunday to Thursday, from 6-11pm, and Fridays and Saturdays, from 6pm until midnight.
By Jennifer Agress