TiramesU

Never a dull moment this fall with restaurant openings galore and Miami Spice all at once! Here’s the scoop on Miami restaurant openings, recent and forthcoming.

Wapo Taco! {2526 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables; 786.452.9634}
Hallandale Beach residents’ favorite Mexican restaurant has found a second South Florida home in Coral Gables. The cool and casual taqueria, whose motto is fittingly, “For the Love of Tacos,” was brought to the U.S. by way of Mexico City and boasts an authentic menu of family recipes. Just like its original location, which pioneered “tacos al carbon,” Wapo Taco! cooks meats on a charcoal grill, corn tortillas come fresh from the comal griddle, and salsas are made in-house daily using only the freshest ingredients. Choice menu items include the Campechano Taco—a combination of skirt steak, chorizo, and crispy pork chicharrón grilled with salsa especial; and the Pastor Tacos— meat marinated in a mixture of spices, slowly roasted and sabered from the spit, and topped with pineapple, onions, and cilantro.

Libar Steakhouse {900 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami; 786.376.8660} 
Located on the ground floor of the exclusive 900 Biscayne luxury condominium building, Libar Steakhouse is one of Downtown Miami’s newest culinary masterpieces. Colombian-born entrepreneur and chef Brian Aaron (the man behind the successful catering company, Aaron’s Catering) will take the helm. Based on Aaron’s successful track record as both a chef and businessman, guests can expect Libar to execute a high-quality dining experience from the get-go. “It is an incredible opportunity to showcase modern styles of cooking and presentations where quality, taste, and service are the number one priorities,” says Aaron. “The attitude is to make it playful … to make simple dishes taste extraordinary.”

Elia Gourmet {3300 Mary Street, Coconut Grove; 305.377.3400}
Miami’s dynamic Coconut Grove neighborhood is getting a new tenant: Elia Gourmet. Coconut Grove is seeing an influx of new restaurant talent, and Elia is no exception. Its sister restaurant downtown is known for its Mediterranean and Greek cuisine such as moussaka, kebabs, pastitsio (imported Greek pasta, hearty meat sauce, and béchamel cream), and yemista (stuffed peppers with rice and seasoned ground turkey). Now, Miami residents have a new way to get their Greek on.

Red Ginger {736 First Street, Miami Beach; 305.433.6876}
Like a bright, tasty pop of pickled ginger, Red Ginger—South Beach’s newest Southeast Asian fusion concept—is tickling taste buds all over the neighborhood. Opened by Menin Hospitality, Red Ginger is stationed in the South of Fifth district just a stone’s throw from the beach and neighboring Radio Bar. Top Chef Master Herbert Wilson mans the kitchen as executive chef, delivering a menu with high-end sushi selections, binchotan charcoal robata grill creations, and omakase feasts. With 136 seats, the space is both roomy and intimate, designed to resemble an ancient Cambodian temple with marble flooring and hand-carved wood panels. Order off the family-style menu for fried rice, curry, and soups; meatballs, short rib, and filet; and sushi or sashimi omakase at three different price points. Add a sip of rare aged Japanese whisky to round out your experience.

Chef Bee

Naiyara {1854 Bay Road, Miami Beach; 305.947.4338}
Naiyara will sound its arrival in the fall of 2015, bringing with it elegant yet approachable Thai street fare and sushi to the hungry public. Chef Piyarat Arreeratn—nicknamed “Chef Bee”—is behind this much-anticipated new restaurant, named after his daughter (and translating to “little elephant”). The 120-seat restaurant will be adorned with vibrant colors, elephant- themed art, and authentic Thai decorations, recalling Chef Bee’s home in Thailand. The menu will incorporate street fare dishes and sushi inspired by Bee’s homeland and his mother’s cooking—savory curries like Chicken Khao Soi and Massaman, flavorful beef with yellow sticky rice, Mu Yang rotisserie pork, and fresh papaya salad, along with delicate toro and salmon, to name a few. This spot will feature happy hour deals both early and late, serving until 4am Thursday through Saturday.

Craft Social Club {100 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.123.7891}
Led by restaurant industry veterans LP Steele (former marketing director representing Bacardi USA and Diageo), RT Murphy (former GM of EMM Group), and Evan Hawkins (former head bartender at Marquee NYC), Craft Social Club promises to be Miami’s next “it” destination. But what sets this cool lounge apart from numerous others that have come and gone in SoBe? We’d have to say it’s the unique beverage program, complete with an open-air “Cocktail Kitchen,” which allows guests to watch their drinks being prepared from scratch. It’s also the “Cocktail Suites,” which feature built-in service bars that allow for a VIP tableside experience like no other. A series of small bites complements the innovative cocktail program, including Tequila Ceviche Shooters; Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Biscuit Sliders; and a variety of Brooklyn Hot Dog Co. Sliders.

HYDE beach kitchen + cocktails

Hyde Beach Kitchen & Cocktails {111 South Surf Road, Hallandale Beach; 954.699.0901}
Hitting Hallandale in the summer of 2015, the newest Hyde Beach Kitchen + Cocktails invites you to relax with inspiring food, drink, and entertainment. Set on the sand in this up-and-coming neighborhood just north of Miami, Hyde Beach Kitchen + Cocktails encompasses 10,000 square feet over three levels, including three full-service bars, private dining spaces and meeting rooms, a boutique retail store—even valet parking. The beachside main floor welcomes guests with delightful bites, fresh juices, and a rejuvenating spa, while one level above offers a rooftop restaurant serving New American cuisine by Chef Danny Elmaleh. On the third floor? Member-exclusive pool, lounge, bar, and cabanas for the ultimate in relaxation. Social dining options and outdoor patio spaces can be booked for private events.

Visa-o1 {1680 Michigan Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.397.8189}
Tucked in a tiny corner of an office building, Visa-O1 is the epitome of a hidden gem; this mouthwatering pizza place is well worth the hunt. The concept behind this modern, trendy spot is the O1 visa itself—reserved for “individuals with extraordinary ability.” In this case, Visa-O1 is extraordinarily able to make salads and, of course, pizza like the Star Luca, a star-shaped pizza covered in pepperoni, mozzarella, San Marzano tomato sauce, and the star feature—a crust filled with ricotta cheese. After all that savory delight, satisfy your sweet tooth with Visa-O1’s sought-after Nutella Pizza. Do yourself a favor and get to this extraordinary spot.

La Boulangerie {20475 Biscayne Boulevard, Aventura; 305.974.4634} and {1242 Coral Way, Miami; 305.858.1080}
Café enthusiasts of Miami, you are in luck. La Boulangerie, Key Biscayne’s fabulously French bakery and café, recently opened new locations in Aventura and on Coral Way, bringing European-inspired pastries and freshly brewed coffee to two more neighborhoods. Guests can sip on a latte and nibble on a Guava and Cream Cheese Croissant while taking in La Boulangerie’s bright and airy interiors. With gourmet sandwiches such as Prime Roast Beef with marinated artichoke and Parmesan cheese, these cafés are not only for breakfast lovers, but anyone with a craving for French fare. C’est magnifique!

9beach

9Beach Fusion Kitchen & Lounge Bar {1628 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.717.7174}
The glamourous beaches of Tel Aviv and the hard rock opulence of Camden, London recently came together for a dining and nightlife experience like no other in South Beach. Opened in July, 9beach fusion kitchen & lounge bar is the first American venture from 9beach Group, whose successes hail from Israel and London. Explore the spacious indoor escape and the 5,000-square-foot outdoor lounge as you soak in live music and nightly DJs, carefully crafted cocktails, and artfully presented Mediterranean fare. Cocktails like the Raspberry Ginger Collins and Coco Nib Old Fashioned beckon for a midday chill or late-night festivities. Expect ornate lion heads, grand chandeliers, and rock lyrics on the walls—all illuminated by Miami sunset lighting. We can’t wait to see what the world of 9beach brings to South Beach.

TiramesU {101 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.532.4538}
The latest buzz in Miami Beach’s exploding South of Fifth neighborhood is the highly anticipated reopening of TiramesU, a South Beach staple for 27 years. The restaurant debuted in 1988 on Ocean Drive and later moved to a prime location on Lincoln Road, where it reigned for 17 years. The Italian restaurant caused a stir when it closed its doors in April of last year, announcing that it would soon reopen in the SoFi district. And now, after a seemingly endless hiatus, the time has finally come for it to reemerge— bigger and better than ever. Since the Lincoln Road location closing, Chef Fabrizio Pintus has traveled throughout Italy, immersing himself in some of the best and most popular kitchens in the Lombardy region. He will offer a new and improved menu featuring the same authentic Italian flavors with a fun, contemporary twist.