Since 1939, Gulfstream Park has been South Florida’s ultimate destination for horse racing. And, for the most part, that was the only reason that people came to the area. But this has all changed in recent years, thanks to the continuous evolution of the Village of Gulfstream Park, an open-air, family-friendly shopping and entertainment complex that surrounds the racetrack. Such improvements cater to a much more sophisticated and diverse demographic of visitors and locals alike.

Among the recent additions to the park, which includes high-end retailers such as Crate & Barrel and Bang & Olufsen, is Adena Grill {900 Silks Run, Hallandale Beach; 954.464.2333}, a fine-dining steakhouse and wine bar that is quickly becoming a culinary destination in its own right.

Upon entering, we were immediately blown away by the impeccable décor. The elegant main dining room has a calming lavender color palette, with walls that are adorned with beautifully painted murals and shimmering chandeliers that hang from above.

Cocktail with wall mural in background

Once seated, we were presented with our tasting menu for the evening, along with the regular menu and wine list. In addition, we were presented with an interactive version of the menu, which was loaded on a mini tablet, where we could browse menu items, learn more about the ingredients of dishes, see photos, and get in-depth information about the plethora of wines on offer, from their flavor profiles to the wine regions from which they came. The tablet also had links to the several mobile betting apps, further exemplifying the steps that Gulfstream Park is taking in an effort to attract a more chic and modern clientele through all of its outlets.

Interactive iPad menu

At the helm of the restaurant is Chef Giovanni Arias, formerly of Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa Miami Beach, who brings 22 years of experience and passion to Adena Grill’s kitchen. Chef Arias’ dedication to clean, healthful, and flavorful dishes perfectly complements the values of Adena Farms, from which the restaurant sources all of its produce and meat. Adena Farms is Frank Stronarch’s family-owned, 95,000-acre farm in Ocala, Florida, where animals are raised free from stress, hormones, antibiotics, and GMOs.

Left: Tomato & Avocado Salad; Right: Burrata & Strawberry

We were lucky in that we got to sample the restaurant’s most popular dishes, the first of which were the unbelievably fresh Tomato and Avocado Salad and the Burrata and Strawberry appetizers.

Gnocchi Mac & Cheese Skillet

The meal continued with the Gnocchi Mac and Cheese, a sizzling, gooey skillet of housemade gnocchi with Parmesan cream sauce, bacon, and brown butter breadcrumbs topped with potato skin crisps, and the Roasted Bone Marrow, an adventurous dining surprise served with parsley and caramelized onion jam, which are meant to be placed on top of a crostini with the marrow before digging in. This interesting flavor combination was unlike anything we’d ever tasted—and we’ve tried a LOT of dishes!

Roasted Bone Marrow

For our main course, we were delighted with the 14-ounce Adena Strip and the Organic Roasted Chicken. If you think that you can’t taste the difference in meat that is raised the natural way (as Adena’s is), then you are severely mistaken. The dishes oozed with natural flavors and weren’t masked by extra spices or unnecessary ingredients.

Main courses: Adena Strip, Roasted Chicken, with side of Celeriac Purée

And, finally, for dessert, we tasted the Crème Brûlée and the signature Myers’s & Breyers: Vanilla ice cream served with berries and topped with Myers’s rum—a sensational finish to an exquisite four-course meal.

Left: Crème Brûlee; Right: Myers’s & Breyers

The incredible ambience, attentive service, and delicious food at Adena Grill made for a remarkable evening. We’ll certainly be back to Gulfstream Park—but it definitely won’t be for the horses.

—Sherri Balefsky | Miami Editor