If you’ve ever crossed over the bridge from Brickell Avenue into downtown, then you’ve certainly passed by db Bistro Moderne {255 Biscayne Boulevard Way, Miami; 305.421.8800}. But because of its unpretentious facade, you might have missed it. Those in-the-know know that on the ground floor of the luxe JW Marriott Marquis Miami is where Chef Daniel Boulud’s only South Florida restaurant finds its home. DiningOut recently had the opportunity to dine at this trés chic French eatery with the added bonus of spending some time chatting with Executive Chef Jason Pringle.

Our first exposure to the restaurant was via the bar and lounge area, which was abuzz for happy hour (which takes place Monday-Friday 5-8pm). Young professionals and business execs find this casual haven to be the perfect spot for after-work drinks with friends or colleagues.

We were seated in the White Oak Dining Room, which features the same sophisticated vibe of db Bistro’s Manhattan and Singapore counterparts, but has been updated to reflect Miami’s tropical lifestyle. Designed by the internationally renowned firm Yabu Pushelberg, each distinct dining room (there are several, making this the perfect location for small groups and special events) feels as if it has been plucked directly from a hip SoHo establishment and pieced together to create one cohesive restaurant that’s worthy of serving up Boulud’s unrivaled cuisine.

We were soon greeted by Chef Pringle, a San Francisco native with over 13 years of culinary experience under his belt. Prior to making his way to Miami, he worked at Boulud’s Michelin-starred Café Boulud in New York City. Though humble and soft-spoken, Chef Pringle shared with us the nuances of the menu, which changes seasonally and features only the freshest, locally sourced ingredients. When prompted to select his favorite dish on the menu, he said coyly, “I wouldn’t NOT recommend anything.”

And so, our culinary journey began. To start, Chef Pringle sent out a trio of bite-sized appetizers, our favorite of which was the Tuna Crudo. Then came the first course: Florida Key Shrimp al Ajillo, local rock shrimp sautéed with butter and citrus, and the Heirloom Tomato Salad with arugula and fennel.

For our main course, we shared the Almond-Crusted Halibut (by far the standout dish of the evening), which is served with forbidden rice, orange emulsion, and bok choy, and the Spaghetti Chitarra, which was like a fettuccini served in a creamy citrus sauce. “I had a guest from Italy come in and said that we make excellent pasta for a French restaurant,” our server told us (who, by the way, was fantastic and beyond attentive).

Dessert was certainly a grand finale. In addition to being treated to an assortment of chocolates and macarons and a warm basket of madeleines (which we boxed up and took home for later), we shared the Crunchy Chocolate Bar. This unforgettable delight was prepared with a caramel-praline glaze, brownies, candied hazelnuts, and served with a toasted marshmallow ice cream.

Our only regret? That we didn’t try the famous db Burger, which we hear is an experience unto itself.

By Sherri Balefsky | Miami Editor