Beaker & Gray, the Wynwood restaurant and bar, opens today, just in time for Art Basel.
The self-described eatery, bar room and purlieu soft opens tonight at 5 p.m. for drinks and dinner. The restaurant, which officially opens next week, will offer a limited food menu and about eight of its 15 specialty cocktails will be featured (although bartenders can make any drink you like, obviously).
The 120-seat establishment, located at 2637 N. Miami Ave., sees chef Brian Nasajon and bartender Ben Potts partnering up for a well-rounded menu of cuisine and cocktails.
Nasajon has worked at New York City's Lure Fishbar and Wish Miami Beach and most recently served as executive chef at SushiSamba. Potts is best known for his work at Blackbird Ordinary and the Broken Shaker.
The 3,600-square-foot space, formerly an ice factory, is decorated with aged brick walls, industrial concrete floors, and exposed beam ceilings. The restaurant features indoor and outdoor seating. A 13-seat marble bar will serve as an informal gathering spot. The space, designed by Saladino Design Studios, also offers balcony seating. Finally, the restaurant is equipped with its own parking lot for 20 cars.
The menu is divided into "bites," "colds," "smalls," and "not so small." It includes churros with shrimp, chorizo, and ginger ($9); a sandwichito of plantain brioche, pork belly, and watermelon rind ($10); colorful cauliflower with bacon, queso fresco, and yuzu ($14); and glass noodles with green papaya, chayote, and Valencia peanut ($13). Larger dishes include mussels and clams with coconut, chorizo, saffron ($27); a ribeye with fennel, leek, and daikon ($36); and piggy — a mofongo with mustard seed and pineapple ($26).
If you're into cocktails, start the evening with the Pino no Quina, a lower-alcohol drink of Pinot Grigio, the French aperitif Bonal, and tarragon ($9), before working your way to drinks like the Billy Club, ade with Monkey Shoulder Scotch whisky, Solerno blood orange, Drambuie, and Lillet Blanc ($14) or the Presidente Negro with coffee-infused Bacardi 8, Cardamaro, and Cointreau Noir ($13). Fans of Irish Coffee should try the Caife Fuar, a riff on the classic cold-weather comforter with Tullamore Sew, Argyle cold brew, and cardamom hand-whipped cream ($10). If you're looking for something refreshing, the Greehouse with The Botanist gin, green chartreuse, basil, and celery soda ($13) or the Halliwell with Stolichnaya vodka, Cocchi Americano rosa, ginger, strawberry, and mint ($12) are good choices.
Beaker & Gray is open tonight, November 30, through December 2 from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. On December 3, the restaurant will open from noon to 3 a.m. Normal operating hours are Sunday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. Reservations can be made by calling 305-699-2637 or through resy.com.