Tap 42 to Open in Midtown Miami at Former Apeiro Kitchen Space

It looks like Tap 42 is doubling down on Miami.  

The Fort Lauderdale-based restaurant, named for its dozens of beer taps, is opening a second Miami-area location at the former Apeiro Kitchen & Bar space in midtown Miami (3252 NE First Ave.). The 6,150-square-foot restaurant is expected to open as early as this November, according to Alex Rudolph, Tap 42's partner and vice president of development.

This will be the fourth Tap 42 location. In addition to the flagship in Fort Lauderdale, there's a Boca Raton restauarant. Most recently, the concept expanded to Coral Gables less than two months ago.

Rudolph, who lives in midtown, says he and his team have been eyeing that particular location for a while. "For the most part, we're all Miami guys. I'd walk past this site every day. We knew this was the spot we wanted." 

Tap 42 is also perfectly situated near Wynwood and the epicenter of Miami's beer scene. "I think it fits perfectly into the neighborhood," Rudolph says. "We have a great relationship with all the breweries in Wynwood." The restaurant executive is also quick to point out there's more to Tap 42 than beer. "While the name denotes a craft beer bar, we're more than that. It's an awesome place to have approachable food and cocktails. Our vibe fits into this evolving Miami area."
Andrew Balick, who Miamians know from DiLido Beach Club at the Ritz-Carlton South Beach, is in charge of the menu, and Page Nash will create the cocktail program. "Everything culinary is run by Andrew. We let him run the show," Rudolph adds. Balick, who is the head chef for all of the locations, will likely spend most of his time in Miami initially to make sure the new location is up to speed.

The midtown Tap 42 will boast some cool, unique features, according to Rudolph. "There's going to be an indoor/outdoor bar that will open up. We're going to have a pretty extensive patio and a beer garden. This is something the midtown area has been missing."

Rudolph says that even though the entire interior of the space will undergo renovation, he's expecting a November 2016 opening date, leaving plenty of wiggle room to begin serving before Art Basel arrives. "One hundred percent, that is our goal, and we are going to do everything in our power to make that happen."