Folks on South Beach will remember the James Royal Palm Hotel as the Royal Palm Hotel, which is what it was known as when it opened on Collins Avenue in 1939 and for decades after that. KSL Capital Partners purchased the property and are remodeling it into a James luxury hotel (there are two others, one in Chicago and one in New York).
Guests won't be checking in until late 2012, so talking about the hotel restaurant might be premature ... but we have it from a solid source that Abe & Arthur's, a New York City steak house (fittingly located in the Meatpacking District), will be the resident dining establishment.
Certified Black Angus steaks will come from Creekstone Farms. Expect cuts such as New York strip, tomahawk ribeye, and a bone-in lamb saddle. A&A in NYC also tenders tuna tartare tacos with red chili aïoli; roasted bone marrow with black garlic-onion marmalade; wood-grilled branzino along with other fish and poultry selections; and usual mac & cheese, creamed spinach, truffle-parmesan fries as sides. Signature dessert is Cookies and Cream Soufflé for $18 -- which might say more than we want to know about what's in store for us here. NYC starters are $13 to $19, entrees $28 to $36, steaks $42 to $78.
According to the EMM Group (the hospitality company behind the restaurant), Abe & Arthur's "evokes the nostalgic spirit of 1930s and 1940s New York City dining" -- which is brilliant, because nothing says "South Beach 2012" like a restaurant my Jewish grandparents would have enjoyed.
We're waiting to hear back with more details from the public relations firm handling the James -- although after that line about my grandparents, we may have to wait until late 2012.
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