Grab your plutonium, rev that engine to 88 mph, and hang on tight: Best of Miami 2015 is almost here! Here's a preview of one of the winners, but check out the entire issue when it hits miamnewstimes.com/bestof tomorrow and newsstands Thursday, June 18.
Niu Kitchen
134 NE Second Ave.
Miami 33132
786-542-5070
niukitchen.com
Niu Kitchen's plate-glass door is a portal from downtown to a land of tempranillo and mustard ice cream. Sometimes, when the place is packed, you have to stand with a glass of wine and a grumbling hobo a few steps away. But that's OK. You can admire what's to come. Inside, Niu is unlike anything in the area. Chef-partner Deme Lomas hails from Barcelona and brings with him the creativity that makes that city a jewel of Europe. The pocket-size space has played host to wahoo tartare ($16), house-made botifarra with white bean purée, and a dish called "ous" ($14) — where a pair of poached eggs is hidden in a bowl of potato foam crowned with crisped jamón ibérico and black truffle. After trying it, you'll never want a stale sandwich from a downtown café again.