Gibraltar's loss is the Villa's gain: Jeff O'Neill has been selected as the new executive chef of Barton G's elegant restaurant in Casa Casuarina. O'Neill opened Gibraltar last January and earned raves for his Mediterranean fare there. His background includes six years of work in the kitchen of Daniel Boulud and three years with Eric Ripert at Le Bernardin. Locals might know him from his stints at L'Escalier at the Breakers in Palm Beach and six more years at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club.
"I'm thrilled about it," O'Neill said of his move to the Villa. "Barton G. and the company are the best of the best. The Villa is a unique opportunity for me to offer that above and beyond sophisticated and opulent experience. That's who I am and what I am. I see myself as helping to create an unparalleled dining experience."
With O'Neill's talents, Barton's flair, and the Villa's style, this should be a great one.
The Villa by Barton G.
1116 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach
305-576-8003