Francophiles delight! George-Eric Farge is bringing his bistro concept to Midtown (3404 N. Miami Avenue), and although opening day is a bit far off (June), we're already looking forward to drinking copious amount of red wine upstairs. You see, this restaurant is going to be two stories, the upstairs "Loft" encompassing a lounge aesthetic with a bar and music, while downstairs, a more refined vibe will define the actual dining room.
This third installment of George's adds to existing locations in South Miami and the Grove, which are both casual interpretations of the classic brasserie. The menu is still in the works, but if it's going upscale, we have to
presume that the theme will be more true to form, unlike the
current offerings at George's on Sunset, which tries to be everything to
everyone (the "short rib barbecue pizza" comes to mind, not so Frenchified).
Obviously Midtown is exploding with oodles of 'scene,' but is the neighborhood truly ready for high-end French?
It would seem Midtown could support the fast casual business; it more than quadruples the count of traditional brick and mortar establishments. Guess George is counting on locals to stick around rather than head over to the posh Design District for dinner. But by June, there could be, what, five new restaurants opening in Wynwood?
I wonder if the growing competition for dining dollars will pit these developing areas against each other. One thing is certain, SoBe is starting to look way old school.
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