Miam Cafe Launches Weekend Dinner Service

Be it morning or afternoon, Miam, a café nestled inside the landmark black-and-white-striped Wynwood Building, is busy. The eatery specializes in small, hearty plates, as well as sandwiches, pastries, and coffee, becoming the neighborhood's go-to spot for a quick bite or pseudo workplace. 

However, at night, the café goes dark and quiet. Executive chef James Seyba wants that to change.

"Most people know us as a coffee shop," he says, "and we pride ourselves at being really good at coffee. But we know how to cook too, and we have a beautiful restaurant we want to take advantage of."

Seyba, who previously worked at the Broken Shaker, 27 Restaurant & Bar, and Centro Taco, wants to showcase Miam as more than just a shop that peddles java and sweets. 

"It's kind of the opposite of what we've always been about," he laughs. "Most restaurants are open for lunch and dinner, and then brunch on Sundays. We have breakfast and brunch all week long, and now we're offering weekend-only dinner service." 

Beginning the first weekend of October, Miam will offer a small bistro-style dinner menu. Though dishes will be à la carte, Seyba says the menu will most likely morph into a prix-fixe offering similar to what diners can find during Miami Spice. Plates will remain the same both Friday and Saturday but will change for the following weekend.

"There won't be any stuffiness or need for reservations," he says. "It's not over-the-top. You don't have to have the pressure of a waiter waiting on you for hours, but we'll still take good care of you. And I think we cook 90 percent better than other places."

On September 10, Seyba offered a trial run of dinner service. Plates varied, from prosciutto and fig pizzetta topped with caramelized onions, ricotta, and arugula ($12) to slow-roasted pork shoulder served with a shaved fennel salad and pepitas ($20) and king oyster mushroom risotto drizzled with lemon and thyme ($16).
Seyba says diners can expect similar dishes in the future, all brimming with fresh, local, and homemade ingredients. There will be handcrafted pastries and desserts at night too, similar to what the café offers in the daytime.

Though Miam doesn't have a liquor license, guests can snag beer and wine at the eatery. Seyba says various drink specials and pairings are in the works.

"If you want to come in and have a bowl of mussels, you can," the chef says. "You can also come in to have a small plate and a glass of wine with a date. Or if you just want a coffee and a pastry at 9 p.m., you can do that too."

Dinner will be offered Friday and Saturday from 6 to 10 p.m. For more information, visit Miam Café's Facebook page.

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