Michael Schwartz Opening Restaurant in Coconut Grove

Even before the first pizza comes out of the oven at Harry's second location, Michael Schwartz is doubling down on Coconut Grove.

The chef just signed a deal with the Related Group and Terra Group to open a restaurant at Park Grove (2701 S. Bayshore Dr.), a condominium development described as "the most expensive condo building in Coconut Grove, and maybe the most expensive building in the City of Miami," according to Curbed Miami. 

Schwartz's still-unnamed, 3,500-square-foot restaurant will be located at the busy corner of Tigertail Avenue and Mary Street. The chef hopes to capture the Grove's unique blend of rich historical value, gorgeous greenery, and artistic lifestyle in the restaurant. Boutique design firm Meyer Davis has been tapped to create a restaurant similar to Schwartz's Cypress Room but with a lush courtyard and secret garden.

Michael Schwartz sees the new projects in Coconut Grove as an indicator of a permanent upswing and is eager to be a part of the Grove's return to its rightful place as a unique place to live and play in Miami. "We feel the timing couldn't be better. We are in it for the long haul."

Though the restaurant sounds tony, Schwartz sees it as a neighborhood place. “It’s a really exciting time for Coconut Grove, and we feel lucky to be a part of what’s happening and look to the future with Park Grove. With everything coming up so fast around us, the stakes are super high to make sure to deliver a place our neighbors new and old can grow with, frequent and make their own."

While it seems like casual establishments like Lokal and Greenstreet are the restaurants that thrive in the neighborhood, Schwartz feels like Grovites are looking for an enhanced dining experience. "The restaurant will combine the elegance and sophistication of the Cypress Room in a more casual neighborhood environment. I think the Grove is ready for that."

The restaurant will also boast an additional 1,000 square feet of space for private events. In addition, the chef will be the exclusive in-house provider for Park Grove's catering, pool, and bar service. Condo owners can order catering for their boats docked at Grove marinas, and families can order boxed lunches to go. 

This is the chef's third project with Related. Other collaborations include restaurants at the SLS Hotel & Residences in Brickell, which is set to open summer 2016, and the Paraiso Bay Restaurant & Beach Club in Edgewater, scheduled for a 2017 opening.