The lawsuit between Seasalt and Pepper owners has been settled, with partner Carlos Miranda taking sole charge of the restaurant. It also seems that Miranda is already moving forward with plans for an expansion of the tony seafood restaurant.
Modern Garden at Seasalt and Pepper is scheduled to open this fall. The intimate restaurant and lounge, adjacent to Seasalt and Pepper, will seat about 60 people indoors, with patio seating for an additional three dozen patrons. The menu, still in the works, will feature mostly crudos and cold dishes. The most distinctive feature will be two tree sculptures that define the space.
See also: Feuding Seasalt and Pepper Owners Close to Buyout Deal
The announcement of Modern Garden comes at the heels of lawsuit settlement between the two original Seasalt and Pepper partners. According to the Daily Business Review, Carlos Miranda takes control of Seasalt and Pepper in exchange for an undisclosed sum of money. A joint motion to dismiss the lawsuit was filed in Miami-Dade Circuit Court by the restaurant's partners Stephane Dupoux and Carlos Miranda. Although the exact terms of the settlement have not been disclosed, it's reported to be "over six figures."
Seasalt and Pepper opened late last year, and quickly became the go-to spot for celebrity sightings with Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, Ryan Phillippe, and Beyoncé some of the big names to dine at the chic riverfront eatery. The restaurant was named Best Waterfront Restaurant in 2014 by Miami New Times.
With all the accolades and press, things weren't as they seemed behind the line, with restaurant partner Stephane Dupoux filing a lawsuit against Carlos Miranda, claiming he was barred from restaurant management duties. The lawsuit sought the dissolution of Hemingway's Warehouse, the corporate owner, as well as a custodian to handle the business affairs of the restaurant, which Dupoux claimed brought in upward of $300,000 a week.
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