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There’s a storm a-brewin’ at the Blue Piano, which has been the go-to spot in Buena Vista for daily live music and Chef Cesar’s pork-laden haute stoner food.
Seems the power couple of (former Short Order blogger) Aniece Meinhold and Cesar Zapata, who have become the face of the restaurant, will be parting ways with the BP, citing “fundamental differences of opinion and philosophy.”
Originally hired to consult on the opening of the Blue Piano, Cesar and Aniece were soon brought in as partners. Running the day-to-day operations of the restaurant, Cesar implemented a unique menu of small plates, while Aniece curated the wine list and ran the front-of-house. Before BP, the couple worked at multiple restaurants in Miami both in the back and front-of-house, including Karu & Y and Fratelli Lyon.
It will be interesting to see the direction that BP takes. With a great rotating live-music selection (our favorite was Tuesday nights with Big Poppa E), expansive beer and wine selection, and crowd-pleasing food, it has been a great place to hang out in this rapidly-changing neighborhood. Will the remaining partners keep the same concept and Chef Cesar’s menu, or are changes afoot at this tiny spot on NE Second Avenue?
Meinhold remains amicable, saying “like a great love affair, you love hard and you fight hard as well. The Blue Piano was a great experience for all involved.”
What does the future hold for this dynamic culinary duo? Meinhold says “a number of new projects have presented themselves,” so expect to see them in a new venture very soon.
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