Byblos to Open July 17 at Royal Palm South Beach

Byblos Restaurant and Lounge has set an opening date. The Eastern Mediterranean restaurant will open its doors on Friday, July 17 at 1545 Collins Ave., adjacent to the Royal Palm South Beach Miami hotel.  The 200-seat restaurant, which originated in Toronto, will be helmed by executive chef Stuart Cameron. The…

Pubbelly Boys Closing L’echon Brasserie

The Pubbelly Boys are closing L’echon Brasserie as of today. The Miami New Times learned of the closing in an email that contained the following brief statement: As of July 1, 2015, “L’echon Brasserie”, a French concept developed by The Pubbelly Restaurant Group, will no longer operate at the Hilton…

Miami’s June 2015 Restaurant Openings and Closings

June was one of the most active months this year regarding Miami restaurant openings and closings. Notable openings include La Moderna straight from Roma; Tantalize supper club; and Chef Klime Kovaceski’s Crust.  Although technically open for a few months, Tom Colicchio’s Beachcraft finally started serving dinner, and Kylie Jenner helped open…

Golden Fig to Open at Former OTC Space

When Michael Sullivan announced the closing of his successful gastropub, OTC, less than a month ago, Miami was saddened and confused. After all, since the restaurant’s opening in 2012, it has consistently turned out unfussy, delicious food paired with an interesting and varied selection of beers.  Sullivan simply gave the…

The Story Behind the Ousting of Piripi Chef Najat Kaanache, Part 2

The way Paola Fernández remembers it, she arrived in Miami from Argentina last fall after being promised work alongside famous chef Najat Kaanache in preparation for the opening of a high-end Coral Gables restaurant. Instead, she was forced to iron, prepare home meals, and care for a difficult 8-year-old. “For…

Kendall Gastropub Barley Can’t Catch a Break

Jorgie Ramos’ years in the restaurant business have been hell. Problems began in 2008, when the real-estate market collapsed, forcing him and his father Jorge to sell off several houses they were planning to fix up and resell. “I lost $4 million or $5 million pretty much overnight,” the 33-year-old…

Station 5 Table & Bar: Food That Tells a Tale

Julia Ning dredges and fries juicy chicken thighs in a wispy blend of cornstarch, tapioca starch, and turmeric. The result is gluten-free and healthful. But that’s not why the 33-year-old does it. She remembers that it once prepared her and now-shuttered Khong River House chef Sudarat Loasupho for long days…

Vice City Bean: New Coffeehouse Coming South of Wynwood

Miami’s Arts & Entertainment District is in a major transition. The area between Downtown and Wynwood is in a growth phase complete with loft-style apartment projects, and community market, and the 37-story Canvas condo project being planned. The neighborhood also has a vibrant calendar of events with farmers’ markets, outdoor…

Wapo Taco to Open in Coral Gables

Hallandale’s Wapo Taco is growing with the opening of a second location in Coral Gables at 2526 Ponce De Leon Blvd. The 80-seat,  2,000 sq. ft. space is scheduled to open late summer and will feature the same decor as the original location with a large tiled bar, pleasant modern seating,…

Pan con Lechón Thrives at the Butcher Shop in Palmetto Bay

Angel Torres glances at his meat case in dismay. “It just isn’t like it was in the old day anymore,” he says, presiding over whole flap steaks, smoked salmon sides, and vacuum-sealed bags of oxtail. Once, decades ago, Torres would rise before 5 a.m. to get to the now-defunct (and…

Paulie Gee’s Will Bring Brooklyn to Miami

Later this year, the burgeoning 79th Street District, which already includes local favorites like Mina’s, Tap 79, and Cake Thai, will become home to a new branch of Paulie Gee’s, the Brooklyn pizzeria borne from one man’s boredom with his life as an IT tech. Jason Weisberg is owner and…

Instacart, Grocery Delivery App, Expands to North Miami-Dade

Two months ago, grocery delivery service Instacart launched in the southern part of Miami-Dade with a limited delivery area that includes Downtown, Coral Gables, West Miami, and Miami Beach. The service, which provides on-demand delivery of items from a selection of retailers for a nominal fee, originally launched in San…

The Story Behind the Ousting of Piripi Chef Najat Kaanache, Part 1

By 6 p.m. on a recent Saturday, Piripi, the new Spanish/Basque restaurant in Coral Gables’ Village of Merrick Park, is coming to life. Just inside the glass front door, two young, attractive hostesses smile as they ask arriving diners whether they prefer indoor or outdoor seating. Behind the sleek concrete…