Mignonette Expanding to North Miami Beach’s Former Gourmet Diner

By year’s end the polished steel Biscayne Boulevard eatery that once served steak-frites and butter-drenched escargots will reopen as Mignonette’s second location offering nearly a dozen oysters alongside a menu of several simply pan roasted fish and a handful of more gussied up offerings.  The first Mignonette opened in Edgewater late…

The Five Most Shocking Restaurant Closings of 2016 So Far

Like any large city, Miami’s restaurant scene is a series of hellos and goodbyes. We laud a restaurant’s entry into the fray and mourn the loss of favorite eateries when they shutter. But some closings cut deeper than others. It could be that remarkable sandwich we’ll miss or the fact…

Single-Origin Coffees Are All the Rage in Miami

How do you take your coffee? Light and sweet? A drop of cream? Perhaps with some sort of nut-based so-called milk or whatever faux dairy is in fashion? All of that’s fine for the mass-produced hodgepodge of grounds that come off supermarket shelves or even a higher-end cappuccino or cortado,…

Miami Diners Steal Restaurants’ Signature Swag

Since opening in late 2014, 27 Restaurant & Bar has served its food on plates that look as if they were culled from a grandmother’s house, a kitschy tourist attraction, or a bastion of fine dining. Many dishes come from thrift shops in Miami and beyond. “Everyone [working here] has…

Instagram and Pastry Genius Antonio Bachour Builds an Empire

Time stops when Antonio Bachour steps into his Brickell bakery. It’s just before 9 a.m., and the din of construction and rush-hour traffic is audible even inside. A line of leggy, pencil-skirted women and suited men with strong jaws and pocket squares stretches across the dining room, past the ivory,…

September 2016 Miami Restaurant Openings and Closings

September is traditionally a slow month for restaurants in Miami. Despite a Zika scare, however, Miami restaurants held their own — possibly due to Miami Spice, Wynwood’s Love for Locals campaign as promotional boosts.  Thankfully, the month’s openings were robust and closings were nil. Notable openings include two long-awaited eateries…

The Five Most Epic Desserts in Miami

Miami isn’t just good at raising real estate prices. The Magic City will also happily raise the number on your waistline with a plenitude of dazzling desserts too good to pass up at the end—or beginning—of each meal. But there are some sweet treats that stand taller than the rest…

The Five Most Anticipated Miami Restaurants Announced in September

It’s safe to say that Miami had a rough summer. Between an insane heat index and the threat of Zika looming over Wynwood and South Beach, not many restaurants opened during our historical slow months.  In September, however, Miami started to come back from its doldrums. Wynwood is alive and…

Is Chef Alex Chang Planning a California Restaurant?

In July, chef Alex Chang departed from Vagabond Restaurant & Bar, with the restaurant rebranding itself as Vagabond Kitchen & Bar. Chang went on to consult at River Yacht Club for its rotating chef program. Now, the driven 27 year old Chef is already working on a new project and…

The Five Best Sunday Brunches in Coral Gables

Nicknamed the “City Beautiful,” Coral Gables is one of South Florida’s oldest and most historic areas, making it a pro at offering great Sunday brunches. Known for its lush, tree-lined avenues; mighty, opulent buildings; winding roadways; and lots of green space, the city is celebrated for its diverse culinary landscape too…

Velvet Creme Doughnuts Coming to Calle Ocho

It’s been almost a year since Velvet Creme, an iconic Miami doughnut shop, announced its reopening after a 15 year hiatus. On September 28, Miami’s first doughnut shop confirmed it is still in the process of reviving its age-old brand. But now, its location will be housed at 1555 SW 8th Street…

Ferran Adria on Eggs, Beef, and the World’s Greatest Threat

This year marked the second time Ferran Adrià, often called the world’s greatest chef after more than two decades leading Spain’s wildly creative elBulli, visited Miami for a gastronomy congress hosted by Barcelona-based brewery Estrella Damm.  Yet his much anticipated, hour long talk left many looks bored. Eyes darted back…

Justin Smillie Brings Upland to Cypress Tavern for One Day

When Stephen Starr and chef Justin Smillie bring New York City’s Upland to South Beach this fall (49 Collins Ave.), Miamians will be able to enjoy the chef’s seasonal, California cuisine. The New York iteration of the restaurant was highly recommended in a two-star review by New York Times’ Pete Wells, who…