Bakan soft-opened during Miami Art Week, serving up a limited menu. Today, the restaurant, offering authentic food from several regions in Mexico, opens officially.
The focal point of the space is the large indoor/outdoor bar lit by hanging basket lanterns and framed by large cacti. The entire scene is designed to make you feel as though you're in some chic-yet-minimalist desert home.
The restaurant is a partnership between Jaguar Hospitality Group (Peacock Garden Cafe, Jaguar, and Talavera) and Oscar Gavino, who owns restaurants in Mexico and Spain.
Gavino says he and his partners took many trips throughout Mexico to explore the flavors of the country. The result is a menu that's "a little more authentic," according to the restaurateur. He says the restaurant was built around the indoor/outdoor bar. "We created a cool place in Wynwood."
A wood-fired grill will turn out various meats and vegetables for the restaurant's
The restaurant will fly in ancient corn, grown for generations by four families in the Mexican highlands. The corn grows at an altitude of about 6,000 feet in volcanic soil dense with nutrients. The corn is ground in-house for the tortillas used in tacos and more.
Bakan will also feature about 500 different tequilas and mezcals. Choose one for the restaurant's specialty margarita made with fresh cilantro ($14) or a classic version of the favorite cocktail ($14).
Bakan. 2801 NW Second Ave., Miami; 786-542-9139; bakanwynwood.com. Open noon to midnight Sunday through Thursday, noon to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
