We noted the opening of some 100-plus restaurants this past year; only half that number was on our "closed" list. There might be more of the latter: PR firms rarely trumpet the shuttering of businesses.
It was, overall, a great time to be a diner in Miami (you can read why in my yearly wrapup). So many fine new chefs and so many cool new eateries -- and even a slight sense of sophistication -- are seeping into our scene.
Better news: 2012 is shaping up to be a blockbuster season, and, quite frankly, things will only get better (barring unforeseen circumstances, like, say, Europe crashing and dragging the U.S. economy with it or Romney becoming prez and issuing a decree that U.S. restaurants can serve foods that only Mormons like). (Pass the mayo!)
So here, then, is a nostalgic look back at the restaurants that joined us and the ones that left in 2011:
Openings
January
Backlot Wine Bar and Lounge, 3015 Grand Ave. 3rd Floor, Coconut Grove
100 Montaditos, 3252 NE 1 Avenue, #104, Midtown
Cavatelli Italian Trattoria, 1246 Coral Way, Coral Gables
Fado Irish Pub, 900 South Miami Avenue, Miami
Fiamma Gastronomia Italiana, 224 Espanola Way, Miami Beach
Green Table Artisan Kitchen & Bistro, 4702 S Le Jeune Road, Coral Gables
Pega Grill, 15 E. Flagler Street, Miami
Tagliatelle , 124 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach
The Burgundy Room, 3015 Grand Avenue #250, Coconut Grove
Yogurbella Midtown Miami, 3401 North Miami Avenue, Suite 122
El Sitio, 3480 Main Highway, Coconut Grove
Copper Chimney, 18090 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles Beach
February
Andalus, 35 NE 40 St., Miami
Sake Blue Asian Kitchen & Bar, 225 Altara Avenue, Coral Gables
Cafe L'Attico, 17100 Collins Ave., Sunny Isles
The Dining Room, 413 Washington Ave., Miami Beach
Route 9, 1915 Ponce de Leon, Coral Gables
Forno 52, 17225 S. Dixie Hwy., Palmetto Bay
I Love Pizza, 7501 Collins Ave., Miami Beach
March
Makoto, 9700 Collins Ave., Ste. 107, Bal Harbour
Kosta, 1250 S. Miami Ave., Miami
Cevichery Restobar, 448 Española Way, Miami Beach
Vice Lounge, 330 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach
Hiro's Yakko-San, 3881 NE 163 St., North Miami Beach (moved from old location at 17040-46 W. Dixie Hwy.)
April
Crumb on Parchment, 3930 NE 2nd Avenue, Design District
La Sandwicherie, 34 SW 8th Street, Miami
Lester's, 2519 NW 2nd Avenue, Wynwood
Lizarran, 65 Alhambra Plaza, Coral Gables
Lou Lou, 638 South Miami Avenue, Miami
The Local Craft Food & Drink, 150 Giralda Avenue, Coral Gables
Mint Leaf, 1059/1063 SE 1st Avenue, Miami
Peacock Garden Café, 889 McFarlane Road, Coconut Grove
Pied a Terre, 1701 James Avenue, Miami Beach
Sweet Point Bakery & Café, 3252 NE 1st Ave suite 108 D, Miami
May
CG Burgers, 8525 Mills Drive, Kendall
Catharsis, 1644 SW 8th Street, Little Havana
Cinco Cantina & Tequila Bar, 358 San Lorenzo Avenue, Coral Gables
Damn Good Burger, 20 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami
El Vato Tequila & Taco Bar, 1010 South Miami Avenue, Miami
Gelato Nostro, 1111 SW 1st Avenue, Miami
Haven Gastro-Lounge, 1237 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach
Il Corso Trattoria, 166 Giralda Avenue, Coral Gables
Little Lotus, 22 NE 1st Street, Suite 107, Miami
Mi Vida Café, 7244 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami
Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co., 1119 Fifth Street, Miami Beach
Ozzi Sushi Bar, 200 SE First Street, Miami
Pieducks, 3500 North Miami Avenue, Miami (delivery only)
Tapas y Tintos, 3535 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami
Vizcaya Café, 3251 S Miami Avenue, Miami
Who @ 67 St Bar & Grill, 6708 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami
June
5 Napkin Burger, 455 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach
BGR The Burger Joint, 232 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables
City Hall, 2004 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami
Duffy's Sports Grill, 3969 NE 163rd Street, North Miami Beach
Eternity Coffee Roasters, 117 SE 2nd Avenue, Miami
Kane Steakhouse, 431 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach
Kukaramakara, 1250 South Miami Avenue, Miami
Maje Café, 1110 Brickell, Suite. 102, Miami
Mister Collins, 10295 Collins Avenue, Bal Harbour
Muscle Maker Grill, 3250 NE 1st Avenue, Suite 110, Midtown
Nemesis Urban Bistro, 1035 North Miami Avenue, Unit 103, Miami
Panther Coffee, 2390 NW 2nd Avenue, Wynwood
Tudor House, 1111 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach
Rice House of Kabob, 50 SW 10th Street, Miami
July
Giraffas, 1821 NE 123rd Street, North Miami
La Cigale, 7281 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami
Morgans on the Beach, 1787 Purdy Avenue, Miami Beach
Palau Café, 1250 S Miami Avenue #107, Miami
Vic and Angelo's, 150 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach
August
Bryan In The Kitchen 106 NE Second Ave., Miami
Chow Down Grill 920 Alton Rd., Miami Beach
Daddy's Soul Food 637 Washington Ave., Miami Beach
Egg & Dart 4029 N. Miami Ave., Miami
Florette Cafe 540 Washington Ave., Miami Beach
Shore Club Terrace 1901 Collins Ave., Miami Beach
September
Harry's Pizzeria 3918 N Miami Ave., Miami
Open Kitchen 1071 95th St., Bay Harbor
Phuc Yea! 19 SE 2nd Ave., Miami
Choices Vegan Cafe 379 SW 15th Rd., Miami
Kork Wine and Cheese 2 S Miami Ave., Miami
October
Yardbird Southern Table & Bar, 1600 Lenox Ave., Miami Beach
Pubbelly Sushi, 1424 20th St., Miami Beach
Barceloneta, 1400 20th St., Miami Beach
Flame Caffe & Grill, 447 Española Way, Miami Beach
Oh! Sushi, 9036 NW 25 St., Doral
Banana & Leaf, 234 NE 3rd St., Miami
Hibachi, 45 NE 3rd Ave., Miami
Ricochet 3250 NE 1st Ave., Miami
Massimo's Brickell Bridge, 500 Brickell Ave., Miami
November
Edge, Steak & Bar, 1435 Brickell Ave., Miami
Hogzilla's Inspired Barbecue, 1555 Washington Ave., Miami Beach
The Dutch, 2201 Collins Ave., Miami Beach
Tuyo, 415 NE 2nd Ave., Miami
December
Sakaya Kitchen Downtown, 125 SE 3rd Ave., Miami
Rusty Pelican (re-opening), 3201 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne
Philippe by Philippe Chow, 36-40 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach
The MexZican Gourmet, 5904 S. Dixie Hwy., South Miami
Lokal, 3190 Commodore Plz., Miami
100 Montaditos, 1504 Washington Ave., Miami Beach
SmashBurger, 14730 Biscayne Blvd., Miami
Villa Mayfair Restaurant & Lounge, 2901 Florida Ave., Miami
The Lucky Clover, 1111 SW 1st Ave., Miami
Mare Nostrum Restaurant, 1111 SW 1st Ave., Miami
The Corner, 1035 N.Miami Ave., Miami
Sho Room Karaoke and Sushi, 500 S. Pointe Dr., Miami Beach
Salumeria 104, 3451 NE 2nd Ave., Miami
Pearl Restaurant & Chanpagne Lounge, 1 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach
Closings
January
Kantauri , 5132 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami
Picnic ,1400 20th Street, Miami Beach
Sports Exchange, 45 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables
February
D. Rodriguez Cuba, 956 Washington Ave., Miami Beach
Pizza Fusion, 14815 Biscayne Blvd., North Miami
Pizza Volante, 3918 N. Miami Ave., Miami
The Bay, 1601 79th Street Cswy., North Bay Village
March
Indochine, 638 S. Miami Ave., Miami
Fatburger, 232 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables
The Water Club, 3969 NE 163rd St., North Miami Beach
April
Abokado, 900 South Miami Avenue, Miami
Chef Allen's, 19088 NE 29 Avenue, Aventura
Miss Yip, 1661 Meridian Avenue, Miami Beach (relocated to 437 Lincoln Road; currently open for take-out and delivery)
Sake Blue Asian Kitchen & Bar, 225 Altara Street, Coral Gables
Vino e Olio, 139 NE 39 Street, Design District
May
Joe Allen, 1787 Purdy Avenue, Miami Beach
Sara's, 2214 NE 123rd Street, North Miami
Le Café Pop, 3425 Main Highway, Coconut Grove
The French Bakery, 1023 Kane Concourse, Bay Harbor Islands
World Resources Café, 719 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach
July
American Noodle Bar, 6730 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami
Acqua, 1435 Brickell Avenue, Miami
Philippe, 2305 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach (relocating to 36-40 Ocean Drive, where Taverna Opa South Beach currently operates)
August
Boiler House 97 SW 8th St., Miami
Brickell Bridge Bistro & Bar 500 Brickell Ave., Miami
Solea 2201 Collins Ave., Miami Beach
Ago at the Shore Club 1901 Collins Ave., Miami Beach
Tacontento 715 Lincoln Lane, Miami Beach
Nany's Cafe 710 Washington Ave., Miami Beach
Emeril's Miami Beach 1601 Collins Ave., Miami Beach
Pesen's Breads & Panini 106 NE Second Ave., Miami
Bar-B-Q Beach
Scorch Grill House
Norman's 180
September
Blue Door Fish
El Rancho Grande
Sweet Times
October
Blue Door Fish
El Rancho Grande
Sweet Times
November
HalfMoon Empanadas, South Beach (downtown location still open)
Kane Steakhouse
Miami Prime Grill
Tokyo Bowl
Phuc Yea!
December
Naoe: Closed in Sunny Isles, but will reopen on Brickell Key
Phuc Yea!
Lil' Anthony's Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria
Follow Short Order on Facebook and Twitter @Short_Order.
