Swanky New Steakhouse to Open at Bal Harbour Shops

Just months after one of Bal Harbour Shops’s most beloved spots closed down, Le Zoo, the restaurant group is opening a brand new restaurant. Stephen Starr, the Philadelphia-born restaurateur behind some of Miami’s most talked-about dining rooms, will open Slim’s, a sleek new steakhouse that is set to open in spring 2026 at Bal Harbour Shops.

Slim’s will take over the original home of Makoto, Starr’s longtime Bal Harbour staple that relocated to a larger space in 2022. The new project trades sushi for steak, channeling midcentury elegance with a cinematic twist. It’s self-described as “an intimate hideaway of cool sophistication,” with leather banquettes, vintage murals, and rich textures.

The menu will center on steakhouse staples like prime rib, martinis, and other nods to a bygone era. Beyond that, no chef, designer, or exact opening date has been announced.

The $400 Million Man Behind It All

Starr, who got his start in Philadelphia’s nightclub scene, has built one of the largest independent restaurant groups in the country, Starr Restaurants. Known for his perfectionism and flair for drama, he’s been called a “creator” rather than a greeter, the type of owner who obsesses over playlists and lighting levels as much as what’s on the plate.

His empire now spans 43 restaurants across six cities. A recent New York Times profile described him as “the $400 million restaurant man,” noting that nine of his places rank among the country’s top-grossing independent spots. His impressive roster includes places like Pastis, Le Coucou, Buddakan, and Parc. Pastis Miami is owned by the partnership of restaurateur Keith McNally and Starr.

And, of course, this isn’t Starr’s first steakhouse. In Philadelphia, he runs Barclay Prime, a high-end take on the cuisine, and Butcher and Singer, which channels an old-Hollywood look with dark wood and straight-ahead steakhouse fare. Both are long-running favorites and hint at what Miami diners might expect from Slim’s.

In South Florida, Starr’s footprint is easy to spot. He opened Makoto more than a decade ago, which remains one of the city’s busiest restaurants and was named the winner of New Times‘ Best Sushi in 2017. He also brought the ever-buzzy and aforementioned Pastis to Wynwood in 2023 and, until earlier this year, operated Le Zoo, the popular French brasserie that was also located inside Bal Harbour Shops for a decade.

Slim’s. 9700 Collins Ave., Bal Harbour, at Bal Harbour Shops; balharbourshops.com/restaurants. Opening spring 2026.