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Tamarina in Brickell kicked off its Sunday brunch last week, and it was a glamorous affair. The elegant coastal-Italian eatery offer a $45 all-you-can-eat brunch buffet, and for those who want to make it a boozy afternoon, there’s the option to add unlimited libations for $35 per person. According to the restaurant’s vice president for business development, Paul Radu, the brunch concept was partly inspired by Cecconi’s at Soho Beach House, which also serves a European-style buffet in a laid-back atmosphere.
“We wanted it to be an alternative for people who normally go to Cecconi’s on the Beach,” Radu explains. No one is really doing this in Brickell at this price point.” And despite Tamarina’s posh decor, the eatery is adamant about offering a brunch that’s kid-friendly and relaxed. “We don’t want this to be a special-occasion brunch but somewhere you can come regularly,” he says.
Seating is available inside and outside, and the restaurant plans to provide live music during every brunch service. The lineup, however, will vary between gypsy jazz, swing, and French horn. And for movie fans, Tamarina plays classic black-and-white films on a massive projector.
Food-wise, executive chef Loris Navone has created something for various palates. Navone was the chef de cuisine of Dolce Italian in South Beach when it was crowned the winner on Bravo’s Best New Restaurant. At Tamarina, start your meal with a bevy of cheese, bread, and charcuterie options before grabbing some shucked oysters and tuna tartare. Afterward, head to the hot station, featuring pizza, pasta, arancini, soups, and grilled vegetables. Next, you can customize your own omelet and waffles (with a side of turkey, chicken, or pork sausage), and last, there’s an entire dessert bar overflowing with crème brûlée, panna cotta, fresh fruit, and cannoli. Although nothing proffered here is particularly heavy, you won’t leave hungry.
Tamarina opened a little more than a year ago in the former Lippi space on Brickell Avenue. The owners are the same, but for this venture, Tunu and Yona Puri teamed up with global restaurateur Arjun Waney. Waney’s impressive resumé includes Zuma, Coya, La Petite Maison, and the Arts Club in London. Designed by David d’Almada, the high-ceiling dining room is dressed with floor-to-ceiling sheer curtains, cinnamon leather wingback chairs, and a crystal centerpiece stocked with hollow glass decanters and carafes. The Italian restaurant also serves weekly lunch and dinner daily.
