Walking past the Dream Hotel on Ninth Street and Collins Avenue last week, we saw a sign in the window of the soon-to-be Tudor House Restaurant at The Dream South Beach Hotel, "Do Not Enter - Training in Progress".
This, obviously, translated into "waltz right in" -- so we did. A staff training session had, in fact, just ended, but we took a few shots of the interior of the room and chatted with some staff (who preferred to remain anonymous for the moment). Here's what we learned so far:
The opening of the restaurant is still scheduled for early June.
Chef Zakarian will oversee all food and beverage operations of the menu.
The theme of the restaurant will be "a neighborhood beach cafe".
Executive Chef, Jamie DeRosa, who recently left Atlantic Ocean Club and Buddha Sky Bar will be in charge of all day-to-day operations, but Zakarian will make frequent visits to South Beach, having a very "hands-on" approach.
The still-unfinished outside dining area will feature stained teak furnishings.
Short Order first learned of Zakarian's involvement with The Tudor House back in April, when a Craigslist listing appeared, looking for staff for a soon-to-be opened Zakarian venture on South Beach. This will be Zakarian's long-awaited return to Miami Beach since he opened The Blue Door at The Delano back in 1995.
Follow Short Order on Facebook and Twitter @Short_Order.