Like any large city, Miami's restaurant scene is a series of hellos and goodbyes. We laud a restaurant's entry into the fray and mourn the loss of favorite eateries when they shutter.
But some closings cut deeper than others. It could be that remarkable sandwich we'll miss or the fact that the eatery was full of memories.
These are the five restaurants that shuttered in Miami in 2016 (so far) that we'll miss most.
5. Alberto Cabrera Closes Little Bread Cuban Sandwich Company, Moves to Vegas
Alberto Cabrera, long a force in Miami's dining scene, opened Little Bread Cuban Sandwich Company with the goal of serving sandwiches made with elevated, quality ingredients. "Being Cuban, I wanted to focus on these classic sandwiches, but, obviously, I'm American as well. I want to include a muffaletta and a Reuben." Cabrera's Cuban sandwich was listed on food critic Zachary Fagenson's best Miami dishes of 2015, calling it "good enough to warrant forgiveness for breaking Miami tradition." The chef abruptly shuttered both Little Bread locations and moved to Las Vegas.
4. Kings County, Miami's Best New York-Style Pizza Spot, Shutters
The diminutive Dixie Highway pizzeria was a respite for homesick Tri-Staters. It was almost the only spot where you could find a proper grease-slicked utility slice. Most weekdays, $5 would get you two and soda. The perfect lunch.
3. City Hall in Edgewater Closes
City Hall, Steve Haas' Biscayne Boulevard restaurant, abruptly closed after dinner service one evening. A day earlier, City Hall's Facebook page bore a message to fans saying it had lost its lease and would shutter.
2. Cena by Michy Closes After Lease Negotiation Falls Through
Just two months after Michelle Bernstein celebrated a decade of restaurant life at her beloved Cena by Michy, the restaurant shuttered for good. Rumors began flying about its imminent closure a week earlier. Bernstein and her partner/husband, David Martinez, were in lease negotiations with their landlord, hoping for a last-minute reprieve, but apparently talks went south.
1. Miami Loses a Piece of History With the Closing of S&S Diner South
Though it didn't boast any Michelin stars, S&S Diner South held generations of stories within its walls. For 60 years, it offered locals a cup of coffee and a place to build a personal and tight-knit community. Before its doors closed July 24, customers said goodbye to an iconic landmark of Miami that framed years of nostalgic memories.