Area 31 makes its' debut tonight on the 16th floor of Brickell Avenue's Epic Hotel. Executive chef is John Critchley, who trained under Boston's renowned chef Ken Oringer (Clio) and was known to make a mean morcilla at his own Beantown tapas bar. The sommelier is Emily Wines (from San Franciscos's Fifth Floor)
-- and no, I'm not making her name up. Then name of the restaurant
derives from Fishing Area 31, which runs along the coast of Florida,
Central America and northern South America. Much of the seafood on this
eclectic, Mediterranean-influenced menu will be sourced from the
namesake coastal region. Interior design includes water views, as do
seats on the outdoor terrace. It's breakfast and dinner to start, with
lunch being added next month.