Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth Open Root &amp Bone in South Miami

Just in time for the new year, Top Chef alums Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth will open a location of their popular Southern restaurant, Root & Bone, in South Miami on Saturday, December 29. Kickoff weekend will feature dinner service and a hangover brunch on New Year’s Day. The restaurant will be closed on December 31.

Through a partnership with Miami-based Grove Bay Hospitality Group, the opening comes nearly a year after the couple, best known for Sunset Harbour restaurant Stiltsville, opened a Root & Bone pop-up at the Shelborne South Beach, which will remain open.

Root & Bone, created by McInnis and Booth, opened in New York City in 2014. In an interview with New Times, McInnis gave Booth credit for the eatery’s name. “Janine came up with it awhile back. Her dad said something to her growing up about being grounded/rooted, while wings/bones help you fly/soar. The name fit perfectly, as we wanted to showcase our down-to-earth cooking from the sea and farm. It also had that garden-to-table ring to it, too, that we were looking for.”

The menu, similar to the one at the flagship up North, includes an array of down-home goodies, with items that call to the chefs’ respective roots. McInnis is represented by the “bucket of bird.” A half or whole chicken is sweet-tea-brined and then dusted with pickled lemon. An Australian rack of lamb pays homage to Booth’s Aussie background. There will also be buttery biscuits and deviled eggs. Prices aren’t set, but in New York, a half-bird costs $19 and a whole bird runs $36.

Unlike Root & Bone’s locations in New York and Miami Beach, South Miami will feature a large bar area focused on scotch, whiskey and bourbon spirits. There will be weekday happy hour specials, including a ladies’ night on Thursdays. Weekend brunch will premiere on January 5 with live music, too.

Root & Bone. 5958 S. Dixie Hwy., Miami; 786-785-1001; rootnbone.com. Opening Saturday, December 29.