Miami December 2016 Restaurant Openings and Closings

December is traditionally a hot time for restaurants to open in Miami. Between Art Basel and tourist season, chefs and investors hustle to take advantage of visitors to our city in an attempt to kickstart business. Of course, a restaurant also has to woo its local patrons to ensure a steady stream of income.

By Laine Doss

December 27, 2016

Audio By Carbonatix

[
          {
            "name": "GPT - Billboard - Slot Inline - Content - Labeled - No Desktop",
            "component": "22004575",
            "insertPoint": "2",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
          },{
            "name": "STN Player - Float - Mobile Only ",
            "component": "22595215",
            "insertPoint": "2",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
          },{
            "name": "Editor Picks",
            "component": "17482312",
            "insertPoint": "4",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
          },{
            "name": "Inline Links",
            "component": "18711090",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 8,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          },{
            "name": "GPT - 2x Rectangles Desktop, Tower on Mobile - Labeled",
            "component": "23181625",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 8,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          
          },{
            "name": "Inline Links",
            "component": "18711090",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 12,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          },{
            "name": "GPT - Leaderboard to Tower - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
            "component": "17720761",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 12,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          }
        ]

December is traditionally a hot time for restaurants to open in Miami. Between Art Basel and tourist season, chefs and investors hustle to take advantage of visitors to our city in an attempt to kickstart business. Of course, a restaurant also has to woo its local patrons to ensure a steady stream of income.

The most notable openings in December aren't giant endeavors. Rather, they're small, local eateries that strive to feed Miamians through well-made food, drinks, and treats. Cake Thai Kitchen opened its second eatery, bringing a brighter, slightly larger dining room and the same quality food to Wynwood.

Miami also now has two much-anticipated doughnut shops: Mojo Donuts & Fried Chicken opened, and the Salty Donut finally debuted to its permanent Wynwood location.
December Openings

American Harvest at Brickell City Centre
Antico Pizza (1058 Collins Ave., Miami Beach)
Big Easy Winebar & Grill at Brickell City Centre
Bitter Truth (3252 NE First Ave., Miami)
The Brick (8955 SW 55th Pl., Miami)
Brothers & Brawlers (359 NW 28th St., Miami)
Cake Thai Kitchen (180 NW 29th St., Miami)
Dishes for Dogs (2561 N. Miami Ave., Miami)
Gin + Collins at the AC Hotel Miami Beach
Gio's Chicken (1058 Collins Ave., Miami Beach)
Instacream N7
La Estancia Argentina (1050 NW 14th St., Miami)
La Muse Café at Epic Hotel
Luke's Lobster at Brickell City Centre
My Ceviche at the Shops at Midtown Miami
Mojo Donuts & Fried Chicken
Mooyah (2000 NW 87th Ave., Doral)
Ono Poke (2320 N. Miami Ave., Miami)
The Salty Donut
Shimuja Ramen Pop-Up at Baby Jane
Steelcity at the Wynwood Yard
Tocaya Organica (920 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach)

Closings

No significant closings

Coming Attractions

Agave Taco Bar - Opening in Doral
Angelo Elia Pizza Bar - Opening at Aventura ParkSquare
Artisan Beach House at the Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour - Paula DaSilva returns to Miami
Atlas Meat-Free Deli - Opening in Little River
Azucar - Opening near FIU
Baru Latin Bar - Opening in Doral
Big Easy - Opening in Brickell
Bikini Barista - Coming to midtown Miami
Blue Bottle Coffee - Opening two locations
Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill - Opening in Miami
Bousa Brewing Co. - Brewery opening in Little River District
The Broken Shaker - Opening in Los Angeles
Casa Florida - Opening at Roam Miami
Cindy Lou's - Opening in Little River District
Crazy Poke - Opening in Wynwood
Dirt - Opening second location, at Mary Brickell Village, and a pop-up at Aventura Mall
Dr Smood - expanding to Aventura, Sunset Harbour, and Brickell
Employees Only - Famed New York City bar opening in Miami Beach
Estefan Kitchen - Gloria and Emilio are at it again
Federal Donuts - Michael Solomonov coming to Wynwood
Freddo Helado - Opening in Doral
Gravity Brewlab - Opening in Wynwood
Graziano's - Opening at Aventura ParkSquare
Groovin' Bean - Coffeehouse and lounge opening in Overtown
Hank & Harry's - Buzzy Sklar to open New York-style deli in South Beach
Harry's Pizzeria - Michael Schwartz expanding with several locations
IceBox Cafe - Opening at Aventura ParkSquare
In the Kitchen With Norman van Aken - Opening at Wynwood Arcade
Itabe - Kevin Aoki and Roman Jones collaboration
Kiki on the River - Opening with gondolas
Latin Grill - Opening at Dadeland Mall
Latin House Grill - Opening near FIU
Le Chick Rotisserie - Zuma investors opening in Wynwood
Le Macaron - Opening at Dadeland Mall and other locations
Local Boy Poke - Opening in Wynwood
Local 'Q - Barbecue concept by the owners of Local
Lolo's Surf Cantina - Opening soon
McAliser's Deli - Chain deli opening in Miami
Mediterranean Kitchen - Opening in Aventura
Madruga Bakery - Opening in Coral Gables
Mercado Negro - Opening at Tacocraft
Monger - The Voltaggios are opening a restaurant in Downtown Miami
Ms. Cheezious - Planning expansion
NightLife Brewing Company - Brewery planned for Marlins Park
Oris Sushi - Opening at Dadeland Mall
Panther Coffee - Opening in MiMo District and Little Haiti
Paraiso Bay Restaurant & Beach Club - Michael Schwartz opening at this Edgewater complex
Pasion del Cielo - Opening in Brickell and Doral
Persona Pizzeria - California chain coming to Miami
Pincho Factory - Opening several locations in Doral and West Kendall
PlugIn - Karaoke palace opening at Gulfstream
PokeBao - Poke and bao buns coming to Coral Gables
Port Royal - Geoffrey Zakarian opening at the Diplomat
Pubbelly Sushi - Opening at Brickell City Centre
Rasta Village - Coming to Little Haiti
Raw Juce - Opening on Miami Beach
Red O - Rick Bayless bringing his Mexican/California concept to Miami
Revolution in Bloom - Vegan and vegetarian cuisine
Rubio's Coastal Grill - California chain to open in former Lime locations.
Soul Tavern - Meat-free gastropub coming to Sunset Harbour
South Pointe Tavern - Opening in SoFi
Taberna Las Rosas - Wood Tavern's owner expanding to Allapattah
Tap 42 - Opening in midtown Miami
The Smile - NYC establishment to open in Miami
Spanglish Ales - Another brewery to open in Wynwood
Spring Chicken - Several other locations opening
Stiltsville Fish Bar - Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth opening seafood restaurant in Sunset Harbour
Sullivan St. Bakery - Opening in Little Haiti
Tacology Taqueria - Opening in Brickell
Toasted Bagels - Coming to Coral Gables
Tobacco Road - New and improved Road opening soon
Tropical Barbecue - Kris Wessel returns with Little Haiti barbecue place
Tutto Il Giorno - Authentic Italian fare coming soon
Unbranded Brewing Company - Hialeah's first brewery
Union Beer - Beer to-go and bar opening in Little Havana
Velvet Creme - Iconic doughnuts returning to Miami with location in Little Havana
Wabi Sabi - Opening on the Upper Eastside
Which Wich - Opening several locations in Miami
Whole Foods Market - Proposed megastore in Sunset Harbour

Projects in the Works

Chef Alex Stupak is shopping for a location in Miami for a taco restaurant.
Joël Robuchon is opening eateries in the Design District.
Arjun Wanjey, a partner at Zuma and Coya, plans to open a French restaurant in Brickell.
Jose Garces is rumored to be opening a Miami restaurant.
Alfredo Patino plans to open a French concept on NE 79th Street.
Embarek Alibay will open a café adjacent to his La Parisienne Bakery (1909 NE 154th St., North Miami Beach).
A 38,000-square-foot Italian food market will open at Brickell City Centre.
MasterChef judge Henrique Fogaça is looking for space in Miami.

Laine Doss is the former food editor of Miami New Times. She has been featured on Cooking Channel's Eat Street and Food Network's Great Food Truck Race. She won an Alternative Weekly award for her feature about what it's like to wait tables.

A message from Food & Drink Editor Nicole Lopez-Alvar: If you value independent journalism, please consider making a contribution to support our continued coverage of Miami's evolving dining scene and the latest culinary innovations our community offers.

Support Today