May was certainly an eventful month concerning Miami dining. A trio of favorites closed shop (Anise Taverna Rustica, Fratelli Lyon, Sustain Restaurant + Bar), and newcomer Mare Nostrum dropped away faster than squid on a stripper pole.
There were quite a few openings, the ones of note mostly debuting on South Beach: Estiatorio Milos and La Gloutonnerie, two high-end establishments, are a stone's throw apart in the South-of-Fifth neighborhood, while The Meatball Joint, new from Bernie Matz (The Café at Books & Books, Bernie's LA Café), offers a more affordable snack for the SoBe crowd.
As usual, plenty of exciting places are on deck. Most buzz is obviously over the June 14 premiere of José Andrés Bazaar, but there's plenty more coming up soon. Keep going for the (mostly) complete list...
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Openings
Bella Beach Club at Trump International, 18001 Collins Ave., Sunny Isles Beach (actually opened late April)
Dominique Bistro - 1451 S Miami Ave., Miami
Estiatorio Milos - 730 First St., Miami Beach
Mesa - 264 Miracle Mile, same address and same chef/owner of Charlotte Bistro, new name and menu
Pasta Folies - 3252 NE First Ave., Miami
La Gloutonnerie 81 Washington Ave., Miami Beach
The Meatball Joint - 1570 Alton Rd., Miami Beach
RiverShack - 620 NE 78th St., Miami
Shoji Sushi - Same 100 Collins Avenue address, same menu, but with new ownership and management.
Closings
Anise Taverna - After four years, the popular Greek eatery has already been replaced by RiverShack from the co-owner/chef of Anise.
DGB: Damn Good Burger - Evidently not damn good enough.
Fratelli Lyon - Was one of our best Italian for awhile, and always a beautiful place to wine and dine.
Mare Nostrum - Went down fast.
Sustain Restaurant + Bar - This closure came as a surprise; it was popular with critics and seemingly with diners as well. We don't have that many locavore-leaning establishments to spare.
On Deck
La Casa Fiorentina - At the Astor Hotel, where D-Rod Astor used to be
Katsuya and José Andrés Bazaar in the SLS - The hoopla has started. June 14 is the opening date.
George's Union - Morgan's on South Beach reconfigured. Due mid-June.
SooWoo Bistro - Coming to Kendall SooSoon: June 5.
Brother Jimmy's - Barbecue joint headed for Mary Brickell Village in mid-June.
Tikl - Altamare's Brickell venue.
Huahua's - Todd Erickson's Lincoln Road Tacqueria.
Frita Shop - Alberto Cabrera's 'Cuban burger joint."
Yard House - Chain fare, lots of beers.
Swine Southern Table & Bar - From the Yardbird/50 Eggs team, set to occupy the former Les Halles space this fall.
MC Kitchen - Dena Marino in the Fratelli Lyon Design District space. Early August is the word.
ROK:BRGR - Another acronymic burger joint comes to South Miami in late summer -- just in time to replace DGB.
Cipriani - Home of Harry's Bar in Venice, and other places, due at the Icon Brickell in the fall.
La Cantina 20 - Also coming to the Icon, this 3-story Mexican chain.
Catch - Top Chef's Hung Huynh, due in SoBe this November.
Restaurant du Cap - Philippe Ruiz coming to Brickell in November.
Michael Schwartz at the Raleigh...coming soon.
Macchialina Taverna Rustica - Pubbelly goes to Italy, but apparently has visa problems.
Gourmet Table - European import market/restaurant coming to Coral Gables.
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