Nemo Brunch Returns to SoFi at Prime Fish

Since the opening of Prime Fish about a year-and-a-half ago, in South Beach's South of Fifth neighborhood, general manager Dave Ferrara says he can't count how many times he's been asked when the Nemo brunch would return.

Good news, brunchers – it's finally back and here to stay. 

When Nemo, the Asian-influenced seafood eatery by restaurateur Myles Chefetz, closed in 2010, its popular brunch went with it. About five years later, Chefetz replaced Nemo with Prime Fish. It joined sister restaurants Prime One Twelve, Prime Italian, and retro-style diner Big Pink, all within blocks of each other, in the SoFi district.

Ferrara says in the last year, the restaurant has focused on perfecting its dinner service, but now he feels its the right time for the lauded brunch. A combination of things makes this one stand out: a full-service buffet serving both breakfast and lunch dishes, an entrée selection, and bottomless booze, all for $49.

Once seated, either in an intimate setting indoors or outdoors with a prime view to people-watch on Collins Avenue, you'll be advised to visit the buffet a few times before choosing an entrée.

Start off with a mix of cold salads, including potato and scallion, French lentil, quinoa and edamame, assorted pasta, kale and walnuts, roasted beet and blue cheese, and Caprese. Make sure to try the whitefish salad too. Pair it with some fresh-made bread like a New York-style bagel or croissant, and add some cream cheese, butter, or smoked salmon.

Venture on to the next assortment of dishes including curried fish cakes, duck confit hash, Nutella-filled French toast, Kobe beef meatballs, baked sausage rigatoni, and chicken and waffles. There's also an omelette and carving station. If you're looking for something light and airy, make your own yogurt and granola bowl and top it with some fresh fruit.

Now it's time to choose an egg-centered entrée from the à-la-carte menu. Decide between one of their omelettes, like the Egg Foo Yung with rock shrimp, Chinese sausage, shiitake, bean sprouts, and green onions; or the Green Eggs & Ham with serrano ham, wilted spinach, and manchego cheese. Or go for a traditional eggs benedict with applewood-smoked ham drizzled in hollandaise; a popover stuffed with scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, scallions, and cream cheese; a frittata with chorizo, sweet peppers, potatoes, herbs, and cheese; steak and eggs; or just two eggs any style. And, for an additional price, you can order from the raw bar section of the menu, which includes oysters, shrimp, lobster, and caviar.

If you thought there couldn't be more, think again. You still have the dessert chunk of the buffet to explore. Indulge in a medley of sweets, including, but not limited to, chocolate-Oreo squares, almond-caramel apple bars, blueberry muffins, pecan bites, cranberry scones, homemade s'mores, chocolate coffee cake, and the signature chocolate and peanut butter bite topped with a Reese's peanut butter cup.

Take your pick of bottomless mimosas, bellinis, prosecco, and house-made bloody marys to help digest.

Calories aside, brunching at Prime Fish is sweet, in every sense of the word. It runs Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will fill up quick. Call 305-532-4550 for reservations.

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