New La Cañita Location Brings Cuban Flavors, Mojitos to Kendall

Popular Miami-based James Beard Award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein is expanding her culinary footprint in South Florida with the opening of a second La Cañita restaurant this February. The new location, located at the Palms at Town & Country open-air shopping center in Kendall, will bring her popular Caribbean-Latin cuisine to a whole new clientele after it launched with a bang in 2021 at Bayside Marketplace.

La Cañita, which translates to "little sugarcane," is a celebration of Caribbean flavors with a touch of Latin American innovations — and the restaurant has nearly 5,000 4.8-star reviews on Google. The menu features dishes like oxtail lasagna, lechón asado with steamed yucca, trifongo with camarones, and locally caught snapper served with ginger mojo and toasted coconut rice. Fans of Bernstein's cuisine can also expect to see her signature croquetas and empanadas on the menu, alongside new surprises.
"We were fortunate to bring a smaller, streamlined version of La Cañita to Miami's Bayside Marketplace in 2021, and the response has been tremendous," says Bernstein's husband and business partner, David Martinez. "We're thrilled to bring the flagship location to Kendall and introduce even more locals to the flavors of the Caribbean."

Unlike the Bayside location, which attracts both locals and visitors due to its proximity to the bustling port, the move to Kendall represents a shift in clientele. With its suburban, family-friendly environment, the Palms at Town and Country is a destination for locals rather than tourists. At 5,500 square feet, the Kendall location offers more space than its Bayside counterpart, accommodating up to 180 guests with indoor and outdoor seating, a private dining room, and a rum-centric bar.
The design of the new restaurant, helmed by Bernstein's sister Nicolette, evokes the charm of a Caribbean rum distillery, blending pastel hues and seaside-inspired details to create a warm, inviting atmosphere. The bar will spotlight handcrafted cocktails like the signature mojito, the "Presidente" (a mix of Banks 7, Ferrand dry curaçao, Comoz, and house-made grenadine), and the "Brownie Old Fashioned," crafted with rye, Strega, brownie port, and house bitters.

Bernstein's reputation precedes her. Known for her work at beloved Miami establishments like Café La Trova, Sweet Liberty, and Señora Martinez, she has long been a champion of Miami's diverse culinary landscape. With La Cañita, she's aiming to highlight the rich tapestry of Caribbean and Latin American flavors that define the city.

La Cañita. At the Palms at Town & Country, 8405 Mills Dr., Ste. 203, Miami; lacanitamiami.com. Opening February 2025.