When Swan and its swanky upstairs lounge Bar Bevy opened in 2018, the restaurant marked the debut of the first partnership between Miami nightlife impresario and Groot Hospitality magnate David Grutman and Grammy Award-winning singer and producer Pharrell Williams. Strawberry Moon at the Goodtime Hotel followed.
Located at 90 NE 39th St. in the heart of Miami's Design District, Swan was immediately embraced for its tropical paradise-inspired setting amid the bustle of the city's high-end retail epicenter.
The elevated ambiance, from the Florida-chic decor inside to the intimate, open-air dining area where guests can eat among twinkling string lights and an abundance of lush greenery, made it the perfect place to spot A-list celebrities. Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Bono have supped or sipped there a time or two.
Now, a refreshed menu and updated interior make for an even more whimsical escape.
It's no coincidence that the Swan menu refresh comes on the heels of Groot Hospitality's first expansion outside Florida with the recent opening of their wildly successful Komodo in Dallas, followed by news of the group's plans to bring Liv Nightclub, Komodo, and Papi Steak to the Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
Closer to home, the idea is to bring a new level of excellence to Groot's beloved high-energy restaurant.
"Swan is near and dear to my heart, but I think it's important to evolve. We've been open for five years, so it was time for an update," Groot Hospitality partner David Grutman tells New Times. "We have a big fan base, so it was important to bring it forward without altering the feeling too much. There are new decor elements, a new logo, and, most importantly, an entirely new menu. There's an incredible steak, lots of seafood, some Groot classics, and a few new cocktails."
This new eight-ounce filet is smothered in a savory-sweet blueberry sauce.
Photo by Cristian Gonzalez / CG Media
"We decided it was time for a refresh. To not just improve the menu, but take it to a whole new level," says Cuomo. "Swan's biggest appeal is that it has such a beautiful outdoor oasis. It's a bright, energetic meeting place to grab a meal or a few drinks, and in that sense has taken on the spirit of a European brasserie."
Following the new dinner menu, expect brunch to relaunch on Saturday, October 7, followed by an all-new lunch menu with a focus on lighter fare like salads and sandwiches.
For now, diners can begin a meal at Swan with Groot favorites like their Key Club hit dish "Chips & Caviar" — a delightful French onion dip topped with golden osetra caviar and served with housemade potato chips — to everything bagel-seasoned Parker House Rolls and a bowl of shallot-butter baked clams.
A bevy of new seafood-centric small plates have made their way onto the menu, including chilled oysters served with pickled jalapeño and Champagne mignonette, bluefin tuna sashimi "roses" kissed with osetra caviar, and charred octopus that arrives on a sizzling hot plate.
Entrée-style highlights include an all-new, blueberry-smothered filet, roasted chicken paired with a creamy lemon garlic sauce, and spicy vodka veal parmigiana.
And for those who remember Pharrel Williams' famously favorite Swan dish — that insanely decadent "Corn, Corn, Corn" combination of brown butter-sautéed, popcorn-topped polenta — have no fear.
Cuomo assures New Times the indulgent dish will make a return as an off-menu special. Or, just maybe, as a side on that new brunch menu?
Swan. 90 NE 39th St., Miami; 305-704-0994; swanbevy.com.
