New to the Scene: Winter 2019-20 Miami
- Miami’s newest restaurants are heating up just in time for the winter season.
Believe the Hype
South of Fifth’s Papi Steak from David Grutman’s Groot Hospitality and Chef David “Papi” Einhorn is one of the most buzzed-about openings in town, having already hosted the likes of J. Lo, Drake and other A-list clientele. An ode to the Golden Age of Hollywood, the space features red velvet seating, hardwood tables and walls adorned in exotic floral print. Einhorn, who has already won over diners at Grutman’s Brickell hot spot Komodo, taps into his Jewish upbringing for menu items such as latkes and chicken schnitzel and combines them with his love for barbecue and steak. The wagyu pastrami is a house favorite, and the signature 32-ounce kosher-style rib-eye is one for the books. 736 First St., Miami Beach; 305.800.7274; papisteak.com
Bienvenidos a Chica
A successful restaurant in Las Vegas is no easy feat, but that is exactly what Chef Lorena Garcia accomplished with Chica at The Venetian Resort. Now, the Miami-born chef brings that same celebrated cuisine back to her hometown with a 10,000-square-foot restaurant in the space previously occupied by Soyka. Rather than focus on one type of Latin cuisine, Chica weaves together flavors from across the region, including Venezuela, Argentina, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico and Peru, honoring each culinary tradition in one menu. Don’t miss sampling the seasonal ceviche bar menu. 5556 NE Fourth Court, Miami; 786.360.2553; chicarestaurant.com/miami
Eye of the Tiger
Tigertail + Mary, the latest from Michael Schwartz’s Genuine Hospitality Group, taps into what locals love most about the Grove—a neighborhood vibe in a laid-back setting. The chef hits these notes perfectly, combining them with a menu focused on fresh vegetables, local seafood, pizza, pasta and meat from animals raised with care. Schwartz also brought in the team from Bar Lab (Broken Shaker, The Anderson) to create a refreshing botanical cocktail menu. Don’t miss Sunday brunch, where there’s a lineup of house-made bottled bloody marys just waiting to be enjoyed. 3321 Mary St., Miami; 305.722.5688; tigertailandmary.com
Sinners Welcome
Flashy openings in Miami Beach and Wynwood have become the norm, so it’s a nice surprise when a cozy neighborhood like Miami Shores gets one of its own. The new industrial-chic Sins Gastrobar is just that place. The menu is designed around the seven deadly “sins,” broken into categories like Tiny Sins (small bites), No Regrets (healthy options), Forgiven Sins (from the wood-fired grill) and Guilty Pleasures (desserts). Favorite dishes include the Gluttony brisket and bacon burger and the slow-cooked short ribs, which are cooked for 48 hours in a red wine reduction. 9835 NE Second Ave., Miami Shores; 786.801.0955; sinsgastrobar.com
Mediterrasian Invasion
What do you get when you combine Mediterranean cuisine with a dash of Asian flavors? MILA, Lincoln Road’s new 13,000-square-foot “MediterrAsian” restaurant and lounge. This trendy rooftop eatery helmed by Executive Chef Nicolas Mazier takes an adventurous approach to its menu, mixing seemingly distant global cuisines to create inventive, tasty dishes such as the couscous daikon roll and the ricotta ravioli in a miso-truffle broth. The restaurant also features a world-class spirits program led by Jennifer Le Nechet and Mido Yahi. To accommodate the program, there are two bars: the interior main bar and the open-air V (pronounced “five”) by MILA. 800 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach; milarestaurant.com
