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Pizza Volante, the highly-anticipated pizzeria from Pacific Time's Jonathan Eismann, was set to open today, but the opening was pushed to tomorrow after a few products failed to arrive on time. As of tomorrow, the pizzeria will be selling its wood-fired pizzas from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day except Sundays.

We've been hearing conflicting reports about the status of Sosta, the new pizzeria from the Quattro Gastronomia Italiana folks. People kept saying it was open, but phone calls to the restaurant proved otherwise. But we just heard it from the mouth of a KNR Restaurant Group spokesperson: the restaurant is opening tonight at 6 p.m. It will be open just for dinner initially, but in a couple of weeks, expect lunch to be introduced.

We just got our hands on the menu, the full version of which is after the jump. Highlights, of course, are the pizzas, which are made in the special Italian-made Morello Forni rotating pizza oven. In addition to pizza, there's a selection of salads and a few pastas and paninis.

Continue reading "Sosta Pizzeria Opening Tonight" »

Is Sosta Open Yet?: The Miami Herald reports that Sosta Pizzeria, the new spot on Lincoln Road from the owners of Quattro Gastronomia Italiana, is open. And tpigeon on Chowhound says "Early reports on Solsta [sic]...are very positive." So, most evidence points to yes, the pizzeria is open. But we just called KNR Restaurant Group and were told that it is most definitely not open and that the menu is still being finalized. And no one's picking up the phone at the restaurant either. So we're going to conclude with no, you cannot get your pizza from a fancy rotating brick oven just yet. Any day now though.

The Original Pancake House is taking over the old RJ Gator's spot at 4364 Northlake Boulevard in Palm Beach Gardens and should be open sometime next month. The reason the company can afford to expand? They waited out the real estate boom. Steven Kamelhair, a managing partner of the company that owns nine of the twelve franchises in Florida, told the Palm Beach Post that the company didn't do much in terms of expansion in the past few years; now, the rents are coming back down considerably, so it's a good time to lock in a lease. Smart move.

Breakfast picks up where Gators left off: Original Pancake House to open in former R.J. Gators location [Palm Beach Post]

Photo: mamamusings/flickr

• Elwood’s Dixie BBQ is closing. A blog post on the restaurant’s MySpace page says only “yes its true….elwood’s is sold 4-30-09’…..to be continued??????” and a local chowhound reports that the restaurant is no longer serving food. [MySpace via
Chowhound]

• The Legal Sea Foods in Sawgrass Mills is closed as of yesterday. The West Palm Beach location is already shuttered, so it looks like the only branch of the chain that’s left is the one in Boca Raton. [Chowhound]

• And while we’re on the subject of closings, we might as well mention the fact that the owner of Spoto’s Restaurant Group was sued by National City Bank for failure to make payments on two loans, one of which is a $1.5 million loan for Spoto's Oakwood Grill. The restaurant is doing a brisk business, but with that much debt, it might be difficult to stay afloat. [Palm Beach Post]

• The second South Florida location of the California-based Yard House opens this Sunday at Merrick Park in Coral Gables. If you've been to the one in Palm Beach Gardens, you know what you're in for here: standard American fare and one heck of a selection of beers on tap. You can even get a beer float to go with your burger — Young's Chocolate Stout or Lindeman's Framboise with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

• Mezza Mediterranean Grill, a new downtown Miami lunch spot, opens its doors on Monday at 11 a.m. The menu serves typical Middle Eastern fare like hummus, falafel, and shawarma; the express lunch of gyro, kafta, kibbeh or falafel at $8.95 seem like good deals.

• Also opening on Monday: Bar Rosso, a sleek new wine bar in the old Ivy spot in Aventura. The wine list — almost entirely Italian — is the draw, but the bar will also serve tapas-sized portions of Italian fare.

The pizza options in south Miami-Dade are about to get better: Anthony's Coal-Fired Pizza is opening its second location in the county tomorrow at 10205 S Dixie Highway in Pinecrest. This will be the local chain's 15th restaurant, and there are more on the way; the company is planning statewide expansion and is opening a location in Las Vegas this summer. This all from a company that began in 2002 with a single restaurant in Fort Lauderdale.

The newest location will be open tomorrow from 11:30 a.m. until 10:30 p.m.

Sara reports that Zuma, a London-based Japanese restaurants with outposts in Hong Kong, Istanbul and Dubai, is heading our way. The restaurant is scheduled to open at the Epic Hotel in the fall. [All Purpose Dark]

So Kobe Club is closing tomorrow, but just temporarily — Terry Zarikian, China Grill's director of product development, told the Miami New Times that the steakhouse is reopening in August. He had mentioned this to Florence Fabricant, who wrote the initial report of the restaurant's closing for The New York Times, but she had to leave that key little detail out because of space constraints. One would think she could've cut an article here and there to make room for "but reopens in August." [Short Order]

Like its New York cousin which closed last week, the Kobe Club in Miami Beach is closing on Friday, May 1. Such a loss for the local dining scene. Where else will we go to dine with the threat of death looming overhead in the form of samurai swords? [New York Times]

The new W Hotel in Fort Lauderdale opens Thursday, April 30 and with it will be Steak 954, Stephen Starr's first foray into the South Florida dining scene. The 224-seat restaurant is the latest spot to offer a "modern interpretation of the classic steakhouse menu." Chef Jason Smith, formerly of Table 8, is in the kitchen. In the dining room you'll find a 15-foot-long reef aquarium with a school of jellyfish. The restaurant opens for lunch and dinner on Thursday and will add breakfast in the coming months.

You can check out the whole dinner menu after the jump. Of note: a Kobe cheesesteak that costs $100. MP: Philadelphia wrote recently about the pricey cheesesteak, also featured in Starr's Philadelphia steakhouse Barclay Prime; it's got foie gras, Kobe steak, truffles, and Taleggio cheese. And according to the restaurant, it seems the recession hasn't stopped people from ordering it.

Continue reading "Steak 954 Opens On Thursday" »

What do you do when the fishing business gets too tough? Well, two Keys fishing guides decided to open a restaurant: MA's Fish Camp in Islamorada near mile marker 81. Naturally, the focus is the freshest possible local seafood at reasonable prices. According to co-owner Andy Butetti, the restaurant buys in small batches, so it can serve fish like mutton snapper or tripletail that normally aren't found on restaurant menus. Sounds like a good place to try something new. [Keynoter]

After months of waiting, it looks like Au Pied de Cochon is finally on the brink of opening. The French restaurant, with branches in Paris, Mexico City and Atlanta, lists menus on its site already, although there's no word yet on when exactly there's going to be a grand opening.

But in the meantime, lax2mia over on Chowhound has begun to compare the menus from the Atlanta restaurant and the new Miami spot, and he's noticed one little thing: the prices in the Miami location are much higher. For example, a plate of 12 escargots in Atlanta run $14, while in Miami it's $17. But that pales in comparison to some of the meat markups: a 14-ounce NY strip steak in Atlanta is $24, while in Miami the steak is $41 and it's two ounces smaller. Same goes for the bone-in ribeye — $28 for 20 ounces versus $46 for 18 ounces. We'll attribute the high prices to the difference in rent between Atlanta's Buckhead and South Beach, but still. Ouch.

Au Pied de Cochon - Miami [Chowhound]

Photo, of oysters at Au Pied de Cochon in Paris: ayustety/flickr

GR Restaurant Management, the folks behind the popular Coal Mine Pizza in Boca Raton, are venturing south to North Miami Beach with Rack's Italian Bistro & Market. While Coal Mine is more of a family-style pizzeria, the company is targeting an older and more upscale clientele with this new spot — it'll have a coal oven and offer pizzas, but there will be much more to the northern Italian menu. The marketplace will sell fresh breads, salamis, and the restaurant's own pasta sauces, among other things. The restaurant, at 3933 NE 163rd Street in North Miami Beach, is scheduled to open on Monday, May 7.

We're turning our attention south for the moment to the Keys, where a few noteworthy restaurants have opened up in the past month:

• It's been 12 years since the Chappy's Steak & Seafood owners bought the land next to the Seven Mile Bridge in Marathon. Three weeks ago, the restaurant finally opened. It's entirely open-air, affords excellent views of the bridge, and even has a swimming pool where diners can take a pre- or post-lunch dip. The owners are still working on the menu, but expect, of course, a wide variety of both steak and seafood. [Keynoter]

• Puerto Vallarta is a Key Largo offshoot of the Homestead Mexican restaurant with the same name. So many Upper Keys residents would drive to Homestead to eat at the original restaurant that the owner decided Key Largo would be a good spot for a second location. If you're a local, you can get a card that'll give you 10 percent off your meal. [Keynoter]

• And way down in the Southernmost City, there's a new spot for barbecue. Daddy Bones opened earlier this month with a wood-fired pit and a menu of brisket, pulled pork, dry-rubbed pork spare ribs, and Kansas City baby back ribs. [Keynoter]

The final new restaurant in the Fontainebleau is open. Hakkasan, a branch of the London restaurant by the same name, held its grand opening party on Saturday and is now officially open for dinner each night. We don't have a preview of the menu yet (we're told it hasn't been finalized), but here's what was served at the opening night bash, according to Lee Klein of Short Order:

A few of the passed snacks snatched: shrimp on garlic toast, duck egg rolls, braised short ribs (amazing), assorted steamed dumplings of astonishing delicacy, and Peking duck carved and rolled into mini-pancakes with celery, scallion, hoisin, and beluga caviar.

Sara at All Purpose Dark also raves about the food, and says she spotted Alfred Portale. Let's hope he uses his time in South Florida to remedy the situation over at Gotham Steak.

Hakkasan Open For Business [Short Order]
Hakkasan Miami Grand Opening [All Purpose Dark]

Photo: Wolfiewolf/flickr

Zushi Flirt had a soft opening earlier this week, but tonight it officially opens its doors with an invitation-only party celebrating not just the new restaurant but the new hotel too — the Regent hotel is now the Z Ocean Hotel, a Crowne Plaza. As of tomorrow, the restaurant is open for regular lunch and dinner business.

The name may seem familiar; it's a variation on Flirt Sushi, which opened a little over three years ago at Washington and 12th. That location didn't last long, but owner Marko Radisic (who owns the original Flirt Sushi in Allendale, New Jersey) is hoping that this second stab at South Beach will be more successful.

The menu, which is identical to that of the New Jersey location, features sushi rolls with names like Sexyshimi, Viagra, Foreplay, Passion and Menage a Trois. Oh, and who can forget the classic Mi-so Horny Soup?

We've got two new restaurants to tell you about today. First up, Calamari Italian Seafood now open in the old Sammy C's spot in Coconut Grove, offering, as one might imagine, lots of seafood Italian-style. There are a few non-fish options, but clearly pesce is the focus here. Like Grouper Acqua Pazza, with clams, mussels and tomato; Snapper Oreganato, Risotto Frutti di Mare. The restaurant opened on Monday and is currently serving lunch and dinner daily.

And over in downtown Miami (at 17 E Flagler St, to be exact), a new Mediterranean/Middle Eastern restaurant called Mezza Miami is slated to open May 1. The restaurant will offer delivery throughout downtown and Brickell and has some express lunch meals on the menu that seem to be a good value — gyro, kafta kabob, kibbeh, falafel, or grilled vegetables, each paired with Moroccan rice and a salad for $8.95.

Cupcakes? Fro-yo? Sometimes, it's so hard to pick one over-hyped dessert item over the other. Enter Allegria Frozen Yogurt & Cupcakes, which opened recently in Pompano Beach and actually guarantees "happiness in every cup." The shop offers four flavors of yogurt — original, green tea, chocolate and pomegranate — with an array of toppings, in addition to a number of cupcake variations like red velvet, Caribbean coconut, strawberry shortcake, and vegan carrot. They come in mini sizes too for $1.

B.B. King's Blues Club just signed a deal to open in the old Legal Sea Foods spot in CityPlace, according to the Palm Beach Post. Not only will you get live music there — blues rock, soul and R&B — but you'll also find a restaurant serving Creole and Southern food. The club promises two venues, one of which is dedicated to acoustic music, and outdoor seating. Should be a while though — the restaurant isn't planning to start the hiring process until August.

Thrill is here: B.B. King club plans local site [Palm Beach Post]

Photo: Rebel Sights/flickr

We've been trying to get some more information on Norman's 180, Norman Van Aken's return to Coral Gables. As we reported before, the restaurant will be opening in the Hoja Nueva spot in the Westin Colonnade. Van Aken is apparently keeping a tight lid on any new developments. But we did manage to glean one piece of information: the restaurateur is hoping for an opening sometime this fall.

Grub Street points us to Donatella Arpaia's new blog on iVillage, where she mentions that her newest "baby" at the Viceroy Hotel will be open in just a few days. A call to the Signature Restaurant at the Viceroy confirmed that the new menu will be rolled out by the end of next week. There are no plans to change the name of the restaurant.

Psilakis Miami [Grub Street]

We just got word that there's a gastropub coming to Sunny Isles Beach. Calafate Grill is opening in the old PrimArepa spot at 17100 Collins Avenue. The location has been completely redone, and it should just be about three weeks before the doors open. The menu will feature fish-oriented Continental cuisine. That's all we've got for now, but we'll have more information soon.

L.L. Bean's granddaughter is trying to bring Maine lobster rolls to the rest of the country, and she's starting with Delray Beach. The first location of Linda Bean's Perfect Maine Lobster Roll outside of Maine will be opening on Atlantic Avenue in June. The restaurant started last year inside the L.L. Bean store in Freeport; this summer, the company is opening five more locations throughout Maine, and is looking at a few other locations in Florida: St. Augustine, St. Petersburg and Naples.

The Delray Beach spot will be a sit-down, upscale fast-food spot with a small, focused menu:: a lobster roll with a quarter-pound of lobster meat on a toasted bun, a shrimp roll, a salad topped with either lobster or shrimp, and hot dogs for those who aren't seafood-inclined. The drink menu will be Maine-centric: beer from Maine microbreweries, Maine wines and Maine Root sodas.

According to company spokeswoman Caryn Harris, they chose South Florida because of the snowbird factor, figuring lots of people down here would be familiar with lobster rolls. They also wanted a spot with lots of foot traffic, which shouldn't be hard to come by on Atlantic Avenue. Opening at the beginning of the low season wasn't the company's plan, said Harris, but they're hoping the locals will develop a taste for Maine lobster.

Check out MP: Boston's post about how Linda Bean wants to be the "Frank Purdue of lobster."

A new wine bar is coming to Aventura. Bar Rosso should be opening in the coming weeks with a menu of small plate Italian fare and a list of 40 to 60 different wines by the glass. The wine list will be about 85 percent Italian, although eventually they'd like to include a wider range of wines from other countries. Other features include a mozzarella bar, an exhibition kitchen, and a wood-burning grill. According to general manager Ian Falconi, the fare won't be influenced by any one particular region of Italy.

Falconi said the restaurant is in the last stage of permits and inspections, which means it can get the OK from the county either tomorrow or a few weeks from now. His educated guess is that the restaurant will open its doors in the first week of May.

The menu isn't ready yet, although Falconi offered a few sample items: arancini, burrata salad, wood-grilled ribeye steak, and pastas like carbonara and amatriciana, which will be available in full and half portions.

The newest location of Segafredo Espresso, on Española Way in Miami Beach, is hosting a grand opening party tonight at 8 p.m. The open bar lasts for two hours, and there will be plenty of hors d'oeuvres and entertainment. Get there early and you might be able to score a Segafredo goody bag. To RSVP, send an e-mail to events@verestaurants.com.

Speaking of Segafredo, the Bal Harbour location is hiring. Specifically, the cafe is looking for young women who speak Russian to serve beverages. Russian? We'd heard that Russians were buying condos in droves, but this is the first we've seen of employers seeking out people who spoke the language.

Dim sum is coming to the Gables: Mr. Chu's, which until a few months ago was serving up dumplings, noodles and fried rice on South Beach, is opening in a new spot in Coral Gables: 2728 Ponce de Leon Boulevard. Mr. Chu is hiring servers and bartenders, so it shouldn't be too much longer before the restaurant opens.

The recession is claiming Laffing Matterz, downtown Fort Lauderdale's comedy venue/dinner theater. The restaurant just announced that Sunday, April 19 will be its last day, so you still have time to get in a comedy show. Seating for the very last show is at 8 p.m. and will be $31 per person.

Mr. Chow, the legendary swanky Chinese restaurant with locations in New York, Beverly Hills and London, is coming to the soon-to-be-opened W Hotel on South Beach. The hotel will also feature a Mediterranean-themed restaurant — someone has been chosen to run it, but the hotel couldn't release those details yet — that'll open on June 2, with the hotel. We'll all have to wait a bit long for Mr. Chow; we're told they're hoping for a July opening, although nothing is definite yet. And we all know those restaurants always open right on schedule.

For a good idea of what we're getting, check out this profile of Michael Chow in New York Magazine:

To eat at a Mr. Chow restaurant is to participate in a roving party, one that has migrated through four decades, three continents, and an awful lot of soup dumplings. It is to acknowledge that the rich and famous will get better tables than the rest of us, and everyone will have a better time for it. In his L.A. restaurant, Mae West got a standing ovation just for finishing her dinner. And it was at Mr. Chow on 57th Street that John Lennon took his last meal before walking home across the park. It was the center of London’s swinging sixties, L.A.’s silky seventies, and the glamorous debauch of the Manhattan art world, circa 1984. Mr. Chow on 57th Street is still a party—now starring Lenny Kravitz or Jay-Z—seven nights a week.

The Sayings of Chairman Chow [NY Magazine]

Photo: Of the inside of Mr. Chow at the W Hotel South Beach

The steakhouse craze continues. The newest entry into the fray is Boca Dolce, an Argentinean-style steakhouse in West Boca. All of the usual suspects are there in the beef section of the menu: lomo, bife de chorizo, vacio and entraña. Other options include lamb, veal, salmon and chicken, and, of course, mollejas (sweetbreads), chorizo and morcilla. Veggies? Well, there are potatoes, mushrooms, and a nod to greens with some lettuce and asparagus, but they clearly seem like an afterthought.

As steakhouse-saturated as we are down here, West Boca actually doesn't have too many good options in that category (Roadhouse Grill, anyone?), so this could fill a nice little niche in the neighborhood.

Meat Cravings Satisfied at Boca Dolce Steakhouse [Short Order]

Elevation Burger, the Virginia-based chain that prides itself on making burgers with organic grass-fed beef and other environmentally-friendly ingredients, is coming to South Florida this year. The company has signed a franchise agreement with two entrepreneurs who plan to open at least three units in Broward and Palm Beach Counties.

The menu is concise: there are beef or vegetarian patties, which you can even mix together in a double stack burger. Sides are fries (fried in olive oil), salads, mandarin oranges and cookies. Add a shake or malt and that sounds like a good meal.

Elevation Burger to enter South Fla. [Fast Casual]

The owners of Quattro Gastronomia Italiana are planning to open a Neapolitan-style pizzeria on Lincoln Road, just across the street from the restaurant. According to a spokesperson for the pizzeria, called Sosta Enoteca, the owners are importing an authentic wood-burning oven from Italy and expect to open May 1.

East meets west at the new Tasters Grille Market, which has taken over the old Anthony's spot in Tavernier. It's run by a sommelier who's no stranger to the Keys dining scene — he's also consulted for Braza Leña, Snapper's and Old Tavernier Restaurant — and a kitchen veteran who's mastered South Carolina's low country cooking and South Florida's own brand of Caribbean-style cuisine. The menu is all over the map, although it keeps the focus on locally-caught fish cooked in Caribbean and Asian flavors, like crab rangoon or mahi mahi tacos, which come with pico de gallo. We're actually most intrigued by the "Keys Limeade," made with key limes, fresh ginger and cane sugar. Certainly sounds refreshing.

Tasters offers mix of international flavors [The Citizen]

The much-anticipated BLT Steak, Miami's first Laurent Tourondel restaurant, is officially open at The Betsy Hotel on South Beach. The restaurant held a grand opening party yesterday evening where the entire menu was served buffet-style.

This is the ninth BLT Steak location; the first one opened in New York in 2004. Rather than offer the same menu at each restaurant, Tourondel seems to tailor it to the area. For example, there's a variation on the Cuban sandwich (pressed pork belly and speck with garlic fries) on the Miami Beach menu, while the New York menu doesn't offer sandwiches at all. The same goes for chimichurri, which is one of the sauces available down here. The Miami menu offers fewer meat options — no Kobe steak, for one thing — and more local seafood, like stone crabs and red snapper. And he's hit the nail on the head with the dessert menu: lots of citrus, tropical fruits, sorbets and mousse, which are sweet, light, and refreshing. Exactly what's needed while on the beach.

Sara at All Purpose Dark has photos from the grand opening party — the meat looks great, but it's the cheese table photo, even with the poor lighting and the grainy quality, that is making us swoon.

BLT Steak Grand Opening @ The Betsy Hotel [All Purpose Dark]

The owner of the old 251 Sunrise in Palm Beach is returning to the exact same spot with a new lounge called 251 Palm Beach. It opens tonight with a VIP reception at 9 p.m.; if you're not on the VIP list, you can head over after 11 p.m. For now, it's just a lounge, but owner Gus Renny, who also co-owns Grease Burger Bar in West Palm Beach, expects to add a restaurant in another few weeks, according to the Palm Beach Post.

Renny points out that there's a need on Palm Beach for a swanky place to go. The problem? All of these trendy people are about to fly away home to their summer retreats.

"Is this really the right time, especially on the island that is so seasonal?" asks bartender J.P. Bowles. "You're not really going to have a summer crowd, but we're confident it's the right time, even though it's not the right time."

251 Sunrise lounge transforms into 251 PB, aims for trendy, chic crowd [Palm Beach Post]
New lounge opening in tough times [WPTV]

After 58 years, the The Olde Lighthouse Restaurant in Jupiter has shut its doors. According to the Palm Beach Post, the restaurant's last day was Saturday. It's tough when a bad economy counts a piece of history among its victims.

Jupiter's landmark Olde Lighthouse Restaurant shuts its doors [Palm Beach Post]

The new location of Lime Fresh Mexican Grill opens early next month in Midtown Miami at 3201 N Miami Ave. According to chief operating officer Tom Ingersoll, everything is ready to go, and they're just waiting for the final inspections.

The grand opening is set for April 16, where there will be complimentary hors d'oeuvres, cocktails and Dos XX, in addition to a mariachi band. If the free food doesn't entice you enough, perhaps this will: the company is presenting a $2,000 check to the Humane Society of Greater Miami's Adopt-A-Pet program.

Adopt-A-Taco [Short Order]

We've had our eyes on a few restaurants opening up in the coming weeks. Here's what we've got on the dining docket:

• The Sports Exchange has set an opening date: April 1. And it's not an April Fool's Day joke. Well, at least we don't think so...

• Fresh Bistro & Nightclub, in the old Swig Bartini spot, has been serving the food on the old menu but will be introducing a new menu next week. Swig's, in the meantime, is on the hunt for a new location.

• The Texas-based Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Cuisine is opening its first South Florida location in Boca Raton's Mizner Park on March 31.

El Gran Inka, which has locations in Key Biscayne and North Miami Beach, is opening up at 947 Brickell Ave in Miami. The 2,800-square-foot space, which will feature a menu similar to the other branches, is scheduled to open in May.

El Gran Inka [MenuPages]
El Gran Inka
El Gran Inka [Official Site]

Add Yogen Früz to the fro-yo craze. The company, which has 1,100 locations in 20 different countries, is opening its first South Florida spot at 100 S Biscayne Blvd in Miami, the beginning of what looks to be an aggressive campaign in the area: 21 stores in the next eight years.

Yogen Früz opens on Tuesday, March 17. To celebrate, the store is offering two-for-one frozen yogurts all day; get a medium or large yogurt, and get your friend's for free.

Yogen Früz [Official Site]

Sara at All Purpose Dark reports that The Food Gang has shut its doors after a two-year stint. Seems like they made a few bad decisions, starting with letting Howie Kleinberg go.

The Food Gang has closed [All Purpose Dark]
The Food Gang [MenuPages]

Coral Gables is losing a tea room. Théine Tea Salon's owners announced this past weekend that they will be closing the shop at the end of the month to start a truffle farm in West Virginia. Seriously. We're a little sad that the tea shop is closing, but, a truffle farm? That is so awesome. Good luck to them.

Théine Tea Salon [MenuPages]
Théine Tea Salon [Official Site]

We've got quite a few restaurants scheduled to open in March on our radar. Here are the ones in Miami that we're keeping an eye on:

• The Sports Exchange, which promises to be "Miami's largest" sports bar, is opening mid-March at 45 Miracle Mile in Coral Gables. Expect lots and lots of plasma TVs.

• The popular Taste Bakery Cafe

• Can we ever get enough steak? The Grill Club Rodizio & Boteco, a Brazilian churrascaria, is coming in late February to 2 Aragon Ave in Coral Gables.

• Crazy Pianos, a piano bar/restaurant from The Netherlands, is opening its first U.S. location in the old Tu Tu Tango spot in Coconut Grove. It's set to open mid-March.

• Also coming to the Grove sometime in March: an Asian tapas and sushi restaurant called Koi in the old Señor Frog's location at 3480 Main Hwy.

Remember way back in November 2007 we wrote that former Top Chef contestant Howie Kleinberg's Bulldog BBQ would be open in two or three months? Three months turned into 15 months; the restaurant finally opens its doors, after a year of renovations and delays, on Monday at 11 a.m. Kleinberg expects the place will be swarmed:

We’ve had such an overwhelming — and exciting — response. Over the last couple of weeks, my staff and I have been in here daily prepping for the opening. We must have a dozen people stop in each day to ask if we’re open yet. I’ve had to reorder To Go menus twice!

Ask The Chef: Howie Kleinberg [MP: South Florida]
Howie Embraces Bulldog Status, Plans BBQ Restaurant [MP: South Florida]
Bulldog BBQ [MenuPages]
Bulldog BBQ [Official Site]

The sister restaurant of Mamajuana Cafe in New York City is opening in the old Chispa location (225 Altara Ave) in Coral Gables. The menu is very Nuevo Latino with a heavy dose of Spanish influences. MenuPages users seem to like it on the whole, although they complain that the food can be a bit inconsistent and that the brunch could be better. But the portions are large and the appetizers are tasty. A restaurant spokesman just confirmed that the menu for the new location will be very similar to that of the New York restaurant. Opening date is set for February 15.

And in case you're wondering exactly what "Mamajuana" is, here's the definition according to the restaurant's website:

A "miracle" potion created long ago in what was then known as Quisqueya, solely populated by the native Taino Indians, modernly known as the Dominican Republic. Mamajuana is a concoction of various herbs and roots that is mixed with rum, wine, honey and spices and has customarily been used to cure everything from impotency, to a sore throat, to the stomach flu.

HIRING ALL POSITIONS-NEW UPSCALE RESTAURANT in GABLES!!! (Coral Gables, Fl) [Craigslist]
Mamajuana Cafe [MenuPages]
Mamajuana Cafe [Official Site]

Stop by Cupcakes Nouveau's grand opening party on Miracle Mile tonight for a free cupcake. The festivities begin at 7 p.m. I imagine they'll have their signature cake-filling-frosting combinations available, like Chocolate Chic (chocolate cupcake with a chocolate filling and a vanilla buttercream frosting) and Caramel Bonbon (vanilla cupcake filled with dulce de leche and topped with vanilla Swiss meringue buttercream frosting).

Cupcakes Nouveau [MenuPages]
Cupcakes Nouveau [Official Site]

Photo: cupcakesnouveau/flickr

Downtown Miami will soon be home to a new pizzeria, although not quite as soon as we all thought. This Herald brief said that Ecco Pizzateca & Lounge would be opening today, but a phone call to the restaurant revealed that a) they don't have a set menu yet, and b) they still don't know when they're going to open. It's sure not going to be anytime this weekend.

A quality pizza place is always welcome, and this one features award-winning pizza maker Massimo Fabio Bruni in the kitchen. And there'll be free Wi-Fi too!

Upscale pizza in downtown Miami [Miami Herald]
Ecco Pizzateca & Lounge [Official Site]

Have you tried calling the Rosa Mexicano location in Palm Beach Gardens lately? You get this message:

You have reached Rosa Mexicano Restaurant. We are closed. As of New Year's, Rosa Mexicano has closed. We thank all of our guests and wish you all a happy and healthy new year.

Both Spoto's locations ranked among the top 50 restaurants in the Zagat Palm Beach Restaurants 2008 guide. Spoto moved employees from the West Palm Beach location to his Spoto's Oyster Bar and Oakwood Grill on PGA.

"We tried to hold on as long as we could," Spoto said. "The lunches were still fine, but for whatever reason, we just weren't getting the dinner business."

Rosa Mexicano, Spoto's Oyster Bar close their doors [Palm Beach Post]
Rosa Mexicano [MenuPages]
Rosa Mexicano [Official Site]
Spoto's Oyster Bar [MenuPages]
Spoto's Oyster Bar [Official Site]

The chain invasion of Miracle Mile is continuing; Fatburger is set to take over the location of former furniture store Amalio Russo. The only other Fatburger in the area is the Queen Latifah-owned franchise on South Beach. We're going to assume that it's done well there, given the company's interest in expanding in the area. OneBurger's already established dominance in downtown Coral Gables in the fast quality burger category, so we'll see if Fatburger can make a dent in that. Get ready for the burger showdown!

Sick Of The South Beach Diet? Queen Latifah To The Rescue! [MP: South Florida]
Fatburger [MenuPages]
Fatburger [Official Site]
OneBurger [MenuPages]
OneBurger [Official Site]

It's officially over: every last one of the RJ Gator's locations is closed. After a bankruptcy, a sale, and another bankruptcy, the tanking economy finally pulled the plug on the chain that was on life support.

After more than 20 years of business, R.J. Gator's Florida Sea Grill & Bar is closing all of its remaining locations and filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Late Thursday night, employees were told not to return to work. A notice posted on the door of all locations Friday said: "Due to the economic downturn we have been forced to close. … We truly have appreciated your business over the last 21 years."

As many as 150 employees are now out of a job.

R.J. Gator's Restaurant Closes All Locations [WPBFTV]
R J Gator's [MenuPages]
R J Gator's [MenuPages]
R J Gator's [MenuPages]

The only Ethiopian restaurant in Miami, Sheba, is closed, according to the Miami Herald:

Sheba, Miami's only Ethiopian restaurant, served its last injera last weekend. The owners cited the down economy and family obligations in Nigeria as their reasons for closing.

UPDATE: According to commenter Edwin, the owner is looking to move the restaurant to Hollywood. So the situation isn't quite as sad as we'd thought originally.

SoBe Wine Fest discounts, Sublime specials, Sheba closing and more [Miami Herald]
Sheba [MenuPages]
Sheba [Official Site]

Photo: elisabethp/flickr

Downtown Hollywood has a new pub: Mickey Byrne's, which promises corned beef and cabbage, fish and chips, and shepherd's pie, along with 18 beers on tap and plenty of Irish whiskey. And, of course, there will be typical American sports bar favorites, like chicken wings and burgers. And televisions.

The restaurant, at 1921 Hollywood Blvd, has been up and running since November 26 and is open daily from 11 a.m. until 2 a.m. A menu is on its way, so as soon as we get that, we'll add it to the site.

Mickey Byrne's [Official Site]

We got a tip from a commenter that Miami will soon be home to a restaurant from Brazil by way of Germany, of all places. Botequim Carioca is scheduled to open sometime in early 2008 (likely February, although that's unconfirmed) in the 900 Biscayne Boulevard building. The only Botequim Carioca with an internet presence is this one in Berlin. A call to the 900 Biscayne building confirmed that the restaurant is definitely coming, and the lady on the other end said "I do know that Germany is involved somehow." So chances are good that it's the same restaurant.

Our tipster called it a Brazilian steakhouse, but nothing we've read on the German restaurant's site (which is written in both German and Portuguese, thankfully, as we cannot read the former) makes us think that steak is the focus. And the Miami branch's website doesn't say much, but it does mention that it will be an "upscale brazilian appetizer restaurant." So Brazilian tapas. Could be good.

Botequim Carioca - Germany [Official Site]
Botequim Carioca - Miami [Official Site]

A couple months back, local foodies rejoiced at the news that Michelle Bernstein (of Michy's, of course) would be taking over the old Domo Japones spot in the Design District. The new, revamped tapas restaurant, Sra Martinez opened this past Monday. The menu features a number of Spanish tapas standards — think tortilla espanola, roasted piquillo peppers, patatas bravas — but also adds a few Asian touches, like crispy pork belly and galbi pinchos. (Galbi = Korean short ribs, which happen to be a favorite of ours.) And that white bean stew with duck and foie gras sausage and a port wine reduction sounds heavenly.

If you want to give it a try, you may have to wait for a few days; with Art Basel starting this week, the place will likely be swamped. But if the food is as good as it sounds, there's a good chance it'll be around for quite a while.

Michy's [MenuPages]
Sra Martinez [MenuPages]

The Fontainebleau Hotel has re-opened in all of its renovated glory with seven restaurants for your dining pleasure. Only five — Gotham Steak, Scarpetta, Vida, Solo and Fresh — are currently open; the first two officially open tonight, while the other three have been serving customers since Friday. La Cote, a French Mediterranean restaurant, is due December 20, and Hakkasan, with an upscale Chinese theme, won't be open until the new year.

The fact that Alfred Portale — who's a great chef and has done wonderful things with Gotham Bar & Grill — has opened a restaurant in South Florida is exciting, except it'd be nice if the theme weren't so steak-focused. Seriously, how many more steakhouses can this area support? Especially in a recession. Anyway, the food, mostly steakhouse standards, will likely be great.

Scarpetta is the product of another New York City chef, Scott Conant, who is known for his seasonally-inspired and elegant Italian food. The restaurant has yet to send over a menu, but we're told it will look a lot like that of the original Scarpetta in Manhattan. If the food in the new location is as good as New York MenuPages reviewers say it is, then we're in for a treat.

Fontainebleau Hotel [Official Site]
Gotham Steak [MenuPages]
Fresh [MenuPages]

Surely you've read about the opening of Canyon Ranch on 69th Street and Collins Avenue in Miami Beach. There was even a handy Herald article about how the luxury resort's opening comes at such a perfect time, given the robust state of the economy. Even so, only about 10 percent of buyers have backed out of their crazy-expensive condos, which is a pretty good rate around these parts.

As far as food goes, Canyon Ranch has five different dining venues, although only Canyon Ranch Grill is open to the public. According to the site, there will be plenty of outdoor seating, a tapas area (?) and an exhibition kitchen. The food will, of course, have a decidedly healthy bent. The menu is on its way, and as soon as we find out more, we will fill you in.

Canyon Ranch Miami Beach [Official Site]
Tough times will test luxury MIami Beach hotel spa [Miami Herald]

Zed 451, a sort-of steakhouse with locations in Chicago, Orlando and Boston, has opened up a fourth spot in Boca Raton's Mizner Park. There's no set menu (which means, alas, that it cannot be listed on MenuPages); instead, you help yourself from the "harvest table," which has soups, salads, veggies, cheese, charcuterie and bread. The proteins — steaks, ribs, seafood, poultry, game — are brought to you tableside. Basically, it's similar to rodizio, but without the Brazilian bent and with more seafood options. Here's what one chowhound had to say about the experience:

as we sat we were directed to the 'harvest tables' which are filled with fresh breads, charcuterie, an assortment of cheese, grilled vegetables, and a number of beautifully presented sides. i sampled the grilled mushrooms, asparagus, squash, tomato and mozzarella, focaccia, roasted beets, tomatillos and perhaps a few others i can't recall. everything was perfectly fresh and well seasoned. upon returning to the table our 'sides' were presented; a moist and flavorful corn bread, tender sauteed spaghetti squash and rich goat cheese scalloped potatoes. now the real food begins to arrive, delivered by 'chefs' . . . top sirloin, moroccan chicken, mahi mahi, seared tuna, grilled wahoo and salmon along with various other items. everything was perfectly cooked and simply seasoned. prices will be about $55 for the full experience plus drinks and dessert, around $35 for the 'harvest tables' only plus drinks etc.

Zed 451 [Official Site]

This is ridiculous. Angelo and Maxie's, a New York steakhouse, is opening its second location at the Mayfair Hotel & Spa, according to the Coconut Grove Grapevine.

You can check out the menu at the New York location; MP users seem to really like the place. Great steaks, etc. Yippee.

New steakhouse opening in the Grove next weekend [Coconut Grove Grapevine]
Mayfair Hotel & Spa [Official Site]
Angelo and Maxie's [MenuPages New York]
Angelo and Maxie's [Official Site]

Meat Market, the new venture from the folks from Touch, is having a soft opening this weekend before its official opening sometime later next week. Sean Brasel, the former executive chef at Touch, will be manning the kitchen, which will, naturally, focus on the meat. The menu, which is available sans prices on the restaurant's website (we've called for one a few times, but each time have been told that the final menu isn't set yet) seems more interesting than the average steakhouse, thankfully. Check out the house specialties:

• Tropical braised fatty brisket with coconut, mango, Cuban sweet potatoes and wild mushrooms
• Kobe skirt steak with lemongrass, ginger, and roasted local chili
• Buffalo tenderloin steak with chili, espresso and bittersweet chocolate mole butter
• Wild African pheasant with tamari and braised chicory

Sounds tasty. Check it out this weekend; the restaurant is open for dinner only.

Meat Market [Official Site]

South Florida is getting a new Brazilian steakhouse: Fogo de Chão, which opens tonight for dinner on Miami Beach. This is the Brazil-based chain's 12th location in the US. Given South Floridians' affinity for rodizio, it's surprising that it took the company so long to open a Miami location. Then again, perhaps they were worried about entering an already-saturated market. Do not fear, Fogo de Chão; our appetite for red meat down here never ends.

The restaurant is open for dinner only at the moment; lunch service will begin on Monday, November 3. Lunch and dinner cost $26.50 and $46.50 respectively, and that includes the usual: endless meat and as much as you like from the large salad bar. Those who want just the salad bar pay $19.50.

Fogo de Chao [MenuPages]
Fogo de Chao [Official Site]

Photo: Haroldo Kennedy/flickr

Just got word that Meat Market, the new steakhouse from the people who were in charge of Touch, will be opening in the old Pacific Time spot on November 3. No news yet on the menu, which hasn't been finalized yet, but expect lots of red meat. Chef Sean Brasel will be heading up the kitchen, just as he did at Touch.

Touch [Official Site]

Chef Johnny Vinczencz of Johnny V is responding to the economic crisis by opening a casual and inexpensive restaurant in the old Louie Louie Italian Bistro spot on Las Olas, according to the Sun-Sentinel's food blog. No item on the American comfort food menu will cost more than $20. The opening date is set for November 12.

Johnny V to open second restaurant [Sup]
Johnny V [MenuPages]
Johnny V [Official Site]

There's been some confusion, mostly on my part, about the opening date of Morimoto at the Boca Raton Resort & Club. There were tales of food at Chowhound, but everything else (including phone calls to the club) pointed to a January opening date. Today, however, someone at the restaurant informed me that it has been open for the past 10 days for lunch and dinner. The menu is on its way.

In the meantime, here's what themaddiner had to say about it:

it's a beautiful small space with a long marble bar where you can get up close and personal with the friendly sushi chefs and be hypnotized by the videos shown on the array of flat screens behind the bar. an extensive and expensive menu of traditional sushi / sashimi along with a wide assortment of innovative offerings. morimoto offers his own line of sake and beer to pair with your selections. our server was well out of her depth and lacked knowledge of the menu and available sake selections. each seat at the bar was ready for service with the appropriate dishes and chopsticks . . . but of course not where i chose to sit . . . and i had to ask the server to bring chopsticks etc. when our food arrived. i took the opportunity to watch our chef prepare our items and discuss the freshness of the seafood selections. they have items rare for south florida; all grades of tuna > otoro, maguro, chutoro along with suzuki, tai, kinmedai etc. i enjoyed a beautifully displayed appetizer of otoro, sake, kani, hamachi, and aji, a kanpachi carpaccio served with hot ginger infused oil along with kinmedai, aji and far too much junmai daiginjo sake

Morimoto at Boca Resort Hotel [Chowhound]
Boca Raton Resort & Club [Official Site]
Chef Masaharu Morimoto [Official Site]

Photo: panduh/flickr

Despite the tanking economy, quite a few restaurateurs are taking their chances and opening new spots in the next couple of months. Here's the roundup:

• The really big news came earlier this week, when Lee Klein learned that Michelle Bernstein had taken over the Domo Japones spot in the Design District. Bernstein and her husband are planning a tapas restaurant for the space. [Short Order]

• Au Pied de Cochon, a French 24-hour brasserie, is opening on South Beach. This will be the third location on this side of the Atlantic; the other two are in Mexico City and Atlanta. [Miami Herald]

• Todd English is expanding his Boston restaurant empire south with a Northern Italian restaurant called Da Campo Osteria at the Il Lugano hotel in Fort Lauderdale. [Miami Herald]

• A La Folie Cafe has a new location at 1701 Purdy Ave in Miami Beach. According to Chowhound, it has the benefit of being mosquito-free. [Chowhound]

• The Cheese Course is planning a Miami location for sometime early next year. [Miami Herald]

•Sage French Cafe is also opening a second location in the old Michael's Kitchen spot in Hollywood. It should be open around mid-November. [Chowhound]

• Coral Springs is getting a new Benihana in the old Macaroni Grill location. [Short Order]

Miami Beach is getting two new Segafredos next month, according to this item in BizBash Florida: one in South Beach on Collins Avenue and the other in Bal Harbour. As soon as I can find out exact addresses, I'll post them here.

Segafredos to Open New Locations [BizBash]
Segafredo Brickell
Segafredo Brickell [Official Site]

A tipster told us rising star chef Gerdy Rodriguez was no longer at the helm of 1 Bleu, and a phone call to the restaurant confirmed the fact. Carlos Villa is in charge of the kitchen as the restaurant searches for a new leadership.

While working on a story about the emergence of raw food in Miami, we went to The Art of Food to check out its ‘live’ offerings, only to find that the space appeared closed. The number to the restaurant has also been disconnected.

And although many continue to report that Maison D'Azur is closed, owner Stephen Fortier hinted to The Herald yesterday that the acclaimed French restaurant is moving to ''a really high profile location.” We’d previously reported on Barton G’s talks with The Sagamore to take over Social’s space, but that deal fell through. We now have confirmation from multiple sources that Maison is taking over the space and planning for a fall opening. Ooh la la!

The Art of Food [MenuPages]
Maison D'Azur closes [Miami Herald]
Barton Bumps Social [MP: South Florida]
Maison D'Azur [MenuPages]
Maison D'Azur [Official Site]

Fans of Creolina's rejoice! John Tanasychuk at the Sun-Sentinel reports that the restaurant is definitely re-opening in Davie in September.

His new restaurant, Creolina’s Dixie Take Out, will be located at 13150 W. State Rd. 84 in the Randal Plaza. There’s a Dunkin’ Donuts and a McDonald's in the same plaza.

...

The house specialties—étouffée, jambalaya, beans and rice—will remain. But prices will be lower. Jambalaya was $8.95 a lunch and $12.95 at dinner. It will be $6.95 all day at the new Creolina’s.

The chef will also add classic Southern dishes, many of which he’s offered as specials. Look for country fried steak, chicken and dumplings, pulled pork and country-style ribs. Sides will includes corn bread, greens, black-eyed peas as well macaroni and cheese.

Looks like Palm Restaurant, one of the original Merrick Park tenants, has closed up, according to an article in today's Herald:

The Palm, the swanky steak house that adorned its walls with caricatures of celebrities like tennis star Pete Sampras, singer Jewel and Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle (pictured), has called it quits in Coral Gables.

One of the original Village at Merrick Park restaurants, The Palm served its last meal on Sunday, the company's Washington, D.C., headquarters confirmed.

Since The Palm opened in October 2002, Fleming's and Morton's had joined it on the Gables steak-house scene along with veterans Ruth's Chris and Christy's. Service continues at The Palm's longtime Bay Harbor Islands restaurant, according to a manager there. The chain has more than two dozen locations nationwide.

Gables Palm is gone [Miami Herald]
Palm Restaurant [MenuPages]
Palm Restaurant [Official Site]

Photo: mag3737/flickr

We got word today that Creolina's in Fort Lauderdale is closed. The restaurant, open since 1991, served Louisiana-style Cajun food for 17 years and now is likely another casualty of the recession. It seemed popular, and it's not like there's much competition on the Cajun food front.

There's no answer at the restaurant, and an attempt to reach owner Mark Sulzinski was rebuffed, so we're not quite sure what's going on, but if you have any information, let us know!

UPDATE: Thanks to Pete and Mike, who left comments below, we learned that the building's owners didn't renew Creolina's lease so that they could expand their bar next door. But there's hope: apparently Sulzinski is looking for some space to re-open in one of the western suburbs.

Creolina's [MenuPages]

Cita’s Italian Chophouse opens today in Coconut Grove. We can’t wait to try it, particularly since owner Ed Benitez is also bringing on board pastry chef Antonio Bachour (ex- of Nobu, Talula and DeVito). The Grove can pose difficulties for even the best of restaurateurs (the fabulous Christabelle’s Quarter was pitifully empty for brunch this weekend), but Benitez’s heart appears to be fully invested in the endeavor. “I wanted to create the kind of restaurant that I would visit regularly and welcome as a part of my community. I was emphatic about creating a concept where the food quality and service were absolute top-of-the-line, with an atmosphere as down-to-earth as the Grove itself,” he says. The 1,475 square foot restaurant was built out and designed by Benitez himself, who is also an avid fisherman. Cita’s will be serving premium cuts of beef, day boat fish selections and pastas made in-house daily.

These are the restaurant hours:
Dinner, Sunday – Thursday, 5 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. - midnight.
Brunch, Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

If you beat us to sampling it, don’t forget to report back!

Cita's Italian Chophouse [Official Site]

We've got three new steakhouses coming our way, because clearly we have not yet had our fill of red meat. These really seem like the wrong types of places to be opening during a recession, right? Anyway, here they are:

• Morton's hasn't quite saturated the market enough, despite the recent opening of the branch in Coral Gables. A new Morton's will open up in The Crown apartment building on 40th Street and Collins Avenue on Miami Beach sometime either late this year or early next year. We imagine it'll likely be the latter. The company is also planning to open its first branch in Broward County later this year in the Broward Financial Center in Fort Lauderdale.

• BLT Steak, Laurent Tourondel's take on the American steakhouse, has chosen Miami Beach as its fifth location. It'll be located inside the Betsy Hotel. We made a couple of phone calls, but no one could give any specific information about the progress of the restaurant, except that it will be opening in the fall.

• Cita's Italian Chophouse definitely has an opening date: July 22. It's opening at 3176 Commodore Plaza in Coconut Grove. The focus, we're told, will be premium cuts of beef, fresh fish and homemade pastas. We're still working on getting a menu, but here are a few sample dishes: veal-pork-beef meatballs topped with whipped ricotta, fried basil and tomato sauce; papardelle with beef tenderloin, porcini mushrooms and wild herbs in a Cognac sauce; short ribs marinated in Barolo for 24 hours before being braised topped with whipped ricotta; and for dessert, something called chocolate sabotage, a sampling of five chocolate desserts.

Chocoholics can't quite complain about Peterbrooke Chocolatier's modus operandi. The Jacksonville, FL-born chocolate company dips everything from Oreos and pretzels to potato chips and s'mores in mouth-watering European chocolate. According to the company, they're even the people who invented chocolate-covered popcorn. Now, Peterbrooke is posing a threat to waistlines across Coral Gables, with the opening this week of its sweet shop at 227 Aragon Avenue (305-446-3131). On top of all the diet damage it already poses, the chocolatier plans to remain open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, just in case any of us should suffer from a late-night case of the munchies. Somebody please get me a bigger pair of pants!

Peterbrooke Chocolatier [Official Site]

VIP Wine Club has recently opened a new store on Sunset Drive at the intersection with 87th avenue. We checked it out while waiting for our shoes to be shined at a nearby shoe repair shop. At 11:00 am, it was too early to drink, but we did scope out the atmosphere. Rich wood wine racks line one side of the shop/restaurant,while display cases for food stuffs and cigars dot the opposite wall. A sleek bar finishes the room, which is also decorated by Jorgen's paintings of long-necked women. The cool dim room is a welcome respite from the heat and hurry of the Sunset strip mall, and the servers are friendly. Tapas and dinner specials are economically priced and the wine selection is extensive. The only drawback I can see to for this franchise is the location. Tapas usually start the night and there is not much in the way of entertainment or other restaurants/bars nearby. However, VIP Wine Club also functions as an actual club with membership dues that pay for sommelier seminars and wine tastings, so a night at the Club might be sufficient in and of itself.

VIP Wine Club [Official Site]

Looks like Artfish on the Mile is gone, according to some very observant chowhounds. It's a shame, because we heard that it was really quite good. But it's not surprising, given this exceptionally slow summer and the insanely high rents on the Mile. It didn't even last a year.

Coral Gables 6/24/08 Dinner $25-35 p/p (w/o alcohol). What's a hot spot for that kind of money? [Chowhound]
Artfish on the Mile [MenuPages]

We love the name. We're a bit...ambivalent...towards anchovies, but it wasn't long ago that we were in the vehement "no anchovies!" camp. The restaurant isn't new to northern Palm Beach County residents, but it's just re-opened in its new spot on Alt A1A in Lake Park. No seats here; it's strictly take-out. They pack enough food for two, unless you specify for more, and come with detailed cooking instructions. The menu is filled with Italian-American standards; the best options, we think, are the baked pastas (ziti, stuffed shells and lasagna) and dishes like chicken or eggplant parmesan would likely hold up well to reheating. We also like the idea of "take & bake" pizzas, which are prepared on-site and cooked at home. Pizza is always best right out of the oven anyway. And you can even get anchovies on it!

No Anchovies! To Go, 9339 Alt A1A in Lake Park, 561-840-7771

We've got two openings of note today. First, the much-anticipated Philippe is now serving food at the new South Beach hotel Gansevoort South. It's fitting that the southern outpost of this posh Manhattan hotel would also feature a New York restaurant. The menu will most likely very closely resemble that of the original restaurant in New York, which specializes in peking duck.

The Capital Grille also opens today in Palm Beach Gardens. The steakhouse chain already has locations in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, so with this new opening, it's saturated the South Florida market.

Menus for both restaurants should be online tomorrow.

Philippe, 2305 Collins Ave in Miami Beach, 305-674-0250
The Capital Grille, 11365 Legacy Ave in Palm Beach Gardens, 561-630-4994

Gansevoort South [Official Site]
Philippe Chow [Official Site]
The Capital Grille [Official Site]

Karu & Y is officially closed, for good this time. Despite the talk of re-opening the restaurant with a new menu, we had a feeling that wasn't going to happen, especially in this market. The Miami Herald reports today that the club/lounge is joining the restaurant's shuttered status:

Celeb not-so-hot spot Karu & Y is way done.

The $25 million downtown Miami restaurant closed in February and now Y Ultralounge, the other glitzy half of the complex, has shuttered its doors, too.

Opened in September 2006, Karu never could seem to shake the fact that it was on the edge of an impoverished section of Overtown. High-end patrons often had to be escorted to their cars by bodyguards, and kids on bikes peddled around the entrance asking for money.

Attempts to contact the restaurant/lounge owners were unsuccessful.

Karu's former publicist, Susan Brustman, had high hopes when the restaurant opened, saying then: ''In other cities, restaurants have turned neighborhoods around,'' she said.

Karu & Y: Stick a fork in it [Miami Herald]
More News On The Karu & Y Closing [MP: South Florida]
Closed: Karu Restaurant & Y [MP: South Florida]

The Fish House just opened a new restaurant off of Dixie Highway between Kendall Dr. and 104th Street (the same shopping center as Trattoria Luna and Hooligan'sr). The waitress lured us in by promising us a 10 percent discount on our meal for being the first customers of the day. The restaurant has been open for a little over a week and offers the same fresh seafood of its two other locations, one on 8th street and 121st avenue and the other on Miller and 100th avenue. Instead of the customary rolls and butter, The Fish House serves their signature smoked fish dip with saltine crackers. We both loved the dip and crackers, but missed having some fluffy bread around to soak up the remains of our lobster bisque (creamy and delicious) and the garlic butter sauce from our mussels.

The Fish House [MenuPages]
The Fish House [Official Site]

Remember when Paula at Mango & Lime provided us with a sneak peek of Fratelli Lyon back in February? Well, it's finally opening today for lunch and dinner. Check out Paula's post for descriptions of the food; here, we're just going to give you a sampling of a few items from the menu which we think are interesting. The entire menu will be available on MenuPages South Florida tomorrow.

• We're salivating just reading the "antipasti - salumi" section: mortadella, coppa, sopressata, bresaola, prosciutto di parma, finocchiona and speck. The "antipasti - formaggi" features cheeses that hail from Lombardy, Piedmont, Tuscany, Parma and Val D'Aosta. We're intrigued by "la tur," a slightly-aged triple milk cheese (cow, goat and sheep) from Piedmont.

• Where there is good cheese, we expect there is good pizza. The menu offers four pizzas: margherita, quatro formaggi, ligure and amatriciana.

• And we haven't even hit the primi yet; this menu takes a while to peruse. Looking for something filling? We'd opt for the tagliatelle with braised beef and veal ragu. On the lighter side, there's spaghetti with breadcrumbs, zucchini and olive oil.

• Secondi options include roasted young chicken, calf liver, grilled hangar steak, grilled duck breast, sea bass and a seafood casserole.

The wine list is extensive too, featuring only Italian wines (of course); many are offered not only by the bottle, but in 100 mL or 250 mL portions.

Fratelli Lyon, 4141 NE 2nd Ave in Miami; 305-572-2901

Sneak peek: Fratelli Lyon [Mango & Lime]

We just recently got the menu at Pacific Time, which opened its doors in its new location in the Design District yesterday. Here's a sampling of the menu:

• grilled sardines panzanella style with Tuscan gallo negro and Florida tomatoes
• pan-broiled sweetbreads with pancetta, wood-aged sherry vinegar and arugula
• ginger scallion pancake with Key West pink shrimp, shiitake and champagne
• grilled local swordfish with red onion puree and young organic arugula
• panko organic chicken paillard with arugula and Florida tomatoes

Pacific Time [MenuPages]

Photo, of herb and truffle roasted chicken at the old Pacific Time: wrestlingentropy/flickr

The best way to get your restaurant some free publicity before it even opens its doors seems to be to give it a racy or controversial name. Remember all the hullabaloo about El Carajo when it first opened? Here's another one: Better Than Sex, a bakery opening today in Key West. The opening has been covered in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Naples. Granted, they all ran the same AP story, but still — do Orlando residents care that much about a bakery that is opening an eight-hour drive away?

According to the story, a sampling of menu items includes: Missionary Crisp, Pump-in Pie and Pop My Cherry Cheesecake. We'll work on getting the rest of the menu, as soon as we can find a phone number for this place...

Better Than Sex dessert shop to open in Key West [Sun-Sentinel]

The last remaining Mark's is gone:

Mark's at the Park in Boca Raton's Mizner Park unexpectedly closed its doors Thursday, the last of four restaurants led by award-winning chef Mark Militello to shutter in the past two months.

The much-heralded South Florida chain has disappeared quietly. Both Militello and the restaurant's owner, Michael Freundlich, are mum on the reason for the closings.

Freundlich, managing partner of the Mark's restaurant group, on Monday referred calls to Militello, who in turn, directed questions to Freundlich's corporate offices in Boca Raton.

"Mark was the operator. He was responsible," Freundlich said.

Militello's response: "They made all the decisions."

Mark's Restaurant no longer at park [Palm Beach Post]
Afternoon Roundup: Mark's South Beach Closing Tonight [MP: South Florida]
Closed: Mark's Las Olas [MP: South Florida]
Mark's Mizner Park [MenuPages]

Giardino Gourmet Salads, which currently has locations in Coral Gables and Doral, will be opening up a new branch on South Beach this month. They specialize in interesting salads that mix a variety of unusual ingredients — think watercress, brie, pistachios and plantain chips — with savory homemade dressings and croutons. Our favorites are the Habanero (spicy watercress, garbanzo beans, tomatoes, avocados, cucumbers and plantain chips tossed in a citrus culantro vinaigrette) and the Fizz (arugula, strawberries, gorgonzola and roasted garlic). Their prices have gone up since the first store's opening in the Gables; it's now $6 instead of $5 for a piccolo, $8 instead of $7 for a basta, etc., although the add-ons, including meat, are still the same price. For the quality and the freshness of the ingredients, Giardino is a welcome addition to the South Beach fast food scene.

Giardino Gourmet Salads - Coral Gables [MenuPages]
Giardino Gourmet Salads - Doral [MenuPages]
Giardino Gourmet Salads [Official Site]

The Smoking Rabbit is closed, according to a commenter over at consumable Joy. That sure didn't take long. Given how empty the place was when we visited, we're not surprised that they couldn't survive an economic downturn. Still, we'll miss those shoestring fries.

The same commenter also noted that it's been replaced by Bellini Italian Bistro. No details yet, but we should have them shortly.

Poof Goes the Restaurant: More Every Day [consumable Joy]
Can The Smoking Rabbit Survive On Ocean Drive? [MP: South Florida]
The Smoking Rabbit [MenuPages]
The Smoking Rabbit [Official Site]

We spotted this "coming soon" sign this weekend at Coconut Grove. From the looks of the inside (no tables yet, but a bench and a counter), this restaurant is still a ways from opening. But we look forward to having a sushi spot in the Grove. Although after reading what the Coconut Grove Grapevine had to say, we are questioning just how soon we will be eating sashimi in the shade.

What's up with Akashi? [Coconut Grove Grapevine]
Akashi Japanese Restaurant - South Miami [MenuPages]

Something is very, very wrong in the Mark Militello South Florida empire. Three weeks ago, his restaurants on South Beach and in West Palm Beach closed, and yesterday the Las Olas location unexpectedly shuttered:

The mood among employees at Mark's Las Olas on Thursday was somber.

"We're all heartbroken. It's really a shame," said John Marron, a Mark's Las Olas server for 14 years.

Marron said a manager notified him of the closure Thursday but offered no explanation for the decision. "Everyone's kept in the dark," he said by phone, noting that employees had been fearing the announcement since the other locations closed.

Militello on Thursday downplayed the newsworthiness of the closing. "This whole thing is so unimportant," he said, when asked about the string of restaurant closures.

Your last option in the area for Militello's cuisine is Mark's Mizner Park in Boca Raton.

Las Olas restaurant becomes third in Mark's group to close in recent weeks [Sun-Sentinel]
Afternoon Roundup: Mark's South Beach Closing Tonight [MP: South Florida]
Mark's Las Olas [MenuPages]
Mark's Mizner Park [MenuPages]
Mark's Las Olas [Official Site]

Photo: Babyfro [Flickr]

The Hungry Man informs us that the CityPlace location of the famed Columbia Restaurant is closing its doors. In fact, it's already been deleted from the company's official website; the West Palm Beach location is no longer listed on top. Here's what Charles Passy had to say about it:

I can’t say I’m surprised. Or disappointed.

I made it only once to the West Palm Columbia. I loved the airy space — and I loved the wine list (probably the deepest collection of Spanish wines in all of the Southeast, if not all of the United States) — but the food was no great shakes. A Spanish restaurant lives and dies by its paella. Columbia’s version was middling at best. In fact, it wasn’t as good as the paella I’ve had at Cabana, the hip Cuban eatery in downtown West Palm.

Moreover, I’m not so certain that Columbia’s other locations are worth the hype. I haven’t been to the Tampa original, but I did visit a Columbia in Clearwater once. The food was so bad I ended up writing management a letter of complaint. Methinks there’s been a fair bit of coasting-on-the-legend going on…

Another CityPlace casualty: Columbia crashes [The Hungry Man]
Columbia [MenuPages]
Columbia [Official Site]

We're big fans of bringing restaurants to Miracle Mile. We like the idea of the street being a dining destination. But lately we've been questioning the types of restaurants moving. And today, we learned that The Cereal Bowl will be opening its second location at some point this summer, right on the Mile. We just don't get the appeal. Anyway, we tried making some phone calls, but no one seemed to know when or where exactly the chain would be moving in. But it's definitely coming.

The Cereal Bowl [MenuPages]
The Cereal Bowl [Official Site]
Opening: Cereal Connection [MP: South Florida]

Photo: cerealfan25 [Flickr]

• Tonight's the last night for Chef Mark Militello on South Beach; his restaurant in the Nash Hotel is closing its doors. Is this a case of a chef spreading himself too thin? (Militello has three other restaurants in Boca, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm.) The restaurant has a great reputation, but as one chowhound put it, people often forget about it when making reservations or giving recommendations.

• How do you pronounce RA Sushi? We always thought it was "R-A," but when we called today to ask about new locations, we were corrected. It's "rah." At any rate, South Florida is getting two more "Rah" Sushis in the coming months: one in Pembroke Pines, which is already hiring and should be open by early May, and another in South Miami. The latter is taking a bit longer, and we were told the company is hoping for a July opening.

Mark's South Beach [MenuPages]
Mark's South Beach [Official Site]
RA is set to open our 2nd Florida location!! (Pembroke Pines) [Craigslist]
RA Sushi [MenuPages]
RA Sushi [Official Site]

Photo of the lobster pasta at Mark's South Beach: The Blissful Glutton [Flickr]

We drove by the old 5JJJJJ location on Bird Road recently and noticed a large sign advertising the upcoming opening of "El Pimiento Spanish Deli & Wine Shop." We peeked inside — the interior looks about ready for business, but it was still very much closed. So we tried calling the old numbers we had on hand for 5JJJJJ, but those were dead ends. (Oddly enough, those numbers now belong to former employees of the restaurant; we're not quite sure how that worked out.) Finally, we put two and two together: this is the second location of the popular El Pimiento in Miami Lakes. That, but not much else, was confirmed by someone at the Miami Lakes location. No opening date yet, but we'll keep you posted.

El Pimiento [Miami.com]

The Rascal House is officially closed. They served their last pastramis on rye and egg creams on Sunday, to teary-eyed folk who remembered many a good meal there. There is a small bit of good news; the Epicure Market that is planned for the space will be keeping some of the recipes, which will likely show up in the deli and bakery sections of the store.

Death of a deli: Rascal House closing for good [Miami Herald]
Rascal House Closing In April [MP: South Florida]
Rascal House [MenuPages]
Rascal House [Official Site]

Photo: MMChicago [Flickr]

Good news: Kris Wessel has been given the go-ahead from Tallahassee and will be opening Red Light tonight at 5 p.m. No menu yet, though we'll try to have one by the weekend.

In the meantime, check out our interview with the chef from last week.

Ask The Chef: Kris Wessel [MP: South Florida]

According to Frodnesor over at Chowhound, the Nexxt Cafe on Miracle Mile, which has been open for just a few months, is now sporting a sign that says "permanently closed." Guess they never quite recovered from the health code violations in late 2007.

What would you like to see come to the Mile next?

Nexxt Cafe (on Miracle Mile) [Chowhound]
Nexxt Cafe [MenuPages]
Nexxt Cafe [Official Site]

Photo of the Thai steak salad at Nexxt: brandon shigeta [Flickr]

The Dune Oceanfront Burger Lounge just opened yesterday at the Ritz-Carlton on Key Biscayne, but the burgers first appeared at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival's Burger Bash. They didn't win, but they were up against some stiff competition.

The burgers start at $16 for "The American Classic"; on the other end is a plate of Kobe beef sliders with sauteed foie gras and picolit grape jam. That is one pricey burger. But hey, at least the fries are included. You can also get a Chicago-style hot dog and a mini burger or a burger with fresh bacon and blue cheese froth. And if you'd like a cocktail with that, well, that'll set you back another $15.

Dune Oceanfront Burger Lounge [MenuPages]
Dune Oceanfront Burger Lounge [Official Site]

Slainte Irish Pub opened in Boynton Beach just in time for St. Patrick's Day. They've been partying all weekend with music, Irish dancing and tons of bangers and mash, corned beef sandwiches and fish and chips, but you can still catch the tail end of the festivities today.

Slainte [MenuPages]
Slainte [Official Site]

Jeffrey Chodorow opens his second South Florida branch of China Grill in Fort Lauderdale today. The menu is much like the one at China Grill Sobe. Here are a few of the more intriguing items:

• Thai shrimp cakes with cactus-mango salsa and black mole vinaigrette
• Plum- and sesame-glazed lamb spare ribs (pictured above)
• Duck two ways: pan-seared breast, confit of leg, caramelized Asian fruit salsa, and lychee black vinegar reduction
• Sake-marinated "drunken" chicken with ponzu sauce, sweet crispy onions, and Asian slaw

Dinner service starts at 6 p.m. tonight, and lunch won't begin for another couple of weeks. But, unlike other China Grills, this location will start serving breakfast on Monday, since it's inside the Fort Lauderdale Grande Hotel.

China Grill [MenuPages]
China Grill Sobe [MenuPages]
China Grill [Official Site]

Photo: Kat n Kim [Flickr]

The county's first standalone Chick-fil-A is opening in Doral on Thursday, which means if you want to be one of the 100 people who will get a year's worth of free food, you might want to head over there and start camping. Now. According to the press release:

A one-year supply of free Chick-fil-A(R) Combo Meals (52 coupons) will be awarded to each of the first 100 adults, age 18 and older with identification, at the new stand-alone restaurant in Doral. The line can begin forming up to 24 hours prior to the opening, with the prizes being given away on March 13 sometime between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. The restaurant will open for business immediately afterward.

Launched in 2003 to mark the opening of the chain's first stand-alone restaurant in Arizona, the First 100 Fans promotion continues to draw Chick-fil-A raving fans from all over the country. Armed with tents, computers, games and even swimming pools, campers turn the grand opening event into an all-night tailgate party.

"When we started the First 100 Fans promotion we were stunned when someone arrived 18 hours in advance and asked where he could wait in line," said Chick-fil-A, Inc. President Dan Cathy, who has camped out at dozens of openings. "Almost five years later, we've given away more than $7 million in free Chick-fil-A food across the country to raving fans who've braved snow, wind, rain and triple-digit temperatures to help us celebrate the opening of each new Chick-fil-A."

Miami-Dade County's First Stand-Alone Chick-fil-A Restaurant Opens March 13 in Doral [Miami Herald]
Chick-fil-A [Official Site]

Photo: Flickr

We were just told that Pardo's Chicken, a rotisserie chicken chain from Peru, will be opening in Venivici's old spot in the Gables sometime soon. The only current U.S. location is in New York City, and we found quite a few reviews for it:

• From Goodies First:

We tried half a chicken brasa and half parrillero, the brasa being rotisserie style and parrillero a grilled boneless fillet. Who knows what the advertised 14 secret ingredients were, but salt is definitely one of them.... I preferred the classic spit-roasted version, both styles were juicy throughout, no cottony white meat. There are quite a few sides to choose from, we got yuquitas, commonly called yucca fries, which are rapidly becoming one of my favorite fried starches, and tacu tacu, which are croquettes of beans and rice mashed together into fat little logs. Mayonnaise and a creamy aji sauce using yellow South American chiles come on the side. Despite the cute name, tacu tacu was kind of dull, I would’ve expected more pizzazz from a fritter. I might try canario beans instead if I went again.

• From Chowhound:

While I only room enough for a quarter chicken, I was extremely impressed. The skin was super crispy and flavorful the spicing permeated every nook of the chicken. Moreover, they give you two accompanying sauces, one of which, the green peppercorn, is superb (the other, homemade mayonaise, paled in comparison).

Pardo's Chicken [Official Site]
Pardo's [MenuPages]
Pardo's [Goodies First]
Pardo's chicken - Just as good as now-defunct El Pollo [Chowhound]

Photo: Flickr

Thanks to a helpful chowhound, we learned that the renovations at the Fontainebleau, which should be done by July 2008, will include a number of restaurants, one of which will be a steakhouse. Of course. Anyway, here's the rundown of what's coming to the Fountainebleau sometime this year:

• Gotham Steak: Alfred Portale, of Gotham Bar & Grill, is behind this one. From the fact sheet: "The restaurant will expand upon the modern American steak house featuring raw seafood towers, an expanded menu of prime and exotic meats and a wine selection of more than 500 wines from around the world."

• "Italian Restaurant": This one apparently still is unnamed. What we do know is that it'll be helmed by Scott Conant and will feature a regional Italian menu. Conant currently has two New York City restaurants: L'Impero and Alto. Here's more: "The dining concept combines the honesty and simplicity of Italy’s cucina rustica with the ambitious efined notes of alta cucina. The food will be inspired by the seasons, using farm-fresh products – to be served during lunch and dinner."

• "Chinese Restaurant": Another unnamed restaurant, this one from Alan Yau, who has the only Michelin-rated Chinese restaurant in London.

• Oceanfront Grill: This restaurant, which overlooks the beach and the pool, will be the place for cocktails and tapas. More on the food: "Simply prepared southern French cuisine with an outstanding selection of appetizers oysters, Fruits de la Mer, salads, crudités, as well as char grilled seafood and meats will be complemented by refreshing chilled desserts."

Those are some fairly big names in the restaurant industry, and yet, we're a little underwhelmed. We're tired of steak, and, quite frankly, it's 80 degrees outside. The last thing we want to do is sit down to a huge butter-poached steak. And we're curious about how this seasonal farm-fresh menu will work at the Italian restaurant. Seasons here, and seasons in Italy, or New York for that matter, are very, very different.

Fontainebleau Fact Sheet [.pdf]
Anything newer or on the way to Dade? [Chowhound]
Photo: Flickr

The new Regent at Bal Harbour's restaurant, 1 Bleu, opened just yesterday for dinner. So far, that's the only meal being served; they'll be adding lunch at some point in the next few weeks.

The menu hopscotches over the Mediterranean, as many fashionably overpriced restaurants do these days. Here's a little sample:

• Hawaiian Yellowfin Tuna Carpaccio with cepes confit, mache, truffled potato chips and xeres vinaigrette
• Seafood Mixta: grilled langoustines, clams, mussels, scallops, oysters, puntilla, trout roe, baby corn, saffron aioli, micro greens
• Moroccan lamb loin with grilled pineapple, coconut, dried fruit, and ginger flowers
• Prime-aged filet mignon and potatoes with creme fraiche foam

We would also like to point out the mention of "EVO Oil" listed with the "Local Day Boat Catch," which makes us think of Rachael Ray, which isn't a good thing.

1 Bleu [MenuPages]

The long-awaited restaurant from former Top Chef contestant Stephen Asprinio finally opened this past Saturday in Palm Beach. Forte Di Asprinio offers

We just got a copy of the menu -- it's extensive. There are two lunch menus, a "pronto" and a "prezzo fisso." The former has more options and is $15; you choose one antipasti, an entree (from paninis, salads and pizzas) and a dessert, and they're served all at once. The "prezzo fisso" is $25 and includes three courses, which are served one after the other. No sandwiches or pizza on this menu.

On to dinner. There's an a la carte menu as well as a "menu degustazione" for $65 or $95 with wine. Here's the "menu degustazione:"

• Kona kampachi with sunchokes, oregano-caper salsa verde, and pear
• Quail saltimboca "Lyonnaise" with pomegranate, guanciale croutons, and sage leaf
• Risotto al Chianti, with black truffle, porcini, and parmiggiano espuma
• Berkshire pork duet with almonds, golden beets, and borlotti beans
• Cioccolato: Amedai Tuscan torta, banana-dulce de leche gelato, and malt foam

But wait! There's more! The menu continues with an after hours selection of mussels, fish and chips, sliders, pizzettes, pork belly frites (!!!!), fries, popcorn and sweets to accompany your cocktails. We'll have the whole menu online tomorrow morning.

Forte Di Asprinio [Official Site]
Stephen Asprinio [Official Site]

We were in the process of updating Who's Restaurant & Lounge when we came across the restaurant's MySpace page. Here's the message that greeted us:

Who’s is Closed Due To CHEAP and NON LOYAL people

Who's Lounge [MySpace]
Who's Restaurant & Lounge [MenuPages]
Who's Restaurant & Lounge [Official Site]

We'd recommend you head to Rascal House for a final pastrami sandwich -- they're closing:

Wolfie Cohen's Rascal House Restaurant in Miami Beach is to close in April.

The restaurant, at 17190 Collins Ave., notified the state that it would lay off 97 employees between April 4 and April 16.

A spokeswoman for Jerry's Famous Deli, the Studio City, Calif.-based company that owns Rascal House, Epicure Market and Bakery and its namesake restaurant, said the company has notified employees and would absorb as many into its other restaurants as it could.

There's not much time. Seriously -- go get your pastrami!

Rascal House to Close in April (for real) [Save the Deli]
Rascal House to close [South Florida Business Journal]
Rascal House [MenuPages]
Rascal House [Official Site]

Photo: Flickr

No, really. We're serious this time. They're opening. But there's a catch: it's reservation-only, and there are just two seatings, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. We were told that it'll likely stay reservation-only for another one to two weeks. These guys clearly aren't big on setting firm deadlines for anything.

We're in the process of getting our hands on a menu. It has been difficult, but as soon as we get it, we'll post more about the fare.

Por Fin Restaurant [Official Site]

We had heard lots of rumors about The Mint Leaf, a London Indian restaurant that was supposedly opening up in the Gables. We tried investigating a while back, but that led nowhere. But recent reports of actual construction at the site gave us hope. And we were happy when we called up and were told the restaurant will be opening on February 29 for lunch and dinner.

We've got to say, these people are organized. The website is up and running with copies of the complete menu and wine list a full week before opening. That's pretty unheard of around here.

So, on to the menu. There are two pages of text explaining that the cuisine hails from both north and south India, what the tandoor is, etc. There are tons of appetizers, half vegetarian, half meat. In fact, there are a ton of vegetarian options throughout the menu; that's not uncommon for Indian restaurants, but this place seems to go above and beyond. We see a lot of standard dishes on the menu, which isn't a bad thing, since we're lacking a really solid upscale Indian restaurant in the area. If they execute well, this could be pretty exciting.

The Mint Leaf [Official Site]

This restaurant is certainly earning its name. Remember how last week we wrote that Por Fin Restaurant was finally going to open today? It's been delayed again. We called to ask about how the first day in business was going and to try to get our hands on a menu, but a) there apparently are no menus printed and b) the restaurant isn't opening for another two weeks.

Opening (Finally): Por Fin Restaurant [MP: South Florida]
Por Fin Restaurant [Official Site]

Brickell just got a new pizzeria, and this one comes with a brick oven, which is generally a good sign. Another good sign? The fact that there are no pastas on the one-page menu, which we just received. We generally think it's a good idea for pizzerias to focus on one thing: the pizza. You've got 11 pies from which to choose plus seven different salads. Or you can start with a cheese pie and add all sorts of interesting toppings, including a bunch of unusual (for pizza) cheeses like brie, fontina, gouda, asiago, feta and gorgonzola.

We'll have the menu on the site tomorrow, but in the meantime, we thought we'd tease you with a few of the more interesting pizzas:

• Mare Pie: Ah! Our specialty! Clam and garlic on top of melted mozzarella and tomato sauce
• D Bacon Pie: Diced apple wood smoked bacon, crumbled feta cheese, green olives and mozzarella cheese
• Olé Pie: Kalamata black olives, marinated hearts of artichoke, creamy goat cheese, thin slices of organic chives, sprinkled with extra virgin olive oil
• Deep Forest Pie: Fresh organic spinach, sweet onions, fresh slices mushrooms, garlic and bell peppers, on top of a mozzarella and tomato sauce sprinkled with pecorino romano cheese

Pieducks, 1451 S Miami Ave, Ste C-2 in Miami, 305-808-7888

The City Cellar on the Mile is closed. We called our 'secret source' in the Gables to ask about it; he hadn't realized it was closed (just happened this very weekend, apparently), but he used the word "tambleando" (shaky) to describe how business had been there recently. There's another City Cellar that has done well in West Palm Beach, but this one, which had opened in December 2005, just didn't cut it on the Mile.

Interesting that the other recent Palm Beach transplant, Max's Grille, also didn't last long in downtown Coral Gables, despite having two successful locations in Boca Raton and Palm Beach Gardens.

City Cellar [MenuPages]
City Cellar [Official Site]
Poof Goes the Restaurant: City Cellar Edition [consumableJoy]
Max's Grille Boca Raton [MenuPages]
Max's Grille Palm Beach Gardens [MenuPages]
Max's Grille [Official Site]

Miami Beach is getting another steakhouse. This time, it's Morton's, which announced today that it signed a lease for a space at The Crown on 40th and Collins. From the press release:

With a total indoor seating capacity of approximately 240, the new Miami Beach Morton's will seat 135 guests in the main dining room, 65 in Morton's exclusive private boardrooms and 40 in Bar 12*21, Morton's new bar dining concept, the place for specialty cocktails and Morton's appetizing Bar Bites menu. The restaurant will also feature a 1,000 square-foot outdoor patio with seating for 36 guests. The new Morton's is expected to open in late 2008/ early 2009. It will be the third Morton's The Steakhouse in the Miami/Miami Beach market and the eighth in Florida.

Morton's to Open New Steakhouse in Miami Beach [Sun-Herald]
Morton's, The Steakhouse [Official Site]
Downtown Coral Gables Restaurant Gossip [MP: South Florida]

There's a new California Pizza Kitchen down here, this one in Boca Raton's Town Center. It opened yesterday at 4 p.m. and is already quite busy, or so we gathered from the cacophony of noises in the background when we called. We're sure they serve the favorite barbecue chicken pizza, pictured here. We will never understand the appeal of chicken on pizza, but, well, if that's your thing, head on over there.

California Pizza Kitchen [MenuPages]
California Pizza Kitchen [Official Site]

Photo: Flickr

Karu is closed, but not forever, which is good, because otherwise we'd have to feel really badly for the owners who sank a ton of money into renovation just 16 months ago:

Opened at a cost of $25 million in September 2006, Karu seemed over the top even by Miami standards, with a massive chandelier by glass artist Dale Chihuly, Mercedes-Benz shuttle service to the nearby performing arts center and a chef trained in Spain's cocina de autor.

The decor will remain, but the menu ''will go to the Mediterranean side,'' Sotomayor says, with ''a big-name chef'' replacing Alberto Cabrera.

A $3 million lounge renovation will be finished in time for the March 25-30 Winter Music Conference, Sotomayor said, with the restaurant reopening thereafter with backing from ``a high-roller company, not from Miami.''

Putting a pricey restaurant in a depressed area was not necessarily folly, says Karu's former publicist, Susan Brustman: ``In other cities, restaurants have turned neighborhoods around.''

As for the changes, we're curious to hear who this big-name chef will be. (We're wondering if said chef has already been selected, or if the owners just decided they need to look for someone with a 'big name.') As for the proposed menu changes, towards a more Mediterranean theme, we're underwhelmed. It's been done. A lot.

Closed: Karu Restaurant & Y [MP: South Florida]
Posh Karu restaurant closes -- for now [Miami Herald]
Karu Restaurant & Y [MenuPages]

This restaurant is so aptly named, don't you think? ('Por fin' means 'at last' in Spanish.) If you visit the website, it still says that the restaurant "eagerly anticipates its grand opening in Spring 2007." Heh. Right. Anyway, we gave them a call today after a chowhound posted about some activity at the restaurant on Wednesday. The very nice man who answered the phone informed us that they're shooting to open on Friday, February 15, but given how things have been going, it will likely happen the following Monday. So that's good news!

Here's the description from the website:

Por Fin offers diners a unique experience by serving authentic dishes from Spain, Southern France, and Italy, fused with creative touches of the 21st century. Por Fin's 2nd floor is laced with plush seating in a lounge setting; a perfect place to enjoy your favorite cocktail after work or to begin your evening out.

Anything newer or on the way to Dade? [Chowhound]
Por Fin Restaurant [Official Site]

So we're a teensy bit late on this, since All Purpose Dark and South Florida Gourmet already covered it, but we feel that we should continue to spread the word about Karu Restaurant & Y's closing. The restaurant is gone, but the lounge/club will stay open.

Did anyone see this coming? The food didn't get great reviews, but mediocre food has never stopped a sleek, lounge-y place from succeeding in Miami.

The $25M question: Why isn't K&Y better? [Miami Herald]
Karu Restaurant & Y [MenuPages]
Karu Restaurant & Y [Official Site]

Remember 8 1/2? You might not. It was a blink-and-you-miss-it place that got good reviews but just didn't make it. Well, the chef from 8 1/2, Jason McClain, now has his own place called Jason's at the Harrison on Miami Beach.

We just got the menu up today; it's certainly eclectic. There's tamarind braised oxtail with pickled papaya and yuca chips, beef carpaccio with ratatouille vegetable salad and Florida day boat grouper (which, given recent news, may either a) not be around for long or b) skyrocket in price). McClain also seems to be making an effort to use local ingredients, Homestead tomatoes for example.

Jason's at the Harrison [MenuPages]
Jason's at the Harrison [Official Site]

Check out these interior photos of the soon-to-open Andú Restaurant & Lounge. If the food is as sleek as the decor, this place is going to be quite a hit. We kind of like those big white designs on the walls. They remind us of bubbles.

We just learned that Andú will be opening its doors on Monday, February 11, which is well after "late December" as we were told earlier, but you know how these things go. The sample menu items we've seen are the same ones we posted about last time, so we won't bore you by repeating them, but we will repeat that we are incredibly excited about a mac 'n' cheese with a manchego crust. YUM.

Also, we should note that the restaurant is hiring servers, so if you're in need of a job, check out the ad.

Andú Restaurant & Lounge [Official Site]
Andú photos [Mike Butler]
Andú Restaurant & Lounge Will Open Doors Sometime Before The New Year [MP: South Florida]
Andu Restaurant Lounge - Servers Wanted [Craigslist]

Photo: Mike Butler

Miami Beach has a gastropub: The Smoking Rabbit, which occupies the former space of departed seafood restaurant 510 Ocean. It hasn't been open for long, but already it's got two reviews on Yelp. Here's one of them:

Daily Candy called this an English inspired "gastropub," but I saw no sign of pub-ish-ness in the place. First of all, no English brew whatsoever. We were told that it was just the soft opening and they planned to have some English beer soon, but there is no tap behind the bar, so I'm not sure that it will make much of a difference.

We were just having drinks, but we took a look at the menu for future reference. A few things sounded interesting, but I'm not sure I'd spend the money.

The owner was there, strutting around the place, looking proud of himself. A handful of the beautiful people were eating; I got the impression they were friends of employees. The rest of the patrons consisted of some very confused looking middle aged tourists.

The music was basically what would happen if you put my entire iTunes playlist on random. It went straight from Billie Holiday to Billy Joel. I am not making this up.

We haven't received a menu yet, but we hear it changes daily. Also, you should know that the phone number we've seen listed everywhere appears to be a cell phone number, so unless you want to leave the owner a voicemail message, you might want to try the restaurant number instead (305-531-2100).

The Smoking Rabbit [Yelp]

The Pier Coffee Shop, which has sat on Anglin's Fishing Pier in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea for 46 years, closed its doors yesterday after a whole lot of drama between the restaurant's manager and the landlords.

Nancy Pisarzewski, 62, the diner's longtime manager, had been battling with the building's owners over extending its hours past 3 p.m. and other issues. The last straw was their dispute over who had to pay a $3,515.25 water bill in December.

''I thought, that's it -- I'm not going to take it anymore,'' Pisarzewski said.

Its closing will end a long chapter in the pier's history at the end of Commercial Boulevard.

Once known as Tony Calderone's Pier Coffee Shop, it brought in snowbirds as well as regular locals. Calderone, the original owner, died in 2001, leaving the business to his son.

During high season, snowbirds migrated to the five outdoor booths or took a seat at one of the 10 bar stools or three booths inside.

''How good is life when you can sit on a pier, stare at the ocean and eat a wonderful breakfast?'' said Judy Swaggerty, executive director of the Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Chamber of Commerce. 'Everybody now is like, `What are we going to do?' ''

Pisarzewski said her decision to close comes after three tense years with the landlords, who recently added $1,000 to her $3,000-a-month rent.

Brothers Spiro and Louis Marchelos, the diner's landlords who also own the nearby Athena-by-the-Sea restaurant, said Pisarzewski went three years without a rent increase and that they have done their best to accommodate her.

They wanted her to extend the diner's hours past 3 p.m., to see the place use its potential.

The Marchelos brothers were passing out fliers outside the restaurant on Thursday, giving their side of the story.

''Rather than accept the increase or even discuss it, the Pier Coffee Shop has, with great drama and angst, and with the spreading of much misinformation, elected to leave the pier,'' the flier read. ``We regret their leaving but we cannot be held hostage by their failure to adapt to changing time and to take advantage of new opportunities.''

Landmark diner in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is shutting down [Miami Herald]

We'd been keeping an eye on
Bonefish Grill, which has been expanding at a breakneck pace. The newest location, in Boynton Beach, was supposed to open last fall, but you know how these things go. We have yet to see a restaurant open anytime near its scheduled date. But we did just learn that the Boynton location will be open for business at 1880 N Congress Avenue on February 11.

Bonefish Grill [Official Site]

Our counterpart in Chicago steered us toward this site, which says that Miami may be seeing yet another steakhouse within the next year. Which is exactly what we need. According to the site, Gibson's Steakhouse plans to open a South Beach location in fall 2008 or early 2009. Of course, this could just be a rumor, but given the current steakhouse trend, we wouldn't be surprised if it were true. While we're sure that Gibson's is an excellent steakhouse, we're just up to our ears in large slabs of read meat down here, and quite frankly, we're bored by it.

Gibson's heads South for the winter [312 Dining Diva]
Gibson's Steakhouse [MenuPages]
Gibson's Steakhouse [Official Site]

Photo: Flickr

First we've got the much-anticipated Forté di Asprinio, the restaurant of Top Chef contestant Stephen Asprinio. It'll feature upscale contemporary Italian cuisine, although given Asprinio's sommelier background, we imagine the appeal here will be the wine list. It was supposed to open in late 2007, but it looks like the opening, at 225 Clematis Street in West Palm Beach, was pushed back until February.

If you're a fan of Novecento in Brickell or the beach, you'll be happy to know that a third location is opening in Coral Gables at 121 Alhambra Plaza. They're hiring now, and we were told by someone at the Brickell location that the new restaurant should be open around mid-February.

And finally, we just learned of a new restaurant called Melao Cafe opening sometime this week in the old RJ Gators location at 18415 S Dixie Highway in south Dade. We don't know much else, and we couldn't find a phone number, but we'll update as soon as we learn something new.

Forté di Asprinio [Official Site]
"Top Chef" Stephen Asprinio Seeking Skilled Employees [Craigslist]
Novecento [MenuPages]
Novecento [MenuPages]
**NOVECENTO RESTAURANT JOB FAIR** [Craigslist]
NOW Hiring! New Restaurant! [Craigslist]

Casimir Bistro opened about two weeks ago in the old Kameleon Bistro space in Boca Raton. The menu will be online tomorrow, but we'll give you a sneak peek at it now:

From the lunch menu:

• Chicken Casimir Salad: grilled key lime marinated chicken breast, coconut curry sauce, mixed greens and endive $11

• Salmon Duo Salad: gravlax and smoked salmon, melon, mixed greens, whipped dill cream cheese on toasts, sun-dried tomato vinaigrette $12

• Parisian Sandwich: baguette, smoked ham, Swiss cheese and butter $9.75

From the dinner menu:

• P.E.I. Mussels & French Fries: You can get these either "Mariniere" with garlic, shallots, parsley and white wine, or "Bombay" with garlic, shallot, tomato and cilantro in a yellow curry broth. $18

• Caribbean Style Free Range Chicken: grilled chicken breast in horseradish tarragon sauce served with sauteed zucchini, yellow squash and sauteed potato $17.50

• Crispy Duck A L'Orange: roasted Long Island duck, in orange sauce, sauteed provencale mushroom and potato $26

So it's not groundbreaking stuff, but if prepared well could be very tasty.

Kameleon Bistro [MenuPages]

Tere alerted us to the fact that the much-anticipated second location of 1909 Cafe is finally open, and has been for about a month. We had done exactly what she had -- tried and tried to get information, been blown off, and finally given up. So we're glad someone else took the initiative and got the details. So yes, 1909 Cafe, at 70 Aragon, is open. We hear the food is good.

1909 Cafe Open! [Coral Gables Blog]
Bayside Chatter: The Mysterious 1909 Cafe [MP: South Florida]
New Restaurant Updates [MP: South Florida]
1909 Cafe [MenuPages]

When we last wrote about the Kobe Club in November, we didn't really know any details about the opening, except that it would happen sometime in 2008. Over the past few days, however, we've received a flurry of e-mails about the restaurant's January 4 opening. So now you have all of the pertinent details and can make reservations and get sliced in half when one of the thousands of samurai swords nailed to the ceiling falls. (Just think of what a Category 4-5 hurricane could do to those things.)

More Steakhouses. Please. We Don't Have Enough [MP: South Florida]
Kobe Club Miami [Official Site]

We kind of have an inside source when it comes to Gables dining. We won't tell you outright, but it's pretty obvious from the name. At any rate, we learned a good amount the other day about what's coming to the Mile in the next year, and we were going to post about it, but it looks like the Herald beat us to the punch. Fatburger will be opening next to Benihana, Morton's and Chili's are coming to Ponce, and Por Fin Restaurant & Lounge will finally open.

We were going to add another restaurant to that list, but our source just told us that it is still tentative and blurting it out to the world might cause some problems. But, suffice it to say that we think that if chain restaurants must dominate the Mile, at least this is a good one, and we're excited.

Look for more tables in the Gables in 2008 [Miami Herald]
Fatburger [Official Site]
Por Fin Restaurant & Lounge [Official Site]
Morton's [Official Site]
Chili's [Official Site]

All Purpose Dark has the lowdown on the Domo Japones opening party last night. Four sushi chefs, flowing champagne...we need to get ourselves invited to these things.

Opening Party @ Domo Japones [All Purpose Dark]
Domo Japones [Official Site]

Photo: All Purpose Dark

There are outlets in California, Chicago, New York, Texas and DC and its suburbs. So now, finally, the most popular chicken chain in Central America is expanding to South Florida; Guatemala-based Pollo Campero will be opening a branch in Boynton Beach sometime this month. After that, the chain is planning to open at least four more restaurants in the area: three in Dade (Little Havana, Cutler Ridge, and near Dolphin Stadium) and one in an unspecified Broward location.

Campero has been making headlines with restaurant openings in Los Angeles and other U.S. areas with large Central American communities, drawing crowds and posting record sales from immigrants seeking a taste of home.

But debuts in Boynton Beach and South Florida could be different, as the chain appeals more to a crossover market including Cubans, Puerto Ricans and many non-Latin Americans who don't know the brand, Denegri said.

Already, Campero has adjusted its menu to reach out.

The South Florida locales will offer black beans popular among Cubans, not just pinto beans popular in Central America. And the U.S. outlets will highlight grilled chicken for the first time — partly to take on Pollo Tropical, the Miami-based chain known for its grilled dishes.

"We knew we needed grilled chicken to compete in Florida," Denegri said.

Central American chicken chain comes to South Florida [Sun-Sentinel]
Pollo Campero [Official Site]

If you're a fan of the South Miami Two Chefs, you'll be happy to know that the much-anticipated second location in North Miami is opening tonight at 5:30. We couldn't get our hands on a menu yet, but we're told that it will be very similar to that of the South Miami restaurant.

Two Chefs Too: 2286 NE 123rd St in North Miami, 305-895-5155

Two Chefs [MenuPages]

As if you needed further evidence that the once-agricultural Homestead/Florida City area was becoming increasingly suburban. Now, they have a Starbucks. And soon, they'll have another!

The Starbucks at 76 Palm Dr., which opened Nov. 25, is the chain's first standalone store in Miami-Dade south of Southwest 205th Street and Old Cutler Road in Cutler Bay. A second Starbucks is planned for 1029 N. Homestead Blvd. in the Publix shopping center, and a third site, also in Homestead, is under consideration, according to Lillian Delgado, a city spokeswoman.

"It's awesome," 17-year-old Victor Morales said of the new store a day after the Florida City store opened. "I can get coffee real close. I've been going all the way to Kendall to get coffee."

Morales, who lives down the street from the Starbucks in the Venetia community, was working on his fourth cup of coffee for the day, a mocha frappuccino. It was not yet noon.

Homestead to get Starbucks [Trading Markets]
Starbucks [Official Site]

We've written about Michael Mina's Bourbon Steak before, but we got word yesterday that the restaurant will be opening very soon: on Thursday, December 20. And we got a copy of the menu, which isn't on the MP site yet, but will be as soon as the restaurant opens. We mentioned several menu items in the last post about the restaurant, so we won't bore you with another re-hashing of it, but we do have to comment that it just seems so heavy. Not just creamed spinach -- bacon creamed spinach. And foie gras, and huge steaks, and butter-poached lobster tail. We just feel stuffed reading it. Steakhouses just don't excite us that much. Well, there is one exception on the menu: the American Kobe burger with duck fat fries. Yes, we'd like some of those please.

Because What Miami Really Needs Right Now Is Another Steakhouse [MP: South Florida]
Michael Mina [Official Site]
Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club [Official Site]

The long-anticipated Texas de Brazil in South Beach is finally open, just above Monty's at 300 Alton Road. The restaurant opened its doors for dinner yesterday. We're told that the menu will be much like that of the Texas De Brazil in Dolphin Mall, except with many more options at the salad bar. That seems to be backed up by a recent post on Chowhound from a regular customer who was invited to a sneak preview of the restaurant last night:

They really haven't had their grand opening as of yet....We were invited guests of the management....The place has a very similar decorative motif of the other location at the Dolphin Mall.....Overall....the place is absolutely huge....complete with private dining rooms and very, very large bar area.....Big investment for sure.....When we arrived at 7 p.m. the place was virtually empty....promptly seated and the meat started rolling....The first two or three waves were overdone...and that's because the meat was prepared and diners hadn't arrived.....That changed quickly however....and from there the meat was done properly...hot...tasty....and as expected.....As you might expect from a new restaurant...there were some confusions as to who delivers what and to whom...but that was also rectified quickly....Overall the meat was very, very good and the selection was outstanding.....I don't go to a Texas de Brazil for salad...but that salad / cheese / sushi bar was nothing less than spectacular.....Different salads....seared tuna...beautiful sushi....prosciutto (sp?)...and much, much more.....Big "Wow Factor" there.....

Texas De Brazil [MenuPages]
Texas De Brazil [Official Site]
Texas de Brazil / Miami Beach/ 2Nite [Chowhound]

Brosia officially opened yesterday, likely to capitalize on the Art Basel crowds.

We're trying to get our hands on a menu with prices, but the restaurant appears to have no phone number. In the meantime, we've got menu items, but no prices. Some interesting Mediterranean fusion going on there. Think 'gazpacho caprese' (mozzarella, aged sherry vinegar and basil oil). The menu draws from Greece, France, Italy, Spain and Morocco; in fact, at lunchtime you can get a burger in any one of those styles, although they're not really described.

Brosia [MenuPages]
Brosia [Official Site]

From Riptide 2.0:

*Bartolome Argentinean steakhouse will be coming to Purdy Avenue and 20th Street in South Beach. In a related story, the Miami City Council has announced that the lucky 1,000th person to open a steakhouse in the city will win free rent for their first year.

Hehe.

Miami Restaurant News: Ins & Outs [Riptide 2.0]

How are we supposed to pronounce 'Domo Japones?' We're assuming we should pronounce the Spanish way, with the 'j' making the English 'h' sound. But 'domo' is clearly a Japanese word. (Mr. Roboto anyone?) So what is it? We asked a college friend of ours who studied for a summer in Japan and can converse well enough in six languages, Spanish and Japanese included. Here's what he said:

me: what does 'domo' mean in Japanese?
Daniel: it enhances words
me: ok. so something like "very"?
Daniel: it's short for thank you
me: So if a restaurant named itself Domo Japones, what would you make of that?
Daniel: it's nonsense
me: ok, that's what I figured. Japones is clearly Spanish, I think
Daniel: yeah, i have no idea what kind of messed up fusion theme it's going for, but nice try

UPDATE: Still no menu from them. We'll continue calling until we get one. In the meantime, L2M left us a comment with a link to more information:

This Japanese bistro from Amir Ben-Zion (Townhouse Hotel, Bond Street and Miss Yip Chinese Cafe) combines a cozy, inviting atmosphere with a seasonal menu from Chef Timon Balloo featuring fresh, organic ingredients that's like a jolt to your taste buds. Small plates like Black Edamame and Sweet Soy & Mirin Glazed Short Ribs bring a playful twist to traditional Japanese fare and are ideal for snacking during a tete-a-tete over sake or specialty cocktails.

The best news? Their chic lounge is open until 2 a.m., which makes it the perfect spot for those late night post gallery shindig rendezvous. Just come prepared to try something new.

"There will be a dabbling of sweet into the savory and vice versa," Baloo has said. "You can open up a whole new spectrum of flavor profiles, whether it be putting sea salt on top of ice cream or mixing wasabi with chocolate."

Domo Japones [Official Site]
Turning Japones [Gen Art Pulse]

For years, Michael's Kitchen was a mainstay in downtown Hollywood; now executive chef Michael Blum has crossed the county line and moved south.The second incarnation of Michael's Kitchen is opening up tonight at the Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort. It took a while, but they'll finally start serving dinner tonight at 5 p.m. We're working on getting the menu online, but in the meantime, check out the options here.

Michael's Kitchen [Official Site]
Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort [Official Site]

Remember La Boîte à Pizza? Looks like they'll be opening the first or second week of December. And they're looking for a pizza chef and delivery driver. Applicants for both positions need to be "passionate by the cooking and the world of pizza's culture." Both, of course, are necessary when working with the pinnacle of culinary achievement that is the fajita pizza.

Pizza chef for La Boîte à Pizza [Lah-Bwhat-Ah-Pizza] [Craig's List]
Delivery Driver (with their own car) // La Boite a Pizza [Craig's List]
French Pizza Chain Takes On South Beach [MP: South Florida]
La Boîte à Pizza [Official Site]

Looks like we finally got an opening date for Andú Restaurant & Lounge. Sort of. We're told "late December." A few stats:

• Owned by brothers Antonio and Juan Pablo Viejo (How old are they? They seem kind of young, like our age, which makes us feel like slackers.)
• Executive chef Nate Martin, who was a sous chef at Nikki Beach for three years
• Consulting chef Jason McClain (of 8 1/2 and Nikki Beach)
• 4,600 square feet, 150 seats (60 in the lounge, 90 in the main dining room)
• They'll be doing lunch, dinner, and brunch, and will open until 5 a.m. on weeknights

As for the menu, it's "eclectic Mediterranean." Entree prices will range from $18 to $29. Here are some samples (we don't have the whole menu yet, just a few items):

• Mediterranean chef salad with chicken, jamon Serrano, chick peas, grilled vegetables, egg and asiago
• Goat cheese-crusted lamb loin with Provençal vegetables and orzo risotto
• Milk-fed veal parmigiana with eggplant caviar, oven-roasted tomatoes and lemon caper emulsion
• Porcini mushroom cannelloni with herbed ricotta and truffled sage jus
• Slow-baked macaroni and cheese with manchego crust
• Maine lobster mashed potatoes with scallions and English peas
• Florida orange glazed doughnuts with white hot chocolate
• 'Pineapple dreams': thinly sliced pineapple atop creme brulee with a scoop of vanilla pineapple malt

We were a little disappointed at first when we heard "Mediterranean," because it's been done, but after reading the menu descriptions, it certainly sounds more interesting than most Mediterranean menus we've perused. And we're totally craving a manchego-laced mac 'n' cheese right now.

Restaurants Turn To Facebook For Buzz Among The 20-Something Set [MP: South Florida]
Fun On Facebook With SoFla Restaurants [MP: South Florida]

The Gables has a new eatery, Zabor World Cuisine, in the old Max's Grille spot. The restaurant, which opened on Saturday, picks and chooses foods from around the globe for its menu. Actually, after just glancing at the menu, we'd say that it's mostly confined to Asia. There's a good amount of sushi and some Thai staples. (That chicken panang curry better be damn good if they're charging $16.) But wait! Then there's the "executive chef's entrees," which include decidedly non-Asian items like quiche, risotto, Australian lamb, rib-eye, rotisserie chicken, churrasco, pasta and veal chops. We're confused. Soon, as in within the next hour, we'll have the menu online.

Zabor World Cuisine [MenuPages]

Thanks to alert chowhound mialebven we learned of some opening day festivities at the Chipotle that's opening up at 6290 S Dixie Hwy in South Miami. The grand opening is on Friday, November 30, and the first 100 customers get a free t-shirt and a card for a free burrito, good on their next visit. There will also be raffles for free burritos for a year (how many is that? Do they give you one for each day? That's a lot of burritos...) and for a round-trip airline ticket.

But the free food is on Wednesday, all day, from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Full menu, plus drinks -- and everything is free!

Chipotle is coming to NMiami [Chowhound]

The second Mari Nalli's Gourmet Quesadillas is scheduled to open in CocoWalk on Tuesday (one week from today) at 11 a.m. The first location, in Coral Gables, has been well-received since its opening in January. We're told that there will likely be free food available one or two days before the opening while the employees train. Might be a good time to try one of these fancy quesadillas!

Mari Nalli's [MenuPages]
Formula for Fine Food [New Times]

We were in Chicago when Cereality opened there several years ago, and we thought it was a genius idea, in that it would regularly separate idiotic college students from large sums of their parents' cash. We really, really cannot understand the need to pay $4 to $7 for a bowl of cereal.*

Down here in South Florida, we have The Cereal Bowl, which is pretty much the same thing. (We're sure the company executives would disagree, although they wouldn't have much of a case given that they're all serving the exact same products. The same ones you can buy in a supermarket, by the way.) So, where were we? Yes, The Cereal Bowl. There's one conveniently located close to the University of Miami.

But now there's a new player in the game: The Cereal Connection (so. over. it.) in Plantation, which, according to the Sun-Sentinel, has been a big hit since it opened in August. The Cereal Connection also professes to "save the Earth one bowl at a time;" in fact, that's the first thing that pops up on the website. But there isn't really any explanation as to how they're going about saving the world one overpriced bowl of cereal at a time. Not that we're all that invested into it.

Cereal eatery opens in Plantation [Sun-Sentinel]
Cereal Connection Opens in Broward [Stuck on the Palmetto]

Cereality [Official Site]
The Cereal Bowl [Official Site]
The Cereal Connection [Official Site]

* We just checked the list of Cereality stores and saw that they just opened a branch in Newark Airport. Now that's not a bad idea, given the nature of air travel and delays and being stuck at the airport, etc. If stuck at said airport at an odd hour and surrounded by greasy airport food, we might at that point consider parting with $4 for a bowl of cereal.

We know you haven't yet had nearly enough steak to satiate that carnivorous appetite of yours, so we're happy to announce that yet another steakhouse will be joining the 10,000 currently dominating the Miami restaurant scene. This one is a product of Jeffrey Chodorow called Kobe Club, which currently has just one location in New York City; Miami, fortunately, will soon be blessed with the second outpost. We don't know any other details, aside from the fact that he's planning to open next year, but we do know quite a bit about the New York restaurant, thanks to the wonders of the Internet.

Let's start with the ambiance. See the photo? That is a shot of just some of the 2,000 samurai swords attached to the ceiling. They are supposedly anchored securely, although we would probably opt for the not-potentially-lethal section of the dining room. Call us wimps, whatever.

On to the food. From Frank Bruni's unflattering review in February (that led Chodorow to take out $80,000 worth of ad space in the New York Times to defend himself):

The server volunteered that number, appended with an assurance that the blades, firmly anchored, shouldn’t cause any concern.

The food and the bill should. Although Kobe Club does right by the fabled flesh for which it’s named, it presents too many insipid or insulting dishes at prices that draw blood from anyone without a trust fund or an expense account.

For the most part it feels like a cynical stab at exploiting the current mania for steakhouses in Manhattan by contriving one with an especially costly conceit and more gimmicks than all of the others combined.

Kobe Club [MenuPages]
Kobe Club [Official Site]
Giving Luxury the Thrill of Danger [New York Times]

Photo: Flickr

Dogma Grill is expanding to North Miami; the fourth location is opening in early December at 899 NE 125th St. But they'll be open on Thanksgiving day, giving away free turkey dogs from 11 a.m. until noon, during North Miami's annual "Winternational Thanksgiving Day Parade," which runs right along 125th St. While we wouldn't normally go out of our way to get a turkey dog (beef and pork are far more suitable for these things), a free dog sounds like a good idea.

Dogma Grill [Official Site]

Alert chowhound Auger (if that is a reference to the seashell, we love it) drove past Matsuri in South Miami and saw a sign saying that the restaurant will open on Friday, November 16 at 5:30 p.m. So finally, some good news. We tried to call and confirm, but the line is still busy.

Now to get to work on getting that new menu...

Matsuri in South Miami [Chowhound]

Looks like David' Bouley's foray into the Miami dining scene is gone after just a few short months. Not that we're surprised; they'd scaled back over the summer, closing a section of the restaurant, and it was clear that the place had been struggling. We thought they might try to see how the high season would treat them, but no. The food had received mixed reviews, although the chowhounds are mourning the loss of the sushi chef and the bartender, both of whom were supposedly very good.

UPDATE: We just found a Miami Herald article about the closing, although every time we try to click on it, the computer goes spastic. It's been like that with every Herald article since yesterday. But from the blurb we managed to see, the close is temporary, supposedly for a management change.

Evolution closed...indefinitely... [Chowhound]

Evolution [MenuPages]
Evolution [Official Site]

We'd read a bit about the Pharmed bankruptcy and fraud investigation, but we didn't pay much attention. (Unfortunately, since our work revolves around food/menus/restaurants, we tend to tune much of everything else out.) Turns out we should've read more closely. Pharmed's owners, brothers Carlos and Jorge de Cespedes, also own the two Chispa restaurants. According to this Herald article, the Gables location has closed, although they plan to keep the one in the Doral open:

The restaurant had been designed in part to host dinners in which pharmaceutical reps invited doctors and their office employees to hear presentations on new drugs. The areas, which could be cordoned off for privacy, had screens for viewing video and PowerPoint presentations as well as microphone hookups.

Such dinners have come under increased scrutiny from regulators, and the pharmaceutical industry itself had tightened requirements on who could attend the free dinners.

''Obviously, this was not a decision we came to easily or without a great deal of consideration,'' co-owner Mike Tomas said in a prepared statement. ``For now, we're refocusing our efforts on our Doral location with an eye toward expanding the Chispa brand to other parts of South Florida and beyond.''

Gables' restaurant Chispa has closed [Miami Herald]
Pharmed: Alleged fraud part of federal probe [Miami Herald]
Chispa Restaurant & Bar (Coral Gables) [MenuPages]
Chispa Restaurant & Bar (Doral) [MenuPages]
Chispa Restaurant & Bar [Official Site]

We're all about restaurant openings today! This one's pretty interesting actually, and we like that there's a YouTube video to go with it. Miami-bred rapper Rick Ross and San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore are planning to start a franchise of hip-hop-themed restaurants called Grub Spot. The first location? Miami Gardens. The focus is on healthy wraps, sandwiches, snacks and energy drinks created by students and alumni from Johnson & Wales and Florida A&M. As you can see in the video, the restaurant will also be selling hip-hop magazines, music and clothing.

Judging from the YouTube video, work on the interior seems to be progressing nicely, and they should have it up and running fairly soon. (Actually, we just now read to the very end of the article to which we're linking, and it mentions that Ross' charity will be distributing turkeys to needy families during the restaurant's grand opening on November 17.)

Rick Ross Helps Launch 'Hip-Hop Grub Spots'; Rapper Gives Back For Thanksgiving [All Hip Hop]

Except we don't know the name yet. But we do know they plan to open next week on Johnson Street, although they're still lacking cooks and waitresses. We've left a message and are waiting for information about it, but if you've driven by or know anything about the place, let us know!

NEW Cuban Restaurant on The Beach [Craigslist]

Thanks to Lan Nghiem-Phu at Miami Every Day Photo, we learned of another Granny Feelgood's opening in Aventura. (The current location is in downtown Miami.) We just called and were told that they may open in December.

Granny Feelgood's [Miami Every Day Photo]
Granny Feelgood's [MenuPages]

Photo: Miami Every Day Photo

When did these Bonefish restaurants start popping up everywhere? We're getting another Bonefish Grill, this one in Coral Gables, at 2121 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Doors open for lunch on November 19.

But if you have a pressing desire to get in earlier, the restaurant will be hosting a charity event on Saturday, November 17 for Neat Stuff, a South Florida-based group that helps provide clothing to needy children. And it's not a bad deal: donate $25 and get complimentary drinks, appetizers and a main course tasting. Now that we think about it, this is a great way for the kitchen and waitstaff to do a test run, and there's charity involved, which means good press! Yes, it's a genius idea, and if we ever open a restaurant (not likely), we plan to do something similar.

To RSVP for the event, call 305-638-5878.

Bonefish Grill [Official Site]

There's a new place coming to Cutler Bay called Rumors, A Neighborhood Bistro & Bar on Old Cutler Road. We just got off the phone with one of the owners, Sandy, who said the restaurant will be open on November 12. We couldn't get our hands on a menu just yet, but Sandy did say that the Italian-influenced bistro would offer a variety of foods, with lots of seafood and pasta.

Rumors A Neighborhood Bistro & Bar
20537 Old Cutler Rd, in Cutler Bay
786-242-7774

Rumors A Neighborhood Bistro & Bar [Craigslist]

It seems like quite a few California chains are making their way here. Now we've learned of California Tortilla, which offers burritos, fajitas, tacos and quesadillas and has been open in Wellington for a little over a week. Also, the restaurant serves "Mexcellent Deals," although we're unsure what those are. This is the first California Tortilla in Florida, although another one is planned for Coral Springs in Spring 2008.

California Tortilla is located at 2465 State Road 7 in Wellington. They're open Monday through Saturday 11am-10pm and Sunday 11:30am-9pm. We'll have the menu online in another day or so.

UPDATE: Thanks L2M, for pointing out that California Tortilla is not, in fact, from California. We were a bit hasty when we wrote this post and failed to notice that all of the locations are on the east coast. According to Wikipedia, the chain is originally from Washington, DC.

California Tortilla [Official Site]
Quick bites [Palm Beach Post]

We learned yesterday, from the ever-helpful Jan Norris at the Palm Beach Post, that a new gourmet burger chain from California called The Counter is coming to Royal Palm Beach sometime in November. At first, we thought it would be something akin to In-N-Out, but after perusing the website, we're far more excited.

Looks like it's actually closer to Chipotle, judging from the menu [pdf]. We're big fans of the type of menu that offers a few items in a variety of different ways. With this one, you choose a meat, (beef, turkey, chicken or veggie) and a size (1/3 lb, 2/3 lb, 1 lb), and then choose from an assortment of cheeses, toppings, sauces, and buns. Included in the price is one cheese, four toppings, one sauce and a bun. And for those on the South Beach Diet, you can have a "Burger in a Bowl" — a burger without the bun. It looks like an incredibly yuppie place, and you could easily spend upwards of $10 on a burger and fries, but still, it sounds tasty.

Quick bites [Palm Beach Post]
The Counter [Official Site]
In-N-Out [Official Site]
Chipotle [Official Site]

Thanks to a tipster on Chowhound, we learned of a new pizza place coming to Miami Beach. But get this — it's from France. La Boîte à Pizza (the site gives a pronunciation guide for we uneducated Americans: Lah-Bwat-Ah-Pizza), currently with locations in France, is expanding to China and North America by the end of 2007, or so the website claims. Three locations in Shanghai are planned, but so far, there's just one in the US — at 1679 Alton Road in Miami Beach. According to chowhound 2top, it should be opening in early November.

The Chinese and American sites aren't ready, so we decided to poke around the French one, and the image that greeted us — of a pizza topped with what looked like ground beef, tomatoes, onions and a fried egg — was truly revolting. Also, the sombrero and cactus aren't promising.

We present La Boîte à Pizza's three newest recipes: the fajita pizza, the Mexican steak pizza, and the pizza burger. We checked out more of the site, but unfortunately our Spanish and Portuguese skills are insufficient to decipher long paragraphs of French. We can, however, make out most of the menu. Perhaps we're too much of a purist, but seriously, does pizza really need curry? Or smoked salmon? Or the contents of a fajita?

A co-worker just came over to help us translate some of the menu items we couldn't understand. Her comment was "The French make terrible pizza." Another co-worker said "It can't suck more than French Tex-Mex." Well dear readers, at La Boîte à Pizza, you will be able to taste French versions of pizza and Tex-Mex. At the same time. We cannot wait.

La Boîte à Pizza [Official Site]
Anything new or coming to Dade? [Chowhound]

We received this today in our inbox. We'd never realized there was such a philosophy behind the Jetsetter Lounge, but well, apparently there was. After about two years, the owners had to close their doors, although they seem hopeful; perhaps they'll re-open in a new location.
Jetsetter Lounge [MenuPages]
Jetsetter Lounge [Official Site]

Tere over at the Coral Gables blog alerted us to the closing of the Atlanta Bread Company on Miracle Mile. We have to say, we spend a lot of time on Miracle Mile, and the Atlanta Bread Company there never really registered with us. Any guess on what will come next to the spot? Lately we've gotten a California Pizza Kitchen, a Benihana, a Baja Fresh , a Saladworks...maybe we'll get a Chipotle?

Good-Bye Atlanta Bread Company / Info on Nexxt Cafe [Coral Gables]
Atlanta Bread Company [MenuPages]
Atlanta Bread Company [Official Site]

We just got some inside information on restaurant comings and goings around Miracle Mile, so we thought we'd share:

• Anacapri on the Mile is moving from its current spot at 264 Miracle Mile to 2530 Ponce de Leon Boulevard (about a block and a half away) on November 7. The restaurant expects to remain open during the move.

• Randazzo's, at 150 Giralda Ave, is moving to a spot on Miracle Mile and LeJeune that's under construction right now. It's expected to be ready in six months.

• A Chili's is coming to the Tuesday Morning site, 2420 Ponce de Leon.

• Because one steakhouse on the Mile isn't enough, there are plans for a Morton's at the Colonnade on Ponce de Leon and Miracle Mile. It should be ready by early 2008.

• We're not sure about the details, but we hear there's a burger place coming to a spot next door to Benihana.

Wow. We can't think of much more to say about the people who camped out for up to 48 hours in front of the IKEA that opens today in Sunrise. Two days for a store that sells cheap, disposable, trendy furniture. Seriously?

IKEA [Official Site]
The Line is Forming for Big IKEA Opening [CBS4]

We may not know when all those other restaurants are opening, but we do know one thing's for sure: IKEA is opening in Sunrise on Wednesday, and 25,000 people are expected to be there for the event. Which is absolutely insane.

As everyone knows, IKEA sells inexpensive trendy furniture in those great big blue box buildings, but each store also has a restaurant where people take breaks from the madness and scarf down cheap Swedish meatballs. And when the Sunrise IKEA opens, it will be the only place (that we know of) in South Florida where one will be able to find Swedish meatballs. Using the handy Find-a-Food Search tool on South Florida MenuPages, we searched in each area for Swedish meatballs and came up empty.

If you're anxious to try these delicacies (we ourselves have never tried the ones at IKEA, so we cannot vouch for their quality), we'd advise you to wait a few months, until the craziness has passed. We wouldn't want to lose any of our readers to a fatal IKEA stampede; there are so few of you as it is!

IKEA [Official Site]
Sunrise police, firefighters prepare for crowd of 25,000 at IKEA opening [Sun-Sentinel]

Photo: Flickr

We keep a long list of restaurants that we know will be opening in the coming months, along with their projected opening dates. A few days before that date, we'll call and see how things are going. Almost every single time, said date has been pushed back, usually for a few more months. So we keep calling, and dates keep getting pushed back, inevitably due to construction problems and permit snafus, and so it continues, until we are led to believe that the restaurants are never going to open. We just made a few phone calls, and here's what we learned (not much):

• Matsuri in South Miami is still closed for renovations. Updates from chowhounds have revealed that the plywood is down, and there has definitely been some cooking activity going on inside. But we've called a dozen times and we're still getting a busy signal. Our guess is it'll be open this weekend.

• We mentioned the mysterious second location of 1909 Cafe, set to open in Coral Gables sometime in the distant future. We called today and were told a) it's not open and b) no one knows when it will be open. Excellent!

• The Taverna Opa in City Place, which we'd had on our list for an October opening, is projected to open in January.

Matsuri in South Miami [Chowhound]
1909 Cafe [MenuPages]
1909 Cafe [Official Site]
Taverna Opa [Official Site]

Chef Daniel Boulud is bringing his popular New York restaurant DB Bistro Moderne to downtown Miami in 2009. This will be his first restaurant in Miami; the chef currently owns Cafe Boulud in Palm Beach.

The restaurant will be in Metropolitan Miami, which, um, isn't quite done yet. At all. It's going to have residential buildings, office space, retail space and a movie theater. Everything on the website seems very pie-in-the-sky, especially after constantly reading about the downturn in the housing market. But hey, maybe it'll work. Maybe downtown will be revitalized, and maybe DB Bistro Moderne will be a hit. At least it's not another steakhouse.

Chef Daniel Boulud Signs Agreement to Bring DB Bistro Moderne to Metropolitan Miami’s Met 2 Tower [EWM Blog]
Cafe Boulud [MenuPages]
Cafe Boulud [Official Site]
DB Bistro Moderne [MenuPages]
DB Bistro Moderne [Official Site]

Norman, who closed his restaurant in the Gables this past year, is back, about a three hours' drive south of the city. His restaurants Tavern N Town are opening in the new Beachside Resort & Conference Center in Key West on October 15. He's calling it a "hyphenated restaurant:" Tavern will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and will feature a small plates menu, while Town will serve only dinner in a more upscale setting.

We had originally heard an October 15 opening, but that's been set back a few weeks. Now it's October 19 for the hotel, October 22 for Tavern and Blue Bar (the poolside lounge that will feature cocktails, fritters and fish tacos) and December 1 for Town. The menus haven't been completely set yet, but on the website we did find a working menu [PDF] that's missing a few things (like some prices), but gives a good sense of what's to come in Key West.

Beachside Resort & Conference Center [Official Site]

Another day, another steakhouse. At least this one isn't in downtown Miami or South Beach. No, this time Broward County is picking up the steakhouse slack. Deborah Hartz tells us that Federal Grille opened recently in Lighthouse Point and features the typical meat, meat, more meat, and creamed spinach offerings. There is also a barbecued pork belly appetizer, which we must admit sounds delicious. We're working on procuring a menu; it should be online in another day or two.

Federal Grille
3150 N Federal Hwy in Lighthouse Point
954-786-3113

Federal Grille opens -- a new steakhouse [From The Test Kitchen]

Soon, South Floridians can sample the same mediocre pizza that the rest of the country (or at least large parts of it) enjoys at Uno Chicago Grill! So we're not big deep-dish fans. We spent four cold years in Chicago, and we avoided deep dish as much as one could in that city. But we ate enough to know that the pizza at Uno Chicago Grill is a not-so-great imitation of the real stuff. But, then again, we can't think of anyplace else that serves Chicago-style pizza — probably because of the large number of New Yorkers in the area — so if you've got a hankering for deep dish, it'll do to satisfy a craving.

The new restaurant is headed to Royal Palm Beach, where the chain paid $1.7 million for a two-acre parcel of land at the corner of US 441 and Okeechobee Road. Expect a restaurant in the spot by the first quarter of 2008.

Uno Chicago Grill Developing Restaurant in Royal Palm Beach [CoStar Group]
Uno Chicago Grill [Official Site]

Perhaps we should dub 2007 "the year of the steakhouse." Yep, we're getting another one: BLT Steak, which stands for "Bistro Laurent Tourondel," not the tasty bacon-lettuce-tomato sandwich. We learned about it from lax2mia on Chowhound, who is understandably frustrated at the proliferation of steakhouses in the area:

What ticks me off is not that Tourandel is opening a steakhouse (well yes, it does tick me off), but that he has a successful seafood restaurant in NYC (BLT Fish). You're coming to Miami. Florida is surrounded by water. You don't see happy cows grazing around (and we know happy cows come from California) but you stick your hand in the bay and pop! there's a snapper!

L2M's got a point. We were told by our fellow editors that steakhouses have become increasingly popular in recent years in their respective cities, so it's not that restaurateurs are looking just at Miami and thinking "Steakhouse. Yes." They're doing this all over the country. But we can't imagine that the steakhouse boom has taken such a strong hold as it has in South Florida. If only it would pop, just like the condo market...

BLT Steak [Official Site]
BLT Steak [Chowhound]
BLT Steak is hiring a Chef de Cuisine [Craig's List]

Another steakhouse. Yes, we know you must be jumping up and down with excitement. This one comes from Cleveland, which has sent Miami many great gifts before. Construction starts near Joe's Stone Crab in January:

Brad Friedlander, creator of Red, the Steakhouse and Moxie (side by side in Beachwood) is opening a second steakhouse about half a block from the acclaimed Joe’s Stone Crab on South Beach. Also called Red, it’ll offer the same look and menu, but twice be the size of the original with 180 seats plus private dining rooms to accommodate the star-studded nightlife scene.

Developers in other cities came calling after Red was recognized by Playboy and Esquire magazines as one of the top steakhouses in the country. Friedlander chose Miami after seeing patrons lined up outside South Beach's hottest restaurants at 11 p.m. on a Monday night. "In Cleveland, on a Saturday night, they're in bed by 11," he said. Construction is tentatively set for January with hopes of opening mid-next year. The team is in place: his local chef partners Jonathan Bennett and Peter Vauthy, his Cleveland architect Rick Lally and other area contractors and such financial backers as home-grown retired NBA standout Charles Oakley. A top modeling agency and some showbiz folks in California he wouldn't identify are also involved.

McCormick & Schmick's opens with serious seafood in Beachwood [The Plain Dealer]
Red, the Steakhouse [Official Site]

We just confirmed that favorite downtown Miami lunch spot Raja's is open again after a month-and-a-half-long summer break. The rumors were that the restaurant was going to be opening in a new location due to the impending demolition of the building. But we spoke to someone there today who said that the building is not coming down, they are not moving, and they are open for business. Indian-food-loving downtown workers rejoice!

Raja's Indian Cuisine [MenuPages]

The Beach Theatre, built in 1941, once stood at 420 Lincoln Road in Miami Beach. In a few months, a Buddha just like this one will be there. The statue is a trademark of TAO, a two-restaurant chain with locations in New York City and Las Vegas. Next up? Miami Beach, of course. We love the description of the restaurant from southbeach-usa.com:

With staff members that are often compared to runway models, TAO restaurants have been characterized as glamorous nightclubs with extensive appetizer menus.

Yes, TAO Restaurant should fit in very nicely in SoBe.

TAO Restaurant coming to Lincoln Road in Miami Beach [South Beach USA]
TAO Restaurant New York [Official Site]
TAO Restaurant Las Vegas [Official Site]

Photo: Flickr

The same people who brought you Ouzo's Greek Taverna & Bar are venturing south on Miami Beach with Ouzo's Mediterranean Bistro, which opens today for dinner at 6 p.m. We've been told it's dinner only for now, but lunch will be added soon.

Ouzo's Greek Taverna & Bar [MenuPages]
Ouzo's Mediterranean Bistro [Official Site]
Photo: Ouzo's Mediterranean Bistro

Pinecrest residents, your search for multigrain pizza is over; Power Pizza is finally opening its Pinecrest location on Thursday. The website had promised a Spring 2007 opening. Clearly, that did not happen. They promise low-carb, low-fat, healthful pizzas. We cannot vouch for the taste of said pizzas, but given the popularity of the two other locations (South Miami and Kendall), perhaps low-fat, low-carb pizza can taste good.

In the opposite part of the county, the pizzas are now coming out of oven at the new Mario the Baker in Bay Harbor Island. The restaurant held a soft opening yesterday and should be in full swing today.

Power Pizza [MenuPages]
Power Pizza [Official Site]
Mario the Baker [MenuPages]
Mario the Baker [Official Site]
New pizzeria opens Monday [Miami Herald]

Chipotle's been a bit slow to move into Dade County. The company already has four restaurants in South Florida (Weston, Coral Springs, Boynton Beach and Boca Raton) but, oddly enough, had never moved into Miami. Perhaps there was an orange blossom package sent to convince them of the merits of extending the franchise farther south.

At any rate, burritophiles can rejoice very soon; the first Chipotle in the county is opening this Friday, Sept. 14 in North Miami Beach. But we suggest showing up on Thursday for the soft opening. We hear everything will be free, except the beer, from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Pile on all the extra guacamole you want — it's gratis.

Chipotle (14776 Biscayne Blvd, North Miami Beach, 305-947-2779)
Chipotle [Official Site]
Chipotle opens Friday [Mango&Lime]
L2M> Fourteen days til the big burrito! [Chowhound]

We saw Alta Cocina on the Miami International Wine Fair's list of participating restaurants* and thought, wait, it's open? We've been keeping an eye on this one for a while and have been trying to piece little bits of information that have come our way. From Chowhound, we learned that the restaurant is owned by a husband-and-wife team who used to work at Michy's. On Craig's List, we saw ad after ad looking for cooks and "expirienced waiters." Somewhere along the line, we also found an address (5837 Sunset Dr, South Miami, 33143) and a phone number (305-662-7435). Not that anyone answers it yet.

Today, however, we finally got in touch with Juan Mario Maza, the husband half of the team, on what we think is his cell phone, and he informed us that the restaurant will indeed be opening sometime this weekend. We couldn't get much more information; the phone cut out, unfortunately. Either that, or he hung up on us after we asked for a menu. (We're going to believe the former explanation.) We do know that the words "fusion," "fine casual dining," and "New American" have been tossed around to describe the menu.

* The wine fair's website also lists a link to what is supposed to be Alta Cocina's website, but actually is written mostly in what appears to be Latin, has a gallery of photos of what looks like a hotel and lists contact information for Glasgow. The menus listed on the site (in English), however, could fit the bill for the restaurant. Maybe the site's not finished yet and still has a bunch of default text and photos? It's all very confusing.

Anything new or coming to Dade? [Chowhound]
Alta Cocina ads [Craig's List]
Alta Cocina [Official Site?]
Michy's [MenuPages]

The shuttered restaurant doors in Palm Beach County are opening up again, now that the oppressive heat has passed. La Sirena, which closes each offseason, will open again tomorrow night for dinner for the first time since May. The menu is much the same, with a few tweaks — an extra veal dish here, an altered clam dish there. For reservations, call 561-585-3128.

And Miami Beach welcomed a new Indian restaurant this past weekend, the much-anticipated ISHQ (530 Ocean Dr, 305-532-4747). Rumors are that the restaurant boasts two tandoori ovens. The menu is forthcoming and should be online shortly.

La Sirena [MenuPages]
La Sirena [Official Site]
Best Indian in Miami or So Flo in general? [Chowhound]

The last Krispy Kreme in Palm Beach County is closed. The county used to boast three stores: one in Boynton Beach (closed in 2006), one in West Palm Beach (closed last April), and now finally the sole holdout, the Boca Raton store, is gone. According to the Post, the chain has lost money for the last 11 quarters.

If you're still craving a hot Krispy Kreme doughnut, there are two outposts left: one at 590 NE 167th Street in Miami and another at 2401 N Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale.

County's last Krispy Kreme shuts doors [Palm Beach Post]
Krispy Kreme [Official Site]
Photo: Flickr

We've just received word that the Rosa Mexicano in the new downtown mall Mary Brickell Village is finally opening this Friday, Aug. 31 at 5 p.m. Those of you in Palm Beach Gardens are likely already familiar with the restaurant chain, which has a location in Downtown at the Gardens. We're told the menu at the Miami restaurant will be the same, featuring upscale Mexican cuisine. Popular favorites are the guacamole en molcajete, which is mashed tableside, and the pomegranate margaritas.

Rosa Mexicano [MenuPages]
Rosa Mexicano [Official Site]
Mary Brickell Village [Official Site]

• Gail Shepherd thinks Taverna Kyma in Boca is the only one of the new Greek restaurants that will be able to challenge Taverna Opa, at least in the food department. Taverna Eros and Avra Taverna, on the other hand...well, just don't go for the food. [New Times]

• Three new places in Broward for pizza, burgers, and wings. First there's New River Pizza Cafe (1970 Sawgrass Mills Circle in Sunrise), the third branch — and the first sit-down one — of the original New River Pizza in Fort Lauderdale. Five Guys (1818 Cordova Rd in Fort Lauderdale, with six more locations planned in South Florida) serves up tasty burgers and fries. And Hurricane Grill & Wings, visited by the Beer Guy last week, just opened a new branch in Plantation. [Miami Herald]

Continue reading "Review Digest: Broward & Palm Beach" »

Pete's, the 20-year-old restaurant in West Boca, has closed to make room for an upscale seafood market/restaurant. Owner Pete Boinis looks to be headed toward a restful fish-filled retirement.

"I've been here 20 years, it's been a good enjoyable run," said Boinis, who has owned restaurants from Fort Lauderdale to Ocean City, Md., but now plans to spend some time relaxing, including deep-sea fishing. "I feel we've established a landmark. We've been part of the Boca Raton landscape. The governor has been here, President Bush was in here, several football players, [retired Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan] Marino. All sorts of people, Pete Rose."

Pete's closes in West Boca, to be replaced by fish restaurant [Sun-Sentinel]
Pete's [MenuPages]
Pete's [Official Site]

First, there was Christine Lee's in Sunny Isles. Then, the restaurant moved to Jupiter. Now, there's a second branch open in Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, a much shorter drive for North Dade fans of the restaurants. The menu is much the same as that of the Jupiter restaurant, except for the addition of a sushi bar. It appears that the prices went up a bit as well; we imagine the high rollers at the casino and racetrack won't notice.

Christine Lee's [MenuPages]
Christine Lee's [MenuPages]
Christine Lee's [Official Site]
Gulfstream Park [Official Site]

Taverna Yiamas in Hollywood has been open for a couple of weeks, but its grand opening is tonight. You have until 8 p.m. to get complimentary hors d'oeuvres. There will be wine and beer also, although we can't guarantee that'll be free as well.

Taverna Yiamas [Official Site]

We're not sure how we missed this last month, but here it is: Books & Books is opening a fourth location in November. In Grand Cayman. You might be wondering what the restaurant connection is here; it's a bit tenuous, but they do have cafes at two of their locations. (The Books & Books at Bal Harbour is without.) And it looks like the Cayman Islands version will indeed offer food:

Continue reading "Books & Books Extends Its Reach Into the Caribbean" »

We just learned that Michael's Kitchen in Hollywood has closed. But, fear not: a new location on Sunny Isles Beach is in the works, and should be open sometime in November. From today's Herald article about the closing:

''The rising rent and the property taxes and the rising insurance make it difficult to stay in business, much like Jonathan Eismann at Pacific Time and Norman Van Aken at Norman's,'' Jennie Blum said.

The couple had intended to make the Newport restaurant a second site, she said, but costs ''became unbearable,'' particularly this year's rent increases. The Hollywood Michael's Kitchen served its last meals Saturday.

Michael's Kitchen in Hollywood closes [Miami Herald]
Michael's Kitchen [MenuPages]
Michael's Kitchen [Official Site]

Max's Grille opened in Coral Gables with the amount of fanfare befitting a local restaurant king. A year and $2 million later, the restaurant was closed. We just learned that a new restaurant called Zabôr will be taking over the spot at 2 Aragon Ave, just north of Miracle Mile. Given the similarity between "zabôr" and "sabor," the Spanish word for "flavor" or "taste," we would've assumed a Latin restaurant might be moving in, but according to a Craig's List ad for employees, it's described as "world cuisine, lounge, Japanese bakery." We're not quite sure what to make of that.

The details are still sketchy, but we're working on getting some more information, which we will, of course, pass along to you as soon as we can.

Max's Grille [Official Site]
Restaurant hiring all positions [Craig's List]

Today is the grand opening of the latest Jamba Juice, inside International Mall (1455 NW 107th Ave). We hear there will be free smoothies from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. So if you happen to be at the mall, make sure to drop by around lunchtime.

Well, at least this one won't have her name all over it. (We're looking at you, DeVito.) Queen Latifah is planning to open a Fatburger franchise — the third one in Florida — on South Beach by the end of the year. It has apparently been her dream to open one for several years, but no word just yet on why she chose Miami Beach. We can't wait to watch bronzed, muscular bodies walk by a large sign proclaiming "Fatburger."

Queen Latifah to Open Burger Joint [ABC 2 News]
Fatburger [Official Site]

Is it just us, or does it seem like new restaurants are sprouting like crazy in the Doral? Today, it's the second location of Giardino Gourmet Salads, sure to make office workers in the area happy. (The first, in Coral Gables, has become popular since its opening in 2005.)

Giardino Gourmet Salads [MenuPages]
Giardino Gourmet Salads [Official Site]

Looks like South Miami favorite Two Chefs is opening a North Miami location. We just heard from the owner that the opening is scheduled for early October. The menu will be the same as the South Miami location at first, but he expects the two to diverge with time. Oh, yes, and they're hiring!

Two Chefs New North Miami Location Now Hiring [Craigslist]
Two Chefs [MenuPages]

Name: Lola's on Harrison
Location: Downtown Hollywood
Chef: Michael Wagner, executive chef at Tuscan Steak from 1999 to 2003
Date Opened: July 3
Most Intriguing Menu Item: Coca-Cola BBQ Beef Ribs. Slow-roasted center cut beef ribs basted with Coca-Cola BBQ sauce. Comes with buttermilk onion rings and creamed yellow corn.

Lola's on Harrison [Official Site]
Lola's on Harrison [Chowhound Florida Board]

Forest Hills, NY-based Knish Nosh opened its first South Florida outpost yesterday in Delray Beach. The middle of the summer seems like an odd time to open, given that one would usually want to capitalize on the influx of New York snowbirds in the winter months, but apparently permits and health inspection problems forced the opening to move from March to July. In addition to knishes, they serve cocktail franks, latkes and rugelach. A MenuPages menu is forthcoming; for now, check out Knish Nosh's site, which features plenty of photos of their tasty-looking specialties.

Knish Nosh [Official Site]
Grotto open in old Chuck and Harold's [Palm Beach Post]

• Those are the closed doors of The Deli Restaurant, which has offered a pie cart to Key West diners since the 1950s. It's gone, along with another local Conch favorite, the Dennis Pharmacy. [PB Post]

• In Miami Beach, Danny DeVito has branched out into the restaurant business. [Miami Herald]

• Fort Lauderdale gains Avra Taverna, a Greek restaurant with a focus on fresh fish. [From the Test Kitchen]

Photo: Flickr lee_3dhighway