CityStyle Miami

Nitro-licious Cocktails Comes to Downtown Miami

Editor — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:00:22 +0000

Sometimes a night out means hitting a fine restaurant and a great bar.

And sometimes you get them both rolled into one…

Welcome to MIA at Biscayne, Downtown Miami’s new fusion restaurant with a healthy side of nightlife, now open.

To experience the magic being served at MIA, arrive at dinner time. There you will be greeted with a warm smile and hot fusion food by way of Spain, Japan and Latin America. Start with the MIA Roll, a decadent mix of lobster topped with spicy tuna, crispy plantain, scallions and avocado crema, before indulging in flavor-loaded tapas, like the Confit of Pork Belly or the Tortilla Espanola.

Once you’re fueled, the hard part begins: which cocktail will you enjoy? Will it be the modern, interpreted (and edible!) versions of the Cuba Libre, starring dark rum gelée, coca-cola granitée, lemon froth and fizz, the Pina Colada, perfected with dark rum gelée, pineapple granitée and coconut foam, or the Cosmopolitan, made with vodka gelée, orange sorbet, cranberry froth and lime zest.

Or do you elect more traditional, top-shelf drinks like the daiquiris, mojitos, margaritas, or champagne cocktails.

Then again, there’s that wine list with more than 150 wines. Decisions, decisions…

MIA at Biscayne is now ready for you. Are you ready for its flashy website?

MIA at Biscayne
20 Biscayne Boulevard (at Flagler), Downtown Miami
Tel: (305) 642-0032
miaatbiscayne.com

Mr. Chow Lands in Miami

Editor — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:00:13 +0000

Every now and then, a restaurant scene quietly arrives, hoping to fly under the radar.

Until, of course, we bring it to you first…

… Introducing Mr. Chow South Beach. If you’ve been to New York enough times, you may have experienced the swanky Chinese food empire that is Mr. Chow.

For everyone else, think of Mr. Chow as the reigning king of the sexy Chinese food scene (yes, there is such a thing as sexy Chinese food). The restaurant’s formula is deceptively simple: embrace the best chefs, make the space gorgeous, accessorize with great art, and invite the occasional A-list celebrity pal or three.

For the new South Beach location at the W Hotel, the formula is the same but better. Much better. A 125-foot Swarovski crystal and gold leaf chandelier anchors the 300-seat space.

As for the food, get ready for table-side pulling of Long Xu (angel hair pasta), Emperor’s Crab, Gambler’s Duck (tender and crispy duck served with plum sauce and pancakes), Ma Mignon (thin slices of filet mignon drizzled with a special sauce), and of course, the ultimate Chinese tasting menu.

Outstanding food in a stunning setting.

Now that’s what we call a happy ending.

Mr. Chow is now taking reservations. Preview their site.

Mr. Chow South Beach at the W Hotel
2201 Collins Avenue, South Beach
Tel: (305) 695-1695
mrchow.com

A Steakhouse Meets Tavern Meets Deli

Editor — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:00:46 +0000

This great town is saturated with steakhouses and taverns.

But we’d like to think there’s always room for one more.

Especially one that traffics in Chicago style comfort food: say hello to Chicago’s Steakhouse & Tavern, now open to the public. Located in the center of Coconut Grove’s Commodore Plaza, this new chophouse is a meat lover’s dream come true.

A quick look around Miami’s newest steakhouse reveals classy comfort, you know, rich mahogany wood booths, and red accents throughout. Murals of the Chicago city skyline grace the walls and the streamlined black grand piano, where we hear local acts will play everything from jazz to classic piano tunes, adding to the authentic urban experience.

But you came here for big beef and you’ll be happy to know that Chicago Steakhouse serves the best cuts. Order the Porterhouse for Two with classic sides like potatoes and spinach. Or indulge in seafood dishes with a SoFla twist, like the Mango Crab Cakes or Maine Lobster Rolls with a key lime mustard sauce.

For extra points, the eatery also has a deli area serving authentic Chi-town style hot dogs and sandwiches.

May the best meal win.

Chicago’s Steakhouse & Tavern
3120 Commodore Plaza
Tel: (305) 443-0422

Brickell Gets The Argentinian Steakhouse Treatment

Editor — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:00:54 +0000

When you think of nightlife, you think of South Beach.

When you order martinis, you generally go with Grey Goose.

So when you’re in the mood for hearty, wallet-friendly steaks, there’s just one way to go – Argentinean… Graziano’s, to be exact. Revered for their authentic Argentinian fare and big steaks, this local dynasty of South American meats is bringing their mouth-watering flavor to Brickell, giving you a fourth destination to satisfy your Summer craving for perfectly-grilled beef.

Whether you prefer your prime cuts on the grill or the asador (you know, the wood fire pit), mains like Hand Cut 12 oz. Grilled Bone-in Aged Angus Tenderloin with a Malbec Demi-Glase and Fres Champignons, and Young All-Natural Iowa Lamb Marinated with Fresh Fine Herbs, Dijon Mustard and White Wine are bound to be sublime either way.

To help wash it all down, Graziano’s has a nice wine list, and even has free tastings every Thursday from 6:30pm to 9pm.

Good steaks at great prices - what more could you ask for?

Graziano’s Brickell
177 SW 7th Street, Brickell
Tel: (305) 860-1426

A New Nightclub That Won’t Quit

Editor — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:00:41 +0000

You love the energy of a South Beach bar crawl.

But you hate the collateral damage of trekking from spot to spot.

For all the nightlife variety you seek without the hassle, check out the new Bancroft Supperclub. The developers behind this all-in-one nightlife locale took over the gorgeously deco Bancroft hotel, transforming the space into a one-stop shop for your decadent evening on the town.

Start your night at the downstairs restaurant, where chic furnishings and new American cuisine compete for attention with a 20-foot runway at the center of the room. When you’ve had your fill, move the party to the all-marble bar, where you can get a glimpse of ceiling-mounted plasma screens and the surrounding retro, Jazz Age décor—complemented by a wall of spirits suitable for a speakeasy.

From there, you can venture up to the venue’s soon-to-debut upstairs lounge, or get some air on the outdoor patio—all without leaving the premises.

Who says you can’t have it all…

Bancroft Supperclub
1501 Collins Avenue, South Beach
Tel: (305) 630-8540
bancroftsupperclub.com

A Taste of the South, in South Beach

Editor — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:00:11 +0000

You know South Florida doesn’t fit in with the down home vibe of the South.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t get a taste of Southern hospitality…

Introducing Ahnvee, the new New Orleans food plantation, now open in South Beach. The restaurant-lounge hybrid set up shop in a few former nightclubs (forgettable ones, fortunately) to break up Miami’s sushi-overloaded scene with Cajun and creole flavors. Think ingredients like sweet potatoes, succotash and catfish, fancied up by Chef Tom Azar into gourmet dishes that’ll have you feeling nostalgic for those early years you spent in the country—even if you grew up in the city.

The Louisiana influence spills over into Ahnvee’s lounge, with couches the color of cayenne pepper, a stage for dancers and Cirque du Soleil-esque acrobats. Sip on selections from the bar’s list of New Orleans-themed cocktails with names like “Swamp Thing”, “French Quarter Crawl”, and, perhaps the best example of mixing Cajun and South Beach cultures, “Sex on the Bayou”.

Proving that Miami puts the “dirty” in “dirty South”.

Ahnvee is now open. Head to ahnvee.com to preview the menu and for more pics.

Ahnvee Restaurant and Lounge
621 Washington Avenue, South Beach
Tel: (305) 672-1966
ahnvee.com

World-Class Argentinian Steaks Return to South Beach

Editor — Tue, 12 May 2009 21:00:23 +0000

Just what South Beach needs, you’re thinking. Another Argentinian steakhouse.

But take another look, and you may get that fuzzy, familiar feeling…

Say hola, or more appropriately, welcome back, to Baires Grill. The steakhouse that once reigned on lower Washington— before the arrival of Texas de Brazil, Fogo de Chao and their kind made Latin chophouses as ever-present as Starbucks —has returned for round two, this time on Lincoln Road. But unlike the dark ambiance of the original, Baires 2.0 has an airy, artsy feel, complete with marble floors, Argentinian-themed art on the walls, and a swanky carved-wood bar to rival any bistro in Buenos Aires.

The menu (view it here), however, takes a more provincial approach, with dishes inspired by Argentina’s gaucho ranch-filled countryside. Think blood sausage, chorizo and, oh yeah, the steak—never frozen, imported directly from Las Pampas in any cut imaginable: flank, strip, ribeye, skirt, you name it.

Add a wine list filled with Argentine delicacies, including rare Torrontes vintages, and you’ll be glad for this restaurant’s sequel.

After all, everybody deserves a second chance.

Get a preview of the new Baires at bairesgrill.com.

Baires Grill
1116 Lincoln Road, South Beach
Tel: (305) 538-1116
bairesgrill.com

Introducing Crazy Pianos

Editor — Tue, 05 May 2009 22:39:40 +0000

Admit it, you’ve been craving some piano man action. You’ve been waiting for that moment when it’s totally appropriate to belt out your favorite tunes over the ivories, drink in hand—slickness and charm be damned.

Enter Crazy Pianos, Miami’s Dutch import of a nightclub/restaurant/piano bar that’s bringing new life to Cocowalk. Why so crazy, you might ask? Two fire-red dueling pianos, a live drummer and your special requests for the night make things interesting. Throw in a fully-stocked bar and musicians with zero inhibitions and you’ve got a night that’ll leave your ears happy and your throat sore.

Of course there’s also the food: Portobello Mushroom Ravioli, Tasmanian Salmon Bur Blanc, and Kobe Beef Sliders satiate nearly any diner’s taste. And since you’re already throwing your inhibitions out the window, top it off with a dulce de leche deep fried cheesecake, or drink your dessert outside on the patio deck, where beer tables are filled with extra cold Heineken on draft.

Sounds like it’s time to start thinking up some song choices. That Billy Joel one? We’re guessing they’ve heard it before.

Crazy Pianos opens Wednesday in Cocowalk.

Crazy Pianos
3015 Grand Avenue, Coconut Grove
Tel: (305) 567-2462
crazypianosmiami.com

A Taste Of Italy In South Beach

Editor — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:00:37 +0000

You know there’s nothing better than a quality slice at the end of a long night out.

So prepare yourself for a transformation in the SoBe pizza scene.

Introducing Sosta Pizzeria Enoteca, the newest slice slingers to hit Lincoln Road. Like most South Beach pizzerias, Sosta claims to offer the most authentic dishes this side of Rome. The difference? The restaurant is owned by the people behind Quattro Gastronomia Italiana, the gourmet Italian eatery sitting just down the street from the new Sosta space, proving these people know their Neapolitan cuisine—think smoked salmon, wurstel, artichoke and more, expertly assembled into upscale flavor combinations.

And it’s not just the toppings. On the advice of Italian pizza makers, the restaurant prepares everything in a genuine Italian rotating brick oven—one of only two of its kind in the country. And what will you pay for the exclusive privilege of biting into such delicately prepared slices? As little as $5. Pair the pizza with antipasti like traditional bruschetta or specialty focacce and a vintage from the restaurant’s list of 75 globe-spanning wines, and you’re dining on haute cuisine at very un-SoBe prices.

Let the Italian revolution begin.

Sosta opens May 1st. Preview their website.

Sosta Pizzeria Enoteca
1025 Lincoln Road, South Beach
Tel: (305) 772-5454
sostapizzeria.com

Sexy Japanese Food in South Beach

Editor — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:00:24 +0000

Sometimes you like your evening to be a little naughty.

Especially when menu items offer sly suggestions for spicing things up…

Introducing Zushi Flirt, Miami’s newest sushi spot with plenty of passion to go around. Tucked into the lounge at the newly rebranded Z Ocean Hotel, the bar’s chill modern aesthetic and red lighting resembling pillar candles was designed specifically to put you (and your date) in the mood.

And that’s just the beginning. Appetizers—or, in Zushi Flirt-speak, “Nibbles”—range from Mi-so Horny soup to zesty delicacies like 2 Hot 2 Handle, with thinly sliced yellowtail garnished with jalapeno and ponzu sauce. If you’re feeling a bit ravenous, order the Climax sushi roll, pairing lobster with cucumber and caviar. Or send a hint by splitting the Latin Lover, featuring two types of fish rolled in classic Miami flavors like mango and avocado.

It’s the perfect start to a steamy night.

The rest, of course, is up to you…

Zushi Flirt, at the Z Ocean Hotel, opens Friday.

Zushi Flirt at the Z Ocean Hotel South Beach
1437 Collins Avenue
Tel: (305) 672-4554
flirtsushi.com