The Melo Group has redesigned the Flagler On The River project with a 14-foot riverwalk after city officials threatened to put a stop to construction after they had initially built the riverwalk 2 feet narrower then the approved plans. The commission has since approved the newly submitted, updated plans and the developer will press on with construction. The Flagler On The River project will be the future location of Sushi Samba and Duck & Waffle.
Forte Dei Marmi | Photo via Karen Fuchs
Antonio Mellino's Forte Dei Marmi Opens on Miami Beach
Miami Beach has yet another upscale Italian restaurant on Ocean Drive as Two Michelin Star chef Antonio Mellino has opened Forte Dei Marmi at 150 Ocean Drive. The concept has transformed the 1938 Mediterranean-revival building into a Tuscan seaside inspired abode with renovations headed-up by Miami star-architect Chad Oppenheim of Oppenheim Architecture + Design and interiors by Henry Timi and landscaping by Enzo Enea. The second floor of the building with be an Arts Club and Lounge.
Fabrizio & Diana Bianconi to Transform Mast Capital's Brickell Chateau into Italian Restaurant
Fabrizio & Diana Bianconi will launch their first restaurant in Miami after launching successful concepts in St. Barts and Los Angeles. The restaurant will be located in Mast Capital's famous Petit Douy French Chateau at 1500 Brickell which they acquired in 2013 for $2.575 million. Since then the property has gone through multiple changes including renovations to modernize the structure as well as being rezoned for retail and commercial use. Since acquisition Camilo Miguel Jr., the founder and CEO of Mast Capital, has had his sights set on bringing a restaurant to the property. The restaurant will be designed by Diana Bianconi and will feature an outdoor garden and lounge. The menu will be Italian including homemade pasta, steaks and seafood.The Italian restauranteurs also own Via Veneta and Bianconi in Los Angeles and L’Isola and L’Isoletta in St. Barts.
Thomas Keller, Founder & Chef of Manhattan's Per Se, to Open Concept in Surf Club Four Seasons
Thomas Keller, the award-winning chef who founded Per Se in Manhattan and French Laundry in California, amongst others, will open a new concept in Surfside's Surf Club Four Seasons. Keller has looked at Miami for over five years, finally deciding to open in Surf Club Four Seasons after learning of the project and sites former history and beautiful new construction that has become a stunning additon to the Surfside community. Keller maintains that while his Surf Club Four Seasons concept will be upscale, it will not be another very fine dining restaurant but a more accessible restaurant for all to enjoy. As he told the Miami Herald, “I don’t think I’ll ever open another fine dining restaurant in America. Trying to replicate that energy, I’m not going to do that, not at my age, the Surf Club will not be about my personality.”
Surf Club Four Seasons is a luxury hotel and residential condo project that spans 9 acres with 965 feet of beach frontage. The development includes a 77-room Four Seasons Hotel as well as two 12-story residential buildings with 150 condos. Amenities include four swimming pools, a spa and gym, and 40 beach cabanas. Condo prices range from $3.4 million to $18 million and the project is over 80 percent sold as reported by ISG Miami. Surf Club Four Seasons is expected to open in 2018.
Coya | Photo via Coya
Top 5 Restaurants in Miami Fall 2016
Miami is full of world-class restaurants encompassing many different types of cuisines and modern vibes. Whether you live in Miami or are visiting for your first time, these 5 picks by the editors of PROFILEmaimi are sure to impress. Keep in mind they are all very hot and will be packed so make sure to call ahead for a reservation.
1. Coya
The lone non-Miami Beach location on this list is located in Brickell. This hotspot brings "Incan culture" to Miami with modern Peruvian fare matched with trendy, upscale vibes. They are known for their pisco sours and is best enjoyed sharing style.
2. Joe's Stone Crab
Joe's Stone Crab | Photo via Inside Scoop SF
A South Beach classic. While only open half of the year, during stone crab season, this powerhouse delivers fresh seafood daily. Definitely order the stone crab claws. Go to the takeout side on the left of the restuarant so you don't need to deal with the lines and you can still sit and eat there.
3. NaiYaRa
NaiYara | Photo via Miami City Social
Chef Bee is one of Miami's most infamous chefs and his new hotspot became an instant classic. NaiYaRa serves up what he has dubbed Thai street food, sushi, and other Asian specialties with a Bangkok feel. Order the Beef Jerky and the NaiYaRa Roll. Located in Sunset Harbour, one of Miami Beach's trendiest neighborhoods, NaiYaRa will be a staple for years to come.
4. Prime 112
Prime 112 | Photo via Myles Restaurant Group
If you want steak and you are in Miami, Prime 112 is the place to go. Prime 112 is the pride and joy of the Myles Restaurant Group's Prime collection of restaurants that also includes Prime Fish and Prime Italian. Prime 112 is a contemporary steakhouse with "sophisticated cuisine" but you must check out one of their steaks paired with some red wine. The restaurant offers a vibrant people-watching scene and is located right in the walkable South Pointe neighboorhood, one of the top neighborhoods in all of South Florida.
5. Beachcraft
Beachcraft | Photo via Yelp
Located in the 1 Hotel, one of the hottest hotels in South Beach, Beachcraft is celebrity chef Tom Colicchio's newest upscale "beachside grill." Beachcraft serves seasonal American farm-to-table dishes and is a great spot for either lunch or dinner. Order the Yellowfin Tuna Crudo with Fennel, Serrano, Pepper and Red Shisho. They also serve an unreal breakfast that covers all of the bases.
2nd Mignonette Location to Open in North Miami Beach
North Miami Beach will have a new hot spot on Biscayne Boulevard as Chef Danny Serfer's Downtown seafood staple Mignonette will open a second location at the old Gourmet Diner owned by Rockwell Holding Group. The Gourmet Diner location is a 2,300 SF restaurant space at 13951 Biscayne Blvd. While the terms of the deal will remain private the list price was about $192K per year or about $16K per month triple net. Rockwell Holding Group is owned by Brett David who also owns the nearby Prestige Imports exotic car dealership. They purchased the old Gourmet Diner for $1.6 million in 2012. Serfer opened Mignonette two years ago and aims to preserve much of the historical charm of the old Gourmet Diner in his new restaurant.
Arjun Waney to Open New Latin-Asian Concept DÔA With Flagship Location in South Beach
Arjun Waney, owner of Zuma and Coya, is bringing a new concept to South Beach at 2000 Collins Ave. The London-based restauranteur will launch in new Latin-Asian Fusion concept dubbed DÔA in South Beach. DÔA will have both Asian and Peruvian roots and will be a casual and affordable concept with indoor and outdoor seating. The South Beach location is expected to be the flagship location for the new concept with future locations planned in Washington D.C., Atlanta, Boston and Chicago. It will occupy the 5,200 SF space that was formerly Barezzito and One Lounge across from the Setai. It will feature an open kitchen, central island bar, DJ booth, lounge area and sushi bar.
Miami River Commission Threatens To Halt Construction At Future SushiSamba/ Duck & Waffle Location
There is drama at the Melo Group's Flagler On The River construction project, located at 40 SW North River Drive and the former location of East Coast Fisheries. Now in Phase II of the development, officials with the Miami River Commission have expressed complaints over the lack of a 14-foot-wide riverwalk that was part of the approval of the project. Inspections showed that current construction accounts to a 12 ft riverwalk, down from 14 ft, and a 5 ft unobstructed circulation zone, down from 8 ft. The Melo Group has fought back, claiming that work on the riverwalk has not begun as they are waiting on Tenant Improvement plans from the future tenants which may alter the final design of the riverwalk. They say that upon completion the project will comply completely with their approvals. The future tenants of the riverwalk, double decker restaurant commercial portion of the greater Flagler On The River development will be SUSHISAMBA and Duck & Waffle. City officials have considered either halting construction of not issuing a final certificate of occupancy.
José Andrés' Bazaar Mar
SLS Brickell Hotel to Open October 3
SLS Brickell is coming! Related Group and SBE have set an opening date of October 3rd for the hotel as we edge closer to seeing the completion of this most recent development cycle. SLS Brickell is a 124-room hotel with pricing starting at $249 per night and can reach over $1,950 for the 1,756 SF, 2 bedroom Louie Suite. The 52-story building was designed by Arquitectonica and also features 450 residential condo units. It also features an LED façade by lighting artist Ana Isabel Martinez, artwork throughout the property by Fernando Botero and Matias Duville, and a colorful, iconic exterior art mural. SLS Brickell includes José Andrés' Bazaar Mar, his new seafood restaurant concept, as well as Michael Schwartz's Fi’lia, Italian concept. José Andrés will also be head of all food and beverage operations throughout the property including the pool bar, mezzanine and in-room dining. Related Group began planning the project in 2012 and broke ground in early 2014.
STK Miami Opens in Marquis Residences
The soft-opening of Me Miami has been so far a success, which recently moved closer to being completely open with the official opening of STK Miami in the lobby of Me Miami and Marquis Residences. The zoning permits the liquor license from the nearby late-night nightclubs including Heart and Space, so expect STK Miami to become a hopping place after-hours. The build-out features a modern restaurant concept right on Biscayne Blvd. and third-floor bar. The location is also walking distance from the Perez Art Museum, Frost Science Museum and American Airlines Arena.