Taking advantage of the Shelborne’s impressive space, elaborate crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over the grandest of sushi bars which the chef wanted to be the focal point of the restaurant. “I wanted it to be a stage,” said Morimoto, “so you can watch (the sushi chefs’) skills.” While the beautifully presented food dazzles, it is difficult to tear your eyes away from the pool and beachfront just beyond the bar as the design team maximizes the Shelborne’s amazing ocean view. Morimoto South Beach is the realization of a dream for the popular TV personality; an elegant eatery with a fun South Beach vibe.

Showcasing dishes unique to the area, the menu at Morimoto features locally grown fruit and vegetables and a variety of fresh Florida seafood to augment the prime cuts of sushi-grade fish imported from around the world. Known for his Tuna Pizza and Toro Tartare, the kitchen executes Hamachi Tacos and Miami-inspired Ceviches with equal aplomb. Partnering with innovative Executive Pastry Chef Manabu Inoue, the restaurant serves a Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart and Coconut Mango Pudding that are deliciously decadent.

Guests can sit in comfortable banquettes or opt for central tables placed indoors or out on the terrace. A private VIP Table can be reserved for special occasions when Morimoto is in town. He plans to divide his time between New York City and Miami to oversee the execution of the restaurant as well as all the food and beverage at the hotel. For the moment, perhaps the best seats in the house are front and center at the sushi bar where the chefs wield razor sharp knives to dazzling effect.

Morimoto South Beach at the Shelborne Wyndham Grand, 1801 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. Open Sunday through Thursday 6pm to midnight and Friday & Saturday until 1am.

Tatami mats line a quiet enclosed room surrounded by fresh bamboo dividers, where patrons luxuriate in dining on the floor. Scallops and Asparagus in Buttery Miso Sauce is worth sampling. We also favor the “South Beach,” a funky hand roll of baked eel, salmon skin, avocado, spicy mayonnaise, scallions and cucumbers wrapped in nori seaweed. Great big steaming bowls of udon or soba noodles in broth are topped with beef or shrimp, or vegetables. Prices can be hefty, so beware.

Sushi Chef Katsuya Uechi blends Japanese flavors for American palates and enjoys star status amongst his Los Angeles celebrity clientele. Opening his first LA restaurant in 1997, the chef sources his seafood globally and divides his menu between cooked and raw composed seafood dishes and premium Kobe beef plates. Popular dishes include Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna, Kobe Tobanyaki and an offering that immediately recalls a Nobu standout – Miso-Marinated Black Cod. Of the celebrated east coast sushi king Nobu, Katsuya diplomatically commented that [Matsuhisa] was “the one who got attention for sushi tastes… he’s great to do that. But since then we’ve changed things little by little.”

His new South Beach restaurant offers a tempting mixture of small plates and sushi, robata and the signature composed rolls that have made Katsuya famous. Foodies can request a $75 tasting menu or a simple $25 prix fixe meal. The dining room provides a stunning black and white backdrop for beautifully presented dishes served under the watchful eye of oversized Geisha graphics. Open Sunday through Wednesday from 6pm-midnight and 1am weekends, Katsuya by Starck promises to be the season’s top spot to see and be seen!

Miami is decidedly behind the culinary curve when it comes to dedicated noodle parlors, but for devotees of authentic artisanal fare, Momi Ramen more than makes up for the wait. This fusion of noodle and broth gets a choice of toppings which the chef often varies. Most popular is the roast pork belly sliced and draped over the slippery noodles with a just-poached egg and a tangy dice of green onions. Chen also offers steamed greens, kelp and mushrooms atop the ramen which may make the dish a little lighter than roast meat but still offers an appealing taste and texture. Truly destination dining, Momi Ramen delivers a singular dish made nowhere else in town.

Name:	Momi Ramen
Rating:	/ 4.0 stars based on 258 reviews across the Web
Address:	5 SW 11th St, Miami, FL 33130
Phone:	(786) 391-2392
Cuisine:	Japanese
Price:	$$
Attire:	Casual
Payment:	Cash, All Major Credit Cards
Reservations:	Yes
Parking:	On-street parking
Chef:	Jeffrey Chen
Website:	www.momiramen.com
Hours:	Mo-Su 11:00am-5am

Truly a special occasion restaurant, dinner at NAOE can last up to three hours and starts at $160 per person with an additional charge for sake, sushi and gratuity. The small space is designed to focus attention away from the world and zero in on the meal itself with seafood being the star of each night’s menu. Perhaps the most important element of the NAOE experience is that every person in the room made an extraordinary effort to be there, which makes this an exceptional culinary adventure provided by a truly dedicated team.

Name:	NAOE
Rating:	/ 4.5 stars based on 370 reviews across the Web
Address:	661 Brickell Key Dr, Miami, FL 33139
Phone:	(305) 947-6263
Cuisine:	Japanese
Price:	$$$$
Attire:	Casual
Payment:	Cash, All Major Credit Cards
Reservations:	Yes
Parking:	On-street parking
Chef:	Kevin Cory
Website:	www.naoemiami.com
Hours:	Mo Closed, Tu-Su 6:00pm-9:30pm