Osteria del Teatro occupied an unlikely position just beneath the marquee of one of South Beach’s most notorious nightclubs where prominent entertainers (from Bob Dylan to Puff Daddy) and the world’s top DJs performed to sold out crowds while well dressed diners enjoyed classic Italian fare right next door. Embraced by locals, tourists and celebrities, the restaurant offered a menu filled with traditional Italian dishes, but those in the know followed the suggestions of friendly waiters well-versed in the daily specials and dedicated to providing great service. Happily, all the regular dishes and plenty of seasonal delights followed Osteria to the elegant new location just around the corner.

“We look forward to continuing the legacy we’ve built upon for the last 29 years as we move Osteria del Teatro to the Marlin Hotel, ” says Gilbert Gonzalez, owner of Osteria del Teatro. Just inside the lobby of the recently refurbished Marlin Hotel, the new dining room offers a stylish setting for Chef Martin Perez to showcase his menu of handmade pastas and fresh Florida seafood. There are alfresco tables on the breezy porch and a full cocktail bar serving craft cocktails like the Sofia Loren with vodka, St. Germain, strawberries and prosecco; and the Mulo Russo, a play on the Moscow Mule with grappa in place of vodka.

Osteria del Teatro is located at 1200 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. 305.695.3000

The restaurant’s owner, Nicola Siervo of KNR Hospitality Group notes, “After 10 years, business remains solid on Lincoln Road so we decided to renew the lease. We are excited to continue serving fine Italian cuisine on one of the most important streets in Miami to our loyal and cherished customers.” Quattro accommodates 160 guests, with seating for 80 inside a luxurious modern dining room and another 80 guests on an outside patio that overlooks Miami’s Lincoln Road Mall. Distinctly Italian accents of cognac leather and a glittering custom-designed mirrored bar with towering wine refrigerators were fashioned by Studio A Design.

Quattro General Manager Roberto Sanso draws a parallel between Chef Bellofiore’s hometown of Venice and Miami Beach; popular travel destinations surrounded by water and known for an abundance of fresh fish. The chef’s newest dishes include Polipo del Mediterraneo con Farro Legumi Pomodorini – grilled Mediterranean octopus with farro, cherry tomatoes and a lemon dressing; Insalate di Mare – a chilled shrimp, squid, bay scallops, and octopus salad; and the perfect-for-sharing Fritto Misto di Mare – a variety of fried fresh seafood. Many of the restaurant’s most popular menu items are still available in addition to the chef’s Gnocchi alla Sorrentina – handmade gnocchi with buffala mozzarella, fresh tomato sauce and basil and Paccheri con Polpo Pomodorini E Olive Taggiasca – paccheri pasta with Mediterranean octopus, taggiasca olives, and cherry tomatoes.

A hand-selected all-Italian wine list comes from owner/vintner Nicola Schon of Colle Manora Vineyard in the countryside of the Monferrato. The restaurant currently serves lunch and dinner including a popular $25 two-course lunch served weekdays.

Quattro Gastronomia Italiana 1014 Lincoln Road, South Beach 305.531.4833
Open Sunday – Thursday noon – 11pm, Friday & Saturday until 11:45pm

Choose from classic cocktails or an extensive selection of wines listed on an iPad and showcased in the glass tower that is the focal point of the dining room. The 500 plus bottles of world class wines can make every meal a special event. Select your steak (including Moyer Farms Angus, American or Australian Wagyu and Japanese Miyazaki) request your desired degree of doneness and be prepared for a delicious evening. Chef de Cuisine Derrick Roberts and Michael Mina craft a deeply satisfying dining experience.

Name:	StripSteak by Michael Mina
Rating:	/ 4.3 stars based on 1,219 reviews across the Web
Address:	4441 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140
Phone:	(305) 674-4780
Cuisine:	Steakhouse
Price:	$$$$
Attire:	Casual Chic
Payment:	Cash, All Major Credit Cards
Reservations:	Yes
Parking:	Valet parking
Chef:	Thomas Connell
Website:
Hours:	Mo-We 6pm-12am, Th-Fr 6:00pm-1am, Sa-Su 6pm-12am

Open only for dinner, you must start your meal in the Nobu Lounge where innovations on the tropical infused martini set the stage for a wonderful evening. The omakase, or multi-course chef’s choice menu is the most popular way to dine.

For those less adventurous about raw fish, the black cod with miso and the rock shrimp tempura are the stuff of legend. Service is quick, friendly and helpful should you find yourself puzzled by anything on the menu.

While the dining room feels slightly like the bottom of a very chic swimming pool, have no fear – Nobu is the master of everything that can swim!

A selection of starters like a deftly prepared diver scallop, fresh tuna crudo or tenderloin carpaccio make a delightful tapas meal when paired with a bottle of wine and a sampling from the still-warm bread basket. A hearty seafood soup is a wonderful lunchtime treat with a crisp nicoise salad or a chicken or fish sandwich. What sets The Tides apart from the other upscale restaurants on Ocean Drive is the chef’s determination to provide just a few delicate preparations of fresh seafood from local waters or steaks and chops straight off the grill. Entrees are bold and creative such as Crispy Yellowtail Snapper pan seared and served with fragrant jasmine rice, Salmon napped in a blackberry butter, and Fig-Glazed Lamb Chops perched on warm grilled flat bread.

One of South Beach’s most scrumptious breakfast menus serves up Crunchy Challah French Toast, Crabcake Eggs Benedict and Cuban Style Ropa Vieja Hash & Eggs served on crispy fried plantain tostones. Start the morning with a bracing tropical cocktail, Bloody Mary or Champagne Bellini with a dazzling view to the sea.

Modern elegance sets the tone in The Tides main dining room. The inviting Front Terrace facing onto Ocean Drive and the beach features lush white linen sofas brightened with accent pillows and shaded by canvas canopies – an ideal respite for mingling with friends and people watching while enjoying an unforgettable meal.

While most of Michael’s restaurants offer an ecclectic mix of entrees, snacks and small plates, the menu at The Cypress Tavern is more traditional in style with just a handful of appetizers, entrees and sides. Lunchtime favorites like the Cypress Burger topped with onion marmalade and the smoked shaved beets served with robiola are savory and satisfying and at dinner the roast lamb or duck are perfectly rendered and lightly sauced with just a hint of gaminess. Hedy Goldsmith’s desserts include a Florida citrus chess pie spiked with tarragon, huckleberries and white chocolate or a complex hazelnut parfait with puffed farro and tart pickled cherries. The Cypress Room is a more tailored and grown up presentation of Chef Schwartz’s innovative cuisine and a welcome addition to the Design District.

Name:	The Cypress Tavern
Rating:	/ 3.5 stars based on 49 reviews across the Web
Address:	3620 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33137
Phone:	(305) 520-5197
Cuisine:	American
Price:	$$$
Attire:	Casual
Payment:	Cash, All Major Credit Cards
Reservations:	Yes
Parking:	On-street parking
Chef:	Michael Schwartz
Website:	www.thecypressroom.com
Bar Service:	Full Bar
Hours:	Mo-Th 12:00pm-2:30pm, 6pm-11pm, Fr-Sa 6:00pm-12am, Su Closed

“The design of Boulud Sud will bring together the charm of Provence, the warm spice and fragrant herbs of Mediterranean cuisine to pair with the casual elegance of Miami, ” said Daniel Boulud. “It will be the perfect backdrop for our vibrant Mediterranean menu.”

Former db Bistro Sous Chef Clark Bowen took over as Executive Chef in early 2016 following the departure of Jason Pringle who relocated to California. “When he joined the team at db Bistro, it was apparent that he had great potential,” says Chef Daniel Boulud. “We look forward to his continued contributions to our family in his elevated role.” Passionate about his connections to area farms like Swank and Paradise Organics, Bowen will introduce new seasonaly-inspired dishes utilizing fresh Florida seafood, herbs and tropical fruit.

One of Downtown Miami’s most elegant dining destinations, Boulud Sud at the JW Marriott Marquis offers appealing contemporary cuisine prepared by a kitchen that is steeped in the traditions of classic French cooking. A beautifully-designed Florida offshoot of Daniel Boulud’s cooking empire – which includes a number of highly rated New York eateries – Boulud Sud joins Boulud’s popular hotel ventures in London, Singapore, Toronto and Montreal. The restaurant’s gleaming expanses and 18 foot ceilings showcase the energy and style of a truly professional waitstaff and Chef Clark Bowen’s thoughtfully-executed dishes. Originally launched in New York in 2011, this is the second location for this dynamic Mediterranean menu.

“The design of Boulud Sud will bring together the charm of Provence, the warm spice and fragrant herbs of Mediterranean cuisine to pair with the casual elegance of Miami, ” said Daniel Boulud. “It will be the perfect backdrop for our vibrant Mediterranean menu.”

Former db Bistro Sous Chef Clark Bowen took over as Executive Chef in early 2016 following the departure of Jason Pringle who relocated to California. “When he joined the team at db Bistro, it was apparent that he had great potential,” says Chef Daniel Boulud. “We look forward to his continued contributions to our family in his elevated role.” Passionate about his connections to area farms like Swank and Paradise Organics, Bowen will introduce new seasonaly-inspired dishes utilizing fresh Florida seafood, herbs and tropical fruit.

Well-dressed Miami professionals flock to the weeknight happy hour in the lounge area from 5-8pm where drinks and snacks cost just $7. Thursday nights are especially popular when a DJ adds extra energy to the swank surroundings. Bowen’s team prepares a 2-course chef’s lunch menu starting at $27 (dessert is an additional $7). He notes, “Our new menu includes Mediterranean classics like grilled octopus, Arabic lamb flatbread and seared branzino.”

Boulud Sud
255 Biscayne Boulevard Way, Downtown Miami

Matador Room is the perfect outlet for the chef’s passionate embrace of Latin cuisine interpreted with a modern sensibility. Market is an all-hours coffee shop inspired by the marketplaces of Old Spain and Tropicale is a breezy oasis serving lighter menu selections by the sea.

MATADOR ROOM & BAR
Offering guests both indoor and alfresco service throughout the day, the dynamic Matador Room has a small and large plate seasonal menu that highlights Florida’s freshest produce. A central rotunda showcases the restaurant’s sprawling chandelier and creates a cozy backdrop for the snacks, starters and entrees redolent of the flavors of Latin America.

Overlooking the pool deck, the adjacent Matador Bar crafts specialty cocktails served on banquettes of jewel-toned velvet.

MARKET
Already a popular haunt for local foodies, the Market at EDITION is a creative reimagining of a 21st Century Spanish Bazaar – part bakeshop and charcuterie – offering a healthy variety of take-out treats and a great selection of pizzas, seafood, pastries and sandwiches served round the clock. Open 20 hours a day, the Market is a perfect spot to start the morning or round out the night.

TROPICALE
Inspired by Havana’s historic Tropicana Nightclub, Tropicale’s laid back, al fresco dining is the perfect beachside oasis. Serving a fresh, lighter menu in the lushly landscaped garden adjoining the EDITION pools, guests can enjoy Chef Jean-Georges’ savory and sweet dishes with panoramic ocean views and salty sea breezes.

Set in the historic heart of Miami Beach, the EDITION offers guests a dynamic escape under one roof. While the temptations of South Beach are merely steps away, the Michelin-starred restaurants, ocean view bars and Basement entertainment complex provide a welcome South Florida retreat.
The Miami Beach EDITION, 2901 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach 786.257.4500

Once fortified at the bar, the kitchen’s special roast chicken in Cuban gravy and the slow roasted pork leg marinated in Cuban mojo are deeply satisfying. Served with rich black beans and sweet plantains, most entrees capture the hearty traditions of old school Cuban cooking. While a full meal is infinitely filling, be sure to leave room for the chef’s tres leches cake, a sweet treat that comprises rum soaked yellow cake topped with cinnamon, vanilla and mixed cream. Havana 1957 brings the best of Cuba to the heart of South Beach.

Name:	Havana 1957
Rating:	/ 4.0 stars based on 363 reviews across the Web
Address:	405 Espanola Way & 819 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Phone:	(305) 503-3828
Cuisine:	Latin
Price:	$$
Attire:	Casual
Payment:	Cash, All Major Credit Cards
Reservations:	Yes
Parking:	On-street parking
Chef:	N/A
Website:	www.havana1957.com

The restaurant’s unique focal point is a vertical garden lining the wall of the dining room with 50 terra cotta pots filled with fresh herbs. “The restaurant’s name means seed,” said Chef Joulin. “ We chose this name to elaborate on the fact that each of our freshly prepared menu items is made using primarily organic ingredients.” The seasonally driven menu includes lobster with a mango remoulade, grilled branzino and seared ahi tuna in a ginger miso broth. A glass wine cellar at the back of the house is filled with a carefully curated selection served with dinner and also available at happy hour seven nights a week from 6-8pm. Specially priced beers, appetizers and house wines draw appreciative crowds to the bar and alfresco tables where this celebrated chef crafts his magic.

Executives dip in for the lunchtime beef burger and Wolfgang’s classic steak sandwich paired with fries and golden onion rings. The 270-seat dining room sports hardwood floors, a sparkling wine locker with over 250 labels and an impressive mahogany bar where classic cocktails and flat screen TVs compete with the dazzling Miami River view. Guests who are willing to tear themselves away from sports or the financial news can escape to a breezy dining terrace overlooking the city and the scene. Host Wolfgang Zwiener spent 40 years at New York’s Peter Luger steakhouse so he knows exactly how to craft the perfect evening from the first chilled martini to the last piece of Junior’s cheesecake.

Open Monday through Thursday from 12:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., Friday from 12:00 p.m. to midnight, Saturday from 5:00 p.m. to midnight and Sunday from 5:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Early risers can stop in for a quick pick-me-up continental breakfast before hitting the beach or indulge in a full buffet of freshly baked treats, cereals, eggs and pancakes. A la carte options include traditional eggs benedict as well as local favorites like grilled churrasco steak & eggs or fresh Florida shrimp scrambled into a fluffy omelet. On Sundays, the breakfast buffet expands to include made-to-order malt waffles, carved meats and fresh fish, pastas, sushi and wood stone oven-baked pizzas. Served from 11am-3pm, brunch at Vida is the most popular destination in the hotel.

Evenings at the Fontainebleau get pretty busy with Gotham Steak, Hakkasan, and Scarpetta each offering gourmet fare, but Vida holds it’s own with a tempting variety of Mediterranean inspired options including rich lobster bisque, tangy sofrito mussels, crispy seared Florida snapper with roast garlic sopresatta and a tender veal chop topped with cipollini onions in a mushroom ragout. Carnivores can feast on rotisserie grilled leg of lamb, mojo glazed chicken and churrasco steak topped with a spicy chimichurri sauce. Before guests drift off for cocktails at Bleau Bar or a night of dancing at LIV, a gooey chocolate fondue with fresh fruit, marshmallows and chunks of just-baked brownies offers the perfect ending to a truly memorable meal!

Vida at the Fontainebleau is located in the Chateau lobby level. Open seven days a week from 7am to 10 pm weeknights and 11pm Saturday and Sunday.

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.

The doting Italian servers are right off the boat from southern Italy, where gritty home-style cooking and indulgent service are a way of life. Keep in mind that the portions (dished out tableside) are immense, and can be easily shared. Add an affordable bottle of Chianti and a table nestled underneath the giant Oak tree and presto! You’ve created a wonderful memory.

Bringing a soulful spin to traditional Italian cooking, dinner starts with vegetable minestrone soup, shaved beef carpaccio and a daily choice of house-made pizzas. Pastas include a rustic spaghetti and pomidoro, risotto topped with mixed shellfish and a fettuccine with a Bolognese of beef and pork that’s rich and satisfying. Main plate entrees celebrate Florida’s freshest seafood with local grouper and pompano taking pride of place. Carnivores have a choice of 22 oz strip steaks, Duroc Farm pork chops and a Colorado rack of lamb crusted in pumpkin seeds served with a stone fruit jus. The Shore Club, located in the Collins Park District at the northern end of South Beach, also features the SkyBar and Redroom for after hours cocktails in an elegant garden setting.

Service tends to drag a little, but what could be more pleasant than luxuriating on Lincoln Road with a Kirin Beer or a chilled plum wine while you wait?

Try the Yellowtail Sashimi Seviche with ginger, garlic and soy, or a tiradito such as Tuna with lemon and fuji apple vinaigrette. Also from the sushi bar adventurous diners can try the Japanese delicacy, Sawagani, a small, bite-sized river crab flown in live from Japan, flash fried, shell and all. Oysters, clams and other raw bar specialties will also be available. Complementing the sushi bar is the samba kitchen, which offers a hybrid of Brazilian, Peruvian and Japanese dishes.

Appetizers such as Beef Tenderloin Tataki Salad, with daikon, carrot, habanero-tobiko and ponzu, as well as Tuna Cana, seared yellowfin marinated in sugarcane juice and soy sauce with tatsoi, palmito and fresh orange, range from $7 – $14.  Entrees ranging from $17 – $39 include Crispy Whole Red Snapper served with coconut rice, spicy red curry sauce and wakame and Moqueca Mista, a stew of bacalhau, shrimp, octopus and pitu in coconut milk, served with chimichurri rice.

A natural fit for the area’s international diners and night-life aficionados, SushiSamba Dromo brings innovative food and a lively ambiance to Miami Beach.

This intimate Italian restaurant and loft/ lounge feels as cozy and inviting as your own home base, but the perk is having a master chef like Sergio Sigala prepare your meal. With no more than 100 seats for dining guests (including a special table for 18 in the kitchen), Casa Tua is truly a destination of the elite. Reservations aren’t easy to come by and those who manage to land them are real VIPs.

Once dinner has come to a close, guests can make their way to an upstairs loft/lounge that is as welcoming and peaceful as the confines of your own boudoir. Chill music fills the air as guests enjoy an upscale night out on the town away from the hustle and bustle of Washington Avenue and Ocean Drive. While Casa Tua is tucked away on Miami Beach’s James Avenue, it still carries a unique feel of the Italian Tuscany. Oh, and translated, Casa Tua means “your home.”

Executive chef Sergio Sigala and sous-chef Gabriela Bergomi combine their talents to create innovative variations of Italian cuisine in a glamorously unusual setting that has become the talk of the town in Miami Beach.

With a name that translates as “wheat” in English, Spiga’s main focus is the art of Italian bread-making, and fresh breads and pastas are prepared here daily in the traditional trattoria style. Veering away from the abundant eclectic restaurants throughout Miami Beach, executive chef Roberto Legrand focuses on the comfort of Italian standards including Prosciutto di Parma con Melone and Zuppa di pesce, Spiga’s signature seafood soup.

Neighborhood diners do not find themselves limited, however, in addition to the daily menu, Spiga offers a special with 10 to 12 entrees changed twice weekly that includes pasta, risotto, fish, meat and desserts.

Naturally, we underestimated the appeal of the thoughtfully designed spaces, the carefully crafted cuisine and the upwardly mobile tastes of the clientele. Almost 15,000 square feet of the main floor have been dedicated to David Werly’s haute, East-meets-West cuisine. A team of international chefs from Thailand, China, India and Europe work seamlessly to create a menu that reaches from stone-over pizza to Tasmanian trout.

The main dining room features an exhibition kitchen for those who wish to watch the Olympians craft the “trans-ethnic” dishes. Weather permitting, dine in the romantic sunken garden area surrounded by quiet ponds and tropical blooms. Foodies will swoon for the Wagyu beef and the tandoor-roasted prawns complimented with over 450 wines.

If the pricey entrees prove too daunting, there are plenty of opportunities to sample the kitchen’s craftsmanship at the Grill or the more casual outdoor cafe. Guests impressed with the best can sip champagne and sample caviar and tapas at the spectacular Crustacean Bar or dine alfresco at the 90 foot Mediterranean-style Beach Bar.

Whichever area you choose, take the time to wander through this thoughtfully designed, quintessentially Miami Beach hotel. Things have gotten a lot more glamorous now that the Setai has upped the ante on South Beach Style.