Miami's Five New Must-Try Restaurants

November 24, 2008 at 10:33 AM | by pbb | Comment (1)

A Jaunted-Thrillist Collaboration

Just because there's a global financial meltdown on doesn't mean Art Basel Miami Beach is going to be any less faaah-bulous this year. And while the event technically runs December 4-7, pre- and post-festival fun means you might as well spend the first third of the month in South Florida. Fortunately, finding a decent place to eat is now easy, thanks to the newly-launched Thrillist guide to Miami.

Editor Bill Kearney rounded up five of the city's best new spots for us, from the ultra-trendy to the retro-casual, so no matter which art dealer you're entertaining--or trying to get a job with--you'll know where to go.

All the details are after the jump, and as for tracking down the spots? It's as easy as consulting our Thrillist Guide to Miami Restaurants map mashup.

da Campo Osteria by Todd English, 3333 NE 32nd Ave., in Fort Lauderdale
A three-time James Beard winner famed for restos in Boston, NYC, DC, Vegas, Aspen, LA, Palm Beach and Disney World--and for inclusion in People's 50 Most Beautiful list (so he's as beautiful as... Seal?)--English is now opening a breezily modern Northern Italian spot, pictured, overlooking the Intercoastal Waterway in the il Lugano hotel.

The Grill on the Alley, 19501 Biscayne Blvd.
A Beverly Hills landmark since Arnold achieved his first "-ator" (1984), The Grill's a face-stuffing marriage of Miami deco, 1940s big-city grill and Hollywood: Dark, high-backed leather-and-wood booths, stout wooden columns and oak floors giving way to white marble with diamond black inlays at the bar, all surrounded by shots of Cary Grant, Joan Crawford and other Golden Agers.

Vita Restaurant and Lounge, 1906 Collins Ave.
After three months of renovations and menu tweaks, Vita has augmented its outdoor courtyard and indoor lounge vibe with leather, room-surrounding banquettes and hardwood floors, while bolstering its kinda Mediterranean menu with newness like fresh ravioli with fois gras and porcini mushrooms, and tuna sashimi with fresh mint and goat cheese tempura, a.k.a., the mozzarella stick's worldly, kinda a-hole-ish cousin.

Cozy Piano Bar, SE corner of Washington Ave. & Biscayne St.
Inspired by Parisian ivory-tickling venues, this shadowy jazz room's steez is mostly Moulin Rouge (high ceilings, finely beaded red wallpaper, onyx bar details, blood-red baby grand) with a Mini-Me's worth of Austin Powers (furry red pillows, floating moon lamps).

Red Light, 7700 Biscayne Blvd.
With Red Light, the former Mark's in the Grove chef literally rousted squatters from a forgotten diner, then cleaned up its Little River-abutting back patio, to create a classily retro cafe that counters tropical palm fronds and passing manatees with Biscayne Boulevard's heady MiMo architecture and head-y prostitute holdouts.

Related Stories:
· Art Basel Miami Beach [Official Site]
· Thrillist Miami [Official Site]

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