The February Hit List: Mess, Dukunoo Jamaican Kitchen, Float, and More

For those in town for a festival or in the Miami Beach area, plan a visit to Mess, a new under-the-radar gem off the mezzanine deck of The Alexander Hotel in Mid Beach. The spot focuses on seasonal ingredients from local farms and purveyors, complemented by natural organic wines and local beer, under the direction of Argentinian Chef Facundo Kairuz. The cuisine at Mess is defined as New American, with a hint of inspiration from the chef’s Argentinian background. You’ll find simple starters such as burrata cheese with caramelized onions and crispy corn polenta with basil sauce and pickled shallots; mains such as red snapper with marinated eggplant or farrotto (that’s risotto made with farro) with smoked lion’s mane mushrooms; and inventive desserts like cacao and avocado mousse with apple and toasted hazelnuts. Mess also offers brunch on weekends from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Chef Jeremy Ford has brought his award-winning culinary reputation to Coral Gables. The Top Chef winner and Michelin-starred chef behind South Beach’s highly acclaimed Stubborn Seed has expanded his collaboration with Grove Bay Hospitality to this new concept across from Sunset Place, which is replacing Grove Bay’s Public Square. The restaurant’s name is a reference to Ford’s eldest daughter Madelynn (the “beauty”) and himself (the “butcher”), and a display of dry-aging meats used for their charcuterie hits home the theme. The menu features small plates from lighter dishes to crispy bites, a selection of meaty mains, and a modern cocktail menu of reimagined classics. Executive Pastry Chef Ana De Sa Martins, who worked alongside Ford at Stubborn Seed, has also created unique desserts for Beauty & The Butcher.

 Call 305.665.9661 for reservations.

Get a taste of the flavors and spirit of the Caribbean in the heart of Wynwood at Dukunoo Jamaican Kitchen. Dukunoo offers an upscale-yet-casual take on Jamaican cuisine, with a menu ranging from traditional classics to high-end fusion plates, including freshly grilled jerk chicken and pork from their authentic jerk stand on the outdoor terrace, fried chicken, oxtail, vegan options for an Ital lifestyle, and a selection of specialty tropical-themed cocktails. Plus, DJs and live musical acts bring the laid-back Caribbean vibes as you dine. On Tuesdays through Fridays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., take advantage of Irie Hour (Irie is slang for “everything’s alright” in Jamaica) for discounted drinks and bites. They also serve weekend brunch from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. They say you are what you eat, but not at Dukunoo because trying their jerk chicken makes you a genius.

It doesn’t get much better (or more romantic) than Redfish’s bayfront location in Mattheson Hammock Park, does it? This local gem is now under the direction of celebrity chef and Food Network star, Chef Donatella Arpaia. The menu at Noma Beach is still coastal in nature – with an emphasis on local fish and raw bar items that’s a perfect fit for the waterfront setting – but now driven by Chef Arpaia’s Italian roots, putting to good use a wood-burning pizza oven and also offering her award-winning meatballs. The menu’s options include a whole selection of raw crudos from diver scallop to Miami wahoo (you can even order a flight of three if it’s too hard to choose), chilled shellfish, caviar, antipasti, house-made pasta, fish, meats and sides. Visit during Sunset Hour for cocktail specials and bites from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays through Fridays. 

Call 305.668.8788 for reservations.

Keep an eye on Miami’s surge as a pizza town. Joining the local ‘za movement is Miami Slice, which has been getting “best pizza in town” type of praise from even some of the most credible critics. There are only five varieties of New York-style pizza here, but each clearly done very well – Pepperoni Proper, Margherita de la Casa, La Salsera, Leeks on Bacon, and Mushroom Truffle. Getting your hands on a slice isn’t without its stresses, as the process of ordering is complicated. They’re open Thursdays through Sundays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and don’t take reservations, so your options are either wait in line for takeout or check in with the host to grab one of the few dine-in seats and wait even longer for a call that seats have opened up for you. If you choose to dine in at the Slice Bar, you can try any (or all) pizzas by the slice, but if you choose takeout, you can order either full pies or slices.

For more info, see here.

We’re used to restaurants from New York and around the country coming to Miami, but this one is an import from across the Atlantic. Hailing from Paris, Moloko has brought its fusion of Asian-Mediterranean cuisine to South Beach’s Sunset Harbour neighborhood. It’s an ideal pick for a posh evening out in South Beach, whether it’s an intimate dinner or a group celebration. The shareable menu features cold plates like crudos, tatakis and sushi rolls; Moloko Brioches topped with wagyu tartare, spicy tuna, or toro & caviar (think of it like a French take on crispy rice), fried rices with lobster or wagyu; and a robata grill section with steaks, black cod, branzino and more. Moloko’s fruit-forward cocktail menu also features fresh botanical products. You can reserve a spot in the lush garden, the main dining room, or at the bar for cocktails and apps, and know that there’s a smart casual dress code to ensure everyone keeps it classy.

The latest concept from INK Entertainment (the group behind Byblos in South Beach and Amal in Coconut Grove), Sofia comes to South Florida after success in Toronto, all decked out in its signature glam pink-hued design scheme. Think pops of flamingo pink umbrellas on the terrace and a richer, multi-toned Neapolitan ice cream-inspired interior meant to be dramatic and provocative. With a reputation for Italian fine dining, Sofia’s menu features classics like antipasti, fresh homemade pastas, and steaks, complemented by lighter options like crudos and sashimi. The beverage menus are inspired by Italia, of course, with Italian wines, Martinis and other signature cocktails. Sofia is open for lunch, brunch, and dinner – the latter of which turns into late-night revelry with an after-hours party of DJs, live entertainment, and musical performers. Allora!

Call 786.220.0225 for reservations.

Mia Oceanfront lures you in with its oceanfront location overlooking the tides and palm trees. You can choose your dining experience, from the spacious and sophisticated dining room to the bar with subdued lights and DJs spinning on the weekend, to the more casual oceanview terrace, where you can catch live music and a refreshing sea breeze. Mia’s cuisine combines various genres, techniques, and presentations with seasonal and creative dishes spanning Italian, Japanese and American cuisines. Some dishes that caught our eye were the panko-breaded Fried Halloumi cheese, the Gorgonzola Pear with truffle honey, King Crab fettucine with saffron sauce, tableside-prepared Pasta al Tartufo Nero, and the Wild Shark entree.

It’s hard to put a finger on Wayku – it’s Peruvian, it’s Japanese, it’s Italian – but rather than being defined by a country of origin, it’s defined by a desire to present the best, freshest ingredients in innovative combinations – and that’s always going to capture our attention. They call it experimental borderless cuisine, inspired by a respect for Andean traditions. Starter cold plates include ceviche, burrata, heirloom tomato salad and tuna tataki, while hot plates are plentiful – crab empanadas, croquetas, huancaina shrimps, fried chicken, osobuco ragu fettucine and grilled octopus, among others. The cocktail menu at Wayku is equally as wide-ranging, taking familiar classics and doing something just a little different through mixology.