The September Hit List: Cote Miami, ZeyZey, Ostrow Brasserie, and More

A notoriously hard-to-get table, September is your best shot at scoring a reservation at Miami’s Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse. Cote’s vibe is understandably in demand: premium USDA Prime and wagyu steaks, grilled Korean barbecue-style on the tabletop by highly skilled servers. If you’re looking for a weekday deal that can’t be beat, you can enjoy a three-course lunch at Cote for only $35 per person, only through the end of September. Or if you’re into an evening of wining and dining, snag your ticket for the Sunday Sommelier Supper Series, where the signature Butcher’s Feast steaks are paired with five themed wines curated by a different Cote sommelier each week. It’s a communal-style dinner in Cote’s private dining room, so you can meet new wine-loving friends too.

Not that we need an excuse to indulge in what are arguably Miami’s best donuts, but it’s time to return to the Salty and check out their new flagship shop in Wynwood, steps from the original. One of Wynwood’s longest-standing staples, it’s known for artisanal donuts in signature and rotating flavors like maple and bacon, white chocolate tres leches, and guavaand cheese; espresso drinks and cold-brew coffee; and other baked goods including jalapeño cheddar biscuits. They’ve expanded across the state (and country!) over the last few years, but Wynwood will always be where it all started. Nearly quadruple the size of the original shop, The Salty’s new 2,700-square-foot flagship facility offers plenty of communal seating, a pickup window, grab-and-go fridge, a large window into the production kitchen, and even a private room for meetings, events, and donut-making classes.

Find more info here.

Kosher cuisine and French fare might sound like a surprising combo, but that’s what chef Olivia Ostrow is cooking up at the newly opened Ostrow Brasserie. Ostrow grew up in France, which is where her culinary journey began, and keeps kosher at home. As the city’s first and only French kosher restaurant, the innovative brasserie reimagines traditional French dining with certified Glatt kosher guidelines, resulting in lighter renditions of French classics that focus on quality and flavor without using typical heavy cream sauces. As part of kosher dietary practices, meat can’t be mixed with dairy, and observers don’t eat pork or shellfish, so the menu involves some creative substitutions, like vegan cheese from Israel or cod and porcini mushrooms as an alternative to crab in her “crabcakes” with truffle beet mousse.

If you’re craving Asian comfort food like dumplings and noodles, this neighborhood spot from the Hospitality OG team (Miss Crispy Rice, Mr. Omakase, Poke OG) is known for some of the most satisfying ramen in town. Dumplings Mi Amor is a modest spot with counter seating and a handful of tables, and it’s a great choice for a solid lunch in Downtown or a casual dinner. In addition to a variety of dumplings, pan-Asian small plates, rice bowls, and ramen, they also serve a unique but popular dish called omurice (except here they call it Omurito, because Miami), which is a typical modern Japanese mashup that combines an egg omelet with Japanese fried rice. And the food isn’t the only reason to come here — the service is on point, too.

Call 305-733-1583 for more info.

QP Tapas is back and better than ever after a summer hiatus. The Japanese izakaya-Spanish tapas fusion restaurant has found a new home in The Allocation Room, a wine and sake shop in the Grove. The pop-up previously only operated three nights a week out of MKT Kitchen in Coral Gables, but as of Sept. 1, they’re now offering dinner Wednesday through Saturday, and happy hour (and a half) from opening to 7 p.m. The menu features plenty of shareable cold and hot plates that draw inspiration from both cultures — things like pan con tomate and cool ranch shishito peppers — plus large paellas and their fan-favorite Osaka-style okonomiyaki (get your order in for it right away before they run out, and prepare to wait 35-45 minutes). QP Tapas will also offer a Spanish-driven wine list curated by Allocation Room’s Adrian Lopez, plus a brand-new full bar program with cocktails created in collaboration with the Bar Kaiju team.

Carnivores, this one’s for you. Mayfair Grill is serving up a wood-fired feast every Sunday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. On the new Asado Sunday menu, look for mouthwatering grilled meats such as churrasco with piquillo chimichurri, cochinita pbil with Yucatan banana roast pork, pollo a la brasa with ahi salsa, Argentinian chorizo, and morcilla. You can choose two meats for $65 per person or four meats for $125 per person, along with traditional sides like chargrilled veggies and ensalada Rusa, plus churros with olive oil ice cream for dessert. Wash it all down with unlimited pours of South American wines for $36 per person.

Pay a visit to the hottest hangout spot of the summer. The team behind top Miami restaurants Los Félix and Krüs Kitchen has debuted a new music venue and cultural hub in Little River, with curated food offerings from local chefs. Lately, that includes arepas from The Maiz Project, contemporary Cuban cuisine from Dale Street Food, and more. Take a peek at ZeyZey Miami’s event schedule this month and choose a Friday or Saturday night for a laid-back evening with a craft cocktail or glass of natural wine in hand. There’ll be live musicians on the outdoor stage, happy hour vibes at the outdoor casita, and a DJ bringing the disco vibes inside. Whether there’s dancing involved is up to you.

“Gypsy Chef” David Myers has opened his first East Coast concept on the 25th floor of Hotel AKA Brickell. Adrift Mare aims to bring together the elegance of the French Riviera, the laid-back vibe of the Balearic islands, the vibrancy of fresh Italian produce, warm Levant hospitality, and the gentle rhythm of the Greek isles. The menu, therefore, spans the Mediterranean coast with dishes like aged beef tartare, grilled king prawns, arugula pesto bucatini, and roasted lobster linguini, but guests can also opt for the chef’s tasting menu. With Old World wines from Greece, Super Tuscans, Provençal rosés and beyond, and signature cocktails that likewise highlight Mediterranean ingredients (like the Mare 50/50 with gin, pear eau de vie, blanc balsamic, lemon oils, and blue cheese), the drinks will transport you as much as the food. And, needless to say, there are sweeping views of Biscayne Bay.

Call 305-503-6500 for more info.

One of Miami’s longest-running breweries has opened its flagship taproom and kitchen — the first brewery in Downtown. Housed within the neoclassical 1912 Old Post Office building, the new Biscayne Bay Brewing space has a central wraparound bar with a dozen craft beers on tap, seating ranging from booths to bar stools and high tops, and games like foosball and a pool table. The expansive space also showcases their four-barrel system production room through glass walls. To pair with their craft beers, the local brewery serves a menu of small and large plates, like charcuterie, bao, flatbreads, burgers, and more. And the entertainment lineup includes weekly live music, sports nights, and seasonal beer launch events.

A beloved Basque pop-up is back in a new home, bringing its popular pintxos and Spanish small plates to a fitting location, Tropezón on Española Way. Curated by chef Juan Garrrido, the menu of seafood small plates and tapas changes weekly, and of course pairs perfectly with Tropezón’s Andalusian-inspired beverage program of gins, sangria, sherry, vermouth, and more. Bar Gilda is open Monday and Tuesday (when Tropezón is closed) from 5 p.m. to midnight through the end of September — no reservations needed. Drop by the pintxos bar before summer’s over and so is the pop-up.

Find more info here.