Here’s What It Takes to Create a Single Day of Magic at Mandolin

Since opening in 2009, Mandolin has evolved into a Miami institution. There are plenty of reasons to fall in love with it, whether it’s the bougainvillea-lined patio that transforms into an oasis of flickering lanterns at night; the farm-to-table cooking grounded in its founders’ Greek and Turkish backgrounds; or the community that comes with breaking bread with a cross-section of the city, from families and dates, locals and out-of-towners, Old Miami and new, all in a neighborhood that has evolved alongside the restaurant.

Over the past 15 years, Mandolin has created plenty of special experiences for Miamians. We wanted to peek beneath the hood, so we sent photographer and Miami native Felipe Cuevas to capture and tell the story of the many hands, faces, and personalities that create the magic that has people lining up, come rain or shine. Here’s just one day in the life of the restaurant that has delivered a benchmark in hospitality for so many of the past 15 years, from when the first staff members arrived, to the moment the last light was switched off. Here’s to 15 more.