First the very important news – and you read it here first. The $23 dim sum brunch at Hakkasan at the Fontainebleau Hotel, 4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, will be continued after Miami Spice. And now read on to find out why this is such good news and it’s the best dim sum brunch in Miami. It’s very tough to make a great dumpling and in my book, they’re one of the great gustatory pleasures in life. Most often they’re too doughy and tasteless. Hakkasan has them perfected, along with other menu items on their dim sum brunch. It’s obvious that Malaysian chef Jian Choo is a real talent. We went there on Sunday at 2 p.m. after looking at the menu and decided it would be lunch and dinner (thank goodness because we ate it all, absolutely worth the calories). It was the last day of the Miami Spice menu which included eight dishes and two desserts and an option of $10 mimosas.First course was spicy lamb skewers accompanied by slices of honey grilled barbecued pork.
Then came the exquisite dumplings —- spinach vegetable, Chinese chive prawn, and my absolute favorite, Tohiko caviar dumpling with scallops and shrimp. They were so good I didn’t even use soy sauce, just a little chili oil, One of the things we most liked about the menu was its perfect balance, so we never felt deprived of any taste sensation even though it was a fixed menu.
Next up was morsels of steamed sea bass in a delicate, caramelized teriyaki sauce, crispy on the outside and tender inside. That was served up with a heaping plate of noodles with shredded vegetables, duck and bean sprouts, and steamed, crunchy bok choy with garlic. Dessert was a white chocolate bavarois and mango custard. We also ordered a few dishes off the regular menu which were all worth the splurge. In particular, don’t miss the slim, cigar like, super flaky spring rolls (pictured here) stuffed with shrimp and the crispy almond prawns – large, plump, in a sweet sour sauce. And if you’re up for an extra dessert, go straight for the warm chocolate fondant with white coffee ice cream, which in itself is reason to celebrate.
The loungey atmosphere with specially curated music to match, is chic, comfortable, uber stylish, with soft lighting and moderate noise level so perfect for conversation. Service is very professional and friendly, and they’re very good about explaining the ins and outs of dim sum. The special brunch will be offered indefinitely on Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 2:30 (minimum order for two persons). The $23 per person price will include an appetizer, entrée, rice or noodles, vegetables and dessert. and a special beverage offering.Dim sum here is a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon, rain or shine, and I suspect come the season advance reservations will be a “must”.