By Irene Moore
Each week for five weeks we’ll be running a feature on one of the hot restaurant tickets in Miami. My friend and writing colleague Irene Moore interviewed the in-the-know concierges of some of the top hotels in town to get their picks and more — how to get a table, best time to go, best night, best table and the crowd. Here’s the first tip from John Evans, W Insider, the W South Beach.
What is the “Hot Ticket” Restaurant that you recommend (other than the one in your hotel)? I have to recommend the restaurant in the Vagabond, a 58-room MIMO-style hotel on Biscayne Boulevard, because it’s in my neighborhood. I want to show our W Hotel guests my culture in Miami. It’s where you get to see Miami like the locals see it. It’s a magical place.
All of the 50s-era hotels along Biscayne Boulevard are being renovated, and the neighborhood is being gentrified. There’s a buzz going on. Avra Jain is the woman who spearheaded the gentrification of the Vagabond, as well as other hotels along Biscayne Boulevard. Alex Chang is the Executive Chef; he was recently voted one of the “Top 30 Chefs Under 30” in the U.S. in the Zagat Guide. (Writer’s Note: Chang learned to cook using a Rachael Ray cookbook. While a kinesiology major in Los Angeles, he and a roommate hosted underground dinner parties. A dinner party guest, who was also a filmmaker, produced a documentary featuring Chang. The documentary was shown at the Tribeca Film Festival, launching Chang’s career as a chef. After working in restaurants in Mexico, Belgium, and Japan, he was scouted out to be the chef at the Vagabond.)
How do you get to get an in-demand reservation? You have to be nice! We’re in the hospitality industry. Treat others the way you would want to be treated. It’s the Golden Rule.
What time is best time to go? Around sundown, which is about 8pm in the summer, when it’s cooling off outside. Most Miamians want to dine around 9pm, so you can make your reservation at 8pm and have time for a cocktail before dinner.
What is the best night to go? A good night is Thursday night. There’s live music by the pool area
.What is the best table? You can have a cocktail by the pool beforehand, and then go into the dining room inside. Then you can return to have a nightcap by the pool after dinner.
What is the crowd like? People who like vintage style and are community-minded and guests who want to experience Miami like a local.
The Vagabond Hotel, 7301 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33138, 305-400-8420.
Thanks to:
John Evans, W Insider
W South Beach
2201 Collins Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33139
305-938-3000
Photo courtesy of www.miami.com
