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Category: Food

We're coming into "off season" in Miami but there's no let up in restaurant openings and other eating news including a high profile chef in residence at the Four Seasons Hotel Miami, a new option in luxury brunch offerings, and a great deal at Fogo de Chao Brazilian churrascaria. Plus, my review of Greek restaurant Bakalo Mykonos on Miami Beach.
LEKU has always been a class act – its top notch Basque cuisine with an emphasis on meats, casually elegant in the garden setting of the Rubell Museum, professional service, and attractive crowd that’s not showy. Under these circumstances, few restaurants would transform themselves with a fresh approach, new chef and new menu, but not so here. The three high profile team members leading the “new” LEKU has just debuted  LEKU Fish and Garden, and once again they have a winner.
Lots of things to do in Miami in May 2024 you'll want to check out including Ping Pod that has attracted 85000 ping pong lovers across the USA and now in Miami,  a men's fashion destination,  the Little Haiti Book Festival with events for all interests, the annual Hyundai Air & Sea Show, Grand Tasting of the Authentic Italian Food and Wine Festival, a fascinating photo exhibit on Operation Moses, Cuba 2024 music showcase and more.
Second in a series of rediscovering Miami classics is Toni’s Sushi Bar Miami Beach, the beach's longest running sushi bar. This classic now has a very new look, celebrating its anticipated 40thanniversary with a handsome redesign by New York City firm KONO Designs and four traditional craftsmen flown in from Japan who count ancient temples and royal gardens among their work. In its four decades, Toni’s has not only kept up with eating trends, but ahead of many, with their very varied and appealing menu selections and delicious food that we really enjoyed. Plus, it's reasonably priced.
Pueblito Viejo Colombian restaurant is pure fun, from the campy eye popping décor and Latin dancing to the two  comedians ,the “Paisa boys”. The menu is traditional comfort food, so it’s like traveling to Colombia. It all makes for a great time!
Many high end restaurants in Miami are touting their dining experiences but, in the end, most are not that special except for the price. Not so Elcielo helmed by two star Colombian chef Juan Manuel Barrientos (“Juanma”) whose sensorial prix fixe dinner and beverage journey are seductive, both visually and to the palette. It’s almost theatrical, but not in a flashy way, but rather, in the sense of being a culinary narrative where every dish tells a story. It’s pricey, but a lot less so than other top restaurants, and worth it.
New lunch specials at Swan in the Design District , Adrift Mare in the Brickell area and Il Mulino in Sunny Isles; first look at Red Farm; Delilah 20's supper club adds a Latin twist to late nights;  a brunch for pets and their owners;  plant based burger bar; Bolivian liquor now in the US; the return of Fooq's and "surge pricing" trend, all in Eating News for March 2024, Part 2. If you missed Part 1 click here.
We're talking about very different things to do next month like, get this -- the Elvis Presley theater experience with the president of the Miami Elvis fan club, meet someone new at the Meet Up at the Miami Film Festival, equestrian show jumping on the beach, the annual family Seafood Festival, Taylor Swift in concert here, 150 works of art made with Legos in a traveling exhibit, jazz, and more Miami events April 2024. Check them out.
New appealing brunch offering in a top waterfront restaurant,  "Nomad" dining experience, Purim dinner, JARANA new Peruvian restaurant, and fall harvest tour to Tuscany,  all in Eating News March 2024, Part 1.
Salty Flame is a playful take on a traditional American steakhouse, together with a contemporary favorite, Asian influenced dishes . Plus it ticks off all the other right categories: very good food, friendly and attentive service, an attractive ambiance, loungey music but easy conversation, and value. It’s on Brickell Avenue, a neighborhood where value isn’t easy to find.