A restaurant answer to readers’ requests, Italian American food festival, for Mahjongg lovers, Wok Star Supper Club, new restaurant openings, Kung Fu chicken and more.

You readers often ask me to feature restaurants with good food, reasonable prices, and where you can carry on a conversation (DJ less). I’m always on the lookout but it’s not easy. Happy day, I found a new one, the Persian restaurant Homa at 2490 SW 17th Avenue (opposite El Carajo that many of you might know). The chef owner-operated restaurant is basically one room, very casual, and with a one page menu. I’ve already gone there several times and every time the food was delicious. Recommended dishes include the Persian stew made with xxx, lamb chops served with basmati rice and roasted tomato, chopped beef kabobs (2) also with rice and tomato, the vegetable kabob and ???? There are a few wine selections (a big pour on wine by the glass) and no liquor.There’s also a selection of Persian food products. Expect to pay about $50-$60 per person plus tax and tip. There’s adjacent free parking. For more information, click here.

Italian America Chamber of Commerce is bringing back the Italian Food and Wine Festival, Autentico, April 29 at the Coral Gables Country Club from 6 – 8:30 p.m. The event is open to guests 21 years old and over. No tickets are sold at the door. For $85 per person you get unlimited bites and pours (until they last) from 30 tasting stations from South Florida’s leading Italian restaurants, enjoying over 200 wine and food products and a pizza village.

If you had any doubt that Mahjong is “the” thing once again, Sadelle’s Coconut Grove is dispelling that with its  Mahjong Social, a recurring series taking place every other Thursday from 6:30 – 8:30 PM. Hosted by Mahjong Instructor Rachel Weissman, TheMahjBoss, the evenings are designed to bring both seasoned players and newcomers for a structured yet relaxed experience centered around the game.

Priced at $70 per person, each ticket includes a dedicated seat, entry into a door prize, and Sadelle’s dinner bites. Guests are encouraged to bring their own tiles, racks, and NMJL card, while custom Sadelle’s will be provided.

The series offers a considered approach to social play—balancing instruction, gameplay, and a shared dining experience. A curated menu will be available, featuring a selection of Sadelle’s signatures, including pizzas (funghi, margherita, fennel sausage) and salads (Beverly, Cobb, Waldorf), alongside favorites such as pigs in a blanket, triple-decker sandwiches, and coconut shrimp, with desserts to follow.

Private lessons with TheMahjBoss available upon request.

Wok Star Supper Club arrives at Wayan Miami in Wynwood on April   19 at 6 pm for a one-night, 10 Dish prix fixe tasting menu celebrating Southeast Asian flavors through Wayan’s French-Indonesian lens, crafted by Chef Cédric Vongerichten.

Hosted by Miami food personality Eleanor Hoh, the evening is inspired by her cultural connection to the cuisine—drawing parallels between Indonesian dishes and the Malaysian flavors she grew up with.

The evening begins with a welcome cocktail, followed by a multi-dish tasting from starters to dessert, featuring standout dishes such as Escargot Rendang, Black Cod, Tamarind Citrus Salad, Caramelized Beef Tenderloin, and Nasi Goreng. It’s $88 per person plus tax. To read my review on Wayan, click here. For reservations go to Resy.com.

Mottai that bills itself as offering Modern Japanese cuisine has opened at the Plaza Coral Gables i The menu goes beyond sushi, featuring raw preparations, composed small plates, grill-focused entrées, and a selection of nigiri and maki, designed to balance traditional technique with contemporary execution for both lunch and dinner. The space draws inspiration from French Japonisme, with hand-selected marble and refined architectural details throughout, and as day turns to night, the space evolves with lighting transforming the ambience from airy and lively to moody and intimate. Mottai marks the U.S. arrival of Attivo Group, with 13  locations across Brazil. For more information, follow @mottaimiami on Instagram.

Motek is on a tear, opening its ninth restaurant in Miami since 2020. The newest is in Midtown at 3255 NE First Avenue. The menu is the same — mezze, hummus dips, kebabs, salads and bowls and even a Lebanese style burger. It’s open from 11 a.m. Monday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. Friday through Sunday. Dinner until 10 p.m. For more information click here.

Mexican restaurants continue to be a “hot” category with one of the latest, The  Mexican,coming from Dallas where it was named one of the most beautiful restaurants in the world by Unesco. It’s on the water in Brickell Key. The food was described in the Miami Herald as being upscale Mexican with a flair for the dramatic. Dishes mirror many of the ones in Dallas with some made for Miami dishes too such as the tuna Tomahawk. The 10000 square foot space  seats more than 300 in indoor and outdoor spaces.  www.themexican.com

Kung Fu Chicken. You may have thought that I don’t like cheesesteaks, fried chicken, burgers, subs (except for the time I wrote about Capriottis) and other comfort food. I do like them all, but seldom eat them because of the calories, unless I know they’re really going to be tops (WTC- worth the calories). Which brings me to Kung Fu chicken and their newest fast casual restaurant in Miami Beach, joining others at FIU and Little Havana.

What caught my eye were the claims that the chicken was never greasy, it’s hormone and antibiotic free, and there’s at least a quarter pound per order. So off I went to Kung Fu chicken in Miami Beach and had their classic sandwich on a butter toasted brioche bun, chicken, fresh Asian coleslaw, pickles and a choice of several sauces ($9.99). Also on my menu was the signature wrap with similar ingredients on a big soft tortilla. Mr W and I agreed they were both delicious with crispy chicken and the condiments were a perfect complement. They also had some sides which I’d like to try next time — Asian style cucumber salad, corn cheese and radish kimchi ($3.99). Also on my list for next time is the big kick leg ($5.99), slow braised then fried chicken with no breading, and the lava sandwich $10.99) which swaps the regular fried chicken for the panko chicken stuffed with mozzarella cheese and sweet corn, lettuce and tomato. I  bet you’re drooling now!
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Prime After Dark has officially launched in Miami and Miami Beach, introducing a first-of-its-kind premium late-night steakhouse delivery service. Founded by hospitality veterans Dennis Arakelian and Jordan Culpepper, the concept operates exclusively from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., targeting the city’s unique demographic of late-shift professionals, night owls, and celebratory crowds. The venture aims to bridge the gap between high-end restaurant quality and the convenience of late-night delivery, utilizing specialized, moisture-controlled packaging to ensure that elevated dishes—like USDA Prime steaks and delicate pastas—arrive with their intended texture and temperature intact.

The menu is designed for versatility, offering everything from $15 comfort classics to $500 ultra-premium experiences. Diners can choose from a wide array of chef-curated options, including Wagyu cheesesteak sliders, spicy rigatoni, and “Mountain of Fries.” For those seeking a more extravagant evening, the brand offers Prime Luxe Boxes, which feature high-end selections such as Golden Osetra Caviar, Japanese Wagyu, and even 24-carat gold-crusted Tomahawks. This range allows the service to function as both a practical meal solution and a centerpiece for luxury home entertaining.

Beyond the food, Prime After Dark emphasizes a “VIP” service model. Orders are initially handled through their official website to maintain quality control, with major delivery platforms to follow. To foster a sense of exclusivity and high-touch hospitality, every order includes a dedicated VIP phone number for direct requests and inquiries. Orders will initially be placed directly through Prime After Dark’s official website, with DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub to follow. For more information, visit primeafterdark.com.