Straight from Turkey new dessert shop, FREEHOLD concept rooftop lounge near Miami Arena; new restaurants Miami, closings and redos; rent a food hall with all the mixings; new Brickell entertainment lounge and more, all in Eating News for November ’23, Part 1.
A Lincoln Road sign promising Turkish sweets from well known purveyor Osmanlizadeler has been on my radar screen for several years, with my eagerly awaiting the opening. Happily the Osmanlizadeler Desssert Store is now open and it’s serious. Their specialty is baklava which, for those who don’t know it, is a layered pastry dessert made of filo pastry, filled with chopped nuts, and sweetened with syrup or honey.
It was one of the most popular sweet pastries of Ottoman cuisine. Unlike others I was told who have the baklava flown in frozen which means when it’s thawed, it needs to be eaten right away,. They fly their baklava in fresh from Turkey every other day.Find nine kinds such as pistachio from Antep and pistachio from Ankara, chocolate pistachio and nightingale nest along with halvah and lokums which are an almost sugar free sweet made of fruits, flowers, nuts and herbs and seven kinds of honey.
You can take out or enjoy it there in a nook complete with ottomans and Turkish pottery on display and have a Turkish coffee. Baklava is $6 a piece and lokums are $70 a pound. Osmanlizadeler Dessert Store, 618 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Okeydokey food hall in the Brickell area has now opened its outdoor lounge, La Terrasse, and entertainment space, Metronome. Located on the first floor of Okeydokey, La Terrasse is designed with boho-chic furnishings and hanging greenery all throughout, making it a welcome space for those looking to unwind, relax, and enjoy good company. Live music is offered every Thursday evening.
The third floor is now Metronome, designed as an entertainment destination that will soon feature stand-up comedy nights, live music, DJ performances, and more. It will pay tribute to its namesake and bring together the best of jazz, soul, latin rhythms, and eclectic global sounds. Metronome’s listening room boasts long, velvet curtains, a disco ball, and dim, moody candle lights surrounding a center stage. Set to open every Thursday through Saturday night, the music-centric atmosphere will welcome intimate jams, artist showcases, and late-night dance parties. Note, you can order food and beverage from any of their restaurateurs at the lounge or Metronome. Okeydokey Miami ,268 SW 8th St. Miami, FL 33130 For my review, click here.
Closings: The Gramercy in Coral Gables
Openings: Scarpetta at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, succeeded by another Italian restaurant, Mirabella from Chef Michael White whose restaurant Ai Fiori in New York earned a Michelin Star. Big eaters take note, they’re touting their big portions of bone in veal parmigiana, risotto di mare and grilled octopus.Teatro replacing Brava! at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. According to the Miami Herald the menu is New American with dishes that have a touch of Latin and European influence. It will be open before select appearances at the opera house and Knight Concert Hall, offering a three course prix fixe dinner for $52 along with a la carte offerings and a 12 seat bar.
A Miami Beach favorite, Chotto Matte, has a new look, what they call a “fresh urban flair” though still with vibrant foliage and a striking skylight that opens to the stars. In this new restyling, the works of American multidisciplinary artist and illustrator Lefty Out There take center stage, breathing a freshness into the Nikkei concept.
His striking designs complement the restaurant’s culinary techniques by depicting the fiery robata grills’ vibrant shades of orange and red. Happily, still on tap is the Chotto Hour weekday promotion from 5 to 7 pm. offering 2-for-1 selected cocktails, spirits and wine and an all-new $4-$13 Nikkei bar bites menu. There’s also Steak and Sushi Sundays from 5 p.m. with a $65 menu that blends items from the robata grill and the itamae counter along with sides. Want to read more about the food, click here for my earlier review.
Now here’s a novel idea for a party site — Julia & Henry’s downtown uber food hall will rent you a floor as your private space with all the mixings so to speak. The scoop: For the third floor buy-outs, guests have their own private entrance and security, as well as unlimited bite-sized food from all third floor vendors including Yabai, Mensch, Baklava Bakery, Achar (a fave), Shimuja (a fave), Hitchihaika, Sankuay and Palmar, and can enjoy an open bar at The Lasseter. There’s also a lounge and DJ area for entertainment! It’s only available Monday-Friday. Price is dependent on the number of people and the number of hours. In case you missed my review on Julia & Henry’s click here.
Another rooftop bar for your list — Night Swim, a panoramic new rooftop concept by FREEHOLD Hospitality has opened at citizenM Miami Worldcenter. Guests can look forward to daily happy hours from 4-7pm, nighttime DJ performances, and weekday ‘Local Pool Pass’ promotions, catering to those working remotely or savoring a leisurely day off. Located just steps from the Kaseya Center, home of the Miami HEAT, Night Swim also serves as a convenient locale for pre-game gatherings and post-event festivities, complemented by the backdrop of Miami’s skyline. Kaseya event, concert, or game ticket holders can enjoy an exclusive 25% discount on all food and beverage offerings at Night Swim.
Culinary highlights include black truffle tequenos – truffled queso-filled breadsticks served with spicy green goddess sauce; skinny dips – a trio of hummus, tzatziki, and French onion dips accompanied by vegetable crudités and plantain chips; and tuna tartare tacos featuring bluefin tuna, avocado, and a chili-soy vinaigrette.
Signature cocktails like the JACK KNIFE – made with Grey Goose vodka, freshly blended watermelon, and lime, as well as the CARAJILLO ESPRESSO MARTINI – made with Cayeya tequila, Licor 43, and Panther Coffee nitro espresso, take center stage. . Night Swim’s beverage menu will also feature a ‘SHALLOW END‘ drinks section, highlighting low-alcohol cocktails, and zero-proof alcohol cocktails, for those seeking FREEHOLD’s signature mixology without the alcohol.
Night Swim is located on the 11th-floor rooftop of citizenM Miami Worldcenter located at 700 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami, Florida. Night Swim is open 7 days-a-week from 12pm-12am. For more information visit nightswimrooftop.com.
6 Responses
In the Time Out food hall near Washington (is that its name?) there was a baklava seller who had an incredible variety of items from different countries. Is this a different company?
Yes, this one features the baklava of Osmanlizadeler which has shops in Istanbul and is a leading brand and this dessert shop is owned by someone else.
Actually, Time Out market closed and the space/concept has been taken over by another company. I believe it’s called South Beach food hall.
I heard it had closed, so I wondered if the baklava place moved. Has the food market reopened yet or is that to come?
Hi Pam, I’m the Program Director at South Beach Food Hall and it’s very much ALIVE to welcome everyone! It’s unfortunate Google Maps still has it tagged as “closed”!
Every Sunday, 1-6pm, we have an Artisan Market with hand crafted and handmade treasures from Mango Sauce to hand made soaps.
Come and visit, we have $8 cocktails and $9 Happy Hour menu, free WiFi with a huge high resolution video screen to watch games. A place to hang out with family and friends and chill music.
The Baklava at South Beach Food Hall (formerly Time Out) is still there, please go and visit.