RESTAURANT REVIEW
We all look for that one Asian restaurant that claims to master all types of Asian cuisine: Chinese, Japanese, and Thai. But what if you wanted not only that, but also a great ambiance, a complete bar, and excellent service? For years, people of South Florida have known China Grill as the spot to go to get all of these qualities. With their modern and upscale décor, China Grill is a great place to get that Asian food you crave without having to go to some run-down little hole in the wall. It’s an upscale venue with upscale versions of favorite Asian classics.
For years I’ve passed by Big City Tavern on Las Olas Blvd, but have never gone in. Perhaps the name or the décor didn’t draw my attention. But recently I took a visit there just after their new renovations and it turned out to be one of those big surprises that make you wish you would’ve checked out the place sooner. Upon entering, even with the patio seating, it truly feels like you’re entering a tavern. As I stated earlier, Big City Tavern has just gone through floor to ceiling renovations and the results were quite astounding.
The fabulous Max’s Grille in Boca Raton is celebrating it’s 20thAnniversary. Though this stellar restaurant is a mainstay in the community, it’s still got quite a spring in it’s step. Having never been to Max’s before, I was anxious to see what proprietor Dennis Max had to offer (other than superb choice of first name, of course). I made sure to ask around beforehand and heard not a single bad review, which of course made me just a teensy bit skeptical. Can a restaurant really be as good as advertised? Well, two hours and a stomach full later, the answer was clear… No. It can actually be far better.
The scene is very Miami in nature when you walk into the newly-opened Makoto. The Bal Harbour Shops are home to this new and innovative restaurant and rightly so. Huge Koi fish ponds line the walk ways of the Shops and its upscale boutiques and high-end brand stores. The Koi set the mood as you enter into a just-as peaceful Makoto. The dark lighting, the wall-hugged seating, and everything in between were very Miami: chic and pristine. But what I discovered in Makoto’s food was far from Miami…Far East I might add. Having just opened about a month ago, Makoto is still booming with excitement and packed with new guests wanting to try the long awaited addition to a string of famous restaurants from restaurateur Stephen Starr. Its Executive Chef is none other than the very talented Makoto Okuwa, for whom the restaurant is named after. Known for working alongside Masaharu Morimoto, Makoto is now showcasing his own style and innovation through this new Bal Harbour Japanese restaurant. What I found on my visit to Makoto was the perfect blend of Miami style, innovation, and traditional Japanese dishes (which I playfully like to call Makoto Beach) to make for a perfect night out.
I must confess that I’m the stereotypical foodie who only likes occasional simple salads and eats everything meat in sight. So when people suggest an organic, sustainable restaurant to me, I cringe as a boring raw vegan diet comes to mind. I’ll definitely go and try it but it probably won’t end up on my list of to-go restaurants at the end of the visit. But if someone told me that the menu of such said restaurant included bone marrow, duck breast, corn dogs, and a ‘fork +knife’ burger- no need for further convincing, you had me at marrow! This was exactly my surprise when I checked out Miami’s new hottest restaurant- Sustain Restaurant + Bar. I left the restaurant with only one word in mind, “fresh”!
Living up to the expectation of your sister restaurant, when it’s been named as one of the Best Italian Restaurants in Miami, is clearly no small feat at-hand. And if that sister of yours is Quattro, the beloved Italian eatery of Lincoln Road, you already have a lot to live up to. Since its opening in 2009, Sosta Pizzeria has been offering more “pocket friendly” Italian options, while it has left the pricier entrees to its big sister Quattro. Ironically enough, these two sister restaurants are run by two identical twin brothers- Nicola and Fabrizio Carro. And in this case, good taste definitely runs in the family.
When one thinks of Italy, one thinks of the finer things in life: the arts, the opera, literature, and of course good food. Definitely the good food! It seems like Italians, more so than other ethnicities at times, put so much time and love into their recipes. A chef once told me that of all the types of cuisines he cooked and of all the different restaurants he cooked in, he admired Italian cuisine the most; since it was in those restaurants that he was taught to put the most passion into his food. I’d have to agree with that since, I mean, clearly you can taste it in the sauces (or gravy, whichever you prefer to call it). With that said, it’s often times hard to find a truly authentic Italian restaurant. One, that not only has that finesse of Italian elegance, but that also still puts time into their dishes like any Italian grandmother would put into hers. Enter: Quattro, Gastronomia Italiana. Opened in the summer of 2006, Quattro has definitely become a gem on Lincoln Road. To this day, it is hailed as the best expensive Italian Restaurant in Miami.
Every time I talk to people about Meat Market, they always say that it’s their favorite place for drinks on Lincoln Road. The bar there is spectacular and it’s so popular that even if you enter Meat Market alone, you’re bound to meet new people at their ever-full bar. I, too, have visited Meat Market a few times to just hung out at the bar and order a couple of appetizers. It’s only natural since the beautiful restaurant décor calls you in from Lincoln Road. But last week I had the pleasure of dining at Meat Market Miami Beach on a dinner date with a good family friend. It was a while since we met up and we had a lot to catch up on; thankfully, Meat Market’s calm and classy atmosphere was the perfect setting for our steakhouse date.
So after a very welcomed interview with Chef Jouvens Jean of SAWA in Coral Gables, he did what few chefs are willing to do: he let Joonbug in to his restaurant’s kitchen and prepared a seven-course tasting. Yes, that’s right- seven! And right on the spot, too! Chef Jouvens prepared some of his signature dishes from the restaurant and gave us a look into SAWA’s fusion cuisine.
For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of dining at SAWA, take our word for it- it’s definitely memorable. SAWA showcases a dual-concept menu of both Mediterranean and Japanese cuisines. Ideal for when you’re undecided about whether to hit up a Sushi bar that night or Tapas; this place has them both! The 3-D paintings that line the indoor dining area of the restaurant just add to the establishment’s fusion flare. So what did Chef Jouvens prepare for us? Warning: you may salivate on your keyboard as you read this.
Luna Park
672 S. La Brea
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 934-2110
Those looking for a trendy restaurant before a night on the town that offers good food at a decent price will find themselves extremely happy with Luna Park. Conveniently located at Wilshire and La Brea, Luna Park is a great place to start the night. The dinner and drink menu are studded with some really tasty and interesting options. Diners looking for the standard gourmet selections will be easily satisfied, as will those who like a little more fun with dinner.
The menu features solid options throughout. The breaded stuffed porkchop and the mahi mahi with Moroccan couscous are both excellent, as are the pizzas and pastas. The drink menu, along with the traditional favorites, includes the Chappaquiddick, pomegranate vodka with orange, lime and cranberries. As good as the food is, two items anchor the menu and are a must have for every diner. The first is the warm goat cheese fondue with apples and bread. It is a perfect start to the meal, the apples and the bread perfectly complementing the cheese which flawlessly whets your appetite without getting you too full for the rest of the meal. This is very important, because otherwise you would miss the outstanding make your own s’mores dessert. It features a deconstructed s’more-graham cracker, chocolate and a heated fondue cup of gooey marshmallow-and allows the eater to decide how they want to eat it. This dish, featured on “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” is definitely worth it.
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