Restaurants

Instacream N7, a Hialeah-born nitrogen ice-cream store, looks like something straight out of a comic book. An image of a yellow-haired, goofy-looking animated scientist, holding a bubbling pink-and-blue flask, commands the store’s wall. A few steps away, metal pipes dangle above the shop’s counter; behind it hangs a large red-and-white flavor menu. A light white smoke, a product of making nitrogen ice cream, envelops the cartoonish scene.

Luke’s Lobster has sailed into Miami and is officially open for business at Brickell City Centre. What began as a pint-size shop in Manhattan’s East Village in 2009 has grown to include locations in Washington, D.C.; Boston; Philadelphia; and even Tokyo. Luke’s signature item is the Maine lobster roll, which has been ranked among the best by publications such as Thrillist, Time Out, CBS, and the Wall Street Journal.

“Never touch your eyes,” Melvin Smith warns as he slices a mountain of orange and red Scotch bonnet peppers on a cutting board in his sweltering South Miami-Dade kitchen. The 59-year-old co-owner of Sango Jamaican & Chinese is tall with a shaved head and the wrinkly face of an English…

The holiday season is upon us. That means stressing over buying presents for co-workers and friends, along with the ordeal of taking items for office potlucks and holiday gatherings. This year, forget the mall and Publix and do your holiday shopping at Bachour Bakery + Bistro. Baker extraordinaire Antonio Bachour has introduced a host of treats for the holidays that are Instagram-worthy. And, yes, they’re delicious.

This past November, Steelcity, a coffee concept from Linz, Austria, set up shop thousands of miles away at the Wynwood Yard. Whipping up dark-blend espressos, the pop-up coffee shop brings traditional European-style java to Miami, something founders/owners Anela Hrnic and Michael Holaschke believe the city is in dire need of.

When Beaker & Gray opened its doors on the eastern edge of Wynwood, it revolutionized Miami’s happy-hour scene, quickly becoming a destination for craft cocktails and hearty small plates. About a year later, the rustic-style eatery is ready to embrace a new identity: brunch spot.

November has been a banner month for restaurant openings in Miami. Many major eateries debuted just in time for Art Basel, including José Andrés’ second Miami-area establishment, Bazaar Mar at the SLS Brickell.

If you need an excuse to eat, check Google’s national food holiday calendar. Every day brings something tasty to celebrate. This week, favorites such as French toast, lemon cream, mousse, and fritters have a day of observance. And today is National Pie Day.

Bird & Bone, Richard Hales’ restaurant at the Confidante, opens today, November 30, with a host of Southern-inspired dishes. The chef, best known for his midtown Miami restaurants Blackbrick and Sakaya Kitchen, marks new territory with the opening of his latest endeavor.

South Beach is about to get another brightly colored, healthy fast-food concept. Palm Beach County-based juice and smoothie bar Raw Juce is days away from opening in Miami Beach (959 West Ave., Suite 13), the company’s second Miami-Dade location.

The time has finally come. The Salty Donut, Miami’s first artisanal doughnut shop, will open the doors to its long-awaited permanent location this Saturday, December 3, at 8 a.m. The storefront, located at 50 NW 24th St. inside the Wynwood Arcade, comes after nearly a year of weekend pop-ups — both inside an abandoned courtyard across from the new brick-and-mortar and a beachside setup at the Confidante in South Beach. Coinciding with Art Basel, the brand launched its concept at last year’s Miami Art Week.

When Brad Kilgore opened his Wynwood eatery, Alter, in spring 2015, he turned Miami’s dining scene on its ear. Instead of featuring the usual graffiti on the walls, the intimate eatery had only a sparse line of neon for adornment. The reason: The 30-year-old chef wanted all attention on the…

When the death of Fidel Castro was announced by his brother Raúl, much of Miami cheered. The hated dictator who broke up families, imprisoned his own citizens, and essentially placed the island nation of Cuba into a time capsule, is finally dead at the too-ripe age of 90. This weekend, people took to the streets, and many restaurants celebrated by offering complimentary Cuba Libres to patrons. Now comes Azucar Ice Cream Company’s sweet revenge. The Calle Ocho ice-cream shop has created a new flavor to commemorate Castro’s passing: Burn in Hell, Fidel!

Fidel Castro, hated dictator of Cuba, is not immortal after all. After years of rumors of his demise, the 90 year-old’s death was announced by his brother Raul in a televised statement: “I say to the people of Cuba, with profound pain I come here to inform our people, our friends of America and the world, that today, 25 November, 2016, at 10:29 pm, died the chief commander of the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz.”

Serendipity, Wynwood’s tiny artisanal ice cream shop, is making waves in Miami’s vegan movement. The store, which is always stocked with a few vegan varieties, has debuted three new flavors that are both vegan and refined sugar-free.

How one Miami entrepreneur went from a career in finance to launching a fine-chocolate company that’s approved by the Salty Donut and other popular Miami bakeries.

When the Bazaar by José Andrés opened at the SLS Hotel in South Beach, all of Miami was aflutter. The James Beard-winning restaurateur, author, and chef brought cuisine that was whimsical, creative, thoughtful, and exquisite to Miami Beach. From his liquid nitrogen caipirinhas, prepared tableside, to grilled eel tacos presented in…

Michelle Bernstein fans who lament the closure of her beloved Cena by Michy’s have reason to rejoice. The James Beard Award winner returns to Miami Beach to open two pop-up restaurants during Art Basel.

The team behind Bodega Taqueria y Tequilla, Radio Bar, and Pizza Bar have been busy. After successful openings of Ricky’s and Halves & Wholes, Menin Hospitality is debuting Bakehouse Brasserie (808 First St., Miami Beach) today, marking the group’s third restaurant launch this year.

Menin Hospitality has opened another concept right next door to its popular Bodega Taqueria y Tequilla. Ricky’s has arcade games, great cocktails, live music, and a carnival-themed menu.

Healthy-lifestyle company Juicense opened its doors in Coconut Grove (2992 McFarlane Rd.) this past summer, stocked with raw foods and cold-pressed juices. This holiday season, visit the local spot to pick up treats to add to your meal.

One of the first ideas for a planned Southeast Asian restaurant at the Setai Hotel was bento boxes. But executive sous-chef Vijayudu Veena proposed offering something from his native India instead. Thali — Hindu for “plate” — refers to a round stainless-steel platter with small bowls arranged around the rim,…