Restaurants

July was a surprisingly active month for restaurant openings in Miami. Despite the traditional slowing of tourism in South Florida during the summer, several highly anticipated restaurants opened in the past 30 days.

Mr. Kream is the brainchild of three DJs who go by the monikers Jim, SOS, and Affect. Chances are you know the last from LIV and E11even, where he has shared the stage with the likes of Chuckie and Skrillex. Affect and  his ice-cream partners also cohost a Sunday residency at Brickhouse.

Sunset Harbour’s long-awaited veg gastropub has arrived: Soul Tavern is open for business. Owner Jason Gordon describes the new spot as “where healthy meets the hang,” and all revolves around a carefully curated meat-free menu.

Though Lost & Found Saloon shuttered earlier this month, the beloved bar and restaurant’s food is still available, and owner Ken Bercel says he won’t stop cooking even while looking for a new place. “We’ve had a lot of loyal customers throughout the years who’ve really enjoyed the atmosphere and food,…

Casa Faena, a boutique hotel in the Faena District, is open every Sunday for an affordable South American-inspired brunch, which is served near the lobby on the hotel’s first floor.

Rumors had been swirling that the restaurant was having problems ever since ownership changed hands.

Miami Spice will return August 1, when more than 200 restaurants will offer discounted lunch and dinner menus through the end of September. This year, for the first time, Spice also offers brunch menus at select restaurants, including Essensia, Bakehouse Brasserie, Fooq’s, and Dragonfly Izakaya & Fish Market. Participating spots will serve three-course meals Saturdays and/or Sundays for $23 (tax, tip, and beverages not included).

Wawa has officially expanded into Broward County this month with the opening of two stores. On Thursday, July 27, fans of the Philadelphia-based convenience store chain can celebrate the launch of the company’s 119 and 120th Florida stores with the grand opening of locations at 4290 Davie Rd. in Davie and 3601 N. Federal Hwy. in Pompano Beach.

New Times’ Iron Fork returns for its tenth anniversary with delicious food and an epic battle between two of Miami’s finest chefs. Thursday, October 5, from 7 to 10 p.m., the Hyatt Regency Miami will become the center of Miami’s culinary universe when more than 50 of the city’s top restaurants offer savory bites and sweet delights.

Etaru, a restaurant specializing in Japanese robatayaki, will open its first location in South Florida later this year at the former Hyde Beach Kitchen + Cocktails space in Hallandale Beach. The restaurant and beach club closed a few months ago.

Miami Spice takes place August 1 through September 30, when more than 200 local restaurants will serve three-course lunch, brunch, and dinner menus at accessible $23 and $39 price points. Recently, Komodo provided a sneak peek of its menu. The three-story, indoor/outdoor pan-Asian eatery and lounge from nightlife guru David Grutman (the man behind LIV and Story) offered a one-night preview hosted by the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Each year, one reason compels Miamians to stay home for the summer: They can dine at the best local restaurants for less than 40 bucks a pop.

Marlen Caudron and her husband Oliver never thought they would open Miami’s first artisanal waffle shop. But when their youngest daughter, Vivienne, was born with a rare epilepsy disorder, Marlen decided to leave her longtime job in the tropical plant industry for recipe testing and baking.

Follow your nose to No Name Chinese. There is no sign marking the restaurant that Uvaggio Wine Bar owners Heath Porter and Craig DeWald opened in late May near South Miami’s Sunset Place. Instead, as you wander away from the teen-thronged shopping complex, the air fills with the scent of…

Since the Salty Donut debuted in December 2015, it has created a handful of unorthodox mashups, such as rainbow dough, sticky bun doughnuts, boozy glazes and fillings, cannoli-shaped varieties, and doughnut burgers.

Washington Charles and his partner Antar Sosa are on the move. After opening the mezcaleria El Grito earlier this year, they are on to their next project.

July is proving to be a bad month on Collins Avenue’s 23rd block. Last week, Tom Colicchio announced his Beachcraft at the 1 Hotel South Beach would close at the end of this year. And now Stephen Starr’s the Continental, a retro oasis tucked into the revamped Ankara Motel, has shuttered, according to Philly.com. The Philadelphia restaurateur confirmed that his Miami Beach location closed after dinner service this past Sunday.

Mercato Della Pescheria, a Las Vegas-based concept, is now open on Española Way in Miami Beach. The market-style restaurant features four culinary stations, including seafood, meat, pasta, and cheese, reminiscent of a traditional Italian market commonly found on the southern coast of Italy. The restaurant is the progeny of V&E Restaurant…

Leynia, a new Argentinian-fusion restaurant inside the Delano, is now open for Sunday brunch. With a flaming outdoor grill, the restaurant allures diners with various cuts of meat complemented by unlimited selections of sweet and savory plates paired with a curated à la carte menu. Housed in the former Bianca…

Plomo, Miracle Mile’s first tequila and taco bar, is now open in Coral Gables (230 Miracle Mile). Created by the Atomic Group, known for popular Coral Gables eateries such as Crema Gourmet Espresso Bar and Copper 29, this Mexican-style speakeasy is replete with tortilla-wrapped meat and vegetable varieties, paired with dozens of…

Real Madrid, possibly the world’s best-known soccer brand, is opening its first restaurant in the United States right in downtown Miami at Met Square (340 SE Third St.). American Franchise Group (AFG) is opening Real Madrid Café as a partnership agreement with the team, with an expected opening date in early…