Zuma: Where East Meets Biscayne

Number 51 on S. Pellegrino World's Best Restaurants list has officially opened in downtown Miami after a series of friends and family dinners. Modern Japanese Izakaya (and fresh grated wasabi) comes to downtown Miami by way of German chef Rainer Becker, who chose Miami as the place for Zuma's stateside debut because "We wanted our first Zuma in the USA to be located within an energetic, vibrant, multicultural and popular city; that to me is Miami." Not just downtown's newest culinary darling, Zuma is a looker as well, modeled after the London original, with towering ceilings (the result of nixing the idea of turning the space into two stories), requisite, hipster-approved lounge bar serving a serious sake selection (35 by the bottle, 7 by the glass and carafe) , sushi counter with dedicated sushi chefs and bar-side seating and Robata Grill. Menu highlights include prawn and black cod dumplings; seabass sashimi with yuzu, truffle oil and salmon roe; yellowtail sashimi with green chili relish, ponzu and pickled garlic; sliced seared beef with pickled daikon and fresh truffle dressing; pork belly skewer with yuzu mustard miso; beef skewers with shishito pepper and smoked chili soy; and miso marinated black cod, wrapped in hoba leaf. An $85 tasting menu (minimum of 2 people) features the chef's selection of seasonal signature dishes. And, finally, because desserts aren't exactly a Japanese strong point, Zuma's pastry chef hails from, drum roll, France. Welcome to Miami. [EaterWire]
All Zuma Coverage on Eater Miami