Route 9 Owners Expanding to Key Biscayne

The team behind Route 9 is expanding to Key Biscayne, a picturesque hamlet that's been starving for good restaurants for years, something which owners Jeremy and Paola Goldberg plan on changing. The duo is opening a new restaurant in The Towers of Key Biscayne condo, where, according to Jeremy Goldberg, "After a long process since asking the previous owners to leave, The Towers of Key Biscayne notified us last week that we were chosen to take over their newly renovated restaurant. We are very excited that they selected us after seeing the amount and quality of other restaurants that applied. "

There have been only three previous owners of that restaurant space in the past 25 years. The owner of the first restaurant, Pino's, passed away after about a 15 year successful stint. Paolo Bertolini of Bertolini's retired after a successful 10 year stint. Saporis lasted only a couple months before being asked to leave this past December.

"We have not finalized a name yet but the cuisine will be American-style with Mediterranean and Italian influence. We will open sometime over the summer as residents are eager to fill the empty space," Goldberg says.

Despite being in an exclusive residential community, the restaurant will be open to the public. Service will start with dinner, in-room dining, and catering. Lunch and brunch service will begin next season. Eventually, it will expand to service at the pool/beach, food/wine classes, guest chef meals, and much more. There will be a full liquor license with happy hours.

"We plan on having a major impact on the Key Biscayne dining scene from day one," Goldberg says. As for Route 9, all is well there, too, including the launch of a new happy hour and daily specials such as Mussels and Beer Wednesdays for $10. Stay tuned. [EaterWire]