Miami's Six Most Anticipated Fall Openings

While it might not feel like it yet in Miami, summer is coming to a close. It's now the exciting time of year where restaurants are opening just in time for the fall/winter season that is oh-so popular for visitors and locals alike. Be sure to keep an eye on these restaurants moving in as the humidity moves out.

1) Miami Beach: Cooper Avenue
The Players: Amir Ben-Zion
The Situation: After talks of opening a South Beach outpost of his midtown hit Gigi, restauranteur Amir Ben-Zion opted for a different concept that is Cooper Avenue. It will claim the rather large space on the ground floor of the New World Symphony, filling it with a comfort food restaurant, along with a bakery, deli, bar, newsstand and market. Think New York's Dean & Deluca taken to another level.
Projected Opening: Late September
[All Coverage of Cooper Avenue]

2) Midtown: ACME Bakery & Coffee
The Players: Alejandro Ortiz, Aniece Meinhold and Cesar Zapata
The Situation: These three amigos have garnered a following from their successful debut with Phuc Yea! and now at The Federal. Soon they'll add ACME Bakery & Coffee to that list. The vibe will remind you of the old-time general stores with homemade breads, candies, cakes, and pastries. You can stop in for a treat to go or grab a table and stay for breakfast, lunch, or "early evening" tea.
Projected Opening: Mid-to-Late September
[All Coverage of ACME]

3) Coral Gables: Swine Southern Table & Bar
The Players: 50 Eggs Restaurant Group; Kenny Gilbert
The Situation: The team behind Yardbird brings its pig-sister restaurant to the Gables. 50 Eggs Restaurant Group will open Swine Southern Table & Bar and has former Top Chef contestant Kenny Gilbert concocting the menu of inventive Southern fare. Heritage breed pigs and local fish, fowl and produce will be featured in dishes like Smoked Berkshire Spare Ribs, Bourbon Molasses Cured Pork Jowls, and Russian Wild Boar. Seasonally-inspired side dishes, traditional Southern desserts, and an extensive bourbon collection along with other specialty cocktails will round out the meal.
Projected Opening: Early Winter
[All Coverage of Swine]

4) Miami Beach: Khong River House
The Players: 50 Eggs Restaurant Group
The Situation: The 50 Eggs team will be very busy this winter with a second restaurant opening in addition to the ever-popular Yardbird and its soon to follow sister, Swine. Khong River House branches off the Southern fare and brings an Asian concept to the table. Replacing Chinese with Thai, Khong is taking the former Miss Yip location off Lincoln Road. The menu will focus on Northern Thai food while incorporating other influences from the region the Mekong (or Khong to locals) river flows through like Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Farm-fresh produce, meats, and seafood sourced from local purveyors will be a staple as well.
Projected Opening: Early Winter
[All Coverage of Khong]

5) Miami Beach: The Broken Shaker
The Players: Gabriel Orta and Elad Zvi
The Situation: After a very successful run as Miami's favorite pop-up bar, the duo from Bar Lab behind The Broken Shaker are coming back to stay. Expect the same bar and cocktails like before at the former Indian Creek Hotel, but this time with a twist. They will be opening a full-service restaurant with an upstairs lounge in the newly revamped hotel, under the name Freehand Miami. Chef Jeremiah Bullfrog of the gourmet mobile food truck gastroPod will be working with the mixologists to create fresh dishes to pair with the creative cocktails.
Projected Opening: November
[All Coverage of The Broken Shaker]

6) Design District: South Street Restaurant & Bar
The Players: Amir Ben-Zion, Amaris Jones, Ari Kalimi (DJ Affect)
The Situation: Put together the successful restauranteur behind Gigi and soon-to-open Cooper Avenue, a Philly native lifestyle, media, and event consultant, and a renowned DJ and you've got a trifecta. This team is behind the concept at South Street Restaurant & Bar where you can enjoy "neo-soul" food as well as classic favorites like fried chicken and grandma's cornbread muffins in a Motown-inspired restaurant and lounge with live music and DJs. They're also bringing in Bar Lab, the creative minds behind The Broken Shaker, to do the cocktail menu. Put all these together and it's a recipe for success at South Street.
Projected Opening: Late September
[All Coverage of South Street]