Vagabond Restaurant & Bar Is Now Open

Now you officially can get food at the newly revamped Vagabond Hotel, with its namesake restaurant opening to the public today.

The Vagabond Restaurant & Bar features a "casual fine dining" menu filled with American, Latin and Asain influences inspired by Executive Chef Alex Chang's world travels. The 25-year-old, self-taught chef has spent the past few years doing stints at notable restaurants like Animal in L.A. and the Michelin-starred Pujol in Polano, Mexico with stops in Tokyo and Belgium as well.

On the menu expect a mix of classic restaurant fare like the Vagabond Burger and Jerk Chicken Wings mixed in with some more eclectic dishes like Chapulines, a grasshopper (yes, like those of the insect variety) dish sautéed with Marcona almonds and Szechuan peppercorns and an Iberico Skirt Steak, a piece of marbled pork from Spain topped with xato sauce, charred scallions and mojo canario.

"South Florida has such a diverse mix of fresh ingredients with everything from key limes to fresh black grouper available at my disposal," Chang says via a press release. "It's been such a fun experience creating this menu because I've been able to take what I've learned from kitchens in North America, Asia and Europe and meld those flavors with those of South Florida."

The modern 120-seat restaurant space, designed by Alvaro Perez Miranda, is "reminiscent of an art gallery" with plenty of art work hanging on its walls including a series of portraits of "local contemporary vagabonds."

And because no hotel is complete without a bar, the restaurant's sunken bar is naturally the centerpiece of the restaurant featuring classic cocktails with a modern twist and small production wines that complement the food menu.

The restaurant is open nightly for dinner, with lunch and brunch plans in the works. Stay tuned for more details.