These Are the New Restaurants Friends of Eater Miami Can’t Wait for in 2021

As we (finally!) put a cap on 2020, Eater surveyed a group of friends, writers, and all around experts for their take on the past year. We asked them ten questions: from top standbys to top newcomers, from best meals to restaurants they’ve broken up with. All will be answered by the time we turn off the lights at the end of the 2020. Responses are related in no particular order; all are cut, pasted, and (mostly) unedited herein. Responses do not necessarily reflect the views of Eater and Eater Miami.

Belkys Nerey (WSVN 7): I’m excited to drive by a new local Chick-fil-A and NOT see 100 cars in the drive thru so I can actually have a sandwich!

Amber Love Bond (Eater Miami contributor): Sweet Beach! Sweet Liberty’s beachfront pop-up at the Shelborne. I’m pumped to get my brunch on there!

Giovanny Gutierrez (Chat Chow TV/Eater Miami photographer): Edge Steak & Bar at the Four Seasons Brickell is about to open up. I miss Aaron Brook’s cooking.

Matthew Meltzer (Thrillist Miami): Naan was a real pleasant surprise, and I hope they can keep that going somewhere. Jaguar Sun should really just move to Lot 6 permanently. Also will be interesting to see if Old Gregg’s can catch on in a regular location.

David Rosendorf (Food For Thought): I’m just excited to try some of the places that have – incredibly to me – opened up in the middle of this pandemic: Chef Shuji’s Hiyakawa in Wynwood; the Chang Gang’s Itamae in the Design District; Leku at the Rubell Museum, which looks as real-deal Basque as anything I’ve seen outside of Spain; Niven Patel’s new spot, Mamey; Alberto Cabrera’s Marabu; Marcus Samuelsson’s Red Rooster (finally). I’d love to try the Jaguar Sun “Sunny’s Someday Steakhouse” pop-up at Lot 7 in Little River, if it’s still around by the time I’m cool with being around that many other people. There’s going to be a lot of catching up to do when I’m ready to start dining in restaurants again. Really, I’m just excited to go to any restaurant again.

Stacy Moya (Eater Miami Contributor): Chef Pablo Zitzmann’s No Name Chinese team’s opening of Zitz Sum in Coral Gables scheduled for January, 2021. The chef made the best of this trying year by selling his dim sum and No Name Chinese staples from his kitchen and the response was overwhelming. I am very happy for him and his team and looking forward to visiting.

Virginia Gil (Time Out Miami): I’m excited to see where and what Brad Kilgore does next and very much looking forward to seeing Dallas Wynne continue to dominate desserts in the city. I’m also counting down the days until Old Greg’s pizza reopens.

Alona Martinez (Eater Miami Contributor): Nikkei cuisine at its finest was once regularly enjoyed at one of the stalls of the former St. Roch’s Market. Now the talented team behind Itamae has blessed the Design District with its own brick and mortar location, just a skip away from its original home.

Sara Liss (Author of Miami Cooks): The restaurants at the new Moxy South Beach sound enticing and I’m happy that the team from Four Seasons Surfside reopened a restaurant in the Le Sirenuse space. Also, because I barely leave my zip code - happy that Pura Vida is opening in Bay Harbor near my ‘hood.

Kelly Blanco (NBC 6): Jaguar Sun and Boia De. OLD GREGS, baby!

Olee Fowler (Eater Miami): I pray to baby Jesus that Old Greg’s finally goes brick-and-mortar in 2021. I need that pizza back in my life! Also, I can’t wait for Clay Conley’s Chateau Miami to finally debuted in Brickell and mark his return to the Magic City after so many years away.