David Grutman is Bringing Three New Eateries to the Former Firestone Garage Later This Spring

David Grutman’s Groot Hospitality — which owns and operates a bevy of eateries throughout Miami like Planta, Swan, Papi Steak, and Komodo — is adding three new spots to its roster this March when it takes over the former Firestone Garage at 1569 Alton Road.

The restored original Firestone sign will still stand tall atop the corner building on 16th and Alton, with space being totally revamped and designed by New York-based design firm, ICRAVE. The first restaurant will be Winker’s Diner, an all-day eatery focused on American comfort food with a menu filled with breakfast items, soups, oversized sandwiches, salads, and more, alongside classic sodas, milkshakes and floats to wash everything down with. The 240-seat diner is inspired by old school diners with classic teal round pullman booths, wooden table tops lined with stainless-steel edges, and a large peninsula bar.

The second restaurant inside the space, Sushi Fly Chicken — or SFC for short — will feature a menu filled a variety of negiri and maki, a nightly omakase menu, its namesake Korean fried chicken, a robata menu and original “Fly Dishes” such as dumplings, fried rice, ramen and more. Guests can enter the restaurant through an “unassuming” stainless steel door inside a New York City inspired Chinese takeout spot that will take guess to a back room lounge that channels the atmosphere of Japan’s Golden Gai neighborhood. The lounge will serve an extensive collection of Japanese whiskeys and sake served at a neon and a steel-clad bar. The space will also boast a 75-foot collage by Miami-based artist Santlov, a gallery wall that will host a rotating collection of commissioned pieces, and a 90’s hip-hop playlist and sets from local DJs.

The third restaurant housed inside the complex will be Toothfairy, which as the name alludes, will serve a large selection of soft serve ice cream, cakes, cookies, and more. The bright, Instagram-friendly spot will feature marble slabs that meet the gradient floor, and ceiling and walls that have a pop-art feel.

With all these new restaurants comes a slew of new talent to lead the kitchens. Former chef of Mandolin Aegean Bistro, Roel Alcudia, has been tapped as Groot Hospitality’s executive corporate chef and has brought on Jeff Maxfield, Kilgore Culinary’s former corporate chef, as the executive chef of the entire Firestone property. Dallas Wynne, who has previously led the incredibly popular pastry programs at Stubborn Seed and Ariete, will serve as chef-partner of Toothfairy, while chef Ryan Lithgow, previously a sous chef at Swan, Komodo and Makoto, will take on the role of chef de cuisine at SFC, and chef Tony Mai has come on board as Groot Hospitality’s corporate sushi chef and SFC’s executive sushi chef.

All three restaurants are slated to debut this March. Stay tuned for more updates.