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Miami's April Heatmap: Where To Eat Right Now

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More often than not, tipsters, readers, friends and family of Eater have one question: Where should I eat right now? Restaurant obsessives want to know what's new, what's hot, which favorite chef just launched a sophomore effort, where the Pubbelly group just opened their latest venture. And while the Eater 38 is a crucial resource covering old standbys and neighborhood essentials across the city, it's not a chronicle of the 'it' places of the moment. Thus, we offer the Eater Heatmap, which will change continually to always highlight where the foodie crowds are flocking to at the moment.


04/03/14: Added Taperia Raca, Bocce Bar, 1826 Restaurant & Lounge
03/06/14: Added Buns & Buns, Naked Taco, Touche Rooftop Lounge & Restaurant
02/06/14: Added Seasalt and Pepper and R House
01/02/14: Added Blackbrick Chinese, Michael Mina 74, Batch Gastropub
12/09/13: Added Lorenzo and Lure Fishbar
11/07/13: Added Semilla Eatery & Bar, The District Miami
10/04/13: Added Area 31, Lippi, and L'Entrecote
9/05/13: Added Boxpark, Bar Crudo
7/11/13: Added Huahua's Taqueria, Barley & Swine
6/6/13: Added Umami Burger, Cipriani Downtown
5/2/13: Added Tongue & Cheek, Restaurant Michael Schwartz, Biscayne Tavern
4/4/13: Added Swine Southern Table & Bar, The Cypress Room, Bulla Gastrobar

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Macchialina Taverna Rustica

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Macchialina, which comes from the words "Macchia" meaning "mark or spot" and "Maialina" meaning piglets, aims to be reminiscent of a "small rustic eatery in the heart of any Italian town". Former Scarpetta chef Michael Pirolo, who recently took co- ownership of the resto, mans the kitchen, cooking up Italian classics like braised shortrib lasagna and pork chop Milanese.

Area 31

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Area 31's back and with a new chef, Wolfgang Birk of Casa Casuarina and Cooper Avenue. His new menu includes dishes like chilled melon and cucumber soup, roast lamb from Florida's Fresh Beef Farms and fresh caught lobster.

Eating House

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Back by popular demand, the pop-up Eating House has reclaimed its place in the old Cafe Ponce space. Expect delectable eats for dinner with the menu changing nightly and long waits for a table at their coveted brunch.

MC Kitchen

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Another restaurant breathing fresh air into the pulsing Design District is Dena Marino's MC Kitchen. Her modern Italian cuisine and pia-Dena's are already becoming popular.

Khong River House

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The latest from 50 Eggs Restaurant Group, Khong River House is about as close to eating in Thailand as you'll get in Miami. The former Miss Yip's/Buck 15 space is converted into somewhat of a Thai boat house with a bi-level space and expansive bar on both floors.

Michael Mina 74

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Michael Mina’s newest eatery debuted at the Fontainebleau during Art Basel and has since been jam-packed. The self-proclaimed American bistro offers a global menu featuring fresh seafood options and creative twists on items like suckling pig, shabu-shabu and hay smoked steak.

Dolce at The Gale Hotel

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Dolce Italian, the Gale Hotel’s new restaurant, features classic Italian dishes at affordable beach prices. Since they are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, you can stop by any time. Enjoy your meal inside or out on the pool deck.
A fairly new addition to Mary Brickell Village, OTC has gathered quite the following for its “over the counter” gastropub fare. Expect tasty eats on wooden cutting boards, ever changing craft beers and a packed room during their popular brunch.

Swine Southern Table & Bar

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The latest tasty offering from the 50 Eggs restaurant group, Swine, is all about “pork-centric” dishes and southern charm. Try their raved-about burnt ends or any of their smoked and barbecued dishes. Or anything at all, really. Where have their restaurants ever gone wrong?

The Cypress Room

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Michael Schwartz’ new eatery just opened up last week, but its already the talk of the town. With Schwartz as executive chef, Roel Alcudia as chef de cuisine and Hedy Goldsmith making her famed desserts, its no wonder their dishes are already turning heads.

Bulla Gastrobar

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Por Fin fans were skeptical when the spot reopened as Bulla Gastrobar, but it turns out the new tapas restaurant is quickly garnering its own group of followers. Try out their patatas bravas or Jamon Serrano sandwich.

Tongue & Cheek

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Jamie DeRosa’s first restaurant, Tongue & Cheek, just opened up a couple of weeks ago, but food enthusiasts are already raving about its contemporary American grub and hooked on dishes like the fried chicken, the beef cheek burger and the cauliflower panna cotta. Oh, and the spot’s swanky, laid back décor and specialty cocktails don’t hurt a bit.

Restaurant Michael Schwartz

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Anything Michael Schwartz related gets Miamians’ mouths watering and his latest restaurant is no exception. The stylish Restaurant Michael Schwartz at the Raleigh oozes with that same eco-friendly mentality that Schwartz brings to his other restaurants and serves up a variety of dishes all reflecting seasonality and freshness.

Biscayne Tavern

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Jeffrey Chodorow’s Downtown eatery hits the spot with its organic comfort food. Not to mention an extensive and wonderful list of craft beers and seasonal brews. A kick back kind of place to relax and chow down on stuff like the tavern burger, fried oyster po-boy and spicy baby back ribs.

Cipriani Downtown

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Last month’s opening of Cipriani, marked restaurateur brothers Maggio and Ignazio Cipriani’s 20th worldwide expansion. Their Miami spot brings together all the Italian cuisine and glamour they’re best known for in a bi-level, 8,000 square foot, waterfront space located Downtown

Batch Gastropub

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The new spot from owners Kevin Danillo and Jerry Flynn opened up two days ago after what seemed like ages in the making. Expect beers galore and a hefty selection of craft cocktails as well as a creative menu curated by former Area 31 chef Michael Reidt.

Huahua's Taqueria

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Brought to you by the man behind HaVen Gastropub, Todd Erickson, the much buzzed about Huahua’s (pronounced “wa-wa’s”) sits quietly on Miami Beach, but walk inside and you’ll find one mean taco that’s anything but shy. If you want the classic stuff, they have that too, but for those more adventurous, bringing a playful appetite will surely be rewarded.

Barley & Swine

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If you’re in Dadeland and want boatloads of pork dishes, follow you’re your nose to the newly opened B & S. These guys don’t abide by the new health-conscious trend, at all; there’s a different tune being sung here and it’s “Praise the lard”, a mantra they never leave out of your sticky pig ears or pork belly. Worship by means of craft beer guzzling is highly encouraged.

Lorenzo

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Tony Mantuano, renowned chef/restaurant owner, basically told Eater in an interview that the idea behind his latest eatery, Lorenzo, is to take all of the most loved dishes from his other incredibly popular restaurants and put them under one roof in South Beach. Need we say more?

Bar Crudo Miami

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The newly opened Bar Crudo by Andy Travaglia (owner of Lee & Marie's Cakery) is quickly gaining popularity for its delicate and simple treats. Expect raw items like octopus carpaccio and a variety of other fish dishes; meat options like beef carpaccio; ceviches and creative desserts like vodka infused watermelon with feta gelato.

The District Miami

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Design District’s latest opening, The District Miami offers Pan-American fusion dishes created by chef Horacio Rivadero (named Best New Chef for the Gulf Region by Food & Wine in 2012). A kick-back and relax kind of place, with a worthwhile happy hour menu.

Bocce Bar

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The newest from the Samba Brands Management Group and Sugarcane chef Timon Balloo serves up playful takes on rustic Italian dishes and a variety of creative cocktails from head of SBM’s Spirit & Cocktail Development, Richard Woods. Oh, and there's a Bocce Ball court.

1826 Restaurant & Lounge

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1826, Miami Beach’s new upscale contemporary American eatery, claims a chic four-floor Prospect Design space for its home. Overseeing a seasonally driven menu with an emphasis on local ingredients is the young and talented Chicago-based, Michelin-starred chef Danny Grant.

Lure Fishbar

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Restaurateurs Josh Capon, John McDonald and Josh Pickard have brought their NYC gem (and arguably one of SoHo’s best seafood restaurants), Lure Fishbar, to the Magic City. Expect seafood galore, obviously, but also a killer Bash Burger.

Blackbrick Chinese

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Sakaya mastermind Richard Hales took over the former Acme Bakery space, replacing baked goods with some kick-ass Hales-style Chinese. Think wok-fried marrow, gong bao rabbit, xinjiang cumin lamb dumplings.

Seasalt and Pepper

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This is where you can find “gastro classics with an emphasis on friendly sourced produce” and all the celebs currently visiting Miami. Simply put, Miami’s hyped up seafood brasserie is the talk of the town.

R House

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Owner/chef Rocco Carulli combines art gallery with restaurant at his newest Wynwood spot, an intimate, dimly lit space with moveable walls. Lounge around with a drink, buy art or delve into his eclectic menu, your choice.

Naked Taco

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This is chef Ralph Pagano’s newest concept, which opened recently in the former Serafina space. Pagano, who’s mostly known for his Italian cuisine at places like Alba, has swapped the ravioli for flautas, tacos, and other cheesy dishes of the Mexican variety, and an impressive amount of tequila worth looking into.

Buns & Buns

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A mysterious team of people traveled the world finding recipes, came back to South Miami, opened a restaurant and executed those worldly dishes awesomely. Oh, and they make bread to go with everything, fresh, warm, homemade bread of all sorts (focaccia, naan, etc).

Touche Rooftop Lounge & Restaurant

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Not open quite yet, but Carla Pellegrino’s rooftop eatery is already on the tips of everyone’s tongues. Once it opens, April 3, it’ll serve up a lighter version of the chef’s classic Italian dishes, on top of a club, way into the late hours.

Taperia Raca

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Meet the latest from Eating House owner Giorgio Rapicavoli, his partner in crime Alex Casanova and ex Preservation chef Ryan Harrison, a Spanish tapas eatery. Open for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch.

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Macchialina Taverna Rustica

Macchialina, which comes from the words "Macchia" meaning "mark or spot" and "Maialina" meaning piglets, aims to be reminiscent of a "small rustic eatery in the heart of any Italian town". Former Scarpetta chef Michael Pirolo, who recently took co- ownership of the resto, mans the kitchen, cooking up Italian classics like braised shortrib lasagna and pork chop Milanese.

Area 31

Area 31's back and with a new chef, Wolfgang Birk of Casa Casuarina and Cooper Avenue. His new menu includes dishes like chilled melon and cucumber soup, roast lamb from Florida's Fresh Beef Farms and fresh caught lobster.

Eating House

Back by popular demand, the pop-up Eating House has reclaimed its place in the old Cafe Ponce space. Expect delectable eats for dinner with the menu changing nightly and long waits for a table at their coveted brunch.

MC Kitchen

Another restaurant breathing fresh air into the pulsing Design District is Dena Marino's MC Kitchen. Her modern Italian cuisine and pia-Dena's are already becoming popular.

Khong River House

The latest from 50 Eggs Restaurant Group, Khong River House is about as close to eating in Thailand as you'll get in Miami. The former Miss Yip's/Buck 15 space is converted into somewhat of a Thai boat house with a bi-level space and expansive bar on both floors.

Michael Mina 74

Michael Mina’s newest eatery debuted at the Fontainebleau during Art Basel and has since been jam-packed. The self-proclaimed American bistro offers a global menu featuring fresh seafood options and creative twists on items like suckling pig, shabu-shabu and hay smoked steak.

Dolce at The Gale Hotel

Dolce Italian, the Gale Hotel’s new restaurant, features classic Italian dishes at affordable beach prices. Since they are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, you can stop by any time. Enjoy your meal inside or out on the pool deck.

OTC

A fairly new addition to Mary Brickell Village, OTC has gathered quite the following for its “over the counter” gastropub fare. Expect tasty eats on wooden cutting boards, ever changing craft beers and a packed room during their popular brunch.