Michelin Is Coming to Miami

Here are 5 restaurants that should be on the radar

Chef Jeremy Ford and team at Stubborn Seed in Miami Beach Photo courtesy of Stubborn Seed

For decades, people have flocked to Miami and Miami Beach (two distinctly separate cities) for warm weather, neon-tinged nightlife, and aquamarine waters.

It’s only recently — maybe the last eight years or so — that Miami has become a culinary destination. Local chefs have put their hearts and souls into making intimate eateries that speak of their roots. The restaurants on this list may not be the most obvious or splashy. You might not see a celebrity dining next to you. What you will get, however, is a meal made by a passionate chef in their prime.

With the announcement that the Michelin Guide is coming to Miami in 2022, many eateries in Miami will surely be prepping for a visit from one of its inspectors. These five restaurants are the ones to watch.

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Ariete

Photo courtesy of Ariete

Chef Michael Beltran taps into his Cuban-American roots and French culinary training at this restaurant tucked into the tree-lined village of Coconut Grove. Beltran, who worked for top Miami chefs Michael Schwartz and Norman Van Aken, offers traditional fare with modern takes. Here, you’ll find chestnuts like pressed duck and foie gras made Beltran’s own with a touch of Miami magic. Ariete also offers a six-course tasting menu (with optional wine pairing) and a hearty Sunday brunch. 3540 Main Hwy., Coconut Grove.

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Ghee Indian Kitchen

Photo courtesy of Ghee Indian Kitchen

One of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs 2020, Niven Patel worked with chefs Dean Max at Fort Lauderdale’s 3030 Ocean and Michael Schwartz at Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink before opening Ghee with his wife, Shivani, in 2017. Though Patel has two other eateries (Orno and Mamey, both at the Thesis Hotel in Coral Gables), it’s Ghee that’s quintessential. Here, Patel makes classic Indian dishes like chicken tikka masala and dal makhani, but delve deeper into the menu to find a fiery naan heated by ghost peppers and smoked lamb neck. Vegetables play a significant role in the menu since Patel owns his own farm in nearby Homestead called Rancho Patel. Expect to find avocado bread, charred corn, eggplant pate and other fresh-from-the-farm fare at this restaurant located in Southwest Miami-Dade. 8965 SW 72nd Pl., Miami.