Swine Southern Table & Bar
In 2011, Yardbird played a big part in convincing South Beachers to throw calorie-counting to the wind thanks to chef Jeff McInnis's addictive fried chicken biscuits and sweet-tea brined ribs. It also put Miami southern fare on the map with James Beard nominations and a Best New Restaurant nod from Bon Appetit. Well, waistlines might just keep on expanding when Yardbird's porcine sister restaurant opens this winter in Coral Gables. The new Swine Southern Table & Bar will focus on heritage breed pork in all its barbecued glory, washed down with domestic beers and an extensive bourbon selection. In the meantime, Yardbird is serving up sneak peeks of Swine dishes such as the Surf 'n' Swine, sea scallops with crispy smoked pork belly, and andouille corn bread stuffing drizzled in molasses.
Pictured: Yardbird shrimp grits – Courtesy of Yardbird
Blue Collar
Miami is nothing if not multi-culti. So it makes sense that MiMo haute diner Blue Collar would draw from a UN of flavors. Consider Cuban sandwich spring rolls with Serrano ham, Manchego cheese, pickles, and yellow mustard, or a po' boy made with tempura corvina fish, tartar sauce, and all the fixins. Opened in early 2012, the cheery spot has pearl gray walls studded with 1950s lunchboxes and cozy café tables with white Eames-style chairs. But your attention should be on the specials, like pork cheek parmesan, scrawled on the giant black chalkboard that hangs above the open kitchen.
Pictured: Blue Collar interior – Courtesy of Blue Collar
South Street
It doesn't get more southern than sweet tea. And that's just what's on ice at South Street, a neo-soul food restaurant and bar in the Design District. The folks from Bar Lab designed a menu of tea-focused cocktails spiked with top-shelf booze. It's the perfect compliment to the fried chicken and cornbread that chef Amaris Jones cooks up based on family recipes. Co-owner and nightlife guru Amir Ben-Zion makes sure the scene is set with live jazz, blues, and Motown DJ sets, which you can enjoy while reclining on a vintage leather chesterfield. Talk about southern comfort.
Pictured: South Street mac and cheese – Courtesy of South Street
The Federal Food, Drink and Provisions
Indie chef darlings Cesar Zapata, Aniece Meinhold, and Alejandro Ortiz made a name for themselves with their cheeky Asian pop-up project Phuc Yea! But when it came time to settle down into a permanent home in early 2012, they turned their attention towards more homegrown fare. The result? Federal Food, Drink and Provisions, a whimsical take on rib-sticking comfort food (short rib pot pie, buffalo-style pig wings, and biscuits with sweetbread gravy). It's all served up in an atmosphere that feels more like a retro house party than your typical restaurant. You can choose between a mismatched wood bar edged in old leather belts, a picnic table lit by candles in mason jars, and two-tops under the gaze of taxidermy.
Pictured: The Federal interior – Courtesy of The Federal
The Dutch
A few years ago, it would have been unthinkable for one of South Beach's hottest tables to traffick in gut-busting food. But with a celeb chef like James Beard awardee Andrew Carmellini on the case, The Dutch was destined to be a hit. Opened in late 2011, this South Beach outpost of the New York restaurant seduces with warm lighting, comfy booths, and white brick. Vintage nautical elements add a dandy-ish vibe. It's just the kind of space you want to linger in. Lucky, as the food—mini po' boys with fried oysters and pickled okra, pork chops al pastor with polenta and black bean sofrito, salted key lime pie—is going to take some dedicated work.
Pictured: The Dutch interior – Courtesy of Noah Fecks
The Forge Restaurant and Winebar
The Forge has a longer shelf life than most of Miami's buzzy joints—Sinatra and Judy Garland supped here in the 1930s and the boldfaced names still flock today. The secret to its success is constant reinvention. The 2010 Francois Frossard renovation transitioned the restaurant from scene-over-substance party palace to an inventive and American food joint. Over-the-top interiors—think Alice in Wonderland by way of Versailles—are matched by the funky menu. It doesn't get more fun, or tasty, than a lobster PB&J of toasted brioche with chopped peanuts, onion marmalade, and diced lobster, or a grilled shrimp waffle with caviar and basil butter sauce.
Pictured: The Forge interior – Courtesy of the Forge
The Sunshine State gets southern-fried with comfort food