CHICA by Chef Lorena Garcia
With the flagship CHICA restaurant in Las Vegas, this is the second location for the Latin/South American concept from 50 Eggs Hospitality Group and Chef/Partner Lorena Garcia. It’s a homecoming for Garcia, known for her work with “Top Chef Masters,” “America’s Next Great Restaurant,” and Univision’s “Despierta America.” The menu will feature tacos and arepas from fresh masa harina, as well as grilled Peruvian octopus, crispy Peruvian whole fish, cooking Churrascaria with special cuts of steak, and much more. Open for lunch, dinner, late night and weekend brunch.
CHICA by Chef Lorena Garcia, 5556 NE 4th Court, Miami; 786/632-7725 http://www.chicarestaurant.com/miami
Osaka Cocina Nikkei
Another nod to Miami for pulling together amazing food experiences from around the world, right in our back yard. Now comes more Nikkei food, Peruvian ingredients with Japanese techniques (think ceviche, for example) with Osaka Cocina Nikkei opening Dec. 12 in Miami. This upscale Peruvian restaurant chain now has venues in Lima, Buenos Aires, Santiago, Sao Paulo, Quito, Bogota, and Asuncion, with London also opening soon. We’re told to look for “Nigiri sushi full of umami flavors; Nikkei Omakase platters; Izakayasharing style plates; and other signature dishes that include fresh vegetables, Kobe, duck and seafood.” Chefs Rogger Quispe and Juan Urrutia will head the kitchen. Open for lunch, brunch Saturday-Sunday and dinner daily.
Osaka Cocina Nikkei, 1300 Brickell Bay Drive, Miami; 786/627-4800; http://osakanikkei.com/en/
El Dorado 305
This is singer Pitbull’s new restaurant – well, sort of. It’s a rebranding of Pitbull’s restaurant (iLov305, which opened earlier this year) with Latin American dishes from that menu paired with dishes from El Dorado Cantina’s Mexican menu.
El Dorado 305, 1060 Ocean Drive, Miami; 305/535-9773; https://ilov305.com/address/
