Restaurant Happenings South Florida April 2, 2008
RESTAURANT HAPPENINGS – 4.02.08
RED LIGHT OPENS ON BISCAYNE
Red Light, 7700 Biscayne Boulevard, 305-757-7773.
Chef Kris Wessel’s (Mark’s Place, Paninoteca) new restaurant is Red Light. Located in the up-and-coming MIMO District’s Motel Blu, Jeff Vaughn designed the 1970s, Danish-style lamps, mahogany tables, and creamy yellow booths overlooking Little River. New Orleans-raised Wessel developed a menu of low-temp, ecoprepared, regional dishes: Junior League conch chowder, a Florida fish plate, sour orange-garlic Glades frog legs, oyster tart, carrot-braised rabbit (cooked five hours). On the side: flax biscuits, cheese grits, collards, callaloo, and the curiously named “smelly gooey macaroni and cheese.”
DIBONO’S ITALIAN CAFE OPENS IN NORTH MIAMI BEACH
Di Bono’s, 15979 Biscayne Blvd, 305-948-3330
Lou & Debbie Di Bono of Louie’s Brick Oven Return to their Italian-American roots with a true ristorante. Fresh grown herbs (from Debbie’s very own herb garden behind the restaurant) and the best of olive oils create the unmistakable aroma that wafts from the wood burning brick oven as homemade focaccia bakes. Designer Sharron Lewis still dominates at Di Bono’s with her old-world comfort and lovely interiors. Now the atmosphere at Di Bono’s is further enhanced by the subtle placement of televisions throughout the room showing, what else, Italian movies. Di Bono’s dinner menu is a litany of delicious “family style” appetizers, Italian salads, pastas, main courses, specialties and homemade desserts–all reasonably priced.
NORTH ONE 10 SEDER DINNER RATED TOP TEN PASSOVER MENUS BY USA TODAY
North One 10 Restaurant and Bar, 11052 Biscayne Boulevard, 305.893.4211
Dine on papaya, apple and almond haroset, spinach and goat cheese ‘crisp,’ chilled tomato gazpacho, and pulled organic chicken and basil soup. Have a truly memorable seder dinner at North One 10, which was recently rated one of the top ten Passover menus by USA Today. $48.00 per person, $24 for children under 12 (non inclusive of tax and gratuity).
ALTA COCINA INTRODUCES LUNCHTIME LUXURY AT THE PERFECT PRICE
altacocinarestaurant.com.
Alta Cocina, the new restaurant on Sunset Drive, has added a new feature to their delightful lunch. Chef-spouses Juan Mario Maza and Vani Maharaj have introduced a luxurious pre-fix menu that offers a choice of appetizer, soup du jour or house salad, a specialty entrée, Panna Cotta for dessert and even a glass of Sangria. The entire pre-fix lunch is priced at $20. Choices of entrée are Grilled Skirt Steak with crispy French Fries and the chefs’ special No Mayo Coleslaw, Thai Mahi Mahi in Coconut Curry Broth with Fried Bok Choy or Alta Cocina’s Chicken Caesar Wrap.