There are restaurant comebacks, and then there's Fooq's. When David Foulquier shuttered his beloved Persian-French spot in downtown Miami in 2021, the food community treated it like a genuine loss. Not just another pandemic casualty, but the end of something that felt personal to its regulars. A place that served za'atar and natural wine before either was trendy in Miami.
Five years later, Foulquier reopened Fooq's in January 2026 in Miami's Little River neighborhood. Not as a nostalgia play, but as something entirely new. The space is ten times the size of the original. The kitchen runs on wood fire. There's a vinyl lounge upstairs with DJs until 3 AM. It's the most ambitious restaurant project in Miami right now, and it's delivering.
The David Foulquier Story
Understanding Fooq's means understanding the person behind it. David Foulquier is the son of Iranian and French parents, and his cooking has always been an expression of that dual identity.
He opened the original Fooq's in 2015 at age 24. It was a small, intimate Persian-Mediterranean restaurant in downtown Miami that punched well above its weight. Miami New Times named it Best Restaurant in Downtown Miami in 2016, and it developed the kind of devoted following that made walk-ins nearly impossible on weekends.
But downtown Miami had problems. Parking was a nightmare. Safety concerns kept some diners away. When COVID hit, the economics stopped making sense, and Foulquier closed in March 2021. He converted the space into Eleventh Street Pizza, which became a success in its own right.
What most people don't know is what Foulquier was doing during those five years away from Fooq's. Together with his brother Joshua, he runs We All Gotta Eat Hospitality Group, which manages Eleventh Street Pizza in Miami alongside Michelin-starred Sushi Noz and Noz 17 in New York City. Sushi Noz earned its first Michelin star in 2018, making Foulquier's portfolio one of the more impressive in the industry for someone still in his early thirties.
Miami New Times named him one of their 2026 "People to Watch" for betting big on the revival. It's a bet that appears to be paying off.
Chef Andrew Bazzini and the Kitchen
Chef Andrew Bazzini leads the kitchen at the new Fooq's. He and Foulquier spent months developing the menu through private tastings, refining a style they describe as wood-fired, Persian-influenced Modern American cuisine.
That description is deliberately broad. The original Fooq's leaned heavily into Persian-French territory. The new version keeps Persian flavors as a throughline, particularly the use of za'atar, dried lime, saffron, and slow-cooked meats, but filters them through a more expansive American lens.
The open kitchen is anchored by a wood-fired setup that's visible through a long rectangular window from the dining room. Fire is central to the cooking philosophy here. The 24-hour lamb shank, which becomes impossibly tender from its long braise, arrives with the kind of deep, smoky complexity that only comes from live fire. The za'atar short rib delivers concentrated flavor, the crust of herbs giving way to pull-apart meat underneath. Tempura grape leaves, a nod to the original menu, are crisp and light.
The menu changes with the seasons and collaborative events. A Fooq's x Theodora collaboration dinner in late March showcased the kitchen's range and willingness to play with other chefs.
The Space: 14,000 Square Feet of Intention
If the original Fooq's was a love letter, the new one is an epic novel. At 14,000 square feet, it's one of the largest new restaurant openings in Miami, but it doesn't feel cavernous. Credit goes to Stockholm-based Joyn Studio, who designed the interiors with a philosophy of "quiet elegance meets rustic warmth."
The experience begins at an intimate entrance bar, where the vibe is warm and the lighting is low. From there, an illuminated wine corridor lined with chillers and dry-aging equipment draws you deeper into the space. The main dining room features double-height ceilings, soft lighting, greenery, and gold brick-like walls that catch the candlelight.
Outside, a large covered terrace wraps around a banyan tree that anchors its own bar. The indoor-outdoor flow is seamless and very Miami.
The design walks a careful line between polished and approachable. This isn't a flashy scene restaurant. It's a space that wants you to settle in, have another glass of wine, and stay a while.
Lion's Den: The Upstairs Lounge
Climb the stairwell from the main dining room and you'll find the Lion's Den, Fooq's vinyl listening lounge. This space is entirely new, nothing like this existed at the original location, and it transforms Fooq's from a dinner destination into a full evening out.
The Lion's Den opens at 10 PM Thursday through Saturday and runs until 3 AM. Curated by Foulquier alongside Mariana Pinto from Alchemy Music, the programming features both local and international DJs spinning vinyl. The intimate setting and late hours make it feel more like a private club than a restaurant add-on.
The lounge concept makes strategic sense too. Instead of losing guests to another venue after dinner, Fooq's keeps the evening going under one roof. It's a model borrowed more from European hospitality than typical Miami nightlife.
Little River: The Neighborhood Play
Foulquier's choice of Little River wasn't random. The industrial neighborhood north of the Design District has been quietly accumulating serious restaurants. Michelin-recognized Og is nearby. La Pizzeria serves some of the city's best pies. Sunny's Steakhouse draws a loyal crowd. Developer investment is pouring in.
Little River in 2026 feels like what Wynwood was a decade ago, still a bit rough around the edges but clearly headed somewhere. Fooq's is the biggest signal yet that the neighborhood is ready for a flagship restaurant.
The practical upside: parking is significantly easier than downtown, and the area feels less congested than South Beach or Brickell. For diners who know their way around Miami, Little River has become a genuine destination.
Practical Details
Address: 150 NW 73rd Street, Miami (Little River)
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 5:30 PM to 11 PM. Lion's Den: Thursday through Saturday, 10 PM to 3 AM.
Price range: Expect to spend $80 to $150 per person for dinner with drinks. Entrees are in the $30 to $60 range, with shared plates and appetizers starting around $15.
Reservations: Book through fooqsmiami.com. Weekend reservations fill up, so book at least a few days in advance. Walk-ins are possible Tuesday through Thursday for smaller parties.
Dress code: No official dress code, but the crowd leans smart casual. Think elevated but not formal. Jeans are fine if they're nice jeans.
Parking: Street parking and nearby lots. Significantly easier than downtown.
Who Fooq's Is Best For
Date night: The combination of intimate lighting, thoughtful food, and the option to continue upstairs at Lion's Den makes this one of the best date spots in Miami right now.
Foodies who miss the original: If you were a regular at the downtown location, you'll recognize the soul of this place even if nothing else looks the same. The Persian flavors, the natural wine focus, the warmth of the hospitality. It's all there, just bigger.
Groups: The space handles groups well, with outdoor and indoor options that don't require being shoved into a corner table. Groups of six to eight can eat comfortably.
Late-night seekers: Lion's Den gives Miami a vinyl lounge that doesn't feel like a club. If you want a post-dinner drink in an atmosphere that prioritizes sound quality over volume, this is your spot.
First-time Miami visitors: Fooq's in Little River shows a side of Miami that most tourists never see. It's worth the trip.
What Critics Are Saying
The Adventurist Magazine called the reopening "bigger, and somehow even better," noting that the space feels like "an old friend with a makeover" and describing the food as "some of the best in the city."
The Miami Herald highlighted the stylish reopening, focusing on the vinyl bar, Mediterranean influences, and what they called a "mythical return."
Miami New Times profiled Foulquier's bold revival positively, naming him a 2026 "People to Watch" and emphasizing his vision for Little River as a dining destination.
The consensus is clear: this isn't a nostalgia project. It's an upgrade in every dimension.
FAQ
Is Fooq's the same restaurant that used to be downtown?
Same ownership, same Persian soul, completely different experience. The original was intimate and Persian-French. The new version is a 14,000-square-foot complex with a broader Modern American menu, wood-fired kitchen, outdoor terrace, and upstairs vinyl lounge. David Foulquier kept the DNA but built something much bigger.
How much does dinner cost at Fooq's?
Plan for $80 to $150 per person including drinks. Shared plates and appetizers start around $15, and entrees run $30 to $60. The wine list has options at multiple price points.
Do I need a reservation?
Strongly recommended for Friday and Saturday. Tuesday through Thursday you may be able to walk in, especially for smaller parties. Book through fooqsmiami.com.
What's Lion's Den?
An upstairs vinyl listening lounge that opens at 10 PM Thursday through Saturday and runs until 3 AM. It features local and international DJs spinning vinyl. You can access it after dinner or arrive separately.
Is Fooq's good for groups?
Yes. The indoor and outdoor spaces handle groups well, especially parties of four to eight. The sharing-oriented menu works naturally for group dining.
What should I order at Fooq's?
Start with the tempura grape leaves as a nod to the original. The 24-hour lamb shank and za'atar short rib are standouts from the wood-fired kitchen. Ask your server about seasonal specials, as the menu rotates.
How do I get to Little River?
Little River is north of the Design District, accessible via I-95 or surface streets. Take the NW 79th Street exit and head east. Street parking is available and much easier than downtown or South Beach. Rideshare is also straightforward.
