Something interesting is happening in Miami right now. The city's most exciting restaurant openings aren't coming from first-timers or out-of-town investors chasing the sunshine tax. They're coming from chefs and operators who already proved themselves somewhere else, returning with bigger ambitions and sharper visions.
Fooq's is back after a five-year hiatus, reimagined at ten times the scale. The team behind Brooklyn's Roberta's just opened an Italian steakhouse in North Beach. Paris Society, the French hospitality group behind some of the world's most glamorous restaurants, chose the Delano for its American debut. And in Coconut Grove, a 30-seat Venetian tavern is quietly serving some of the best cicchetti south of the Rialto.
Here are six restaurants redefining what Miami dining looks like in 2026.
Fooq's: The Comeback of the Year
When David Foulquier closed the original Fooq's in downtown Miami back in 2021, it felt like the end of something special. The intimate Persian-French spot had earned a loyal following, but COVID, parking headaches, and an evolving neighborhood made the location unsustainable.
Five years later, Fooq's is back in Little River, and it's barely recognizable. The new space spans 14,000 square feet across a reimagined warehouse complex, with interiors by Stockholm-based Joyn Studio, a double-height main dining room, an open wood-fired kitchen, a wine corridor, and an upstairs vinyl lounge called Lion's Den with DJs spinning Thursday through Saturday until 3 AM.
Chef Andrew Bazzini leads the kitchen, delivering what Foulquier describes as wood-fired, Persian-influenced Modern American cuisine rooted in his family's heritage. Think coal-grilled dishes, 24-hour lamb shank, za'atar short rib, and tempura grape leaves that nod to the original's DNA while pushing into new territory.
Front-of-house is managed by Jacqueline Cecil, formerly with Scott Conant Restaurant Group. The whole operation feels like a serious bet on Little River as Miami's next great dining neighborhood.
Location: 150 NW 73rd Street, Little River. Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 5:30 to 11 PM. Vibe: Warehouse-chic, date night to late night. Price: $$$.
Mimi Kakushi: Paris Society's American Debut
The Delano Miami Beach reopened in early March after a significant renovation, and the headliner is Mimi Kakushi, a Japanese restaurant that occupies the hotel's fourth floor and is exclusive to hotel guests and Delano Members Club members.
This is Paris Society's first venture outside Europe. For context, Paris Society operates some of the most talked-about restaurants and bars in France, London, and the Middle East. Mimi Kakushi already exists as a cocktail bar in Dubai, where it was ranked number 36 on the World's 50 Best Bars list and number one in the Middle East in 2025.
The Miami location takes inspiration from 1920s Osaka and the Mavo art movement. Designer Pirajeen Lees created a space with hand-painted walls, lush fabrics, wooden screens, and a sushi counter that feels more art gallery than hotel restaurant. The shareable menu includes sashimi, sushi, tempura, gyoza, black cod, donabe rice, and Kagoshima wagyu.
The cocktail program is the real draw for many. The Kintaro menu, inspired by Japanese silent film star Sessue Hayakawa, features cinematic, inventive drinks that feel theatrical without being gimmicky.
Location: Delano Miami Beach, 4th floor, 1685 Collins Avenue. Hours: Lunch daily 12 to 5 PM, dinner Sunday through Thursday 6 to 11 PM, Friday and Saturday 6 PM to midnight. Access: Hotel guests and members only. Price: $$$$.
Ezio's: When Roberta's Goes Steakhouse
If you told someone in 2015 that the team behind Roberta's, Brooklyn's beloved pizza institution, would open a formal steakhouse in North Beach Miami, they'd probably laugh. But co-owners Brandon Hoy and chef Carlo Mirarchi did exactly that, and the result is one of the most interesting steakhouses in the city.
Ezio's opened in December 2025 and has quickly built a reputation for its custom dry-aging program. The kitchen ages both beef and lamb in-house, producing cuts you won't find anywhere else in Miami. The 90-day dry-aged ribeye for two is the showstopper, but the 55-day bone-in ribeye and Snake River Farms Wagyu zabuton deserve attention too.
What makes Ezio's special, though, is the Roberta's DNA running through the Italian side of the menu. The warm focaccia, made from the same 18-year-old sourdough starter that built Roberta's reputation, arrives with housemade stracciatella and cultured butter. The handmade pastas are exceptional. The raw bar features East Coast clams and oysters. And the tableside martini service, with optional caviar and oyster additions, adds a touch of old-school glamour.
Reviews have been stellar. A 4.8 out of 5 on OpenTable and consistent praise from Miami New Times and local critics. The wine list has over 110 labels, leaning Italian and French.
Location: 580 72nd Street, North Beach. Vibe: Dark, intimate, wine-forward. Price: $$$$. Reservations: OpenTable recommended.
Al Bàcaro: Venice in Coconut Grove
Tucked behind Da Angelino Cucina Italiana at CocoWalk, Al Bàcaro is a 30-seat Venetian-inspired open-air tavern that feels like it was plucked from a side street near the Rialto Bridge.
The concept is simple and executed well: focacce ripiene (stuffed flatbreads), cicchetti (Venetian small plates), salumi boards, and a curated Italian wine list. No pretension, no molecular gastronomy. Just well-sourced ingredients served in a setting that makes you forget you're in a shopping complex.
At 30 seats, this is the kind of place that fills up fast and stays intimate. It's perfect for a casual aperitivo that turns into dinner, or a post-shopping glass of Soave with some prosciutto.
Location: CocoWalk, Coconut Grove (behind Da Angelino). Vibe: Open-air, casual, European. Price: $$.
Stormy Monday: The Bar Miami Needed
Stormy Monday is hard to categorize, which is exactly why it works. Part cocktail bar, part late-night kitchen, it serves dishes that have no business being this good in a dimly lit drinking establishment.
The menu reads like a dare: foie gras xiao long bao, smoked mahi dip, puffed beef tendon. These aren't bar snacks designed to soak up alcohol. They're composed dishes from someone who clearly spent time in serious kitchens.
The vibe is low-key and slightly moody, open Thursday through Monday from 5 to 11 PM. It's the kind of place where you go for one drink and accidentally stay for three courses.
Hours: Thursday through Monday, 5 to 11 PM. Vibe: Dark, cocktail-forward, serious food. Price: $$-$$$.
Prime 54 Chef Counter: Six Seats, One Kitchen
If you can snag one of the six seats at the Prime 54 Chef Counter inside the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, do it. This intimate open-kitchen experience runs Friday and Saturday evenings at 6 PM, offering a multi-course menu that puts you directly in front of the action.
The counter format is rare in Miami. You're not just watching a chef cook. You're having a conversation, learning about the ingredients, and eating food that was plated three feet from your face. It's the kind of experience that's become commonplace in cities like Tokyo and New York but still feels special here.
Reservations are available through OpenTable, and they go fast. Book early.
Location: Fontainebleau Miami Beach. When: Fridays and Saturdays at 6 PM. Seats: 6. Price: $$$$. Reservations: OpenTable.
FAQ
What's the hottest new restaurant in Miami right now?
Fooq's comeback in Little River is generating the most conversation, but Mimi Kakushi at the Delano and Ezio's in North Beach are both strong contenders depending on what you're looking for.
Is Mimi Kakushi open to the public?
Not exactly. It's exclusive to Delano Miami Beach hotel guests and Delano Members Club members. You'll need to be staying at the hotel or hold a membership to dine there.
How do I get a reservation at Ezio's?
Ezio's takes reservations through OpenTable. It's still relatively new, so availability is better than you might expect, but prime weekend slots fill up. Book a few days ahead to be safe.
Is Fooq's the same as the original downtown location?
Same spirit, much bigger scale. The original was intimate and Persian-French. The new version is 14,000 square feet with a broader Modern American menu, though Persian influences still run through the cooking. The Lion's Den lounge upstairs is entirely new.
What should I order at Ezio's?
Start with the focaccia (it uses Roberta's 18-year-old sourdough starter) and stracciatella. The 90-day dry-aged ribeye for two is the signature, but the handmade pastas and raw bar are just as impressive. The tableside martini is a must.
Are any of these restaurants good for groups?
Fooq's and Ezio's both work well for groups. Al Bàcaro is better for intimate gatherings of two to four. Mimi Kakushi and the Prime 54 Chef Counter are designed for smaller parties.
