Brunch is one of our favorite meals for two reasons: 1) It’s a sign of the weekend and 2) It’s delicious. At Le Zoo, the Stephen Starr restaurant inside Bal Harbour Shops, that second reason is especially true. The French brasserie injects the mid-day meal with Parisian flair and European flavors that will have you wishing the weekend didn’t have to end.
There are restaurants, and then there are Stephen Starr restaurants. If you’ve had the good fortune of experiencing the latter, you know that a Starr restaurant is equal parts style and substance. Not only do the locations look cool, but just as much attention has been paid to the food and service. All those elements combine to make one heck of a meal.
Steak 954, the Starr property in the W Fort Lauderdale, is the third Starr concept we’ve visited; Le Diplomate in Washington D.C. and The Continental on Miami Beach popped our cherries last year — and did so with some incredible food. There’s a reason these restaurants are among the hottest seats in their respective towns.
While Le Diplomate wowed us with its Parisian decor and the Continental piqued our interest of tiki culture, Steak 954 is a more traditional steakhouse. But as you’ll soon find out, it’s no less awesome than its peers.
When we first heard that Bulla Gastrobar’s sister restaurant was opening in Kendall, we were a little skeptical. It seemed strange to us that a quality Peruvian eatery would open in the land of chain restaurants and strip malls. But after visiting during opening week, we were sold on the location. Pisco y Nazca is a welcome addition to the neighborhood and a much-needed break from Outback Steakhouse, Blue Martini, Cadillac Ranch and other area chains. And oh yeah, it has great food.
We don’t even know where to start with this article. Why? Because we’re still recovering from the mindblowing lunch we experienced at Marion, one of Brickell’s latest additions. The Mediterranean bistro, whose kitchen is led by Michelin-caliber Chef Jean Paul Lourdes, is pumping out some terrific cuisine in an equally terrific atmosphere.
Marion is actually five concepts in one: a restaurant, a bakery, a market, an oyster bar and a café. When you first walk in, it can be a little overwhelming with so much going on. But once you settle in, prepare for a culinary experience like no other.