South Florida
Briefing

Chefs Leicel Ros and Nancy Dominguez opened Anako at 8222 NE Second Avenue on October 22. Their first sit-down restaurant follows Sili at 1-800-Lucky and earlier pop-ups. The menu draws on Filipino cooking and other Southeast Asian influences, with dishes meant to share. A separate back bar adds space for drinks and smaller bites.

D’s Rooftop opened above Daniel’s Miami on October 29. The new bar adds another way to use the property beyond a steakhouse dinner, with sports on television and a shorter menu of bar food. The restaurant’s own website lists cigar nights, Friday family barbecues and college football programming for the rooftop.

The team behind Daniel’s steakhouses has opened La Sponda at Vita at Grove Isle. The 120-seat waterfront restaurant serves regional Italian food, including pasta, seafood and grilled meats, with chef Danny Ganem leading the menu. The opening extends Thomas and Kassidy Angelo’s restaurant group into a different cuisine and ties a public dining destination to a new residential development.

Driftwood Capital, MV Real Estate Holdings and Merrimac Ventures closed the Centennial Bank loan for their $350 million project at 114 SW North River Drive. Plans include a 167-room Dream Hotel, 16,000 square feet of restaurant space, an event hall and the return of The Wharf Miami. Completion is scheduled for fall 2028. The financing supports construction; the venues are not open yet.

THesis Hotel in Coral Gables is changing its restaurant lineup through a partnership between Nolan Reynolds International and sbe. Katsuya and a new Mediterranean restaurant from Fabio Trabocchi are planned for the first half of 2027. sbe is also overseeing food, beverage and events across the property, including Ivy Rooftop. The announcement gives a target window, not confirmed opening dates.

Bazaar Meat is now open at the Andaz Miami Beach Resort and Spa. The restaurant brings José Andrés’ steakhouse concept to South Florida, with grilled meats, seafood, vegetables and cocktails. It marks a return for the Bazaar name in Miami Beach after the earlier restaurant closed in 2023. The restaurant’s own location page confirms it is open and taking reservations.

Fish Cheeks is planning a Wynwood restaurant for late February 2027, according to Time Out. The 55 Hospitality concept will bring its seafood-focused Thai menu to Miami, including coconut crab curry and whole-fish dishes. Executive chef Dustin Everett is leading the kitchen. The reported timing remains a target; a firm opening day has not been announced.

Florida's restaurant regulator has proposed disciplinary changes covering menu misrepresentation and mandatory-charge disclosures. Comments are open through November 13. This is a proposed enforcement rule, not a new fee requirement. Since July 1, restaurants have had to disclose the amount and purpose of applicable mandatory charges on menus, contracts and ordering sites. Receipts must separate tips, operations charges and sales tax, with any automatic gratuity identified separately.

Preface Wine celebrated its grand opening October 22 to 25 at 279 Northeast Second Avenue. Founded by Jonathan Frutkin, the business combines retail wine sales with a bar that opens at 4 p.m. It also offers small guided tastings and a wine club. Customers can take bottles home or drink them at the bar.

A Pasta Bar opened at 1784 West Avenue on October 21. The Miami Beach location keeps handmade pasta and an open kitchen at the center of the experience, while adding a terrace and private dining space. The restaurant’s current website lists dinner reservations, a pasta tasting menu and group dining, giving the concept several ways to fill the room.

The Boca Raton's golf course remains scheduled to reopen in late fall 2026 after a renovation led by architect Brian Silva. The resort is also introducing Greg's on the Green and Greg's Grab & Go. The course is reserved for resort guests and club members. An exact reopening date has not been published on the resort's golf page.

The Nora Hotel opened October 19 at 1135 North Railroad Avenue. Pastis and Jack's Bar are part of its food and beverage lineup, alongside the Lillys rooftop and Sisley Spa. The hotel also offers a dedicated private event space next to Pastis. Its arrival gives the district an overnight guest base as its restaurant and retail mix grows.