AdvisorGirl - Wish Restaurant?

AG-

I saw a recent post of yours that said the chef at Wish had just walked out. Any details?

Very disappointing as we were hoping to eat there on our next visit, esp. since we%26#39;re staying at The Hotel.

AdvisorGirl - Wish Restaurant?

JFBW%26gt;

It seems the chefs in town are in a state of upheaval. HOWEVER - We are experiencing a real Renaissance in the dining scene as some of the older ';establishment'; guys move on and their seconds start making a name and a place for themselves at the table.

Norman Van Aken left Miami for Key West and suddenly left Key West for Orlando. Foodies assumed his huge investment in the Keys was going to be long-term, but he parted company with the investors who were building a 2-tier restaurant with both a fine dining and a more casual dining room. Many of the chefs who worked with him at his Gables restaurant are now running their own top doors in town.

The chef at Wish - Michael Bloise - left Wish in late March of this year. Mark Militello of the fabulous Mark%26#39;s Place (South Beach and also Las Olas and City Place) closed all doors. Jeffrey Brana, who was Norman%26#39;s star chef for many years, opened and closed his own place and just left a post at the Raleigh Hotel.

Blame it on growing pains or the economy or just accept that in the culinary world - things change... and change again.

Wish remains open and certainly there are other talented chefs in the kitchen. Remember that Michael Schwartz was the superstar at Nemo and left behind a well-trained staff years ago and the restaurant is still tops. He has now got the Number One Restaurant in the City of Miami (a 20 minute cab ride) called Michael%26#39;s Genuine Food and Drink. Reservations are a MUST and if you are really determined to dine in the best doors - call now or log onto opentable.com to get a spot. Jonathan Eismann closed Lincoln Road%26#39;s Pacific Time rather abruptly one day and just opened a new Pacific Time right across the street from Michael%26#39;s super-hot restaurant in the Design District. Once the New York Times gave Michael%26#39;s Genuine a Top Ten honor, the entire town started a stampede to MidTown Miami to check out the brand new scene. If you go MidTown, also check out Brosia for Sunday Brunch, Fratelli Lyon and of course Michy%26#39;s just north of the district.

If you are staying in Miami Beach there are GREAT options for dinner (and lunch and brunch too). I would say WISH fans should reserve a table at Talula on 23rd www.talulaonline.com and also consider dinner at Sardinia on Purdy and Maison at the Anglers on Washington...

AND there is

Nemo (dinner and also the top Sunday brunch buffet)

Escopazzo (organic Italian)

Osteria del Teatro (old skool Italian)

Bond Street (sushi)

Prime 112 (big steakhouse tho I like everything besides the steak)

Table 8 (LA hip fusion menu - great bar snacks)

Joley at the Astor (Sunday Gospel brunch)

La Marea at the Tides (pasta)

Grazie (Italian)

Baires (Grill)

Alta Mar (seafood)

TapTap (Island)

Fratelli la Bufala (Italian)

Indomania (Indonesian)

OLA (Latin, ceviche)

and more!

To help you sort it all out, I have been working (and working and working) on maps via Google that give you specific information on the places I post here EVERY DAY. Rather than getting stuck in a tourist trap, I have tried to continuously update these fun interactive maps to help you find the places I frequent for shopping, for dining, and also general spots you might need for a massage or a cheap beer - whatever.

Check out my GOOGLE maps and see if they are helpful in planning your trip. I am busting my butt to keep them super FRESH!

All of the restaurants mentioned above are on the maps which LINK you to addresses and reservation lines and can be downloaded as well.

Remember that opentable.com provides a GREAT FREE reservation service so you need not telephone long distance. I use it all the time and it%26#39;s a great way to get into tough-to-book tables...

Please let me know how it all works out. The forum is only as good as your feedback!!!

Thanks - and Enjoy!

AdvisorGirl

AdvisorGirl - Wish Restaurant?

ZOINKS!

Forgot the link!

http://tinyurl.com/26axpc  

AG

AG,

You are amazing! I will be heading to SoBe tomorrow for a stay at The Hotel and I will be armed with your info!!! Thanks for being such a fabulous resource. :) We will probably dine at Wish--we%26#39;ll let you know how it is!

By the way... maybe you need to start your own web site %26amp; make some money (from links %26amp; ad sponsors) for all of this work!!

Cheers!

Amy

Amy-

I second your enthusiastic endorsement of AG%26#39;s help and advice. I have bookmarked her info.

I come from your neck of the woods...grew up in Brighton...can%26#39;t wait to see your feedback on The Hotel and Wish.

zits