12 January 2-8, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | music | cafe | culture | Night+Day | News | letters | coNteNts | Month XX–Month XX, 2008 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | ART | STAGE | NIGHT+DAY | METRO | RIPTIDE | LETTERS | CONTENTS | ▼ SOUTH BEACH THE NO. 19 MOST LEGENDARY RESTAURANT ON EARTH You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen. Comet and Cupid and Donder and Blitzen. But do you recall the most legendary restaurant of all? According to TasteAtlas, an online travel guide that serves as a world atlas of traditional food, local ingredients, and authentic restau- rants, out of the 23,952 traditional eateries in its database, Joe’s Stone Crab is the No. 19 most legendary restaurant in the world. Out of only 100 restaurants the famed travel guide chose as cultural landmarks, Joe’s Stone Crab was ranked among the top 20 for its historical significance and fantastic quality. The restaurants selected are “re- nowned for their longevity, reliability, and iconic dishes; they are more than just dining spots — they embody the spirit of their cities. The ranking reflects their history, public rat- ings, and TasteAtlas scores for their signature dishes,” explains the travel guide. Other U.S. spots that made the top 20, ac- cording to TasteAtlas, are New York’s Katz’s Delicatessen (No. 8), and Hyman’s Seafood in Charleston (No. 12). New Times’ food editor Nicole Lopez-Alvar has dined at all three U.S. spots to make the list, and can concur each spot is worthy of making such a list. Founded in 1913 by Joe Weiss, the legend- ary Miami Beach restaurant, which started as a casual lunch counter — a stark contrast to the fine-dining atmosphere it is known for to- day — has served delectably sweet and fresh stone crabs, world-class fried chicken (if you know, you know), and its famed key lime pie to generations of families and visitors alike. “Joe’s Stone Crab is an iconic South Beach restaurant best known for its stone crab claws and the famous key lime pie,” explains the website for its selection. “This bustling loca- tion continues the long tradition that started in 1913 and remains a must-visit spot in Miami.” A must-visit spot it is indeed. Consistently ranked among New Times Top 100 Restau- rants since the publication’s inception, not only does Joe’s exceed when it comes to its food, but often overlooked is its truly profes- sional service, wonderful hospitality, the sur- prising value (except the crabs, which are an extravagance wherever you find them), and the dining room’s stately ambiance. As New Times has so aptly put it, “Visit, and you’ll find tuxedoed waiters whirling through the dining rooms with oval trays held high above their heads while the buzz of din- ers subtly tinges the air like the intangible gathering of ions before a thunderstorm. Yet you’d be hard-pressed to find such a large space that’s as cozy as this one. Stone crabs are, of course, the mainstay of Joe’s menu, and somehow, they seem to taste a little fresher and sweeter here. The rest of the of- ferings, though, don’t disappoint. And nearly everybody orders Joe’s key lime pie, re- nowned as the best in town, for dessert.” Joe’s Stone Crab. 11 Washington Ave., Mi- ami Beach; 305-673-0365; joesstonecrab.com. NICOLE LOPEZ-ALVAR ▼ COCONUT GROVE TRENDY GREEK FROZEN YOGURT SHOP TO OPEN FLORIDA LOCATION If you’re a Miami native or have lived here for more than a decade, you’ll know very well that Miami’s once-popping frozen yogurt scene has completely evaporated out of thin air. There was once a frozen yogurt shop or two in every single neighborhood across town — from Yogurtland and Pinkberry to Menchies — but today, not a single one of the big chains remains in the city of Miami vicin- ity. (Local spots and a singular Menchies exist in Kendall, Aventura, and Brickell.) Now, those who have had to get their yogurt fix at a local smoothie or ice cream shop in Mi- ami are in for a treat that’s borderline healthy: one of Beverly Hills’ most popular Greek fro- zen yogurt chains is opening its first East Coast location (and first location outside of Califor- nia) in Miami within the next few weeks. Trendy Greek frozen yogurt shop Go Greek Yogurt will open in Coconut Grove near the Mayfair Hotel & Gardens and just steps away from CocoWalk this winter. Fans of the chain couldn’t contain their excitement when the shop created a Go Greek Miami Instagram account, with com- ments ranging from “Finally in Miami!!!” and “This is the best news ever!!! I will be there the second doors are open!” to “This is the best news ever!!!!!! I cannot wait to have some amazingness in my new home town! Home away from home.” The excitement slowly built online up un- til this past weekend, when Miami native Ma- rissa Martinez shared her excitement over the shop’s new Coconut Grove storefront with a video she shared on TikTok. Martinez was walking in the Grove when the shop’s beautiful new navy blue signage literally stopped her in her tracks. She writes, “Atten- tion, Miami!!! Maybe I live under a rock be- cause I had no idea this was coming, but the joy that ran through me when I first saw this sign! I always say that the Greek yogurt scene in Miami is trash and alas!!!! Go Greek Yogurt [I’m] beyond excited.” Founded in 2012, fans love the chain be- cause of its classic and seasonal Greek yogurt flavors and toppings, which are all made with fresh ingredients (nothing artificial). Cus- tomers can choose from classic Greek yogurt in a cup to smoothies, Greek yogurt bowls loaded with toppings, and even a savory Greek yogurt bowl. The video quickly racked up 30,000 views and more than 1,000 shares, with fans com- menting, “Boomshakalaka thank God!!!” and “Oh my God, finally, froyo is finally having a comeback!!” to “I’m freaking out” and “A mother fucking Christmas miracle!” Rumor has it a second location is coming to Miami — this one will be located at Miami Worldcenter downtown at 851 NE First Ave. New Times will update this story once open- ing dates are announced. Regardless, Frozen yogurt is back, baby. Go Greek Miami. 3000 Florida Ave., Coconut Grove; gogreekyogurt.com. Opening date TBD. NICOLE LOPEZ-ALVAR ▼ NORTH BAY VILLAGE WE’RE NOT IN SHUCKERS ANY MORE Just six months after New Times broke the news that a new restaurant-club-hotel would replace a legendary North Bay Village bar and grill, the restaurant space is now open. Palm Tree Club Miami, the new water- front restaurant, entertainment venue, and hotel from entertainment company Palm Tree Crew, opened December 21 at the for- mer Shuckers site in North Bay Village. The open-air spot, created by Palm Tree Crew founders Kygo, a world-famous DJ, and Myles Shear with Think Hospitality, opened with a waterfront restaurant serving Ameri- can classics, seafood, tacos, and wings against the backdrop of Biscayne Bay. The opening marks a new chapter for the longstanding waterfront property, which had housed Shuckers Waterfront Grill for more than 40 years until it closed in late October — causing longtime customers to feel disappointed over its closing. The casual sports bar and seafood spot stood as a North Bay Village institution, drawing locals and tourists alike for its laid-back atmosphere and waterfront dining. However, Palm Tree Club Miami hopes to maintain its essence. “When we acquired the property earlier this year, we wanted to preserve the essence of what this historic venue has been for North Bay Village while evolving the space into something new,” says Allie Eichner, president of Continuum Company. The restaurant, part of a larger project with a 115-room hotel, features tropical-inspired de- cor throughout its waterfront space. A 20-slip marina offers dine-and-dock services, making it accessible to boaters looking for a meal on the water. The hotel rooms connect to a pool deck with chaise loungers and umbrellas, where guests can order drinks through a mobile app. The menu spans raw bar offerings like oysters and ceviche to shareable plates, in- cluding whipped ricotta with lemon gelée and a dipping trio of guacamole, charred pineapple salsa, and chilled elote dip. Given its location, seafood takes center stage with dishes like grouper tacos and pan-seared salmon with cauli- flower and caper sofrito. For large groups, the kitchen offers two food towers: “The Palm Tree Tower” comes loaded with crisp coconut prawns, lobster sliders, and chicken tenders, while the “Chicken Tender Tower” arrives piled high with nuggets and fries. The weekend brunch menu features in- dulgent spins on morning favorites. A lobster croque madame layers Maine lobster with challah bread, cheese bechamel, and a fried egg. The Palm Burrito stuffs caramelized on- ions, jalapeños, and crisp potatoes into a tor- tilla with chihuahua cheese. Sweet options include brioche French toast with honey va- nilla batter and mixed berries. The venue’s transformation hasn’t come without issues. During Miami Art Week, nearby residents logged noise complaints about loud music from VIP parties that drew celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio and Ivanka Trump. Management responded by removing six bass speakers and limiting live DJs to Saturdays until 10 p.m. To address neighborhood concerns, the club took additional steps beyond speaker re- moval. They’ve repositioned the remaining speakers toward Biscayne Bay instead of resi- dential areas and started exploring sound- baffling options to minimize disruption to nearby homes. For Marx and his team, joining North Bay Village’s dining scene brings both opportu- nity and responsibility. “We look forward to enhancing the neighborhood with a fresh dining experience,” he says. Palm Tree Club Miami. 1819 79th St. Cswy., North Bay Village; 305-865-7100; palm- treeclubmiami.com. OLEE FOWLER | TASTE TEST | ▼ Café Joe’s Stone Crab photo Joe’s Stone Crab is one of the top 20 most legendary restaurants on the planet. THE OPENING MARKS A NEW CHAPTER FOR THE LONGSTANDING WATERFRONT PROPERTY.
