12 January 9-15, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | music | cafe | culture | Night+Day | News | letters | coNteNts | miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | ART | STAGE | NIGHT+DAY | METRO | RIPTIDE | LETTERS | CONTENTS | ▼ MIDTOWN SUGARCANE RAW BAR & GRILL TO CLOSE AFTER 15 SWEET YEARS A popular Miami restaurant that paved the way for elevated dining in Midtown Miami will close its doors after 15 years in business, marking the end of an era. Sugarcane Raw Bar & Grill will close its aesthetically pleasing dining room and vine- covered outdoor patio on Friday, January 31. The restaurant made the announcement on its Instagram account on Thursday, January 2. The caption reads, in part, “After 15 magi- cal years in Miami, Sugarcane is saying good- bye. Thank you, Miami, for an unforgettable run. Together, we have made many memo- ries. Thank you to our loyal customers who brought the energy day after day. Great food! Spirited cocktails! Excellent staff! We brought it all to Midtown and you chose us year after year. We were the go-to local spot for our neighbors and the must-go destina- tion location for those visiting. Our outdoor garden has hosted more engagement parties, baby showers, and promotion dinners than we can count. We have celebrated them all and more together!” Founded in 2010, the restaurant opened its doors at the Shops at Midtown Miami along Northeast First Avenue when the neighbor- hood we know today was only just beginning. Between 2007 and 2010, Midtown Miami started with a single Romero Britto store, fol- lowed by the opening of Miami’s very first Five Guys restaurant. (It’s hard to believe there was a time when countless major chains like Chipotle and Chick-fil-A hadn’t made their way down to Miami yet.) Back in 2010, Miami was still known for its nightclubs, like Mokai, Rockbar, and Pink Room in South Beach, and elevated dining experiences geared at “foodies” were nearly impossible to come by. This was especially the case for those in their late teens and early 20s who yearned for the kind of restaurants they had been experiencing in major metro- politan cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. When Sugarcane opened its doors, it finally introduced an eclectic and fun menu and setting that was everything the area needed: a spot that was both cool and deli- cious yet completely accessible. Not only was it an excellent date night spot, but it was also a great choice for a birthday brunch or after- work happy hour. Although Sugarcane eventually lost its thunder in Midtown thanks to Miami’s incredible new dining scene that has emerged since the beginning of 2020 (how was that five years ago?), the restaurant filled a much- needed void in Miami’s dining scene in the 2010s. I celebrated not one but two birthdays at Sugarcane between 2011 and 2015, and the mere thought of the restaurant brings back fond memories. Sugarcane put bacon- wrapped dates, roasted and umami Brussels sprouts, bone marrow appetizers, and goat cheese croquettes on Miami’s culinary map. (OK, Whisk in South Miami truly started the bacon-wrapped dates craze in Miami.... But I’ll save that for another story.) For longtime customers or those who haven’t had the chance to revisit Sugarcane in years and who want to experience Sugar- cane in Midtown Miami one last time, the restaurant is still operating as usual until its closing day. Therefore, expect its typical lunch, brunch, and dinner menus up until January 31. As the restaurant perfectly put it: “Come by for one last hoorah (or two)! And after Jan- uary, when you get a craving for a “Spice of Love” or a goat cheese croquette or torrejas, remember that our Las Vegas Sugarcane loca- tion is only a plane ride away! We hope to see you there!” Sugarcane Raw Bar & Grill. 3252 NE First Ave., Miami, at the Shops at Midtown Mi- ami; 786-369-0353; sugarcanerestaurants.com. NICOLE LOPEZ-ALVAR ▼ MIAMI RIVER “BAGUETTE WHISPERER” OPENS BISTRO Olivier Rizk knows bread. The Haitian-Leba- nese baker, who snagged Florida’s top prizes for croissants and baguettes earlier this year, has a reputation for kneading perfection into every loaf. But now Rizk is expanding beyond Ficelle, his acclaimed bakery at Miami’s River Land- ing, and into the realm of savory fare with the opening of Le Bistro, a cozy yet refined spot that shares a kitchen (and some stellar carbs) with its celebrated neighbor. Le Bistro feels both familiar and unexpected. The space, defined by high ceilings, white brick walls, and accents of blue and gold, has a touch of elegance without stray- ing too far from Ficelle’s approachable charm. Tables spill outside onto the River Landing promenade, where the two con- cepts merge, but inside, the vibe is unmis- | TASTE TEST | ▼ Café Sugarcane Raw Bar & Grill photo Longtime Midtown Miami staple Sugarcane will close on Friday, January 31.
