13 March 27 - april 2, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | Contents | Letters | news | night+Day | CuLture | Cafe | MusiC | miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | CONTENTS | LETTERS | RIPTIDE | METRO | NIGHT+DAY | STAGE | ART | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | Star Wars pinball machine, or challenge friends to Nintendo 64 games like Mario Kart and GoldenEye 007 on an old-school TV. A life-size Yoda statue serves as the bar’s focal point. “The Bend is a special place for many peo- ple in our community. Here, everyone is a lo- cal,” says General Manager Sarah Konops. “This is the kind of place where anyone, no matter what their background is, can drop their problems at the door, meet new friends, and dance the night away.” The bar’s programming has evolved signif- icantly. “When we first opened, we couldn’t get a DJ in there,” Lacayo explains. “We didn’t have enough people to support the DJ. We started with karaoke and built it up a bit. Eventually a year later we got the DJs, and now we have music and entertainment multi- ple times a week.” Today, the Bend hosts weekly and monthly themed events, including a new monthly Hia- leah Hoedown/Country Night, Bender’s Only Rock Night, Karaoke Thursdays, Ladies’ Night on Saturdays, and trivia every Sunday. “Our first emo night was one of the most memorable events,” Konops shares. “I didn’t expect emo to be really popular in that area. I was convinced by our regulars it would work, and when it did, stepping back and seeing ev- erybody, I was just like, ‘Oh my goodness, what an amazing community.’” The bar has expanded beyond its main space to include a bottle shop next door that serves as a lounge area. This space features an N64 console, a large projector for watching TV, and a full liquor bar. The room hosts around 40 people comfortably and is a popu- lar spot for private events, offering guests a more intimate setting while still maintaining the dive bar atmosphere. Behind the bar, the menu includes more than 16 signature cocktails, with fan favorites like “You’re Killin’ Me Smalls,” “Purple Rain,” “Bada Bing,” and “Don Francisco.” After ten years of serving drinks and build- ing community, the Bend shows no signs of slowing down. With a new 20-year lease ex- tension recently signed, Lacayo and the team are planning improvements to the outdoor courtyard and considering new themes for the bottle shop space, possibly incorporating more country music elements while main- taining the bottle shop’s core identity. “We’ve really seen everybody come together just as employees, staff, regulars — everybody really come together,” Konops reflects. “Every day, I’m kind of blown away by it.” The Bend Liquor Lounge. 6844 NW 169th St., Miami Lakes; thebendmiami.com. OLEE FOWLER ▼ DOWNTOWN NYC’S FAMED SERAFINA IS MIAMI BOUND A slice of New York’s Italian soul is return- ing to Miami this spring, over a decade after it first closed. Serafina, a popular New York- based Italian restaurant brand founded in 1995, is set to open at Miami Worldcenter in early April. Known for its pasta, wood-fired pizzas, and lively atmosphere, the chain has expanded internationally since its founding by Italian restaurateurs Fabio Granato and Vittorio Assaf. However, this isn’t Serafina’s first foray into Miami. The brand opened its first South Florida location in 2012 at the Dream Hotel South Beach, which gained attention for its vibrant brunch scene and high-profile guests, including Kim Kardashian. Although the South Beach outpost eventually closed in late 2013, Serafina opened a location within Aven- tura Mall just north of Miami in northeastern Miami-Dade County in 2018. Therefore, for those residing in Miami, the long trek to Aventura for a slice of wood-fired pizza will finally be over. The new space at Miami Worldcenter is ex- pected to include an outdoor patio, event area, and pizza oven for its famed wood-fired pizzas. Although the menu for the Miami World- center location has not yet been released, pre- vious Serafina locations have featured a mix of traditional Italian dishes, including cacio e pepe pasta served tableside in a pecorino ro- mano wheel, truffle-laced tartufo nero pizza, and dry-aged Kansas City steak. The brand has historically emphasized fresh ingredients and classic preparation techniques. Other popular menu items include the fan-favorite penna alla vodka, bruschetta appetizer, and chicken Milanese. Serafina will join a slew of hot new restau- rants that are opening in 2025 at Miami World- center, including Maple & Ash and Sixty Vines. Nearly 30 years ago, Vittorio Assaf and Fa- bio Granato found themselves stranded on a catamaran in the Hamptons over Labor Day weekend. As they waited for rescue, they dis- cussed their love of food and how New York lacked a fresh, high-quality Italian dining con- cept. They made a pact: if they survived, they would open a restaurant to change that. As luck would have it, they were rescued in the early hours of the morning the following day. About a year later, Assaf and Granato opened Serafina Fabulous Pizza on Manhat- tan’s Upper East Side. The restaurant was an instant success, offering authentic Italian dishes made with high-quality ingredients in a relaxed yet stylish setting. Now, 30 years later, Serafina has expanded into a global brand, with several locations worldwide. Serafina at Miami Worldcenter. serafinamia.com. CLARISSA BUCH ZILBERMAN The Bend Liquor Lounge photo Today, the bar has expanded beyond its main space to include a bottle shop next door that serves as a lounge area.
