16 April 17-April 23, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | ▼ BAL HARBOUR LE ZOO TO CLOSE AFTER TEN YEARS Another one bites the baguette. Just weeks af- ter Aba announced its sudden departure from Bal Harbour Shops, longtime staple Le Zoo will also shutter its doors, marking the end of a nearly decade-long run for the French bras- serie that brought Parisian flair to one of Mi- ami’s most exclusive shopping destinations. Le Zoo, founded by Philadelphia-based mega-restaurateur Stephen Starr, opened in late 2015 in the space once occupied by French restaurant La Goulue. The restaurant quickly became a favorite among locals and visitors for its service, Parisian-inspired ambiance, and menu, which walked the line between old- school French comfort and Miami indulgence, according to a 2016 New Times review. It was a place where a Chanel window- shopper could justify a glass (or three) of rosé and where lunch meetings stretched into late afternoon profiteroles with bananas tucked between the shells. But now, Le Zoo joins Aba on the growing list of concepts that have closed in 2025. “On behalf of the Starr Restaurants family, we want to thank our Le Zoo guests for their loyalty over the last ten years,” according to a statement provided by the team. “We have loved being a part of this wonderful commu- nity. Although this may be a goodbye for now for Le Zoo, we are looking forward to intro- ducing a new Starr Restaurants concept at an exciting new location in the Bal Harbour Shops in late 2025. As our lease expires at the end of April, please join us over the next few weeks in celebrating Le Zoo and cherishing the amazing memories that were made here; à bientôt (See you soon)!” The closure comes amid shifting tides at the open-air luxury mall. It’s also part of a larger game of restaurant musical chairs: The high-profile space won’t sit empty for long. Famed South Beach restaurant China Grill is set to return from the dead, taking over Le Zoo’s prime first-floor real estate. The resur- rection comes more than a decade after the iconic Asian concept closed on Fifth Street and more than two years after China Grill Management quietly inked the deal. Starr still operates Makoto, which recently moved to a new-and-improved location on the third floor of Bal Harbour Shops. Beyond Makoto, Bal Harbour diners still have popu- lar options like Hillstone and Carpaccio. But with two heavyweights exiting in the same season, one wonders if this is the beginning of a revamp for Bal Harbour Shops dining. Au revoir, Le Zoo. Le Zoo. 9700 Collins Ave., Bal Harbour; 786-655-5600; lezoo.com. Clarissa Buch Zilberman ▼ UPPER EASTSIDE TÂM TÂM TEAM POPS UP WITH CHINESE MENU The founders of popular downtown Miami Vietnamese spot Tâm Tâm and chef Adrian Ochoa have partnered up to open Double Luck, a pop-up slinging Chinese dishes with creative twists in Miami’s Shorecrest neigh- borhood. The restaurant currently operates from the former New Schnitzel House space Thursday through Sunday, with hopes of be- coming a permanent fixture. “The menu is kind of an introductory course for people,” Ochoa says. “I’m taking advantage of my love for more traditional Chinese food by helping people walk through the Chinese American path.” That path includes approachable favorites like crab leg rangoons alongside lesser- known offerings such as double-cooked pork belly, mapo tofu, and cold mushroom salad— dishes Ochoa hopes Miami diners will em- brace beyond their usual takeout orders. The chef’s fascination with Chinese cui- sine started years ago when a friend intro- duced him to Sichuan cooking at a spot in North Miami. After stints at Ghee Miami and helping launch Tâm Tâm, Ochoa furthered his Chinese food journey by running pop-up China Moon on South Beach, where he mas- tered the classics. When Adam Gersten from New Schnitzel House offered his space, the team transformed it with just “a couple coats of paint and some decorations.” Currently offering beer and wine with a selection selected by Harrison Ramhofer, Double Luck plans to introduce Chinese wines and sake-based options. If the pop-up transitions to a permanent restaurant, they’ll launch full spirits and craft cocktails featur- ing Chinese ingredients and flavors. Double Luck’s menu strikes a balance be- tween familiar Chinese-American favorites and traditional dishes less common in South Florida. “We want people to feel like they’re in the Chinese restaurant they grew up in,” Griffiths says. The portions reflect this phi- losophy—generous and meant for sharing. While the spot works well for solo diners grabbing a seat at the bar, the family-style ser- vice makes it ideal for groups looking to try multiple dishes. Appetizers include “Crab Leg Rangoon” filled with snow crab and cream cheese, | TASTE TEST | ▼ Cafe Le Zoo photo Le Zoo at Bal Harbour Shops will close in April after nearly a decade, making way for the return of China Grill in 2025.
