14 July 24-30, 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 | ▼ COCONUT GROVE MAKE WAY FOR CONDOS Two of Coconut Grove’s most beloved neigh- borhood restaurants are being forced to ei- ther relocate or close entirely to make way for a massive mixed-use building that aims to transform the historic neighborhood. Sapore di Mare, one of New Times’ 10 Best Restaurants in Coconut Grove, and the Last Carrot, winner of New Times’ Best Juice Bar 2025, representing both sides of the Grove’s dining spectrum, must find new homes by November 2025. Their longtime home along Grand Avenue and Matilda Street will be de- molished to make way for a multi-million- dollar, ultra-modern, mixed-use condominium with offices and shops. The giant development, called Ziggurat, will be located on the intersection of Grand Avenue, Matilda Street, and Florida Avenue. On the ground floor, there will be commercial space for retail shops, restaurants, and “well- ness-oriented concepts.” Above, there will be “19 ultra-luxurious condominiums, ranging from 1,254 to more than 5,000 square feet, with prices starting at $2.3 million,” accord- ing to the Abaunza Group website. The resi- dences, designed by Oppenheim Architecture and Collarte interiors, will feature premium amenities like “private elevators and chef-in- spired Italian kitchens.” The development is already causing mixed reactions in a neighborhood that has under- gone immense changes since 2020—and now, residents and visitors alike can expect even more changes. Thankfully, one of the restau- rants has already found a new home nearby. The Italian seafood restaurant, which translates to “taste of the sea,” will relocate in the next six months to 3433 Main Hwy., tak- ing over the space recently vacated by Like Mike Restaurant, right next to Fireman Der- ek’s Bakeshop. Light construction is already underway at the new location, according to the Coconut Grove Spotlight. Sapore di Mare opened in 2014 and has built a loyal following among locals who come for dishes like lobster-filled ravioli, grilled octopus, and the signature cacio e pepe with black truffle. The menu at 3111 Grand Ave. reflects the restaurant’s seafood focus with offerings ranging from carpaccio di branzino topped with Siberian caviar to ta- gliolini al sapore di mare loaded with mus- sels, clams, shrimp, and calamari. Traditional Italian dishes include carbonara, bucatini al ragù, veal parmigiana, and classic antipasti like burrata e prosciutto di Parma. The situation is more complicated for the Last Carrot, the Grove’s oldest continuously operating restaurant. After 50 years of serv- ing fresh veggie sandwiches and healthy bites to the community, the vegetarian spot must vacate its 3133 Grand Ave. location by Novem- ber 1. The restaurant was founded by University of Miami graduate Michael Compton in 1975, a bodybuilder who wanted to open a healthy lunch spot in his neighborhood, and he owned the restaurant until his death in 2001, when his daughters, Meadow and Erin Compton, took over operations. The Last Carrot has become a go-to spot for vegetari- ans and vegans, including nearby University of Miami students, serving popular items like hummus sandwiches, chicken salad pita, falafel pita, and freshly squeezed juices. The forced relocation has sparked an outcry from longtime customers and area residents who have been frequenting the spot since it opened. Unlike Sapore di Mare, the Last Carrot hasn’t secured its next location yet. The Comptons are considering two locations within the broader Coconut Grove area, the Spotlight reports. A spokesperson for the Al- len Morris Company, one of Ziggurat’s devel- opment partners, said the company is working with the Comptons to secure a tem- porary location with hopes of bringing them back to the new project once it’s complete. The Ziggurat development will include 100,000 square feet of office space, 40,000 square feet of retail space, a rooftop restau- rant, and 18 “ultra-luxury residences” rang- | TASTE TEST | ▼ Café Photo by Daniella Mia /@mynameisdaniellamia Beloved Coconut Grove lunch spot the Last Carrot is being forced to relocate after 50 years on November 1 after the property was bought by a developer.
