10 December 12-18, 2024 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 | Hunger Gains The ten most anticipated Miami restaurant openings of 2025. BY NICOLE LOPEZ-ALVAR W hat a year it’s been, Mi- ami. Between January 2024 and December 2024, nearly 200 restau- rants, bars, bakeries, sandwich shops, and dessert spots opened in Miami and Fort Lau- derdale. Yes, 200. Just this past November, 18 exciting res- taurants opened in Miami, including (argu- ably) the most highly anticipated one of all: the reopening of the famed Mai-Kai Restau- rant and Polynesian Show in Fort Lauderdale. In case you missed the big news, after four long years of renovations and restorations, the legendary restaurant reopened on Friday, November 22, fully restored and featuring original artifacts and spaces. Since New Times has the scoop on ev- ery single spot open- ing each and every month, we already have the scoop on the hottest restaurants coming to the Magic City and beyond in 2025. From the excit- ing openings of the Mediterranean chain Cava in Plantation and Hialeah Gardens to the opening of Buccan in Coral Gables, it’s going to be an absolutely de- licious year in South Florida. Without further ado, buckle up and get ready to plan your 2025 Miami foodie hit list with New Times’ guide to the ten most highly anticipated Miami restaurant openings of 2025, presented in alphabetical order. And, as always, stay hungry. Buccan in Coral Gables Palm Beach’s popular modern American bis- tro Buccan will make its Miami debut in Coral Gables in 2025. Chef Clay Conley of Buccan in Palm Beach will be opening a Mi- ami outpost of the acclaimed modern Ameri- can bistro in Coral Gables next year. Set to open in 2025, Buccan will be located at 100 Miracle Mile on the ground floor of the mixed-use retail and office building. Conley, who is a James Beard Award nominee, for- ever changed the Palm Beach dining scene in 2011 when he opened Buccan, his take on a modern American bistro. The Todd English protégé, who has notched six James Beard nominations, renders top-notch ingredients into approachable, balanced, and robustly fla- vored dishes. Cava in Plantation and Hialeah Gardens We Cava-n’t believe this either: Deemed the “Chipotle of Mediterranean food — only bet- ter” by fans across the internet, Cava, the fast- casual chain specializing in Mediterranean fare is headed to South Florida for the first time. Mediterranean chain Cava is opening its first South Florida locations in Plantation and Hialeah Gardens in 2025. The fast-casual spot is known for its custom bowls made up of options like tender braised lamb, herba- ceous skhug, crisp falafel, creamy tzatziki, grilled meatballs, and roasted eggplant dip. Claudie in Brickell In January 2025, Riviera Dining Group (RDG) will open Claudie, a sophisticated French-Mediterranean dining restaurant led by RDG’s head of culinary, Chef Michaël Michaelidis. The menu will feature flavors of the South of France with standout dishes like caviar linguine and tableside gazpacho. Renowned for bringing the vibrant spirit of the French Riviera to Miami, RDG seamlessly blends Mediterranean-inspired cuisine with elevated entertainment and immersive design. Chop Steakhouse & Bar in Coconut Grove Chop Steakhouse & Bar, a Canadian steak- house chain, will open in Coconut Grove at the former location of the Key Club inside CocoWalk in 2025. Chop Steakhouse & Bar, a Canadian steakhouse chain, was founded in Edmonton, Alberta, in 2006 by Northland Properties Corporation, which also owns Moxies. The steakhouse is known for its steaks, seafood, and chicken combined with “warm hospitality and beautiful rooms.” It has multiple locations across Canada, includ- ing in Toronto and Vancouver. Eataly in Aventura and West Palm Beach World-renowned Italian food hall Eataly is coming to Aventura Mall in Aventura in the spring of 2025 and to CityPlace in West Palm Beach in the fall of 2025. Eataly will be located inside Aventura Mall at 19501 Bis- cayne Blvd., Unit 3004, in Aventura. It will take up three levels and will span approxi- mately 29,000 square feet. Over in West Palm, Eataly will join the shops and restau- rants within the experiential neighborhood of CityPlace, located in the heart of the city’s downtown, in the fall of 2025. The brand has leased space at the historic Har- riet Himmel building, a 100-year-old the- ater in West Palm Beach, located at 700 S. Rosemary Ave. Fooq’s in Little River Nearly a decade after opening its doors in a quiet corner of downtown Miami, Fooq’s, the intimate “in-the-know” restaurant beloved by locals, is set to return in 2025 with a brand new look. Fooq’s, which cultivated a loyal customer base for its cozy, “dinner party at someone’s house” atmosphere when it opened nearly ten years ago, is plotting a bold ▼ Café Rosemary’s photo Cava photo Rosemary’s will open in Wynwood this fall with housemade pasta, a garden, and a farmhouse atmosphere. Left: Cava is coming to South Florida in 2025. IT’S GOING TO BE AN ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS YEAR IN SOUTH FLORIDA.
