In honor of Miami Spice, I stopped by the Fontainebleau Miami Beach to check out their three highly-acclaimed signature restaurants: Gotham Steak, Scarpetta and Hakkasan, as well as their modern American café Vida. Boy was I impressed! From fresh seafood to steak that literally made me want to marry Chef Alfred, the Miami Spice menus at each and every Fontainebleau restaurant do not disappoint. Here are the dishes that impressed me most while visiting the hotel.
At Gotham Steak, Alfred Portale, chef and owner of perennial New York City favorite Gotham Bar & Grill, creates a modern American steakhouse with a focus on quality, consistency, and artful presentation. Gotham Steak’s Miami Spice menu includes Local Heirloom Tomato Salad, Summer Corn & Jumbo Lump Crab Risotto, Grilled Prime Hanger Steak, Miso Marinated Black Cod, Berkshire Pork Ribs, and Chef Portale’s classic Tuna Tartare with Shiso, Lime, and Ginger. Delectable desserts include Passion Fruit Mousse, Tiramisu Brownies and Milk Chocolate Candy Bars. My favorite was the salad. Crisp, fresh and perfect as a starter, it prefaced the suculant risotto perfectly. The steak was prepared to perfection and the brownie was to die for. Rich, flavorful and decadent, Gotham Steak’s lineup is delish, and their 8,000 bottle wine tower makes it a perfect choice for dining with family and friends.
Hakkasan made its U.S. debut at Fontainebleau Miami Beach in April 2009 and has been my favorite Fontainebleau restaurant ever since. Paying homage to Cantonese fare complimented by a diverse menu of New World wines and sake, Miami Spice dinner menu highlights include the Grilled Shanghai Chicken Dumplings, Sweet Corn Soup, Wok-Fried Silver Cod in XO-Marmite Sauce, Stir-Fry Wild Mushroom with Water Chestnuts, Crispy Szechuan Shredded Rib-Eye Beef, Stir-Fry Scallops, Vegetable Fried Rice, and Wild Mushroom Hand Pulled Noodles. All fabulous. The Stir-Fry Scallops are fresh and flavorful and certainly stood out the most to me. Hakkasan’s Miami Spice Dim Sum lunch menu is perfect for non-vegetarians and vegetarians alike. Highlights include a variety of classic Steamed, Grilled and Fried Dim Sum such as Chinese Chive Dumpling, Three Style Mushrooms Cheung Fun, Char Sui Bun, Siew Long Bun, Grilled Shanghai Chicken Dumpling, Enoki Mushroom Roll, Pan-Fried Turnip Cake and Sweet & Sour Prawn Wonton. The specialty menu also features Congees with meats, poultry and vegetables, Stir-Fried rice & noodle dishes, Barbecue dishes & platters, Wonton & Noodle Soup and a selection of ice cream or sorbets for dessert.
Scarpetta, created by acclaimed New York celebrity chef Scott Conant, impressed me with an innovative menu inspired by Italy’s cucina rustica that focuses on a clean crisp flavors and farm-fresh ingredients. Conant strikes a perfect balance between simplicity and sophistication with his Spaghetti with Tomato & Basil and Creamy Polenta with a Fricasse of Truffled Mushrooms. I also enjoyed the Mediterranean Branzino, Spice Roasted Chicken and Bone-In Prime Aged Sirloin of Beef. Sweet treats to try include the Amedei Chocolate Cake and Mocha Swirl Cheesecake.
Vida, located off the Chateau building lobby, boasts an exhibition kitchen complete with rotisserie and hearth ovens as well as a sumptuous pastry station with mouthwatering desserts. The restaurant’s Miami Spice menu shines with classic American dishes including Rotisserie Chicken with Buttered Potatoes, Linguine Pasta with Basil Pesto & Sweet Peppers, and Braised Beef Short Ribs with Parmesan Polenta. Desserts include Key Lime Pie, Carrot Cake and Chocolate Temptation Fudge Layer Cake.
4441 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; www.fontainebleau.com; 866.940.4512
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