Restaurant Pop-Ups Thriving

If you like going out to eat, you’ve had a lot to celebrate lately. By the time you read this, dining rooms across Miami will have been open for weeks, a much-needed distraction from being stuck at home. Granted, there are still restrictions in place, including a 50% capacity limit on indoor dining (which could soon change). But something is something, especially for foodies who have been dying for a side of air conditioning with their meals.

Not everything has reopened, though. Despite eased restrictions, some restaurants are still holding out until things get better (and stay that way). In the meantime, the kitchen crews at such eateries have been staying busy with pop-ups across the city, and others are using this time to test out ideas for potentially permanent concepts.

One of the latest pop-ups to join the scene is The Pide Place (87 SW 8th St., 786.360.1852), which has taken over Brickell pizzeria Stanzione 87 on weekends. The concept by Aaron Brooks of Edge Steak & Bar at the nearby Four Seasons Hotel is a far cry from the steakhouse fare that his regulars are accustomed to. Instead of giant cuts of meat, guests can expect hearty pides – Turkish flatbreads – topped with spiced lamb, pepperoni and spice-roasted vegetables. And although the pides are the main attraction, don’t make the mistake of skipping sides like the flavorful roasted carrot salad and house-made baklava.

Another notable pop-up down the street is The Chippy (901 S. Miami Ave., 305.809.8587), an ode to traditional fish and chips. Operating out of Balan’s Bar & Brasserie in Mary Brickell Village, The Chippy is not for the faint of heart. Seriously – don’t tell your cardiologist. Nearly everything at this pop-up is fried: the fish, the chicken strips, the sausages, the desserts … you will likely hate yourself. But it all tastes so good, from the massive haddock and hand-cut chips to the battered Mars Bar and Snickers (!) that you’ll be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.

In Downtown Miami, The Copper Door B&B is hosting a pop-up café with scrumptious southern cuisine. The menu at Rosie’s (439 NW 4th Ave., 305.454.9065) features a magical balance of sweet and savory selections like fish and grits, crispy chicken sandwiches, chocolate guava croissants and vanilla-spiced waffles. It’s hard not to drool just reading the descriptions, but the food is even more impressive once it’s in front of you. 

Up north in the Little River neighborhood, Jaguar Sun continues its weekend pop-up at the Lot 6 event space. The acclaimed watering hole has been using the lot as it waits for the county to ease restrictions on bars. What originally started as a taco pop-up has recently turned into a (slightly) more formal affair: Sonny’s Someday Steakhouse (7357 NW Miami Ct., 786.860.2422). Think wedge salads, oysters, pork chops, loaded potatoes and sundaes, to name a few staples. As you’d expect from the award-winning bar, there’s an extensive list of Manhattans and martinis to help guests wash everything down.

OPENINGS

Pop-ups aren’t the only things, er, popping up during these “unprecedented times.” As we slowly return to a new(ish) normal, several good ol’ fashioned restaurants are also opening their doors for the first time. Among the newcomers is La Santa Taquería (201 NE 82nd St., 305.906.1149), a former pop-up that has now found a permanent home in Little River. On the menu, you’ll find all the classic taco fillings like pork, steak and shrimp, along with a slew of vegetarian options such as cauliflower, mushrooms and quinoa. There’s no shortage of proteins here, and they can also be stuffed into a quesadilla or piled onto a tostada. Save room for churros – trust us.

Over in Wynwood, the former breakfast spot Laid Fresh is now Buya Izakaya + Yakitori (250 NW 24th St., 305.699.0601). Trading egg sandwiches and orange juice for ramen and dumplings, Buya emphasizes Japanese pub food and stiff drinks. Many dishes are priced in the $8-$15 range, making for a reasonably affordable night out. Inside the restaurant, there is a cloaked cocktail den known as the Golden Gai that’s waiting to be discovered. Expect to find rare whiskeys and other spirits inside themed lockboxes with secret skeleton keys. It’s dinner AND an adventure. And right now, we need all the distraction we can get.

Geoffrey Anderson Jr. and Dianne Rubin-Anderson are co-founders of Miami Food Pug, an award-winning South Florida food blog that fuses the couple’s love of dogs and food.