THIS RESTAURANT HAS CHANGED NAMES Le Sirenuse Miami

THIS RESTAURANT HAS CHANGED NAMES Le Sirenuse Miami Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant & décor: It's not every day that a gastronomic gem from one of the Amalfi Coast's most luxurious hotels travels transatlantic to set up shop at the resurrected Surf Club, now part of the Four Seasons umbrella. But that’s the case with Le Sirenuse Miami, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner at the upscale property. Mediterranean flavors and vibes beckon from the moment of entry, first at the Champagne Bar, which pours the city's largest selection of bubbly, all the way through to the pergola-shaded terrace with sweeping Atlantic views. The indoor dining room (and restored ballroom of the 1930s clubhouse) is quite lovely, too. Besides bringing Miami's tropical luster inside and fusing it with Mediterranean elements, the ornate ceiling and artwork remain original. But design aside, it's the comestibles that have diners enjoying “la dolce vita.”

Likes: Décor is dreamlike; the pistachio gelato instantly transports you to Italy.
Dislikes: None.

Food & Drinks: Chef Antonio Mermolia helms the kitchen, where he cooks up the usual Southern Italian suspects with unlikely twists, namely a warm buffalo mozzarella with grape tomato confit that will jade your palate for every other caprese salad that ever came before it and to come after. Langoustine tartare is of the ocean and balanced beautifully thanks to orange zest, fennel and Peranzana olives. Pasta is, of course, created from scratch and embodies Italy's main culinary claim to fame. Amongst a handful of offerings, the linguine vongole stands out both in its contemporary presentation and classic execution. There's plenty of meat and fish as well, from arguably some of the best lamb chops in the city to octopus that’s different than what you typically see on menus. The chef prepares the cephalopod in a light tomato sauce with potatoes, olives and spicy chili peppers. If you're craving a true taste of Italy, opt into the chef's tasting, and be sure to end the meal with tiramisú and the densely delectable pistachio gelato crowned with a layer of pistachios straight from Sicily. It doesn't get much better than that, unless you're drinking wine. Come thirsty because Le Sirenuse has more grappa, Barolo, Moscato and Italian labels than you may have heard of and can handle.