Press & Accolades
SOURCE ARTICLE: Miaminewtimes.com
Miamians know José Mendín as one of the founders of the Pubbelly family of restaurants. The chef has won numerous honors, including “Best Chef Southeast” semifinalist status in the James Beard Awards five times over. Mendín has opened restaurants in Paris, Puerto Rico, and now, with Rivertail, he tackles Fort Lauderdale.
The seafood-centric restaurant adheres to a simple philosophy: Offer the freshest fish and seasonal produce in a convivial, waterfront setting. A hamachi crudo ($16) bursts with Florida grapefruit and yuzu, while a Maine lobster roll ($25) is lightened with a hint of lemon zest. Fresh yellowtail, snapper, and other denizens of the sea are offered simply grilled with your choice of sauce. And, as if he almost can’t help himself, Mendín offers a pork belly Cuban sandwich ($18), an apparent nod to his start at Pubbelly. Open Tuesday through Sunday.
VIEW THE FULL ARTICLE AT MIAMINEWTIMES.COM
VIEW AS A PDF
SOURCE ARTICLE: Aventuramall.com
For Eliana “Pani” Trotta, opening a restaurant in Aventura Mall was more than simply a strategic business decision, it was fulfilling a childhood dream.
“When I was a child, I would always come to Miami and visit Aventura Mall,” she said. “I fantasized about one day opening a store in this mall, so this is really exciting.”
Trotta’s one-of-a-kind restaurant concept, Pani, was founded in Buenos Aires ten years ago, quickly gaining popularity and expanding throughout South America due to its delicious food and vibrant, eclectic aesthetic. Despite its origins, however, Pani is not just an Argentinian restaurant. Its diverse menu spans the globe, incorporating an array of influences.
Among the highlights is a selection of over 20 cakes, including the best-selling “Black Cookie Cake,” which features a delectable cookie crumble and creamy frosting.
The restaurant also offers a full range of options for each meal. Croissants, eggs, and omelets are among the breakfast staples, while flavorful sandwiches, salads and quiches can be enjoyed at lunch. In addition, the menu features dinner entrées that incorporate high-quality meat, fish, and a selection of pasta.
“Everything is created and presented with a lot of effort, creativity and soul,” said Eliana.
Guests will also appreciate the colorful, feminine décor highlighted by custom art pieces and wallpaper created for Pani by several Argentinian artists and designers.
In addition, all menu items come with their own setting and presentation. Everything from plates to utensils were selected by Eliana to convey the soul of her brand and enrich visitors’ Instagram feeds.
“We want everything you see to be photo-worthy,” she said.
VIEW THE FULL ARTICLE AT AVENTURAMALL.COM
VIEW AS A PDF
SOURCE ARTICLE: Forbes.com
Headed to Miami? There are many, many options of where to stay in the different parts of the city. But don’t overlook the downtown area, where new bars and restaurants are popping up, and where you have easy, centralized access to the city’s attractions and neighborhoods. Looking for something fresh? Here are five reasons to consider staying at The Gabriel Hotel in Downtown Miami.
The Rooms and Views
The view from The Gabriel is interesting in that the east-facing rooms provide an expansive lookout over many parts of the city – the downtown skyline to the south, the cruise ship ports straight out in front, and then the island of Miami Beach off in the distance.
You can also see both the intracoastal waterway as well as the Atlantic Ocean. This mix means you get multiple perspectives on Miami and its parts – the cruise industry, the beach, the city streets – each playing its own key role in the city’s overall identity.
Sexy Art and Design If you’re feeling frisky in Miami, the Gabriel wants to celebrate it. Located throughout the hotel you’ll find some sexy and limit-pushing art, reminding you that Miami is classy, but certainly no city of innocence. In the lobby, look for the picture with three girls licking a heart-shaped taffy, and on the 14th floor (pool level) you’ll find some partially-nude, beach yoga photos. All have been curated in a stylish way – i.e. there’s no outright nudity to worry about, should you be traveling with your parents – but it definitely sets the tone should you find yourself on a weekend getaway.
VIEW THE FULL ARTICLE AT FORBES.COM
VIEW AS A PDF
SOURCE ARTICLE: Miami.eater.com
Pubbelly empire mastermind Jose Mendin has officially crossed the Miami/Fort Lauderdale county line with his latest restaurant, Rivertail (305 South Andrews Avenue).
Located on Fort Lauderdale’s riverfront, the space was designed by Big Time Design Studio, and features several vignettes including indoor and outdoor bars, lounge areas, communal seating surrounded by living walls, and a raw bar.
VIEW THE FULL ARTICLE AT MIAMI.EATER.COM
VIEW AS A PDF
SOURCE ARTICLE: Cntraveler.com
Southernmost Beach Resort
Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina
VIEW THE FULL ARTICLE AT CNTRAVELER.COM
VIEW AS A PDF
SOURCE ARTICLE: Bizjournals.com
Rivertail is the newest concept from restaurateur and chef José Mendín. It is slated to open along Fort Lauderdale’s New River Friday.
The restaurant is a shared-plate concept with dishes like crab donuts, bay scallops escargot and lobster flautas.
The seafood eatery moves into the former site of Briny’s Irish Pub at 305 S. Andrews Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The Wharf Fort Lauderdale, a entertainment and dining hub that opened in late 2019, will be its next door neighbor.
That’s fitting because Miami-based Food Comma Hospitality Group and Breakwater Hospitality Group — both partners involved in opening The Wharf in Fort Lauderdale — are the groups behind Rivertail.
“We want to be a go-to fixture for visitors and locals enjoying the riverwalk and downtown Fort Lauderdale,” Mendín said in a statement.
Food Comma Hospitality Group is behind the restaurant concepts Pubbelly Sushi, Habitat and La Placita. Breakwater Hospitality Group runs the Italian food concept The Piefather, located within the Wharf Fort Lauderdale.
Miami-based Bigtime Design Studios reimagined the space of the former Irish pub and designed Rivertail’s layout. That includes adding indoor and outdoor bars, lounge areas and communal seating.
Rivertail will also feature a raw bar, which is a restaurant within a restaurant that serves raw shellfish.
VIEW THE FULL ARTICLE AT BIZJOURNALS.COM
VIEW AS A PDF
SOURCE ARTICLE: Keysweekly.com
Freshly reinvented, the iconic, 14-acre Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina, located oceanfront in Islamorada, Fla., proudly welcomes guests back to a fully opened resort upon the completion of the Raw Bar, meeting and event space remodel. As the final aspect of the resort’s restoration efforts, all 151 guestrooms, three restaurants and four bars, including the beloved and historic Holiday Isle Tiki Bar, made famous for its creation of the original Rum Runner cocktail, and the completely refurbished Marina are open and welcoming guests to a postcard-perfect experience once again.
Delivering the original Raw Bar experience with a new two-story design, Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina’s Raw Bar sits 25 feet above the Atlantic Ocean as one of the only double-deck raw bars in The Florida Keys. Recognizing the iconic history of the formerly named Holiday Isle, Postcard Inn’s Raw Bar is a nautical spot serving fresh seafood. The open-air space is casual and relaxed and offers an adults-only destination on the upper deck. With an eclectic yet modern atmosphere, the Raw Bar creates a perfect view of Islamorada’s famous Sandbar.
VIEW THE FULL ARTICLE AT KEYSWEEKLY.COM
VIEW AS A PDF
SOURCE ARTICLE: Newyorklifestylemagazine.com
Seven Hills Inn A 1911 Gilded Age beauty with a recent facelift is now a stylish boutique hotel with a new restaurant and bar, Plunkett Lounge. Located in Lenox, the inn holds court among 27 acres of gardens and lushness, and along pretty Route 7, aka Antiques Alley, and Edith Wharton’s estate, The Mount, is a neighbor. Info
VIEW THE FULL ARTICLE AT NEWYORKLIFESTYLEMAGAZINE.COM
VIEW AS A PDF
SOURCE ARTICLE: Cntraveler.com
Postcard Inn is part of the Islamorada Resorts Collection, which also includes Amara Cay, Pelican Cove, and La Siesta. This particular hotel has an interesting history: Its legendary Tiki Bar first opened in 1969 and is supposedly home to the original tiki classic, the Rum Runner.
VIEW THE FULL ARTICLE AT CNTRAVELER.COM
VIEW AS A PDF
SOURCE ARTICLE: Cntraveler.com
Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina is right on Overseas Highway in Islamorada, so it doesn’t offer a tucked-away feeling from the front. Once inside, though, you’re struck by its relaxing ambience. The rooms and suites feel like classic beach cottages, complete with clapboard headboards, shiplap walls, and mounted fish trophies. In addition to Starbucks and several casual dining options, there’s also Tiki Bar, which has been serving tropical drinks since 1969 and is supposedly home to the original Rum Runner.
The chic Amara Cay Resort oozes laidback luxury. Its lobby—with windows overlooking the beach and pool—immediately captures your attention. The rooms have an updated tropical look and feel, with rope and rattan furnishings, plants, earth tones, and pops of turquoise or green. Snorkeling and fishing trips (Islamorada is the sportfishing capital of the world) happen off property, but kayaks, paddle boards, and a fitness center round out the amenities onsite.
VIEW THE FULL ARTICLE AT CNTRAVELER.COM
VIEW AS A PDF
SOURCE ARTICLE: Hotelmanagement.net
Miami-based Bigtime Design Studios carried out the vision for the renovation of the former Gilded Age estate, blending old and new design elements for Seven Hills. There are new furnishings and textiles throughout, new guest bathrooms, fully renovated common areas, and updated exteriors, landscaping and pool area.
VIEW THE FULL ARTICLE AT HOTELMANAGMENT.NET
VIEW AS A PDF
SOURCE ARTICLE: Boston.com
The original structure was a farmhouse built in the 1700s by Massachusetts colonists, according to the hotel’s website. It was renovated into a Gilded Age mansion and, in 1951, became an inn and was given its current name. The newest renovations, by Miami-based Bigtime Design Studios, bring together both old and new design elements at the property, which sits on 27 acres of sweeping lawns and gardens.
VIEW THE FULL ARTICLE AT BOSTON.COM
VIEW AS A PDF
SOURCE ARTICLE: NEWH.ORG
MELTING POT
Bigtime Design Studios marries Latin American influences in a downtown Miami restaurant
“Originally, diners at CVLTVRA were meant to be greeted by a lively mercado atmosphere, fitting for a Latin American restaurant in downtown Miami. Then, after the rest of the 8,200-square-foot space was crafted, local firm Bigtime Design Studios ultimately decided that a e constructive approach was more impactful. The color-saturated entrance is dramatic, but its depiction of everyday market life is now more subtle and imaginative. Callin Fortis, owner at Bigtime Design Studios, describes CVLTVRA’s (pronounced “cultura”) energy as frenzied, and that
sweeping vibrancy begins in the entry, where eyes are immediately drawn to a striking red spherical installation melding repurposed dried flowers and silk against a backdrop of green moss. It is invigorated by the flooring—hand-glazed hex tiles in a mélange of bright hues—and a skeleton of warm, beam-cut cypress overhead.”
To continue reading: VIEW FULL ARTICLE AS PDF
SOURCE ARTICLE: Pompanomagazine.com
The 115-seat indoor restaurant’s contemporary nautical setting was
designed by Bigtime Design Studios of Miami. Its décor features subtle sea
and sand graphic nods to the restaurant’s beachfront locale, including
marine life, fishing and diving lore, ship ropes and rigging accents
VIEW THE FULL ARTICLE AT POMPANO MAGAZINE
VIEW AS A PDF
SOURCE ARTICLE: Theberkshireedge.com
Miami-based Bigtime Design Studio created a blend of old and new design elements for Seven Hills, which, is wrapping up its head-to-toe renovations that include updated exteriors and landscaping, an enhanced swimming pool area, new furnishings and textiles, new guest bathrooms, and fully renovated common areas. The two main meeting rooms are being outfitted to accommodate small meetings and corporate retreats in addition to weddings and social events.
VIEW THE FULL ARTICLE AT THEBERKSHIREEDGE.COM
VIEW AS A PDF
SOURCE ARTICLE: Fb101.com
AND Fish Kitchen + Bar, South Florida’s newest fresh-catch culinary experience located inside the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Pompano Beach Resort & Spa…
The 115-seat indoor restaurant boasts an exceptional wine list with hand-crafted cocktails and signature dishes served in a contemporary nautical setting designed by Bigtime Design Studios of Miami. Its décor features subtle sea and sand graphic nods to its beachfront locale, marine life and fishing and diving lore with ship ropes and rigging accents.