The goods: Restaurateur Amir Ben-Zion and event consultant Amaris Jones have opened South Street in the Design District’s former Sra. Martinez space.
Ambience: The old post office building has been transformed with cushy banquettes, vintage jazz and Motown records and a tiny upstairs lounge featuring live music on the weekends.
The grub: Refined, “healthier” soul food classics. Portions are generous and prices are in keeping with the neighborhood: starters $7-$18, mains mid $20s and sides $6.
Order the bread basket with house-made corn muffins, biscuits (sweet potato and regular), local honey and cinnamon-pecan butter. Hearty “small” plates include bourbon-barbecued wings, fried catfish, four-cheese mac and cheese and a quinoa and kale salad. Mains include smothered turkey chops, collard greens with smoked turkey standing in for ham hocks, braised short ribs, a massive turkey chop with cornbread stuffing and a four-piece fried chicken basket with collard greens and candied yams. Desserts include red velvet cupcakes and a “sock it to me” pecan coffee cake with vanilla ice cream.
Verdict: A jazzy, welcoming spot for lighter-than-expected Southern home cooking.
Links:
[1] http://www.miami.com/restaurants/first-look
[2] http://www.miami.com/bite-something-new-june-article
[3] http://www.miami.com/restaurants/nibbles-and-bits
[4] http://www.miami.com/support-make-wish-month-intercontinental-miami-amp-toro-toro-article
[5] http://www.miami.com/bourbon-steak039s-fries-named-among-serves-quotamerica-s-best-french-friesquot-article
[6] http://www.miami.com/california-s-umami-burger-makes-its-south-beach-debut-article
[7] http://www.miami.com/barezzito-brings-live-music-amp-latin-influenced-sushi-south-beach-article
[8] http://www.miami.com/first-look-jeffrey-chodorow039s-biscayne-tavern-article
[9] http://www.miami.com/tudor-house-chef-jamie-derosa-opens-tongue-amp-cheek-miami-beach-article
[10] http://www.miami.com/barock-ambitious-new-ocean-drive-spot-european-pedigree-article
[11] http://www.miami.com/poseidon-brings-taste-greek-isles-south-beach-article
[12] http://www.miami.com/get-first-look-copperbox-wynwood-s-secret-gastronomic-studio-article
[13] http://www.miami.com/charles-st-brings-upscale-pub-grub-amp-late-night-dining-south-beach039s-boulan-hotel-article
[14] http://www.miami.com/50-eggs-team-opens-swine-southern-table-and-bar-coral-gables-article
[15] http://www.miami.com/devon-seafood-steak-brings-classics-kendall-article
[16] http://www.twitter.com/miamicom