South Florida Food 50: Josh Capon of Lure Fishbar

Josh Capon, executive chef and partner of Lure Fishbar

Why he’s Food 50: The New York-based chef treats his Miami Beach restaurant like his empire’s crown jewel, not a forgotten stepsister.

The only out-of-towner among the 2016 class of Food 50 honorees, chef Josh Capon is pretty much a local. A little more than two years into the successful run of Lure Fishbar, the South Beach offshoot of his Manhattan original, Capon still traipses down here regularly from New York like it’s nothing. He hams it up with customers and collaborates with his talented chef in South Beach, John Iatrellis, same as he does nightly at his New York restaurants, which include the original Lure and Burger & Barrel Winepub in SoHo, Mexican restaurant El Toro Blanco in the West Village and the most recent addition, Bowery Meat Company in the West Village.

Capon, whose smiling face and no-holds-barred opinions make him a natural on frequent TV appearances, displays a textbook example of the kind of attitude and work ethic celebrity chefs ought to strive for when they open in Miami. The fact that Lure’s food, drinks and service are among the best on the beach speak to Capon’s skill and success as a chef and leader.

Where to find him: Lure Fishbar, 1601 Collins Ave., Miami Beach (Loews Hotel); 305-695-4550

Web: lurefishbar.com

Instagram: @chefcapon

This story was originally published February 16, 2016 at 4:00 AM with the headline "South Florida Food 50: Josh Capon of Lure Fishbar."