Miami Spice — Katsuya Brickell

What we had: Foodies, rejoice — you no longer have to venture to South Beach to enjoy some gastronomic goodness by master sushi chef Katsuya Uechi. Located in the SLS Lux Brickell, the recently opened Katsuya is offering a Miami Spice dinner menu every day through September 30. If you love your pork belly, start with the Kakuni Tonkatsu as your appetizer. The kurabuta pork belly is butter-soft and served with carrot puree and heirloom carrot salad. Trying to keep on the lighter side? Go with the Kampachi Kalamansi, a refreshing dish of compressed watermelon, kampachi sashimi, kalamansi, and rare white shoyu. For your main, you can’t go wrong with Katsuya’s Miso Black Cod, served with creamed daikon, chewy sea beans, asparagus and (ready for this?) edible sand. For an additional $12, you can take your dinner to the next level with the Lobster Robata, grilled to perfection and served with sriracha butter, potato puree, garlic root and frothy bisque air. Last but not least, choose between two dessert options. The first is a tropical confection of coconut mousse, key lime curd, macaroon and mango mochi called Winter In Osaka. Its counterpart, the Salty Samurai, pairs salted caramel ice cream with warm caramel foam, candied popcorn, and shoyu gelee. 

Who should go: Unlike the white-and-red palette and grand ballroom vibes of its sister location in South Beach, Brickell’s Katsuya is all wood and bamboo, cozy tucked-away booths with privacy screens, and dark marble. Japanese collectibles and design elements — like the massive Daruma-inspired art installations that hang from the ceiling — make it easy to forget you’re in Miami, while dim lighting and a bass-driven soundtrack create a posh and sultry dining atmosphere that’s perfect for date nights and power dinners. Maybe leave the kids at home with a babysitter for this one.

This story was originally published August 2, 2018 at 8:08 AM.