Miami’s Best Pop-Up Restaurants & Dining Collabs This Summer
Summer may mean vacation, but Miami chefs are showing no signs of slowing down as they pull out all the stops for the ultimate in backyard barbecues and gourmet grilling. Take a break from basking on the beach and swing by one of these limited-time dining soirées with top chefs teaming up for meals everywhere from museums to patios and pop-up eateries, adding a Michelin-starred spin to summertime.
Summer Chef Series Kicks Off at Verde
Verde’s executive chef Kaytlin Brakefield is teaming up with a different guest chef every month to craft a three-course, family style meal with wine pairings ($85) at the Pérez Art Museum Miami restaurant. First up to the plate is Italian restaurant Macchialina’s chef and owner Michael Pirolo on Thursday, July 7 with cocktails and canapes on the Landon Terrace at 6:30 p.m., followed by a seated dinner at 7 p.m. After that, EDGE Steak & Bar’s Aaron Brooks will join the kitchen August 4, followed by Nevin Patel of Islamorada’s Cheeca Lodge & Spa on September 1.
When: First Thursdays of the month, July through September
PAMM, 1103 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; 305-375-8282
The Dutch’s Patio BBQ Series is Back
The Dutch’s backyard patio, the Grove, is playing host to the restaurant’s annual BBQ series for the fifth year in a row with a new chef each week helming the cuisine Wednesdays at 7 p.m. all month long. Feast on family style grilled fare ($40 per person) from the likes of Drunken Dragon’s Xavier Torres and Cake Thai Kitchen’s Phuket Thong while sipping summer-inspired bourbon drinks and small-batch local brews.
When: Wednesdays in July at 7 p.m.
W South Beach, 2201 Collins Ave., Miami Beach;305-938-3111
PB Burger Series at Pubbelly Restaurant
National Burger Month may officially take place in May, but Pubbelly (pictured at top) has extended this celebration a few months with its summer burger series partnership with James Beard Foundation’s Blended Burger Project. Each Wednesday in July, guest chefs like Burger Beast’s Sef Gonzalez and Chat Chow TV’s Gio Gutierrez will join José Mendin in the kitchen to craft their burger of the week, with $1 of all proceeds benefiting the foundation.
When: Wednesdays in July
1418 20th St., Miami Beach; 305-532-7555
Kuenko Food Truck Rolls Up at Wynwood Yard
Spanish chef Ricardo Sanz behind Madrid’s Michelin-starred Kabuki partnered up with former soccer star Anthony Ricci of the Argentino Juniors to bring his Spanish-Japanese fusion of flavors Stateside, starting with a pop-up in Miami at the Wynwood Yard. The Kuenko food truck crafts the same quality Michelin-starred fare in a more approachable sense with a menu that’s simple but done to perfection. Step up to the truck and take your pick of Donburi, or Japanese rice bowls, with your protein of choice like shrimp tempura and spicy tuna, topped with secret sauces and the pièce de résistance—a fried quail egg.
When: Tuesdays 5-9 p.m.; Wednesdays and Thursdays noon-9 p.m.; weekends noon-3 p.m. and 7 p.m.-midnight.
56 NW 29th St., Wynwood; 305-771-4810
Miami Spice Mash-Up/Mix-Up at Quality Meats
The second Miami Spice Mash-Up/Mix-Up in the series has Quality Meats’ chef Patrick Rebholz chopping alongside EDGE, Steak & Bar’s chef Aaron Brooks during a three-course meal ($65) inspired by their Miami Spice menus. Start the evening sipping a cocktail crafted by Quality Meats’ mixologist Fred Cabrera, choosing from a base of Bulleit Bourbon, Don Julio, Zacapa Rum or Ketel One Vodka before moving on to Argentinian Terrazas de los Andes wine and Stella Artois beer at dinner, where you’ll have the chance to preview two Miami Spice dishes from each eatery.
When: Wednesday, July 20 at 7 p.m.
1501 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 305-340-3333
2016 Miami New Times Iron Fork
Before deciding which restaurants to hit up during the two month-long Miami Spice, make the rounds sampling selections from over 70 of the city’s eateries on Thursday, July 28 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the New Times Iron Fork Miami Spice Kick Off Event at AmericanAirlines Arena. While raising money for Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign, you can catch two of Miami’s top chefs battling it out for the Iron Fork Award during a cooking competition overseen by chef Allen Susser.
When: Thursday, July 28; 6 to 10 p.m.
AmericanAirlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami
Miami Smokers Heads to Brickell
The Little Havana BBQ joint is bringing its signature Miami Smokers fare to an express location popping up in the 50-seater space in Brickell formerly housing Sushi Maki. You’ll find all your faves on the menu, as well as tapas like Smokers Sliders and a Floridian board filled with carnivorous selections of meats and cheeses that pair beautifully with the Miami brews on the tap.
When: Now through September
1000 S. Miami Ave., Brickell
Pizza & Burger – Michael’s Backyard Kitchen Pops Up at Michael Mina 74
Inspired by backyard BBQs, Michael Mina 74 is taking on a summertime spin with the pop-up of Pizza & Burger – Michael’s Backyard Kitchen. Expect the same style of gastropub cuisine with a menu of made-from-scratch pizzas topped with everything from butter poached lobster and summer truffle to focaccia crust pies with hot coppa and peppadew peppers, in addition to design-your-own salads and burgers like MM74’s Dry Aged classic with crispy pork belly and spicy ketchup. Of course it wouldn’t feel like summer without frozen treats, and diners have two types to choose from: ice cream served up in sundaes and sandwiches or a selection of blended cocktails like margaritas and the Jungle Bird, a mix of Cruzan Rum, Campari, pineapple and lime.
When: Now through Labor Day
Fontainebleau Miami Beach, 4441 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 305-674-4636
CENA Debuts Dusk Pop-Up at Crumb on Parchment
CENA’s Mike Mayta and Keily Vazquez are bringing their modern American cuisine to another one of Bernstein’s spots with the pop up of DUSK at Crumb on Parchment in the Design District this summer. Get ready for a menu of Southern savory and sweet selections like chicken liver mousse and biscuits, Caesar salad croquetas, and blueberry pie with sweet corn ice cream.
When: Now through September 30; Thursday through Saturday, 6 to 10:30 p.m.
3930 NE 2nd Ave., Miami; 786-292-6799
This story was originally published July 5, 2016 at 12:07 AM.