Dadeland Mall is getting a new Mediterranean restaurant and it’s not some lame franchise

Chef Sebastian Fernandez of 33 Kitchen and Rare Burger fame is opening a pop-up restaurant inside Dadeland Mall. Barbarella, named after Fernandez’s daughter Barbara, is inspired by the Mediterranean coast, a departure from Fernandez’s signature Peruvian fare.

“I think is a great window to showcase something different than 33 Kitchen and we have this great opportunity to take over this spot and hopefully expand the brand,” Fernandez says.

Fernandez’s menu will focus on using local ingredients, seasonal and fresh produce. Dishes will be “family friendly,” with appetizers coming in around $8 and entrees ranging from $20 to $30.

A few of the dishes to expect: spicy pancetta pizza with honey, tomato sauce, calabrese pepper and mozzarella; shrimp pizza with manchego cheese, lemon, scallions and white sauce; octopus with sweet pea purée and olive tapenade; and watermelon Greek salad with fennel and feta tossed in a lemon olive oil vinaigrette.

This is the first foray into Kendall for Fernandez and biz partner/wife Leslie Ames, who chose this pop up in favor of renewing the lease for 33 Kitchen at The Citadel. The couple has signed a one-year-contract and plan to debut Barbarella in March.

Details: Barbarella, 7535 N. Kendall Dr., Unit #2380, Miami

Opening March 2020

This story was originally published February 21, 2020 at 11:58 AM.