Gold flakes on sushi: This hidden omakase gem just opened in an Aventura restaurant

In a hidden room at the back of a busy restaurant in an Aventura strip mall lies an exclusive new omakase experience.

Step through the packed tables on the sidewalk and into the cool interior of Reunion Ktchn Bar, and tell the hostess you have a reservation. She will lead you past diners and into the recesses of the restaurant, then knock on a secret door that seems to lead to a storage closet.

But there are no mops or paper towels inside. The door opens, and you enter Blind Tiger.

The sleek new omakase restaurant bears little resemblance to its crowded host, which is also home to a secret cocktail bar. It’s an intimate space, seating only 26 diners (eight at the bar, 18 in the dining area). The creation of culinary couple Cesar Olivo and Adriana Perez Benatar and partner Samuel Perez Benatar, who opened Reunion Ktchn Bar in October 2019, the restaurant will have two seatings a night, a 13-course dinner at 6 p.m. and a more expanded experience at 9 p.m.

Omakase restaurants have sprung up all over Miami and Miami Beach, ranging from older venues like Naoe, the only Forbes 5-Star rated restaurant in Miami-Dade, to newer spots like The Den at Azabu on Miami Beach. Omakase means “chef’s choice,” meaning the chef chooses what you eat. Olivo knows the field is becoming more crowded but says what sets Blind Tiger apart is that it’s not a traditional experience.

“We mix in different flavors and influences in almost every dish, often combining Japanese ingredients with ingredients from other parts of the world,” he says. “It’s not fusion. It’s about adding a twist that amplifies each bite, like the foie gras, touches that take the bite in a different, exciting direction.”

The current menu includes Maday nigiri with shaved truffle and truffle oil, medium-fatty Toro nigiri with Italian bottarga and gold flakes and O-Toro Tartar with Japanese white ponzu and caviar. Each meal includes a salad, miso soup (served at the end of the meal) and dessert.

Olivo says that while some favorites such as the wagyu course are likely to remain, the menu will change depending on what fish is in season. The idea is also to change it up to encourage diners to return to try something new.

Blind Tiger also has an impressive list of sakes, Japanese whisky and Japanese gin, which is a new concept to many, Olivo says. You choose which gin you want, then pick a tonic to complement it (the waitstaff is happy to guide you if you’re not sure what goes best together).

“We’re so thrilled to be an ambassador for it and to invite guests to try it,” he says. “What’s so cool about Japanese gin are the botanicals they use versus what many people expect when they order a gin drink.”

Though it’s different in style, tone and fare to Reunion Ktchn Bar, Blind Tiger should fit nicely into the Aventura culinary scene, Olivo says.

“It’s an upscale, sophisticated market that appreciates great food and drink,” he says. “It doesn’t require a long drive north or south.”

Blind Tiger

Where: Inside Reunion Ktchn Bar, 18167 Biscayne Blvd., Aventura

Cost: 6 p.m. seating $120 per person; 9 p.m. seating $150 per person; add $55 per person for bottomless Champagne

Reservations: blindtigerexperience.com

This story was originally published May 13, 2022 at 6:00 AM.