One of Miami’s best restaurants is in Kendall. Now it’s finally opening in Wynwood

One of Kendall’s favorite restaurants is finally opening on Miami-Dade’s east side.

Ghee Indian Kitchen, the Michelin-recognized spot from Chef Niven Patel and business partner Mohamed Alkassar’s Feal Hospitality, has arrived in Wynwood.

The opening comes four years after Ghee in Miami’s Design District closed during the pandemic (the original Ghee opened in Downtown Dadeland in 2017). Patel has been fielding questions about when the restaurant might return to the east side of town ever since.

“It’s been a great evolution over the last seven and a half years,” he says. “We opened in the Design District six months after opening the first location. It was a small restaurant, just 45 seats, but I think it made a big impact on this side of town.”

The new Ghee seats 120 diners, 110 in the dining room and 10 at the bar. It’s both similar to and slightly different from the Kendall original. The design by Paty Duran of Hybrid Creative in Miami is thoughtful and vibrant, inspired by a trip to India Patel and Alkassar made to find fabrics and furniture that would suit the atmosphere they wanted to create.

There’s also a gorgeous mural by artist Matthew Herget, who painted the mural of an elephant entitled “Abundance” in the original Ghee. The mural at the new Ghee, “Abundance II,” features a family of elephants, representative of Feal Hospitality’s growing family of restaurants, including the glamorous Italian spot Erba in Coral Gables, the Mediterranean NiMo in Tequesta and the island-inspired Paya in Miami Beach.

The design was an important part of the process.

“The objective was how to create a second location that allows us to scale the brand without losing the intimacy or the core concept,” Alkassar explains. “Niven has always said he wanted people to feel like they’re walking into his home. That’s what we’re happiest with, that it still feels intimate.”

As for the menu, fans will find many of the favorites that made Ghee a must in southern Miami-Dade.

“What made Ghee Ghee is still on the menu,” Alkassar promises.

The Wynwood Ghee, however, will offer 10 to 15 only-in-Wynwood items, Patel says, including items from a kebab grill.

“It gives the essence of flavor of a tandoor with more consistency,” he says, adding that he plans to use it for lamb chops and prawns, even for a soy kebab for vegetarians.

Other highlights of the menu include brie and truffle naan and ghost pepper cheddar naan and a short rib dosa. Curries include a turmeric-marinated fish with coconut and fennel sofrito, smoked lamb neck and a chili crab cake with tamarind and heirloom tomatoes. There are chai ice cream sandwiches and a 13-dish tasting menu for $75.

Ghee will also launch its first cocktail program in Wynwood, serving what Patel and Alkassar call “farm to glass” cocktails with some ingredients sourced from Rancho Patel, Patel’s farm in Homestead.

Drinks include the Ginger Kokum Spritz with ginger and mangosteen (a South Asian fruit not to be confused with Miami’s beloved mango) with Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur, Cocchi Americano, club soda and prosecco; the Bitter Jewel, a turmeric-infused White Negroni; and Night Market, a masala-spiced espresso martini with Brugal 1888 rum, garam masala-infused agave syrup, espresso liqueur and cold brew concentrate.

In January, Ghee will launch its own version of the UK’s high tea called Hi-Chai, a tea service that comes with a stacked tower of sweet and savory bites. Tea will run from 3-5 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

Wynwood, of course, has a different clientele than Downtown Dadeland, but Patel and Alkassar are prepared. Working at Paya, which opened in September and recently debuted its patio during Miami Art Week, has given them insight into serving a mix of locals and tourists.

“We’re adjusting to the demographic on this side of town,” Alkassar says. “Shockingly, in South Beach, we’ve had a ton of repeat guests. So Niven sometimes does an off-menu item to keep it exciting for people who come three or four times a week. I think that’s going to help us in Wynwood, too.”

Ghee Indian Kitchen

Where: 63 NW 24th St., Miami

Opening: Dec. 19

Hours: 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. daily

More information: www.gheemiami.com

This story was originally published December 18, 2024 at 4:30 AM.