Are these Miami chefs the best in the country? They could win a national award
A veteran Miami chef and a couple helping to transform the South Miami dining scene are among the 2026 semifinalists for the James Beard Awards.
Chef Michael Beltran, owner and partner of Ariete Hospitality Group, was nominated in the Best Chef: South category for his Michelin-starred restaurant Ariete in Coconut Grove. The restaurant, which opened in 2016, was praised by the Michelin Guide for its ability to blend “new American and classic French influences to dazzling effect.”
The Hialeah-born Beltran is also the force behind The Gibson Room, Laurel at Miami Worldcenter and Chug’s Diner, a Michelin Bib Gourmand. He also opened Chuggie’s, a hamburger joint, behind Chug’s in 2025.
Also nominated in the Best Chef: South category are Maria Teresa Gallina and Nicolas Martinez for their innovative restaurant Recoveco in South Miami, which was named one of the best new restaurants in the U.S. by Bon Appétit in 2025. The couple, who met while working in the kitchen at Alter in Wynwood, opened the restaurant in 2024 with a tiny menu that defies expectations.
Gallina said the nomination took her by surprise.
“We’re really proud of our whole team and all the effort that’s gone into making Recoveco a reality,” she said. “I hope we get a reason to see Chicago for the first time!”
Miami, which has been noticeably left out of top awards like outstanding restaurant and outstanding chef, has dominated the Best of: South category in recent years. In 2024, Chef Valerie Chang Cumpa won the category for her Peruvian restaurant Maty’s in Midtown Miami. A year later, her brother Nando Chang won on the strength of his omakase counter Itamae Ao, also in Midtown.
When Maty’s closed in 2025, Itamae Ao, which was located inside of it, was forced to close, too.
Beverage awards
Two Miami spots were also nominated as semifinalists in the beverage categories.
Bar Bucce from the Macchialina team, a casual pizzeria, bottle shop and market, was nominated in the Best New Bar category. This may seem a bit strange, as the restaurant is primarily known for pizza and wine and the occasional beer, but it also happens to serve a couple of notable cocktails.
The waterfront restaurant Amara at Paraiso from Genuine Hospitality, which is led by James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Schwartz, was nominated in the Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program.
Nominees (meaning the finalists) will be announced on March 31. Winners will be announced at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on June 15 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
