UPDATED, Jan. 2, 5:35 p.m.: Joia Beach | Watson Island
Chris Paciello and Mio Danilovic of Liquid Hospitality will open Joia Beach at Jungle Island on Watson Island in January. The European-style concept, with its own beach, will be open for lunch and dinner.
Joia Beach is opening as part of a partnership with Jungle Island, Danilovic said. The restaurant will span about 4,000 square feet and the beach will take up nearly 2 acres of land that was previously used as a children’s park. It will have a separate entrance from Jungle Island with its own valet.
Francois Frossard designed the restaurant and lounge, at 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail in Miami. It will also feature a sunset deck, day beds, beachside board games and fitness classes, live music and arrival via yacht.
“We’re creating a space where Miami locals can come one to two times a week,” Danilovic said, noting that it will not offer memberships.
Joia Beach is expected to open in mid January.
Rusty Pelican seeks expansion
The Rusty Pelican, a Key Biscayne institution, is expanding in Florida. Its parent owner, Specialty Restaurants Corp., plans to open more Rusty Pelicans and Whiskey Joe’s in the Sunshine State, said owner John Tallichet.
Tallichet said that the company is looking at locations in urban markets between West Palm Beach and Miami, as well as downtown Tampa, for the Rusty Pelican. Whiskey Joe’s, a casual, beachy concept, is looking for sites throughout Florida.
“The tricky thing about Miami is you don’t have a lot of waterfront restaurants,” Tallichet said. “A lot of our expansion has been in the Tampa market, along the Gulf Coast.”
In the Miami market, Specialty Restaurants Corp. is working with local brokers to find new locations.
Rivertail | Fort Lauderdale
Chef José Mendín’s seafood restaurant, Rivertail, opened last week on Fort Lauderdale’s riverfront at 305 South Andrews Avenue. The Food Comma Group, of which Mendin is a partner, and Breakwater Hospitality will operate the restaurant.
Osaka | Brickell
Osaka, led by chefs Rogger Quispe and Juan Urrutia, opened at 1300 Brickell Bay Drive. The Peruvian-Japanese restaurant group, which operates nine locations in South America, is leasing 5,675 square feet in Brickell. It’s also opening in London in 2020. The South American restaurants grossed $20 million in revenue in 2019, according to a press release.
Frohzen | Miami Design District
Joël Robuchon protégé Salvatore Martone opened an ice cream concept in the Miami Design District. Frohzen opened earlier in December on the ground floor of Paradise Plaza across from Le Jardinier and L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon. French architect Pierre Yves-Rochon designed the 700-square-foot space.
Five Guys Burgers and Fries | Lincoln Road
Five Guys Burgers and Fries Leases leased the corner retail space at 100 Lincoln Road in Miami Beach. Five Guys is taking 4,020 square feet on Lincoln Road, according to a release. Newmark Knight Frank’s John Ellis and Aaron Labovitz represented Five Guys in the lease. JLL’s Zach Winkler and Jonathan Rosen represented the landlord, The Nightingale Group.
Orno and Mamey Gastrobar | Paseo de la Riviera in Coral Gables
Chef Niven Patel plans to open Orno, a New American restaurant, and Mamey Gastrobar at Paseo de la Riviera in Coral Gables. NP International is developing the mixed-use project along South Dixie Highway, near the University of Miami.
The development will have a 245-room Thesis Hotel, a 204-unit luxury apartment component, and an Industrious location.