Eating Out

 by Simone Zarmati Diament

photos: SFG

When a new venue such as the Traymore Restaurant and Bar at Metropolitan by COMO hires Sergio Caceres, the former F&B manager at db Bistro Moderne in downtown Miami,  as the hotel’s restaurant and bar manager, they mean business.

The newly opened Metropolitan by COMO, Miami Beach hotel, the Singapore-based hotel group’s first venture in the United States only aims for the best for their quaint 78-room hotel with a state-of-the-art spa  and a seafood restaurant.  The Executive Chef is Jonathan Lane, the former Executive Chef at the Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas, Chicago, Dallas and New York and at  Benny’s Chop House in Chicago, the Executive Pastry Chef is Portuguese-French born, Emmanuel Alves, and the company lured Spanish-born Javier Beneytos from the five-star Grand Luxe Villa Magna Hotel – a member of Leading Hotels of the World – to become the Hotel general manager.

The seashore property, once a hospital during WWII, had remained empty for decades  but is now alive with modern design,  good food and a center stage bar.  This is Miami’s first  ‘Gin Bar,’ I was told. It not only offers  up to 40 different brands of domestic and international premium gin, but a vast selection of  seasonal cocktails,  non-alcoholic fruit cocktails and low-calorie cocktails, along with spirits, wines and a signature menu selection of small bites prepared by Executive Chef Jonathan Lane.

While the wine list presents no quandaries, the menu is enticing  with offerings of fresh raw seafood platters  groaning with oysters, crabs, shrimp and lobster, grilled seafood dishes like the fork-tender and typically Mediterranean Grilled jumbo octopus with potatoes, olives and salsa verde ($16) or beautifully seasoned and well-balanced salads  such as the Salad of buttery Maine Lobster with blood orange, watermelon radish and  treviso ($20), as well as a good selection of entrees.

From the tempting offering of seafood stew and Garganelli with Peekytoe Crab, zucchini, mint and chili pasta ($24) or Olive oil poached Halibut with sunchokes, broad bean, olives and lemon ($28) , I picked a perfectly cooked, succulent Whole Roast Lemon Grouper ( $40 for two) with a side of broccoli rabe and another of Brussels sprouts sprinkled with roasted and crunchy slivered almonds. While there are plenty of vegetarian choices and for the meat lovers  a Char grilled dried aged New York Striploin with bone marrow butter, roast shallots and red wine butter sauce ($38), I opted for an item on the COMO Shambhala Cuisine menu – the refreshing and zesty Asian-inspired  Chilled Soba Noodles with raw Yellowfin tuna, seaweed and avocado  ($16).

The Shambhala menu developed by the COMO Group’s Executive Chef, Amanda Gale, uses organic and locally sourced ingredients, natural sweeteners and  no dairy,  to boost concentration and energy, and balance blood-sugar levels. So the food is delicious and good for you too!

It would definitely be sinful to leave without a couple of fruit-based desserts by master chocolatier and Executive pastry chef Emmanuel Alves: i.e. the sesame crusted crunchy cannoli with passion fruit cream and mango salad or the fruit paste stuffed macaroons with berry salad, or  citrus-flavored ice creams and  sorbets.

Guests can also enjoy an outdoor bar menu –  a selection of seafood bites, salads, pastas and brick oven Pizzetta  or the COMO Shambhala Wellness Juices ($9 each) , an exclusive menu of more than a dozen cold-pressed natural juices designed to replenish and rejuvenate – served throughout the day at the hotel’s poolside cabanas.

This is a place to go for those who want a delicious dinner in a peaceful, quiet (for the time being) and beautiful setting.

Traymore Restaurant and Bar at the Metropolitan by COMO, Miami Beach 2445 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33140,  305.695.3555  http://www.comohotels.com/metropolitanmiamibeach/dining/traymore Founded by Christina Ong, COMO Hotels and Resorts develops and manages handpicked, individually curated properties: The Halkin by COMO in London, two Metropolitan by COMO hotels in London and Bangkok, Parrot Cay by COMO in the Turks and Caicos, Cocoa Island by COMO in the Maldives, and three Uma by COMO experience resorts in Bali and Bhutan.  Maalifushi by COMO in the Maldives, Point Yamu by COMO, Phuket and Metropolitan by COMO, Miami Beach, are the newest properties to open. The company also manages COMO Shambhala Estate in Bali in partnership with its sister brand in wellness, COMO Shambhala, which promotes health, relaxation and learning through its products, services, cuisine, treatments and spa facilities within each COMO property.   www.comohotels.com Founded by Christina Ong, COMO Hotels and Resorts develops and manages handpicked, individually curated properties: The Halkin by COMO in London, two Metropolitan by COMO hotels in London and Bangkok, Parrot Cay by COMO in the Turks and Caicos, Cocoa Island by COMO in the Maldives, and three Uma by COMO experience resorts in Bali and Bhutan.  Maalifushi by COMO in the Maldives, Point Yamu by COMO, Phuket and Metropolitan by COMO, Miami Beach, are the newest properties to open. The company also manages COMO Shambhala Estate in Bali in partnership with its sister brand in wellness, COMO Shambhala, which promotes health, relaxation and learning through its products, services, cuisine, treatments and spa facilities within each COMO property.   www.comohotels.com