I would have preferred truffle oil instead of the overwhelming salt taste. I tried the sake nashi, a salmon and Asian pear roll covered in truffle salt. The menu features hot and cold small plates. Lastly, a lovely, romantic, lush, outdoor garden with candelabras on each table and a faux Japanese style garden in the back. Asian vases and lamps adorn the walls, velvet banquets, and lots of greenery as well as a beautifully painted mural on one wall. With flowered Christian Lacroix chairs, a lovely bar, complete with an overhead chandelier and a large faux rhino head on the far wall with neon lights that say “me so horny” – it is all very fun and kitsch. To get to the main dining room, you walk beneath faux cherry blossoms and pass through velvet roped off drapery. I can see a catastrophe happening with only two stalls and numerous guests.
There are neon signs everywhere, and bathrooms hidden behind a lovely mural. The first room features a lounge and sushi bar, where a gold, life-size sculpture of a gorilla sits. Inside, this 5,000 square foot space dazzles. There was no hostess at the stand and I had to go wandering around looking for someone to seat me. But both those places hosted everyone from athletes to tv personalities and rock stars.Īt Mandrake you enter through oversized turquoise doors with antique door knockers. Both those places, although beautifully appointed, and in the case of Chotto Matte, very theatrical, had subpar food. A red flag for me – is it is the same team behind Kiki on the River and the chef from Chotto Matte and Blue Ribbon Sushi.
This time the Mandrake has opened and may just be the most interesting, dark, sexy and “fantasy like” setting yet. But the space has always been a great one to work with, encompassing and indoor and outdoor garden. It has also endured an unfortunate fire in the past. Is this new Asian fusion inspired restaurant at 210 23rd Street Miami’s next celebrity hot spot, or will it be this location’s next casualty? This address on 23rd Street has gone through many incarnations.
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