James Beard Award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein is the culinary force  behind the new Seagrape restaurant in the Thompson Miami Beach hotel.

Before Thompson Miami Beach opened late last year, management sought a big-name chef to oversee its 267-seat restaurant, Seagrape. That it got with celebrity chef Bernstein. The beach and the ocean are the inspiration for the restaurant design and the menu, says Bernstein. The casually elegant Floridian brasserie blends elements of 1950s architecture with a warm, relaxed flair. Bernstein’s menu is terrific eaten in the sophisticated dining room or out on the casual outdoor terrace.

Seagrape, which instills a relaxed bohemian flair, features classic terrazzo floors, light oak walls and tables and Gio Ponti-style wooden chairs upholstered in yellow leather. A sleek green marble horseshoe-shaped bar serves as a focal point of the restaurant. The terrace presents an idyllic setting for outdoor dining with views of lush tropical gardens.

For the menu, Bernstein has commissioned a handful of local farmers to grow specific products exclusively for Seagrape. The menu features several raw selections (local fish ceviche), a “Nosh” section (uni toast with lardo, avocado and toasted brioche) and Starters such as Spanish octopus a la plancha with potato foam.

A large plates section includes whole crispy snapper and Elysian Fields Lamb Chops. Also available are several steakhouse selections, including a 28-ounce bone-in ribeye.

Clearly, the folks behind the Thompson Miami Beach were swinging for the fence with Seagrape, and they’ve succeeded with Bernstein’s talent in the kitchen.

Contact Michael Sanson at [email protected].
Follow him on Twitter: @MikeSansonRH