They were actually some positive things to come out of the pandemic, and one was a pop-up called Sunny’s Steakhouse at 7357 NW Miami Court; started by the Jaguar Sun Team. Tucked away in an industrial side road in Little River, is a gem of an oasis serving not only delicious food but genuine hospitality that is a rarity in Miami.

The team of Will Thompson and Chef Carey Hines have created a chic tropical oasis on lot 6. It is surrounded by greenery and anchored by a huge Banyan tree, all under twinkle lights. An inviting bar and fire pit greet you as you enter the socially distanced and one of the most magical al fresco dining options around. The floors are brick, the walls of the surrounding buildings are peeling, the chairs are bamboo, there’s a great soft playlist, and the dishes are served on white table cloths from a makeshift kitchen in the back where 90% of the food is prepared in a wood-fired oven. It is more like an elevated backyard bbq but at a much higher level, with some exquisite flavours coming out of an improvised kitchen. They refold your napkins if you get up from the table. They don’t even do this in some Michelin star restaurants. Is this Tulum or Miami? All combined it’s conducive to creating some memorable moments.

The food showcased skill in the kitchen. We started off with some Parker House rolls and honey butter. The oysters were fresh and served with a variety of sauces. There is a gem salad and Caesar salad to choose from. The Caesar was crisp and delicious. There are tartare’s and crudo. We went with a sea bass crudo. There are quite a few proteins to select from – chicken, fish, pork, duck, a hangar steak, a 70 day aged New York strip steak, a 40-day-aged ribeye, and Wagyu. There are several sauces for your protein, and we selected a bearnaise for our perfectly cooked hanger steak and a perigourdine sauce for our duck. It was a rich mixture of duck drippings, fat, and black truffles. Our server Nadia recommended that one, and we have to say a big thank you to her. There are also sides to choose from like heirloom tomatoes, loaded fingerling potatoes, and blistered shishito peppers.

The bar program from Jaguar Sun made its way here. Wines are offered from around the world and there are a couple of choices by the glass. There is also a full bar and cocktail list, but the focus is on martinis and Manhattans.

There are two offerings for dessert. One was hard to explain. It was similar to a small trifle with shavings of frozen foie gras. It was a little strange for me, but interesting nonetheless. We preferred the dramatic sundae with banana and espresso ice cream, cho nibs, and drizzled with a smoky caramel sauce.

We didn’t know what to expect when driving up to this quirky, hidden garden, but we were enamored and enchanted with our culinary experience from beginning to end.

Please note there is a free parking lot adjacent to the restaurant as well as street parking. Run, don’t walk to this little oasis before it closes at the end of April as it is too hot to be sitting outside. Let’s hope they start this up again next year. Sometimes you just have to expect the unexpected.

Recommend.

Happy dining,
Shanea

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *