When Chef Michael Schwartz opened Michael's Genuine Food & Drink in 2007,  the Design District was barely emerging as a credible new shopping neighborhood.  Populated with mostly furniture and home decor showrooms, it appealed mostly to high end decorators and designers.  But, tucked in practically an alleyway between two buildings, MGFD, was immediately embraced by both local food lovers and visiting food notables.

Awarded the coveted, James Beard Award in 2010, Chef Schwartz was just recently quoted as saying,

" We've always tried to stay one step ahead to keep things fresh at Genuine ", with the influx of luxury retailers recently moving into the Design District, Chef Schwartz understands the changing landscape, " I've seen this neighborhood evolve plenty since we opened in 2007, but this season will really be a game changer.  I don't think any of us can truly appreciate the magnitude of what's about to go down here, but that's not going to stop us from being as ready as we can be! ". 

And ready they will be!  

Opening this week is the re-imagined Michael's Genuine featuring an Afternoon Service from 3 pm to 5:30 for those designer-weary shoppers and an expanded Bar Room, anchored by the new bar's mahogany counter sourced and forged by Schwartz's longtime collaborator Miles Black, who also is responsible for the beautiful millwork at The Genuine Hospitality Group's The Cypress Room. 

The focal point of Afternoon’s a la carte menu is the new Raw Bar featuring a rotating selection of two East Coast and two West Coast oysters,  Middleneck Clams on the ½ shell,  Traditional Shellfish Towers, Classic Shrimp Cocktail with house cocktail sauce,  chilled ½ Maine lobster, Stone Crabs with mustard sauce (seasonal); and one crudo, tartare and ceviche with setups that will change daily.  

Then there are six classic Schwartz dishes like his stracciatella highlighting the fall season’s first Florida heirloom tomatoes with local basil, extra-virgin olive oil, fleur de sel, butter lettuce with orange, hazelnuts, avocado, shallot-hazelnut vinaigrette, Honeycrisp apples with greens, pumpkin seeds, goat cheese, Dijon vinaigrette,  crispy sweet & spicy pork belly with kimchi, crushed peanuts,  and two wood oven pizzas – a daily special such as cured salami with pesto, red onion, arugula, fontina, as well as heirloom tomato with pesto, roasted peppers, mozzarella, pine nuts. 

Genuine Snacks round out the savory selection, and milk chocolate cremoso with extra-virgin olive oil, sourdough crostini and The Genuine Hospitality Group's Executive Pastry Chef Hedy Goldsmith’s daily-changing homemade ice creams & sorbets served with a shortbread cookie make for an even sweeter afternoon.  The back of menu will highlight the restaurant’s cocktail list and offer the same solid rotating selection of craft and other longtime favorite beers, as well as wines by the glass and bottle. 

Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink is open seven days a week, with Lunch Monday through Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Afternoon Monday through Saturday 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Dinner Monday through Thursday 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., Friday & Saturday 5:30 p.m. to midnight, and Sunday 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.; and their popular Brunch Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Stop by  one afternoon. even if you skip the shopping and just go for genuinely great food and drink!

Michael's Genuine Food & Drink

130 NE 40th St. 

Miami, FL

305 573 5550

( Information and Photos provided by The Genuine Hospitality Group )