It was two weeks before Super Bowl LIV, and I invited Chef Dayanny Delacruz, Executive Chef at Hard Rock Stadium to join me for a media tasting dinner at Abiaka in the Guitar Hotel of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel. It was her last evening out before major prep began for the country’s biggest sporting event with her as the first woman and first Latino to ever host a Super Bowl.

Now, a week after Super Bowl, Chef Dayanny has rocketed to the top of the news cycles for her Super Bowl elevated food experiences, her engaging personality and exuberant smile and she even now has her own Wikipedia page.

But our evening together at the hands of the very talented Chef Tito Vargas of Abiaka was relaxing and just what we both needed.

As part of the $1.5 billion renovation, the new wood-fire grill overlooks the pool and in view of the Guitar Hotel itself and affords a front-row seat for the nightly Guitar Light Show. Abiaka brings Floridian flavors to the table via live fire and solid fuel grilling. The sleek, 160-seat restaurant was designed by acclaimed architect David Rockwell and offers idyllic views of the guitar-shaped hotel and aqua-blue pools and lagoons.

Unbeknownst to me, Chef Dayanny and Chef Vargas were old friends, so we got the royal tour of the open kitchen including the Josper grills, and wood burning stove. Chef Tito Vargas, who has 14+ years of experience with chef José Andres’ ThinkFoodGroup in Washington, D.C., also worked as part of the opening team at The Bazaar at the SLS Hotel South Beach.

While waiting at the bar for Dayanny to arrive, I ordered the Gable, a Tequila, Passion Fruit, Agave and Mezcal cocktail and sipped the smoky and sweet drink while watching the open kitchen prep for what turned out to be a busy evening. The cocktail menu is creative and includes local ingredients like mango, plantains, and smoked pineapple.

Once we were seated, a creative and delicious dinner followed, with each dish expertly prepared and presented. Highlights include from the Raw Bar and Bites section, the Blue Crab Hush Puppies topped with Honey Butter and caviar, and the bright and fresh Hamachi Ceviche with Corn and Sweet Potato.

Jamon Iberico came thinly sliced on toasted bread and topped with olives, roasted garlic and red wine jam. I could taste the José Andres influence, especially in this dish.

Also, under Bites, were Fish Fry, lightly battered market fish fingers with capers and freshly made lemon tartar sauce. We both agreed, that these were a favorite starter.

The menu also includes a section for Greens, with options such as Grilled Avocado with spiced goat cheese, Grilled Endive Salad with Blue Cheese and a Lobster Salad with Root Vegetables.

Under Main Entrees, you can choose from Ocean or Land. From Ocean we selected the Skuna Bay Cedar Salmon with Smoked Carrot purée which came with an amazing mezcal butter.

From Land, the Prime Tenderloin came over whipped sweet potatoes and topped with microgreens.

High roller alert: another menu section is entitled Feast, and includes Grilled Whole Fish, Bone in Beef Rib, Lobster and Dry-aged ribeye for those of you winners at the Blackjack tables.

There are also plenty of vegetable sides and an impressive Wine Wall highlighting the extensive wine list.

And of course, the Guitar Light Show added a colorful and entertaining element to the evening, as the hotel lights up synchronized to music.

As the famous movie line goes…”If you build it, they will come” from Field of Dreams, Abiaka in the Guitar Hotel is worth a visit for a delicious and entertaining night out. Maybe you can still score a reservation for Valentines Day?

Abiaka in The Guitar Hotel at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel 

2nd Floor Pool Vista Pavilion

1 Seminole Way, Hollywood, FL 33314