Layla Miami Beach: A love story in food
Hidden in the new KAYAK Boutique hotel in Miami Beach, is Layla, a delicious new addition to the Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food scene.
With an outdoor garden along the Collins Canal, Layla offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a casual, yet elegant setting.
The restaurant’s name Layla is inspired by the Persian Romeo and Juliet-like love story that originated in 7th-century Arabia and later formed the basis of The Story of Layla and Majnun by the 12th-century Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi. It is the tale of a young man who fell hopelessly in love with a beautiful young girl and went crazy when he could not marry her.
Musician Eric Clapton was so moved by the story that he wrote the song, Layla, as an unrequited love song to George Harrison’s then wife, Pattie Boyd ( Clapton did go on to marry Pattie in later years).
Love stories aside, it is the food, and its attention to authentic ingredients that makes Layla a love story for its lucky diners.
Exec Chef John Iatrellis is at the helm, and while I know him from his many years at Barcelona/Barteca group, his Miami experiences have included Lure FishBar and The Forge. His most recent stint was in Barcelona Denver and he is passionate about his craft and sharing his knowledge and love of food with his servers and chef team.
I admit to visiting Layla 3 times in a little over a week, for breakfast, lunch and dinner and each visit was delicious with excellent service and very chill and relaxing. The KAYAK hotel is a well-appointed boutique hotel in partnership with Life House and the first of its kind in the US.
Layla’s Breakfast menu features a nice selection of items including a Labneh Yogurt with freshly made granola and berries, and a substantial Avocado Toast over Zak The Baker bread. An Eggplant Toast, Manjun Breakfast Sandwich with scrambled eggs and lamb sausage or Challah French Toast are among the other options.
Many of the items thankfully carry over onto the lunch menu including The Shakshuka, which is served bubbling in a cast iron skillet and topped with a poached egg and ZTB grilled sourdough bread on the side. Other lunch items include a tasty Braised Lamb Burger with fries and a Pastrami Sandwich with Russian Dressing on ZTB rye.
Falafel in pita sandwich comes with a caramelized tomato tahini.
I highly suggest that dinner starts with the Mezze platter which includes Crispy Chickpea Hummus, Roasted Eggplant Babaganosch, and Muhammara, Moroccan roasted peppers with pomegranate molasses dip. A large side of warm house-made pita is included.
Salads (most of which are also on the lunch menu) include the freshly diced Israeli salad of cucumber, tomato and red onion, a Kale salad, Tabbouleh salad and Halloumi salad with mixed greens.
Main dishes are divided into Small Plates and Large Plates and include a Flaming Saganaki cheese, Grilled Octopus, Falafel, and Grilled Cauliflower with golden raisins and honey. Roasted Eggplant, Moroccan Salmon and Grilled Ribeye round out just some of the larger options.
The Braised Lamb was flavorful and includes Jerusalem artichokes, feta and Pomegranate molasses. Ask for extra pita to mop up the delicious sauce.
Save room for dessert and especially the Baklava, which as the menu notes; “is made with love from Zaytouna Bakery, a local bakery that exclusively employees Syrian refugee women”. It is light, sweet, and perfectly sticky.
Beverages include creative cocktails with names like Devotion Potion, Two Hearts and Layla’s Lost Love, Natural wines, local beers and a soothing Moroccan mint tea.
Dine indoors or out in the garden downstairs along the Collins Canal which reflects the dinner party where Layla & Majnun first met or sneak away for an after-dinner drink to the secret rooftop courtyard inspired by the star-crossed lovers escape from the traditional walls to manifest their love freely.
A Poem by Nizami Ganjavi
I pass by this town, the town of Layla
And I kiss this wall and that wall
It’s not Love of the town that has enraptured my heart
But of the One who dwells within this town