Two new dining and drinking venues recently made their debut at the Moxy South Beach, and one of them will instantly transport you to the streets of Jalisco, Mexico by way of a secret back entrance.
The stylish hotel that opened in February is already making waves for its exciting dining concepts from the founders of Wynwood favorites 1-800-LUCKY and Coyo Taco. New to the fold — joining the hotel's sister restaurants, Serena and Los Buenos — is Como Como and its tequlia-themed bar, Mezcalista.
Como is described as a marisquería, a seafood-themed restaurant and raw bar that channels the flavors of Puerto Escondido, Los Cabos, and Acapulco, offering an authentic perspective on Mexico's traditional seafood dishes. The name itself is a play on the Spanish word for "how I eat" — a winking reference to the eatery's interactive theme.
"The marisqueria and lounge reflect what this hotel is all about, combining sophistication with a theatrical flair to create a one-of-a-kind experience for both locals and guests," says Mitchell Hochberg, president of Lightstone, the group behind the concept. "There is truly nothing like either of these venues in Miami.”
To that end, the centerpiece of the dramatic dining room is a striking copper-and-wrought-iron “fuego” (fire station), where diners can watch the whole fish they’ve selected being cooked over a wood-burning grill. Here, executive chef Scott Linquist has created dishes that elevate traditional techniques with a theatrical dining experience.
Many dishes feature whole grilled fish caught in local waters, such as Pescado a la Talla: snapper that is butterflied, grilled, and painted with two marinades - green on one side and red on the other. Tikin-Xic is a Mayan preparation of whole branzino flavored with bitter orange, habanero chiles, and achiote, cooked in banana leaves before being unwrapped, fragrant and steaming, at the table. Additional tableside presentations add to the excitement of the evening, whether it's a traditional Caesar Salad (a dish born in Tijuana, Mexico), or hand-chopped Tartar de Pescado (fish of the day).
A barra cruda, or raw bar, sits on a monolithic, rough-cut stone in the middle of the dining room. Dishes from the barra cruda come with a Mexican twist, like oysters served with a pineapple-vinegar mignonette or a picadillo made with tomatillos and cucumbers. Como Como also features traditional coastal varieties of ceviches. At the center of the bar is a spectacular “tequila tree” sculpture made of hand-blown glass spheres and copper pipes, symbolizing the distillation process that transforms the blue agave plant into tequila and mezcal. Tequila travels through this dramatically lit forest of glass and metal until it is dispensed by bartenders into creative cocktails.
"At Como Como, we wanted to create an unparalleled experience in Miami," says Alan Drummond, a partner at Coyo Group. "Fresh, local whole fish is prepared directly in front of diners from the fuego, elevating the seafood traditions of Mexico. When you combine that with the immersive design of the restaurant, it provides an environment that truly feels like you are being transported to a different place."
Other dishes on the dinner menu include Alambre al Pastor: scallops or pork tenderloin grilled on skewers with pineapple and spring onions, a variation on Mexico City’s beloved al pastor tacos; a rotating selection of traditional Oaxacan-style mole sauces; and meat dishes, including Chuletón (ribeye steak), Filete (filet mignon), and adobo marinated rack of lamb all of them flame-grilled in the fuego and served with a variety of house-made sauces and condiments.
Vegetable dishes are roasted in the fuego’s Josper charcoal oven and served in cast-iron pans, including Esquites, roasted corn with homemade garlic aioli, morita chile, and cotija cheese; and Charcoal Oven roasted artichokes with roasted jalapeño aioli, buttery herbed bread crumbs and charred lemon. Many dishes are accompanied by tortillas, ground and pressed in-house, and cooked on a comal, or traditional Mexican griddle.
Also now open for private events and to the public is Mezcalista, the restaurant's sexy, intimate lounge featuring an impressive collection of 100 mezcal and tequila.
The space is accessed by a discreet entrance in the back of Como Como. Designed as a catacomb-like space dedicated to the ancient traditions of mezcal, the revered spirit first distilled centuries ago, copper shelves hold beautiful glass bottles of mezcal and tequila. From the foyer, guests proceed past an arched doorway into a seductively lit lounge with banquettes upholstered in leather and velvet. Behind a bar topped with black Nero stone, a terracotta wall displays mezcal bottles illuminated from below. Adjacent to the lounge, a velvet-draped, stone-walled tasting room provides an intimate setting for private parties.
Inside, expert mezcaliers are on-hand to engage with guests and explain the different floral and smoky notes. The lounge’s vibe ranges from intimate and relaxing early in the week, with mezcal connoisseurs sipping attentively, to fun and exclusive on the weekends, with performances from some of the world’s top DJ’s and perhaps some late-night dancing on the walnut and leather banquettes.
For more information on Como Como, or to make a reservation, visit comocomomiami.com. For private event inquiries at Como Como or Mezcalista call 305-423-8004.