So far, 2026 is all about rejecting ice cream, embracing fast-casual, and getting into the croissant game, even if you’re a restaurant that’s not technically open for breakfast. We’re also seeing a different twist on Lincoln Road’s tourist-focused strategy, and we’re kind of bummed that Little River officially has bottle service now. Let’s dive into it all.
THE TRENDSLincoln Road Isn’t Abandoning Tourist Traps, It’s Just Importing Them
Lincoln Road used to be a place full of tourist traps. It still is—it’s just that now they’re importing them from around the world, turning this street into an international food court of TikTok-famous restaurants. The first seed was Osteria Da Fortunata, a restaurant from Rome where people wait hours for carbonara, which, we must admit, isn’t bad. Then came the infamous Andrés Carne De Res from Colombia. We’ve been to the one in Bogota and can safely say their Miami outpost is watered down and overpriced. Myka, the viral frozen yogurt shop from Madrid, is the latest addition, and All’Antico Vinaio, a wildly popular sandwich shop from Florence, is reportedly opening soon.
Instead Of Closing, Some Restaurants Are Passing The Torch
Selling often leads to selling out. But Off Site, Knaus Berry Farm, and The Gibson Room are all proving that a restaurant can pass the torch without letting the flame go out. The local brewer who took over Off Site put his beers on tap and renamed it No Seasons, but he kept the menu and old traditions intact (like the complimentary Friday beer chug). Knaus Berry Farm’s new owners went through painstaking steps to preserve its soul and its cinnamon rolls. And the old Gibson Room’s menu wasn’t drawing in the regulars it needed to survive. But instead of closing, they handed their kitchen to Miami Slice. It’s still a great place for a cold martini, but now they’re serving excellent burgers and slices that feel more spiritually aligned with Coral Way.
A Little River Reality Check
Little River was always going to change, but there was a second there when it seemed like it would be a home for scrappy local spots like Low Key, Rosie’s, and The Center For Subtropical Affairs (later Understory). We’re not so sure anymore. Low Key is gone, Rosie’s never got the restaurant they needed, and we fear that Understory is now a condo in waiting. The nearby ZeyZey, though technically in Little Haiti, also announced in an interview last year that it will eventually close when construction begins on the development across the street. The latest Little River opening, Fooq’s, seems more spiritually aligned with Brickell or Wynwood, with its valet-only parking lot, $225 New York strip, and upstairs bottle service. Still, there are reasons for optimism in Sunny’s and Bar Bucce, two shiny new Little River spots that prove you can be big and grassroots. We’d like to see more of that.
photo credit: Mariana Trabanino
video credit: Julia Malave
video credit: Mariana Trabanino
photo credit: Jordan Frey Photography
What The Hell Happened to Ice Cream?
The state of ice cream in Miami is in steady decline thanks to wellness culture. The proof is in the avalanche of frozen yogurt shops that have recently opened, like Myka, Meli, and a few others that also sound like characters from a children’s book about animals that can talk. There’s also Banana Daddy, a banana-based soft serve shop (we have two of those now, in case you’re keeping score). Our aggressive cultural health kick might explain the sad downfall of good, old-fashioned ice cream. Those shops are not opening nearly as fast, though we’re thankful for Charlie’s second location in Westchester. They’re not trying to nourish your gut microbiome, which is precisely what makes it so good.
photo credit: Virginia Otazo
video credit: Virginia Otazo
video credit: Virginia Otazo
photo credit: Virginia Otazo
Dinner Spots Want In On Breakfast
Great news for morning people: three of our favorite dinner spots are getting into the breakfast game. When you already have a talented baker on the team and a dining public that’s never been more obsessed with laminated dough, why not? To Be Determined’s new breakfast service runs from Wednesday to Saturday (8am to 2pm) and Sundays (10am to 3pm). They’re serving a fantastic croque monsieur, some rotating baked goods, and getting morning mileage out of their espresso machine. Gramps Getaway is currently soft-launching Gramps Luncheonette Monday through Thursday, from 8am to noon. Those pastries are not only stellar, but come with a waterfront view. And Over Under is setting its alarm on Sunday mornings for Flagler St. Bakery, a new pop-up that’ll operate like a ventanita, selling some excellent baked goods, sandwiches, and coffee.
Italy Is Sending Us Their Most Dramatic Restaurants
The first page of Francesco Martucci’s menu lists seven different accolades, including “world’s best pizza chef,” “pizza of the year 2025,” and “maestro della pizza.” The owner of the restaurant group that brought Milan’s Le Specialità to the Design District said in an interview, “Miami was missing a restaurant focused on pizza at this caliber” (yeah, not quite). News broke at the beginning of the year that Il Mannarino, a Milan butcher shop and restaurant, is coming to Midtown—and pretty much every ensuing article used the word “famous” in the headline. All of these Italian restaurants have chosen Miami as their first US location, which is exciting, don’t get us wrong. But, frankly, everyone is being a little dramatic about it. Before you call yourself the best or world famous, you’ve got to prove it (and, so far, none of these places have).
Counter Service Isn’t Just For Fast Food Anymore
More and more lately, we’re not placing our orders with a server standing next to our table. We’re walking up to a counter, where a dedicated employee punches it into a screen. Counter service is not a new thing, but it has traditionally been more of a fast-casual thing. That’s starting to shift. First, with Bar Bucce, then with Drinking Pig (where you place your order at the host stand), and most recently with Vecinos. These places still have servers, who you can flag down to ask for a new drink or dessert (we’ve been calling them “floating servers”). We’re still getting used to this system, but, as people who’ve spent a collective 75 hours waiting for checks, we must admit that it is nice to pay upfront so you can just leave when you’re done.
People Are Pumped About Casual Restaurants
The most exciting openings of the year so far have also been the most casual ones. Frankie & Wally’s lines wrap around the building on weekends, Pluma’s fried chicken sandwiches are great, and we bring up Fiorito Almacen’s choripan at least three times per week. Fast-casual spots like Chuggie’s, Ted’s, and My Cousin Nick have also graced our Hit List recently. With the exception of a couple of great omakases (hello, Yasu and Elyu), we’ve yet to feel as pumped about the big, flashy, expensive openings of 2026. This trend speaks to price fatigue, sure, but also signals Miamians’ desire to not have to dress up and jump through so many emotional hoops for a great meal.