Brasserie Laurel is a fine dining experience reflective of all the lessons Chef Michael Beltran and his team from Ariete Hospitality has learned over the years. One of the first restaurants to open in Miami World Center in Downtown Miami, Brasserie Laurel welcomes diners into a dimly lit, romantic and sophisticated space with a tailored food and beverage program that is unlike many other places in the County. You will find all sorts of dishes here, from various aged cheeses, to foie gras, and protein dishes such as Boeuf En Croûte (their version of Beef Wellington) that shows the team's experience ability to combine classic, high-end French fare with local ingredients.
Our evening started off with an amuse bouche. This appeared to be some sort of puff pastry with a light green creamy, pea-based sauce. The manager had overheard that my wife and I had recently gotten married, so two complementary glasses of champagne were sent over to our table with our amuse bouche (a very nice touch)!
We opted for the Miami Spice menu to try a bit of everything. Here is what we selected:
Appetizer
- SEA BREAM CRUDO: sea bream, sauce verte, cara cara orange, fennel, citron
- LYONNAISE SALAD: frog legs, Florida avocado, pickled mango, farm egg
Entree
- COQ AU VIN POT PIE: green circle chicken, mushrooms, pancetta lardons
- GRILLED PORK COLLAR: Berkshire pork collar, guava poivrade, local turnips
Dessert
- CARDAMOM PANNA COTTA: preserved pluots, peach granita, bay leaf meringue
- CHEESE SELECTION: sourdough bread, local fruit jams, housemade pickles
After dinner, we also split a much needed double espresso to fuel us for our walk back home.
The Lyonnaise Salad was my first time having frog legs. Needless to say, I am sure every other frog leg dish will be ruined for me! Both entrees were EXCELLENT, but if I had to choose one, the Grilled Pork Collar was a standout. This very well may be the pest piece of pork I have ever eaten, topping even the Perry's Famous Pork Chop. The added guava sauce was a delicious and sweet Miami twist to accompany this very tender piece of meat. My wife, being a cheese fiend, was in love with the cheese selection. It had a good selection of basic, more "beginner friendly" cheeses to the aged examples that diners geek out about.
Overall, everything was a 5 star experience. From the quality of the food itself to the little Miami twists here and there with both the ingredient and homemade sauce choices, and the impeccable service of all the staff., Brasserie Laurel has earned its Michelin guide recognition. Quite frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if it joined Ariete as a Michelin star recipient down the line!
Given its quaint space and hidden location in a newer shopping mall that's still signing new tenants, Brasserie Laurel may not be as highly trafficked as some other "bigger restaurants" in the area, but that may be a good thing. The diners that come here appreciate the bespoke experience they are getting. Wow, the Ariete Hospitality team did a phenomenal job here! This restaurant may as well be a passion project that's a culmination of everything they learned (funny enough, Michael Beltran may have even said this himself on a local food podcast). Can't wait to return soon and make a stop at El Vecino, their bar and cigar lounge next door, to catch a game after dinner. read more