Chicago-Based Maple & Ash Opens a New Steakhouse in Miami | Eater Miami
"Opening March 13 at the Miami Worldcenter, the newcomer — a two-story, 22,000-square-foot venue the group calls their “largest and boldest project yet” — promises “unrestrained luxury” through wood-fired, dry-aged porterhouses, wagyu beef carpaccio, veal sweetbreads, fire-roasted seafood towers and more, and will offer the provocative “I Don’t Give a F*@k” tasting menu where diners allow the chefs to control the evening. The opening comes despite investors suing the owners over alleged misuse of $7.6 million in Payment Protection Plan (PPP) funds; when asked about the lawsuit, a group representative said, "We have no comment on the pending lawsuit. Our focus remains on our restaurant concepts, our guests and the upcoming [Miami] opening." At the helm is chef Danny Grant, who notes: “When we developed [the concept], 10 years ago, in Chicago, there was no shortage of steakhouses there either,” and adds, “My background comes from fine dining, so when we were developing the brand as a wood-fired steakhouse, we thought, let’s take some of the things that are amazing about going to a steakhouse, and then let’s eliminate some of the things that are a little dated.” The opulent dining room is designed to feel transporting: “We wanted the restaurant to feel transporting — like you’re stepping into a new world,” says Grant. “It’s over the top in design and feel. When you walk into the restaurant, it feels like we’re welcoming you into our home.” Interiors are covered in luxury fabrics and candlelit tables and are anchored by the Upside Palm, a glittering chandelier resembling the area’s iconic palm trees. Unique to the Miami location are intimate “nooks,” including Bar Bocuse (a cozy space for sampling caviar and cocktails) and Petit Bocuse (where diners can interact with the chefs)." - Erin Perkins
