NYC’s Ensenada Opens in Miami Today | Eater Miami
"Opening today inside the Vagabond Hotel on Biscayne, this second-location Mexican seafood and mezcal hotspot—co-owned by Bryce David and chef Luis Herrera in partnership with the long-standing Mandolin team—aims to differentiate itself from its New York counterpart with new menu items. Chef Herrera (previously at Cosme, a Mexican fine dining spot in New York) draws on his Venezuelan upbringing; expect plenty of fresh seafood including specials unique to Miami like the "La Fiesta Cruda" with oysters, mussels, clams, shrimp, stone crab, and scallops, Peruvian and Venezuelan-style ceviches, an assortment of aguachiles at different heat levels, fish and shrimp tacos, larger fish entrees such as pescado al pibil, and pork carnitas and carne asada. Raven Simone Walker will create a seasonal ice cream program under her brand Pachamama Helados, including a yuzu concha ice cream sandwich; desserts also include passion fruit tiramisu, sorbets, and affogato. Many of the New York location's cocktails carry over alongside new Miami drinks that spotlight small-batch mezcal producers; one signature is the "Amor Eterno" made with mezcal, Mexican white rum, guava, banane du bresil (a liqueur made from the slow maceration of bananas from Brazil), and lemon. Beverage director Alex Velasquez (formerly at Lost Boy and Company and Soho House in Miami and Toronto) will oversee wine, beer, and mezcal flights. The breezy, neutral-toned dining room seats 90 with an additional 50 on the terrace; the light-filled bar is the central focus. Reservations are open now." - Henna Bakshi
