Issue link: https://www.balharbourdigital.com/i/1347386
an additional 15 tables have been added to their corner patio. An institution unto itself, Carpaccio is a favorite among celebrities and athletes such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Eva Longoria, Phil Collins, Martha Stewart and Brazilian soccer star Ronaldinho Gaúcho. Tables outside provide ample people watching, but the real draw might be the parade of vintage and exotic cars lining up for valet parking—think Maseratis, Lamborghinis and countless Rolls Phantoms. Order chef Manuel Paucar's easy plates of calamari or his signature razor-thin tuna carpaccio and you might, for a minute, feel that much closer to the memory of a summer sojourn on the Amalfi coast. And, if Milanese fare is more to your taste, fashion world favorite Sant Ambroeus will be opening later this year, along with an outpost of their café, Felice. Like any true Francophile, I personally cannot resist a goat cheese omelette for lunch at chef Julian Baker's Le Zoo, the closest thing Miami has to an authentic French bistro. When I lived on Paris's Left Bank in the early 1990s, I clocked a lot of time on Café Flore's leafy terrace and made weekend trips down to St. Tropez to meet up with friends at Le Sénéquier, so I appreciate Le Zoo's authentic woven rattan bistro chairs and hand-drawn paper menu fi lled with Gallic favorites like escargots in hazelnut butter, onion soup topped with rich slabs of melted gruyere cheese and heaping bowls of mussels served with the crispiest frites. For a special occasion, I will even splurge on the towering Plateaux de Fruits de Mer—plates of fresh oysters, little neck clams and Alaskan King crab—just like a real Parisienne. Carpaccio's Pizza pazzerella layered with arugula, prosciutto and mozzarella; below, Makoto's sashimi sampler. PHOTOS COURTESY BAL HARBOUR SHOPS (HILLSTONE, CARPACCIO); STARR RESTAURANTS (LE ZOO, MAKOTO) Carpaccio If you're not sure what to order, go for the lombata milanese, a fl attened, lightly breaded veal chop topped with fresh diced tomatoes, arugula, lemon and radicchio. It's the perfect meat-to-greens ratio. Pair it with a negroni and make sure to close your eyes upon that fi rst sip—it'll feel like drinking along the Grand Canal in Venice. Cin cin! Hillstone The French dip au jus is a drippy, delicious prime rib sandwich on a house-made baguette that's served with a side of tangy horseradish sauce for slathering and a broth similar to a rich onion soup for dipping. Order an Old Cuban to sip with your sando. A mixture of aged Bacardi 8 rum, sparkling wine, freshly muddled mint and lime, the cocktail's bold fl avors stand up well to the richness of the French dip. Le Zoo French onion soup gratinée holds up no matter the weather but, if it's a particularly warm day, then I'm ordering the Plateaux de Fruits de Mer with lobster, shrimp, oysters and clams. Pair it with a refreshing sipper like the Romarin with Grey Goose La Poire, St. Germain, rosemary and pear. Makoto The sashimi or sushi samplers—featuring Makoto's signature, branded Tamagoyaki omelette—serve as the ideal introduction to chef Okuwa's genius. As for the cocktails, you can't go wrong with any of them, though I highly recommend the Thai mojito or the piña margarita if tropical is your vibe. Hillstone's Ahi tuna tartare ORDER UP By Giovanny Gutierrez I'm a sucker for nostalgia. Restaurants that remind me of marathon dinners spent with friends and eateries that transport me to the far-fl ung destinations I miss— and, sadly, can't travel to right now—have always held a special place in my heart. Bal Harbour Shops has an emotional pull for similar reasons; its collection of restaurants and cafes have a way of taking me to places and moments that I hold dear. The terrace at Le Zoo 190 BAL HARBOUR