Chef Allen's - CLOSED

The refurbished restaurant is now billed as a “modern seafood bistro,” the emphasis being placed on local, sustainable fish and produce — and on lower prices, an effort to change the perception of Allen’s from fine-dining destination to casual neighborhood haunt. Start with seafood chowder — a thin, bracing broth brimming with fresh shellfish — or with a sprightly salad of roasted gold and red beets, feta cheese, and organic baby arugula leaves dressed in sour-orange vinaigrette. You can’t go wrong with shrimp-and-grits “brûlée”: plush Florida crustaceans baked in stone-ground cornmeal enlivened by Manchego cheese, tamarind, and shallots. A main course of swordfish astonished with its bold and unique accouterments of smoked almonds, chanterelle mushrooms, and red grapes in Pinot Noir pan sauce. Also noteworthy are meats, imbued with fantastic smoky flavor thanks to a 720-degree wood-burning Lyonnaise grill. A double-cut Berkshire pork chop, served with not-too-sweet mango chutney, is as fine a plate of food as you will find for $22. Susser’s signature double Valrhona chocolate soufflé is still the number one crowd pleaser here, although fresh fruit sorbets offer a lighter, more refreshing finish. In short, the reinvented, reinvigorated Chef Allen’s has reasserted itself as one of Miami’s premier restaurants.

• Cuisine(s): American, Contemporary, Seafood

  Hours: Sun-Thu 6pm-10:30pm, Fri-Sat 6pm-11pm

  Price: $$$, $$$$

  Payment Types: All Major Credit Cards

• Attire: Casual

  Features: Delivery, Private Party, Catering, Wheelchair Accessible, Kid Friendly, Vegetarian Friendly

  Serving: Dinner, Snack Food

  Alcohol: Full bar

• Reservations: Accepted, Recommended, Highly Recommended

  Parking: Lot Available, No Parking, Valet