Restaurants in Key Biscayne

Tutto's Mare chef Juca Oliveira draws on his own life experiences to craft his menu of international fusion cuisine. Inspired by his childhood in Brazil, he crafts escondidinho de camarão—shrimp creole layered with yucca mash and baked in a wood-burning oven. Drawing on his Italian culinary training, he simmers classic pastas such as al dente black linguine and gnocchi with wine-mushroom sauce. From the cosmopolitan culture of Miami—his home for more than 20 years—he borrows still more eclectic tastes, from Japanese miso to Peruvian spices. He also gathers seafood, fresh fish, and Cordon Bleu–trained mermaid sous chefs fresh from the ocean.

A thick white column supports the high ceiling of Tutto Mare's bright and airy dining room, filled with sleek black tables or cream-colored banquettes. Patrons may also opt to sit at additional outdoor tables or stay inside to pluck utensils from the food-themed graphic art on the walls.

Situated inside the lauded Lords South Beach Hotel, Cha Cha Rooster serves internationally inspired meals in a variety of elegant settings. Gauzy white curtains and trimmed hedges surround the street-side terrace. Inside the aptly named Gold bar, thousands of sparkling scales cover the walls surrounding guests sitting at a long banquette or in studded leather chairs to share cocktails and secrets. Guests share hearty breakfasts and express lunches in the retro-chic dining room or while lounging beside one of the resort's three outdoor pools.

Tony Chan's Water Club's menu bridges the gustatory gap between China and Japan with a menu that includes both Hong Kong–style Cantonese cuisine and fresh sushi. Earning their food a Zagat rating of "very good to excellent," the chefs accessorize stir-fried orders of chicken, seafood, and vegetables with many different sauces, lending spicy, savory, or tangy flavors to the entrees. At the counter, they carefully arrange orders of nigiri and specialty sushi rolls, which can include premium fillings of shrimp tempura, jalapeños, and parmesan cheese.

The spacious dining room tempts diners with two distinct views: floor-to-ceiling windows gaze directly out onto the waterfront, while a similar wall of windows enables diners to peer into the kitchen. Behind the glass, watched chefs stay calm as they wok-fry entrees and hand-write inspiring quotations on grains of rice.

Jose Choi took up his family’s culinary traditions when he opened his first restaurant four years ago, replicating his parents' original Jardines de Confucio eatery located in faraway Barranquilla, Columbia. After joining forces with his friend Carlos Visbal, Jose expanded the family business into Brickell, spicing up the local flavor with fried rice, chop suey, and noodles. Visitors belly up to the takeout counter or dine among the interior's crimson upholstered benches, lacy white chairs, and murals of cherry blossoms to treat taste buds to spicy pork curries, beef and broccoli, and garlic eggplant.

Red Koi Thai & Sushi Lounge’s interior is as striking and colorful as the symbolic fish it takes its name from. Walking inside, you'll find a high-hanging chandelier illuminating Japanese paintings and ornamental bamboo suspended against a backdrop of tomato-red walls. The Japanese minimalism that defines the first-floor dining area also features upstairs in a slick, straight-lined lounge, where a full bar stands ready to complement a candlelit meal or add spice to weekly jazz, karaoke, and DJ events.

This dramatic presentation extends to the Coral Gables restaurant's cuisine: diners may find their rolls arranged to resemble petals on a flower or stacked into a tower shaped like tragedy. That’s thanks to Bangkok native and resident chef Tasha Tang, who also incorporates creative, globally inspired ingredients such as guava paste and sweet plantains. In addition to artfully wrapped sushi, diners can also sample traditional Thai dishes, including five types of curry and pad thai.