Written by Maude Eaton (@4theloveoffood)
Removed from the hustle and bustle of trendy South Beach , Ken Lyon’s new culinary destination takes flight. Located at the exclusive Bath Club on posh Miami Beach, the Miami meets New England restaurant delivers. The evening started with a warm welcome from Mr Lyon, a seasoned culinary entrepreneur and native to the “Cape”, with years of experience catering to the passionate palate. This trend setter transformed the dinning room of the historical 1926 Bath Club into a sophisticated 75 seat restaurant reminiscent of elegant seaside mansions hugging the New England coast line.
Once seated, the anticipation for what was to come was surpassed by the actual dining experience. Our gracious host transported us through a guided imagery of the region that inspired his new restaurant. He explained how the seafood fare is brought in daily from the shores off Massachusetts and Maine. Staying true to the region, the recipes are not pretentious and the chef understands that he doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel, but instead, his approach highlights and elevates the fresh succulent ingredients to their highest level.
Lobster Rolls - Photo by Christine Najac
A native of the “Cape,” Mr Lyon’s relationship with local fisherman allow him to directly source the succulent steamers, plump belly clams and of course, Maine lobsters. Once you’ve tasted the Nantucket bay scallops, pan-caramelized, you’ll have tasted a piece of heaven on Earth, confirming that Mr Lyon’ s vision of a New England restaurant in South Florida is like two peas in a succotash! The experience is completed with a pairing of East Coast American wines from Long Island, Virginia and New York. The final touch of this memorable culinary experience doesn’t end with comforting classic desserts, such as Lemon Curd with Scottish shortbread or the Indian pudding exploding with the tastes of the first Thanksgiving. The final piece de resistance is the thoughtful and playful plate of salt water taffy that transport you to childhood and memories of family summer vacations.
The Cape Cod Room is located at The Bath Club, 5937 Collins Avenue in Miami Beach. For more information or reservations, call 305-864-1262. The restaurant will open to the public on November 4th and will be open Wednesday through Saturday for dinner and on Sundays for brunch. Valet parking is available. I look forwards to my next visit to the “Cape”.