James Beard Award-winning Chef Michael Schwartz and The Genuine Hospitality Group reopened the doors to their Miami Design District culinary icon, Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink. During the four month hiatus, the eatery underwent a series of enhancements to elevate its decor, reinvent its kitchen space and expand its dining room to face  40th street. This will create a brighter space that leads into the renovated courtyard and provides an indoor/outdoor experience with seating for up to 200 guests.

“Every restaurant needs to evolve, and after 14 years we felt it was time for Michael’s Genuine to undergo a refresh and expansion. We doubled the size of our kitchen to accommodate a growing team that will create the dishes that have kept our guests coming back time and time again. It was essential to keep the spirit of Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink alive in all aspects. We’re excited to provide an even more genuine experience to our guests just in time to celebrate our 15th anniversary,” shares Michael Schwartz.

Schwartz worked closely with designer Marcela Lombana to bring the evolved vision of his eponymous restaurant to life, creating a warm and inviting space that’s reflective of Michael’s hospitality philosophy. Additions to the space include an expansion into an adjacent space fronting 40th street that boasts high ceilings, floating wood pendant lights and lush greenery intended to bring the outside in. Guests will recognize the bolero red accented walls and artwork including the refurbished Carl Myers coin mosaic carryover from the original decor.

The main dining area flows into the outside terrace via sliding doors that lead to a cozy, enticing, and breezy spot for guests to sip and dine. The terrace offers a multitude of seating options that compliment the restaurant design, and a retractable roof that makes outdoor dining possible every day of the year. Diners looking to experience a brighter space can sit at the front of the restaurant, while those looking for a subdued and cozy ambiance can dine closer to the bar. For larger groups, a new banquette sets the tone for a conversational evening. Guests can also enjoy the Chef’s table located in the middle of the action with views into the bustling kitchen.

To accompany the refreshed look, the menu at MGFD features new additions crafted by Michael Schwartz, Senior Director of Culinary Bradley Herron and Executive Chef Dillion Wolff including whole roasted tuna collar prepared “Sicilian style”; wood roasted camembert with golden chanterelle mushrooms, garlic toast; long cooked squash with harissa, tomato, caraway, basil crispy garlic and lamb massaman curry with thai fried egg salad, jasmine rice. Many signature items will still be available including favorites such as the stracciatella, wood oven roasted octopus and pan roasted poulet rouge.

The menu features a new market table section boasting simply prepared seasonal vegetables served room temperature or cold including roasted & marinated fennel with anchovy, orange, fennel pollen and calabrian chile; chilled dashi cooked turnips with miso and sesame. The menu also features an enhanced wine list and a new cocktail program designed by the talented beverage team led by Beverage Director Amanda Fraga.

On the heels of the restaurant’s much-anticipated relaunch, the fan favorite happy hour returns  Monday through Friday from 4:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with half off wines by the glass, beers, speciality cocktails and several snack items to be enjoyed at the bar and high top tables.

As part of the relaunch, The Genuine Hospitality Group [TGHG] is partnering with nonprofit Rethink Food to address food insecurity in Miami. Checks will provide patrons with the opportunity to contribute. The contributions will be directed to Pack Supermarket and Cafe and Le Jardin in Little Haiti, which will prepare and distribute nutritious meals to the local community via community-based organizations Miami Rescue Mission and Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center. The Genuine Hospitality Group is also providing a rent-free commissary kitchen space to Rethink Food – the first outside of its headquarters in New York City – to transform excess and donated food from other local partners into nutritious meals for community-based organizations in Miami.

Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. until 11 p.m.; Friday & Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. until 12 a.m. It will be open for brunch and dinner on Sundays from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. Happy Hour is Monday through Friday from 4:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the bar and the hightops. Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink is located at 130 NE 40th Street, Miami, FL 33137. Reservations can be made via Opentable or by email at Reservations@michaelsgenuine.com or by phone at 305.573.5550.

About The Genuine Hospitality Group & Chef/Restaurateur Michael Schwartz

According to James Beard Award-winning Chef-restaurateur Michael Schwartz, the philosophy is simple: The secret to good food is good food. Beloved by locals and visitors to Miami since 2006, Michael’s Genuine® Food & Drink sets the bar for neighborhood dining with its menu based on simple preparations of seasonal ingredients and an atmosphere to match. TGHG currently operates six restaurants including three locations of its pizzeria brand, Harry’s Pizzeria® and several branching from its fine dining roots: a second location of flagship Michael’s Genuine Food and Drink  in Cleveland at the Van Aken District of Shaker Heights; the quintessential Miami waterfront restaurant bringing a fresh approach to bold Latin American flavor at Amara at Paraiso. TGHG alsol partners with REEF on the ghost kitchen brand, Genuine Burger.  Outside of the restaurant, Schwartz focuses his time and influence supporting the arts and causes such as Share our Strength, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation and Wellness in the Schools. His second cookbook, Genuine Pizza: Better Pizza at Home was released May 14, 2019 with Abrams Books. For more information, please visit https://thegenuinehospitalitygroup.com/