1. Chef Govind Armstrong opened his second 8 Oz. location—the original is in Los Angeles—in Miami Beach in early February 2009. On Alton Road, the 2,200-square-foot restaurant is outfitted with black leather banquettes, pressed-tin ceilings, six flat-screen TVs, and concrete floors; it seats 95 or holds as many as 150 for receptions. For semiprivate events for fewer than 55, the bar can be rented separately from the restaurant.
2. Opened in June, the 4,700-square-foot Bancroft SupperClub and lounge has been restored to showcase its original Art Deco style with terrazzo floors and colored glass light fixtures. The eatery has banquette seating for 120 or standing room for 325. A 20-foot elevated stage runs through the main dining area and can be used for fashion shows or other entertainment. Also on site: outdoor seating for an additional 35 and a separate lounge for 40.
3. Restaurant group Les Frères Blanc opened 24-hour dining spot Au Pied de Cochon in May. The 6,000-square-foot restaurant resembles a traditional French brasserie from the 1940s, with brass chandeliers, oversize gilt-framed mirrors, and paintings similar to its Paris location. The landscaped patio can seat 40 in addition to the 90 seats in the main room.
4. In December 2008, Red, the Steakhouse opened in Miami Beach’s South of Fifth neighborhood. The 7,200-square-foot restaurant can seat 180 in its main dining room, which features black leather banquettes, wood paneling, stone walls, and red accents. Three private rooms, one of which has glass walls and seats 12, are available and can be combined for groups as large as 64. A roof deck next door offers views of Collins Avenue and the ocean for seated groups of 120.
5. Open since November 2008, sushi restaurant Blade spans 10,000 square feet in the Fountainbleau. The semicircular indoor dining room can seat 250 people, while Blade Pool, the open-air extension of the lounge, seats an additional 250 in its private cabanas for 10. There’s also a semiprivate indoor dining area for 10.