Joliet, A New Neighborhood Seafood Bistro Brings The Best of the South To Miami Beach
Salty attitudes of the dining sort are always welcome at Joliet, an exciting new seafood bistro and garden located on the Northwestern tracks of Miami’s South Beach, where the Venetian Way greets Lincoln Road at 1209 17th Street. Set to open on December 12, Joliet is the latest Miami-based dining establishment launched by Chris Hudnall and Randy Alonso of Lost Boy & Co. The casual, all-weekday, and weekend hang, will entice diners with a menu created by Chef Juan Garrido inspired by the sweet, spicy, and soulful flavors that run deep throughout New Orleans’ cuisine. A seafood-forward menu makes way for guests to pull up a seat at the raw bar, enjoy late-night poolside snacks, or indulge in a weekend dinner with friends and family.
Begin the meal with appetizers like handpicked Oysters Juliet, broiled with braised collard green butter; New Orleans-Style BBQ Prawns served with Worcestershire sauce, garlic butter and toasted baguette; and Wagyu Steak Tartare with sunchokes, fried oysters and parmesan. The restaurant’s signature raw bar features five varieties of oysters (Irish Point, Beau Soleil, Malpeque, Hammerheads and St. Simon) served with a choice of classic, Calabrian chili, passion fruit, and fine herb mignonette. Tasty Smoked Fish Dip, Local Fish Crudo, Cherrystone Clams, Crab Louis with Thousand Island dressing and cured egg, and King Crab Cocktail round out the raw bar menu options.
Selections of entrees are equally as tempting. Choose from items like the Rock Shrimp Po’Boy sandwich with pickled pepper remoulade; Cornmeal Fried Florida Yellowtail and Gumbo made with Chef’s daily flavors, mahogany roux, okra and herbs. Platters to share include the Grilled Bone Pork Chop; Whole Broiled Lobster; and Jambalaya — a crave-worthy combination of Carolina gold rice, roasted chicken, and grilled king crab.
Guests will note the serene aesthetic of the 1,641-square-foot space which, like the menu, reflects aesthetic elements inspired by the commonality of Miami and New Orleans’ appreciation for marine life. The interior and exterior design plays off the sapphire-hued jewel tones of the water, while natural materials bring warmth and comfort to the décor. Eclectic artwork fills the space with added character.
“Creating destinations that bring the community together to dine, drink and interact in a casual, comfortable way is at the heart of each of our venues, including Joliet,” said Hudnall. “Our dedication to storytelling through meaningful and authentic dining experiences is woven into every element of bringing Joliet to fruition, from the service to the kitchen and bar and throughout the thoughtful design.”
Alonso echoes the sentiment, “As we continue to expand with more openings in 2023, Joliet serves as another jewel in our portfolio, where people can spend hours enjoying delicious dishes and cocktails over conversation with friends. We’ve been inspired by the famous Cajun cuisine found in New Orleans and other parts of the South: heavy on seafood and spice. Chef Garrido has implemented his fierce culinary skills into bringing those intoxicating authentic flavors to the plates.”
A thoughtfully devised cocktail menu pairs beautifully with Joliet’s New Orleans-inspired cuisine. Led by talented mixologist Derek Tormes, the cocktail program presents options for every kind of imbiber including light and bright refreshers, full-bodied and spirit-forward classics. Balancing out the flavor-packed options is a handful of citrus-forward cocktails like a Spiced Grapefruit made with vodka, lemon, cinnamon grapefruit soda and prosecco; cocktails that bring out the sweeter side of sipping like a Strawberry Aperitivo with strawberry infused Peychaud, basil, lemon and Torresella; and some fan-favorite classics like a gin Vesper, and of course, The Sazerac. Wine selections include highly allocated natural wines with a focus on boutique champagne and sparkling wines that pair perfectly with raw bar offerings. Guests can expect low intervention, organically farmed bottles from Europe, Australia, South America, and the U.S. Select beers honor local craftsmanship and include the Louisiana-based Abita Andygator.
Joliet is one of several unique restaurants and bars that comprise the Lost Boy & Co. portfolio, with concepts spanning across South Florida, including the celebrated relaunch of Fox's Lounge, the new Mayfair Grill, Sipsip Calypso Rum Bar and Lost Boy Dry Goods, the group’s original neighborhood concept.
Joliet is located at 1209 17th Street, Miami Beach, FL 33139. Dinner will be available Sunday - Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Thursday - Saturday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. For more information, please visit www.jolietmiamibeach.com. Reservations are now available for early booking through Resy. Follow along on Instagram and Facebook.