Byblos Awards

Byblos Restaurant Review:

As the location for the first U.S. outpost of this popular Canadian restaurant and lounge, Toronto nightlife veterans Charles Khabouth and business partner Hanif Harji chose Miami. Inhabiting the former Catch space at the chic Royal Palm South Beach Miami hotel, Byblos occupies two floors. At ground level, a lounge outfitted in plush colorful couches, shrubs and a whitewashed-oak bar looks straight out of Mad Men --- a place you could easily enjoy drinks for a while. Start here with a spiked cold tea service that's as boozy as it is tasty. We suggest the Habibi Marguerite, a Mediterranean play on a margarita that mixes tequila with chili-spiced strawberry tea topped with cilantro and lime. For the full mezze experience, head upstairs where tall ceilings, geometric mirrors and accordion-wrapped art panels bearing the image of Cleopatra add to the experience. Choose from Turkish manti dumplings with smoked eggplant; duck kibbeh with dried fig and fried molasses; possibly the best shakshouka in Miami; or lamb ribs. Not to be overlooked are the wood fire and house-baked pide breads, crowned with ingredients from black truffle and buffalo mozzarella to maitake mushrooms and goat cheese, as well as the à la minute rice dishes, particularly the mejadra with lentil, labneh and fried shallots. Just make sure to leave room for dessert, as there's a pizzelle: baklava ice cream with salted caramel and a couscous praline.