Miami has joined the ranks of Paris and Tokyo with its own on-brand and elegant L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon. The Design District setting bears all the beloved hallmarks with a counter and open kitchen plus rosewood walls and leather chairs. The menu offers both tasting portions and large plates; but go with the seasonal prix fixe. The bread basket is a lovely opener, arriving in advance of such thrilling bites as seared scallops.

Colombian-born Chef Juan Manuel Barrientos' culinary artistry has garnered international fame, and his Miami location has been going strong since 2015. An open kitchen and backlit bar welcome patrons to a space with stone floors and wood tables. Come for elevated Colombian food and dramatic presentations, like tableside "chocotherapy" and the "Tree of Life" bread service, plus bites like a charcoal buñuelo with truffle filling.

True to its name, this favored counter is indeed hidden in the thick of busy Wynwood. The front door is not easy to find and slides open only with a time-sensitive passcode. But beyond the hustle and bustle, Chef Seijun Okano offers a mature, finely tuned omakase for the fortunate few seated at his counter. Fish flown in multiple times a week from Japan are handled with precision, sliced carefully and pressed into lush, vinegar-tinged rice.

When staring down the long, neon-lit entrance hallway that booms overhead with a subwoofer and ends with a giant mirror, rest assured that this is a serious operation. Owner Simon Kim and his team know what they're doing in this highly stylized Korean steakhouse, which almost feels like a temple to beautifully marbled and aged beef. Just as at the original NYC location, top-quality ingredients and engaging servers make for a seamless experience.

When it comes to running serious, highly accomplished restaurants in multiple cities, Chef Alain Verzeroli learned from the best. After two decades under the late Chef Joël Robuchon, Verzeroli has stepped out with his own brand of culinary excellence. Stylish from head to toe and with locations in Houston and NYC, this dining room is a celebration of the seasons. With neighbors like Gucci and Louboutin, this Design District lair feels right at home.

Sandwiched between a laundromat and a medical center in a Buena Vista shopping center, the neon-pink exclamation mark above the front door is impossible to miss. Surprising is certainly an apt descriptor for Chefs Luciana Giangrandi and Alex Meyer’s destination. Servers say the food is Italian, but is it really? Fried potato skins with stracciatella and caviar, beef tartare with tonnato sauce, and chilled tagliolini nero with king crab and vin jaune surprise at every turn.

Standing sentry on a busy corner, Stubborn Seed is sexy and sleek with an industrial chic décor and glass-fronted display kitchen. Whether you’re posted at the bar or in the main dining room, Chef Jeremy Ford brings the heat with an ambitious tasting menu. The kitchen takes risks, weaving in Latin and Asian influences. Dinner begins with small bites like celery root croquette with beef bacon jam or beef tartare, followed by pastas like ricotta gnudi with Manchego foam.

Chef Shingo Akikuni, ever gracious, has returned, now behind a spacious, 14-seat counter in Coral Gables. Most premium sushi omakases have half as many seats, but Chef Akikuni and his second-in-command handle the crowd with ease, even switching sides midway. Fish, sourced almost entirely from Japan, is sliced uniformly and dressed with nikiri. They keep a close eye on the seasons, evidenced by a recent special of Aomori tuna and an indulgent chawanmushi with matsutake.

Heritage corn sourced from across the Americas and seafood from nearby waters are foundational pillars for this youthful restaurant in Coconut Grove. Sustainability is a point of pride for Chef Sebastian Vargas, who offers a finely poised expression of Mexican cuisine. Few are willing to source grouper from Key West, grill it in a banana leaf, and pair it with hazelnut emulsion. Another highlight featured a griddled corn cake with crab, smoked corn sauce, and charred plantains.

In a nod to the Little River neighborhood that it calls home, Ogawa translates to "small river." Chef/co-owner Masayuki Komatsu commands with an omakase that stuns with enticing cooked dishes and focused nigiri. From baby sea eels with a soy-cured quail egg and reef squid in shiso-miso to baby snow crab and herring roe, this appetizer signals that this isn’t a typical sushi counter. Then, lotus root, wild yam, and langoustine tempura, followed by bright nigiri exemplifying skill.

You could sport a blazer in the dining room or flip-flops on the patio and eat just as well in both. So goes the charm of Chef Michael Beltran’s Coconut Grove mainstay. Lush with greenery, this dimly lit restaurant offers a menu that blends new American and classic French influences. First-timers should try the tasting menu to experience the chef’s creative combinations and excellent sauces. Highlights include fluke with conch escabeche, venison tartare, and seeded country bread.

Inside the Carillon Miami Wellness Resort on a calm stretch of Collins Avenue, find this ambitious dining bijou helmed by Chef Tristan Brandt and his trusted lieutenant Timo Steubing. The duo delivers a colorful, multicourse tasting grounded in French cuisine with Asian inspiration. Expect bold sauces and foams made with parmesan, lobster, saffron, and ginger. Shrimp and caviar is a stunning, savory dish. The space is Spartan, with oak tables and blue leather chairs.

Located in a restored landmark now with Four Seasons, The Surf Club is Thomas Keller's first Florida venture. The restaurant exudes private club elegance with a vintage bar, plush banquettes, and amber lighting. Sharp-suited servers offer polished service matching the refined cooking. Highlights include a seared crab cake with spicy mayo, reimagined lobster thermidor with sauce Américaine, and coconut chiffon cake with lime crème anglaise.