Chef Allen Gets A Facelift

I recently saw Chef Allen at an event and thought to myself, “Hmm, he’s getting on in years; now might be a good time for some nip-and-tuck.” Well, wouldn’t you know that he’s gone ahead and done just that. Oh, wait a minute, sorry -- I read the release wrong...

By Jose D. Duran

July 25, 2008

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I recently saw Chef Allen at an event and thought to myself, “Hmm, he’s getting on in years; now might be a good time for some nip-and-tuck.” Well, wouldn’t you know that he’s gone ahead and done just that. Oh, wait a minute, sorry -- I read the release wrong. It’s Chef Allen’s, the restaurant, that’s undergoing a facelift. So it is closed through July, and will re-open August 1.

Allen Susser has long been one of Miami’s most important and influential chefs, and while I’m a fan of the James Beard Award winner’s cuisine, the decor of his landmark restaurant has always struck me as being a bit dowdy (it first opened in 1986). The new space will feature a larger bar area, private wine room, and two party rooms. The menu, too, is being reworked, with a stronger focus on locally caught sustainable seafood and regional produce.

And in other Allen news, the August issue of Food & Wine Magazine talks with the Chef regarding his favorite Miami dining spots.

And, um, as for that line about needing facial work -- only kidding, chef.

-- Lee Klein

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Jose D. Duran has been the associate web editor of Miami New Times since 2008. He's the voice and strategist behind the publication's eyebrow-raising Facebook and Twitter feeds. He has also been reporting on Miami's music, entertainment, and cultural scenes since 2006, previously through sites such as MiamiNights.com and OnBeat.com. He earned his BS in journalism with a minor in art history from the University of Florida. He's a South Florida native and will be a Miami resident as long as climate change permits and the temperature doesn't drop below 60 degrees.

Contact: Jose D. Duran

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