St. Regis Bal Harbour's J&G Grill Offers A Summer Packed With Food And Fun
The St. Regis Bal Harbour is most definitely one of Miami's most glamorous hotels (read: no trendy closet-sized rooms or loud bachelor parties). Situated roughly 20 minutes north of the South Beach mayhem, while still enjoying the white sands and turquoise waters of Miami, the St. Regis is truly top of the line. And that goes for the food as well. The hotel's restaurant, J&G Grill, is a sophisticated dining option with a killer view — peer out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the ocean and brightly lit boardwalk while enjoying ultimate privacy with the one-way glass.
As for the food, relatively new chef de cuisine Dagan Stocks, who took over in November 2014, has maintained the flavor profiles of conceptual founder (and legend) Jean-Georges Vongerichten, while adding his own twist to the classic dishes. His impressive résumé includes a stint as sous chef of The Four Seasons Resort in Vail, Colorado and executive chef of Porters on Merchant Street in Decatur, Illinois, has lent itself to some exciting new programs for the restaurant.
All dishes are presented much like the hotel itself — that is, exquisitely, with perfectly clean details. One must start with the black truffle pizza as the scent of truffles precedes the dish by approximately four seconds, while frisée on top adds the perfect crunch.
If you are a caviar connoisseur, certainly go for the River Beluga, but if you (like me) just love the general saltiness and feeling of it, you can't go wrong with the crispy egg caviar dish. Presented as a crispy (on the outside) poached egg with caviar on top and a toasted brioche underneath, the combination of flavors and textures made for one of the better appetizers in recent memory. The hamachi sashimi with Shiitake mushrooms and itty-bitty avocado slices was also marvelous.
As for entrees, naturally, there is a large selection of grilled options — pick your protein and pick your sauce. All are done well. If you want something a bit more creative, the steamed Florida wreck fish (a local) with tomato lemongrass broth and sweet corn was light, yet wholly flavorful.
Luckily, August and September are Miami Spice months, and J&G is a great option for savings. They're offering a comprehensive three-course menu while sticking to the $39 dinner per person price. Additionally, the hotel is offering a fun sunset champagne hour every day from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Don't forget — location, location, location. The signature champagne sabering ritual is a site to see, and pairs well with the sushi assortment (Champagne from $16 to $59; sushi assortment from $45 to $58).