$$$$ • Japanese • South Beach
I've eaten at a lot Omakase's around the world, and MILA has crafted a spectacular and incredibly memorable one. From the the surprise and delight of the variety of dishes, to the bold and energetic flavors that will dance across your pallet, to the perfectly prepared nigiri, it's is truely difficult not to have a mind boggling time from the moment you sit down to the ear-to-ear grins you wear on the way out the door.
From a soup that is sweet, sour, savory, spicey, with umami, to the untouched but perfectly cut ootoro that melts in your mouth, to a caviar palette cleanser, and A5 wagyu that you'll need seconds on, and a concluding desert that's impossible to forget.
The hospitality as well is beyond reproach. MILA Omakase is as much a meal as it is a an experience, and a show. The chefs were engaging, the sommelier knowledge and thoughtful, and the manager helpful at every turn. We had a fantastic time at MILA, and can't wait to go back next time I'm in Miami.
And then, there's the atmosphere, a massive cheer blossom tree that frames the sushi and chef bar, with beautiful indirect lighting through lit marble, with hand crafted ceramic dishes, paired with gold inlay everywhere. This private room, that is invite only with reservation, is what I imagine the inside of a luxurious genie lamp would be, from someone who had spent significant amounts of time in the palaces in Tokyo alongside Abu Dhabi. Glorious, beautiful, inspiring, but welcoming, and a stage set to awe and delight. They will have my patronage again.
Bonus points: My girlfriend left her purse at the restaurant that we didn't discover until the next morning. After a quick text exchange, the Manager orchestrated the return of her purse before our flight that afternoon, even though the restaurant wasn't scheduled to open for another 8 hours. For that, this place will always have my allegiance. Kind, considerate, with the intention to invite exploration, celebrate discovery, and take care of you.
