Maple & Ash, the modern wood-fired steakhouse known for blending high-end dining with flair (and a "f*@cking" edge), is opening at Miami Worldcenter (699 NE First Ave.) on Thursday, March 13. This marks the restaurant’s third location, following its original Chicago location in Gold Coast (opened in 2015) and in Scottsdale, Arizona (opened in 2019). At 22,000 square feet spread across two stories, the Miami location will be the restaurant group's largest Maple & Ash to date.
The restaurant was founded by Maple Hospitality Group, led by chef Danny Grant and managing partner Jim Lasky. Grant sees Miami as a natural fit for the brand's blend of refinement and showmanship. "Miami’s energy, cultural diversity, and appetite for extraordinary dining experiences make it the perfect home for us. Maple & Ash is a beating heart — a living, breathing creature — that guests will feel and understand the moment they walk into the dining space; it’s a place where locals and visitors alike can come together to celebrate life in a way that’s uniquely Maple & Ash," says Lasky.
The restaurant has become popular for its "Happy F*@cking Birthday" menus that can be customized for free to fit any celebration
Maple & Ash photo
Steaks With Attitude
For the uninitiated, Maple & Ash brings what they claim is a "fresh take on the traditional steakhouse formula." The menu includes standout offerings like the on-brand "I Don't Give a F*@k" tasting menu, which puts diners' palates and credit cards in the chef's hands. "And if you mention it's your birthday when booking, they'll even print "Happy F*@king Birthday" on your menu for your meal. Other signature dishes include a fire-roasted seafood tower finished with garlic butter and chili oil, and a "Wagyu Experience" featuring Kobe beef sourced directly from Japanese auctions.Pasta lovers can look forward to the ricotta agnolotti, dubbed "Pillows of Love" (seriously), while those with a sweet tooth can indulge in the "Sundae Service," described as "a playful and extravagant take on a childhood favorite."
Gold-dusted Cocktails and 2,500 Wine Options
The drink program matches the food's ambition. Wine Spectator has recognized Maple & Ash's wine list as "one of the most outstanding in the world," and the Miami location will boast a collection of 2,500 bottles. Cocktail enthusiasts can sample libations like the "IDGAF Old Fashioned" (Glenfiddich 21-year, pedro ximenez, maple reduction, amaro, chocolate truffle bitters, and 24-karat gold, of course) or a crowd-favorite espresso martini tower for the table.Longtime design partner Studio K created the space, which includes distinct areas like the Bar Lounge, Dining Room, Salon, and Atrium. The centerpiece is the "Upside Palm," an artistic piece reimagining the palm tree with 10,464 crystal beads.
Within the restaurant, there are intimate dining areas, including Bar Bocuse, a cozy space for champagne, caviar, and Jamon Iberico, and Petit Bocuse, where guests can interact with chefs in the kitchen. Unique to the Miami location, the restaurant will also introduce a private space called Studio at Maple & Ash, meant to be an intimate, multi-functional space that combines a sophisticated lounge with speakeasy exclusivity and “a touch of mystery”—slated to open at a later date along with Eight Bar.
Chef's Homecoming
For Grant, the opening represents a homecoming of sorts to South Florida. The chef moved to Miami in 2013 to open 1826 Restaurant & Lounge on South Beach to much buzz after earning Michelin stars at Chicago's Ria and being named one of Food & Wine's Best New Chefs in 2012.Grant's time in Miami also included a brief stint with 50 Eggs restaurant group in 2014-2015, where he was hired as executive chef to oversee new concepts, including BTW (Burgers, Tacos, Whiskey) on Alton Road. He departed less than six months later.
Maple & Ash. 699 NE First Ave., Miami; mapleandash.com. Opening on Thursday, March 13.
