Red Rooster Overtown
Established by Black workers who built Miami’s railroads and hotels, Overtown was the Harlem of the South, where, in the 50s and 60s, the likes of Ella Fitzerald and Louis Armstrong stayed when performing across the causeway on Miami Beach. Overtown was decimated when I-95 was built right through it, but thanks to star chef Marcus Samuelsson, and some other area visionaries, that is changing. Samuelsson has brought his Harlem hot spot to this historic area, where he serves his modern comfort food celebrating the roots of African American cuisine. An all-day menu features unbelievably good starters: cornbread with jalapeno honey butter and blackberry bourbon jam; chargrilled chicken wings with Red Rooster hot sauce; and a gorgeous garlic crab with Old Bay garlic butter and buttermilk biscuit croutons. Mains include fab Cajun-spiced red shrimp and grits, and fried catfish sandwich with pickled onions. The mac and cheese and ‘glamorous greens’ are stellar side dishes.
Saturday and Sunday gospel brunches are uber popular as is the Pool Hall, a separate lounge and eatery open Friday through Sunday from 9pm until 2am and inspired by the former Clyde Killens Pool Hall, where legends like Aretha Franklin partied and played during segregation. It features its own menu of late night eats including Guyanese roti, cornbread dumplings, oysters, sandwiches and sides.
Also on site: the Creamery, open Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4pm and featuring Samuelsson’s homemade ice cream flavors like Cornbread, made with honey butter caramel and blackberry jam.
Established by Black workers who built Miami’s railroads and hotels, Overtown was the Harlem of the South, where, in the 50s and 60s, the likes of Ella Fitzerald and Louis Armstrong stayed when performing across the causeway on Miami Beach. Overtown was decimated when I-95 was built right through it, but thanks to star chef Marcus Samuelsson, and some other area visionaries, that is changing. Samuelsson has brought his Harlem hot spot to this historic area, where he serves his modern comfort food celebrating the roots of African American cuisine. An all-day menu features unbelievably good starters: cornbread with jalapeno honey butter and blackberry bourbon jam; chargrilled chicken wings with Red Rooster hot sauce; and a gorgeous garlic crab with Old Bay garlic butter and buttermilk biscuit croutons. Mains include fab Cajun-spiced red shrimp and grits, and fried catfish sandwich with pickled onions. The mac and cheese and ‘glamorous greens’ are stellar side dishes.
Saturday and Sunday gospel brunches are uber popular as is the Pool Hall, a separate lounge and eatery open Friday through Sunday from 9pm until 2am and inspired by the former Clyde Killens Pool Hall, where legends like Aretha Franklin partied and played during segregation. It features its own menu of late night eats including Guyanese roti, cornbread dumplings, oysters, sandwiches and sides.
Also on site: the Creamery, open Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4pm and featuring Samuelsson’s homemade ice cream flavors like Cornbread, made with honey butter caramel and blackberry jam.
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