BLT Heaven to Betsy

After a series of fits and starts that have characterized Miami restaurant openings for as long as there have been Miami restaurants, Chef Laurent Tourondel will finally debut his BLT Steak at the Betsy Hotel next Wednesday, March 25th. The original BLT premiered in Manhattan in 2004, its casual take on the American steak house taking that city by storm. Now there are more than a dozen BLT Steaks, BLT Burgers, BLT Fish, and BLT BLT's in America, Puerto Rico, and Hong Kong. Actually, I'm just kidding about the BLT BLT's.

Miami native Sam Gorenstein, chef de cuisine at this newest venue, moved to New York five years ago to work with Tourondel and upon returning home put in a stint at Michael's Genuine. The BLT Steak menu here includes regional blackboard specials, raw-bar selections, the signature "potato served eight ways" (eight boiled potatoes in different shapes?), and USDA Prime, certified Black Angus and American Wagyu beef, each steak finished with herb butter in a cast-iron pan -- an all-you-can-eat deal for only $11.99!!! Oh no, sorry -- that's just for the bread.

Seriously, though, BLT Steak comes to town with a great reputation and will be serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily until 11 p.m. For reservations, call 305-673-0044.