Sustain Restaurant + Bar Closes (Updated)

By Laine Doss Mon., May 7 2012 at 9:41 AM

Chef Alejandro Piñero

Sustain Restaurant + Bar has closed its doors. The restaurant, which opened in December 2010, was known for using sustainable ingredients sourced as locally as possible.

Executive chef Alejandro Piñero, a Miami native whose culinary resumé includes the Strand, Casa Tua, Talula, and Fratelli Lyon, was a driving force at the restaurant, where he constantly changed the menu to reflect the growing seasons.

The restaurant was named Miami New Times' best restaurant in the Design District in 2011 and was named one of the top ten reviewed restaurants in 2011 by food critic Lee Klein, who said, "It seems midtown Miami residents have yet another fine restaurant in the neighborhood."

The restaurant had a solid bar program, led by beverage manager Daniel Toral, and partners Jonathan Lazar and Brian Goldberg had a hands-on approach to the restaurant, which featured a wood-burning stove and modernist décor. Though the restaurant had good reviews, it never seemed to be as busy as neighbor Sugarcane, which regularly has patrons spilling out into the street. Sustain's management constantly tried to keep momentum with a recently relaunched brunch program complete with a DJ, menu changes, and daily happy hour.

We're not sure yet if the sustainable restaurant is done or will serve for a few more days. A call to the restaurant's PR rep confirmed the restaurant was "closing," and restaurant partner Jonathan Lazar has posted on his Facebook page: "Bittersweet Symphony. We tried our best. Some say we were pioneers. In the end, we did it our way!"

Short Order will update you as we receive more information.

UPDATE: Sustain Restaurant + Bar co-owner Brian Goldberg confirmed the restaurant's closing. He told Short Order: "Yes, Sustain closed over the weekend. I want to thank our customers and staff for all their support as well as the local growers for their passion and dedication. Don't be surprised if you see our 'wet' fries pop up on a menu in the future."

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Location Info

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Sustain Restaurant + Bar

3252 NE 1st Ave., Miami, FL

Category: Restaurant

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Alejandro Pinero, Brian Goldberg, Jonathan Lazar, Sustain Restaurant & Bar

We Recommend

Midtown Resident

I went once and never went back. Very pricey and the small menu was a turnoff. Had nothing to do with the people of Midtown who live here because if it was good then people from all over would have enjoyed the place. Either way it is gone and I blame the menu "Situation" the decoration was 10 out of 10 but that don't make a place if the menu is one side and changes from one expensive thing to another. Oh Sugarcane sucks also. Mercadito the best out of the top three on the block hands down. lived here for 3 years seen many come and go. My 2 cents.

Pan Sobao

The problem was the location... Miami not a good location for a good restaurant.Give them pan con lechon at $5 or $1 montaditos filled with delicious sysco products made in a plant months ago. puaf!

Nakia

We went there this saturday . We ahd a great time and their food was delicious! We all ordered their duck entree. The duck was juicy and tender. A great dishy neough to share. Staff was friendly as well. cannot believe they are closing.I felt I had discovered a hidden gem.

foody mcgee

i'm sorry but the bits of food i tried there were not impressive, the food was overpriced, and the service was snobby... which stands out more when the restaurant is empty. we went once and went in there just because the other places nearby were overflowing. we were honest in our intent to have drinks and snacks but not a full dinner and despite the restaurant being 80% empty, with literally over a dozen empty tables, there had to be a discussion with a manager and a condescending response to us as if they were doing us a favor to let us do this at a table rather than at the bar because they don't normally allow it.

byebyesustain

Awful food and terrible staff. Perhaps if the hostess didn't act as if she was doing you a huge favor seating you without a reservation (despite being mostly empty on a saturday night), they would have done better. Good riddance.

Beast

Makes me think that only douche bags live in Midtown. Go enjoy your chain restaurant douche bag.

Guest

dont live their but seems youd fit in perfectly!

Feliciag411

farewell to local favorite that got it right in every way!! why is it so hard to get a good organic meal in this towns!

Teomendez

Went there with a group of 6 on a saturday. There was three tables seated in the whole place. We made a reservation that night but when we got there they refused to seat us because they had parties that had made reservations "months in advance" and we would have to wait for them. We went to sugarcane.

Jorge Fernandez

Perhaps gone... but not forgotten! I only have good things to say about Sustain - the menu, the bar, service, chef! I went for the first time with the south florida foodies and it was a feast! Sad to see sustain go. I agree with Ed!