Top Restaurant Closings of 2012 in Miami

Gio Alma

Michelle Bernstein's Sra. Martinez shuttered its doors this year

In 2012, many notable eateries closed up shop. In some cases, we shed a tear as we watched them go. In others, well, our bets had been placed for quite a while. (Sustain Restaurant & Bar was just a few sad, happy hours away from my late-April wager.)

This past year, most losses were felt in the Design District/Midtown area. But, just as quickly as those joints were gone, new projects came along and took their place.

So, here is our list of the top five restaurants that bit the dust in 2012. These are the eateries that will be missed the most. As a bonus, we also included updates, like what's up ahead for the toques that once led the show.

See also:
- Seven Best New Restaurants of 2012 in Miami

Exterior shot of Mai Tardi's al fresco dining area

6. Mai Tardi

In February, Mai Tardi closed its pizza oven and outdoor bar after a lease buyout from Dacra Group -- the real estate development group spearheaded by Craig Robins. Dacra was gearing up for significant construction work, as the nascent Design District continued on its significant growth. In response, Mai Tardi held a blow-out closing party and moved on. The eatery was owned by the Graspa Group, the same folks behind Salumeria 104, Tiramesu, Spris, Segafredo, Soyka, and Van Dyke Cafe.