Courtesy Tongue & Cheek

Tongue & Cheek opened in April.

April showers may bring May flowers, but they also brought a lot of restaurant openings and closings to Miami -- some of them surprising, some expected.

Two long-awaited restaurants opened on Miami Beach. Restaurant Michael Schwartz at the Raleigh Hotel, in the works for over a year, finally opened; and Tongue & Cheek, from the combined talents of Jamie DeRosa and Michael Reginbogin began serving.

Unfortunately, April also brought many closings. South Street abruptly shuttered its doors, though its Facebook page asked us to "STAY TUNED FOR WHAT'S NEXT"; and Acme Bakery & Coffee closed, citing high rents as one of the reasons why it couldn't make a go of it.

Coming up in May, look forward to smart cocktails at Cipriani Downtown Miami and California craze Umami Burger to hit SoBe.

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STK Miami is closing for the summer.

STK, the steak house that felt like a lounge, closed its doors after dinner service this past Saturday, April 27.

STK was one of the last restaurants to operate out of the Perry South Beach Hotel, which itself closed April 15 in anticipation of a $100 million transformation into the eco-friendly 1 Hotel.

Read also:
- STK Plans to Remain Open When Perry Hotel Closes for Renovation

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Mango and Lime

Sosta's brick-oven pizzeria closes on Lincoln Road.

With all the new pizzerias opening, it looked like Miami would become the new Manhattan, where every street corner sells hot and savory pies in one form or another.

Which is why it's surprising to learn that the Lincoln Road pizzeria Sosta Enoteca & Pizzeria quietly closed Sunday, April 21.

Read also:
- Acme Bakery & Coffee is Closing
- South Street Closes

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Get one last piece of Key lime pie in this weekend.

When Oprah Winfrey calls your product the "best cake in America" you know that you're in for a swarm of people.

So when Oprah's pal Gayle King visited Icebox Cafe on Lincoln Road in 2006, magical things happened for the little bakery and cafe that specializes in serving cake and coffee (and champagne), in addition to an entire savory menu.

Read also:
- Icebox Cafe Relocating to Sunset Harbor in Spring

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Acme via Instagram

Acme Bakery is closing.

After only nine months in operation, Acme Bakery & Coffee is closing its doors this Sunday, April 28.

The bakery with a vintage vibe specialized in sourdough loaves and jams. But the little shop had its share of trials.

The 35-seat restaurant was hindered by high rent, and although there seemed to be a need for fresh bread in midtown Miami, the little eatery couldn't make things work -- even though it was the go-to place for off-duty chefs and locals to grab a bite and some Panther coffee.

In her review, Short Order's Emily Codik praised the shop's breakfast selections but pointed out that the service could make for a "slow and confusing meal."

See also:
- At Acme Bakery & Coffee and Lee & Marie's Cakery, Nothing Is Selling Like Hotcakes

The bakery issued the following statement on its Facebook page:

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Bill Wisser

South Street Restaurant & Bar, the Motown-inspired restaurant in the Design District, has closed.

The restaurant's Facebook page simply states, "South Street is closed... STAY TUNED FOR WHAT'S NEXT." The phone at the restaurant went unanswered at 7:15 last night, and a call to sister restaurant Gigi yielded no further information.

See also:
- South Street's Amaris Jones Promises to Win You Over With Pork-Free Soul Food

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In Miami, restaurants come and go quicker than the hopes of Marlins fans. Recently, the Mondrian Hotel's Asia de Cuba shut its doors after buying out of a partnership with Morgans Hotel Group.

The London and Los Angeles branches of the swanky Latin/Asian chain remain open, but Miami's outpost is no more -- at least temporarily. There's a planned reopening in another local space, according to brand reps, but they're in no hurry. The same group is also in the process of opening a new China Grill location in Brickell.

See also:
- Best French Fries - Asia de Cuba
- Asia De Cuba's Crispy Tofu: A Dish Non-Vegetarians Should Love

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Laine Doss

Swine Southern Table & Bar brings Southern flavor to Coral Gables.

The term March Madness applied to the restaurant scene in Miami this past month. Several heavily anticipated venues by some heavy-hitters arrived:

Jeffrey Chodorow of China Grill Management opened Biscayne Tavern at the b2 hotel in downtown Miami. Though the restaurant is still in its soft-opening phase, there are more than two dozen beers to pair with the gastropub's simple yet satisfying food.

Michael Schwartz's Cypress Room opened in the Design District. In a departure from his two casual eateries, Schwartz has gone upscale with white-linen service, wine-pairing dinners, and classic cocktails.

50 Eggs' Swine Southern Table & Bar brings Southern hospitality, communal dining, and a large bourbon selection to Coral Gables.

March also saw the closings of two Miami-area favorites. After seven years, neighborhood pub Clarke's closed, and Clive's Café shuttered after nearly four decades.

Hotly anticipated spring openings include Jamie DeRosa and Michael Reginbogin's Tongue & Cheek and California transplant Umami Burger.

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Photo by billwisserphoto.com

Tikl's executive chef Simon Stojanovic and steak.

Tikl, Raw Bar and Grill, a small-plates restaurant in Brickell by the AltaMare team, has closed.

The restaurant, which opened in August 2012, closed without much fanfare with executive chef Simon Stojanovic citing a lack of momentum, according to Miami.com.

In a review last October, Zachary Fagenson called the restaurant's dishes "thoughtful and flavorful without using too many ingredients." He noted that the restaurant, sandwiched by high-rise office buildings, was "certainly deserving of more than a hurried lunch with colleagues."

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Bulla opens in Coral Gables.

The second month of the new year saw some activity as restaurants clamored to open to take advantage of the large crowds of foodies who traveled to Miami and Miami Beach from California, New York, and even Broward County to drink in their fill of good wine and celebrity sightings at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival.

We're pleased to say that there were no major restaurant closings. Is this an indication that the economy has picked up for good -- or that our fair city's restaurant scene continues to grow and be a force to be reckoned with? Either way -- we're happy that small restaurateurs continue to open in Miami... and stay open.

Read also:
-Bulla Gastrobar Takes Por Fin's Place
- Sweet Saloon: Get Chocolate Wasted With Cocktails and Dessert Treats

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