Taste Of The Town: 1826 Restaurant & Lounge

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Standing four stories high, all in glass, the all new 1826 Restaurant and Lounge, located at 1826 Collins Avenue on Miami Beach is all about style, elegance and fabulous food.

At the helm is two star Michelin Chef Danny Grant who moved from Chicago for the new challenge.

"MIami was the lure for me. I'd never been here before. It's such a great place and I wanted to be a part of this growing food scene," said Grant.

The elegant and ultra-modern eatery has some whimsical design touches to keep the vibe fun yet sophisticated. When the lights go down, it's all about the scene both in the restaurant and upstairs in the ultra-cool lounge.

"The greatest thing about this place is you can spend the whole night here. First, sit down for a fine dining experience and then go upstairs to the lounge and enjoy drinks, great music and a terrific nightlife scene," said Grant.

While the scene is cool, 1826 is really about the food. Grant says every bite counts.

"The way we broke the menu down is like this. First, we have all the finest vegetable and salad dishes we call "The Harvest," then we have great seafood dishes in the section called "The Hook" and finally the meaty dishes in "The Hunt."

CBS4's Lisa Petrillo put it to the test. First up - poached lobster and king crab with scallop dumplings on a bed of tiny pasta.

"Every bite counts and that was a good bite," said Petrillo after sampling the dish. "The seafood is delicious and it's cooked al dente the way pasta is supposed to be cooked."

Next was an avocado and grapefruit citrus vinaigrette with hearts of palm and veggies.

"I'm coming back for more, it's delicious," said Petrillo.

Finally, prawns wrapped in phyllo dough with a delicate dipping sauce.

"The crunch with the dough and succulent flavor of the meat from the prawn is beyond good," said Petrillo.

Petrillo said at 1826 Restaurant and Lounge fine dining and fun combine for a unique night life experience.

For more info: www.1826collins.com.