Enjoy A Casual, Cozy Feel At Taste Of The Town's Cleo
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MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) - It's all about the small plates at Cleo, a new Mediterranean restaurant at the Redbury Miami Beach.
Chef Danny Elmaleh, who opened up Katsuya at the SLS Hotel, is a partner at Cleo—a charming spot on 17th and Collins Avenue.
"It's eastern Mediterranean cuisine small plates, mezze-style dining. We had lot of vegetables dishes," Chef Elmaleh said. "We have 80 dishes on the menu and 50-percent are vegetarian. We also have a lot of vegan dishes which is great. We're in Miami so we wanted to introduce seafood."
Chef Elmaleh prepared Dorado fish for CBS4's Lisa Petrillo to try. First, he debones the fish, and then seasons it with fresh fennel, thyme, olive oil and salt.
Then the fish is off to the wood-burning oven.
Cleo is all about the open kitchen with an overall casual and inviting feel.
"We want it to be something for local clientele as well as tourist clientele in Miami. It's very relaxed. We have butcher paper on the table, there are mix-matched plates. Everything is communicating the same message that nothing is perfect, come here and be yourself," said Chef Elmaleh.
Petrillo takes a taste of Cleo's Lafa flatbreads and dips such as babaganoush.
"The bread is soft and puffy and delicious. I would make a meal of bread and dips. I'm not kidding," Petrillo said.
The ceviche, to which Petrillo described as refreshing, has grouper, squid, pine nuts and more.
There's more small plates for Petrillo to try, the Chef brings out the hottest seller, Brussel sprout leaves with slivered almonds in a red-wine vinaigrette.
"They are super light and so filled with flavor. Can I have recipe?" Petrillo said.
Next up are lamb, shrimp and Wagu steak kabobs which are marinated in brown sugar, which Petrillo found was almost like a dessert steak.
"It's marinated in brown sugar that makes it like a dessert steak" Lisa said,
The fish, served with manila clams in a red sauce, is last but certainly not least.
"I love the crunchy skin. It's delicious," Petrillo said.
Cleo is opened seven-days a week for dinner only.
For more information, visit www.SBE.com.
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