When I first heard Michael Schwartz was opening his third restaurant, The Cypress Room, in the Miami Design District, I like many others was excited. It's a continuation of quality dining in a developing luxury neighborhood.
Last week, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Chef Schwartz at The Cypress Room. The restaurant is on the small side with seating for 40. Upon entering you'll see animals, as in deer heads, a marlin, a boar and then maybe the long, wooden, vintage-esque bar or the chandeliers, perhaps the mint green seating along the wall? The room has a throwback, old Florida feel with walls lined with black-and-white photographs depicting a bygone era and a vibe that blends masculine and feminine energies.
Decor is only one aspect of The Cypress Room's charm. The menu sans small plates has a more traditional take of appetizers and entrees. A beverage book offers aperatifs, barrel aged cocktails, wines, beers, and digestifs. The spirits are a mixture between well-known brands and smaller, more boutique labels used to craft cocktails.
Schwartz is always focusing on the ingredients. His stellar Genuine team is once again at the helm to offer a local, seasonal menu albeit more minimal than we've seen before.
Guests will find The Cypress Room to be a more intimate setting with a focus on quality of food and an emphasis on service. Old charms are new again.
