COTE Miami — Restaurant in Miami

Annyeonghaseyo! I’ve been a loyalist of Cote, a one-of-a-kind Korean Steakhouse, since I first dined here at the end of 2022. I consistently return as it is the top spot I like to take friends and family who are visiting Miami, a fun choice to celebrate any special occasion, and overall a perfect restaurant for anyone that truly appreciates food.

Fine dining, but make it Miami — a style all its own and not one all the major players in Miami do well. Cote is worth its Michelin star and more. I’ve dined at the only two-Michelin in FL and it was delicious, but outside of the presentation of some of the dishes, there was not any that was particular memorable. Whereas Cote has two of the best things I’ve ever eaten on their menu, the “Steak & Eggs” with milk bread is impeccable and there is a preparation they do for their Oysters that is a regional secret that you will not find in their NYC location. I’d say more, but I have an unfounded fear the more people I tell about these specific oysters, they’ll stop making it. That’s just something you’ll have to go ask about yourself to get the keys to Oyster paradise.

I’ve been fortunate enough to try numerous items and both the Butcher’s Feast and none other than THE Steak Omakase. If you are a steak connoisseur, it is worth the splurge. All the team members are trained exhaustively to cook meat to the perfect medium-rare. I know some people prefer more cooked, but if so I would recommend to try another restaurant because it would be a waste of your funds to cook these beautiful cuts of meat above a med-rare as it will end up tasting like any burnt steak you could get somewhere else. If you dine here and insist on higher temperatures, please don’t be mad at the staff and restaurant since you’d be asking for preparation not intended by the Chef. Proceed at your own risk. On the other hand, if you feel that the meat is overcooked by the staff unintentionally, just ask nicely for them to make adjustments and they will fix the issue. The servers here don’t have a rude bone in their body, which is surprising for Miami I know, but they are a fine establishment for a reason.

For the Omakase, it would be a miss if you did not add-on at least once, the "Horizontal Tasting” of three A5 Wagyu. Insane mouthfeel, tender and savory without being overly rich in ways that sometimes A5 cuts can be. I still can’t decide if Miyazaki, or Kobe is my favorite. Their Ban Chan spread is an elevated version of traditional items though that Scallion Salad is supreme and the Egg Soufflé is the fluffiest and insta-worthy. Other surprise standouts for me are the Jan-chi Somyun and the soy sauce caramel soft serve sweet ending.

The management here has been keenly selected along with the staff that runs the floor every day and night to bring you an unrivaled sensory experience. No bad table in the house, not smoky like traditional KBBQ due to their smokeless grills so you don’t have to worry about that burning smell when you’re eating, incredible bar and wine program, and chill lighting and vibes with balanced volume of music often with live DJ so you can still conduct social time with friends without screaming across the table — yes there is a difference if you’ve been to other Miami restaurants.

I’m not part of the ultra rich and elite of Miami by any means, I just love and appreciate the culinary arts of all budgets and origins. But if a perfect restaurant existed and I had to make a choice to eat at one only for the rest of my life, it would be Cote Miami. It is my favorite restaurant and the G.O.A.T. 10/10.

[🥩+🔥+🍸 = 😊] +...

Our recent visit to Cote, a Michelin-starred establishment, left much to be desired. From the outset, the experience was a significant disappointment. Despite arriving on time for our reservation, we were directed to the bar and forced to wait for 20 minutes past our reservation. While it's common for high-end restaurants to offer guests drinks as they wait, the apparent intention to upsell overpriced beverages—without any seating accommodation—felt manipulative, especially for a Michelin-starred restaurant where precision and seamless service should be paramount.

Once seated, we were met with another disappointment: the Miami Spice menu, which was advertised until 9/30, was abruptly discontinued. This lack of transparency left a poor impression, particularly for a restaurant of this caliber, where attention to detail and honoring commitments is expected.

Our initial server, Julio, struggled to articulate the nuances of the menu, making the $75 per person option sound unappealing and insufficient. In a restaurant known for its quality and culinary expertise, this should not have been the case. The experience with Julio left us uncertain and unimpressed, particularly in an environment where guests anticipate in-depth knowledge of the menu and confidence from the staff in describing the dishes.

Fortunately, our experience was somewhat redeemed by the second server, whose professionalism and understanding of the food provided some much-needed insight into the dishes we ordered. His ability to explain the preparation and origin of ingredients was the high point of the evening, as one would expect from Michelin-level service. He engaged with us in a way that felt personal yet not intrusive, precisely the balance expected in a fine dining establishment.

However, this relief was short-lived due to the uncomfortable presence of a serving assistant, Manni, who frequently hovered around our table, making excessive eye contact. In a Michelin-starred restaurant, service should be discreet and elegant, yet this behavior was overbearing and inappropriate, detracting from the overall experience. Despite politely requesting that he refrain from this excessive attention, the discomfort persisted.

Lastly, the food—though technically sound—did not justify the astronomical prices. While the flavors were enjoyable, they lacked the innovation or unique flair expected at this price point and from a Michelin-starred restaurant. Other Korean barbecue spots offer similar flavors at a fraction of the cost, and for a Michelin star, diners expect a clear elevation in both execution and presentation, which unfortunately was not the case here.

In conclusion, between the poor initial service, manipulative seating arrangements, and uncomfortable staff behavior, Cote failed to live up to its Michelin status. We left feeling underwhelmed, with no desire to return, especially given the wide array of excellent fine dining options in Miami. The food and service should reflect the prestigious Michelin title, but in this instance, it fell...

UPDATED Review as of 2/23/24 It pains me to say the staff on duty was so unprofessional on 2/23 at 5pm. Let me start with the pros: 1) one amazing French floor manager (blue/back suit) who noticed our overcooked meat and replaced it and 2) the actual food is still amazing. The Wrongs:

1. We were rushed! We were working on our ceviche appetizer and the meat was brought out. We were having white wine and a bottle of red was coming for the meat. My partner had to tell the waiter to please slow down, we eat our meat medium rare so there was no need to start so soon.
2. Bad word in Spanish. I’m Cuban, born and raised, and that was just so unprofessional. It’s Miami, most people speak Spanish, be considerate of your guests.
3. More rush! Before we finish our bottle of red wine, dessert was brought out. Ice cream nonetheless, needless to say we finished our wine and did not eat the dessert as it was melted by the time we were done with the bottle.
4. The check was brought out before we finished our wine and we weren’t even asked if we wanted anything else… which we did. Ended up ordering an old fashioned at the bar. Unbelievable. I should’ve called the floor manager then and complain but I was on a date and didn’t feel like going all Karen on people. I do not know what happened to this place, it plummeted from my top restaurants to being hesitant about recommending it to others. I was asked how my experience was and my first words were “do not let them rush you.” Please train your staff so they don’t make others feel like they are in an assembly line. Shoutout to that floor manager though and the quality of food, but I will not return.

PREVIOUS 5 star Review: Holy mother of Michelin, these guys truly know quality and hospitality! Warm welcome and amazing service ALL the time. The guys at the bar were so wonderful, they served us before our dinner and we had to make a stop before leaving, yes the cocktails were that good! Our servers were amazing as well, you guys rock! The food was exquisite, we started with East Side Oysters with caviar followed by the Butcher’s Feast and could not finished everything (what a shame). We also enjoyed the Kimchi Wagyu paella, so yummy! By far the best restaurant experience I have had in Miami. For the quality you get, the prices are very affordable, this city was truly in need of this kind of establishment… I cannot say enough good things about COTE Miami. I have been to Michelin-star rated Korean steakhouses and BBQs in NYC and Seoul respectively, so of course I had high expectations of the place. I was happy when my expectations were surpassed and was truly pleased with the delivery of COTE. Make your reservation and be ready to enjoy their amazing food and hospitality. COTE Miami, thank you for reminding me what excellence is and I do hope other businesses learn from you, or at least open more restaurants in Miami,...