Celebrity chefs Bryan and Michael Voltaggio recently announced additional details about their Florida debut and collaborative restaurant, Monger by the Voltaggio Brothers, which will be located in Central Fare, the first true Miami food hall that is part of MiamiCentral, the expansive downtown development featuring retail, office, residences and the Brightline train service.
Bryan and Michael Voltaggio, both known for their time on Bravo’s Emmy-winning season of Top Chef, have created a guest-driven restaurant concept with an interactive menu allowing guests the ability to curate their own meals, similar to selecting from a grocery shopping list.
“Brightline is connecting people to and from their destination. We’re doing the same thing with the menu,” Michael Voltaggio said. “We’re providing the ingredients. We’re cooking them for you. You decide what that destination is.”
Upon entering the restaurant, guests will feel as if they are in a retro yet modern grocery store. Diners will curate their own meals by choosing their own ingredients through an interactive menu tailored for creative customization. Working alongside other local artisans, the Voltaggios have set out to answer the age-old question of how a collection of unique ingredients can come together to make an extraordinary meal.
“The definition of monger is an expert…an expert in procuring an ingredient or a product,” explainrf Bryan Voltaggio. “In this case, Monger, the restaurant, what it’s going to be about is experts in each part of the dining experience: the fish monger, the meat monger, the produce monger.”
Inspired by the Brightline train service bringing people together, Monger by the Voltaggio Brothers is a common meeting place to celebrate food. The 10,000-square foot restaurant, designed by award-winning global hospitality design and concept firm, AvroKO, is divided into three spaces, each evoking a different feel and mood.
Guests will arrive into a lively bar and casual dining area inspired by mid-century Florida supermarkets. At the metal and chrome bar, inspired by a vintage grocery store checkout counter, mixologists will prepare uniquely crafted cocktails.
The perimeter walls will be defined by shelving and displays of fresh seasonal produce and ingredients, including refrigerated cases showcasing the fish, meat, vegetables, and pastries that diners will enjoy. A visitor can browse the cuts of meat available and catch a glimpse into the kitchen beyond where the meals are being prepared.
A host will guide diners through kitchen doors, giving them an up-close, behind-the-scenes look at the lively activity of the specialty kitchens as they head to a restaurant dining room concealed beyond. Passing through the kitchen, diners will enter a warm and intimate series of spaces evoking the homes of the mongers. Surrounded by warm finishes, residential furniture, artwork, and custom lighting, guests will feel that they have been invited to dine at the family table of the grocer, the butcher or the fishmonger.
For an exclusive dining experience, the Chef’s Table will sit within the kitchen, giving guests the opportunity to browse the display counters, select their own ingredients and watch the cooking process, learning firsthand from the experts preparing their food.
“We are envisioning that each visit will be unique as we are designing a restaurant where guests can shape their experience, putting together the dishes of their meal and choosing what space to dine in to suit their mood and occasion,” Bryan added.
Upon opening in 2017, Central Fare will be Miami’s first true food hall experience and will encompass approximately 50,000 square feet on the first and second levels of MiamiCentral, featuring six restaurants and more than 20 food and retail purveyors. This unique culinary destination will provide authentic, well-crafted experiences bringing together food, beverage, ideas and community.
The open area of Central Fare will take patrons on a culinary journey with a range of food and beverage offerings that are crafted by local, regional and acclaimed producers who focus on authentic experiences. Signature dining experiences will include: Azucar Ice Cream Company; Blackbrick Chinese; Doggi’s; Miami Smokers; Romanicos Chocolate; Rosetta The Italian Bakery, and Toasted Bagelry & Deli.
More exciting announcements are planned for MiamiCentral and Central Fare, including additional food and beverage, retail and office tenants. For the latest, visit www.MiamiCentral.com and www.gobrightline.com.
