Driade Cafe
It may very well be the first dining place in Miami where you can order food and then order the furniture you're sitting on too. The Driade Cafe's unusual "to-go" features are best explained by the fact that it's the offshoot of a design enterprise and the need for casual but tastey fare in the city's thriving Design District.
With more and more city dwellers and travelers making there way here to individually browse the design and art scene, along with the standard contingents of design professionals, there was obviously a niche for good eating as well as cutting-edge design and gallery presence. So it was that first came along the Italian design powerhouse of Driade with its impressive showroom of wares for everything from the workspace to the bedroom. Now more recently in 2008, they've made space within their design center for Driade Cafe. The Italian cuisine has been overseen by renowned Miami chef and caterer Kenneth Lyon. There's attention to old world detail here, with main courses served up in copper pots, and first-class service from the staff.
About the food itself and in the establishment's own words: "Our chefs are inspired by a wide variety of Italian regions and aim at providing you with a unique experience and heightened taste sensations. We have gone through great lengths and are dedicated to sourcing artisanal and environmentally sound products. From sustainable seafood to grass-fed beef to Italian DOP cheeses and organically grown produce, we even prepare fresh baked breads and pastas on a daily basis. Furthermore, in an effort to be environmentally friendly and minimize the effect on the carbon foot print, a water filtration system has been installed that will provide the triple filtered still and sparkling waters that will be the basis for our home-made sodas, beverages, and bottled water. Hopefully, Fratelli Lyon can bring you a bit of Miami chic, a dash of Italian passion and a smidge of environmental awareness all under one roof."
Then again, they also aim to achieve a revolutionized one-stop shopping venue for clients. Everything in the cafe can be purchased--even the tables and chairs. Just one outing, and you've taken care of filling your living space with the finest from contemporary Italian tastemakers, while also filling up your other personal interior. Can you think of anything more efficient than that in an energy and time crunched era?
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Driade Cafe - 4141 N.E. 2nd Ave., Miami; Tel: (305) 572-2901