Itamae, the family-owned Miami restaurant recognized for its distinctive tackle Peruvian-Japanese (Nikkei) delicacies and a first-year recipient of the Michelin Information Florida’s Bib Gourmand designation, is closing.

The restaurant, which opened in 2020 in a standalone constructing at The Palm Courtroom in Miami’s Design District, will formally shut for enterprise with the final day of service slated for Sunday, August 27.

Itamae was the primary Miami institution from the Chang household, a workforce effort comprising patriarch Fernando and his two kids, Nando and Valerie. The household has since opened B-Facet at Wynwood’s 1-800-Fortunate and the Kaseya Heart, as properly Valerie’s Peruvian restaurant Maty’s in Midtown.

Itamae’s menu, which targeted on ceviches, tiraditos, and sushi, was an ode to the Changs’ Peruvian heritage and Fernando’s standing as an itamae — translated as “entrance of the board,” the time period is an honorific utilized to grasp sushi cooks. When the restaurant opened within the midst of the pandemic, it did not take lengthy for the household’s tackle Peruvian-Japanese fusion to win over the hearts and appetites of the town’s Nikkei cuisine-loving populace.

Earlier this 12 months, on the heels of its inclusion in the inaugural class of the Florida Michelin Information, Bon Appétit featured Itamae on the duvet of its April difficulty, showcasing Miami because the journal’s “Meals Metropolis of the Yr.”

All of which raises the query: With a lot native love and nationwide recognition, why is Itamae closing?

In accordance with the Chang household, do not consider it as a “farewell,” however quite a “see you once more quickly.” The household shares they plan to open the subsequent evolution of Itamae this fall in an area subsequent door to Maty’s at 3255 NE First Ave.

Itamae Ao, because it has been dubbed, might be led by Nando alongside sous chef Estefania Andrade, and can supply three seatings per night time at a 12-seat bar. The brand new enterprise will permit Nando and his workforce to supply a fine-tuned focus through a collection of composed bites and nigiri.

Following Itamae’s closure, the Chang household will proceed to make use of the area at 140 NE thirty ninth St. to open a 3rd B-Facet location, one that may supply an expanded menu that may draw on beloved Itamae dishes.

“This transfer won’t solely permit us to craft the expertise we wish for our diners on all ranges, however to supply… a extra elevated night for our visitors and pals,” Nando explains in a press launch. “On this new setting, we’re excited to have the ability to higher craft extra of that have very quickly.”

“We won’t wait to carry B-Facet “again” in Design District,” provides Val. “We all know a extra informal eating expertise might be an exquisite addition to the district’s ever-evolving eating choices… whereas Itamae might be a vacation spot restaurant the place we invite you in to find new issues and luxuriate within the expertise and the place we wish the chance to curate each element.”

To be among the many first to know when reservations for Itamae Ao are launched, visitors can join notification by going to the Itamae web site and scrolling to the underside to subscribe to the publication.

Itamae. 140 NE thirty ninth St., Miami; itamaemiami.com.