Tigertail + Mary is set to debut this Friday, May 24. Named for the corner on which it will stand, the restaurant will offer what is described in a press release as "fresh, vegetable-forward American cooking."
Though New Times hasn't seen the menu, it sounds like a recipe for what Schwartz does best: using local ingredients that speak for themselves.
The veg-forward menu will also offer dishes made with local seafood and meat from humanely raised animals. In a statement, the chef said Tigertail + Mary will take inspiration from the lush neighborhood in which it will reside. "For us, it’s about food that is unhindered in its sincerity to the ingredient and the way we want guests to feel welcome when they join us."
The 120-seat restaurant will offer indoor seating, a bar, and a patio. Much like Michael's Genuine Food & Drink, the eatery will boast an open kitchen as its focal point.
When Michael's Genuine opened in 2007, it was hailed as a revelation. In a city filled with overpriced hotel restaurants and generic chains, Schwartz's menu was true to the restaurant's name — making dishes with fresh, seasonal ingredients.
The restaurant earned Schwartz several James Beard Award nominations from 2008 through 2010, when he was named Best Chef: South for his work at his eponymous Design District eatery. The restaurant continues to be one of Miami's most consistent, with Schwartz being named a Beard semifinalist, once more, in 2014 for his work there.
Schwartz has remained busy, expanding his Genuine Pizza brand, including opening an outpost in Coconut Grove. He also opened Fi'lia at the SLS Brickell but at the beginning of the year announced he was no longer affiliated with it.
Tigertail + Mary. 3312 Mary St., Coconut Grove; tigertailandmary.com. Open for dinner beginning on Friday, May 24. 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Sunday to Thursday; Friday and Saturday 5:30 to 11:30 p.m. Brunch and lunch service will follow this summer. Tigertail + Mary will open soon for breakfast with coffee, bakery items, sandwiches, and beverages.
