We cannot live in the world of Bridgerton, no matter how many tiaras and ruffled shirts we buy. But at Lafayette Miami, we can dine on fine steaks as the grand piano plays nearby, servers rush about in handsome outfits and drinks and dishes are finished tableside with dramatic flourish. I can’t say whether Penelope finds happiness, but I’m willing to bet you’ll find joy in Lafayette’s vintage vibe.
That’s because, first and foremost, the place is gorgeous. The former El Tucán space in Brickell rings more opulent than ever, with cherry-red banquettes along the walls, chandeliers that look like giant golden flower buds and a thick, Tonight Show-like curtain in the back hiding who knows what?
Unlike the similarly nostalgic Delilah, where the menu includes pigs in a blanket and chicken fingers, here, it’s steakhouse classics. Our meal began with a fluffy Parker House roll with smoked butter, deviled eggs topped with caviar and crispy capers, and a carpaccio striped with a trio of sauces—all pretty flawless. Though we could have skipped the octopus, which was nicely grilled and sliced but didn’t pair with the hunk of burrata in the center.
For entrees, we ordered a seabass finished at the table with a roe-studded beurre blanc and a dry-aged strip, near purple in the center, not as tender as some but richly flavorful and served simply with roasted onions and rosemary garnish.
As we awaited dessert, the night’s entertainment began: a sultry singer belting out Gloria Gaynor to piano accompaniment. It was as sweet as the strawberry cheesecake and the peanut butter cookie topped with dark chocolate and hazelnuts, oozy in the center, crisp outside. Both desserts were flaked with gold as if to coordinate with the wall sconces, barstools and a thousand other things sparkling in the dim lights.
I don’t know if they ate gold-topped desserts in the Regency era, but the nostalgia served at Lafayette Miami is as satisfying as—spoiler alert—Penelope finally ending up with Colin.