I went to visit the recently opened Pao by Paul Qui, a restaurant in the new Hotel Faena Miami. Upon arriving at the hotel, we already felt the atmosphere of sophistication worthy of the brand. Task and which still bears the seal Leading Hotels of the World, global luxury brand. Filipino chef Paul Qui’s restaurant is spectacular and offers Asian cuisine with a European influence.
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The project
The hotel, built in an art deco building from 1947 (where the legendary Saxony hotel was located), has a large lobby, with very high ceilings and is very elegant. Not bad for a project that cost a billion dollars.
Restaurant at the new Faena Miami hotel |
The restaurant is on the second floor of the hotel. Filipino chef Paul Qui is very famous in the USA, based in Austin, Texas, where he has several restaurants and also for having participated in the program Top Chef. Its base is a mix of French and Japanese cuisine. A modernist, he has a habit of mixing different cooking techniques and adding local seasonings, wherever he wants to be.
Pao follows the same line of elegance as the rest of the hotel (and a touch of ostentation), with golden walls, and even a unicorn sculpture, called the “Golden Myth” – said to have cost US$6 million – in the middle of the room , project designed by Alan Faena himself, creator of the Argentine brand Task.
The restaurant also has tables outside, overlooking the turquoise sea of South Beach. The imposing bar, in Carrara marble, with mirrored shelves, attracts the attention of diners and serves both to wait for a table and to dine.
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The restaurant menu at the new Faena Miami
The menu is modern Asian, with Spanish, French and Japanese influences and the presentation of the dishes is impeccable. I was lucky enough to try the tasting menu, which gave me a good idea of what the chef presents to diners. We started with the “crudos”, that is, the raw starters, as the name suggests, very tasty sashimi cut into super thin slices. Applause for the delicious salad with varied and fresh leaves. I also loved the rice with mushrooms. The meat was very tender and the dessert was light and delicious and chocolatey, as good as it gets!
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The dishes served at Pao by Paul Qui are ideal for sharing, by a couple or a group.
The service was very attentive and the timing between the perfect dishes. Exactly what we expect from a luxury hotel like the Task. More than approved restaurant at the new Hotel Faena Miami. All that was left was the pleasure of getting to know the hotel fully.
Pao by Paul Qui (Faena Hotel Miami Beach)
3201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida
By Renata Araujo
Photos: Renata Araujo and Disclosure
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