Editor’s Note: RedFarm has since opened it’s Miami location. This article was originally published prior to the opening.
RedFarm, an innovative, creative and tasty Asian fusion restaurant, is making its way to Coconut Grove. While already an established chain in New York City, they are opening up a new location here, providing a nearby dining spot to hungry ’Canes. Though leaning on the more expensive side, it is great for a classy date night or a group dinner. And with a menu like this, the dollars will be worth the deliciousness.
Get ready because this well-loved restaurant is debuting in Miami very soon.
“We’re thrilled to bring the flavors of our Asian-fusion Chinese restaurant from New York to the vibrant community of Coconut Grove,” said Nick Dixit, the general manager of Miami’s new location. Dixit did not provide a specific date for the opening, but previous press on the restaurant suggested an opening by the end of the year.
The restaurant, located at 3131 Commodore Plaza, will not be RedFarm’s first foray outside of New York. They have a location in London, which opened in 2018, and another in Austin, Texas, which opened in 2022. Their new Grove location will take over the space vacated by Mr. Moe’s, a popular college-crowd restaurant that attracted scores of University of Miami students.
With a farm-to-table menu RedFarm boasts a “Chinese cuisine with a Greenmarket sensibility,” according to management.
RedFarm’s high-powered, imaginative Chinese cuisine and modern yet rustic design at its New York location was inspired by a local farmer’s market. The design features natural wood, white-painted brick and gingham cloth to tie together the aesthetic. According to the restaurant’s website, dim sum master chef Joe Ng and Chinese food expert Ed Schoenfeld introduced the idea of the restaurant through a food hall stall in midtown Manhattan in 2010. A year later, the physical restaurant opened in 2011 in the West Village, followed by a second location in the Upper West Side in 2013.
New York resident Daesha Roberts dined recently at the Upper West Side location to give South Florida readers an idea of what awaits them in the Grove.
“I went by myself after work and it was not too crowded,” said Roberts, who ordered the crispy braised oxtail dumplings for $23 and the pan-fried lamb dumplings for $22. “My server was very friendly, and the food came out within a reasonable time.”
Roberts said she was happy with the quality but disappointed by the quantity.
“They were really tasty and fried crispy the way that I like,” Roberts said. “However, it made me really sad that there were only four of them.”
Although the restaurant and ambience were nice, Roberts said the prices were a bit higher than she expected. She gave higher rating to Mr. Chow and TAO, two other high-end Chinese and Asian fusion restaurants, respectively.
On its social media platforms, RedFarm scores high marks from its fan base.
“If you haven’t been to RedFarm, your life actually sucks; people love their food so much that they would say it’s life-changing,” according to The VIP List, the American restaurant critic duo of Meg Radice and Audrey Jongens, who share their restaurant reviews on TikTok.
After perusing the RedFarm menu, we came up with a list of must try items once the Miami location opens.
For appetizers, you can indulge in the crab, truffle and corn chowder for $25: a decadent and creamy soup combining the sweet taste of crab, the earthy essence of truffle and the sweetness of corn. RedFarm also offers its signature pastrami egg rolls for $15, a unique and crispy appetizer.
Roberts’ crispy braised oxtail dumplings order have impressed other customers, which some claim as one of the best appetizers on the menu.
RedFarm also has a wide selection of dumplings, including the Pac-Man dumplings for $21, a whimsical and creative take on traditional Chinese dumplings that are carefully crafted to resemble Pac-Man, the iconic video game character. Stuffed with shrimp fillings and vegetables, they come complete with black sesame-seed eyes to resemble the four PacMan characters: Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde, being chased by Pac-Man, a sweet potato tempura with a blueberry eye.
Vegetarians might try the crunchy vegetable and peanut dumplings for $17, for an equally delicious but meatless dish.
Still hungry? There is an even greater selection of main dishes.
To start, you might not want to pass up a chance to order the peking duck for $115, a crispy whole duck served with pancakes and three sauces, giving diners all they need to craft their own peking duck rolls.
For a seamless fusion of barbeque and Asian-stir-fry, order the BBQ’d beef fried rice for $34, which features tender pieces of marinated beef grilled to perfection, along with a stir-fried medley of vegetables, rice and vibrant seasonings.
The udon noodles with grilled short ribs for $36 is also a dish bursting with flavor, consisting of thick udon noodles underneath pieces of grilled short ribs. The grilled prime creekstone strip steak for $72 is also a must for steak lovers, offering an elegant steakhouse experience. Dry-aged for 40 days, the steak is grilled to result in a charred exterior and a juicy interior.
Ready for dessert? Enjoy a refreshing slice of key lime pie for $16, or a fruit plate with a side of ginger syrup for $16. For those with an extra sweet tooth, enjoy a piece of chocolate cake with chocolate Chantilly cream frosting for $16 or the ice cream sandwiches for $16.
words_dylan davis, jasmyne roberts & mariana apostolatos. photo_redfarmnyc.com. design_lizzie kristal.
This article was published in Distraction’s Winter 2023 print issue.
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