by Myrna Katz Frommer and Harvey Frommer
As the authors of It Happened in Miami, our adventures in interviewing took us all over the area. We thought we had seen it all. However, we never got around to experience Metropolitan by COMO and its Traymore restaurant, a sweet and serene spot close by the just above the historic Art Deco District almost tucked away off Collins Avenue on 24th street.
Now we had the experience. We were able to tour briefly the splendid property and dine unhurriedly at its fabled restaurant. Both were highly pleasing experiences
The Traymore Restaurant and Bar is located on the ground floor of an authentic Art Deco building that was designed in 1939 by the noted American-born architect, Albert Anis. Occupying nine floors, the charming property has 74 guestrooms, some with ocean and others with bay views.
Originally known as the Traymore Hotel, utilized as a hospital during WWII, it was designated an historic landmark by the Miami Design Preservation League. That designation carries with it the requirement that the building’s original façade, ground floor tiling and Art Deco architectural accents surrounding the building’s exterior remain in their original form. And what wonderful form it is.
The interiors of the hotel were re-imagined by award winning designer Paola Navone whose colorful vision of Art Deco tranquility features smooth pastel greens, grays and off-whites as part of the peaceful yet contemporary design. The flooring in the Traymore Restaurant and Bar is most pleasing — polished terrazzo tiles.
We dined in the restaurant listening carefully to the suggestions of our knowing server. We went along with his enthusiasm and knowledge of what wine to partake of, what martini one of us should experience, what to order for our dinners.
We were not disappointed. American seafood and seasonal dishes from virtually zero kilometer Florida waters make up the heart of chef Juan Loaisiga’s offerings.
There are stone crabs, Key West pink shrimp, yellow tail snapper – just for starters. Signature dishes include grilled jumbo octopus (below), seafood stew and whole roasted market fish. And the unusual and delectable desserts and pastries we were told are freshly made on the premises each day. Passion fruit cream cannoli was an usual and highly pleasing taste sensation. The entire experience at the Traymore with background music non-intrusively part of the scene – classics from the fifties to modern day Motown and jazz was memorable.
Sophistication, tranquility, a dining experience to remember.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
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Traymore Restaurant and Bar at Metropolitan by COMO, Miami Beach 305.695.3555 | dining.met.mia@comohotels.com 2445 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33140
About The Authors:
The Frommers are a wife and husband team who successfully bridge the worlds of popular culture and traditional scholarshipThey are acclaimed oral historians, co-authors of the six highly praised works: It Happened in the Catskills, It Happened in Brooklyn, Growing Up Jewish in America, It Happened on Broadway, It Happened in Manhattan, and It Happened in Miami. They are at work on It Happened in Israel
The Frommers are professors of oral history in the Masters of Arts in Liberal Studies program at Dartmouth College. They are also prolific travel writers whose articles on national and international destinations and Jewish communities around the world have appeared in outlets including The New York Times, Newsday, New York Daily News, Los Angeles Times, Redbook, Haaretz, The Forward, Golf Digest, International Herald Tribune, USA Today, The Washington Post, The Sporting News, and Men’s Health. Accomplished and charismatic public speakers, the Frommers have spoken before live audiences and on the media throughout the United States lecturing on their books and travel experiences.
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