FROM LEFT: Yardbird Southern Table & Bar; The Dutch
 
  The Dutch's Maine sea scallops with heirloom cauliflower and citrus

Menu Matters

Good, straightforward food, it turns out, is only part of the equation. Über-hot New York chef Andrew Carmellini just opened The Dutch, a fantastically unfussy concept of locally sourced American fare at the W South Beach that seems to be doing quite well. Classics also charm at Yardbird Southern Table & Bar, where telegenic Top Chef contender, executive chef, and partner Jeff McInnis, formerly of Gigi, puts out exceptionally good Southern fare, including ridiculously delicious fried chicken. Big chefs are also lending their talents to satellite projects, such as Michael Schwartz at The Raleigh, Geoffrey Zakarian at Tudor House, and (according to rumor) chef John DeLucie at The Marlin Hotel.