Acclaimed International Chef Alfredo Alvarez, former executive chef for the ultra-posh Sea, Salt & Pepper (now Seaspice), and wife Tara Nicosia announced just last week that they have sold Biscayne Diner. Since January 2015, this diner served elevated New York City-inspired quality, comfort food 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Born in Venezuela, Chef Alvarez is renowned for dreaming up some of the most creative menus as well as for tailoring dining experiences for an elite, star-studded clientele including, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Sofia Vergara, and former president Bill Clinton. Chef Alvarez trained at Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne in Switzerland and has managed some of the top restaurants in Miami and New York City including Giacosa, Soco and Trattoria Dopo Teatro.
It seems that the space won’t be vacant for long, as it has been sold to John Gallo and Rene Reyes, former chef partners of Pubelly Group’s Barceloneta. The dynamic duo have been heating things up in the kitchen together for close to ten years. Gallo was the sous chef at Barceloneta located in South Miami, where Reyes used to work as well. Reyes then took on a position at Michael White’s upscale Italian Seafood House, Marea. When Rene came back to Miami, he was reunited with Gallo at L’Echon Brasserie.
The eatery will adopt a new eclectic name and concept as Pinch Miami, slated to open in October 2015. Now under management of Pubbelly veteran chefs, the resurrected diner is billed as a “new, freestyle American eatery with an eclectic craft beer and wine menu.” As far as the menu goes, it will be “palate driven,” boasting 21 items and an assortment of delicious daily specials. The eatery is currently undergoing a makeover to mirror the new concept. Hungry customers can expect rustic tables, wooden chairs, and wall accents.
As for Chef Alvarez, he is now working the kitchen in his two contemporary developments serving as a consultant chef for a signature oceanfront restaurant opening at Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach, a luxury hotel and residences in Fort Lauderdale and Santru Restaurant and Lounge in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
“I have really enjoyed venturing into the consulting world on both a national and international level and I’m eager to share my passion for culinary arts,” said Chef Alvarez. “I’m in the works of crafting new exciting culinary concepts intertwined with rich Mediterranean influences into my projects that have motivated the culinary teams to make my vision a reality.”
