Le Jardinier *

We have eaten at L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Miami multiple times, but somehow had never made it downstairs to Le Jardinier. On this trip, we decided it was finally time.

Seabass Crudo

The two restaurants are sisters, both are part of The Bastion Collection, a global hospitality group whose portfolio includes L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon and Le Jardinier concepts in several cities. Le Jardinier was created by Michelin-starred Chef Alain Verzeroli, a longtime protégé of Joël Robuchon, and the Miami location in the heart of the Design District has held a Michelin star since Florida’s inaugural Michelin Guide in 2022.

The restaurant itself is beautiful. While L’Atelier upstairs is darker and more dramatic, Le Jardinier feels bright, open, and distinctly Miami, think emeralds and gilded gold. There is also a lush outdoor garden area that fits naturally into the Design District setting.

For dinner, we chose the five-course Seasonal Expression of Summer, which turned out to be exactly what we wanted on a hot August evening in Miami. While the cooking is rooted in French technique, Le Jardinier places a significant emphasis on vegetables, herbs, and seasonal ingredients alongside its proteins. They have a very vegetable-forward philosophy.

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  Bread and Butter

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  Amuse

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  Beef Picanha

The best bite of the night was easily the Pappardelle Pasta. The preparation was deceptively simple: pappardelle with Parmesan, crème fraîche, preserved lemon aioli, and roasted artichokes. It was bright, creamy, acidic, and incredibly well balanced. The preserved lemon kept the dish from becoming heavy, while the roasted artichokes worked beautifully with the pasta.

Pappardelle Pasta

We talk a lot about dishes that inspire us to experiment once we get back into our own kitchen, and this was absolutely one of them. Obviously, we will be attempting the very home-cook version, but preserved lemon aioli, roasted artichokes, and pasta have officially made their way into our future meal planning.

What we appreciated most about Le Jardinier was how different the experience felt from L’Atelier despite the restaurants being so closely connected. This is not simply a lighter version of the restaurant upstairs. Le Jardinier has its own identity, and the emphasis on seasonality gives the menu a freshness that makes a lot of sense in Miami.

After walking past Le Jardinier on our way upstairs to L’Atelier multiple times, we are glad we finally stopped downstairs.