Groot Hospitality and Tao Group Hospitality Set To Open Ken Fulk-Designed 'Casadonna' On The Biscayne Bay Waterfront in Edgewater

Casadonna, a first-of-its-kind partnership between Groot Hospitality and Tao Group Hospitality, is set to open its doors in Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood alongside Biscayne Bay on October 26. The ultra-luxurious Ken Fulk-designed waterfront destination spans 20,000 square feet across indoor, outdoor and bar seating, matching a sophisticated, storied atmosphere and an expansive, inventive menu designed around coastal Italian cuisine.

Accommodating up to 366 patrons, Casadonna’s Riviera-style Italian cooking takes center stage as the gentle teal of Biscayne Bay, and Miami Beach’s iconic skyline, shimmers in the backdrop. The menu features the freshest local and imported-from-Italy ingredients, with signature dishes including Crispy Young Artichoke, Royal Dorade Aqua Pazza, Bistecca Fiorentina, and a selection of handmade pastas including Campanelle Bolognese, and more. Recipes are based on classic culinary techniques found in seaside towns such as Naples, Taormina, Bari, Positano and Gaeta, yet each is presented in a contemporary and global fashion. A comprehensive crudo bar including Langoustine Ceviche, Tuna Carpaccio and Caviar elevates the aperitivo offering in tandem with traditional antipasti starters. Bespoke cocktails and an extensively curated wine cellar complete the spirit of seaside dolce vita.

“Casadonna is unlike anything we’ve ever done before,” says David Grutman, Founderof Groot Hospitality. “In partnering with Tao, I cannot wait to see our synergies take hold and for our guests to experience the unique magic we’ve created. From the fresh Italian menu to its unbeatable waterfront views, we see Casadonna bringing something new to Miami dining–and we know it will be unforgettable.”

“This is our first foray into the Miami market,” says Noah Tepperberg, Co-CEO of Tao Group Hospitality. “It’s an honor to be in such an important landmark within the city, and it’s exciting to have partnered with Groot Hospitality on this venture. David and his team know Miami deeply, and with our combined strengths, I have no doubt Casadonna is going to become an instant classic.”

Located in a waterfront landmark building that houses the Miami Women’s Club, Casadonna’s name pays homage to the restaurant’s site. The moniker’s compound elements–“casa” and “donna”– translate from Italian to English as “home” and “woman.” While the Miami Women’s Club was founded in 1900–making it one of the oldest formal organizations in the city–the current Mediterranean-revival structure opened in 1926, and was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The Miami Women’s Club has been instrumental in supporting educational programs and promoting community stewardship in and around the Magic City. Its members have also helped with state-shaping policy and activism. Among their most notable achievements: The Miami Women’s Club took a prominent role in the founding of the State Federation Royal Palm Park. The Royal Palm would evolve and be absorbed into none other than what is now Everglades National Park.

“We delved deep into the history of Miami architecture and this building, and we landed on a shared vision that added the grandeur of nearby Vizcaya and the exotic allure of the Long Bar at Raffles in Singapore,” says designer Ken Fulk. “We then inserted modern luxuries and really leaned into a slow reveal of spaces, which is a hallmark of the Groot and Tao experiences.”

Spearheaded by Fulk in collaboration with Groot Hospitality and Tao Group Hospitality, Casadonna’s visual realization provides a highly transportive experience. A double-height Courtyard Bar welcomes guests–this stands in the building’s original atrium. Lush flora and a retractable roof give the space the feeling of a grand secret garden, replete with arched windows, open sky exposure and a second story arcade. As guests move further into the restaurant, with Biscayne Bay coming into view, a number of distinct chambers unfold, from The Garden Dining Room, which is designed to feel like a classic, plaster-finished conservatory, to the Loggia Dining Room, which boasts parquet wood floors, a coffered ceiling, detailed millwork, custom blown-glass chandeliers and breathtaking views of the Bay through the building’s original windows. The experience concludes at the Ocean Bar, which is composed of intimate lounges and al fresco dining areas that span the length of the bay-facing terrace. As guests move through this progression of rooms, the seductive waterfront views become more and more pronounced.

Casadonna will be open for dinner on Thursday, October 26th and for weekend brunch beginning on Saturday, November 11th 2023.

Groot Hospitality and Tao Group Hospitality To Bring Coastal Italian-Inspired Concept 'Casadonna' To Edgewater's Historic Women's Club Building

The historic Miami Women’s Club in Edgewater is set to be transformed with the opening of Casadonna, a Coastal Italian-inspired restaurant developed in partnership between Groot Hospitality and Tao Group Hospitality. The restaurant is slated to open Summer 2023 in the waterfront Mediterranean revival historic Women’s Club building, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The name "Casadonna" is derived from the setting, a fusion of Italian words translating to "house of the woman." The restaurant represents the first partnership between hospitality and entertainment powerhouses the Miami-based Groot Hospitality, led by David Grutman, and the New York City-based Tao Group Hospitality, led by Jason Strauss.

Riviera-style Italian cooking serves as the heart of Casadonna's cuisine. The menu will feature the freshest and finest local and imported products, with signature handcrafted dishes. Plates are based around traditional recipes found in the coastal towns of Naples, Taormina, Bari, Positano and Gaeta, and each is presented in a contemporary fashion. Bespoke cocktails and an extensive wine list complement this approach.

Casadonna will seat up to 366 guests in both indoor and outdoor dining and bar areas, all of which have been visualized by the designer Ken Fulk. The atmosphere is lush, leafy, stately and golden, conveying both a nod to the site's legacy as the Women's Club building, and a reflection of modern Miami tastes. Design highlights include a tranquil indoor-outdoor flow featuring a covered, high-ceilinged atrium, iconic paned and vaulted glass windows, original gates, elaborate chandeliers and distinctive floor patterning.

Tao Group Hospitality delivers distinctive culinary and premium entertainment experiences through its portfolio of restaurants, nightclubs, lounges, and daylife venues. Tao Group Hospitality acquired Hakkasan Group in April 2021. The combined company operates more than 70 branded locations in over 20 markets across five continents and features a collection of widely recognized hospitality brands. These include TAO, Hakkasan, OMNIA, Marquee, LAVO, Beauty & Essex, Wet Republic, Yauatcha, Ling Ling, Cathédrale, Little Sister, The Highlight Room, Sake No Hana, Jewel, and more. Tao Group Hospitality is part of Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (MSG Entertainment) (NYSE: MSGE), a leader in live experiences.

Groot Hospitality was officially formed in 2018 by David Grutman and is a Miami Beach-based collective of top restaurants, bars, cafés, nightlife ventures and hotels. Groot Hospitality’s portfolio includes The Goodtime Hotel, the nightclubs LIV and STORY, the restaurants Gekkō, Komodo, The Key Club, Papi Steak, Strawberry Moon and Swan. At both the Goodtime Hotel and Swan, Grutman is partners with the multi-hyphenate musician and producer Pharrell Williams and the pair will also open their first resort, Somewhere Else on Atlantis Paradise Island, in 2024. Grutman is also partners with the recording artist and actor Bad Bunny on Gekkō.

Major Food Group And JDS Development Part Ways at MAJOR, Rebranded As 888 Miami

Major Food Group (MFG) and JDS Development Group (JDS) have parted ways at MAJOR, a proposed supertall residential tower at 888 Brickell Avenue. The project has been rebranded as 888 Miami by JDS Development and Studio Sofield. The tower is still described as a ground-up hybrid hotel and luxury condominium residences. The project was to be Major Food Group’s first entry into residential real estate. JDS Development Group is led by Chief Executive and Founder Michael Stern, the powerhouse developer and builder responsible for some of the most dynamic new skyscrapers in New York City and Miami.

888 Miami will rise 1,049 feet tall and rise 888 will feature 259 custom residences conceived as fully hybrid layouts. Each residence is designed to enable the seamless conversions into rooms and suites for guests. The tower, designed by William Sofield, features an elegant and restrained façade of ivory travertine and high-gloss steel columns to express enduring weight and substance while giving a defined graphic, vertical appearance, setting it far apart from its glass and stucco neighbors. The notable crown is wrapped with a filigree of gold spheres and punctuated by extraordinary sculptures in the manner of Italian Futurism on each corner.

Each of the furnished residences in the condo-hotel, ranging from 1-to 4 bedrooms, is designed with custom furniture by Studio Sofield. The plans enable Major residences to seamlessly transform into rooms and suites for guests. Conceived as fully hybrid layouts, each residence utilizes a “lockout” function, which allows for simple conversions between a private residence, suite, and/or guest room. 888 Miami will feature 115,000 square feet of amenities spread over eight floors focused on entertaining, sports, leisure, wellness and fitness.

For more information about 888 Miami, private showings or purchasing/ leasing information please fill out the form below:

First Look Inside MAJOR, Major Food Group and JDS Development's Residential And Hospitality Supertall Tower Coming To Brickell

Major Food Group (MFG) and JDS Development Group (JDS) have revealed the first images of MAJOR, the highly anticipated 90-story residential and hospitality tower, located at 888 Brickell Avenue. MAJOR will feature 259 custom residences conceived as fully hybrid layouts. Each Major Residence is designed to enable the seamless conversions into Major rooms and suites for guests while offering the most robust collection of food and beverage amenities and hospitality of any building in Miami.

A unified vision of four industry titans, Major Food Group, JDS Development, Studio Sofield, and Ken Fulk, MAJOR ushers in an unprecedented chapter of lifestyle-driven hospitality and exceptional residential design for Miami. The first ground-up, hybrid hotel and luxury condominium project from MFG, MAJOR is led by creative forces and Co-Founders Mario Carbone, Jeff Zalaznick, and Rich Torrisi, the team behind some of America’s most celebrated restaurants. The group is partnering with JDS Development Group, led by Chief Executive and Founder Michael Stern, the powerhouse developer and builder responsible for some of the most dynamic new skyscrapers in New York City and Miami.

Rising high above the recent renaissance of development in Brickell, the striking and bold MAJOR will soar to an impressive 1,049 feet tall—marking a new record height for Miami. The tower, designed by William Sofield, features an elegant and restrained façade of ivory travertine and high-gloss steel columns to express enduring weight and substance while giving a defined graphic, vertical appearance, setting it far apart from its glass and stucco neighbors. The notable crown is wrapped with a filigree of gold spheres and punctuated by extraordinary sculptures in the manner of Italian Futurism on each corner.

“MAJOR is remarkable,” stated Michael Stern, Founder & CEO of JDS Development Group. “This is the tallest, the most brilliantly designed, the best-in-class hospitality experience, with the best club, in the best city in the world.”

In a grand architectural gesture of artistry and craft, the porte cochere welcomes with an exuberant Gatsby-level energy and delight. Just off the corner of Brickell Avenue and 10th Street, residents and guests will arrive into a world trimmed in gold leaf and clad in monolithic slabs of travertine, paired with exquisite MFG hospitality and white glove service. Overhead, a grand gold-beaded screen emits a deep, warm glow—a signature beacon for the building. The tower celebrates the optimism of creativity and culture and elevates the inclusive spirit of Miami.

Each of the furnished residences in the condo-hotel, ranging from 1-to 4 bedrooms, is designed with custom furniture by Studio Sofield. The plans enable Major residences to seamlessly transform into rooms and suites for guests. Conceived as fully hybrid layouts, each Major Residence utilizes a “lockout” function, which allows for simple conversions between a private residence, suite, and/or guest room. In addition to this elegant solution for flexible living spaces, the excitement builds in the details and art, reflecting the mood of the city, the light, and the climate. With sophisticated internationalism and fantasy in mind, spaces such as the deep private terraces acknowledge shadow and shade, and still echo the expansive views of water and sky through the reflective sparkle of materials.

“With MAJOR, we honor the cultural heritage of this magnificent city, from the seductive to the sublime,” says tower designer William Sofield of Studio Sofield. “I am creating a tower that identifies with the hope and aspiration of those who live here, distinguished for quality craftmanship, contributing to the beauty of the skyline. I want to celebrate this sexy City with an indulgent swim in the only silver and gold pool in Miami.”

In signature MFG style, the project will offer impeccable service and unapologetically comfortable amenities as part of its creed to Live Major. With Studio Sofield and Fulk, Major Food Group and JDS Development conceived, designed, and programmed every inch of the 115,000 square feet of amenities throughout the property. The Food & Beverage program will include signature MFG brands and hospitality spaces and entirely new concepts exclusive to Major and feature the design of Ken Fulk. Spread over eight floors, Major will also feature amenities focused on entertaining, sports, leisure, wellness and fitness.

“The idea is to just show up, and everything is taken care of,” explains Jeff Zalaznick, MFG Co-Founder. “From the moment you wake up to the moment you go to sleep, every whim and desire is anticipated.”

MAJOR Residents will automatically become founding members of the exclusive Club onsite. The Club includes the elegantly designed Pool deck, an 80’ multi-level, terrazzo-clad sun deck and oasis, with private cabanas and poolside service through a signature Major Food Group restaurant.

Major marks a milestone in the evolution of Major Food Group, which currently operates a global portfolio of over thirty restaurants, hotels, and private clubs. MFG established roots in South Florida in 2021 with several smash successes: CARBONE and HaSalon in the South of Fifth neighborhood, Sadelle’s in Coconut Grove, the private membership venue ZZ’s Club in the Miami Design District, and the recently-opened Dirty French Steakhouse in Brickell. MFG will launch a range of additional projects in the region in the coming year, including several outposts of the brunch institution Sadelle’s. MFG will oversee all branding and hospitality programming at Major and operate the hotel.

Fulk, a longtime MFG collaborator, will be responsible for the food, beverage, and hospitality spaces at Major. Fulk has designed such atmospheric spaces as Carbone and ZZ’s Club in Miami and the new Crown Club at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, among other exceptional experiences for the swiftly expanding MFG brand family.

MFG’s sophistication and reputation for unparalleled food and beverage experiences combined with JDS’s track record for confident, monumental design of quality and craftsmanship, sets the stage for a project of perfectly-dialed maximalism. This is JDS Development Group’s fifth supertall skyscraper and a third project in the Brickell neighborhood. Composed of a team of innovators and builders, JDS is no stranger to large-scale urban development and constantly pushes the boundaries of design, gracing the new skyline as often as they add to the fabric of the city. JDS also co-developed the record-breaking Echo Brickell condominium project and recently broke ground on the large-scale mixed-use 1 Southside Park in Brickell.

For more information about MAJOR, private showings or purchasing/ leasing information please fill out the form below:

Major Food Group Opens Dirty French Steakhouse In Brickell

Major Food Group (MFG), the globally acclaimed hospitality brand that has taken Miami’s restaurant scene by storm, has opened its first-ever project in Brickell, Dirty French Steakhouse, a glamorous, energetic, and extraordinary interpretation of the classic steakhouse. Located at 1200 Brickell Avenue, the restaurant welcomes guests beginning April 29th and is poised to become one of the most celebrated and sought-after steakhouses in America.

“After making this paradise home, we realized that there was a tremendous opportunity to bring a sensational steakhouse to Brickell in true MFG fashion—a sophisticated, contemporary, high-energy culinary blockbuster fit for the most exciting city in the world today. It simply does not get any more major than Dirty French Steakhouse, which is the beginning of a series of big projects in the neighborhood,” said Jeff Zalaznick, MFG Co-Owner.

This new steakhouse from MFG Co-Founders Jeff Zalaznick, Mario Carbone, and Rich Torrisi breathes new life into the storied genre while remaining true to its history. The expertly conceived menu combines the finest meat and fish, sourced from the world’s most esteemed purveyors, with French influences and an irresistible flair for bold flavors. Dirty French Steakhouse offers everything one would expect to find at a steakhouse of the highest caliber—abundant raw bar selections, elegant seafood entrées, indulgent aged steaks, and an array of amazing sides—all executed to perfection, with a dose of Dirty French style that makes them more satisfying and seductive than ever. Complementing these steakhouse essentials are thrilling takes on classic French preparations, including a Dover Sole Meunière to share served tableside, the best Duck à l’Orange in the country, and a stunning Soufflé program. Dirty French Steakhouse is the culmination of MFG’s decade-long search for the very best ingredients and reflects the mastery honed during that journey, which includes the opening of their American chophouse The Grill in New York City, now widely considered an icon.

But this Dirty French Steakhouse concept and its 80s-era swagger could only exist in Miami. The opulent, playfully irreverent, and entirely transportive space consists of numerous dining rooms, each boasting its own dazzling aesthetic. Masterfully brought to life by longtime MFG collaborator Ken Fulk for maximum lavishness, the atmosphere nods to the neon glitz of the Magic City as well as the sumptuous elegance of legendary institutions like Maxim’s of Paris.

“Dirty French feels instantly iconic. We took inspiration from legendary hot spots across the globe—El Morocco, Indochine, Maxim’s Paris—using elements from these fabled nightclubs like animal prints, jungle patterns, mashrabiya screens, silk lanterns. The result is an utterly intoxicating atmosphere,” said designer Ken Fulk, Founder of Ken Fulk, Inc.

Throughout the experience, guests can expect polished hospitality from charismatic service captains dressed in custom-designed pink tuxedos, a range of celebratory dishes prepared tableside, and an intoxicating spirit of sophisticated decadence. Worth a visit alone is Dirty French’s 700-plus-bottle wine list, which took several years to build and is as remarkable as any in the United States.

MFG now operates a portfolio of over 30 restaurants, bars, private clubs, and hotels spread across the globe. At the beginning of 2021, the company embarked on a groundbreaking run of restaurant openings in South Florida, including CARBONE and HaSalon on Miami Beach, ZZ’s Club in the Miami Design District, and Sadelle’s in Coconut Grove. Among the company’s many forthcoming projects is MAJOR., a residential tower just down the road from Dirty French steakhouse at 888 Brickell Avenue. Upon completion, the development will be the tallest building of its kind in Miami.

Images via Image via Kris Tamburello Studios and Major Food Group

Major Food Group and JDS Development Announce 'MAJOR' As The Restauranteurs Behind Carbone Launch Supertall Residential Tower On Brickell Avenue

Major Food Group (MFG), led by the creative forces and Co Founders Mario Carbone, Jeff Zalaznick, and Rich Torrisi of some of America’s most celebrated restaurants, is partnering with powerhouse developer and builder JDS Development Group, led by Chief Executive Michael Stern, to conceive, build, and operate MAJOR. : a new residential-hospitality tower located at 888 Brickell Avenue in Miami, Florida. MFG’s sophistication and reputation for unparalleled food and beverage experiences combined with JDS’s track record for confident, monumental design of quality and craftsmanship, sets the stage for a project of perfectly-dialed maximalism. Upon completion, MAJOR. will represent the tallest building in Miami at 1,049 feet.

MAJOR. marks a milestone in the evolution of Major Food Group, which currently operates a global portfolio of over thirty restaurants, hotels, and private clubs. MFG established roots in South Florida in 2021 with several smash successes: CARBONE and HaSalon in the South of Fifth neighborhood and the private membership venue ZZ’s Club in the Miami Design District. MFG will launch a range of additional projects in the region in the coming year, including several outposts of the brunch institution Sadelle’s, beginning with Coconut Grove, and Dirty French Steakhouse in Brickell.

Located at 888 Brickell Avenue, MAJOR. will feature 259 custom residences and offer the most impressive collection of food and beverage amenities of any building in Miami, if not the United States. MFG will oversee all branding and hospitality programming. Standalone restaurants and private clubs will be among the concepts.

“For the most dynamic city in the United States right now, our goal is to build the most luxurious residential tower in the world, with a thrilling array of spaces and amenities that no other building can match. In a word, this is going to be MAJOR.” said Jeff Zalaznick, MFG Co-Founder

MAJOR. represents yet another large-scale skyscraper by JDS Development Group. Led by Founder and CEO Michael Stern, JDS is a team of innovators and builders pioneering forms of large-scale urban development in the New York City and Miami metropolitan regions. The firm is known for complex assemblages and moving markets through transformative, design-forward projects that raise the bar for new development and challenge the status quo of the real estate and construction industries. JDS projects include the iconic Walker Tower, The American Copper Buildings, the recently topped-out Brooklyn Tower, and 111 West 57th Street in New York City, and Monad Terrace, Echo Brickell, and Echo Aventura in South Florida.

“You haven’t seen anything like MAJOR.,” stated Michael Stern, Founder & CEO of JDS Development Group. “We are proud to partner with the MFG on this unprecedented residential, dining, and hospitality opportunity.”

This will be the firm’s fifth supertall skyscraper and third project in the Brickell neighborhood. JDS also co-developed the record-breaking Echo Brickell condominium project and recently broke ground on the large-scale mixed-use 1 Southside Park in Brickell.

JDS and MFG have enlisted industry design luminaries Studio Sofield and Ken Fulk Inc. for the project. William Sofield, who will oversee design of the tower, lobby, and residences, has a longstanding relationship with JDS as interior architect of the ultra-luxurious 111 West 57th Street and historic Steinway Hall conversion in Manhattan. Sofield’s remarkable career includes work with luxury brands from Bottega Veneta, Tom Ford, and Gucci, to iconic clubs such as Manhattan’s Core Club. Fulk, a longtime MFG collaborator, will be responsible for the food, beverage, and club spaces at MAJOR. Fulk has designed such atmospheric spaces as Carbone and ZZ’s Club in Miami and the new Crown Club at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, among other exceptional experiences for the swiftly expanding MFG brand family.

Additional MAJOR. details will be released early next year.