The Forge Restaurant, Miami Beach

History

The Forge Restaurant has become a Miami Beach Legend of more than 40 years. When opened, it was initially an actual “forge” owned in the roaring ‘20s by Artisan and Blacksmith Dino Phillips. He designed decorative iron gates and sculptures for homes of Miami rich residents like the Vanderbilts and the Firestones. In the 1930s, Phillips transformed the “forge” into a sophisticated restaurant and casino. It was famous for its flavorful and open-hearth-grilled steak.

The Forge Restaurant's facade

In 1968, businessman and entrepreneur Alvin Malnik paired with his friend, Jay Wiss, purchased and demolished the existing restaurant transforming it into a South Beach trendy destination, and rivaling with the finest restaurants in Europe. Malnik traveled around the world searching and handpicking for fixtures, antiques, art and wine to decorate and convert the original Forge into a spectacular 30,000 square foot restaurant with eight dining rooms and a 12-foot Victorian fireplace.

The Forge’s famed underground and breathtaking Wine Cellar contains more than 300,000 bottles and is considered one of the finest collections in the world. The restaurant won international recognition for its exquisite dining experience, and was rewarded with multiples accolades throughout the years.

In 1991, a fire forced The Forge to be closed for several months, and in summer of the same year, the restaurant reopened in charge of Alvin’s son, Shareef Malnik, who became the owner of The Forge since then. The Forge has been a social epicenter, and celebrities like Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Jackie Gleason, Arthur Godfrey, Richard Burton, Richard Nixon, Brian the Palma, Elizabeth Taylor, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Mikhail Gorbachev, Al Pacino, Michael Jordan and more have savored The Forge's delicacies for decades.

Glass tabletops and mirrors

The Forge Restaurant glass mirror

Hand-carved wood column

White crystal chandelier detail

In 2009, in honor of The Forge’s 40th Anniversary,the restaurant closed its doors for an extreme 180-degree renovation by François Frossard. After almost a full year, Shareef revealed the Miami Beach icon’s $10 million new look as well as its new approach to dinning: The Forge Restaurant | Wine Bar. Malnik revamped not only the physical space and décore, but also the cuisine. It features new eclectic design and décor of hand-carved blonde wood walls, low-slung white leather couches, Murano-glass lilac and white crystal chandeliers, and hand-etched glass tabletops and mirrors accented by stainless steel and chrome detailing. Every piece of furniture is custom-made and in mostly designed by Frossard.

The dining room

Malnik also wanted to create a fabulous home ambience. More than 100 seats were eliminated in the main dining area to create an open floor plan, and included a large library collection from “books and books”.

“The concept is really a neighborhood restaurant you go to and you have this living space where you hang out and read a great book, have something to eat and have a glass of wine” says Chef Dewey LoSasso. Lo Sasso presents a menu of Savory Snacks, Starts, Pastas, Grains & Risotto, Principal Fish & Crustaceans, Principal Meats, Salads and Sides.

The exquisite dining experience at The Forge Restaurant is outstanding and the elegance in every minor detail is a banquet for all your senses. This is a restaurant that you can’t miss if you come to visit Miami.

The Forge specializes in seasonal fine dining

Accolades

• Miami New Times - Best Chef, Dewey Losasso 2010
• Miami New Times - Best Wine Selection in a Restaurant 2010
• The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences Five Star Diamond Award 2003 -2009
• Wine Spectator Best of the Best Award of Excellence 2003-2009
• DIRONA Distinguished Restaurants of North America Award 2003-2004
• AOL City Guide City’s Best Romantic Restaurant 2004
• The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences – Five Star Diamond Award 2005
• The Chaines des Rotissurs Plate 2 Times
• American Express Travel Holiday Award 8 Time Winner
• City Search - Best of Award 2008, 2009

Dining Style: Casual Elegant

Cuisine: American, French, Steakhouse

Address: 432 Forty First Street, Miami Beach, Florida 33140

Website: www.theforge.com

Email: info@theforge.com

Phone: 305  538 8533

Menu: View menu on restaurant's website

Price: $31 to $50

Hours of Operation: Sunday-Thursday 6PM until 11PM; Friday & Saturday 6PM until 1AM

Executive Chef: Chef Dewey LoSasso