Things you need to accomplish today:
1) Make a reservation for NaiYaRa, the long-awaited Thai street food spot from Chef Bee, which, yes, is taking reservations now and opening tomorrow in South Beach.
Not a busy day, but an important day.
Anyway, it’s an open, industrial-ish space with a vintage-movie-poster-and-vinyl-album-cover collage in the breezeway. And an elephant mural at the sushi bar. And some repurposed traditional fishing baskets from Thailand sprinkled around everywhere else. Here, take a look at the slideshow.
Then, tomorrow night, lead your date to a red leather banquette next to the sushi bar. It’s a good vantage point for watching Chef Bee of Oishi Thai fame cook you things. As for what he’s cooking, you can go a few different ways depending on your mood…
If you’re feeling the Thai thing: crispy bok choy, creamy ramen noodle soup with prawns or duck in red curry.
If you’re feeling the not-Thai thing: salmon belly tacos, otoro nigiri or the NaiYaRa roll with more salmon belly.
And to drink, maybe go with a frozen something-or-other like the Killer Bee with gin, lemongrass-infused syrup and Thai chili. Or beer.
You’ve got plenty of time to think about it today.
