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Oct 21, 2009 3:18 pm US/Eastern
Curtains Rise Friday On Prelude Restaurant
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
Curtains will rise on a show-stoppingly beautiful new restaurant inside the Adrienne Arsht Center Friday night, and
CBS4's Lisa Petrillo got a sneak peek at what theater-goers can expect. Welcome to Prelude!
The restaurant is the design and dream of celebrated party planner and restaurateur Barton G.
Just 24 hours after elegant chairs and benches were installed in the restaurant, Barton's warehouse suffered a massive fire, destroying the spot where the furniture had been stored.
"Exactly where the fire was the staging area was, that's where Prelude was," Barton told Petrillo. But that hasn't diminished his spirit. "Thank God nobody was hurt. The show will go on."
And the show does go on for the self-described "detail freak," who has created a European-influenced water wonderland complete with plasma screens featuring floating jellyfish and a chandelier to match.
'The food is the star, but the ambience is the star here," he said.
No plain white plates will be within sight; from an eye-catching appetizer of seared tuna and roasted beets in a checkerboard pattern to a row of Pots de Creme for desserts, the food is art and art is food.
The concept is sure to appeal to diners' palettes and wallets alike. A three-course, price-fixed dinner at $39.00 a person, excluding tips and drinks, graces the menu.
"What we call it is "Diners Decision." If you decide you are going to CATS and you want to eat lightly, you can have three appetizers," Barton described. "If you want eat too heavily, you can have three entrees, or if you really want to sugar load, you can have three desserts. So we mix it up, we're out of the box, user-friendly and we welcome everyone."
Theatre-goers have two seatings – at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Others can wine and dine when they choose.
Speaking of wine, "You can experience wine that's $700 and $800 a bottle. You can have a taste that's an ounce and a half or a half a glass or full glass. It really gives diners education and the chance to experiment," Barton said.
As for Barton, he's hoping "Prelude" will be the beginning of something big for an area and venue he's always enjoyed. "I've always had a passion for the arts and I'm all about theater. The show is on; if it's not on the stage, it's in Prelude. We're open six nights a week!"
Prelude celebrates with a big premiere party on Thursday night; they expect 2,000 people. On Friday night, the curtain rises on Prelude.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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