A guest entry, from my boy friend

Hakkasan, one of the “in” places in Miami Beach’s “to be to be seen” not
too long ago re-launched and re-celebrated Fountainbleu Hotel promised the
usual fare of this category – overpriced, with the lack of food quality
substituted with the “coolness” of the “in crowd” willing to overpay for
almost everything (one friend told me that now valet parkers are expecting
a $100 note to park your car where it can be retrieved within a time frame
that is not annoying). The place does the usual song and dance of pretend
exclusivity starting with the MD giving an annoyed look to somebody that
walks in with no reservation. But hey, if you can’t seat it – no problem,
we go somewhere else – and magically attitude changes.

Not many restaurants understand the “less is more” concept of lighting,
but this one does. Interesting spotlights light up a modest but solid
table, with comfortable chairs. The annoying ‘waiter that is too cool to
be true’ experience is quickly replaced with the realization that these
guys really know what they are talking about, and a question regarding
available wines calls for an instant appearance of the sommelier (who
lifts the competence level to unexpected heights).

The dimsum were excellent, with its authenticity at par with high end
Beijing restaurants. The creativity lies in the presentation – not in
strongarming authenticity – with interesting natural colors introduced in
the [what is it called??]. The lobster dish added a flair of western
influence while still maintaining the truthfulness to culture, but the
highlight was duck – reminding that what (wonderfully) smells like a duck,
juices like a duck, looks like a duck, is a culinary treat of the duckest
kind. The recommended wine worked its magic by framing the food, not
dominating it.

HAKKASAN OFFICIAL SITE http://www.hakkasan.com/