David Grutman, founder of LIV and Story nightclubs in Miami Beach, has launched his first restaurant, Komodo. Inspired by the Komodo dragon native to islands in Southeast Asia, the restaurant was designed by New York-based ICRAVE to resemble a floating tropical oasis. The menu was developed under the culinary direction of restaurateur Jeffrey Chodorow.
Occupying 17,000 square feet of space—13,000 indoors and 4,000 outdoors—the restaurant is located in Miami’s Brickell neighborhood. The lines between indoor and outdoors are blurred with garden elements that flow through the space. The multi-level design is marked by five floating bird’s nest pods that replicate the Komodo dragon’s first sign of light. The pods offer elevated private dining spaces and add to the restaurant’s treehouse vibe.
Continuing the theme, teak is used throughout, and an oolitic stone wall encloses the garden. The 40-foot ceiling is draped in red, while oversized bamboo and illuminated metals create divisions of space.
References to the bird nests extend to the cocktail menu, which focuses on Lychee, an ingredient grown on trees and in gardens throughout the site. Currently open for business, the restaurant serves a blend of Asian cuisine inspired by Marco Polo’s historic journey through the region.
“My goal is to make Komodo a must-visit restaurant for locals and tourists alike,” says Grutman. “We are ready to launch the next generation of restaurants in Miami.”
