MIAMI BEACH – At the recently renovated legendary News Cafe, which is situated on the bottom floor of The Tony Hotel on Ocean Drive on Miami Beach, visitors may experience a trip back in time like never before.
The well-known restaurateur Mark Soyka was the one who came up with the idea for the restaurant and launched it in 1988. At the time, it was one of the only restaurants in the Art Deco District on Ocean Drive.
“It’s about preserving history,” said Scott Srebnick, the Chief Executive Officer of Goldman Properties, which owns The Tony Hotel and purchased the News Cafe brand from Soyka when the establishment shut down during Covid in 2021. “It’s about preserving history,” Srebnick said.
The idea was that whoever was in charge of it would turn it into a news cafe.
Therefore, we wanted to play a role in the answer for the next rebirth of Ocean Drive, and we want to play that role by really recovering the street’s past. Srebnick explained that this is why they made the decision to revive it as a news cafe.
When walking through the updated but still recognizable area, it is obvious that attention has been paid to the building’s rich history.
After all, it was the very first restaurant in Miami Beach to provide round-the-clock service.
“It was synonymous with the Art Deco District and partially because it was really the only game in town,” he added. “The Art Deco District was synonymous with it.”
Having visual memories is like taking an actual step back in time.
“I mean, I’m seeing the history of Miami Beach right here,” remarked CBS Miami’s Lisa Petrillo as she looked at the ancient images that were hung on the walls. “That was the 1990s over there, and right there you have Don Johnson in the 1980s starring in Miami Vice.”
“There’s a picture of Johnny Versace hanging on the wall right over here,” remarked Srebnick.
It is true that the late fashion designer favored News Cafe, and it will go down in history as the location where Versace went right before he was shot and killed on the front steps of his home just down the street.
“He would come here every morning to get his newspaper because one of the hallmarks of the place was that it offered newspapers from around the world,” he explained. “One of the hallmarks of the place was that it offered newspapers from around the world.”
“So in order for Johnny Versace to get his newspaper, he would come here, get it, and then walk back to his mansion. And all of this took place on the day that the unfortunate event took place.”
The restaurant is run by Vida and Estilo Restaurant Group, and its corporate chef Alex Martinez is responsible for preparing the delectable dishes using a menu that combines elements of both American and Mediterranean cuisines.
“When visitors come here, a lot of them start feeling nostalgic. They respond with “Oh, my gosh. I haven’t gone to this location in twenty years. “I remember what this place was like back in the day,” Martinez remarked.
“So we see it, and a lot of people are very happy with the little couple of tweaks that we’ve made, but we’re still trying to keep it true to the old place that it used to be,” the speaker said. “So that’s good.”
Traditional dishes such as Tony’s Tomato Soup, which is served with a grilled cheese sandwich on the side. It satisfies my need for a T.
After taking a taste, Petrillo remarked, “Even on a hot day, it’s just like getting a warm hug.”
The delectable Chicken Parmigiana, in which the melted cheese is presented on top of the dish tableside, also falls into this category.
“I mean, you nailed it,” replied Petrillo. It has a crisp outside, which is due to the fact that the cheese is added later, at which point it melts, and the interior is extremely delicate.
There is also a new brunch option that is available from the beginning of the day until 4:00 p.m. It’s a take on the classic Pina Colada, with grilled pineapple, coconut sauce, and toasted coconut made in-house.
“There is a lot happening, but it is not at all heavy at all. You can experience such a wide variety of tastes and mouthfeels. According to Petrillo, it is extremely comparable to a sweet pancake.
The News Cafe is open seven days a week and provides history, current events, and nostalgic fare for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
