Who made the most? These restaurants in Miami, Miami Beach were top earners in 2021
In 2020, restaurants everywhere suffered. But some Miami area restaurants rebounded in 2021 — including one upscale Asian spot that was the top grossing independent restaurant in the country.
The trade publication Restaurant Business ranked the top-grossing independent restaurants for 2021, assessing how well they did after a yearlong, pandemic-related hiatus, and Komodo in Brickell grossed the most.
The Groot Hospitality restaurant, which served 285,000 meals with an average check of $115, grossed $41,000,000 in 2021.
Two other Groot Hospitality restaurants made the list, too: Swan in the Miami Design District was No. 3, grossing $31,000,000, while Papi Steak (No. 18), famous for its $1,000 steak served in a briefcase with great fanfare, grossed $22,000,000.
Chris Cuomo, COO and partner of Groot Hospitality, said the strong showing by the brand is thanks to the management team, its staff and customers.
“The guest experience as a whole is essential to our success and what we have always focused on at Groot Hospitality,” he said. “Having Komodo at No. 1 on the list of the Top 100 this year, and having both Swan and Papi Steak included in the top 20 restaurants, is a huge honor. We owe our success to our incredible team and restaurant staff, who demonstrate high levels of hospitality across all positions; every person is a key player for our success. We’re also thankful to our loyal patrons and welcomed newcomers who have supported us over the past year.”
Other local restaurants on the list were Mila in Miami Beach (No. 5); Prime 112 in Miami Beach (9); Marion in Brickell (19); the Rusty Pelican in Key Biscayne, which celebrated its 50th anniversary earlier this year (28); Makoto at the Bal Harbour Shops (34); Casa Tua on Miami Beach (No. 79); and two Michelin-starred restaurants, Stubborn Seed in Miami Beach (No. 97) and L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in the Design District (No. 99).
A few Fort Lauderdale restaurants found their way on the list, too, with Shooters Waterfront at No. 8, earning $25,025,370 (which put it just ahead of the far more expensive and exclusive Prime 112). Other Fort Lauderdale spots on the list were the crab shack Rustic Inn (39), 15th Street Fisheries (56) and Steak 954 (93).
Only restaurant concepts with no more than five locations are considered “independents” for the purpose of the list, and rankings are based on gross 2021 food and beverage sales. When data wasn’t provided, sales were estimated based on public information, similar concepts and other factors, according to the publication.
