Once the Miami White House for Italian fashionistas and burgeoning male models, the former Versace mansion on Ocean Drive is home to the new Loftin's 1116 Ocean. Part of the Casa Casuarina Hotel and Member's Club operated by Barton G, this namebrand eatery offers a rare chance of seeing the inner mansion just in case you were either too young or too under-connected to see it when inhabited by Versace. Amongst macabre scenes of visitors photographing the main entry and interior courtyard, the restaurant is located on the main reflection pool away from the flashbulbs but equally bright with its gilded Medusa-faced dining room of mosaic tile floors and more gold than one of Saddam Hussein's palaces.
The Food
While we expected Versace-theme drinks it plastic keepsake cups, a dignified menu of surf and turf cuisine begins with selection of seafood appetizers, entrée-size salads and occasional pasta course too small to eat as an entree. So far so good. Main course is a medley of 2-pound lobsters with hand-cut fries, beef fillet and rib-eye, rack of lamb and decent Muscovy duck served with sweet drizzle. Sides like mashed potatoes, asparagus and mushrooms are available ala carte but shouldn’t be missed.
Last Word
Shouldn’t this place have been turned into a museum? Former-Versace mansion lives on as commercial landmark for diehard fashion fans with new gourmand steakhouse.
