Foodies Rejoice -- Central Fare Is Here

Courtesy of Brightline

Patrick Goddard
(Photo by Pamela Barker)

By GERRY BARKER
North Palm Beach Life

Attention all foodies -- downtown Miami has a new culinary destination boasting not one, but 12 new dining options. The new Central Fare Food Collective, now open at Brightline's MiamiCentral station, reflects the city's own cultural diversity, from Ecuadorian and Turkish specialties to artisan desserts and the first brick and mortar The Wolf of Tacos.

"This is really about creating a collection of complementary culinary experiences," said Patrick Goddard, CEO of Brightline Florida. "I think that's what we achieved in terms of diversity of the offerings, the menus and the chefs themselves. I'm really proud of what the team's been able to do."

As described in the press release, Central Fare's eateries include:

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MiamiCentral (Photo: Brightline)

Cotoita: "Chef Alejandra Espinoza brings her Ecuadorian concept Cotoa to Central Fare with Cotoita. Foodies can discover cuisine that’s authentic in spirit but undeniably progressive like empanadas de queso, to bowls piled high with all the fixings. Discover the authentically Ecuadorian and globally inspired cuisine that “Chef Ale” is known for.  Central Fare guests can also enjoy delicious bites like sweet paletas with seasonal flavors, and savory patacones."  

El Turco Express: "El Turco Express is the little brother of El Turco, which was awarded Michelin Bib Gourmand four years straight. Known for its rich menu of healthy breakfast and all-day dining plates, El Turco Express will offer a selection of Turkish specialties such as flavorful kebabs, authentic hummus, and much more. Remember to leave room for classics like Baklava, Helva, and other favorites from their dessert and bakery menu."

Guchi’s Handroll Bar: "From the founder of Poke OG, Miss Crispy Rice, and Mr. Omakase, Guchi’s Handroll Bar is bringing fresh sushi handrolls to Central Fare. An entirely new concept, guests can take a bite out of quality fish wrapped in premium nori and enjoy bites like the Surf & Turf made with crab and A5 Wagyu beef, Salmon handrolls or a selection of poke bowl options with toppings piled high."

Icy-N-Spicy: "Icy-N-Spicy is a family-run business with a focus on artisan desserts. They have combined flavors of Europe and Asia with signature recipes created by the owner, Xiaoli Liu. She hails from the Sichuan province in China and has the dessert recipes of three generations of women behind her. Icy-N-Spicy will satisfy guests’ sweet tooths with decadent chocolate covered strawberries and Dubai chocolate bars, a trendy dessert inspired by a Middle Eastern treat with phyllo, pistachio and chocolate."

Josh’s Corner Diner: "From the founder of the Michelin-recommended Josh’s Deli comes a new all-day breakfast indulgence, Josh’s Corner Diner. Using the freshest ingredients and innovative techniques, this concept will honor classic recipes while delivering a new, exciting culinary experience. It's a perfect blend of nostalgia and creativity, bringing tradition into the present with every bite. Enjoy classic diner fare like bagels with cream cheese, breakfast sandwiches, pancakes, french toast, and much more. Josh’s Corner Diner will also offer signature lunch items from its flagship restaurant to Central Fare with po’boys, tuna melts, the Miami dip, burgers, and other crave-worthy bites."

Peel!: "The brainchild of Valeria Alvarez, Peel! brings natural desserts made with whole ingredients to Central Fare. Peel! offers sustainable, healthy and tasty options starting with two ingredients – bananas and coconut milk. This no sugar-added, non-dairy, vegan soft serve is made from perfectly edible, but otherwise bruised bananas to make a creamy treat sprinkled with a variety of toppings to make a delicious breakfast, post-workout refreshment or snack any time of day. Raising awareness for food waste, Peel! uses rescued fruit and recycles every banana peel used for local farms’ compost." 

Peppi’s Steaks & Hoagies: "Peppi’s Pizza, a concept of Chef Ryan McKeown is bringing one of their best-selling menu items to Central Fare. Guests can step up to the counter and enjoy a wide selection of hot sandwiches and hoagies to satisfy any craving. Peppi’s Steaks & Hoagies is bringing Philadelphia-inspired tastes to Miami with their signature Philly Cheesesteak. Spice things up with a Buffalo Chicken Cheesesteak or choose from one of Peppi’s Classic Hoagies for a satisfying pit stop."

Rosetta Bakery: "Rosetta Bakery has been conceived with the intent to be an official ambassador of the Italian art of baking, a genuine mix of history, highest quality ingredients exclusively made in Italy with timeless traditions. Rosetta Bakery is all about the quality of the ingredients and the highest standard in terms of production processes: each store has a “live menu” made of fresh products constantly baked in the kitchen which has a glass wall that allows people not only to be customers but also the audience of an unexpected show."

Stanzione Pizza: "Stanzione Pizza was founded in 2013 with a mission to bring Miami the best Neapolitan pizza. Since then, they have been on a relentless journey to craft the highest quality pizza, earning recognition from many along the way. Their pizzas are naturally risen over 72 hours and kissed by fire, delivering a delicious, authentic experience, in addition to expanded pasta offerings in Central Fare like Spaghetti Pomodoro."

Stephanie’s Crepès: "The quintessential crèpe experience awaits with hand-made crèpes and top-notch customer service at Stephanie's Crèpes. This concept offers a globally inspired menu, the freshest organics and delicious mouth-watering choices. From sweet crèpes filled with fresh fruit, homemade custard or whipped yogurt, to savory crèpes filled with quality greens, proteins and sauces, they are great on-the-go options for breakfast, lunch or dinner."

Switchpoint Station Bar: "From the team at Unfiltered Hospitality, Switchpoint Station Bar brings a refreshing focus to Central Fare. Guests can stop by the open bar and enjoy a wide selection of cocktails and mocktails all on tap. Indulge in fragrant, hand-made syrups mixed with flavorful combinations to create one awe-inspiring sip. Named after the machinery that switches train tracks en route, Switchpoint Station Bar is giving classic cocktails a Florida twist. Zero-proof options on tap will be served, along with a selection of tea and coffee drinks crafted by seasoned mixologists." Switchpoint Station Bar features a happy hour daily from 5-7 pm. 

The Wolf of Tacos: "The Wolf of Tacos began in October 2020, with a line out of the driveway of Chef Eduardo Lara’s home. Having worked at some of Miami’s most acclaimed restaurants, Eduardo became determined to bring the rewarding simplicity of meat, salsa, and tortilla to Miami – the same authentic street taqueria experience he grew up eating in his hometown of Mexico City. Wolf of Tacos is planting roots with its first brick-and-mortar kitchen in Central Fare, offering guests craveable tacos outside of the popular pop-up events. "

"I think it's great to be able to provide this to the community," said Goddard. "You have a downtown population of 100,000, and more and more of them are in this neighborhood. You can basically show up here five days a week and find something different."

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Josh Marcus
Photo: Pamela Barker)

​You can get a good example of "finding something different" at Josh's Corner Diner, where one of the items on the menu is the "Ramen Burrito," a combination of Asian and Latin flavors. The chef and owner, Josh Marcus, related its history:

"I wanted to date this girl so I made her a ramen burrito," said Marcus. "She loved it, but didn't love me, so it was like, what am I going to do with all this ramen?" What he did was create an amazing lunch choice.

Marcus, a one-time cook at China Grill, operated longtime local flavorite Josh's Deli in Surfside for many years before re-locating to Central Fare, and Marcus talked about the difference.

"In a train station, essentially like Grand Central, it changes the dynamic of food and the way you prepare it," he said. "You have to do it quick -- people say 'I've got 10 minutes to catch a train.' It changes your thought process."

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Ramen Burrito

​He was only open three days when it realized people wanted more burger options and "Cuban-style" items, so he made some changes in the menu. "I'm not here to sell my ego," he said. "I'm here to sell food." One thing he added was a "Kinda Cuban" sandwich. Why "kinda"?

"First, it's pork belly and not roasted pork," he said, and instead of Cuban bread, he uses a variation of Japanese milk bread. "I didn't want to call it a Cuban and have people get angry at me," he laughed.

Central Fare's main entrance is located at the corner of Northwest Fifth Street and First Avenue, and also  accessible through Brightline’s main station entrance on Sixth Street.  It's open Monday-Sunday, 7:00 am – 10:00 pm, with each vendor setting their hours of operation. It also features 12,000 sq. ft. of private event space for special events and functions. 

"it's extremely gratifying to see this all come together as quickly as it did," said Goddard. "You open the doors and instantly see the traffic. It's magical."

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Scenes From Central Fare

Photos by Gerry and Pamela Barker