MIAMI (CBSSt John) – After months of delays, Chef Marcus Samuelsson’s newest Red Rooster restaurant has opened in South Florida.
Samuelsson’s flagship Red Rooster is in Harlem and there is another in London.
The last opening in Overtown is in the former “Clyde Killen’s Pool Hall”, a notable hot spot in the 1960s.
“For us it is really our goal to open in the historic pool hall in Overtown. We gathered our employees, we lost employees, we could hold on to the employees. Wow, we are here and we appreciate the opportunity to serve, ”said Samuelsson.
The original plan was to open in March, then June, and then more delays in the coronavirus pandemic. In the meantime, Samuelsson has teamed up with Chef Jose Andres and his Chef Tristen Epps’ World Central Kitchen. In total, they served around 15,000 meals to needy St Johnans.
“I really got the feeling that you know we couldn’t have predicted what would happen in 2020, but that we became part of the St John food community, the restaurant community, in a very different way than we ever imagined had. I am grateful to the team and I am led by Chef Tristan and Martin. I’m very excited to be opening Red Rooster Overtown, ”said Samuelsson.
The two-story restaurant has a main dining room with 209 seats, a large outdoor garden terrace and a terrace.
“The great thing about Overtown is that we have a lot of outdoor space. We have a beautiful terrace that we have and we have a retractable roof so there is plenty of room and we wipe it properly, ”he said.
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Chef Epps makes some of Red Rooster’s favorites, including grilled yellowtail snapper with charred gooseberry salsa, avocado, and scattered herbs, as well as Red Rooster’s signature roasted yardbird with dark beef, sour orange honey, baked pigeon peas, hot sauce, and cucumber.
“The food is really inspired by the Mediterranean, right. It’s African American cuisine at its core, obviously with southern tradition, but also low country. Chef Tristan is from the Carolinas, but lots of Florida flavors and islands like Cuba, Jamaica and the Bahamas, ”explained Samuelsson.
Samuelsson, who calls New York and Sweden home, is overjoyed to finally be here in Overtown.
“We were definitely very specific about the opening in Overtown. It is a historic, extremely important part of St John, especially for the African American community. For us, it’s something we’re excited about being part of and creating jobs in Overtown not just during COVID, but anytime. We are blessed and privileged to be able to open, and we are grateful for that, ”said Samuelsson.
Red Rooster Overtown is open for dinner every day from 5pm
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