Chef Danny Serfer closed Mignonette, one of Edgewater’s most beloved neighborhood restaurants, on Saturday, March 28, after nearly 12 years of operation. The acclaimed Miami restaurateur announced the difficult decision to shutter the seafood establishment that opened in 2014 and became part of Miami’s dining DNA. Located at 210 NE 18th St. across Northeast Second Avenue from Miami’s oldest cemetery, the restaurant earned recognition as “Edgewater’s pearl” in a 2014 review.
“After more than a decade of memories, laughter, and unforgettable moments, it’s time for us to say goodbye to Mignonette,” Serfer wrote in his announcement. “This restaurant has been so much more than a place to eat. It’s been a home.” The intimate space featured tan leather banquettes, a marble raw bar, and copper pipe constellations hanging overhead, creating a distinct charm that blended Old Florida and New Orleans aesthetics.
Longtime customers expressed their devastation on Serfer’s Instagram post, with one writing, “No! I got engaged there! I celebrated so many moments there! When are you closing? Please tell us we have time for one more dinner, one more celebration.” Another customer commented, “My favorite spot and the best kept secret for the best seafood in Miami. So sad to see this news.” The restaurant’s last day of service was confirmed as Saturday, March 28.
Mignonette earned New Times’ Best Seafood Restaurant award in 2015, with the publication calling it “a glimmering pearl adjacent to a cemetery.” The restaurant’s menu featured dishes like the “fancy” redfish, seared and finished with a silky reduction of shallots, garlic, piquillo peppers, brandy, white wine, and butter, served alongside haricots verts. At the time of the 2015 review, diners could splurge on Kaluga caviar or snack on fried “sea-creature popcorn,” a mix of oysters, clams, conch, and shrimp.
The restaurant’s unique atmosphere balanced polished and playful elements, with servers wearing T-shirts with bow ties printed on them and deviled eggs topped with Maine lobster. Clams swam in bacon broth, while the menu offered both peel-and-eat Florida shrimp and buttery lobster rolls topped with smoked trout roe. One regular customer noted, “Truly an outstanding place, I have so many fond memories here. A vibe before the word ‘vibe’ was a thing. The concentration was always on the food, not on appearances and typical Miami flash and bullshit.”
“Closing this chapter is not easy, but we leave with full hearts and endless gratitude,” Serfer wrote in his farewell message. Serfer, who also operates Blue Collar in Miami’s MiMo District, has been a defining voice in the city’s restaurant scene for years. For customers mourning Mignonette’s closure, Serfer encouraged support for his sister restaurant Blue Collar, which remains open.