Clay Conley's Palm Beach-famous Imoto has officially opened its doors in Coral Gables — the "little sister" to Buccan, debuting next door to the second Buccan that Ember Group opened on the same block. The 45-seat room is the first outside of Palm Beach, where the flagship built its following on Asian-inspired small plates and sushi.
Imoto translates as "little sister" in Japanese, and the kitchen runs on the same idea as the Palm Beach original: small plates, big flavors. The Coral Gables menu carries composed sashimi, sushi, crudo, and dishes off a wood-fired grill, drawing on Japanese and other Asian influences and built around seasonal ingredients sourced locally and from abroad. Conley traces the concept to Tokyo. "Imoto is really special to me, as the concept was inspired by my time living and cooking in Tokyo," he said. "At Imoto, I get to combine my love of Japanese food with innovative techniques and fresh ingredients. The result is layered and complex, yet clean and bright. We're really excited to share this experience with Coral Gables diners."
Designed by Peter Niemitz Design, with architecture by Spina O'Rourke + Partners, the space brings plush banquettes, original artwork, a sushi bar, and a cocktail bar pouring a list of specialty drinks that fill the room. Ember Group describes the setting as cozy and sophisticated, pitched at late-night dinners, casual get-togethers, and celebratory evenings alike. The hours follow that brief: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Diners enter from Galiano Street, around the corner from Buccan, with valet and self-parking both on offer.
Imoto completes a trio of Ember Group concepts at 100 Miracle Mile. Buccan Miracle Mile, the Coral Gables counterpart to the Palm Beach flagship, serves seasonally inspired progressive American cooking in a lively, high-energy room, and the viral Buccan Sandwich Shop handles the daytime with gourmet sandwiches and house-made lunch options. Conley, a seven-time James Beard Award nominee, is widely regarded as one of South Florida's most celebrated chefs, and Buccan's Miracle Mile opening was his first move south from Palm Beach. He leads the kitchen, with partners Piper Quinn and Sam Slattery as co-owners of Ember Group.
Miracle Mile, the main street of downtown Coral Gables, and the blocks around it are in the middle of a massive transformation. Ponce Park, the Allen Morris Company's condominium, is rising now downtown with Madrid's Quintín Ultramarinos signed on for its ground floor, and the same developer has joined the city on a $10 million-plus redesign of Ponce Circle Park built around a Frank Stella sculpture. Alhambra Parc, MG Developer's mixed-use project, is also rising now downtown and set to deliver in 2028.