Kaido – Sleek & Sexy Dining Den
Kaido, the Japanese inspired cocktail lounge by Chef Brad Kilgore and mixologist Nico de Soto, will dazzle your senses and delight your taste buds.
The Lounge
Located in the Design District, this sleek and sexy dining room, with its exquisite butterfly knife chandelier and magnificent bar, has four indoor tables and several outdoors. The indoor L shaped lounge style banquettes accommodate one person on the L so that a party of four must sit three single file. It’s a strange arrangement for socializing but we were quickly educated on the parlance and panache of a Tokyo-style drinking den. It’s really designed for groups of six where they add a few mushroom stools opposite the bench.
The Cocktails
Nico De Soto’s libations take center stage as drinks have equal importance as food. The Jasmine Gimlet was outstanding with lemongrass, shochu and jasmine cordial.
The Food
Chef Brad Kilgore has created an outstanding menu featuring small plates, crudos and robatayaki made of fresh ingredients and unique flavors. The photos will provide you with a culinary tour of our evening.
Koji Butter Wings 
Crispy Iberico Pork Kushikatsu
Lemongrass Duck Sausage 
Enoki Mushrooms
Pineapple Yuzu Kakigori 
Chocolate & Matcha
My favorites were the Green Papaya Salad prepared with shredded broccoli stem, Thai vinaigrette, mint, basil and peanut crisp and the Crispy Iberico Pork Kushikatsu served with Kaido tonkatsu sauce, hot mustard, soy pickled onions and shaved cabbage.
Every dish was delicious. I would do a repeat in a heartbeat but for so many other tempting bites to try. The Enoki Mushrooms, sauteed in browned umami butter, was the one dish that could use some tweaking…very tasty but too much butter.
My next Kaido adventure will be the Ama-kase Tasting, a 16 courses menu from Chef Brad Kilgore in the hidden speakeasy, a secret room with only eight seats available at a time.
| Food | Excellent: Small, Medium & Large Plates |
| Ambiance | Sexy, sparkly, sophisticated |
| Service | Excellent |
| Price | Expensive – especially the Wagyu |
If you would like to read some of my other restaurant reviews, you can check them all out within my RESTAURANT category. I’m a Pinecrest, Coral Gables and Coconut Grove luxury real estate specialist who just happens to love blogging about beautiful homes and spectacular food.
