If you’re looking for a dining experience that blends culture and Southern comfort food, then Red Rooster Overtown is a great choice. Located in the heart of Miami’s historic Overtown neighborhood, Marcus Samuelsson’s acclaimed restaurant is more than just a place to eat—it’s a celebration of community, culture and history. Overtown is a historic Black neighborhood in Miami that flourished much like Harlem, New York. Overtown was a stop on the Chitlin’ Circuit, serving as a venue for African-Americans who could not play in white establishments. Clyde Killens was an area promoter who brought in big names like Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald. Red Rooster Overtown is located in Clyde Killens’ former pool hall, so when you visit Red Rooster, you are visiting a piece of history.

Chef Marcus is Ethiopian. In 1995, he became the Executive Chef at New York’s Aquavit, earning it three stars from The New York Times. In 1999, he was James Beard’s “Rising Star Chef,” and in 2003 the “Best Chef, New York City.” Samuelsson’s book, The Soul of a New Cuisine: A Discovery of the Foods and Flavors of Africa, received a James Beard Award for “Best International Cookbook”. Many might know him as a judge on Top Chef. I was very excited about visiting his Miami restaurant, You can also visit Red Rooster in Harlem if you are ever in New York. I wish we had visited when we took the kids to New York a couple of summers ago.

The restaurant has a retro vibe and was the perfect place to wind down. It has a cool, laid back atmosphere, and I took it all in.

I began my meal with a mocktail called “Yes, Chef!” This is also the name of one of Chef Marcus’s books

Nothing says comfort food like warm, sweet cornbread served with seasonal jam and a comforting rum butter.

They even serve oxtail fried rice — rice served with savory oxtail, toasted peanut, trinity vegetables, and tangy key lime soy dressing. Then there’s the coconut smoked oxtails, which is a rich and smoky oxtail served with sweet plantains, yellow rice, long pepper, and aromatic thai basil.

One of the ladies with our group ordered the crispy fried catfish with flavorful plantain fried rice, green papaya slaw, bold red curry, and garlic. She loved her dish!

I ordered the seafood pasta. The serving was not overwhelming. I enjoyed it thoroughly, and left none on my plate.

I was the only one at the table who ordered dessert. I love a good cobbler. This was a seasonal fruit cobbler with an oat crumble and creamy vanilla ice cream. The cobbler was warm and sweet like the ones Grandma used to make. I shared some and savored the rest.

You can check out the restaurant here for more details and to see the full menu. We had a wonderful evening out in Overtown. If you are ever in the area, check out Red Rooster and experience a piece of history!