Chef Douglas Rodriguez, aka the “Godfather of Nuevo Latino” in culinary circles, has expanded his Miami influence with his latest venture, D. Rodriguez Cuba, which was readying to open at presstime.

Housed in the space formerly occupied by French eatery La Maison D’Azur at Hotel Astor, the opening of D. Rodriguez Cuba comes on the heels of recent renovations to the renowned South Beach hotel and offers an inspired menu of classic Cuban cuisine. A James Beard Award winner and one of the most prolific chefs of the decade, Douglas Rodriguez’s culinary influence has shaped the face of Latin cuisine. Early on in his career, Rodriguez opened his first upscale Cuban restaurant, Yuca, in Coral Gables. He’s since gone on to helm several flourishing restaurants in Philadelphia, New York and South Beach, where his OLA at The Sanctuary Hotel is a thriving hotspot. “Despite Miami’s rich Cuban influence, there hasn’t been a prevalence of upscale Cuban cuisine offered here,” says Rodriguez. “D. Rodriguez Cuba taps into the true roots of this culture.” The menu showcases a thoughtful composition of handcrafted tapas, meaty entrées and a tempting selection of revamped Cuban-style cocktails. Tapas are ideal for sharing and range from Latin staples like ham croquetas, bacalao fritters with garlic aioli, and Cuban malanga tacos to Nuevo Latino delights such as oxtail empanadas and tuna pizza with wasabi crust. Authentic Cuban drinks, traditional style daiquiris, pitchers of mojitos and Cuba Libres are also on the menu.

A live pianist at an impressive baby grand greets entering guests; after sundown, get your salsa and merengue on as the dance floor every heats up every Thursday-Sunday.

D. Rodriguez Cuba, 956 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach; drodriguezcuba.com.