In four to five months, Shan Bakrac will debut a modern Mexican restaurant called Mia on the first floor of The Galaxy Hotel (101 3rd Ave N). Bakrac is known for his fast-casual concepts—Top Slice and Black Cattle Burger—as well as Fortu, a fine-dining restaurant recently recommended for a Michelin Star.
Fortu’s recognition has heightened expectations, and Bakrac intends for Mia to reflect a similar standard. According to Bakrac, the chef’s personality will shape the menu and guest experience. “The most appealing feature is that [Mia] is my second venture in fine dining,” said Bakrac. “Going from Top Slice to Fortu was a massive career jump… I’m getting to apply all the things I learned on this project.”
With Fortu earning Michelin attention and Mia approaching its launch, Bakrac is navigating new expectations. He is actively refining Fortu to increase its chances of securing a Michelin Star. “We started to analyze the menu and figure out how to push it further. We are working with additional chefs from Miami to help revamp our entire menu. We are taking our core best-sellers and changing our approach,” he said. At the same time, Mia’s development is underway, with Bakrac aiming to match or exceed Fortu’s standards. “Being on [the Michelin] stage put the fire in me to continue forward. I want to utilize that extra fire and make the right approach,” he added.
Concepts that the city can benefit from
Bakrac’s shift from fast-casual to fine dining represents a significant evolution in his career. However, he emphasizes that his goal is not limited to personal ambition. “For me personally, I want to open concepts that the city can benefit from rather than just what I want. If it’s a burger place or pizza place, I want to achieve the best… I hope I can keep creating concepts all kinds of people can enjoy,” he said…