Just months after one of Bal Harbour Shops’s most beloved spots closed down, Le Zoo, the restaurant group is opening a brand new restaurant. Stephen Starr, the Philadelphia-born restaurateur behind some of Miami’s most talked-about dining rooms, will open Slim’s, a sleek new steakhouse that is set to open in spring 2026 at Bal Harbour Shops.
Slim’s will take over the original home of Makoto, Starr’s longtime Bal Harbour staple that relocated to a larger space in 2022. The new project trades sushi for steak, channeling midcentury elegance with a cinematic twist. It’s self-described as “an intimate hideaway of cool sophistication,” with leather banquettes, vintage murals, and rich textures.
The menu will center on steakhouse staples like prime rib, martinis, and other nods to a bygone era. Beyond that, no chef, designer, or exact opening date has been announced.
The $400 Million Man Behind It All
Starr, who got his start in Philadelphia’s nightclub scene, has built one of the largest independent restaurant groups in the country, Starr Restaurants. Known for his perfectionism and flair for drama, he’s been called a “creator” rather than a greeter, the type of owner who obsesses over playlists and lighting levels as much as what’s on the plate…