What started as a pop-up is making its transition into its first brick and mortar location in Little River. Rosie’s: The Backyard is reopening within the Miami culinary scene at its new home, owned and operated by hospitality power couple Akino and Jamila West. The backyard location will serve as a temporary home for the eatery while the owners renovate a historic house in Little River where they will eventually operate. Now open with an all-day brunch menu, Rosies: The Backyard is a chef-driven take on Southern American cuisine with subtle Italian nuances and classic techniques. 

Rosie’s: The Backyard, located at 7127 NW 2nd Ave, is an open-concept space that includes outdoor seating for 70 guests to dine under the shade of a massive Banyan tree among twinkling lights in an enchanting and expansive courtyard. The restaurant is located in Little River, one of South Florida’s oldest neighborhoods that showcases Miami’s culture through local shopping and dining. Rosie’s: The Backyard is bringing a new wave of elevated dining to the area with an open-air patio filled with greenery for a simultaneous connection between the ambiance and food.

Rosie’s: The Backyard is centered around a chef-driven menu and focuses on the quality of guests’ experience. The trained culinary professionals will be partnering with well-known restaurants to host monthly dinner parties, offering exclusive experiences on a regular basis including cocktail events, special dinners and more. 

“Rosie’s: The Backyard, our new location, will offer diners an immersive experience that is a bit more elevated, but in a casual outdoor setting,” says Jamila. “We’ve taken inspiration from global destinations to create the menu, but looked in our backyard to create a dining destination for the whole neighborhood.”

Akino and Jamila West have 30 years of experience in the food & beverage industry. Chef Akino West has had a dynamic career working for James Beard award winning Chef Michael Schwartz in Miami, FL and three-Michelin starred NOMA, in Copenhagen, Denmark. Jamila graduated from The Culinary Institute of America and has worked for James Beard award winning Chef Jose Andres via the SLS Hotel brand in Beverly Hills and South Beach, Miami. She then transitioned into front of house management in the Middle East opening multiple locations of Katsuya, a chic Japanese concept with the global trading company, Alshaya.

Helmed by Chef Akino West, Rosie’s will be featuring classic menu items such as the Smoked Salmon Benedict ($23), a classy brunch dish served on a house-made buttermilk biscuit, topped with a rich and buttery rosemary Hollandaise and garnished with Meyer lemon for a citrusy twist; the Wild Mushroom Polenta ($19), a creamy blend of curated flavors with roasted mushrooms, a delicately poached egg placed on top and garnished with charred kale, parmesan cheese and herb gremolata for a fresh kick; and Pastrami Hash ($19), house-smoked pastrami with sweet potato sformato, charred green onion gremolata and goat cheese. Along with Rosie’s OG, the couple has introduced some fresher items along with more elaborate options for sweets to finish the meal.

Butter Lettuce Salad ($16), olives, feta, pistachio, shaved fennel and banana peppers, and an oregano vinaigrette; Cacio E Pepe Omelette ($16), a French style omelet with a cacio e pepe sauce and smoked prosciutto; Deviled Eggs ($6), with crispy chicharrones and chives; and the Burrata ($14), including fresh mango from the West’s personal home, herbs, wildflower honey and grilled sourdough.

Originally, Rosie’s was born during the pandemic at the Copper Door B&B, where the West’s first entered Miami’s hospitality scene in 2017. The B&B was known for its communal breakfast amenity and was praised by guests who left glowing reviews about Akino and Jamila’s family-style meals. The growing demand of South Florida locals wanting to try the guest-only breakfast is what inspired the Wests to open the pop-up.  In 2020 the restaurant opened to huge acclaim, with features in Vogue Magazine, The New York Times and Travel + Leisure magazine. The restaurant was also celebrated within the local community. 

Looking towards the future, the West’s have big plans to expand Rosie’s to a historic home in Little River, which is currently being renovated. Rosie’s: The Backyard is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday through Sunday serving a diverse range of sweet and savory brunch, approachable craft cocktails and a natural wine list.