Louis' List: Badrutt's

WSVN -- All right, tonight we're hanging in the Brickell area of Downtown Miami. The nightlife here is just exploding with all the new condos and high rises that have gone up recently. Tonight, proof positive you don't have to hit South Beach to find a hot party in South Florida.

I'd been hearing about Badrutt's place for months, the first ever satellite restaurant and lounge of the world famous Badrutt's Palace Hotel in St. Moritz, where the rich and famous have jet settled for more than a hundred years. Now Badrutt's has finally opened in Miami but not on South Beach like you'd expect, in Brickell.

The night to hit Badrutt's is Friday. Warning, this is not for the faint of heart or those looking for a quiet romantic dinner.

So, on this night, I needed an experienced wing man to guide me through the unventured waters of the Brickell social scene, enter my good buddy Clemment Reid.

Louis: "So we're going to hit Badrutt's?"

Clemment Reid: "Yeah, let's do Badrutt's. Fridays are good here."

Not only is Clemment a man about town, he's also the local rep for Moet Hennesey and Krug Champagne, so I know I'm at least going to drink well.

Laurent Bougrade: "Hey, Louis I was waiting for you."

Louis: "This is the guy you got to know, Laurent Bougrade. This is his party on Friday nights. How you doing, guys?"

Louis: "You're our host, man?"

Laurent Bougrade: "Yes, I am. Let me show you to your table."

The restaurant is cool and mod, stylishly done in rich woods and over-sized Philippe Stark banquets and hanging chandeliers. There's a definite Euro vibe, and the crowd is beautiful, but the night was just getting started.

Laurent Bougrade: "It's like a crescendo so it builds."

Laurent Bougrade: "So, right now, we're at a level seven, and we're going to peak. We'll add some layers to it. We'll add some layers and a lot more."

Louis: "What are we drinking?"

Laurent Bougrade: "Pinot Grigio."

Louis: "And I got cranberry. This is not going to do it."

No worries, back at the table Clemment had made some friends. It's amazing how popular you get when you pop open a bottle of champagne.

Clemment Reid: "It's a good mix, in my opinion. You got South Beach, you got Downtown, you got the party people, you got the professionals who want to party, and it all balances out. You got a good DJ and great music."

And very good food. The menu, mostly Mediterranean, with some Asian influences, like a four-way tuna sashimi and a very yummy seafood salad.

For entrees, we both got fish. I had the tuna sautéed in butter and herbs. Clemment went for the swordfish.

And, yes, though dinner was delicious...

Louis: "That's really good."

As the meal progressed, the lights were getting dimmer, the music was getting louder, and the lure of the party was just way too enticing to ignore. Desert was done.

And, by 11:15, the party was on full force.

Clemment Reid: "Fridays belong to Brickell. We bring a little flavor from South Beach here, and that's it."

I got tell you, I had an amazing time. The music was hot, the crowd was hotter, and, no matter where you looked, you made a friend.

Louis: "Hey, what's up man? I want to go on safari with you. We're going to exhume some alligators."

Louis: "And that's why you go to Badrutt's on Friday nights."