If you like outdoor dining and people watching, chances are one of your go-to spots is Deli Lane/Sunset Tavern on Dorn Avenue. Inviting and casual, the restaurant and tavern complex is a great place for breakfast meetings, happy hour, and family dining.
HISTORY OF AN INSTITUTION
Deli Lane has been serving up great food for since it opened in 1988. Best described by co-owner Jahn Kirchoff as a place where you can enjoy “gourmet food at a fast pace,” you might wish to stay a little longer and wait to see who walks by. In addition to their outdoor service, they have a comfortable dining area indoors.
The menu has all the comfort foods, special recipes gathered by Jahn, and “Fit Life” dishes for those who want to keep things light. They have daily specials, soups, salads and sandwiches, all at prices that won’t break the bank. And, it almost goes without saying, that if you want to indulge in the South Miami vibe on the weekends, you must come to enjoy one of the best brunches around. “We like to think that in addition to great food, our success has relied on qualified, trustworthy, and competent staff,” said Mike Maler, co-owner.
In case you forgot, or you weren’t in South Miami before 2001, you might not know that Sunset Tavern was once a watering hole called “Your Father’s Mustache.” In 2000, when the location became available for sale, Jahn and Mike decided to build on the success of Deli Lane and create the tavern.
They renovated it, opened a space in the interior between the two sites, and had the tavern ready to open in time for patrons to watch the Baltimore Ravens beat the New York Giants on Super Bowl Sunday, January 28, 2001. Sunset Tavern has the same outdoor set- up as Deli Lane and the same great menu.
Inside are the prominent bar, pool table, dart boards, and a small stage for live musical performances. The tavern was given a more open look recently with the addition of Nano-type folding glass doors, to enhance the indoor-outdoor experience. The spot is complete with a full liquor bar, over
20 draft beers, bottled beers and wine. Their six-days-per-week happy hour can be spent taking in the game on the state-of-the art media system, listening to music, or playing a game of pool. There are plenty of reasons to drop in any day or night of the week: pool tourneys, movie night, and drink specials. For the early crowd on a budget, the happy hour menu available Monday through Friday from 3 PM to 6 PM includes just the right munchies to match your drink.
THE JAHN AND MIKE TEAM
Jahn and Mike are both qualified chefs who met as co-workers in 1981. Their enduring friendship is another ingredient in their recipe for success. Jahn is from New York and brings a keen business sense to the partnership. Mike is a native Floridian, avid fisherman and naturalist who appreciates the beauty and delicacy of the area’s natural environment. He can also prepare local seafood expertly.
As part of their corporate culture, they believe in giving back by sponsoring events and contributing to fund raisers. The Lobster Tournament, an annual event celebrating the opening of the spiny lobster season and providing foods for Baptist Hospital’s Corporate Run are just two examples of their engagement with the South Miami community.
Deli Lane/Sunset Tavern is located at 7230 SW 59th Avenue (Dorn Avenue). FMI: call 305-665-0606, visit them online at https://. For catering service, please call or email at .
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- Prior to being a restaurant, the location highlighted was retail business which sold darts and billiards items, and prior to that, it was the local post office. When Jahn & Mike signed the lease at Robins Plaza there was an existing restaurant named Deli Lane – they kept the name. South Miami’s outdoor dining boomed in the mid-1990s with new “Hometown” city ordinances, with restaurants boasting of some 40% increase in sales.
