House Kiki’s Roman Jones and Nicola Siervo with renderings of the Mercante Ristorante & Piano Bar at 404 Northwest North River Drive (Getty, Mercante Ristorante & Piano Bar)
Hospitality veteran Nicola Siervo and House Kiki’s Roman Jones are taking 7,900 square feet on the Miami River for the pair’s restaurant joint venture Mercante Ristorante & Piano Bar.
The Italian concept is slated to open for brunch, lunch and dinner later this year at 404 Northwest North River Drive, with the duo paying $70,000 in monthly rent for the riverfront space, according to a source familiar with the matter. A spokesperson for the restaurant declined to comment.
The rent works out to $106 per square foot annually, reflecting the premium commanded by waterfront restaurant space in the area.
Mercante has been in development since 2024 under a 15-year lease agreement with right of first refusal should ownership decide to sell the building. Records show the property is owned by Wees Brothers Inc., managed by Lazaro, Tania, Jorge and Maribel Sanchez. The Cuban-American family also owns the neighboring restaurant and property that houses Casablanca Seafood Bar & Grill. Jones inked a $15 million partnership with the Sanchezes last year for the property, the Miami New Times reported.
The restaurant is being designed around an Italian Riviera theme, with a waterfront terrace, 150-foot dock and seating for 175 people. The space will include an indoor dining room, bar and lounge, private dining area and outdoor terrace overlooking the river.
The space was designed by Miami-based Nikolai Design, with House Kiki’s Mark Lehmkuhl overseeing the project’s design. The concept will feature a turquoise, green and citrus-toned palette, a whitewashed exterior with climbing ivy and a vintage turquoise Fiat 500 at the entrance.
The restaurant’s interior will feature polished brass and marble, crystal chandeliers and a main dining room designed to evoke a Venetian palazzo. Live piano music, bands and other entertainment will be part of the concept.
For Siervo, the project marks a return to his restaurant roots after decades in Miami’s hospitality and nightlife scene. His résumé includes Bang, Joia, Quattro Gastronomia Italiana, Mynt Lounge, Rock Bar and Mokai. He previously oversaw the food and beverage operations at the Reuben Brothers’ former W South Beach, which included The Living Room, Wall nightclub, Solea restaurant and The Dutch South Beach. The hotel is being rebranded as a Waldorf Astoria with reported talks of a Major Food Group steakhouse opening in the former Mr. Chow space.
Jones already has a few restaurants on the Miami River, including Kiki on the River, Habibi Miami and the future S&L restaurant at the former Captain Tom’s Seafood location, where he signed a 20,000-square-foot, 20-year lease with a percentage rent that will be north of $1 million annually.
