WHEN: Wednesday December 18, 2024

WHAT: Ogawa, a concept by Alvaro Perez Miranda Restaurant Group, which earned a Michelin star just a few months after opening in the up-and-coming Little River Neighborhood in Miami, is now the highest rated fine dining restaurant in the America according to a study conducted by commercial furniture supplier Restaurant Furniture, which analyzed Google review data for American fine dining restaurants with at least one Michelin star. The ranking comes off the heels of Ogawa being named Best Japanese Restaurant of 2024 by the Miami New Times, as well as the #1 Best Sushi in Miami by Time Out Miami, who have also noted, “Ogawa isn’t a Japanese restaurant exactly. It’s a chunk of Japanese soil, an embassy, a slice of culture. That’s true with the vibe, in that it can be somewhat awkward yet humbling, and of course with the food, a long evening of sushi and hot dishes that all display a downright obsession with being authentically Japanese.”

WHO: Ogawa is the vision of Alvaro Perez Miranda, and his partners, Master Sushi Chef Masayuki Komatsu and Director of Operations and Sommelier Luis Martinez.

ÁLVARO PEREZ MIRANDA:
As founder of APM Restaurant Group, Álvaro Perez Miranda has cultivated a unique approach to hospitality through an uncompromising dedication to quality, authenticity, and attention to detail. Born in Venezuela, Perez Miranda studied art in the U.S. and Italy before moving to Tokyo. He spent a total of 15 years in Japan promoting Italian cuisine, eventually producing, building and managing more than 70 restaurant projects..

Perez Miranda opened his first Japanese restaurant, the casual sushi bowl eatery Wabi Sabi, in 2018, followed by the upscale Hiyakawa two years later. By 2023, APM had added two more concepts, both in partnership with master sushi chef Masayuki Komatsu: Midorie, a sister establishment to Wabi Sabi, and Ogawa, a 12-seat omakase sushi experience inspired by Osaka’s kappo-style cuisine.

Across all of APM’s concepts, Perez Miranda has worked tirelessly to manifest the highest standard of Japanese culinary artistry in Miami, adopting Japanese principles such as omotenashi (mindful hospitality), komakai (fine attention to detail), and sensai (sensitivity) in pursuit of a perfectly authentic experience. This extends not only to ingredients – painstakingly sourced from across Japan, particularly Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market and Ibaraki prefecture – but to treating guests with the utmost care and warmth, making them feel as comfortable and at home as if they were at the home of a cherished friend. Through his art business Blackship Gallery, Perez Miranda has also been able to place stunning artworks in each restaurant, commissioned by the celebrated Japanese artists in his portfolio.

All of this has earned Perez Miranda and his businesses extraordinary accolades. He was named a Goodwill Ambassador for Japanese Cuisine by the country’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, the first U.S. Latino to hold such an honor, in 2023. In 2024 Perez Miranda was appointed Culinary Ambassador of Ibaraki, the largest agricultural prefecture in Japan, known widely for the finest products including Hitachi Wagyu and Ibaraki melon, by the governor of Ibaraki Mr. Ōigawa. In 2024, Perez Miranda’s latest project, Ogawa earned a Michelin Star in its first year of operation.

MASTER CHEF MASAYUKI KOMATSU:
Born in Osaka, Japan, Masayuki Komatsu has dedicated nearly two decades to perfecting the art of Edomae sushi. His culinary journey began at the renowned Sushiden in New York City before honing his skills as a Sushi Chef in Monaco. Later, he was handpicked by Chef Morimoto as Head Chef and relocated to Miami, where he remains steadfast in his commitment to Japanese tradition. Chef Masa's philosophy revolves around showcasing ingredients at the peak of their seasonality, ensuring the highest quality and flavor profile in every dish. With an extensive network of relationships in Japan, he meticulously sources the finest ingredients from each prefecture year-round. Chef Masa received his first Michelin Star in 2024 at Ogawa in Miami, Florida.

LUIS MARTINEZ, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND SOMMELIER:
Luis Martinez was born in Havana Cuba before emigrating to Miami, FL as a young child. While studying at Johnson & Wales University in 2013, Luis worked at various restaurants around the world as a Chef before opening COMO Hotels in Miami Beach.

After being sent to London to work at Michelin Starred Ametsa with Arzak Instruction, he found his passions lie in wine service and hospitality. Luis returned to Miami to work under Michael Mina at Bourbon Steak as Captain, before finally joining the opening team at Alter by Brad Kilgore in 2016. Quickly becoming the General Manager and Sommelier, he became well known for his creative wine pairings that were unlike anything the city had seen before. He focused on small producers using new and innovative winemaking techniques to accompany the 7 to 18 course tasting menu. During his tenure at Alter, the wine program was named Top 100 in America by Wine Enthusiast several years in a row.

In 2020 after the pandemic, Luis met Alvaro Miranda Perez and Masayuki Komatsu – just in time for the opening of Hiyakawa in Wynwood. Leaning into his previous knowledge of Japanese hospitality and sake service, the beverage program at APM Restaurant Group is carefully curated to highlight different regions of Japan that allowed for the traditional Japanese cuisine to truly shine.

His most recent project is as Partner at Ogawa in Little River, which opened in November 2023 and received its first Michelin Star shortly after opening. The beverage pairing at Ogawa is a culmination of building relationships with master brewers, winemakers and distillers around the world to offer a delicate and thoughtful compliment to Chef Masayuki Komatsu’s Omakase.

Luis is currently the Director of Operations and Beverage Director at APM Restaurant Group, which oversees Wabi Sabi, Hiyakawa, Midorie, and Ogawa in Miami.

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ABOUT OGAWA:
Conceptualized by restaurateur and art dealer Alvaro Perez Miranda, Ogawa is an authentic Japanese restaurant situated in Miami’s LIttle River neighborhood. Specialized in upscale omakase meals, Ogawa offers seating for up to 12 guests to guarantee intimacy and "kikubari," the Japanese art of caring for others. The Edo Mae cuisine restaurant, run by Perez Miranda, master chef Masayuki Komatsu and sommelier Luis Martinez, features one-of-a- kind Nihonga art pieces by Ryota Unno and a Kakejiku scroll by calligraphy artist Keiko Ogawa, as well as a private Japanese garden designed by Ikebana artist Akiko Iwata. Ogawa was honored to be awarded a coveted Michelin star in March, 2024 just a few months after opening. Ogawa is located at 7223 NW 2nd Ave., Little River, Miami; 786-905-3949. The restaurant is open from Tuesday through Saturday, with two seatings at 6:00PM and 9:00PM.. For more information, please visit ogawamiami.com and @ogawamiami.

 

Media Contact:

Nicole Paloux
Red Balloon Communications
C: 267-909-3309
nicole@red-balloon.ne