Monday Night at Catch Roof and SL Miami

Monday doesn't have to be the most low-key night of the week anymore. Get your week going at one of Mark Birnbaum's best establishments on the east coast! If you're in the New York City area head over to Catch Roof and if you're down in Miami, don't hesitate to head over to SL Miami.

With incredible food, drinks and views at each location there's no better way to start your week!

In case you haven't stopped by to check out either of the great places, here's what BlackBook had to say about SL Miami:

Offshoot of the original SL in New York, this is one "ultra-lounge" that lives up to the name. More than 2,000 square feet of upscale party space fuses contemporary decor (circular banquettes, gold accents, backlit X-rays) with the dopest sound system on the beach. DJ's fly in from the four corners to keep things fresh, and sound-synchronized color schematics will help you feel the beat that much more.

And for all you folks in the Manhattan area, here is what VIBE's guide had to say about Catch Roof:

Elevator up for exclusive aerie from EMM Group peeps. Lounge wrapped in three sides of outdoor terrace. Heat lamps keep the party going even after temperatures drop. ICRAVE design places earth-toned banquettes against lacquered walls. Killer lighting, broad cylinders synched with the sound system. Panoramic MePa views have to compete with eye candy crowd. 

Don't hesitate to stop by tonight for some great food and nightlife and get your week started right. Although you may be just getting going, you can start things off in a great way over at Catch Roof and SL Miami.  

Mark Birnbaum's Catch Miami Heating Up South Beach

In case you missed it, Mark Birnbaum's Catch Miami restaurant has been heating up South Beach since January of this year at the James Royal Palm hotel. The Miami New Times recently took some time to catch up with Catch Miami manager, Hardy Hill to get an inside look at the restaurant.

Here are a few highlights from the stand out article:

The dining room at Catch is studded with familiar faces. There are those you might recognize from television, such as Martha Stewart, and others you may know from movies, like Leonardo DiCaprio, Zoe Saldana, and Camilla Belle. Mostly, though, the posh SoBe restaurant swarms with people whose names you cannot recall. You know they are somebody — but that's only because everyone else looks up from their sushi and cocktails as these people walk into the room.

This restaurant offers many things that other South Beach restaurants lack. It has a local area code for its reservations line that connects to a call center in Manhattan. It has an automated phone system that includes a voicemail box exclusively for lost and found. 

The restaurant's epicurean ethos is resoundingly uncomplicated: Combine miso or soy with a bit of crunch and then add some fish, fat, sugar, and spice. Take for instance the crunchy rice cakes. Fried baton-shaped rice patties are topped with bigeye tuna tartare and wasabi tobiko — flying fish roe infused with the piquant green Japanese plant. There is also a dish called crispy shrimp, whose fried crustaceans come doused in a cloyingly sweet-and-spicy dressing and served alongside spicy aioli.

Mark Birnbaum and the EMM Group knew exactly what they were doing when they brought their Manhattan-style powerhouse dining center to South Beach. Only open for a few months, the restaurant already seems to be a staple of Miami.

For more information about Catch Miami, visit EMM Group's website and take a look around. 

The General's Bakery featured on ABC's Eyewitness News

ABC Catches Up With Mark Birnbaum's The General

ABC's Eyewitness news recently popped into The General to take a closer look at the delicious pastries that pastry chef Thiago Silva is cooking up.

Among the staples that Mark Birnbaum's restaurant serve include the cereal-inspired donuts. Specifically, these tasty treats come in six combos, three of which include: Fruity Pebbles with Cereal Milk, Coffee with Espresso Cream, and Coco Puffs with Coco Cream. And then there's the breakfast pretzel bomb, which is filled with egg & cheese and guests can choose between a choice of ham or bacon.


In case you were wondering, when Mark Birnbaum helped put together The General, doughnuts weren't the only thing on his mind. He brought in Top Chef Season 3 winner, Executive Chef Hung Huynh who is behind the helm in the kitchen. Open 7 days a week, The General is a bustling modern Asian mecca offering a wide range of dining experiences for all guests.

Take a look at what BlackBook had to say about the restaurant and if you're looking to see some more information regarding making a reservation or checking out its location in the heart of The Bowery, visit EMM Group's website here.

Mark Birnbaum Named to UJA 40 Under 40 List

UJA 40 under 40: Mark Birnbaum, Eugene Remm and More

UJA-Federation of New York unleashed their 40 under 40 list of the top movers and shakers in the New York community. Participants were chosen for their “drive, determination, achievement, character, and the ability to serve as leaders of the community.” One of those named to the list was EMM Groups own Mark Birnbaum.

Mark couldn't be more delighted to be named for such an honorable award. Through the years he has come from upstate nightlife promoter to one of the most respected hospitality moguls in the tri-state area and arguably in the country. He has been able to take concept to creation and build some of the most sought after restaurants and clubs in Manhattan. 

As one of the co-founders of the EMM Group, he has created a successful hospitality business, with venues that include: FINALE at 199 Bowery in the Lower East Side, Abe & Arthur’s, SL and the iconic Tenjune in the meatpacking district, and The Chandelier Room at the W Hotel in New Jersey. Mark Birnbaum has also established CATCH and SL inside The James Royal Palm in Miami. Mark has been featured in GQ Magazine and been labeled as one of the "Kings of New York Nightlife" by Forbes Magazine.

With things not looking to slow down in the near future, Mark Birnbaum is looking forward to all that's still to come in 2013. In early 2013, Birnbaum took the CATCH concept and headed to the Miami market, opening a second location of the widely popular seafood restaurant in South Beach at the James Royal Palm. Also opening is a Miami outpost of SL at the hotel – SL Miami – that will be sure to attract the same stars and revelers that frequent EMM Group’s New York venues. 

You can take a full look at the entire list of people who were named to the 40-under-40 list here. A formal 40 under 40 event is planned to take place this fall to honor Mark and all others named to the list. 

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Spring is Finally Here

Warm Weather Means Outdoor Dining and Mark Birnbaum Has You Covered

Spring finally seems to be here in NYC and you know what that means...open air seating at The General and  some sidewalk cafe dining at Abe & Arthur's!

Whether you're looking to grab a quick bite to eat, sit down for a date with your sweetheart or just stop in to grab a cocktail after work, Mark Birnbaum and the folks at EMM Group have got you covered.

                           

                                 The General

Abe & Arthur's

Aside from their great outdoor dining ambiance, both restaurants offer a wealth of a modern menu and experience. The General is a modern Asian mecca while Abe & Arthur's menu takes on comforting classics, designed to provoke the pallet while evoking the familiar warmth of one’s home kitchen. Signatures like the Tuna Tartare Tacos and Beth’s Meatballs, along with an impressive assortment of steaks and raw bar offerings keep folks coming back day in and day out no matter what the weather is like outside.

If you're looking for a superb dining experience this upcoming spring and summer, don't hesitate to head downtown to check out one of Mark Birnbaum's great establishments.

Mark Birnbaum Interview with Forbes Magazine

Forbes Magazine recently took the time to sit down with Mark Birnbaum and chat about how he and his partner, Eugene Remm designed, built and run their New York hot spot, CATCH.



For those who might not remember, Mark Birnbaum actually sat down with Forbes in April of 2010 to discuss how they built their $30 million luxury nightlife empire in light of the economic downturn. Mark has come a long way since then, opening new ventures as far down the east coast as Miami.

Feel free to take a look at the above video to see how Mark Birnbaum crafted a well rounded plan from the ground up to develop one of New York City's hottest restaurants down in the Meatpacking District.

In case you also missed it, Mark recently helped take CATCH to South Beach, Miami, opening up a second location of the widely popular seafood restaurant in South Beach at the James Royal Palm.

Sprawling, 17 foot, cork-lined ceilings and a bustling South Beach dinner scene greet guests ascending to the Second Floor Dining Room. There, oversized copper drum lamps set an intimate stage, warmly washing patrons in CATCH's trademark honey-colored tones. Hand-painted details on the exposed brick walls create an ambiance like non-other, while Mark Birnbaum assures guests are able to enjoy all the essentials from the CATCH NY menu as well as newer, locally inspired dishes such as Po Little Rich Boys, The Shorecrest Roll, Kampachi Crudo and a conspicuously decadent Key Lime Donut dessert!