No matter whether you've broken your vows a hundred times.

“We wanted to create something sophisticated, a space where anyone can come and feel really comfortable, rich and important no matter who they are,” says Roth.

Before a single brick was laid, Rumi was shaping up to be something different. First of all, the building in question was located on the lower half of Lincoln Road, a sliver of street better known for pharmacies and t-shirt shops. The second issue was the space itself. Situated within a narrow wedge of a building, the property for the future Rumi posed a significant design challenge.

That changed when New York designer Nancy Mah came on board, laying the groundwork for the loft design that would eventually take shape. The main dining room downstairs, decorated with a wall of endless mirrors and a chandelier of floating pads of light, feels like someone’s living room. Upstairs is more of a sanctuary, taking on a hidden bedroom motif with a fireplace to boot. In whole, it’s an airy but warm space that can accommodate a mood swing from otherworldly to pulsing.

Although it may take on a throbbing club atmosphere on late Tuesday or weekend nights, Rumi still has a more cozy flow than most South Beach spots. “We have a lot of space, but we never let it get too crowded,” Roth says. Unlike other venues however, Rumi’s subtle mystique is also generated by a menu of adventurous cuisine.

The man responsible for the taste of Rumi is JD Harris, a Miami Beach native with an inventive flair in the kitchen. Harris didn’t always work his magic in front of a stove, though.

“Years ago I was working in a pathology lab over at Jackson Memorial, as well as Mercy Hospital,” says Harris, “but I always liked the action in the kitchen, so I was also working over at the 11^th Street Diner.”

After growing weary of juggling his two professions, Harris decided to devote himself entirely to the culinary arts. Packing all of his possessions into his car, Harris drove to New Orleans to begin his life as a chef. In his time there, Harris spent two years cooking with celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse before taking off on a personal whirlwind world tour of sorts, putting in time in kitchens from Texas to France.

“I was fortunate to gain experience from all over,” says Harris. “I would have a meal in a restaurant in Italy and then ask the head chef if I could come back and work for him the next day.”

On returning home, Harris toyed with the idea of opening his own establishment with friend and fellow chef Scott Fredel before getting word that something new and interesting was being done with the space that would ultimately become Rumi.

Once on board, Harris went about designing the kitchen and crafting a menu that fused the lessons he learned on his wanderings to the tropical flavors he grew up with. From a tamarind steak sauce to Mahi Mahi served with finger bananas, cippolini onions and lime, each of the dishes served at Rumi finds a way to incorporate citrus or fruit for an exotic but strangely familiar taste.

The latter dish is a favorite of Janet Jackson, just one of the celebrities that have taken a liking to the restaurant while in town. The stage at Rumi has also drawn its fair share of star power, and has been home to a number of impromptu performances by musicians such as Goo Goo Dolls, Erykah Badu and Live.

“When Wyclef was here he just took over the place,” says Roth. “He pretty much hosted for over three hours, singing, playing the guitar, DJ-ing and just chatting with the crowd. He just got into it.”

It’s the same relaxed ambiance that transformed the rapper from pampered guest to evening bard that Roth and his staff try to summon for their guests every night.

“We do something different here, we like to promote spontaneity. There’s nowhere else that you can go, get good food with a good vibe and really, really lay back,” says Roth. “Where else can you go to get that?”