Born in Curitiba, Brazil, cultured from her Japanese-Brazilian mother, Filipino father, family in Nagano, Japan and raised in Miami. At the age of 14, Manager Wendy Maharlika started her restaurant experience at Siam River, Miami where Chef Kevin Cory later came to instill a sushi makeover and they instantly became great friends. Wendy Maharlika left for the University of Florida and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Recreation, Majored in Tourism and Hospitality Management and Minored in Business Administration. Wendy Maharlika worked for the University of Florida Hilton Hotel and Conference Center as Head Waitress and then as Restaurant Supervisor with direct supervision of Albert's, In-room dining and the 2-Bits Bar and Lounge. Wendy Maharlika was awarded University of Florida Hilton Hotel and Conference Center's Employee of the Year, Front of House 2005. Wendy Maharlika returned to Miami to work for Loews Miami Beach, The Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne and The Regent Bal Harbour. In 2009, Wendy Maharlika accepted an intense challenge to work for both The Regent Bal Harbour as Assistant Director of Food and Beverage from 7 a.m. and afterwards for NAOE ® until often 4 a.m. Chef Kevin Cory and Manager Wendy Maharlika quietly opened NAOE ® on March 19, 2009. For the next several months, Wendy Maharlika relentlessly worked a double mission without losing focus and received The Regent Bal Harbour Manager of the Quarter award, along with accolades for NAOE ®: |
Top 5 Japanese Restaurants in the United States
La Liste 
11/16/2023
Representing Miami with the Five-Star Award for E11EVEN Consecutive Years
- 1 of Only 79 Restaurants in the World -
- The Only Five-Star Restaurant in Miami -
Forbes Travel Guide 2/15/2023
AAA Unveils (Complete) Top Diamond Designated Hotels and Restaurants of 2022
* * * * * FIVE DIAMOND DESIGNATION * * * * *
- 1 of Only 64 Restaurants in North America -
- The Only AAA Five Diamond Designated Restaurant in Miami -
AAA Newsroom 2/7/2023
- AAA FIVE DIAMOND DESIGNATION -
- INSPECTOR'S BEST OF FIVE DIAMOND -
"Best Of Diamonds stand out from other AAA Diamond hotels and restaurants
at their same Diamond Designation level by scoring in the top 20%
for their category, from simple to spectacular."
AAA Diamonds 2022
- NAOE Completes A Decade of Ten Consecutive Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Awards -
"If you're looking for an intimate dining experience, this is it."
Forbes Travel Guide 4/26/2022
~ ~ NAOE Celebrates 10 years in Brickell Key and 13 Years Overall ~ ~
Brickell Key 4/17/2012 - 2022
SIBFL 3/19/2009
FIVE-STAR AWARD
FIVE YEARS IN A ROW
2013 ~ 2014 ~ 2015 ~ 2016 ~ 2017
Forbes Travel Guide 2/22/2017
FIVE-STAR AWARD
1 of 3 Japanese Restaurants in the World
Forbes Travel Guide 2/22/2016
BEST RESTAURANTS IN THE WORLD
Top 3 Japanese Restaurants in the United States
Time / La Liste 12/12/2015
FIVE-STAR AWARD
Forbes Travel Guide 2/11/2015
FIVE-STAR AWARD
"In this petite Japanese jewel box, only eight diners can claim seats.
Chef/owner Kevin Cory and manager Wendy Maharlika treat you like a guest in their own home.
Maharlika holds down the dining room while Cory single-handily prepares every dish that comes out of the kitchen"
Forbes Travel Guide 1/22/2014
BEST RESTAURANTS IN AMERICA 2013
OpenTable 12/11/2013
BEST SERVICE RESTAURANTS IN THE UNITED STATES 2013
OpenTable 3/5/2013
FIVE STARS
1 of only 28 Restaurants in the World
"a jewel box of a Japanese restaurant"
"an impeccable experience in flavor, presentation and gracious service"
Forbes Travel Guide 2/26/2013
BEST RESTAURANTS IN THE UNITED STATES 2012
OpenTable 12/12/2012
"I can't believe this exists in Miami" since it would be "outstanding even in Japan",
gush fans of this culinary star, rated the city's tops for Food and Service
Zagat 2013 America's Top Restaurants 11/6/2012
* ONE HUNDRED REVIEWS *
* FIVE STARS *
yelp 5/2009 - 8/2012
TOP 100 RESTAURANTS IN THE USA 2011
OpenTable 12/13/2011
FOUR STARS
- TOP 4 JAPANESE RESTAURANTS IN NORTH AMERICA -
Forbes Travel Guide 2012
(released 11/15/2011 on Startle)
WORLD'S TOP RESTAURANTS
"Of those (1,404) restaurants, 23 are considered the tops"
Chicago Tribune / Zagat World's Top Restaurants, Fourth Edition
(released 11/9/2011)
TOP 30 RESTAURANTS IN AMERICA
Zagat Survey 2012
(released 10/25/2011 & 11/1/2011)
"Once in a rare while, you discover a restaurant so authentic, so special, yet still undiscovered by the masses.
By virtue of its petite size and strict seating times, the Japanese gem, NAOE, will forever remain intimate and original."
"Gastronomic Adventure"
"Stellar Service"
Fodor's South Florida 2012
(released 10/25/2011)
- Zagat Picks for Good Restaurants on a Business Trip -
- TOP 30 RESTAURANTS IN AMERICA -
"These restaurants, which scored 29 of a possible 30 for food,
are the best restaurants in the country."
USA TODAY Travel (Zagat 2012) 10/25/2011
TripAdvisor 9/25/2011
TOP 50 BEST SERVICE RESTAURANTS
IN THE UNITED STATES 2011
OpenTable 2/28/2011
TOP 50 RESTAURANTS IN THE UNITED STATES 2010
OpenTable 12/16/2010
FOUR STARS
- TOP 3 JAPANESE RESTAURANTS IN NORTH AMERICA -
"Chef/owner Kevin Cory and manager Wendy Maharlika
treat diners at this petite Japanese jewelbox as they would guests in their own home."
Forbes Travel Guide 2011
(released 11/16/2010)
1. NAOE (20.0)
"#1 each week for the past year"
Miami's Restaurant Power Rankings 11/10/2010
Zagat World's Top Restaurants, Third Edition
(released 11/3/2010)
eHow 10/1/10
3/3 STARS
"Exquisitely prepared, hyper fresh sushi and Japanese fare.
This may be the closest Miami gets to Tokyo."
Frommer's Florida 2011
(released August 31, 2010)
Miami New Times 6/17/2010
#1
NBC Feast Rank 4/2010
~ ~ NAOE ~ ~
~ ~ First Year Anniversary! ~ ~
3/19/2010
HIGHEST RATED - #1
BEST NEW RESTAURANTS 2009
Trust "Omakase (whatever’s best)'’ in Kevin Cory’s no-menu temple.
It’s a beautiful bento of fish and vegetables pure as his family’s legendary shoyu and sake.
Florida Trend Magazine 12/2009
Food Decor Service Cost
- - - M
ZAGAT America's Top Restaurants 2010
(released 10/22/2009)
TOP 10 NEW RESTAURANTS
City & Shore Magazine October | November 2009
HIGHEST RATED - #1
HIGHEST RATED - #1
yelp 10/10/2009 yelp 10/10/2010 yelp 10/10/2011
OpenTable 8/2009
Japanese Gem NAOE Sparkles in Sunny Isles Beach
"Effusive hostess Wendy Maharlika, who worked with Cory at Siam River,
guided us through the restaurant's history with the glowing pride of a new mom."
The Miami Herald 7/16/2009
OpenTable 7/2009
(First month eligible)
NAOE Brings Tokyo to Sunny Isles
"Wendy Maharlika, the other half of this two-person operation,
hosts, waits tables, and does everything else necessary,
all in a friendly and incredibly efficient manner"
Miami New Times 5/21/2009
NAOE - Excellent Omakase in Sunny Isles
"Wendy Maharlika, her business card ought to read maître d', hostess, sake sommelier, and public relations liaison."
"The Chef and Hostess were Earnest, Friendly, and Absolutely Charming."
Frodnesor / Food For Thought Miami 4/26/2009
~ ~ NAOE quietly opens ~ ~
3/19/2009
Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival 2/25/2007
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