Bakery
Buenos Aires Bakery Corp.: This Argentine bakery sells over 25 different types of Sactura (Argentine
Danish) including dulce de leche. Buenos Aires is also set up French style with hardwood floors, chandeliers, curtains outside and outdoor sitting. Besides pastries they sell sandwiches
including veal cutlets. They are open for all three meals for those with different appetites. Location: 7134 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-861-7887.
Coma’s Bakery: A Spanish bakery known for its quality supply of European sandwiches, cakes, bread and—more particularly—its wide selection of gourmet
desserts. Don’t want to wait till you get home to eat Coma’s pastries and cakes? No problem, Coma also has table service for those who want to munch on the premises. Location: 1710
Alton Road, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-695-4151.
Le Chic French Bakery: This quaint bakery on Washington Avenue serves some of the best French-style baked products in SoBe which range from French bread to
pastries and other desserts to croissants of all sorts (our personal favorite is the chocolate croissant). There are seating areas for those who want to eat right there and then, but most
people prefer to order their products and savor Le Chic’s baked goods in the privacy of their own homes. Location: 1043 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-673-5522.
Pastry Lane Bakery: Strictly kosher pareve. Everything baked fresh daily. Location: 1692 N.E. 164th Street, North Miami Beach. Phone:
305-944-5934.
Casual Food
Beach Chicken Peruvian Rotisserie: Homemade food prepared fresh daily at prices that are quite
affordable. Offers several chicken dishes to choose from as well as soups, salads, sandwiches, seafood and “daily specials.” Location: 710 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone:
786-276-5818.
Big Pink: This South Pointe eatery has become very popular amongst locals and tourists alike. The menu
is fairly extensive: salads, hamburgers, barbeque, pizza, etc. The dishes are affordable: under $30 for a three-course meal. During the late night/early morning hours of Friday and
Saturday, Big Pink is a much sought after re-nourishment station for club-hoppers. Location: 157 Collins Avenue., Miami Beach. Phone: 305-532-4700.
Buffet Factory: Priding itself as an international “all you can eat” buffet restaurant, The Factory
offers all styles of food including the typical “American Comfort,” European, International specialties, sushi and lots of meat “carvings.” Affordable lunch and dinner specials where kids
between six and 12 eat at half price and those under five can eat for free. Location: 18100 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles Beach. Phone: 305-931-0430.
Café de Crest: Nestled in South Beach’s most unique boutique hotel, the Crest Hotel, there’s nothing in Café de Crest’s menu that’s over $7. Location:
1670 James Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-531-6772.
Café Mozart: This full service restaurant offers delivery service between 5th and 15th Streets in South
Beach and live music nightly on the premises. Breakfast dishes include Fresh Fruit Salad, Bagel with Smoked Salmon and New York Omelets (with lox, onions, peppers, fresh herbs and tomatoes). Lunch
and dinner dishes include Fresh Mozzarella, Mozart Garden Salad (large tossed salad with romaine lettuce and vegetables), Penne a la Vodka and New York Steak. Location: 1423 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 786-276-3228.
Cheeseburger Baby: Open until 4 a.m., besides cheeseburgers you can find great breakfast sandwiches and
even a DJ spinning in the window. Location: 1505 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-531-7300.
Chelsea Restaurant: Offering breakfast, burgers, vegetarian, sandwiches, salad, house platters (churrasco skirt steak, sliced chicken
with Alfredo sauce, herb salmon, etc.), fun food (chicken wings, mozzarella sticks, etc.) and a “super pasta plate” with 11 kinds of sauce. Also free delivery service. Location: 944 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-535-2992.
Chicken Kitchen: The management guarantees that their chicken—marinated in a special blend of lemon juice, spices and herbs prior to grilling—is never frozen.
The staff has also created an efficient system where your food is ready for eating in minutes and a battalion of deliverers who’ll bring your order to your doorstep (or office) as quickly
as is humanly possible. Location: 1429 Washington Avenue; 474 41st Street, Miami Beach. Phone: (Washington Ave.) 305-673-3733; (41st Street)
305-531-1888.
Coffee & Crepes: Serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and—besides coffee and crepes—also serves pasta, salads, burgers, sandwiches, beer and wine. Location:
1446 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-535-4252.
Front Porch: Since its creation the owners of Front Porch have aspired to make this Penguin Hotel restaurant a “home away from home.”
Their formula: serving fresh food in generous portions at a reasonable price. While breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes are available, it’s the Front Porch’s breakfast and brunch specials
(which can be ordered at any time of the day) that are among the most popular. Location: 1418 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-531-8300.
Gordon Biersch: Like GBs all over the U.S., Gordon Biersch on Brickell brews its own German-style beer on the premises. Gordon Biersch also serves entrées like
tender filet mignon with Portobello demiglace, lamb chops sautéed with Moroccan spices and tomato-cucumber raita or other meals that have received thumbs up from local dining critics.
Location: 1201 Brickell Avenue, Miami. Phone: 786-425-1130.
Nexxt Café: Nexxt Café sports a menu 18 pages long with items like quesadillas, chicken wings, salmon
egg rolls, pizza, tacos, chicken, crab, salads, coffee, tea, steak, pastas, beer, etc. Take the Nexxt challenge and see if there’s anything on the menu they don’t have. Location:
700 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-532-6643.
Norman’s Tavern: Taking bar food to a whole new level, Norman’s “Bar Fare” dishes includes fresh smoked salmon/rainbow trout, hickory smoked on the premises,
fresh cut calamari dusted with Norman’s special seasonings and served with lemon wedges and homemade marinara sauce, a “Barman’s Fried Seafood Platter” featuring fresh mahi-mahi, calamari,
butter-fried shrimp and bay scallops and “Chicken Wings… And Damn Good Ones Too.” Location: 6770 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-868-9248.
Shucker’s: While an assortment of comfort food dishes are available, many diners are inspired by the
waterfront view to try the steamed clam and oyster selection or snack on a few conch fritters. Since it is a bar and grill, there is a full bar, pool tables and a few video games. Since it
is so close to WSVN, you may even see a couple of Channel Seven guys getting hammered. Location: 1819 79th Street (Kennedy) Causeway, North Bay Village. Phone:
305-866-1570.
Soyka’s: Main courses include garlic and herb Rotisserie chicken; grilled New York steak; linguine with
spicy Italian sausage; wiener schnitzel and sesame seared salmon with sweet soy, spinach and shiitakes. Location: 5556 N.E. 4th Court, Miami. Phone: 305-759-3117.
Texas Taco Factory: These guys want you to “get fresh” and try their various chicken mole, taco, taquitos, and wet burrito platters. Have the
urge for beef or chicken tacos? Texas Taco will give you 10 of them for $5.99. And if you buy one Breakfast Taco, you get one free. What’s a “Breakfast Taco”? Give Texas a call and find
out. Location: 1608 Alton Road, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-535-5757.
Van Dyke Café: Serves up comfort food such as fish, burgers, steak, salad and mashed potatoes to a trendy and diverse clientele. Location: 846 Lincoln
Road, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-534-3600.
Chinese
Bamboo Garden: Has earned a reputation throughout the Northeast Dade area as being a major source for
authentic Chinese cuisine. Location: 13195 Biscayne Boulevard, North Miami; 1232 N.E. 163rd Street, North Miami Beach. Phone: (North Miami) 305-899-9902, (NMB)
305-945-1722.
Christine Lee’s Restaurant: Around for 35 years, this Chinese restaurant offers Western dishes such as prime sirloin steak, Dover sole almondine, veal
chops, and broiled spring chicken. There are also Mandarin and Szechuan specialties on the menu like steak kew fried with black mushroom caps and bamboo shoots or shrimp with lobster
sauce. Location: 17082 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles Beach. Phone: 305-947-1717.
Emerald Coast: Boasts six elegant dining rooms and the management vows they use only the freshest of
ingredients. And, besides tasty Chinese cuisine, Emerald Coast also has a sushi bar with a selection that has everything from eel, tuna and spider rolls to California, spicy tuna and
vegetable rolls. Location: 16850 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles Beach. Phone: 305-787-1530.
Fu Manchu: Now enjoying its 62nd year on Miami Beach, Fu Manchu has been serving roast pork, egg drop, chow mein and other Chinese favorites for so
long it can qualify as a landmark. Fu Manchu also delivers to Miami Beach, Surfside, North Bay Village, Bay Harbor Islands, Bal Harbour and, as its menu says, to “all hotels and motels.”
Location: 325 71st Street, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-866-4303.
Kim’s Chinese: Offering selections in Cantonese, Mandarin, and Szechwan styles, Kim’s Chinese is another great Miami Beach Asian
restaurant that’s stood the test of time. It offers a dining room offering a casual environment, takeout service, and a speedy delivery service available from 1st Street to 65th.
Location: 1245 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-672-8822.
Sum Yum Gai: Why not take some young guy, or gal, or an old guy, or gal, or maybe even someone between genders to Sum Yum Gai, where fine Chinese dining can be
found in a casual eating environment. Location: 1403 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-604-8889.
Yeung’s Mandarin Garden: With over two decades of experience, Yeung’s Chinese’s affordable cuisine has been hailed by critics. Patrons can dine in
within the restaurant’s elegant dining room or order take out. Yeung’s also does catering. Location: 954 41st Street, Miami Beach. Phone:
305-672-1144.
Computer Cafés
Cybr Caffé: The computer terminals at Cybr Caffé are packed with the latest technology. But, hey, just because it’s an internet café doesn’t mean the food that
is offered can’t be interesting. There’s the new cyber sampler, the cyber sandwiches (such as the E-Mail, the Dot-Com and the FTP) and the combined Internet, coffee and croissant deal
where you can have all three every 15 minutes for $4.99. Location: 1574 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-534-0057.
South Beach Internet Café: Perfect for the desperate soul who needs to surf the net and grab a bite to eat. This café has sleek computer terminals ready
to assist you with your surfing, printing and CD burning needs and a menu that includes omelets, bagels, sandwiches, pizza, salads, smoothies, fresh coffee and tea, beer and wine and
desserts. Location: 1100 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-532-4331.
Cuban
Café Cordozo: Part of the Estefan Enterprises empire, Café Cordozo is located inside the Art Deco
landmark Cordozo Hotel and serves Cuban cuisine with Asian accents. Location: 1300 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-695-2822.
David’s Café II: The all-you-can eat 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. lunch buffet is popular with SoBers and visitors from all walks of life. (It’s only $7.50.) For
those who missed the meal, David’s also serves arroz con pollo, black beans and rice, fish soup, egg salad, linguine, pork, and other dishes 24-hours a-day. And coffee junkies have come to
appreciate David’s style of caffeine. Location: 1654 Meridian Avenue, Miami Beach.
Phone: 305-672-8707.
Havana Dreams Café: The “home Cuban and International Cuisine, Music and Art,” dishes include Macademia Red Fish, Broiled Lamb Shank, Pan Roasted Grouper
Portobello, Filete de Pollo en Salsa de Langosta and, last but not least Arroz con Pollo. Location: 9735 N.W. 41st Street, Miami. Phone: 305-716-4999.
Larios on the Beach: Yet another Gloria and Emilio Estefan-owned establishment, Larios offers authentic Cuban cuisine such as traditional black beans and rice,
green plantain cups stuffed with beef or shrimp, and grilled fish filet. The essence of pre-Castro Cuba is also captured by Larios’s décor that depicts a 1940s countryside. Location:
820 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-532-9577.
Tropical on the Beach: The desayuno special includes two eggs, toast, ham or sausages, French
toast, and coffee for only $3.68. The menu also features sandwiches, a special rice order for two, seafood, and pitchers of alcohol libations – all for low, low prices. Location:
1415 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-532-4242.
Yuca: Since 1989, this restaurant has served dishes from the island such as “Rabo Encendido,” a tender slow braised oxtail in fiery rioja wine sauce and roast
garlic and yucca mash or “Pollo Criollo,” a grilled semi-boneless half chicken marinated in tropical citrus juices and served with a citrus vinaigrette on fufu with plantain chips and
avocados. Location: 501 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-532-9822.
Delis
Arnie and Richie’s: A deli dining institution for decades, A&R only uses the freshest of fish, ham, roast beef, and salami. Location: 525 41st
Street, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-531-7691.
Jerry’s Famous Deli: Has more than 200 items to choose from including a special “kid’s menu” and, for adults, a wide variety of deli dishes such as Moraga
salad with Feta cheese and olives, Chicken Breast Schnitzel and Havana Banana split. Occupying the former Warsaw Ball Room, Jerry’s will be open 24 hours a day. Location:
1450 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-532-8030.
Maxwell Deli: Attached to this Cuban-owned supermarket (in the back to be exact) is a New York style deli where homemade lunch specials such as black
beans and rice, beef stew and fresh cold and hot sandwiches are prepared for take-out. To speed up the process you can also make your orders over the phone. Location: 1600
Lenox Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-531-4019.
Mo’s Restaurant & Bakery: Mo’s Restaurant & Bakery serves entrees like Fresh Roasted Turkey, Glazed Cornish Hen and Broiled Atlantic Salmon. Plenty of
sandwiches and a wide variety of platters. Now serving dinner and offering catering services. Location: 2780 N.E. 187th Street, Aventura. Phone: 305-936-8555.
New York’s Big Apple Deli: Food made fresh on the premises and served by a friendly staff. Plenty of salads and sandwiches on the menu. Location: 14424
Biscayne Boulevard, North Miami Beach. Phone: 305-940-0128.
Pan Fiore: Located in the Regal Cinemas (South Beach) strip mall complex this Italian deli has sandwiches and imported goods for
you to buy. They also have an array of meatless sandwiches and gourmet Columbian Coffee. The staff offers great counter service and will help you with the pronunciation of the food as
well. Location: 1627 Alton Road, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-674-0930.
Rascal House: After Wolfie Cohen sold Wolfie’s in Miami Beach he opened up the Rascal House. Today, locals and tourists
usually pack Rascal alike. Allegedly, Rascal is also a favorite eating ground for Sunny Isles’s political class. Location: 17190 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles Beach.
Phone: 305-947-4581.
Diners
11th Street Diner: For 11 years now, the 11th Street Diner has been serving up
home-cooked meals to both tourists and locals. Its success has centered on good cooking, hefty portions, and a menu of healthy dishes that include salads, seafood, soups, pastas and
sandwiches. There are also daily specials and a full service bar. Open 24 hours a day. Location: 1065 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-534-6373.
Gourmet Diner: Owned by Jean-Pierre Lejeune, this diner has been around North Miami for the last 14
years and still serves up quality American and French fare at affordable prices. Location: 13951 Biscayne Boulevard, North Miami. Phone: 305-947-2255.
French
A La Folie: This Olivier Corre-owned place has an authentic French ambiance. As you step onto its
mosaic-tiled floor, Corre encourages you to sit down, grab a crepe, and relax for hours as they do in his hometown of Paris. Location: 516 Española Way, Miami Beach. Phone:
305-538-4484.
Blue Door at the Delano: Created by Chef Claude Troisgras, the menu here merges Florida ingredients with French and “typical” American
cuisine to form unique dishes that attracts dining aficionados, celebrities and hipsters alike. Location: 1685 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach.
Phone: 305-672-2000.
Café Papillon: Described by Rafael Briand as a “typical old French bistro with antiques and old
pictures of France,” Pap’s continental and surprisingly affordable food is far from typical. Papillon’s soups, sandwiches and salads are acclaimed. But if that isn’t enough, Café Papillon
offers a special dinner for two for $29.99 that comes with two entrees and a bottle of wine. Location: 530 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-673-1139.
La Palme d’ Or: Besides the décor – inlays classically framed mirrors, crystal chandeliers, coffered ceilings with wood and gold inlays, Louis XIV chairs – the
chefs are also continental and many of the items on the menu, such as the John Dory, is imported from France. Eating at La Palme d’ Or is like dining in Versailles. Location: 1200
Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables. Phone: 305-445-8066.
La Piaggia: Serves authentic Southern French cuisine: poached salmon, cucumbers, and green sauce; grilled giant Tiger shrimps with garlic
served on Risotto; fresh mussels, white wine and cream, served with honest-to-God French fries; grilled lamb chops with herbs; rib eye steak with Cognac pepper sauce; etc.
Location: 1000 South Pointe Drive, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-674-0647.
La Terrasse: Unless you’ve been to Europe, you’ve probably never had the pleasure of an endive salad like the one at La Terrasse. Chopped endive, bleu cheese
and walnuts are all you’ll find in this enormous salad, moistened by a bit of balsamic and a touch of walnut oil. Location: 639 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. Phone:
305-695-9191.
Lemon Twist: A celebration of everything from Southern France, Lemon Twist features a diverse menu in a chic, casual environment.
Selections from the menu include lamb, scallops, mussels, fish of day, and escargot. Southern French art decorates the walls, and on Tuesdays Lemon Twist features live Jazz, making it one
of the more romantic places in North Beach. The beautiful bar is fully equipped and the prices are reasonable. Location: 908 71st
Street, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-868-2075.
German
Dab Haus: A favorite with locals for its Austro-German cuisine, this establishment offers dishes such as bratwurst with veal sausage and sauerkraut, currywurst
with veal curry sausage and sauerkraut, pork schnitzel, jagerschnitzel, wienerschnitzel and, of course, the combo platter with various sausages and sauerkraut. Dab Haus also has a
selection of vegetarian dishes and, of course, fine German beers. Location: 1040 Alton Road, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-534-9557.
Edelweiss: Features Germen food such as schnitzel and authentic sausage delivered twice a week from a German butcher shop in New York City.
Edelweiss’s second floor features a beer and wine bar. Outside there's a German beer garden, which features large patio tables in a tropical landscape. A favorite during October, Edelweiss
also features a Happy Hour from 5 to 8 p.m. Location: 2665 Biscayne Blvd, Miami. Phone: 305-573-4421.
Healthy
Angels Cafe: Recently opened in North
Beach with an Angelic and spiritual atmosphere, Angels Café promises "Heavenly and Healthy Food and Juices". It offers hundreds of combinations of freshly prepared fruit and vegetable
juice drinks. Special juice blends for energy, healing and beauty are available. All food is prepared with natural and healthy ingredients and the food menu includes gourmet soups, salads,
grilled chicken and fish entrees, sandwiches and wraps, as well as unique appetizers. Specialty Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes are also available, including Hummus, Couscous and
Tabbouleh. In addition to the excellent food at reasonable prices, Angels Café holds periodic workshops and conferences that offer information and guidance for healing, prosperity and
spiritual wellness. Location: 7415 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-861-7008.
Athens Juice Bar: Sure they have their tasty fruit smoothies, but Athens also offers fresh tropical
fruit salads, fruit and vegetable juices and bonded fruit shipper. Location: 1214 Washington Avenue; 6942 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: (Washington) 305-672-4648;
(Collins) 305-861-2143.
Bites on Wheels: The café and take-out for those serious about what they eat. Provides a menu for its omelets, breakfast dishes, wraps, pizzas, pastas, salads
and sandwiches that gives the customer an idea how many calories, carbohydrates, protein and fat each item contains. Also carries an assortment of shakes and health bars and they’ll even
create “meal plans.” Location: 1751 Alton Road, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-538-1270.
Ice Cream
Bari Gelato: Appreciate ice cream Italian-style where ice cream artists actually twist and merge two different flavors of gelatos (which range from chocolate to
orange to tiramisu to zabaiane with strawberry) onto a single cone. Bari even has a happy hour where you can by one cone and get another free from noon to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and
Wednesdays. Location: 441 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-534-1838.
Dolce Vita Gelato Café: From a family of master ice cream makers with over 50 years of experience producing Italian-Argentine style ice cream with natural and
fresh products. Some of the flavors include vanilla, banana, “dulce de leche con nuez,” and cream caramel. Location: 954 Normandy Drive, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-865-2523.
Frieze Ice Cream Factory: Just as the name implies, the Frieze makes its ice cream right on the premises. Thus the ice cream and shakes you devour there are as
fresh as can be. Location: 1626 Michigan Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-538-0207.
Gelateria Parmalat: “The flavors change every day,” says Giselle Nasser, owner of the Beach’s Gelateria Parmalat. Like all Parmalat’s all over the world, the
ice cream served at this Lincoln Road parlor is made right on the premises, using the best ingredients. Its staff has the ability to make ice cream “out of anything.” There is also a wide
selection of shakes and sherbets. Location: 670 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. Phone: 786-276-9475.
Island Flavors Ice Cream: Tired of American mainland sort of ice cream, try something original from the islands. The custom manufacturer and distributor of
original tropical flavors. Location: 118 N.E .183rd Street Terrace, North Miami Beach. Phone: 305-653-7221.
Indian and Middle Eastern
Christine’s Roti Shop: Much of the menu is Indian-inspired, but the food is, in reality, West Indian/Caribbean. The curries, stews and
jerk spices at this restaurant are sure to clear your sinuses. Location: 16721 N.E. Sixth Avenue, North Miami Beach. Phone: 305-770-1434.
Moroccan Nights: Vegetarians, meat lovers and even those keeping Kosher will discover dishes perfect for their diet. Taboule, tahini and
hummus are mainstays. The Moroccan Nights Salad ($11.95) is a popular favorite, and after a tasty array of appetizers, you have to decide between kabobs, couscous specialties or tagines.
Also popular for its live belly dancers. Location: 9555 Harding Avenue, Surfside. Phone: 305-865-5333.
Kebab Indian Restaurant: There’s a lot of places in SoBe that aspire to serve the ultimate in Indian
sub-continental cuisine, but to really find it you’ll have to go to good ol’ 167th Street in North Miami Beach. There you will find Kebab where the cooks are masters of curry,
spices and dipping sauces. Location: 514 N.E. 167th Street, North Miami Beach. Phone: 305-940-6309.
Italian
Bella Blu: Has yummy Italian food including antipasto appetizers, fried artichoke and grilled vegetable
dishes and plentiful seafood and pasta dishes. Location: 2576 N.E. Miami Gardens Drive, Aventura. Phone: 305-792-2902.
Bella Luna: This locally acclaimed restaurant inside Aventura Mall serves homemade pastas, pollo
alla diavolo, scaloppini paillard, risotto al pocini and award winning desserts. Location: 19575 Biscayne Boulevard, Aventura. Phone: 305-792-9330.
Brasserie Brickell Key: Spaghetti with seafood dishes, giant veal chop dishes, antipasto appetizers… it
doesn’t get any more Italian than this. Location: 605 Brickell Key Drive, Miami. Phone: 305-577-0907.
Café Avanti: Open for the past 14 years, Cafe Avanti has been the premier Northern Italian
restaurant on 41st Street. On the walls, replicas of Italian masterpieces get you in the mood as you await the food, which includes such dishes as homemade mozzarella and Colorado lamb
chops with spinach. Also offers fish, meat, veal, chicken, and, of course, pasta dishes, including the tortellini capriccio with mushroom and proscutta. Location: 732 41st
Street, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-538-4400.
Café Prima Pasta: A casual family restaurant featuring Italian cuisine with a slight Argentinean influence. Prima Pasta bakes its own
pasta, breads, and desserts in its highly acclaimed bakery department that has been known to ruin more than one diet. Sit at the counter or bar and enjoy the food, which ranges from pasta
to steaks and chicken. Location: 414 71st Street, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-867-0106.
Carpaccio: Authentic Italian cuisine and an authentic décor that will make you feel as if you’ve been
transported to that boot shaped nation-state. The Bal Harbour shop restaurant is particularly proud of its carpaccios, gourmet brick oven pizza, homemade mozzarella and its focaccias.
Location: 9700 Collins Avenue, Bal Harbour. Phone: 305-867-7777.
Da Leo Trattoria: The first restaurant on Lincoln Road to create a true “trattoria” with “al fresco”
dining, Da Leo is also famous for its “Pasta E Basta” Tuesday Nights where customers can dine on any of 12 pasta dishes, plus a soup and salad as well as a glass of wine for only $11.95.
Location: 819 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-674-0350.
Da Vinci: Offers Northern Italian cuisine, with specialties such as crabmeat ravioli in lobster sauce and black linguini with seafood. A pasta factory in
North Bay Village provides Da Vinci with its homemade pasta. Location: 1009 Kane Concourse, Bay Harbor Islands. Phone: 305-861-8166.
Escopazzo: Guiseppe “Pino” Bodini has survived on Washington Avenue for over ten year years by serving real good Italian food. So good
that Escopazzo has attracted the likes of celebs such as Bono from U2 and Lauren Hutton as well as club owners, high-powered promoters and even other restaurant owners. Location: 1311 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-674-9450.
Fish 54: Founded by the folks who brought us Mezzanotte and Carpaccio, Fish 54 is known for its fresh
Italian and seafood cuisines—especially seafood pasta dishes. One of the few places in Aventura that can claim to be a nightspot, Fish 54 converts into a “resto-lounge” complete with DJs
on Sunday. Location: 18841 Biscayne Boulevard, Aventura. Phone: 305-932-5022.
George’s: Owned by George Iglesias, George’s isn’t just an upscale lounge… it is also an upscale Italian restaurant that serves dishes such as lobster ravioli
pasta, chicken picatta pomodoro pepperoncini, veal parmesan and Salmon Picatta Pomodoro.
Location: 300 72nd Street, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-864-5586.
Il Pomodoro: Offers upscale food such as vitello parmegiana with breaded cutlet, mozzarella, parmesan cheese and marinara sauce; chicken pomodoro, a pan seared
breast with fresh mozzarella, tomato and basil-garlic sauce and bistecca giardinera, a New York sirloin steak with mushrooms, peppers and onions. Location: 468 41st
Street, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-534-2470.
Joia: Popular with celebs and locals alike, Joia serves Southern Italian dishes such as
filets of Dover sole rolled in crabmeat, and boneless duck breast served in a porcini mushroom sauce. You can
literally eat a different Joia pasta dish every night for two weeks and not have tasted them all. Location: 150 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-674-8871.
Locando Sibilla: Chef Santi is from Bologna (“The town of lasagna”). So we couldn’t pass up his mother’s recipe. It was remarkable, the lasagna, loaded with
beef and a bit of pork in a sauce that was full of flavor but practically invisible, the large slice seemingly white and enticing with celery, onions, carrots and tomatoes. The Ravioli Di
Gamberi Con Salsa Di Mare is stuffed with shrimp and spinach, a nice pairing that worked well. Simply put: Locando is pasta heaven. Location: 833 Lincoln Road Mall, Miami Beach.
Phone: 305-695-1654
Mama Jennie’s: Currently owned by John Zuynko, the restaurant still remains in the family. Mama Jennie’s is best known for is its early bird specials. Several
dishes are available… baked cheese lasagna, baked ziti with meatball and sausage, chicken Parmesan, etc. Your early bird meal also comes with a soup or salad, soft drink and dessert.
Location: 11720 N.E. 2nd Avenue, Miami. Phone: 305-757-3627.
Marcela’s Italian Café: Marcela’s Café is the classic Italian restaurant with a kind of Argentinean
influence. But don’t be fooled into thinking they offer Argentinean cuisine. They are strictly an Italian eatery. They’ve been open for about three months and have already had some good
reviews including our very own Best of the Beaches award for Best New Italian Restaurant on the beach. Location: 946 Normandy Drive, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-861-6222.
Master’s Italian Restaurant & Gourmet Pizza: Master’s has three sections in its menu dedicated to pizza: personal pizza, gourmet pizza and Sicilian pizza.
Master’s also has extensive seafood, chicken, veal, pasta, casserole, sub sandwich and dessert items. Also does catering and take-out. Location: 1720 Alton Road, Miami Beach.
Phone: 305-672-2763.
Mezzaluna: Features a wide assortment of rustic Northern Italian cuisine and grilled food including New York steak, fillet mignon, veal
parmigiana, and salmon. Equipped with a traditional wood-burning oven for sandwiches and pizza. Also features a pasta chef who makes most of the pasta selections from scratch. A brunch
special allows people to enjoy breakfast from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Location: 834 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-674-1330.
Olive Garden: Serves delicious and yet affordable Italian entrees from pasta to veal to chicken. Entrees also come with a humongous “house” salad. Location:
18101 Biscayne Boulevard, North Miami Beach. Phone: 305-935-5742.
Rosinella: Offers pasta dishes like spaghetti pomodoro e basilico, pizza dishes such as pizza al prosciutto with tomato sauce, mozzarella and prosciutto, Panini
dishes like pomodoro e mozzarella with tomato and buffalo mozzarella and antipasti such as dry cured beef with celery and sliced Parmigian cheese. Location: 525 Lincoln Road, Miami
Beach. Phone: 305-672-8777.
Sport Café: Known for televising sporting events from all over the world, including soccer, baseball, football, and basketball. But most Sport Café patrons
gotta have some of Sport’s antipasta, salads, sandwiches, pizza and pasta dishes. Location: 560 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-674-9731.
TiramesU Restaurant: The name of the game for TiramesU’s Beat The Clock Special: every day, seven days a week, between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m., the price of each of
three selected Italian meals will be reduced in price to whatever time you order. Example: Order the $12.75 regularly priced Pipette with eggplant, fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, oregano and
basil at 5:30, it’s yours for $5.30. Location: 721 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-673-2020.
Tratoria Rosalia: Enjoy this Italian comfort cuisine while sitting out on a sun-drenched patio. Menu includes soups, fresh salads, crisp brick oven pizza,
pastas and house specialties. Location: 19501 Biscayne Boulevard, Aventura. Phone: 305-792-2006.
Japanese
Benihana: This place is huge and so Japanese that a geisha once visited it. (Part of some sort of Benihana publicity thing.) Still a favorite for locals to
dine Japanese style. Location: 1665 N.E. 79th Street Causeway, North Bay Village. Phone: 305-866-2768.
Doraku: Popular thanks to its unique Bladerunner décor, its giant saki collection and its fresh and tasty sushi dishes. Benihana flies in its fresh fish
daily. The result: over 25 different fresh fish choices and numerous specials. Location: 1104 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-695-8383.
Fuji Hana Japanese: Serves Japanese and Thai specialties such as sushi, yakitori, teriyaki, sashimi, tempura, pad Thai and curry. Location: 11720 NE 2nd
Avenue, North Miami. Phone: 305-757-3627.
Hiro Japanese Restaurant: Northeast Daders of all walks of life head for this restaurant to enjoy all forms of sushi and even the cooked variety of Japanese
cuisine. And besides sake, Hiro has a full service bar. Location: 3007 N.E. 163rd Street, North Miami Beach. Phone: 305-948-3687.
Nobu: Acclaimed for its “new style” and soft-shell crab rolls, the New York invasion known as Nobu has an extensive wine list and master bartenders capable of
making potent martinis. Location: 1901 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-695-3222.
Shoji Sushi: Japanese animation videos play silently over the heads of sushi preparers while lounge/R&B music plays in the background.
Tasty sushi dishes prepared by chef/owner Michael Schwartz himself is served here such as Spicy Lobster, Crispy Oyster, Hamachi Jalapeno and Spicy Tuna Roll. Location: 100 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-532-4245.
Sushi Samba Dromo: What happens when you mix Brazilian and Japanese cuisine? Answer: Sushi Samba Dromo…
a place that isn’t afraid to add crispy bacon to your raw fish. Location: 600 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-673-5337.
Sushi Siam Japanese & Thai: Specializes in sushi, Thai and Japanese cuisine with restaurants all over
Miami-Dade County. Dishes include chicken katsu roll, conch kimchee roll, spicy beef salad and a house roll consisting of fried snapper, avocado, cucumber and spicy mayo. Location:
647 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach; 801 South Bayshore Drive, Brickell, Miami; 5582 N.E. 4th Court, Miami-Morningside; 1524 79th Street, North Bay Village. Phone:
(NBV) 305-864-7638, (Miami Beach) 305-672-7112; (Miami-Brickell) 305-579-9944; (Miami-Morningside) 305-751-7818.
Kosher
Coifiocchi: For those who like their kosher food Italian. Appetizers include arugula and spinach salad, antipasto with zucchini, eggplant and sundried tomatoes.
Several entrees with Mediterranean style grouper and chicken. Location: 9477 Harding Avenue, Surfside. Phone: 305-866-7415.
Kosher Treats: Primarily a catering service, Kosher Treats prides itself on being able to offer “distinctive personalized catering, no party too large or small.”
Location: 1682 N.E. 164th Street, North Miami Beach.
Phone: 305-947-1800.
Prime Grill: Expect the unexpected at Prime Grill, a 375-seat kosher restaurant that serves empanadas, sushi, spring rolls, Chicken Paillard, tasty beef
cuts and other dishes your rabbi will surely approve of. Location: 3599 N.E. 207th Street, Aventura. Phone: 305-692-9392.
Mediterranean
Abbey Dining Room: The Abbey continues its tradition of having a pure Mediterranean menu. The lamb tagine, the Abbey’s signature dish, is a Moroccan stew filled
with pieces of lamb stripped from the shank, the most tender part, and cooked for three hours – allowing its aromatic seasonings and preserved lemons to infuse the meat. Location:
300 21st Street, Miami Beach Phone: 305-531-0033.
Bleau View at the Fontainebleau: Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the resort’s lush tropical
gardens and rock grotto pool, Bleau View captures the tropical essence of Florida while offering delicious Mediterranean and Classic Continental cuisine. The sumptuous menu infuses fresh
herbs and Mediterranean spices into exciting new dishes, while retaining the exquisite Continental cuisine for which the resort is renowned. And Bleau View continues the legend of
providing the most extraordinary Sunday Brunch on Miami Beach. Location: 4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-538-2000, ext. 4670.
Nina Restaurant: A romantic restaurant centrally located on the American Riviera known as Ocean Drive.
The staff prides itself on serving amazing food with affordable prices. Fabulous brunch menus available on weekends from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Also available for private parties. Location:
7th Street and Ocean Drive, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-861-5333.
Mexican
El Ranchito: Uses fresh ingredients and no preservatives. Signature dishes include camarones rancheros,
parillada Mexicana, tacos al pastor and mole poblano. Plus weekend soup specials on Saturday and Sunday. Location: 2601 Collins Avenue, Suite 131, Miami Beach. Phone:
305-535-6332.
El Rancho Grande: This family-owned restaurant has been packing in the locals with its tasty affordable food and full service bar. Try some tasty
enchiladas, strip steaks, fajitas and taco dishes El Rancho Grande has to offer. El Rancho Grande also delivers and caters. Location: 1626 Pennsylvania Avenue, Miami
Beach. Phone: 305-673-0480.
Mexico Magico: This restaurant prides itself in using the finest and freshest ingredients to prepare its dishes. Authentic Mexican, Tex-Mex and vegetarian
dishes pack Magico’s menu with many of the entrees prepared with the secret recipes of “Aunt Ellie.” Location: 314 72nd Street, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-866-6516.
On The Border Mexican Grill and Cantina:
Serves up traditional Mexican favorites and “mesquite-grilled” specialties. Location: 16375 Biscayne Boulevard, North Miami
Beach. Phone: 305-945-6449.
Paquito’s Mexican Restaurant: Steak Paquitos covered with jalapeno and onion sauce are just some of the hearty and delicious entrees to be found at this restaurant.
Location: 16265 Biscayne Boulevard, North Miami Beach. Phone: 305-947-5027.
San Loco Mexico: Situated right in the midst of club-land, nightlifers and locals go loco for San Loco South Beach’s tacos, enchiladas and fajitas. Has
sauces ranging from mild to tongue sizzling hot. Perfect place to go to after getting a tattoo or drinking at the Deuce. Location: 235 14th Street, Miami Beach. Phone:
305-538-3009.
Sancho Panza al estilo Mexicano: Mexican cuisine comes to Downtown Miami. Dishes include Mexican Parillada for Two consisting of thin cut steak, chicken breast
and pork; Sancho Panza’s Parrilla: beef, sausage, morcilla, chinchulines and mollejas; and Tampiquena Beef Fillet, described as a “delicious and generous Mexican dish.” Location:
190 S.W. 1st Avenue, Miami. Phone: 305-377-0990.
New European and Contemporary American
Balans: The place for locals and visitors alike to hang out and eat linguine with tomato, shallots
garlic and basil; North African grilled chicken with spiced pine nut couscous and harissa; grilled chicken breast sandwich with fine roasted peppers, or lobster club sandwich with bacon,
lettuce, tomato and Florida cocktail sauce. Location: 1022 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-534-9191.
Barrio Latino: What kind of restaurant is Barrio? A hostess answered: “Spanish, Cuban, Argentine, Mexican, all kinds.” In one roof you can have New York
strip steak Argentine style, chicken fajitas, Milanesa de Pollo (breaded breast of chicken covered with ham, tomato sauce and mozzarella), Cuban sandwich, and Masas de Cerdo (tender pork
chunks served on a avocado sauce). Location: 3585 N.E. 207th Street (inside Waterways), Aventura. Phone: 305-692-4455.
Barton G: More than just a party planner, Barton G. has opened a restaurant with his namesake at the former Starfish. Entrees include
heirloom tomato soup, lobster and chorizo taco, succulent spiral seafood ravioli and sesame tuna with risotto cake. Location: 1427 West Avenue,
Miami Beach. Phone: 305-672-8881.
Chef Allen: Started in ‘86 by Chef Allen Susser, executive chef Craig Berkower is the man who now regularly cooks the “Palm Tree Cuisine.” Entrée items include
Fire Roasted Rack of Shrimp, Green Herb Grilled “Rare” Yellowfin Tuna, Pistachio Crusted Black Grouper and Dry Aged Prime New York Strip. Location: 19088 N.E. 29th
Avenue, Aventura. Phone: 305-935-2900.
Crystal Café: Owner and chef Klime Kovacevski calls the food at Crystal Cafe “new continental,”
which means it centers on international cuisine but primarily leans towards a French or Italian influence. Opened in 1994, Crystal Cafe has been a winner of Florida Trend magazine’s Golden
Spoon award for the past 5 years, one of the only restaurants in the area to accomplish such a feat. Location: 726 Arthur Godfrey Road, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-673-8266.
Mark’s South Beach: Enjoy cuisine such as grilled yellowtail snapper with whitewater clams and black
mussels; rack of Summerfield Farm natural lamb with crushed chestnuts and mellow goat cheese, and Mark Militello’s very own surf and turf with Maine lobster tail poached in lobster roe
butter and milk-fed bacon-wrapped veal tenderloin. Location: 1120 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-604-9050.
Nemo: Billed as a New American restaurant, Nemo serves such dishes as Almond Braised Domestic Lamb Shank, Wok Charred Salmon and Grilled
Indian Spiced Pork Chop. Food and drinks are served in a dimly lit “business casual Fridays” sort of atmosphere where recorded jazz can always be heard in the background. Location: 100 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-532-4550.
Ortanique On The Mile: Ortanique (the fruit) plays an intrinsic role in several of the restaurant’s drinks and dishes, from martinis to black grouper. But so
does mango and papaya, guava and pimento berries. Executive Chef Cindy Hutson borrowed heavily from her early background in the Jamaican seasoning and condiment business. Location:
278 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables. Phone: 305-446-7710.
Peppermill at the Waterways: Former La Paloma owner Werner Staub shows what he can do in the area of Swiss cuisine at this waterfront restaurant. Location:
3595 N.E. 207 Street, Aventura. Phone: 305-466-2016.
Perry’s: Priding itself on being the place for “sophisticated dining for beautiful people,” Perry’s menu includes “specialty indulgence” items such as
Havana Skirt Steak, Crab Crusted Grouper, Martini 14 Ounce New York Strip Steak (a chef’s specialty) and all sorts of oak grilled entrees (veal, lamb, lobster, etc.) Location: 18955
Biscayne Boulevard, Aventura. Phone: 305-705-0071.
1220 at the Tides: Many appetizers read like entrées, from blue prawn risotto to spinach and tomato gnocchi. Dinner selections span the Pacific and the
Mediterranean with miso-glazed sea bass and osso bucco before returning “home” to a maple bourbon smoked salmon. For those not in the mood for seafood, there are meals like roasted
Colorado lamp chops. Location: 1220 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-604-5026.
Pan-Asian
The Bamboo Club: Located inside Aventura Mall, the menu is described as “Pacific Rim” and is divided up
into five main sections: stewed, grilled, sizzled, woked and noodled. Don’t be intimidated by feng shui decorated interior… the most expensive item on the menu is $19. Location:
19501 Biscayne Blvd. # 1699, Aventura. Phone: 305-466-7100.
China Grill: Besides the sporadic star sighting, this restaurant has an acclaimed “East Meets West” cuisine that includes gigantic salads, scrumptious Szechuan
beef, deep fried snapper, and even crispy side dishes like wok-fried spinach. Has new Dragon Room specializing in sushi. Location: 404 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone:
305-534-2211.
Joseph’s Brasserie and Wine Bar: Not only is this restaurant Pan-Asian but it fuses Latin dishes into
its menu as well. Location: 215 Sunny Isles Boulevard, Sunny Isles Beach. Phone: 305-947-5752.
Pacific Time: The Pan-Asian menu features items such as grilled rack of lamb with sautéed sauces and grilled tuna. For the past decade, it
has continued to offer fine indoor and outdoor dining, quality food, and good service without the SoBe gimmicks. Location: 915 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-534-5979.
Lan Pan Asian-Café: Offers sushi rolls such as RDA, consisting of inari, cucumber, spinach, carrot, lettuce, and avocado or Slippery Eel made up of tuna,
avocado, cucumber, and scallion rolled in rice and masago and topped with grilled eel. There are also plates such as Roasted Duck Udon, Garlic Beef Tataki, Wild Mushroom Crusted Tuna and
Korean Barbeque Rice. Location: 8332 South Dixie Highway, Miami. Phone: 305-661-8141.
Red Thai Room: Specialties include Talay Hor Foi (mixture of steamed lobster, shrimp, crab meat, scallops, mussels, and squid merged with vegetables), Pla Neng
(steamed red snapper filet) and Khai Fauk Tong (fresh pumpkin-squash, egg, golden raisin, and scallion enhanced with soy sauce). Location: 20301 Biscayne Boulevard, Aventura.
Phone: 305-792-0232.
Roberto’s Gourmet Deli & Café: Food selection includes sandwiches and salads from all over the globe, “specialty foods and confections,” home cooked meals
and domestic and imported wine and beer. Between five and seven, enjoy Roberto’s happy hour and free hors d’oeuvres. Location: 1430 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone:
305-538-4800.
Tea For Two South: A quaint café that serves up sushi and offers the style of South Beach and the quality of New York. Location: 1205
17th Street, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-672-0565.
World Resources:
The menu spans Japan, Thailand and Vietnam and includes sushi entrées such as “Takka Don” sushi rice decorated with tuna and “Sushi
Sashimi” an artfully arranged sushi and sashimi combination, the “specialties of the house,” such as “Volcano Chicken,” a fried boneless chicken breast on a garden of vegetables mixed with
hot sweet and sour sauce, and plenty of curry dishes. Location: 719 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-535-8987.
Pizza
Ciccio’s Pizza: Sees itself as the prime authority on New York Style pizza. Ciccio’s also serves
spaghetti, lasagna, calzone, garlic bread, etc. Location: 1605 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-534-7155.
Gino’s Pizza & Brew: Open 24 hours and delivering free to the realm of South Beach, Gino also serves jalapeño peppers, onion rings, French fries, chicken strips
and “free” garlic rolls. Location: 731 and 1535 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: (731 Wash.) 305-673-2837, (1535 Wash.) 305-531-0069.
Med Pizza & Shish Kebab: Yep, the two things go hand in hand at this Mediterranean style pizza shop. Location: 1240 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach.
Phone: 305-531-1919.
Moncheese Pizza: Wishing to make their customers go “mmmmm!,” Moncheese serves gourmet pizza, pasta,
sandwiches, salads, stromboli calzone, empanadas and wraps. Location: 9459 Harding Avenue, Surfside. Phone: 305-868-6499.
Piola: The real Italian gourmet pizzas and pastas of this establishment have become very popular with the after movie crowd. (Just like
its sister establishment, Pan Fiore, Piola is practically next door to SoBe’s state of the art Regal megaplex.) And unlike the typical American pizzeria content with serving beer—maybe
wine—Piola has a full-fledged bar. Location: 1625 Alton Road, Miami Beach. Phone:
305-674-1660.
Pizza Roma: The place to find traditional pizza, pasta dinners, veal, chicken, seafood and salads, not to mention the “Roma Dinner Delights”: Pasta Sampler,
Eggplant Rollatini and Cheese Ravioli. Location: 19090 N.E. 29th Avenue, Aventura. Phone: 305-937-4884.
Pizza Rustica: Pies are created the Roman way: using such tasty ingredients as tomatoes, roasted potatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, pepperoni, N.Y. steak,
mozzarella, asiago, provolone, sun dried tomatoes, porcini mushroom, BBQ chicken, sweet Italian beef sausage and, of course, anchovies. Rustica’s slices and pies, while of gourmet quality,
are also not expensive. Open 24-hours. Free delivery. Location: 863 Washington Avenue; 1447 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-674-8244.
Pucci’s Pizza: Besides having a wide selection of New York style pizzas (including Pucci’s Giant 2
Footer), Pucci’s also serves sandwiches, pastas dishes, salads, sodas and—for those visiting the pizzeria—beer! Also has free delivery service. Location: 1608 Alton Road, Miami
Beach. Phone: 305-674-1110.
Spris La Pizzeria del TiramesU: Just walk in and try the Hawaiana made with tomato sauce, mozzarella, sliced pineapple and ham; the Porcini which consists of
mozzarella, porcini mushrooms, arugula and tomato sauce; the Melanzane with grilled and marinated eggplant, mozzarella and tomato sauce, or maybe the Rustica with sliced tomatoes, garlic,
mozzarella, mushrooms, black olives, oregano, basil and olive oil. Location: 731 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-673-2020.
Venezia Pizza & Café: Offering free delivery, Venezia serves its own brand of pies such as White Pizza,
Veggie Pizza, Venezia Pizza (prosciutto, fresh sliced tomatoes and fresh basil), broiled chicken pizza and what they call “The House Special,” which consists of prosciutto, ham, onions,
green peppers, fresh garlic, fresh tomato, bacon, salami and jalapeno. Location: 6646 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-868-2267.
Resto-Lounges
B.E.D: A lot easier to say than Beverage Entertainment Dining, it’s the actual beds sprawled throughout B.E.D. that make this place distinctive. Also features
the modern French culinary creations of Chef Vitor Casassola, such as the famous dulce de leche soufflé. Then there’s the nightlife component featuring DJs spinning disco house, R& B, funk
and other forms of musical beats. Location: 929 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-532-9070.
Bistro Zinc: An Italian café with a complete menu of pastas, risottos and other gourmet treats. For
those into a more liquid diet, Bistro offers some fun happy hours. Location: 19501 Biscayne Boulevard, Aventura. Phone: 305-935-2202.
Bolero: Serving quality nouveau cuisine, Bolero has become a popular lounge/nightlife spot late at
night thanks to its eclectic and creative parties such as the new Flamboyant “Dinner & Show” Party on Thursday nights. Location: 661 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone:
305-673-6516.
Bond Street: A restaurant lounge, Bond Street serves up tasty nigiri sushi, maki sushi and teriyaki-style grilled sirloin your mate is sure to enjoy and on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays an assortment
of DJs serve up their brand of background music. Location: 150 20th Street, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-534-3800.
Bongo’s: Owned by Emilio and Gloria Estefan, Bongo’s is a Cuban restaurant-Latin dance
club fusion. People have been known to stand in line for up to a half hour for a chance to dance to meringue, salsa or whatever style of music the DJ decides to play. Location: 601 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami. Phone: 786-777-2100.
Code Restaurant: An “upscale lounge” that serves a Pan-Asian American Bounty menu and, late at night, plays a selection of Jazz, R&B,
and old school hip-hop. There are even slam poetry nights. Location: 1437 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-534-1711.
Chill Restaurant and Lounge: The place to Chill on Española, the management seeks to make everyone “chill” through food, music and ambience. Tuesdays are
Ladies Night when the females can scarf down free champagne and sushi from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays feature evening Sunset Session Happy Hours. And Sundays' brunch is offered between 11
a.m. to 3 p.m. Location: 506 Española Way, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-672-5330.
Gil’s Café: There’s something happening at Gil’s Café! And besides the live music and dancing there are plenty of Brazilian and seafood dishes. Location:
216 71st Street, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-867-0779.
Kiss: Founded by the late Bobby Rifkin, Kiss offers some of the best steak dinners in SoBe. We’re talkin’ USDA prime cuts. Also great selection of side
veggies and an extensive dessert menu. If that isn’t enough, Kiss also offers entertainment by scantily clad go-go dancers. Location: 301 Lincoln
Road, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-695-4445.
Luna: An Italian restaurant that’s rapidly becoming a popular club. On Fridays DJ Ivano Bellini showcases the new talent from his record label. On Saturdays DJ
Stephan M spins house. Besides music, Luna serves plenty of veal chop, sea bass and pasta dishes. Location: 701 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 786-276-6101.
Madame’s Restaurant and Cabaret: The cuisine is quality American comfort food. But that’s not all, Madame’s like to think of itself as
a “theatrical dining experience” where servers will suddenly become your entertainer. Finding out what gender your server is can sometimes also be like playing “The Crying Game.”
Location: 239 Sunny Isles Beach Boulevard, Sunny Isles Beach. Phone: 305-945-2040.
Mango’s: At David Wallack’s Mango’s you can taste great food, watch scantily clad Latin dancers shake what their mamas gave ‘em much better than you ever could, and boogie a little yourself to the
various live bands featured every night. Open at 11 a.m. and partying on until 5 in the morning, Mango’s keeps the music going. Mango’s also serves a tasty salsa with its full service,
Latin continental cuisine ranging from chicken wings to lobster tails. Location: 900 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-673-4422.
Metro Kitchen and Bar: Owned by Astor hotel owner Karim Masri and nightlife whiz Nicola Siervo, Metro is
raking in the cool crowds thanks to its popular outdoor garden bar lounge, it’s unique Sam Robin designed interior décor and, most especially, the modern American cuisine of Chef Rob
Boone. Location: 956 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-672-7217.
Pearl: Where can one dine on good food, socialize and drink and relive the Austin Powers late 1960s days? Answer: Pearl Restaurant and
Champagne Lounge. Run by the Tommy Pooch-Eric Omores team and located upstairs within the Penrod’s complex, Pearl has become a popular gathering place for A-listers and the tragically
hip. Location: 1 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-538-1111.
Piccadilly Garden: Operated by the owners of Club Deuce, Piccadilly offers both a good nightlife and bar atmosphere as well as
tasty American comfort dishes. Location: 35 N.E. 40th Street, Miami. Phone: 305-573-8221.
Q Restaurant and Lounge: Offering an eclectic menu divided into four main categories: appetizers, salads, panini and crepes. Offers a two-for-one drink
happy hour between 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Location: 3575 N.E. 207th Street, Suite B-11, Aventura. Phone: 305-931-9957.
Rumi: By 11:30 p.m. on weekend nights, the tables are removed, the music revs up and Rumi the restaurant becomes Rumi the lounge. Yet Rumi’s main purpose is
food and local chefs J.D. Harris and Scott Fredel have put together a critically-acclaimed menu that’s Floridian and Caribbean but with classic French and Italian influences. Location:
330 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-672-4353.
Spice: A sign that nightlife does exist in North Beach aside from neighborhood bars, Spice’s décor has been described as having a Mid-Eastern/North African kind
of feel. Guitarist Angel entertains on Fridays and Saturdays. Chef Gerard serves a diverse menu of French, Moroccan, Italian and Spanish food. Location: 928 71st Street,
Miami Beach. Phone: 305-861-6707.
Tapas & Tintos: A gourmet Spanish deli & tapas bar that specializes in serving the best in fine Spanish wines and features a nightly DJ. This Fri. Aug.29
they will be featuring a wine tasting sponsored by Bodegas Faustino, and also the Pinord Clos winery. On Thursdays live Latin rock concerts. Saturday nights T&T hosts the Live Flamenco
Fiesta. Also Tapas & Tintos has a Sat. & Sun. Paella Brunch. Location: 448 Espanola Way, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-538-8272
Tantra: An Indian/Eastern atmosphere dominates this off-Washington Avenue place that has fused the decadence and music of a
nightclub/lounge with the menu of a critically acclaimed restaurant. Location: 1445 Pennsylvania Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-672-4765.
Touch: Offers interesting floorshows (including DJs, musicians and go-go dancers) and their fantastic American and seafood cuisine. Location: 910 Lincoln
Road, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-532-8003.
Sandwich and Other Specialties
Che Café and Bakery: A cozy place, the Che Café and Bakery specializes in making tasty pastries,
sandwiches and coffee. And what this tiny establishment lacks in size it more than makes up for in taste. Location: 941 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-535-2999.
Café Ole: This restaurant serves every form of crepes imaginable. Examples: Crepe Tatit consists of apples, caramel and chantilly. Crepe
Tropicana is made of fresh bananas and nutella. Crepe au Fromage is filled with melted cheese. Crepe du Chef has mushrooms, onions and melted cheese. And Crepe du Salmon has fresh salmon,
tomato cappers and melted cheese. Location: 1120 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. Phone:
305-673-2711.
La Sandwicherie: The place to go and get gourmet sandwiches, salads, shakes, smoothies and everything in between. Among the choices: roast
beef sandwich, roast beef salad, seafood sandwich, tomatoes mozzarella, tuna salad, the French Riviera, pate sandwich, proscuitto and fresh mozzarella and the Famous Croque Monsieur hot
plate consisting of grilled toast, ham and Swiss and a side of salad. Location: 229 14th
Street, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-532-8934.
Paninoteca: For the serious sandwich connoisseur, this shop makes gourmet quality sandwiches and
pizzinis the European way. Example: Norwegian smoked salmon with Italian cream cheese, fresh lemon juice, spinach, endive, white wine vinegar and olive oil. Location: 809 Lincoln
Road, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-538-0058.
Zooz Sandwich Bar Café: Has a wide selection of coffees, beverages, smoothies and frozen drinks—not to
mention wraps and, of course, sandwiches such as Mardi Gras Chicken, Roasted Turkey with spinach artichoke spread, tomatoes and lettuce, and Smoked Salmon with tomatoes, romaine and goat
cheese. Plenty of veggie sandwiches as well. Yes they also deliver. Location: 445 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-695-9669.
Seafood
A Fish Called Avalon: Now under the wing of Chef Joe Monteiro, this restaurant has tasty
seafood dishes such as sea bass and blackened grouper served with papaya relish and the Caribbean style lobster crab cakes are legendary. Also tasty land-lover dishes such as the angel
hair pasta with fresh tomatoes, basil, and garlic, surrounded by grilled Portobello mushrooms. The atmosphere is business casual, with an “art deco” feel. Location:
700 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-532-1727.
AltaMar: A master of oceanic food fare, its Pan Roasted Sea Bass is light and moist without being slick. While the Grapefruit Swordfish, marinated in mustard,
ginger and herbs, then seared and placed on a bed of arugula with a baked tomato that was itself marinated in herbs and vinegar, is tender and light. Location: 1223 Lincoln Road,
Miami Beach. Phone: 305-532-3061.
Caleb’s Reef: Describes itself as a fresh seafood market deli and café. While dealing in the typical seafood cuisine, Caleb’s also serves up sandwiches,
salads, pasta, etc. In fact the owners are really proud of using only Boar’s Head deli meats and cheeses in their land-lover sandwiches. Delivery and take out available. Loft is also ready
for private parties. Location: 1430 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-531-7778.
Cami’s Seafood & Pasta: Has all sorts of meal and entrée deals to get you in the door and try this place’s seafood or pasta or both. Location: 12620
Biscayne Boulevard, North Miami. Phone: 305-893-1111.
Garcia Seafood: A family-operated business for the last 10 years, Garcia Seafood likes to keep things “just plain and simple.” Garcia serves a fresh
selection of stone crabs, lobster, yellowtail snapper, dolphin and other aquatic delights at affordable prices. Garcia also has a full liquor bar, outside dining and daily specials.
Location: 398 N.W. North River Drive, Miami. Phone: 305-375-0765.
Joe’s Seafood Restaurant: Miami’s oldest seafood restaurant on the Miami River. Has what they call an “executive lunch, dinner and happy hour daily.” Catering
and banquet facilities are also available. Location: 400 N.W. North River Drive, Miami. Phone: 305-374-5637.
Joe’s Stone Crabs: Joe’s was the first restaurant ever to serve stone crabs as a delicacy (in 1921). Today, Joe’s is one of the most sough- after restaurants
where VIPs of all types crack a few claws and the regular folk wait in the lobby for hours for a table. Location: 11 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-673-4611.
Les Deux Fontaines: This trendy South Beach establishment is an indoor restaurant with a separate
cigar/beverage area and a terrace café, a la Francaise. Menu changes daily, but often includes fresh salmon, dolphin, lobster, stone crabs and dozens of seafood specialties. All you
can eat breakfast buffet daily and late night desserts are part of the allure. Location: 1230 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-672-7878.
Monty’s: Famous for its “all you can eat” stone crab specials and for raw oyster and clam bars.
Location: 300 Alton Road, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-672-1148.
South American
Cantina La Fusta: An Italian-Argentine Restaurant, La Fusta has quite the selection of “parilla” dishes such as chicken breast, short ribs, New York strip steak
and veal chops. House specials include Milanesa Napolitana with pasta, New York Strip Madera and Eggplant Parmigiana. Also plenty of seafood, veal, salad and pasta dishes. Location:
240 Sunny Isles Boulevard, Sunny Isles Beach. Phone: 786-274-8442.
Chalan on the Beach: Chalan has its Peruvian specialties like lomo saltado (sautéed beef with onions, tomato and French fries) and tallarines verdes con bistec
(green spaghetti with beef). Also known for its fresh fish and seafood dishes like pescado sudado (poached filet of fish), pescado sudado mixto (poached mixed fish) and tallarin saltado de
mariscos (spaghetti with seafood). Location: 1580 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-532-8880.
Gaucho Room: The inspiration behind Gaucho Room: a mythical gaucho’s (Argentine cowboy’s) living room. The Gaucho Room offers dishes such as churrasco skirt
steak, seasoned with a splash of chimichurri sauce and served with additional dipping sauces and the “Niman Ranch Rib” which is two inches thick even though you can cut into it like
butter. But Gaucho is more than about cow. There are also platters like the Japanese sea bass and the yellowtail snapper. Location: 1601 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone:
305-604-5467.
La Molienda: Columbian cuisine at this restaurant/bar includes flank steak stewed with onions and tomatoes and served with rice and plantains, chicken breast on
the grill served with rice, lettuce and tomato salad and sweet plantains, and Picada Molienda which consists of beef, pork, chicken, Colombian sausage, arepitas and plantains. Location:
752 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-695-4448.
Mama Vieja: Owned by Hector Alarcon and Hugo Ruiz Mama Vieja has become the hangout for the local Colombian community as well as anyone who has the urge to
lunch or dine on filet mignon with mushroom sauce, chicken breast scalopins sautéed in white wine and butter/lemon sauce or arroz marinero (seafood rice). Location: 235 23rd
Street, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-538-2400.
Parrillada Las Carnes Argentinas: Want meat cooked the Argentine way? Parrillada has tasty dishes that won’t bankrupt you. The carnivorous diner will love the
Parrillada Para consisting of sausage, blood sausage, sweetbread and “different kinds of meat.” Those into lighter fare can try Pollo Primavera (grilled chicken breast with salad
balsamic) or the Pollo Madonna (grilled chicken breast with fresh tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese). Those not into meat may try a salad, vegetable or pasta dish. Location: 1533
Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-532-0102.
Sabores Chilenos on the Beach: Chilean menu includes pescado a la parrilla (fish on the grill), bistec de lomo a lo podre (eight ounce
sirloin steak with two eggs, French fries and sauté onions), or (for dinner parties of two or more) a parrilladas with chinchulines, molleja and papas cocidas (blood sausage, sauce, and
beef ribs). Location: 7419 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-865-7036.
Wish: Under executive chef E. Michael Reidt, Wish is rising to the next level with a French-Brazilian menu that
includes items such as Cachaca Marinated Tuna with seared watermelon and Smoked Duck Salad with spiced cherries. Wish also has a trendy bar and a beautiful garden. Located inside The Hotel
on Collins Avenue, Wish serves breakfast and lunch menu daily and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. Reservations are suggested.
Location: 801 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-674-9474.
Steak Houses
The Forge: A gourmet restaurant of the first caliber, the Forge has some of the best steak dishes in
South Florida and a phenomenally huge wine selection. Ask for any bottle of wine in the world and chances are they have it in their secret climate-controlled wine cellar. Example: A
Chateu Lafite Rothschild, Paullac 1961 priced at $2,090. Location: 432 41st Street, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-538-8533.
Shula’s Steak House: Don Shula may no longer be coaching football, but this sports icon still has a damn
good steakhouse. Every side of beef in this restaurant is juicy, scrumptious and delicious. The prize of them all is the famous 48-ounce porterhouse and, if you finish it, your feat will
be eternally commemorated with a wall plaque. Location: 5225 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-341-6565.
Smith & Wollensky: Located within the high-rise obscured park known as South Pointe, Smith & Wollensky
serves up regular sirloin, dry-aged steaks and a tender yet massive rib-eye. Location: 1 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-673-2800.
Tiger Oak Room: Located inside the Raleigh, this restaurant is renowned for its slow roasted 20 oz. king cut prime rib. Location: 18th and
Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-612-1116.
Tuscan Steak: One of the region’s most established steakhouse restaurants, Tuscan Steak House serves such entrees as the Tuscan Steak Famous Florentine
T-Bone Steak with roasted garlic. Not in the mood for cow? Tuscan also serves dishes like Grilled Tuscan Country Chicken Infused with Sage and Gnocchi with Gorgonzola cream sauce with
sautéed spinach garlic. Location: 433 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Phone: 305-534-2233.
