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The SunPost 2008 Best Of South Florida
Editors’ Choice / BEST OF OUR ADVERTISERS
Remember when
Florida
ranchers drove more head of cattle than Texans, and choosing between
locally grown versus locally innova
BEST DINING TREND Use of Locally Grown Foods When it comes to dining, South Floridians get with the trends somewhat late, but as the saying goes, that’s better than never. While other cities extolled the virtues of eating locally grown food, most Miamians weren’t that interested. Well, that’s changing, and we have several chefs to thank for this, as more and more of them showcase locally grown products on their menus — Michael Schwartz, Michelle Bernstein, Dewey LoSasso and Kris Wessel, who in his new gourmet dive, Red Light, serves dishes containing local produce from mulberry to an array of fresh local fish. Now there’s a sudden interest in the Slow Food movement, organic buying clubs, community-supported agriculture and the small outdoor markets sprouting up everywhere. Good effort, South Florida. We hope it lasts.
BEST CHEF Michael Schwartz Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink 130 N.E. 40th Ave., Design District 305-573-5550 www.michaelsgenuine.com Not that chef Michael Schwartz really needs more accolades. He’s been collecting them for the past year for his Design District restaurant, Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink. GQ, Esquire, the New York Times, whose renowned critic Frank Bruni placed Michael’s Genuine among the country’s best 10 restaurants, are only a few of the publications that have lauded him and his cuisine. Not only has he opened a restaurant with down-to-earth, well-prepared organic food at reasonable prices, but the awakening of the Design District as a dining spot could very well be attributed to his restaurant. We have to hand it to the man.
BEST RESTAURANT. PERIOD. Michael's Genuine Food and Drink 130 N.E. 40th St., Miami 305-573-5550 Esquire may have placed it in its Top 5, and the New York Times might have put it in its Top 10, but to us Michael’s is still number one. Really. Why? ’Cause Chef Michael Schwartz’s emphasis on what’s “simple, fresh and pure” holds the gimmickry and lets the food do the talking. Of course, even such smartly sourced dishes wouldn’t say much if they weren’t tastefully prepared, Schwartz and his team of tastemakers prepare them with keen and easy flourish, from the homemade cherrywood-smoked bacon and Berkshire pork short rib to the wood-roasted Harris Ranch porterhouse and poulet rouge. Oh yeah, and the fish (snapper, black grouper, pompano, mackerel) is not only local — it’s spectacular.
BEST PLACE FOR
DINNER AND DRINKS 163 N.E. 39th St., Design District 305-572-1400 www.brosiamiami.com There’s no argument that this Design District Mediterranean restaurant scored big on real estate. Its oak-lined plaza in the heart of the district is the perfect place to sit back and relax after a hard day’s work. The walls are dotted with green and turquoise mosaics and star-shaped lights that give the courtyard a romantic feel. Go for the signature sangria — the usual with a little more fizz — or the oak-plaza bellini-tini, a concoction of pomegranate vodka, peach schnapps, pineapple juice, peach nectar and cava. The selection of imported beers is also worth checking out. Pair your drinks with Brosia’s grilled mini lamb chops, the Mediterranean mezze platter or the Catalan shrimp and clams, cooked with chorizo, parsley, red chilies, garlic and sherry wine. Now if that doesn’t help you unwind, nothing will.
BEST ROMANTIC EATERY Lido at The Standard The Standard Hotel, 40 Island Ave., Miami Beach 305-673-1717 www.standardhotels.com/miami/restaurants It all depends on how you define romantic, but laid-back alfresco dining tucked behind the Standard Hotel’s peaceful gardens and facing the bay at night fits our bill. Forget stuffiness and enjoy the quiet with your date or significant other while you savor Mediterranean-inspired fare. Executive chef Mark Zeitouni creates clean-flavored food using fresh and organic ingredients, and keeps in line with the healthy Mediterranean diet. Add some variety by ordering from the grill section of the menu, which allows you to mix and match your meat with the sauce and side of your choice. See who comes up with the better combination. No matter what you choose, you’re sure to have good food and a beautiful view.
BEST PLACE TO TAKE A VISITOR Garcia’s 398 N.W. N. River Drive, Miami 305-375-0765 It’s no South Beach hangout, but, hey, your guests are counting on you, the local, to take them somewhere off the touristy path to get a real taste of Miami. How does eating seafood overlooking the Miami River sound? To them, probably more exotic than it really is, but they’ll be happy that you shared with them this Miami River family establishment and its fresh-caught fish. Start with a fish ceviche and follow with the blackened grouper or grilled swordfish with your choice of sides — tostones, steamed or fried yucca, or rice and beans. If in season, try some stone crabs and look out for the blackboard specials. Accompany with a mojito or an ice-cold beer.
BEST HIGH DINING Atrio at Level 25 Conrad Hotel, 1395 Brickell Ave., 25th floor, Miami 305-503-6529 Rumor has it that Prince counts this sky-high eatery among his favorites in Miami, and from the growl of his bodyguards whenever he’s here, the Purple One prefers to keep it a secret. No matter. With Executive Chef Michael Gilligan’s kickass cuisine and a view that stretches from here to Havana, we’d be eating up on the Conrad Hilton’s 25th floor even if he wasn’t. In fact, we will be tonight. Just don’t tell Prince.
BEST DESIGN-AND-DINE HYBRID Fratelli Lyon at Driade 4141 N.E. Second Ave., Suite 101A, Miami 305-572-2901 If pitting tastemaker Ken Lyon’s incredible eats amid Driade’s delicious designs is not one of the brightest moves in foodville, we don’t know what is. Lyon — who since the shuttering of his beloved Lincoln Road food spot Lyon Frères et Compagnie has gone on to set the stage in both The Wolfsonian (The Dynamo) and The Norton (Café 1451) and handle the action at many of Miami’s most exclusive catered affairs — now adds the Design District to his retinue. The results are stunning in every aspect. Flatware and furnishings are sourced right from Driade’s collection (available next door) and cuisine handcrafted right there in the kitchen (and fit for the ware upon which it is served). No, it’s not every day that one gets to be wowed by works from such minds as Starck and Astori all the while dining on food as fine as Lyon’s, but it should be. Now, it can be.
BEST CARIBBEAN RESTAURANT Ortanique on the Mile 278 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables 305-446-7710 Upon entering the magnificent Ortanique, you might be so distracted by the overwhelming sights and aromas that you forget you’re in one of the most highly rated and critically acclaimed restaurants in Miami. That is, until your food arrives. Floor-to-ceiling hand-painted murals of Ortanique oranges and flowers grace the walls and columns and rich, natural woods complete the picture at this Caribbean treasure, where award-winning chef Cindy Hutson offers diners her acclaimed Cuisine of the Sun: a fusion of eclectic and exotic tropical flavors and ingredients from different nations. Hutson, who has catered for celebrities, sports legends, entertainers and inaugural dinners, delights guests with signature dishes that include an amazing Caribbean bouillabaisse, pan-sautéed Bahamian black grouper with Ortanique orange liqueur, jerk double pork chop with rum guava sauce, curried crab cakes with tangy papaya-lime coulis and swordfish, gratin of boniato and foie gras. It also offers specialty soups and salads, such as pumpkin bisque and tropical mango salad and spicy fried calamari salad. Ortanique’s executive lunch stands out among other Gables’ power lunch locales, with three-course meals for the low price of $25. To add to the dining experience, Ortanique’s bar chef has created a signature drink list, which includes outstanding mojitos, to mimic the cuisine.
BEST HAITIAN RESTAURANT Tap Tap Haitian Restaurant 819 Fifth St., Miami Beach 305-672-2898 www. taptaprestaurant.com Between a gas station and a condemned lot on Fifth Street in South Beach, one of Miami's best Caribbean restaurants hides in plain sight. Tap Tap Haitian Restaurant offers a staff and menu as colorful as its muraled walls, painted by seven Haitian artists. Stop in on a Thursday or Saturday to hear former Port-au-Prince Mayor Manno Charlemagne, “the vocal conscience of Haiti,” sing and play acoustic guitar with the Tap Tap band. A mojito laced with Barbancourt Haitian rum and the charcoal-grilled free-range poulet rouge will make you happy to be alive. If you need some fresh ocean air — or to fill your lungs with smoke — you can sit on the front porch, watch the cars go by and pity the club-goers on their way to some loud, crowded inferno. Tap Tap is a home away from home for many in Miami's Haitian community, but it can also be a one-night vacation for those who need a little taste of the Caribbean.
BEST CUBAN RESTAURANT Yoyito Cafetería-Restaurant 495 E. 49th St., Hialeah 305-953-0701 Located on the corner of a strip mall in the heart of Hialeah, this eatery has built a word-of-mouth campaign around a meal most people have never eaten outside of a home kitchen. Yoyito’s is one of the few restaurants that serves arroz con pollo a la chorrera — the traditional yellow rice and chicken dish doused with beer — and does it to sticky, savory perfection. The meal is cooked to order, comes with your choice of tostones (smashed plantains), maduros (sweet fried plaintains) or salad, and is served in a deep clay dish to keep the flavor. It’s the Sunday special, and one order is enough to feed two people for less than $8. The restaurant is also a full-service counter serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as cigarettes, chewing gum and even headache medicine.
BEST PUERTO RICAN RESTAURANT Benny’s Seafood Restaurant 2500 S.W. 107th Ave., Suite 1, Miami 305-227-1232 There’s no big gimmick at Benny’s, except for maybe the wooden mortar chalice they serve mofongo in. It’s really just a great family-run restaurant that’s been doling out darn good Puerto Rican food with darn friendly service for the past 14 years. The star of the show is obviously the excellent mofongo, usually stuffed with seafood, which is filling even if you order the smaller size. The sensible prices are as straightforward as the rest of the restaurant and, more often than not, actually seem underpriced when compared to the great Caribbean cooking.
BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT Taquería El Mexicano 521 S.W. Eighth St., Miami 305-858-1160 Make sure to look to your left for the green awning emblazoned with “EL MEXICANO” as you’re zooming into the city on Calle Ocho or you could miss the best meal you’ve had in long time. No sour cream here, folks — this is the food Mexicans in Mexico eat, and it’s the best in our area. They serve traditional dishes such as carnitas and pozole, and, of course, tacos and fajitas. Ask for the cochinita pibil — tender pork marinated in citrus juices and roasted in a banana leaf — and you’ll eat every bite. If you don’t have time to sit for a meal, you can shop for hot spices and other goods from brands that you can’t get outside of Mexico.
BEST TEX-MEX RESTAURANT El Rancho Grande 1626 Pennsylvania Ave., Miami Beach; 305-673-0480 314 72nd St., Miami Beach; 305-864-7404 www.elranchograndemexicanrestaurant.com Yes, this Mexican restaurant just south of the hustle and bustle of Lincoln Road has all the usual fare from our southern neighbors in a relaxed, unassuming atmosphere. Start with the guacamole — fresh, with the perfect blend of avocado, cilantro, tomato and spices. Then try any one of the vast selection of entrées, most of which are easily enough for two. We recommend the tostadas — fried corn or flour tortillas topped with beef or chicken, refried beans, lettuce, sour cream, cheese and Mexican sauce — or the perfectly crisp chimichangas. Wash it all down with some house sangria, Patron margaritas or a bottle of ice-cold Negra Modelo. Whatever you order, we guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
BEST GUACAMOLE Rosa Mexicano Mary Brickell Village, 900 S. Miami Ave., Miami 786-425-1001 www.rosamexicano.com The ground zero of guacamole in Miami, and perhaps the world, is Rosa Mexicano. Founded in 1984 in New York City, the restaurant has expanded to five U.S. cities without losing the flavor and charm of a family-owned spot. The guacamole is made on a cart rolled out next to your table. An artistic array of stone bowls with chopped onions, jalapeños, cilantro, salt, tomatoes and, of course, fat ripe avocados is the palette from which the guacamole maker works. Tu mama’s love couldn’t make it any fresher. Watching the ingredients mashed with a malcajete (mortar and pestle) is sure to arouse your tongue until its buds are ready to burst — you’ve almost got to sit on your hands to keep from fingering the bowl for a taste. A few tempting minutes later and you’re scooping up thick guacamole with salty chips, with or without proper table manners.
BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT Heelsha 1550 N.E. 164th St., North Miami Beach 305-919-8393 www.heelsha.com The curious and partly nosy might notice that the kitchen hidden at Heelsha doesn’t look like one found in a typical restaurant. Actually, it looks like it could be any old kitchen in someone’s house, which actually makes this laid-back Indian eatery a little more authentic. The calming music trickling from the speakers and the wine list keep things refined, but don’t expect the food to be less spicy because of it. That level of spiciness is optional, of course, and there’s also an option to go with a dry, leaner meal for those watching their calories. The entrées are moderately priced, but usually includes an ample bowl of basmati rice.
BEST FRENCH RESTAURANT Pascal’s on Ponce 2611 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables 305-444-2024 www.pascalmiami.com French food is synonymous with class and refinement. It’s also supposed to be synonymous with high price, so it’s rare to find a French restaurant where the quality matches the money. Acclaimed chef and owner Pascal Oudin is able to find that balance with Pascal’s on Ponce and its exquisite cuisine, which strays from the flamboyance and bombast of other French dishes. The atmosphere follows a similar line, as it remains casually graceful without being stuffy and elitist. The prices may still be too much for those who just want any old place to eat, but if you’re looking to dine in elegance and style, they’ll be just right.
BEST PLACE TO REVEL IN ITALIAN STEREOTYPES Randazzo’s Little Italy 150 Giralda Ave., Coral Gables 305-448-7002 This has got to be the best Italian joint in town — if not for the food, then for the fun, entertaining atmosphere. If you own The Godfather DVD boxed set and you haven’t been here, you’re missing out on a killer evening where you can actually pretend you’re Don Corleone, or at least watch your favorite mobsters on a huge flat-screen TV, while singing along to “That’s Amore,” sipping great wines and eating ridiculously humongous portions of Italian grub served just the way chef-owner and former cruiserweight boxing champion Marc Randazzo’s grandmother did in Chicago’s Little Italy. If the red-and-white picnic tablecloths and strings of lights aren’t enough to get you in the mood for this one-of-a-kind dining experience, the hysterical menu certainly will.
BEST PIZZA Bella Napoli
1443
Alton Road,
Miami Beach
BEST GREEK RESTAURANT Mykonos 1201 Coral Way, Miami 305-856-3140 www.mykonosmiami.com No amount of plate-smashing and club atmosphere can stop Mykonos from keeping its position as the best place for authentic Greek food. The Miami institution off of Coral Way still keeps its focus on the food, which remains as reasonably priced as it’s been for more than 30 years. The hummus is absolutely mind-blowing. It’s also big enough that a single portion can serve two people, something that carries over to most of the other items. The atmosphere and service are both relaxed and friendly, but during the quiet hours of the early evening, the ambience becomes virtually serene.
BEST ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT Sheba 4029 N. Miami Ave., Miami 305-573-1819 www.shebamiami.com Sheba Ethiopian restaurant has quietly survived in the midst of the Design’s District art galleries. Its earth-toned walls and white tablecloths give this restaurant a high-end feel, but the attitude is down-to-earth and the food tasty. Spicy and aromatic dishes are served with the traditional ingera — a rubbery, tortilla-shaped bread that also serves as a utensil. The menu is divided among meat, chicken, seafood and vegetarian dishes. First-time visitor or groups that want to share should try the restaurant’s mixed platters. Sheba’s Best of the Best gives you a taste of almost everything and is meant for two. Make sure you try the honey wine. It’s dangerously good.
BEST CHINESE TAKE-OUT Gourmet Gourmet 210 Valencia Ave., Coral Gables 305-443-8664 Inside a painfully narrow space nestled between an alley and offices on Valencia Avenue near Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Gourmet Gourmet prepares the freshest Chinese food in Miami-Dade County. Heaping portions of fried rice, chop suey and lo mein are hand-stirred on large woks over hell-hot gas flames in this small establishment. If you want a gourmet twist on traditional dishes, try the smoked salmon with cream cheese and spinach wontons or the delectable spring rolls. Surviving in the midst of Coral Gables’ competitive dining scene is no easy feat, but the place has fed hungry lawyers, ad execs and accountants for 16 years. The secret to staying in the game? “We serve a fresh product, fresh cooked, everything is from scratch,” owner Jose T. Sang said. “We have had people who’ve come to us since they were kids. That’s what it’s all about.” You can’t eat there, but Gourmet Gourmet offers free and quick delivery within the Gables. If you live far away, order take-out and pick it up — it’s well worth the drive.
BEST JAPANESE RESTAURANT Hiro’s Yakko-San 17040-46 W. Dixie Highway, North Miami Beach 305-947-0064 www.yakko-san.com Japanese food does not begin and end with sushi, so don’t be too shocked when you find out it isn’t served at Hiro’s Yakko-San. Instead, take a look at the massive menu of Japanese tapas and discover things like onigiri (riceballs stuffed with fish or fish eggs) and dried kawahagi (trigger fish jerky). The tapas style is close to genius because it enables patrons to try as many different kinds of food as they can handle. Even when you’ve finally had your fill, you’ll realize you’ve barely scratched the surface of Yakko-San’s offerings. If you still really want sushi, though, Hiro’s Sushi Express is right next door.
BEST PLACE FOR SUSHI Matsuri 5759 Bird Road, South Miami 305-663-1615 Driving by it on Bird Road, Matsuri is difficult to pick out with its meek, unassuming signage. It’s almost as if the place where the Japanese go to eat sushi in Miami is trying to hide from us. Once inside, you’ll see that the restaurant is surprisingly swanky and refined, like a high-class SoBe spot without the spiked-up prices. Actually, the sushi here is even cheaper than some of the prepackaged stuff found in supermarkets and obviously is a thousand times better in terms of taste and variation. Matsuri has been around for 20 years now, and while it may be a bit of a secret to some Miami residents, the ones who are in on it can’t get enough.
BEST RESTAURANT RENAISSANCE Pacific Time 35 N.E. 40th St., Miami; 305-722-7369 When Jonathan Eismann opened Pacific Time 15 years ago (yes, it’s been that long), Lincoln Road was just coming up to its whole new heyday and pan-Asian was still a brand-new thing. Now, though, the Road’s grown a bit weary and that worldly idea of food’s akin to yesterday’s news. No matter, ’cause with Eismann relocating to the increasingly bustling Design District, the action’s back and that trademark fusion of his has undergone a whole new transfusion of energy. We’re talkin’ tricked-out, pared down and built for sating, with a hefty dose of shareable small plates and a modus operandi as organic as it is divine. If you’re one of the many regulars of yesterday’s PT, expect to be thrown into tomorrow. If you’ve not yet had the pleasure, do so now, while you can still get a table.
BEST STEAK HOUSE Prime One Twelve 112 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach 305-532-8112 www.prime112.com Dining at Prime One Twelve, you’ll have a grand old time — for about a grand. There’s just no better place for scene and service, and the food will knock your socks off. Dining here is an event where you are guaranteed a fabulous meal in a sleek, comfortable atmosphere with romantic background music (Sinatra, if you please) and a celebrity sighting or two. Considering that a table at any South Beach nightclub will cost you more than 200 bucks per bottle and won’t provide anything more than olives and maraschino cherries for nourishment, Prime One Twelve is worth the wait and expense. The steaks are prime, the shrimp are as big as your head and the lobster bisque rivals anything that Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi could serve up. You won’t want to miss the irresistible truffle infusions — truffle corn, truffle mac and cheese and, of course, truffle fries — or the extensive wine list of more than 900 varieties. Chef Mike Sabin’s goal is to “just make sure that we make people happy,” and he achieves it every night.
BEST STEAK HOUSE CHAIN Bourbon Steak 19999 W. Country Club Drive, Aventura 786-279-6600 www.michaelmina.net/bourbonsteak_miami/ The cocaine cowboys may have long ago ridden off into the sunset (or the Everglades), but if they hadn’t, it’s a bet they’d be swinging en masse at Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak up at the very private Fairmont Turnberry. Plush, patterned, to-the-period carpeting, throwback chrome, hide out booths and enough deep, dark tones to muffle any secrets, it’s like traveling back through time to a Mutiny that never was — at warp speed. Of course, there’s nothing warped about the menu, which is executed by Executive Chef Andrew Rothschild (formerly of The Forge), and contains many of Mina’s “Classics” (Maine lobster pot pie, whole-fried organic chicken, Kurobuta pork short ribs), as well as his signature starters and sides (a trio of duck-fat fries, truffled mac and cheese, foie gras sliders, tomato-dusted red onion rings). But it’s steak you want and steak you should order, be it Masami Farms American Kobe, Japanese A5 Kobe or Certified Angus Beef. All are cooked over seasoned wood-fueled flames, and cued by Mina’s infamous Stripsteak at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
BEST SOUL FOOD Mahogany Grille 2190 N.W. 183rd St., Miami Gardens 305-626-8100 www.tmgmiami.com The Mahogany Grille serves such delicious neo-soul food that traveling all the way up to Miami Gardens is a treat. A mix of soulful barbecue, Bahamian classic conch dishes and Creole delights are served on white tablecloths in a dark, wood-accented dining room. The servers are prompt and polite without that typical South Beach I’m-too-good-to-be-waiting-on-you attitude. Try the buffalo wings, Creole barbecue prawns, corn chowder, St. Louis ribs, barbeque chicken or oxtail stew with an array of sides that includes macaroni and cheese, soul slaw, candied yams, creamed corn and waffles. If you can squeeze it in, for dessert, try the butter-sweet potato pecan cheesecake and mango pie. When you’re done stuffing yourself, waddle across the dining room to the lounge area — which turns into a Harlem-style jazz club from 9 p.m. to midnight every Friday and Saturday — order a scotch and enjoy the music.
BEST ENGLISH BREAKFAST Balans 1022 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach 305-534-9191 www.balans.co.uk/miami.html The traditional American bacon-and-egg breakfast seems, at first glance, identical to its transatlantic cousin. However, as any whiney limey will tell you, “It just ain’t the same, mate.” English breakfast sausage is different from American sausage, and English bacon truly tastes better. And that’s a fact. Don’t believe us? Well, go out this Saturday night and get totally pissed (Brit speak for steaming drunk), then get up early enough Sunday morning for breakfast at Balans on Lincoln Road, where you can partake of the best hangover cure in the world. Guaranteed.
BEST BRUNCH Joley’s Inspirational Jazz Brunch Hotel Astor, Joley Restaurant & Lounge 956 Washington Ave., Miami Beach 305-534-3343 www.hotelastor.com Joley Restaurant & Lounge at the Hotel Astor launched its Inspirational Brunch series with special live performances by Maryel Epps in April. Epps, an acclaimed jazz singer, songwriter and actress, is South Florida’s original gospel brunch diva. Epps started her famous gospel brunch with great success at Lola Restaurant in New York before moving to Miami Beach, where she performed regularly at Hotel Astor’s Metro Kitchen and Bar. Although she took some time to tour the world, Epps is back in Miami Beach working on her first all-original CD and performing at Joley from 12:30 to 3 p.m. on Sundays for a limited engagement. The $44 prix fixe brunch, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays, includes a three-course menu with a selection of shared appetizers, main course, dessert and a mimosa. Menu highlights include smoked ham and potato soup, garlic crouton; grilled shrimp, creamy cheddar cheese grits, fried egg; buttermilk pancakes, bananas foster sauce, toasted pecans; vanilla French toast, Grand Marnier syrup, marinated berries; jumbo lump crab omelet, brie and basil; creamy scallop and pea risotto, mascarpone cheese; fish and chips, remoulade sauce and malt vinegar; beef tartar, quail egg, Joley frites; rum raisin bread pudding, crème Anglaise; and Grand Marnier crème brulee. Originally slated for April and May, the brunch has been so successful that there is no end date in sight!
BEST POWER LUNCH Giralda Avenue Between Galiano Avenue and Le Jeune Road So you don’t want to go far from the office but you absolutely must impress your out-of-town clients? If you’re anywhere near Giralda Avenue in Coral Gables, then congratulations, you just closed another deal. Seven top-notch eateries are located on this street, just walking distance from dozens of ad agencies, financial service centers and attorney’s offices, making it probably the most clutch location in the county for securing your company’s future. Valets in white polo shirts weave quickly among the Ferraris, Aston Martins and Range Rovers as starched collars huddle outside these Zagat-rated restaurants: Cacao, Caramelo, Graziano’s, La Dorada, Miss Saigon Bistro, Puchetta and Randazzo’s Little Italy.
BEST DINER Jimmy’s Eastside Diner 7201 Biscayne Blvd., Miami 305-754-3692 There’s no better Sunday morning ritual than stopping by Jimmy’s for a late breakfast, with sunglasses on, of course, to hide the dark circles under those partying eyes. Breakfast is served all day and you can’t go wrong with the huge omelets or the delicious banana pancakes. For lunch, try the Philly cheesesteak. The wait staff is friendly and they’ll happily refill your coffee for as long as you need it. Prices are reasonable and the food is good. The diner doesn’t stay open late so make sure you roll out of bed at a decent hour to grab your morning fuel.
BEST LATE-NIGHT EATS La Moon 144 S.W. Eighth St., Miami 305-860-6209 Picture this: Happy hour lasted way too long, so you’re crawling out of some bar in Brickell because you’re way too drunk to drive back to Kendall or Doral or wherever godforsaken place you live. Then you see a sign for La Moon shining in the night and all of your memories from your childhood in Bogotá come flooding back. OK, you’re not Colombian, but they are, and it’s probably the only place you can get a perro colombiano (topped with nearly everything you can think of, including potato sticks) and chase it with some refajo — a mix of Aguila beer mixed with Colombiana flavored soda — at 1 a.m. on a Saturday morning. It probably won’t kill your hangover, but at least you’ll have something delicious to throw up on your way home.
BEST BURGER Le Tub 1100 N. Ocean Drive, Hollywood 954-921-9425 www.theletub.com Hands down, this is one of the best, most unpretentious restaurants in South Florida. Built in 1959 as a Sunoco gas station and closed during the energy crunch of the early 1970s, Le Tub Saloon was purchased in 1974 by a man who personally transformed the place with his own two hands into this waterfront restaurant, made out of flotsam, jetsam and ocean-borne treasures gathered during four years of sunrise jogging on Hollywood Beach. Its funky, shabby-chic décor features hand-painted toilets and bathtubs used as planters throughout the outside deck overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway, as well as an indoor pool table and jukebox. But, scenery and atmosphere aside, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better burger anywhere. Order the sirloinburger, a 13-ounce sirloin, char-grilled with onion, lettuce and tomato ($11; $12 with cheese) and wash it down with a perfectly spiced Bloody Mary and a slice of homemade key lime pie. And stop by on Memorial Day for Le Tub’s once-a-year fish fry. Although this breezy Hollywood Beach gem doesn’t advertise — its success has been driven by word-of-mouth recommendations — both GQ magazine and Oprah Winfrey proclaimed it the best burger in America. But before you head out, be sure to stop for some cash because it doesn’t accept credit cards.
BEST BURGER CHAIN Five Guys Burgers and Fries The Shoppes at Midtown Miami, 3401 N. Miami Ave., Suite 214, Miami 305-571-8345 www.fiveguys.com Five Guys’ mission statement is simple: “We are in the business of selling burgers.” That’s all it needs to say. With hulking burgers made from fresh ground beef, piled high with your choice of a range of toppings and the best fries this side of, umm, wherever the best fries are, in Miami, you can’t do much better than Five Guys. And the prices are good, too. A generous-sized burger and fries will lighten your wallet by about $10. A large order of fries — made from Idaho potatoes, cooked in peanut oil and quaintly served in a paper cup inside a paper bag — is plenty enough for two, especially after you’ve gorged yourself on the free peanuts all over the restaurant. Take a nice greasy bag of burgers out or eat in, because the restaurant itself is exceptionally clean and the staff is really friendly, arteries be damned. For the classic American meal, it doesn’t get any better.
BEST WINGS House of Wings 3809 Grand Ave., Miami 305-569-7737 Open up a take-out box from House of Wings, and unless you’re one of those unadventurous types who order plain or mild wings, an appetizing aroma will assault your olfactory nerves in a shocking rush. The smell could be any one of the wing spot’s 47 flavors of sauce, from the conventional Honey BBQ to the creative Ghetto Flava to the downright ominous Suicide flavor. A 10-piece will only run you about $6.25, but there’s always the option to add fries and a drink. You could order seafood instead, but, honestly, you’re here for the wings and to discover just how these sauces taste after you’ve licked them off your fingers.
BEST HEART ATTACK ON
A PLATE 6987 Collins Ave., Miami Beach 305-864-5566 www.elreydelchivito.com Place a thin strip of meat onto a slice of bread. Top with ham, cheese, a fried egg, lettuce, tomato, onions, roasted peppers and mayonnaise. Serve with a heap of french fries. Open wide and enjoy your chivito — a sandwich native to Uruguay whose name translates into little goat — from El Rey del Chivito on Miami Beach. Make the moment last as you savor the juicy meat mixing with the soft, melted cheese and smooth mayo in your mouth, for you’ll be hard-pressed to indulge in one of these Uruguayan sandwiches too often. We won’t venture to guess their cholesterol or caloric content; we’d rather continue splurging, even if sporadically, on these decadent treats.
BEST FAST FOOD TO AVOID A HEART ATTACKChicken Kitchen 18 locations in Miami-Dade, 12 in Broward www.chickenkitchen.com It must be something in the chicken. Or maybe in the preparation. Whatever it is, people have raved about Chicken Kitchen since it first opened. There are plenty of options for diners to consider, but the Chop-Chop is one of the most beloved dishes and demonstrates that quick, made-to-order food is not the same thing as fast food. Chopped chicken, rice, beans in a special sauce (aha — maybe that’s the secret) keeps diners coming back for more — again and again.
BEST ALTERNATIVE BURRITO Lost & Found Saloon 185 N.W. 36th St., Wynwood 305-576-1008 www.thelostandfoundsaloon-miami.com The burritos at this Wynwood cowboy-chic eatery are not your typical burritos; they’re more like wraps, perhaps, so you don’t feel so guilty eating one. The Posse Energy burrito is loaded with saffron rice, refried beans, shredded cheese, lettuce, tomato and your add-on of choice — chicken, pork, salmon, mahi-mahi, shrimp or an array of vegetarian options, included pepita and pine nut-crusted tofu, grilled portabello mushrooms or grilled eggplant. Or skip the rice and beans and go with the Posse Club Burrito, bacon, avocado, cheese, lettuce, tomato and your selected add-on all neatly wrapped in a soft-shell tortilla. All are accompanied with a sprinkle of coleslaw and pico de gallo. Add Sea Dog Blueberry Wheat or a Native Thunderhead Red from the tap and enjoy watching the waves crashing on the flat-screen TVs above the bar. If breakfast is your thing, try the breakfast burrito, proudly made with organic eggs from free-range chickens.
BEST SOUP AND SALAD Fresco California Bistro 1744 S.W. Third Ave., Miami 305-858-0608 There aren’t many restaurants that devote a whole page of the menu to salads. And for those who actually crave a good salad, Fresco California Bistro always hits the spot. Add a cup of the soup of the day and you have the perfect lunch or dinner (if salad is your thing). These aren’t your standard lettuce-and-tomato sides. Take the apple and mango salad, a combination of lettuce, mango, green apple, candied pecans, sunflower seeds and grilled chicken coated with a subtly sweet dressing. Or the Fresco salad, with lettuce, garbanzos, tomato, salami and cheese all diced and mixed together into a hearty meal. The soups change daily and are made fresh with zero cream, as the wait staff will warn you. No matter the flavor of the day, they’re sure to please. It’s a great way to eat your veggies.
BEST BAKERY Chocolate Fashion 248 Andalusia Ave., Coral Gables 305-461-3200 When it comes to bread, Miami doesn’t score very high marks. Whether it’s the humidity that makes most bread in Miami chewy and bland, we don’t know, but Chocolate Fashion in Coral Gables seemingly has found the formula for making a good loaf — whether it is a baguette, walnut-cranberry bread or any of their other freshly baked delights. The French-owned bakery serves breakfast and lunch and a great cup of coffee. It also carries delicious fruit tarts, cakes that are tasty yet not overwhelming, quiches and a variety of chocolate truffles, which make for wonderful gifts. No matter what you go in for, though, make sure you take home some bread.
BEST
CROISSANT 4017 Prairie Ave., Miami Beach 305-538-4770 Golden and flaky, just as it should be, the croissant at La Brioche Doree, c’est tres bon. Accompany with a café au lait and you can transport yourself to France for an instant. The small bakery off Arthur Godfrey Road in Miami Beach is often packed on weekends for breakfast, when aside from the croissants you can enjoy a good omelet or egg sandwich on freshly baked breads, including the buttery croissants. Indulge a little more with a chocolate croissant. The warm chocolate against the delicate flakes makes a sinful combination.
BEST GELATO Roma Organic Gelato Mary Brickell Village, 901 S. Miami Ave., Miami 786-252-5276 Four dollars for what? One scoop? Before you storm out of this small Mary Brickell Village gelato store, know that your palate will be duly rewarded for the pain in your wallet. The gelato here is made fresh daily from all organic ingredients. That’s right, everything is organic, from the fruit to the milk to the sugar. Owners Roberto Rocca and Mauro Sirotti take pride in what they do, from their gelato to the décor. Hot-air balloons and airplanes hang from the sky-blue ceilings, making you feel like you’re a kid all over again. Don’t miss the chocolate or dulce de leche flavors, though all are creamy and delicious. Two scoops go for $5 and three scoops for $6.
BEST SMOOTHIE South Beach Smoothie 7222 S.W. 57th Ave., South Miami 305-666-2153 Think anyone can just drop into South Beach Smoothie and walk out with a healthy, delicious and inexpensive drink in almost no time at all? Well, yes, unless you’re a first-timer. The menu of 30 smoothie combinations towers over indecisive, novice customers. No doubt they feel even worse once they notice they can make their own concoction from three fruits and three health supplements, and that there’s a selection of smoothies under 200 calories. Thankfully, the rich, thick flavors are cool and healthy enough to ease any of that stress and the weight gain that may come with it. The only catch: South Beach Smoothie isn’t in South Beach; it’s actually right next to Sunset Place. Hey, your tourist friends won’t know the difference, and the prices are cheaper than anything found on SoBe.
BEST WINE TASTING Casa Toscana 7001 Biscayne Blvd., Miami 305-758-3353 www.casatoscanamiami.com Forget those annoying wine distributor sales reps. The wine tastings at Sandra Stefani’s cozy Biscayne Boulevard restaurant make you feel more like you’re sitting at the table at a friend’s house. No room for snobbery here. For $20, you can sample about five wines — in generous pours — and delicious appetizers such as mascarpone-covered grapes, prosciutto, cheese-filled tarts and others that vary depending on the night. It’s likely you’ll meet some interesting winemakers and make a friend or two as you bring out the oenophile in you. And on occasion, if there’s wine left over, Sandra may joined you for some good talk and plenty more wine. Sign up on the Web site to learn about upcoming wine tastings.
BEST MARKETEpicure Market 1656 Alton Road, Miami Beach 305-672-1861 www.epicuremarket.com A landmark in Miami Beach, Epicure has been the leading gourmet market for decades. Period. It offers a veritable cornucopia of foods — fresh, imported, gourmet, hard-to-find, prepared, top-quality and delicious — and it may be the only food market in South Florida where even window-shopping is an absolute delight. Of course, visitors can’t possibly leave the place empty-handed. It has the best baked products in town, numerous ready-to-go prepared meals and dishes, and the highest quality produce, meats, seafood and cheeses. If you don’t believe us, go there and check it out for yourself. You may even run into Justin Timberlake. |
