Miami, Florida - Eat & Drink

Eat

Foodies and chefs alike herald Miami[1] for its unique New World cuisine. Created in the 1990's, the cuisine alternatively known as New World, Nuevo Latino or Florribean cuisine blends local produce, Latin American and Caribbean culinary tradition and the technical skills required in European cooking. Nuevo Latino is said to be the brainchild of four chefs: Allen Susser, Norman Van Aken, Mark Militello and Douglas Rodriguez. All of them still work in Miami and most of them work at the restaurants they created in the 1990's. New World is not restricted to these chefs’ menus. This cuisine influences several restaurants around the city to this day.

Miami may be known for its Latin cuisine, especially its Cuban cuisine, but there are other different kinds of restaurants [2] to be found around the city. In addition to stand-alone restaurants offering up various cuisines from Chinese and Japanese and Middle Eastern and Italian (among other cuisines), there are cafés, steakhouses and restaurants operating from boutique hotels as well as chain restaurants such as TGI Fridays and Ben & Jerry’s.

Miami is known for having nightclubs[3] double as restaurants throughout the city. Most of these restaurants, such as Tantra (which had one of their chefs recently appear on Top Chef: Miami), BED and the Pearl Restaurant and Champagne Lounge (attached to Nikki Beach), are located throughout South Beach. However, some of these restaurants/nightclubs like Grass Lounge can be found in the Design District (north of downtown but south of North Miami).

If many of Miami’s premiere restaurants don’t fit into your daily budget, consider eating during Miami Restaurant Month (better known as Miami Spice [4]) in August and September. This year at 80 select restaurants lunch costs $22 and dinner is $35.

As the commercial, cultural capital of the Americas, Miami’s dining scene reflects burgeoning diversity, mixing exotic newcomer restaurants with long-standing institutions, often seasoned by Latin influence and hot winds of the Caribbean. New World cuisine, a culinary counterpart to accompany Miami’s New World Symphony, provides a loose fusion of Latin, Asian, and Caribbean flavors utilizing fresh, area-grown ingredients. Innovative restaurateurs and chefs similarly reel in patrons with Floribbean-flavored seafood fare, while keeping true to down-home Florida favorites.

Don't be fooled by the plethora of super lean model types you're likely to see posing throughout Miami. Contrary to popular belief, dining in this city is as much a sport as the in-line skating on Ocean Drive. With over 6,000 restaurants to choose from, dining out in Miami has become a passionate pastime for locals and visitors alike. Its star chefs have fused Californian-Asian with Caribbean and Latin elements to create a world-class flavor all its own: Floribbean. Think mango chutney splashed over fresh swordfish or a spicy sushi sauce served alongside Peruvian ceviche.

Whatever you're craving, Miami's got it -- with the exception of decent Chinese food and a New York-style slice of pizza. If you're craving a scene with your steak, then South Beach is the place to be. Like many cities in Europe and Latin America, it is fashionable to dine late in South Beach, preferably after 9pm, sometimes as late as midnight. Service on South Beach is notoriously slow and arrogant, but it comes with the turf. (Of course, it is possible to find restaurants that defy the notoriety and actually pride themselves on friendly service.) On the mainland -- especially in Coral Gables, and, more recently, downtown and on Brickell Avenue -- you can also experience fine, creative dining without the pretense.

Budget

• Pizza Rustica, 863 Washington Ave + 1 305 674 8244 (e-mail: contact@pizza-rustica.com) [5] – Pizza. This small chain is also branching out in LA and locations all over South Florida. In Miami, there are locations in Downtown Miami, Cameo and Lincoln Road Mall. It serves Roman-style pizza. Pizza is made by the foot and cut to a desired length and then folded over like a sandwich. Salads are also served. These places accept cash only. $3-$18 per person, per meal.

• David’s Café, 1058 Collins Ave +1 305 534-8736 (e-mail: info@davidscafe.com) [6] – Open 24 hours. Cuban. Cheap, legendary Cuban food. Free delivery on South Beach. $2-$19.

• David’s Café II, 1654 Meridian Ave (off of the Lincoln Road Mall), +1 305 672-8707 [7] – Open 24 hours. Cuban. The same fare as the original David’s Café, but at a convenient location for tired Lincoln Rd shoppers en route to the cheaper or the more expensive stores at the mall. $2-$19 per person, per meal.

Mid-range

• Big Pink, 157 Collins Ave (near and across from Privé and Opium Gardens), +1 305 532-4700 [8] – Comfort food. Once you enter this restaurant, head for its large menu near the entrance to see its selection of burgers, breakfasts and other items that have been brought to the present day. Stay if you're interested in what's playing on the televisions. If you’re not in the mood to head to the restaurant, Big Pink offers free takeout in a pink VW bug (and occasionally to bouncers at Privé). $3-$20.

• News Café, 800 Ocean Dr, [9] – Open 24 hours. Breakfast, pizzas, sandwiches and paninis, burgers, Middle Eastern cuisine, appetizers, entrees and dessert. Because of its location on the corner of 8th St and Ocean Dr, News Café is the perfect place to see anything from models to shoppers to Duck Tour buses. Note: a 15% tip is added to your order automatically. Internet access also available here for a fee. $2-$25 per person, per meal.

• Larios on the Beach , 820 Ocean Dr, +1 305 532-9577 – Sun-Thu 11:30AM-12AM, Ffri-Sat 11:30AM-1AM. Cuban. One of Gloria Estefan’s many restaurants in South Florida, this place is said to have some of the best mojitos in South Beach. $8-$27 per person, per meal.

• Mango’s Tropical Café, 900 Ocean Dr, +1 305 673-4422 [10] – Sun-Sat 11AM-5AM. Caribbean and American. Mango’s appearance in the cinematic bomb From Justin to Kelly—sparsely populated, well-lit at night and quiet enough to have a conversation about conniving girlfriends, this is the exact opposite of how Mango’s is on a typical day. This infamous South Beach spot is known for its dancers/bartenders in cat suits gyrating on the center bar to live music. There are also two side bars and plenty of tables if you want to be away from the action in the middle of the restaurant.

• Wolfie Cohen’s Rascal House, 190 Collins Ave, +1 305 947-4581 [11] – Sun-Thu 6:30AM-1AM, Fri-Sat 6:30AM-2AM. Rascal House is now a thing of the past. Closed March 2008. Jewish deli food. A Miami institution since 1954, Wolfie’s used to serve the Rat Pack after performances. It’s still beloved today because of its retroactive vibe. $8-$30 per person, per meal.

• Grass Restaurant and Lounge, 28 NE 40th Stt, +1 305 573-3355 (fax +1 305 573-5003, e-mail: info@grasslounge.com) [12] – Sun-Sat 7PM-12AM, but check website or contact the restaurant to verify seasonal hours. Fusion. Although there’s good food in this restaurant/lounge, this place is notoriously hard to get into unless you look like you belong in it. Yes, even with a reservation. $8-$28 per person, permeal.

• La Carreta, SW 8th St, +1 305 444-7501, [13] – Open 24 hours s fsu. Cuban. The flagship restaurant of a small chain of Cuban restaurants (including one location at Miami International Airport). Be careful though, as many people only speak Spanish. $5-$22 per person, per meal.

• ISHQ, 530 Ocean Dr, +1 305 532-4747 [14] – ISHQ serves the best Indian and vegetarian/vegan cuisine in South Beach. They have a great brunch on Sundays, and serve delicious cocktails $5-$23.

Splurge

• Baleen at Grove Isle Hotel & Spa, Four Grove Isle Dr, +1 305 858-8300, [15] – Far beyond typical Miami restaurants, Baleen consistently draws attendance from faire aficionados and consistent critical acclaim from Zagat's, Gourmet and AAA. The menu is eclectic and eccentric, with selections fresh from the sea, land and garden. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

• Joe’s Stone Crab, 11 Washington Ave, +1 305 673-0365 [16]. Lunch and dinner hours depend on the time of year. Appetizers, seafood, steaks, poultry, lamb, vegetables and dessert. Famous for three things: its' stone crabs, its' key lime pie and the long lines for its dinner service, but there are plenty of other options to order from the menu. Lines are shorter or non-existent when the restaurant is serving lunch or at its sister restaurant, Joe’s Take-Out. The waiters will be dressed to the nines, but you don’t have to be. $5-$69 per person, per meal (prices of stone crabs vary but are between $23-$63 per person, per meal depending on the size ordered and current market prices for stone crab).

• Joe’s Take Away , 11 Washington Ave, +1 305 673-4611 [17] – Lunch and dinner hours depend on the time of year. Breakfast, appetizers, soups, salads, meat & poultry, seafood and dessert. If you’re not in the mood to wait hours for a table in Joe’s, head to this sister establishment, which has many of the items available in the main restaurant without the long lines. Joe’s will also deliver its food to you no matter where you live (even if it is outside of Miami). $3-$40 per person, per meal (prices of stone crabs vary but are between $23-$63, depending on the size ordered and current market prices for stone crab).

• China Grill, 404 Washington Ave, +1 305 534-2211 [18] – Lunch M-F 12-5 PM, dinner Sun 5PM-11PM PM, Mon-Thu 6PM-12AM, Fri-Sat 6PM-1 AM. Chinese-fusion cuisine. Courses are served in family style (order to share). $20-$40 per person, per meal.

• Chef Allen’s, 19,088 NE 29th Ave, +1 305 935-2900 [19]. Sun-Thu 6PM-10PM, Fri-Sat 6PM-11PM. Allen Susser was named the best chef in the South in 1994 by the James Beard Foundation. A perfect place to try New World cuisine. Dinner jackets suggested. $9-$46 (the tasting menu is $75 per person).

• Nobu, 1901 Collins Ave (located in the Shore Hotel), +1 305 695-3232 (e-mail miamibeach@noburestaurants.com, fax +1 305 695-3246, buteservations taken through the main phone number only) [20] – Japanese. One of the many Nobu restaurants around the world known for its amazing Japanese food. Good luck trying to get a reservation, though. $3-$70 per person, per meal (the NOBU signature menu is $110; the Omakase, a meal determined by the chef, is $150).

• Blue Sea Restaurant, 1685 Collins Ave (located in an alcove off the main lobby of the Delano Hotel), +1 305 674-6400 [21] – Sun-Thu 7PM-12AM, Fri-Sat 5:30PM-1AM. Sushi.

• Blue Door Restaurant, 1685 Collins Ave (located in the Delano Hotel), +1 305 697-1791 [22]. Breakfast Sun-Sat 7PM-11:30AM, lunch Snu-Sat 11:30AM-4PM, brunch Sun 10:30AM-2:30PM, prix fixe dinner 7PM-11PM, a la carte dinner 7PM-12AM. French/Brazilian fusion. Reservations required for the prix fixe dinner. Reservations can be taken online.

• BED, 929 Washington Ave, +1 305 532-9070 [23]. Dinner Mon, Wed-Sat 8-11PM, bottle service Mon, Wed-Sat 11PM-3AM. Fusion. BED (which actually stands for Beverage, Entertainment and Dining) is the only small chain club/eatery where patrons can eat food on beds. The food is excellent, but be aware that BED has a dress code and no signage during the daytime (like most South Beach clubs). BED unfortunately attracts hipsters that may not have the ability to get into South Beach’s more exclusive clubs, but to ensure you at least have a spot at dinner BED accepts same-day reservations. $12-$38 per person, per meal.

• Casa Tua, 1700 James Ave, +1 305 673-1010 [24] – Lunch Mon-Fri 11:30AM-3PM, dinner Mon-Sat 7PM-12AM. Italian. Casa Tua is proud of the fact that there is no outside signage outside its restaurant. If the restaurant decides to advertise out front, it’s not going to be soon. Reservations are required to get inside, but make sure you can find the restaurant first or you might get a headache attempting to get to dinner. $12-$100 per person, per meal.

• Tantra, 1145 Pennsylvania Ave (on the corner of Espanola Way), +1 305 672-4765 [25]. Sun-Sat 7PM-5AM. Middle Eastern/Mediterranean/Indian. This restaurant/club is heavy on the Middle Eastern vibe—grass land ines its floors. Booths can be closed in this eatery for privacy and hookah pipes and aphrodisiac cocktails are passed around. $24-$52 per person, per meal.

• Ola, 5061 Biscayne Blvd (in the Sanctuary Hotel), +1 305 695-9125 [26] – Mon-Thu 6PM-12AM, Fri-Sat 6PM-2AM. Nuevo Latino. Chef Douglas Rodriguez’ restaurant, Of Latin America, is a mixture of Spanish and Latin American culinary traditions. Reservations recommended. $20-$35 per person, per meal.

• Ortanique on the Mile , 278 Miracle Mile (near Actor’s Playhouse),, +1 305 446-7710 – Mon-Tue 6PM-10PM, Wed-Sat 6PM-11PM, Sun 5:30PM-9:30PM. New World. One of three Ortanique restaurants (the other two are located in Washington, D.C. and Las Vegas. The food has a mixture of Caribbean and French influences. Reservations are requested. $19-$36 per person, per meal.

• Barton G. the Restaurant, 1427 West Ave, +1 305 672-8881 [27] – Sun-Sat 6PM-12AM. Experimental American cuisine. Barton G., also a well-known caterer in South Beach, uses the same showy presentation and food in his restaurant as he does with his catering. Reservations are requested. $8-$30 per person, per meal.

Drink

Nightlife in Miami consists of upscale hotel clubs, independent bars frequented by locals (including sports bars) and nightclubs. Most hotel bars and independent bars turn the other cheek at your physical appearance, but you have to be dressed to impress (which does not mean dress like a stripper) to get into a nightclub. Also remember to never, under any circumstances, insult the doormen and/or nightclub employees that will grant you entry or touch the velvet ropes or you may as well be sitting on the opposite side of the clamoring masses trying to get in. Attempting to tip the doormen and claiming that you know employees that work in the nightclubs (unless you actually called and reserved a table or a spot on the VIP list) is also considered an affront. Getting to the club unfashionably early and pushing through the crowd (and not the doormen) also can help make you stand out in the crowd. Finally, most nightclubs won’t admit groups of men unless those men are waiting in front of a gay bar. Bring some women or leave the pack if you’re desperate to get in. And once you get in, remember that the charge to get in these clubs can cost up to $20—cash only (some clubs, however, mercifully have ATMs—that can charge up to $7 for a withdrawal).

Popular drinks in Miami include the Cuba Libre and the mojito.

• Rose Bar at the Delano, 1685 Collins Ave (located in the Delano Hotel), +1 305 672-2000 [28] – Days and times open. Created by Ian Schrager, the bar has several rose-colored glasses surrounding it. Drinks are expensive, so be prepared to wear out your wallet.

• Skybar, 1901 Collins Ave (located at the Shore Club), +1 305 695-3100 [29] – Times vary depending on rooms within the Skybar. Consisting of several places in the space behind the Shore Club with whimsical names like the Redroom, the Sandbar and the Rumbar, the Shore Club is tough to get into for people not on the A-list or guests at the hotel. Another hotel creation by Ian Schrager.

• Mac's Club Deuce, 222 14th St , +1 305 673-9537 – Sun-Sat 8AM-5AM. Miami Beach’s oldest bar, founded in 1926, is not as pretentious as several other bars around Miami. An affordable, local hangout with a jukebox and a pool table.

• M-Bar, 500 Brickell Key Dr (in the Mandarin Oriental), +1 305 913-8288 [30] – Mon-Thu, Sun 5PM–12AM, Fri-Sat 5PM-1AM. The 'M' in this bar’s name refers to its martinis, and this bar serves over 250 of them. The dress code is "Miami Chic."

• Tobacco Road, 626 South Miami Ave, +1 305 354-1198 [31] – Mon-Fri 11:30AM-5AM, Sat-Sun 12PM-5AM. Jazz and blues are the sounds that you’ll hear in Miami's oldest bar (established in 1912).

• Laundry Bar, 721 Lincoln Ln North, +1 305 531-7700 [32] – Sun-Sat 7AM-5AM (alcohol is served beginning at 12PM). The only bar in Miami where you can wash clothes, play pool and get drunk at the same time. Welcomes a mixed crowd of straight and queer people.

• Mansion, 1235 Washington Ave, +1 305 532-1525 (fax 305-604-9726) [33] – Tue-Sun 11PM-5AM. In its heyday back in the 1930s Mansion was a movie theater. The Opium Group, owners of Opium Garden and Privé, bought the nightclub formerly known as Level and converted it into a club with gorgeous surroundings and intimate spaces. The sounds in this club are hip-hop oriented and the scene woefully includes male hipsters in baggy jeans on given nights.

• Opium Garden and Privé , 136 Collins Ave (near and across from Big Pink), +1 305 531-5535 (fax 305-604-9726) [34] – Thu-Sun 11PM-5AM (check with website and/or call club for times open). Opium Garden is a lush, Eastern-inspired outdoor space where the best seats around the dance area, most likely playing hip-hop unless it’s around the time of the Winter Music Conference, can be reserved. Those without tables can sit on a stair-like resting area, exposing you to any rain in the area. Privé is the lounge upstairs where a reservation for a table can cost around $300 per person. Without a table reservation, it’s tougher to get into Privé than Opium Garden.

• Nikki Beach Miami, 1 Ocean Dr (behind a gray building that houses Pearl Restaurant and Champagne Lounge), +1 305 531-5535 [35]. Teepees and beds surround this outdoor space, which feels smaller in person than it does in television shows and movies such as From Justin to Kelly. This club is infamous for welcoming the likes of minor celebrities such as Brooke Hogan (Hulk Hogan’s daughter and a singer in her own right). Part of a small chain of Nikki Beaches across the world.

• Barracuda Bar & Grill, 3035 Fuller St (in Coconut Grove), +1 305 448-1144 – The Barracuda Bar & Grill, in addition to hamburgers, serves beer & wine only. People from bikers to frat boys hang out here.

• Mr. Moe's, 3131 Commodore Plaza (in Coconut Grove), +1 305 442-1114 [36] – This bar, recognized as one of "America's Greatest Sports Bars" by the ESPN show Cold Pizza, looks very much like a saloon on the inside. Flat-panel TVs cover nearly all the walls of this bar for sporting events and ESPN. In addition to its 40 beer selections, Mr. Moe's has trivia, live music and karaoke nights, pool tables and a mechanical bull.

• Sandbar Grill, 3064 Grand Ave (in Coconut Grove), +1 305 444-5270 [37] – Twenty televisions are located in this bar. In addition to the televisions at this bar, there is a menu with several seafood specialties and $0.25 wings on Mondays. Sandbar also has theme nights like the "White Trash Bash."

• Greenstreet Cafe, 3468 Main Highway (in Coconut Grove), +1 305 444-0244 [38] – Serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A bit more upscale but has a fantastic outside seating area for cocktails.