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AMERICAN
Liaison
1436 Drexel Ave.
Miami Beach, FL, 33139-8105
(305) 538-1055
As the name implies, this hidden treasure on South Beach is a good
place for a date, not only because of its romantic, French Quarter
feel but because its New American-Cajun cuisine is superbly creative,
fresh and healthy at reasonable prices; sit at the hip bar and sample
from the killer martini menu as you wait for that special someone
to arrive.
Red Square
411 Washington Ave.
Beach, FL, 33139-6617
(305) 672-0200
Though the fun and funky decor is rather Red, South Beach czars
and czarinas don't mind that they're practically back in the USSR
at this Russian-New American former hot spot; the little cubbyholes
downstairs are still the most romantic, intimate place for two to
dine on imperial treats and sip from 100-plus varieties of vodka
poured at the frozen bar before they hit the dance floor to get
down to the DJ's disco.
Soyka
5556 NE Fourth Ct.
Miami, FL, 33137-2606
(305) 759-3117
With its industrial style, hip ambiance and risky location, this
chatty, second-cup-of-coffee, Sunday-brunch kinda pioneer north
of the Design District brings a little New York to Miami; the jewel
in Mark Soyka's empire is filled to the gills with see-and-be-seensters
gobbling up good New American comfort food - who says a restaurant
can't revive a neighborhood?
BAR-B-Q
Bar-B-Q Barn
11705 NW Seventh Ave.
Miami, FL, 33168-2509
(305) 681-2491
Down-home pulled pork sandwiches and other large-portion BBQ standards
draw hearty appetites to this Northwest Dade institution near the
Pro Player Stadium; though some say the flavors here are tasty and
consistent, critics claim the joint has seen its day.
The Pit Bar-B-Q
16400 SW Eighth St.
Miami, FL, 33194-2703
(305) 226-2272
Whoa, amazing! say families who visit this Deep South institution
near the Everglades; in a quarter-century of serving the best ribs,
fresh local gator and frog's legs, the trailer park-fabulous place
hasn't changed and neither have its prices; you'll get BBQ sauce
on your hands, but you'll be too busy pigging out to care about
what you learned from Miss Manners.
Sobe Bar-B-Q
1216 Washington Ave.
Miami Beach, FL, 33139-4620
(305) 532-9986
South Beach's only BBQ joint, this nondescript storefront with outdoor
seating fills bellies with finger-lickin'-sloppy slabs of slooow
hickory-smoked babybacks, pork loin, chicken and shrimp with all
the fixin's, including slaw, sweet potatoes, buttermilk onion rings,
cornbread and the best collards and black-eyed peas around.
CARIBBEAN
Azul
500 Brickell Key Dr.
Miami, FL, 33131-2605 (305) 913-8358
Miami's latest must-try is this top-rated newcomer in the Mandarin
Oriental Hotel on Biscayne Bay, where chef Michelle Bernstein, formerly
of Tantra and the Strand, seldom falls from the high wire of her
stellar Asian-Caribbean-French fusion; the bare sophistication of
the decor and the food mood are so Zen that, despite catastrophic
prices, it's a soothing experience.
Bahama Breeze
South Dade
12395 SW 88th St.
Miami, FL, 33186-1924
(305) 598-4040
Take a vacation for two hours at this islander chain's Kendall and
Broward branches where you can enjoy the music and the drinks along
with good Caribbean fare such as black bean soup, conch chowder
and jerk chicken washed down by a powerful signature Bahama-rita.
Ortanique On the Mile
278 Miracle Mile
Coral Gables, FL, 33134-5908
(305) 446-7710
It's Jamaica in the Gables at this wonderful addition to the Miami
dining scene; the tropical atmosphere puts you on a Caribbean island
immediately, and French-inspired flavor explosions make that feeling
linger; the crowd is festive, young and noisy, but even oldsters
who don't like Florida would make a trip back just to eat here -
after all, where else can you get a great glass of wine to go with
your jerk foie gras?
Taptap Hatian
819 Fifth St.
Miami Beach, FL, 33139-6511
(305) 672-2898
Locals and tourists alike are tap-tap-tappin' on this vibrant winner's
South Beach door, clamoring for flavorful Haitian soul food and
divine fruit drinks; with dynamic artwork from the island on the
walls and guests joining in for a song with the bands on Thursday
and Saturday nights, the place has got great energy.
CHINESE
Macau
522 NE 167th St. (NE 6th Ave.)
Miami, FL, 33162-3910
(305) 945-8566
Like the melting-pot culture of its namesake island (birthplace
of the chef-owner), the fare can be unusual at this Chinese treasure
hidden in Little Asia next door to an eponymous bakery, but salt
'n' pepper shrimp and other dishes sure are authentic and tasty;
friendly, personalized service makes up for the bland surroundings.
Tony Chan's Water Club
1717 N. Bayshore Dr.
Miami, FL, 33132-1180
(305) 374-8888
The best Chinese this side of Shanghai may just be at this upscale
Downtown favorite with romantic waterfront views, where delicious
Peking duck and other dishes are fresh as home cooking; though the
fare is probably more complex than what you'd whip up at your condo
stove, when you watch the chefs through the kitchen's floor-to-ceiling
windows or at the newly added sushi bar, you might just learn a
thing or two.
Tropical Chinese
7991 SW 40th St.
Miami, FL, 33155-6750
(305) 262-7576
Dim sum! dim sum! dim sum! are the three top reasons it's worth
the drive to Southwest Dade's Hong Kong-style strip-mall hall; large
crowds of Sunday Sinophiles wait in line to watch the preparations
through the huge glass window into the kitchen and to flag down
carts loaded with a massive array of alluring interpretations on
the traditional choices at Miami's best Chinese.
Yeung's Chinese
954 41st St. (Alton Rd.)
Miami Beach, FL, 33140-3307
(305) 672-1144
The tip-top takeaway is just like you remember it from Sunday nights
in Brooklyn, but there's pleasant ambiance for eating on the premises
as well at this above-average neighborhood Chinese in Miami Beach
where very tasty, very reasonable fare keeps relocated New Yorkers
full and happy.
FRENCH
B.E.D.
929 Washington Ave.
Miami Beach, FL, 33139-5015
(305) 532-9070
Watch what socks you wear because no shoes are allowed at this super-trendy
South Beach paean to shut-eye where the waiters wear pajamas and
young, hip patrons get into bed with friends to pick from silver
platters of surprisingly good New French fare; the decadent den
is the closest thing to the Roman Empire around, even if prudes
find it overpriced and gimmicky.
Blue Door
1685 Collins Ave.
Miami Beach, FL, 33139-3136
(305) 674-6400
Philippe Starck has draped the Delano's dining dream in breezy,
long, white curtains from the ceiling to the floor, and Miami's
No. 1 for Decor includes celebrities galore, making the New French
gem feel like a luxurious movie set; the scene shouldn't distract
you from the excellent seafood-heavy menu, though common folk who
don't kiss up or scream at their waiter might never be served, and
fantasy meets reality when the big bill comes.
La Palme D'or
1200 Anastasia Ave.
Coral Gables, FL, 33134-6300
(305) 445-1926
Maybe the most grown-up, romantic dining in Coral Gables is at this
grande dame of French cuisine at the Biltmore Hotel; gorgeous frescoes
and flawless service enhance the drama of epicurean delights that
include quintessential Sunday brunch and samplers by visiting Michelin-starred
chefs on the first week of each month; though each pricey star has
its critics, celebrants say l'ultra de l'ultra is worth every penny.
Tantra
1445 Pennsylvania Ave.
Miami Beach, FL, 33139-4085
(305) 672-4765
It's more of a party scene than a restaurant say supplicants of
this very, very expensive South Beach adult date place with its
dark and sultry surroundings and grass on the floor; it's not that
the aphrodisiacal Mediterranean-French fare isn't unbelievably good;
it's just that with everyone smoking hookah pipes, dancing to blaring
trance music and lounging beneath erotic wall reliefs and an endless
loop of the movie Kama Sutra, it's too distracting to eat.
ITALIAN
Big Fish
55 SW Miami Avenue Rd.
Miami, FL, 33130-1600
(305) 373-1770
Characters out of a Fellini film dock all kinds of boats by the
good old bar outdoors at this funky local hangout right along the
river; the Italian seafood menu is limited, but the signature tagliatelle
and other dishes can be delicious, and if the snooty service needs
work big-time, the romantic views of the lights of Downtown make
you glad to be in Miami regardless.
Blue Grotto
1674 SW 57th Ave.
Miami, FL, 33142-3164
(305) 264-5517
Step back into the '50s amid funky-looking fake-brick walls, mirrors
and pictures of Italy at this charmingly boisterous and warm neighborhood
standby in West Dade; the tasty eats include great take-out pizza,
and the best-priced calamari in town is squid pro quo for a song.
Joia
150 Ocean Dr.
Miami Beach, FL, 33139-7213
(305) 674-8871
Bellissimo! shriek the fashionable folk - for an air-kissy, posh
evening out in SoBe, dine on very good pasta with the beautiful
people at the most expensive [Northern] Italian on the beach; down-to-earth
diners dis it as another club wanna-be dishing out overpriced mediocre
food and attitude, attitude, attitude.
Macaluso's
1747 Alton Rd.
Miami, FL, 33139-2495
(305) 604-1811
Off the beaten track in a strip mall on South Beach, this very casual
New York-style Italian has become a local's hangout for imaginative
spins on the chef-owner's Staten Island-family recipes, including
out-of-this-world broccoli di rabe and a shrimp dish named after
the Chairman of the Board
Tulipano Centodieci
11052 Biscayne Blvd.
North Miami, FL, 33161-7462
(305) 893-4211
The original owners and former chef of the once-top-rated Il Tulipano
came out of retirement to reopen in the original, but admittedly
downscale, North Miami neighborhood; after a bit of sprucing up,
the oak interior is looking up to snuff, and fare such as oven-roasted
lamb shank with fava beans should bring in customers who knew these
folks back when.
JAPANESE
Bond St. Lounge
150 20th St.
Miami Beach, FL, 33139-1904
(305) 398-1806
The sapling sibling of a Big Apple hot spot, this sexy newcomer
in the basement of the chic Townhouse Hotel makes a great date place;
the best spicy tuna on the planet and other fabulously creative
sushi will change your understanding of the cuisine, but tiny tables
and a rude staff may make you want to loosen your bond with the
too-hip lounge nonetheless.
Hiro Japanese
3007 NE 163rd St
North Miami Beach, FL, 33160-4422
(305) 948-3687
At this hour, is there anybody else? ask night owls of this North
Miami Beach Japanese open until 3:30 AM; midnight munchers put up
with frenetic service and a cheesy atmosphere to enjoy the huge
menu of wonderful sushi, tasty yakitori and other good, reasonably
priced Japanese; N.B. they also have take-out/delivery venues in
Miami Beach and South Beach to keep raw fish enthusiasts happy at
home.
Shoji
100 Collins Ave.
Miami Beach, FL, 33139-7207
(305) 532-4245
Finally, sushi not from the usual assembly line say South Beach
seafood lovers; Nemo owner Michael Schwartz's great addition to
the emerging scene below Fifth Street sports inspiring, authentic
raw fish, a stellar sake selection, a cool staff, a nice vibe and
a big buzz.
Sushi Doraku
1104 Lincoln Rd. (Alton Rd.)
Miami Beach, FL, 33139-2425
(305) 695-8383
The Automat meets Disney Tokyo on the sushi conveyor belt under
the arms of a 75-foot yellow-and-purple octopus at this Benihana-owned
Japanese with tentacles in South Beach and Lauderdale and featuring
variously priced, color-coded revolving raw fish; it's a cool way
to catch your own dinner.
Sushi Rock Cafe
1351 Collins Ave.
Miami Beach, Fl, 33139
(305) 532-2133
Hip South Beach groupies feel the love in the blaring rock music
and tastebud excitement at this cheerful Japanese joint; menus made
from old vinyl record jackets offer unusual sushi rolls and even
better cooked dishes on the cheap to a crowd of mostly regulars
who are treated with great care here, even as confused Hard Rock
fans ask Elvis with wasabi . . . come on - what's up?
World Resources
719 Lincoln Rd.
Miami Beach, FL, 33139-2813
(305) 535-8987
After closing a year ago for redecorating and an upgrade, this addition
to Toni Takarada's empire on South Beach's Lincoln Road has come
back with a bang; unlike before, the very avant-garde Thai-Japanese
cuisine is quite good now, and the casual space trimmed in black
is beautiful.
MEXICAN/TEX-MEX
El Fogon
2091 Coral Way
Miami, FL, 33145
(305) 856-3451
A tiny, brightly painted storefront on Coral Way holds within what
many consider authentic and excellent Mexican cuisine in a town
that doesn't have much of that sort of thing; try the fajitas, but
don't expect to wash 'em down with a margarita in this beer-and-wine-only
casita.
El Rancho Grande
1626 Pennsylvania Ave.
Miami Beach, FL, 33139-7713
(305) 673-0480
Some margarita-nipping chip-dippers flip for the best salsa in town
at their all-time favorite Mexican watering hole after the beach;
though the fun, cute atmosphere at this laid-back hideaway from
the crowds of Lincoln Road makes them always hopeful, others who
are desperate for autentico south-of-the-border eats in SoBe are
disappointed by the over-hyped fare.
San Loco
235 14th St.
Miami Beach, FL, 33139-4206
(305) 538-3009
When the sun is rising over the Atlantic, rowdy club-going SoBe
types with late-night munchies find themselves crazed for what they
claim is no doubt the best burrito on the Beach and other tasty,
filling Mexican that's always fresh and spiced to your liking at
this cheap hole-in-the-wall; plus, who cares if it's a real dump,
slur night-crawlers, when they deliver?
Tequila Sunrise
3894 SW Eighth St.
Coral Gables, FL, 33134-3002
(305) 446-8280
For lots of family fun, try this cute, friendly Mexican in Coral
Gables; kids love the strolling singers, parents can unwind with
some of the best margaritas in Dade, and if gastronomes gripe that
the typical chow is made with items that sometimes look straight
from the can, at least it's reasonably priced.
SEAFOOD
A Fish Called Avalon
700 Ocean Dr.
Miami Beach, FL, 33139-6220
(305) 532-1727
Despite its kooky name, this enduring favorite in the heart of South
Beach offers civilized dining on always fresh fin fare; service
may be sluggish, but if you sit outside on the fabulous patio by
the beach, you can while away the wait watching the beautiful people
go by
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
401 Biscayne Blvd.
Miami, FL, 33132
(305) 379-8866
Despite scores as low as that of its namesake's I.Q., this Downtown
American chainster is fun for a run of margaritas in souvenir cups
to keep for the memories; before or after a game at the arena, Miami
Heat fans join tourists for shrimp everything here, though grouchy
gastronomes grouse there's no excuse for tacky decor, overzealous
servers and greasy finger food.
Ceviche House
13856 SW 56th St.
Miami, FL, 33175-6060
(305) 382-4164
For strip-mall dining at its best, try this good Peruvian seafood
spot in West Dade that serves great seviche, of course, but also
other reasonably priced unique menu choices that fans say taste
better than competitors'; a little English would help to service
tongue-tied gringos.
Disco Fish
1540 SW 67th Ave.
Miami, FL, 33144-5515
(305) 266-7323
Now, here's a Cuban seafood house that gringos should know about;
the West Dade place is a dump, but if you can get past the decor,
hustle to the cooler for a look before ordering and get down to
a righteous meal of fresh and tasty fish at rock-bottom prices.
Les Deux Fontaines
1230-38 Ocean Dr.
Miami Beach, FL, 33139-4610
(305) 672-7878
The fun people-watching, good jazz quartet and namesake fountains
on the lovely terrace of this superb Ocean Drive setting impress
visitors more than the disappointing French seafood and snotty,
incompetent staff; some claim the South Beach hotel eatery is simply
an overpriced, typical tourist trap.
Old Cutler Oyster Co..
18415 S. Dixie Hwy.
Miami, FL, 33157-6815
(305) 238-2051
Known to locals as Old C's, this quaint and comfy seafooder in Perrine
serves fare that's way above average fish-house quality say reviewers
who crave the wonderful she-crab soup and Caesar salad; though they
don't serve prairie oysters here, they do have country-western line
dancing some nights of the week in the adjacent lounge.
Purple Dolphin
350 Ocean Dr.
Key Biscayne, FL, 33149-1600
(305) 361-2021
Peddling typical hotel fare to out-of-towners, this Floridian seafooder
in Key Biscayne has a handful of locals admitting they sometimes
visit for good fish and great views overlooking the Atlantic; however,
most Miamians weigh in with the opinion that the fine Sonesta Beach
Resort could do much better
Sirena
1901 Collins Ave.
Miami Beach, FL, 33139-1995
(305) 695-3244
The other restaurant in the trendy Shore Club, this gorgeous sister
of Nobu is an instant hit with its mammoth slabs of swirly marble,
long seafood bar and stunning views overlooking the sleek and sexy
pool; early indicators predict Matsuhisa's Mediterranean menu will
go over big, especially for lunching and brunching.
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