While Miami Beach is full of delicious dining destinations, you should also consider a visit to the many places in the area that are “Only in Miami” experiences during your visit here. Often the most important memories of a great vacation are the simple flavors you enjoy in a brand new setting. Our number five travel tip includes a few destinations guaranteed to make a lasting impression on your palate.
Breakfast, they say, is the most important meal of the day and Miamians like to start the morning at Rascal House, a New York style deli on Sunny Isles Beach. Years ago, Wolfie Cohen ran a number of deli restaurants along our coastline serving big hearty plates of Grandma’s comfort food around the clock. Diners would stand in line for up to an hour to get a seat at a table laden with bowls of half-sour pickles, green tomatoes, cabbage slaw and beets. While considering the huge menu, chubby chatty waitresses brought along baskets of onion rolls, plates of rye bread, pats of butter, scoops of cream cheese and THEN a list of daily specials. At the front door, glass cases of strawberry cheesecake and stacks of freshly baked cookies tempted passers-by to stop and nibble.
While most of these temples of gluttony have closed their doors, Rascal House remains as a favorite destination for folks seeking a taste of Old Miami Beach. Breakfast includes all the pickled salads and rolls plus a small plate of mini danish and sweet breads – all served free! Seniors in the area order a small breakfast special and take all the extras on the table home in a doggy bag. This practice is not frowned upon; in fact it’s encouraged. No wonder Rascal House enjoys such a loyal following. If you want to start your day at a classic Florida deli, Rascal House is located at 17190 Collins Avenue.
Lunchtime is a great escape for Miamians who suffer inside fluorescent-lit office complexes while daydreaming about the sparkle of Biscayne Bay. A popular spot for lunch al fresco is Scotty’s Landing, a waterside hidden treasure near the marina in Coconut Grove. This place is hard to find – often the best places are! In the shadow of a warehouse sheltering private vessels from the storm, a group of bright umbrellas shades the prized tables overlooking the water. Serving lunch and dinner, Scotty’s is also a great spot for a sundown cocktail and a chance to support some local musicians. Stop by for fish and chips and an ice-cold beer and you’re bound to meet lots of friendly locals who are no-doubt considering playing hooky for the rest of the day. Scotty’s Landing (www.sailmiami.com) is located at 3381 Pan American Drive in Coconut Grove.
Nearby and definitely off-the-radar, Jimbo’s Shrimp Shack on Key Biscayne is a trip back to the days of the TV show “Flipper.” The old adventure series about the antics of a friendly dolphin were filmed out on Virginia Key. Jimbo’s is little more than a shack in the woods where Miamians in-the-know hang out and enjoy freshly smoked fish dip and a beer from the cooler. Just a few minutes off the Rickenbacker Causeway, a trip out to Jimbo’s is truly an adventure. On weekends, you’ll find a cast of real characters playing bocce ball and telling lies. On weekdays, the place is a popular background for photo shoots and movies. Before you make your way out to the Key, definitely check out the website and print the map. www.jimbosplace.com
After a quick beer at Jimbo’s, venture east to the end of the Key and the Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park to dine at the Boater’s Grill. Overlooking No Name Harbor and offering a spectacular view of downtown Miami, the Grill serves fresh seafood, lobster and ceviche prepared with a Latin flair. During the day, you must pay an entrance fee at the park gate. The atmosphere is completely casual and the food is out of this world. The Boater’s Grill is the best-kept secret in Miami – until now! 1200 Crandon Boulevard, Key Biscayne.
There are also some restaurants that aren’t off the beaten path that you should experience and Joe’s Stone Crab is one of them. The area’s most famous dining spot started serving seafood dinners way back in 1913. Joe’s Stone Crab offers the most authentic taste of Miami because the rock-hard crab claws are harvested in local waters from October to May. Originally a humble lunch counter, Joe’s was the first restaurant on Miami Beach. In fact, Collins Avenue was not even a paved road at that time. In 1921 Joe Weiss started boiling the local crabs and serving them for just 75 cents. Even in the early days, the dining room attracted local celebrities including the notorious gangster Al Capone. Over the years, movie stars, politicians, presidents and gangsters have dined side-by-side at this famous fish joint by the sea.
If you choose to dine at Joe’s during your trip, know that the wait for a table in the no-reservations dining room can take more than an hour at dinnertime. Uniformed captains serve dinner on white linen cloths but the dress code is fairly casual. While an order of the famous crabs starts in the $25 range and doubles for larger claws, the rest of the menu is far more reasonable. Smart diners arrive closer to 5:30pm to avoid the prime time wait and clever locals usually go to Joe’s only at lunchtime. Stories about a handshake discretely lined with a folded $20 bill for the busy Maître d’ are all true. If you must dine at 7pm in the midst of the maddening crowd, you need to enter this negotiation with the utmost savoir-faire. We still think it’s wiser to dine early or late or simply lunch with ease Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30am-2pm. Otherwise, stop next door and have the helpful folks at the Takeaway counter pack everything you need for a perfect picnic from 7:30 breakfast specials to 9pm suppers. www.joesstonecrab.com
Our next installment is the Ultimate Shopper’s Guide to South Florida.
Part A
Part B
Part C
Part D
Part E
Part F
Part G
Part H
Part I
