Miami Beach Dining South of Fifth

South of Fifth dining at Smith & Wollensky overlooking Government Cut

A curious thing has just occurred on the Miami Beach dining scene: Pearl Restaurant & Champagne Lounge, the futuristic oceanfront eatery which closed in 2005, reopened in the exact same location—and under the exact same name. Now, why would that happen?

Says owner Jack Penrod “Everywhere my wife and I traveled, people were always asking for Pearl. We figured that since everyone else missed it as much as we did, let’s bring it back!”

Maybe so, but we think it has far more to do with the fact that Miami Beach's South of Fifth (SoFi) section is rapidly achieving critical mass with diners as a culinary destination due to the influx of top restaurants moving into an area that was once occupied only by Joe's Stone Crab.

A quick survey of the top eateries within a one block radius of Pearl's location reveals such high profile names as De Rodriguez Cuba, Prime One Twelve, Prime Italian and Philippe Miami, while a short walk will get you to Texas De Brazil, Fogo de Chao, RED the Steakhouse, Smith & Wollensky, and of course, Joe's Stone Crab. That's a pretty hefty line-up for a relatively compact area.

So against that backdrop, we present our view of the top spots in SoFi for travelers coming to Miami Beach this season and wishing to sample the best dining the area has to offer. And in case you're wondering, the hotels you'll want to consider for your culinary excursion are: Hilton Bentley Miami/South Beach, South Beach Marriott, The Savoy and the Ocean Five hotel.

De Rodriguez Cuba

De Rodriguez Cuba
101 Ocean Drive / Miami Beach, FL
With poolside seating and a breezy oceanfront location, De Rodriguez Cuba at the Hilton Bentley Hotel is a pleasure to all of your senses offering a unique fusion of traditional and modern riffs on Latin cuisine by the master of the Nuevo Latino movement - Chef Douglas Rodriguez! While a true taste of authentic Cuban fare is always a good idea, be certain to also visit the ceviche bar to taste fresh seafood marinated in spices and lime juice to create a totally refreshing bite of briny goodness. Stop in for a mojito-fuelled tapas happy hour or toast a leisurely Sunday brunch with a pitcher of flavorful house made sangria.

Prime One Twelve

Prime One Twelve
112 Ocean Drive / Miami Beach, FL
South Beach is a highly charged, highly competitive atmosphere and no place stands as far above the herd of pricey steakhouses as this sceney SoFi location where the celebrity and super model clientele is nearly more dazzling than the food. Order a juicy slab of beef and plenty of decadent sides like the truffled mac & cheese and the divine lobster bisque. Accept no substitutions - Prime 112 is the real deal.

Prime Italian

Prime Italian
101 Ocean Drive / Miami Beach, FL
If the lines are too long or you simply forgot to reserve a table across the street, you can relax in the knowledge that nearly every delicious entree served up at Prime 112 is also available at this pretty little sister spot where a hefty helping of red-sauced Italian fare fills out the entree list with garlicky aplomb. Try the giant Kobe meatball and be sure to leave room for dessert! Chances are the Miami HEAT players who are dodging the paparazzi are eating here too.

Philippe Miami

Philippe Miami
36-40 Ocean Drive / Miami Beach, FL
Making a bold South Beach real estate move, the restaurateurs behind Philippe Miami's successful launch paid a Greek ransom to Taverna Opa to give up their prized SoFi location so that their hand-pulled noodles and spicy Asian dishes could take pride of place on Ocean Drive where the brand new restaurant truly dazzles! Noodle master Chef Wai Ming Cheng works his magic on a menu that includes spicy prawns, curried chicken satays and so much more.

Texas De Brazil

Texas De Brazil
300 Alton Road / Miami Beach, FL
Set atop the Miami Beach Marina, this all-you-care-to-eat churrascaria serves tender cuts of beef, lamb, chicken and pork to hungry diners who patiently watch as gaucho servers slice the just-grilled meats from steel skewers directly onto their plates. Enjoy the huge soup and salad bar but practice some discretion as the star of the show is searing away on that stunning Brazilian grill! Prices are per guest and larger parties can easily be accommodated at this friendly SoFi steakhouse with a million dollar view.

Fogo de Chao

Fogo de Chao
836 First Street / Miami Beach, FL
Perhaps the smaller cousin to the Texas de Brazil chain, Fogo de Chao fills First Street with the succulent scent of just-grilled meat which is served by a prompt and professional waitstaff at this charming SoFi steakhouse. Enjoy the fine wine list and a 30 item appetizer selection and when you are ready for a parade of 15 different tender cuts, simply turn your placard to green and let the magic begin! The gaucho chefs slice and serve each grilled treat until you've had your fill.

RED the Steakhouse

RED the Steakhouse
119 Washington Avenue / Miami Beach, FL
Straight out of Cleveland and right to the top of Florida Foodies must-have list, RED the Steakhouse is one of SoFi's finest. Restaurateur Brad Friedlander brought Chef Peter Vauthy to South Beach to craft a menu that is sizzling, sexy and stocked with Certified Angus prime beef, chops, lamb and Florida-fresh seafood. The wine list boasts over 700 pours which pair perfectly with the dinner menu or make a sparkling complement to some truly decadent desserts.

Joe's Stone Crab

Joe's Stone Crab
11 Washington Avenue / Miami Beach, FL
The oldest and truly one of the best restaurants to grace the SoFi shoreline, Joe's has served Florida's freshest seafood to happy visitors, celebrities and socialites since 1913. Enjoying a storied past which includes run-ins with Al Capone, Will Rogers, Amelia Earhart and Walter Winchell, one of the best things about the landmark restaurant is that the food is still more important than the particular pedigree of the guests. Don't miss the spicy chowder, the crisp cole slaw or the creamy Key Lime pie.

Smith & Wollensky
1 Washington Avenue / Miami Beach, FL
Steakhouses are popular and plentiful on South Beach but none can boast the truly magnificent view offered at Smith & Wollensky where alfresco tables line the busy waterway where some of the world's largest cruise ships slip slowly by on their way out to sea. Stop in at sunset for a drink at the back bar and then stay for a juicy steak, a hearty slice of tender prime rib or a huge slab of chocolate layer cake served promptly and politely under the rising Miami Beach moon.

Pearl Restaurant & Champagne Lounge

Pearl Restaurant & Champagne Lounge
1 Ocean Drive / Miami Beach, FL
Back in town and better than ever, Pearl Restaurant and Champagne Lounge returns to South Beach under the careful stewardship of Chef Sylvain Noel who creates a world fusion of flavors as pleasing to the eye as they are to the palate. Menu items are organized by region with treasures of the Middle East and Latin America paired with prime cuts of American beef. As an added attraction for SoFi diners who can sup indoors or alfresco, Pearl features an extensive caviar menu and a fine champagne list available by the bottle or by the glass. After 11pm, the restaurant transforms into an elegant and relaxed cocktail lounge.