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Washington Avenue's top restaurants
include Osteria del Teatro and Joe's Stone Crab |
Miami's culinary scene moves at a dazzling pace, and in the short
time since we last updated our dining guide, some of the biggest names
in South Beach fine dining closed their doors. As the economy continues
to struggle, a number of more moderately priced restaurants have
attracted the city's best chefs. Nemo is closed, Talula
was sold and reopened as Eden, and chefs Frank and Andrea Curto-Randazzo
(she was a Top Chef-testant) have moved their base of operation from
Talula to the dockside Water Club at the Intracoastal Mall in Sunny
Isles.
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BLT Steak Restaurant at the Betsy Hotel |
Season Five's Top Chef Jeff McInnis left the Ritz-Carlton South Beach
after 5 years serving Mediterranean tapas at the DiLido Beach Club and
joined the Amir Ben-Zion restaurant group at their newest late night
venture GiGi—then left again. The fast-casual Asian dining spot near Wynwood's
Bardot
nightclub serves buns, noodles and beer to a growing MidTown hipster
crowd. Chef Michael Bloise left Wish Restaurant at the Hotel of South
Beach to start the American Noodle Company on the Biscayne Corridor. The
laid back Asian-fusion spot joins Sakaya Kitchen and Chow Down Grill on
local foodie radar this season. Sakaya Kitchen's Chef Richard Hales
worked at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and Chow Down Grill's Joshua
Marcus and Jason Suttmiller worked at BLTSteak at the Betsy Hotel on
Ocean Drive before striking out on their own in Surfside.
Jeffrey Chodorow shuttered SoFi's El Scorpion,
Barbu bit the dust and
Books & Books' Bernie Matz launched a fast casual Latin American Cafe on
the west side of town where Burger & Beer Joint is the local's favorite
for juicy patties and giant onion rings. New Yorker Danny Meyer brought
Shake Shack to Lincoln Mall and foodies are anxiously awaiting the
opening of the oddly-named Pubbelly gastropub in nearby Sunset Harbour.
Construction and renovations continue all over town as developers ink
deals with big-name restaurateurs who launched Zuma at the Epic Hotel,
Jose Andres new venture on South Beach and Stephen Starr's glam sushi
spot in Bal Harbour Mall. As the season warms up, you'll want to score a
table at one of these culinary hot spots to taste the Best of South
Florida...
—Miami Beach—
BLTSteak
1440 Ocean Drive / South Beach / 305-673-0044
The stampede of pricey steakhouses on South Beach leaves most diners wondering
which restaurant merits the hefty price tag for pounds of porterhouse and gobs
of lobster topped mac and cheese.
Chef Laurent Tourondel's BLT Steak may not be
the scene-iest (that's Prime 112), and it may not be the loudest (STK by a
mile), but it is by far the tastiest combination of quality beef, delectable
sides, professional service and civilized atmosphere in town. While most of
Ocean Drive seems tawdry and commercial, interiors at the Georgian Revival Betsy
Hotel are conservative and cool. Waiters drop off complimentary crostini with a
liver mousse and then steaming hot popovers to enjoy while perusing the menu and
sipping cocktails. By the time the appetizers are gone, one message is clear;
BLTSteak is no mere chop house - it's a culinary destination.
The Dining Room at The Villa by Barton G
1116 Ocean Drive / South Beach / 305-576-8003
When Gianni Versace discovered the particular charms of South Beach living years
ago, he purchased a 1930s-era landmark property on Ocean Drive and set about
creating an ornate, mosaic tile-covered mansion that bespoke his signature style
of over-the-top Roman opulence.
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The Dining Room at The Villa by Barton G |
He added a large garden, a grotto pool and
gold-plated fixtures that he enjoyed until his untimely death in 1997. This
luxurious palazzo is now open to the public as a restaurant and lounge with fine
dining service created by Executive Chef Jeff O'Neill. Inspired by the Caribbean
and Mediterranean influences no doubt learned during stints under star chefs
Daniel Boloud and Eric Ripert, O'Neill's menus benefit from Barton G's daring
culinary pyrotechnics. After a number of restaurateurs have invested a king's
ransom into Casa Casurina, perhaps this new team can break the Medusa's curse
that has turned diners hearts to stone.
Joe's Stone Crab
11 Washington Avenue / South Beach / 305-673-0365
Stone crab season runs from October through May and this classic Miami Beach
dining room serves the best crabs in town to a crowd more than willing to wait
in line for a taste of the ocean's bounty. Much like celebrity Chef Anthony
Bourdain, Joe's has No Reservations. While insiders debate about the loaded
handshake that might transport savvy diners to the front of the line, we find
it's best to visit at lunch or early evening to sample the coveted claws, crisp
fried chicken, onion-filled Lyonnaise potatoes, steamy clam chowder and chilled
Key Lime Pie that have made Joe's Stone Crab a South Beach landmark since 1913.
De Rodriguez Cuba on Ocean
101-B Ocean Drive / South Beach / 305-672-6624
Miami is filled with workmanlike renditions of Latin American cuisine from
humble Cuban storefronts to tiny South American bistros. While the local ex-pat
community may frown upon attempts to create upscale fusions of their native
dishes, Chef Douglas Rodriguez elevates the simple to the sublime every night of
the week at his eponymous restaurant De Rodriguez Cuba on Ocean. From
sparkling ceviche to savory croquettes and empanadas, the essential home made
quality of each offering remains intact while his clever flavor profiles take it
to new heights. Enjoy the best of the Nuevo Latino scene including a heady
sangria Sunday brunch at De Rodriguez at the Hilton Bentley Hotel.
Casa Tua
1700 James Avenue / South Beach / 305-673-1010
Secluded behind a dense hedgerow that surrounds a 1925-era palazzo in the heart
of South Beach, Casa Tua feels like a posh private club on the Italian Riviera.
The price of all this exclusivity makes this a special occasion destination,
especially the private, second-level lounge that's so popular with celebrities
and socialites. Escape the everyday at this upscale Italian restaurant with a
wildly romantic garden terrace just steps from the South Beach scene.
Osteria del Teatro
1443 Washington Avenue / South Beach / 305-538-7850
Servers who know the ins-and-outs of running a dining room set the stage at this
classic 25-year-old Miami Beach Temple of Italian cuisine perched on the edge of
one of the most thumping dance clubs in the city. This ironic pairing of the old
and the new captures what is best about South Beach and what makes Osteria work.
While the menu is a comprehensive collection of traditional pastas, seafood and
meats, the daily specials posted on the blackboard make it difficult to bother
reading any further.
Prime One Twelve
112 Ocean Drive / South Beach / 305-532-8112
This South Beach hot-spot enjoys a loyal local and international celebrity
following and consistently dazzles with huge steaks, giant lobsters and decadent
truffled macaroni and cheese served in a noisy see-and-be-scene dining room that
crackles with excitement until midnight.
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Prime One Twelve Restaurant |
From Presidents to Pro Athletes, from
Supermodels to Rap Stars, if it's happening in Miami it's happening at Prime
One Twelve.
Sardinia Ristorante
1801 Purdy Avenue / South Beach / 305-531-2228
Miami Beach fairly groans with the weight of dozens of Italian restaurants, but
regional Italian cuisine is a fairly new concept on these shores. Sardinia
showcases the best of the tiny island's cookery with a menu that works
seamlessly with Miami's own peculiar gastronomy and geography. House made flat
breads and imported salumi and formaggi (cured meats and artisanal cheeses) pair
deliciously with big-bodied wines. From salt-roasted branzino to succulent
rosemary-scented roast baby pig, the chef's mastery of the wood-burning oven
lends a rustic flair to each dish.
The Forge Restaurant
432 Arthur Godfrey Road (41st Street) / Miami Beach /
305-538-8533
While most Miami Beach restaurants have been around for very few years and
strive toward whatever is new and trendy, the Forge offers a long-standing,
traditional fine-dining experience at every touch point.
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The Forge Restaurant in Miami Beach |
Valet parkers whisk
away your car, dressy hosts escort your party, and formal captains oversee your
table service. A futuristic enomatic wine bar and a newly renovated interior set
the stage for Chef Dewey LoSasso's clever culinary riffs on classic, continental
cuisine including lobster PBJs, prime steaks, and decadent desserts. Locals
celebrate birthdays and anniversaries here and have since the 1930s.
—DownTown Miami—
Zuma
270 Biscayne Boulevard / Downtown / 305-577-0277
The Epic Hotel trumps the odds-makers scoring two top rated restaurants under a
single roof as Zuma joins Chef John Critchley's Area 31 serving pristine fresh
seafood to an adoring crowd.
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Zuma Restaurant in Downtown Miami |
With raw granite walls, pale wooden tables and a
modern Japanese teahouse design, the interior soothes even as the sushi, sashimi
and grilled items dazzle with artful presentations and bold flavors. Executive
Chef Bjoern Weissgerber may indeed be German (with a side of Swiss), but he
definitely understands the complexity and precision required to craft stunning
Japanese plates with unique flavor combinations that make Zuma one of Miami's
brand new heavy hitters!
Gigi
3470 North Miami Avenue / Wynwood / 305-573-1520
During the first half of season five of Bravo-TV's Top Chef, all of Miami
cheered for local toque Jeff McInnis who brought his blue-eyed blonde good looks
and complex flavor profiles to the table before being sent back to the
Ritz-Carlton's DiLido Beach Club without the big prize.
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Gigi Restaurant in Miami |
Television's loss was
our gain and for five years, the southern chef toiled over a Mediterranean tapas
menu served out on the sand. This season, he joins the Amir Ben-Zion restaurant
group at Gigi, a fast casual Asian dining spot next to Bardot nightclub in the
hip Wynwood Arts District where he prepares a variety of buns, noodle dishes and
inspired small plates for late night revelers looking for a tasty midnight
snack.
Il Gabbiano
335 S. Biscayne Boulevard / Miami / 305-373-0063
Downtown Miami takes back the night at this pricey temple of classic Italian
cuisine served overlooking the Bay by an old school, highly attentive wait
staff. Offering gratis chunks of fragrant Reggiano Parmesano and just-made
Fritti to temp your palate and ruin your diet, hosts Gino and Fernando Masci
bring more than 25 years of service at New York's Il Mulino to this heavenly
high-rise culinary destination. By the time you've sipped the last of your
limoncello digestivo, you'll be fortified enough to face the dinner check.
Orantique on the Mile
278 Miracle Mile / Coral Gables / 305-446-7710
Cindy Hutson's "Cuisine of the Sun" is as bright and warm as a mythical
Caribbean marketplace. Serving Bahamian black grouper in an orange liqueur or
jerk-seasoned pork in a rum-guava glaze, the kitchen meets it's match in the
deliciously colorful dining room and terraced outdoor garden. Take your taste
buds on an island holiday without leaving the cozy confines of Coral Gables.
—MidTown Miami—
Michael's Genuine Food and Drink
130 NE 40th Street / Miami / 305-573-5550
Transforming the Design District from stuffy decorator showrooms to a dynamic
nighttime destination, Michael Schwartz deserves the key to the city. If opening
a successful restaurant with trendy small, medium and large-sized plates
designed for pairing and sharing weren't enough, the innovative chef managed to
capture the imagination of New York Times restaurant critic Frank Bruni and
every vacationing celebrity and super star chef passing through town as well. If
you can get a reservation, run, don't walk to MGFD. Create your own menu of
beautifully prepared, locally sourced entrees and dazzling small plates at this
hip MidTown bistro. Save room for dessert because pastry chef Hedy Goldsmith got
the nod from James Beard this year too. While it might be awkward to order more
than one of her sweet treats after dinner, her coffee cake, hand made poptarts
and doughnuts are the best part of Sunday brunch.
Michy's
6927 Biscayne Boulevard / Miami / 305-759-2001
James Beard Award Winning Chef Michelle Bernstein owns and operates this
successful Biscayne Corridor restaurant with her husband David managing the
dining room.
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Michy's Restaurant in Miami |
Together they create a quirky but casual gathering place for
mid-Miami hipsters and knowing foodies in an area that used to be our seedy
red-light district. While parts of the neighborhood still feel sketchy, the
restaurant is always crowded with fans of Bernstein's small plate presentations
including crisp baby quail, grilled sweetbreads, truffled parmesan polenta and a
fabulous strawberry shortcake or baked alaska for dessert. Portions are served
in half of full orders to mix and match and sharing is definitely encouraged.
Red Light Little River
7700 Biscayne Boulevard / Miami / 305-757-7773
Chef Kris Wessel took a small coffee shop in a downtrodden "hourly" motel in
Miami's red light district and turned it into a culinary destination with a
decidedly down home appeal. Serving dishes inspired by New Orleans and the
Caribbean, Wessel's BBQ shrimp, oyster stew, and gourmet grilled cheese
sandwiches inspire raves from bloggers and critics all over town. Perhaps the
best part of this No-Tell-Motel restaurant is it's hidden waterfront dining deck
along Miami's Little River where wild birds and manatees join in the fun. As
soon as the weather turns cooler, drive past the strip clubs and into the Motel
Blu parking lot to check out Red Light.
—North—
Chef Allen's
19088 NE 29th Avenue / Aventura / 305-935-2900
Chef Allen Susser remains the master of The Road Not Taken, keeping his glitzy
dining room in an Aventura strip mall thriving since 1986. Serving dinner 7
nights a week to loyal regulars, the offbeat location is a challenging
destination for tourists. Serving fresh, locally-sourced seafood prepared with
his signature "Floribbean" flavors of mango and lime, papaya and chili, Susser
is a stalwart champion of New World Cuisine, a movement he pioneered with Norman
Van Aken, Douglas Rodriguez and host of distinguished toques who put the Miami
dining scene on the map.
Hiro's Yakko San
17040 West Dixie Highway / North Miami Beach / 305-947-0064
When the chefs around town finally call it a night, they head to this tiny,
off-the-radar Japanese kitchen known for just-caught fish and small plates of
exotic tapas crafted from the fresh offerings of the marketplace that change
each day. Chef Hiro and his team enjoy cult status in a town of jaded foodies
who appreciate their culinary skills and unstuffy presentations served until the
wee hours to an in-the-know crowd. You may need a GPS to find it, but once
you've tried Hiro's, you'll be back!
Michael Mina's Bourbon Steak
19999 W Country Club Drive / Aventura / 786-279-6600
Our northernmost destination is worthy of a foodie's pilgrimage if only to
sample the crispy fries cooked in duck fat and served with a trio of house made
sauces. The chef makes his own onion ketchup and barbeque dipping sauces that
truly offer the taste of success. Mina is famous for his luxurious spins on
modern American comfort food and diners can indeed take comfort in the chef's
remarkable ability to create upscale lobster pot pies and truffle-speckled
macaroni and cheese. All this goodness comes with a hefty price tag, but this
21st Century steakhouse really dazzles.
NAOE
175 Sunny Isles Boulevard / Sunny Isles / 305-947-6263
Blink and you're likely to miss this storefront 17-seat Japanese restaurant
where Chef Kevin Cory crafts perfect bento boxes for reservations-only diners
who pay rapt attention to the mastery of an artist doing what he does best. Cory
ventures to nearby Haulover marina to secure the day's fresh catch and airlifts
the rest straight from Japan to fill out his daily menus. Every night's meal is
determined by the chef and served in an atmosphere of Zen-like simplicity at
three sittings. After the last bento box is served, the chef slices perfect
duets of sushi and sashimi for each guest until everyone is ready to go home and
dream in fluent Japanese.
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