South Beach

RESTAURANTS & DINING

Miami's Best Restaurants

by , 2012

Top Restaurants in Miami and Miami Beach

Washington Avenue's top restaurants include Osteria del Teatro and Joe's Stone Crab

Update: As the high season winds down, a number of high profile Miami restaurants have closed their doors and a few new hotspots are looming on the culinary horizon. In Midtown, foodies were saddened to learn Sustain Restaurant and Fratelli Lyon have closed, but cheered by the arrival of MC Kitchen - helmed by "M&C" Chefs Dena Marino and Brandy Coletta - in the former Lyon spot. In Surfside, Chef Joshua Marcus shuttered Chow Down Grill and revamped the menu to reopen as Josh's Deli, a Jewish-style restaurant with house-cured meats and smoked salmon - even the mustard is homemade! The restaurant will also host a pop-up Harding Dinner Series with guest chefs starting in June. South of Fifth Street suddenly finds it has a Restaurant Row as pricey Greek eatery Estiatorio Milos launches on 1st Street with prices that do not reflect the country's recent austerity programs ...

Also on South Beach, a trio of prominent restaurateurs opened Villa Azur, an elegant supper club with a popular daytime takeaway counter (11am-8pm) that's received stellar reviews from New Times food critics for their ethereal macrons. Nearby Eden Restaurant shuttered operations but Haven and Tudor House are celebrating anniversaries and Chef Sam Gorenstein's pop-up My Ceviche is still going strong. Liza and GiGi Meoli who ran the local's favorite Greek eatery Ouzo have partnered with David Long to renovate the divinely dive-y Anise Taverna and reopen as River Shack just off the Biscayne Corridor. And in other news from the foodie world, the gourmet food trucks have FINALLY been given a limited permit to sell their off-price treats at the North Beach Bandshell this summer. Frankly, they say it's "better late than never" - but WOW, is the City of Miami Beach tardy to the food truck party.

BLT Steak Restaurant at the Betsy Hotel

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 to open his own Yardbird Southern Table & Bar. GiGi, a fast-casual Asian dining spot near Wynwood's Bardot nightclub serves buns, noodles and beer to a growing MidTown hipster crowd. Yardbird is South Beach's hottest destination for Southern-Fried goodness!

Chef Michael Bloise left Wish Restaurant at the Hotel of South Beach for a short stint at the American Noodle Company on the Biscayne Corridor which is now Blue Collar - serving American comfort food. Bloise now heads the kitchen at Lincoln Road's Sushi Samba Dromo. 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 and South Beach. Sakaya expanded operations to include two popular Miami Food Trucks and a second brick & mortar location in the heart of Downtown Miami.

Jeffrey Chodorow shuttered SoFi's El Scorpion, Nemo is now Lolita Cocina & Tequila Bar 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 testing the waters of the ever-expanding Pubbelly /Sushi & Barceloneta group 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, Jean-Georges' J & G Grill at the St. Regis Bal Harbour and Stephen Starr's glam sushi spot Makoto in Bal Harbour Mall. As the season warms up, you'll want to score a table at some 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.

The Dining Room at The Villa by Barton G

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.

Prime One Twelve Restaurant

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.

The Forge Miami Beach

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 Michael Reidt's Area 31 serving pristine fresh seafood to an adoring crowd.

Zuma Restaurant Miami

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.

Gigi Restaurant Miami

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. He briefly joined the Amir Ben-Zion restaurant group to launch Gigi, a fast casual Asian dining spot next to Bardot nightclub in the hip Wynwood Arts District where he prepared a variety of buns, noodle dishes and inspired small plates for late night revelers looking for a tasty midnight snack. Though he has since returned to South Beach to open his own restaurant, GiGi rocks on!

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.

Michy's Miami

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—

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 decidedly 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 the IntraCoastal Mall, 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

Fans of 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 will thrill to learn he is now moving to new digs on tony Brickell Key. Cory ventures to nearby marinas 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. We'll post an update on the NEW NAOE as soon as it launches!

 
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Restaurants by Cuisine
AMERICAN
11th Street Diner
Bistro One
Barton G
J&G Grill
Rusty Pelican
The Dutch
Tudor House
Vida

ARGENTINE
Baires Grill

CASUAL
Balans
Big Pink
Clarke's
Front Porch Cafe
Jerry's Famous
News Cafe
Nexxt Cafe
Serendipity 3
Van Dyke

CHINESE
Hakkasan
Philippe Miami

CUBAN
Larios
Puerto Sagua

FRENCH/BISTRO
A la Folie
La Brioche Doree

HAITIAN
Tap-Tap

GREEK / MED
Bâoli Miami
La Côte
Pasha's
Sultan Kabob
Villa Azur

INTERNATIONAL
Michy's
Tantra

ITALIAN
Bianca
Caffe Milano
Casa Tua
da Leo Trattoria
Escopazzo
Grazie
Hosteria Romana
Osteria del Teatro
Pelican Cafe
Piola
Pizza Rustica
Prime Italian
Quattro
Sardinia Enoteca
Scarpetta
Segafredo
Sibilla
Spiga
Spris
Terrazza
TiramesU

JAPANESE
Nobu
Toni's Japanese

MEXICAN
Lolita Cocina
Lucy's Cantina Royale

NUEVO LATINO
De Rodriguez Cuba
Morena
Ola
Sra. Martinez
Yuca

PAN ASIAN
Asia de Cuba
China Grill
Juvia
Lantao Kitchen
Pubbelly
The Setai Hotel

SEAFOOD
A Fish Called Avalon
Altamare
Grill Fish
Joe's Stone Crab
Juvia
La Marea
Pearl
Quinn's

SOUTHERN
Yardbird Southern Table

STEAKHOUSE
1500 Degrees
BLT Steak
Edge Steak
Fogo de Chao
The Forge
Gotham Steak
Kane (Closed)
Meat Market
Prime 112
Red
Smith & Wollensky
STK Miami
Texas De Brazil
Vesper

SUSHI
Bar Tanaka
Blade Sushi
Blue Sea
Bond St
Doraku
Shoji Sushi
Sushi Rock Cafe
SushiSamba
Sushi Siam

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