RESTAURANTS

Tap Tap
819 Fifth Street
Miami Beach, FL  33139
305.672.2898

In trend-obsessed Miami, where overpriced 'see and be seen? restaurants come and go with the regularity of the tides, not much attention is paid to the rich culinary heritage of this crossroads-of-the-Americas metropolis. 

Precious few establishments ? Joe's Stone Crab, for example ? have kept alive the mythology of local food, despite the often terminal contagion of  hipness that covers much of the area. Through it all, though, a handful of outstanding examples of ?indigenous? Miami cuisine, from Cuban to Brazilian to New York deli, have survived all of the society-page hoopla.

Perhaps the best among them is Tap Tap, a cherished local institution located on Fifth Street in South Beach. Part restaurant, part art gallery and cultural center, Tap Tap, founded in 1994 by Haitian documentary filmmaker Katherine Kean, features authentic Haitian ?home cooking? and a dazzling collection of culturally interpretive art by some of the island's most acclaimed masters, who flew to Miami to leave their unique marks on the town for their friend and fellow artist from a different medium.

In the main dining room, two murals by Wilfrid Daleus loom on opposite walls, One is of a family outside their modest home; the other is of a bustling produce market. In another room, a pair of large portraits by Jude ?Papa? Loko-Thegenus humanize two of the most powerful saints in voodoo culture, Ezili Danto and Ezili Freda. In the rear of the restaurant, a ?Rara Room? is painted from wall to wall ? and ceiling to tables and chairs ? with vivid, joyful images of the Rara festival that takes place in Haiti each spring.

In the hallway between the front and rear dining rooms, two long tile serpents symbolize elemental voodoo spirits danbala wedo and ayida wedo. On a half-dozen walls, big metal sculptures pay homage to other interesting aspects of Haitian culture, such as agriculture and the arts. 

For good measure, an angel stares down from the bar, where you can play dominoes with a Haitian cab driver or European tourist and sip the delicious house cocktail, called a Soley and made with aged Barbancourt rum with fresh passion fruit juice. Tap Tap is also renowned for its Mojito ? Cuba's contribution to classic cocktails.

On Thursday and Saturday nights, Tap Tap features live Haitian folk-jazz, performed by a trio led by ?the Woody Guthrie of Haiti,? the singer-songwriter-guitarist Manno Charlemagne ? whose popularity swept him to power as mayor of Port-au-Prince during his homeland's political crisis a decade ago.

While it's a neat thing that Tap Tap showcases Haitian art, music and culture, the most significant thing about the place is its consistently excellent rendering of simple and classic food from the small island nation that shares Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. Night after night, Tap Tap turns out reasonably-priced Haitian fare so authentic it could be served on any family dinner table from Port-au-Prince to Petionville, and even into the countryside, without objection. Based on fresh fruits and vegetables to accompany seafood, chicken, beef or goat, Haitian cuisine highlights the ubiquitous and often subtle influence of the scotch bonnet pepper.

For starters, Tap Tap offers a wonderfully rich pumpkin soup with leeks, cabbage, celery, potato, carrot and the root vegetable malanga. Appetizers include malanga fritters or grilled goat tidbits with a watercress dipping sauce, or avocado filled with herring. Salads include an avocado and tomato salad with onion, olive oil and lime; a beet salad with potato, hard-boiled egg and watercress, or a house salad with mango, watercress, carrots and mixed greens.

Main dishes include stewed goat, fried pork chunks, stewed beef with okra, conch in Creole sauce, stewed chicken, or the exotic spaghetti with herring. House specialties include a whole steamed fish in lime sauce, or deep-fried without a sauce; shrimp in Creole sauce, or shrimp in coconut sauce. Grilled dishes include fresh catch of the day, goat, chicken, conch or spiny lobster.

Popular Haitian desserts include sweet potato pie, coconut pudding, and banana fritters.

 Beyond its excellent menu, in terms of its eventual legacy, Tap Tap is a widely-cherished symbol of Haitian culture that generates a lot of pride in the local Haitian community. ?I'm very proud of this place and I support it because it's the only place on South Beach that represents my culture,? says real estate agent Natascha Magliore, a regular weekly customer. ?And it's a very good impression, a very realistic one. The food, the music, the art ? it's all very Haitian.? Says longtime general manager Gary Sanon-James: ?The joy of working here is shedding light on the true nature of my culture. It's not the way Hollywood portrays it. Voodoo has been portrayed very negatively in the media, but there is so much more to it, so much richness and texture and beauty. That's what we try to do here ? to show the side of my country that's never really been represented in the media.?

Have you tried Tap Tap?  Review it

Reviewer: Ellen Jackson from Arlington Heights, Illinois Recommended: Yes Overall Rating: Service: 5-Excellent Ambiance: 5-Excellent Food Quality: 5-Excellent Value for Price: 5-Excellent Review:  A very enjoyable experience I was not sure what Haitian food was It is excellent!! Reviewer: Paola from Boynton Beach, FL Recommended: Yes Overall Rating: Service: 4-Good Ambiance: 5-Excellent Food Quality: 5-Excellent Value for Price: 5-Excellent Review:  I have heard of this restaurant for a long time now, but never had the opportunity to go, but last night we had some friends come into town and wanted some good haitian food. We had to bring them to Tap Tap so that we can try it ourselves. It was great, the food is sooo good!!! If you enjoy fish you must have the Poison Gwo Sel {deep fried of course}. Then the music started, very nice, it's like Jazz meets haitian folklore. If we did not have to attend another function we would not have left. Reviewer: Debbie Weyman from Miami, FL Recommended: Yes Overall Rating: Service: 4-Good Ambiance: 5-Excellent Food Quality: 5-Excellent Value for Price: 5-Excellent Review:  First time going to Tap Tap Saturday, April 24, 2010. Walked in and immediately got a vibe that was nothing short bliss! Only got better from that point. Had reservation, but no one was leaving because of the live music so we waited at the cozy restaurant bar with complimentary drinks and appetizers. Made our way to the table which was near the music and again was blown away by the atmosphere! Haitian art everywhere and live smooth jazz; felt like I was in the Islands. Food (whole fish OMG) was incredible! Service was not the best, but given the small kitchen and the crowds, I'm surprised the waiters can make it in and round without hitting anyone. Actually, our waiter dropped a glass of water down my back by accident, but I was not even a bit concerned/upset having got into the groove of this little jewel in my backyard. I thought it should be part of the experience to 'cool' things down :) Go!!! You will not regret it!!!

Reviewer: Marshall from Los Angeles Recommended: No Overall Rating: Service: 3-Fair Ambiance: 4-Good Food Quality: 2-Poor Value for Price: 3-Fair Review:  The service was just average.  My wife thought the food was good, but I thought it was plain.

Reviewer: Jean-Joseph Limage II from MI Recommended: No Overall Rating: Service: 1-Bad Ambiance: 4-Good Food Quality: 3-Fair Value for Price: 3-Fair Review:  My wife and I went this past Sunday October 13th. At first we were very happy with the ambiance of the restaurant, We had some fried Malanga fritters and were happy. Very quickly things went south. We ordered an avocado that was supposed to have house dressing, never came. While we were waiting for our entree we decided to look at the amazing murals, I can say that they were very beautiful, but when we came back to our table my wife's chair was missing, we found that a party of six was placed right next to our 2 top table, and the waiter said he was forced to give his chair away, despite the fact that there were many empty tables available. On another point we both ordered the Griyot,which is cooked pork, it was a bit bland, and came with a single piece of dried fried platain, very plain. My wife asked for a slice of avocado, the waiter said it would take a while. Never got the avocado, even though it was placed on the bill. Last but not least when we got the bill, there was a twenty percent tip on the bill. When asked about this, the waiter said that for the past 15 years that was just the way they did business. Overall, we will not return, even thought the place was very nice looking. The food, and especially the service was found lacking.

Reviewer: Melissa from Chicago, IL Recommended: Yes Overall Rating: Service: 5-Excellent Ambiance: 5-Excellent Food Quality: 5-Excellent Value for Price: 5-Excellent Review:  My 1st dinner in south beach was @ tap-tap and it's our new tradition every time we visit* for the price + the live band = amazing time, relaxed, unpretentious food, unpretentious people - a gem*

Reviewer: Smitha from India Recommended: Yes Overall Rating: Service: 5-Excellent Ambiance: 5-Excellent Food Quality: 5-Excellent Value for Price: 5-Excellent Review:  Husband and I headed there to try Haitian food for the first time. It felt like we were transformed to another world! The art is beautiful and there wasn't enough time to really appreciate all of it in one sitting! The service was just fabulous and we enjoyed the vegetarian options they had!! When we go back to Miami, this is a place we'd go to again!!

Reviewer: Mike from Fort Lauderdale, FL Recommended: Yes Overall Rating: Service: 5-Excellent Ambiance: 5-Excellent Food Quality: 5-Excellent Value for Price: 5-Excellent Review:  I took my date there once and it was a magical experience so I woved to return.  The food, art and music give a true flavor of the richness of the Haitian culture.

Reviewer: Tom Frost from Manchester, UK Recommended: Yes Overall Rating: Service: 5-Excellent Ambiance: 4-Good Food Quality: 5-Excellent Value for Price: 5-Excellent Review:  The place was quiet on the Wednesday we went in.  Recommended by the local rag and the reviews on here. Never eaten Haitian before and felt adventurous. Goat pieces to share - strong flavoured and tasty. Creole Prawns for Mrs - nice but not very spicy as expected. Lime scotch bonnet whole fish for me. Very impressive and fresh fish. Tasty tangy sauce. Rice and beans good too. Overall good value - atmosphere probably better when more people in. Liked it and it was good value. $76 all in with beer and 2 wines.

Reviewer: Deane Kenealy from East Greenbush, NY Recommended: Yes Overall Rating: Service: 5-Excellent Ambiance: 5-Excellent Food Quality: 5-Excellent Value for Price: 5-Excellent Review:  My wife and I went to Miami a few years ago. This is one of a very few places we have been to that we still think about. In fact the only reason I am writing this review is that I searched the web hoping to find it was still open. In a city full of overpriced mediocre places to eat, Tap Tap is a gem. Don't forget your camera.

Reviewer: B Zarr from Washington, DC Recommended: Yes Overall Rating: Service: 5-Excellent Ambiance: 5-Excellent Food Quality: 5-Excellent Value for Price: 5-Excellent Review:  Tap Tap is a wonderful restaurant - great food/service/music and a genuine part of the community.  We live in Washington, DC, but go there every time we are in town!

Reviewer: Marsha from NY Recommended: Yes Overall Rating: Service: 5-Excellent Ambiance: 5-Excellent Food Quality: 5-Excellent Value for Price: 5-Excellent Review:  I loved it!!!! The service was wonderful! As soon as we got there, they sat us down and gave us nice warm bread and drinks within seconds. And took our orders on the spot. In about 10 minutes, our food was ready and fresh. The chicken and goat are great! And their mushroom rice is to die for! I loved it so much that we went two days in a row! On Saturday nights they play live jazz music from a band and have live singers. Its just gorgeous. The ambiance is nice with candles lit. I'm from New York and came down for a little vacation to get away from it all. 2 thumbs up!