MIAMI BEACH RESTAURANTS

La Marea
1220 Ocean Drive
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 604-5070

La Marea at the Tides Hotel is as soothing as the ebb and flow of the sea. Guests at chef Pietro Rota's new dining room will feel as special as all of the Los Angeles celebrities who flock to Il Sole to enjoy the laid back luster of Rota's popular Sunset Boulevard retreat. Diners enjoy an open air perch on the main patio or a secluded table in Kelly Wearstler's quirky dining room. With imaginative touches inspired by the sand and surf, the funky decor serves as the perfect backdrop for the chef's Mediterranean-infused menu.

A selection of starters like a perfectly prepared diver scallop, fresh tuna crudo or tiny marinated anchovies make a delightful tapas meal when paired with a bottle of wine and a sampling from the still-warm bread basket. A hearty seafood soup is a wonderful lunchtime treat with luscious lobster cobb salad or a chicken or fish sandwich. What sets La Marea apart from the other upscale restaurants on Ocean Drive is Rota's determination to provide just a few delicate preparations of fresh seafood from local waters or express shipped into his capable hands. Dover Sole in a lemony butter sauce is simply dazzling. Pastas topped with seafood, sausage or roasted pork cheek and porcini mushrooms are the highlights of the summer dinner menu.

Renovations at this landmark Art Deco property are still underway. Once the Kors group completes the 45 guest rooms and suites, the Tides will regain it's reputation as one of the top boutique properties on Ocean Drive. In the meantime, La Marea is destined to keep the hotel on the map with local foodies and in-the-know travelers for the rest of the season.

Entrees are bold and creative such as Crispy Yellowtail Snapper pan seared and served with mango risotto and a ginger-ponzu drizzle; Sea Scallops wrapped in proscuitto are accompanied by purple sticky rice and wasabi celery nage; Ancho Chili Crusted Lamb Chops partner with grilled flat bread; and Caribbean Curried Seafood features lobster, squid and Florida grouper enhanced by a chutney of caramelized apples and bananas.

One of South Beach’s most scrumptious breakfast menus serves up Lemon Ricotta Hot Cakes with orange citrus compote; Florida Lobster Benedict with charred asparagus and tangy hollandaise; French Croissant Toast with caramelized bananas and rum-maple syrup; and "Burritas," where the Breakfast Burrito meets the Fajita with flour tortillas, scrambled eggs, sizzling peppers and onions, all doused with roasted salsa. On Saturdays and Sundays 1220 presents a special course of mussels and wine.

Modern elegance sets the tone in 1220 at the Tides’ main dining room. Cappuccino-colored walls enfold a décor of subtle taupes, whites and earth tones softly illuminated by track lighting. Classic Art Deco terrazzo and beige coral tile pave the polished floors sweeping in from the lobby, while banquettes and plush chairs surround linen-clad, candle-lit tables framed by a wall of two-story glass windows. The inviting Front Terrace facing onto Ocean Drive and the beach features lush white linen sofas brightened with accent pillows and shaded by canvas canopies - an ideal respite for mingling with friends and people watching while enjoying cocktails or an unforgettable meal.

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