RESTAURANTS

Wish
801 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 531-2222
www.wishrestaurant.com

Since it opened in November 1998, Wish, the Mobil Four Star restaurant at The Hotel on South Beach, has garnered numerous awards for its imaginative cuisine, as well as for its highly acclaimed interiors by fashion guru Todd Oldham. Executive chef E. Michael Reidt (pronounced Reed), who joined the staff a year ago, continues to attract notice, bringing the restaurant to the next level with his wildly original contemporary French-Brazilian cuisine. Sensual and sophisticated, Reidt's menu pairs unlikely flavors in novel, intriguing ways.

Appetizers range from $9 - $18, and include confit tomato soup, a deeply flavored soup, accented with frisee, avocado, macadamia nuts, and a dollop of coconut sorbet. A pastel colored smoked salmon and artichoke terrine, served over shiitake mushrooms, with grilled asparagus, and pineapple-wasabi accents, tastes as good as it looks. An oversized truffled sweet pea ravioli is perfectly complemented with briny smoked bacon, wild mushrooms, goat cheese and a slightly sweet carrot jus.

Entrées, running from $25 - $34, include fresh seafood, lamb, beef and poultry along with a vegetarian selection. A cachaca marinated tuna, seared rare, is served over a jicama quinoa salad and spicy charred watermelon, dressed with an avocado Hollandaise. Lentil crusted salmon is served with roasted chorizo, sweet potato and Littleneck clams. Braised short ribs churrasco is melt in your mouth tender, served with malanga ravioli, heirloom apples and shaved fennel, with a cider accented sauce. The crispy skin chicken has a Moorish flourish, with Parma ham, a Tetilla cheese mash and grilled asparagus accented by smoked paprika. Braised lamb shank is served with celery root, a lentil salad, pearl onions and orange confit.

Wish's Persian-inspired interior décor is exotic and cozy with plush, velvety banquettes and dimly lit, jewel-toned Venetian glass lamps lining the Art Deco detailed ceiling. The al fresco garden restaurant is romantic with lush tropical greenery, soft ocean breezes, and the glow of candlelight amidst Oldham's signature tie-dyed cushions and enormous white mushroom umbrellas. A lush, new indoor dining garden, located in The Hotel's lobby, is the perfect spot for intimate dinners or private parties.

Have you tried Wish?  Review it

Reviewer: Michael Houlihan from Boca Grande, FL Recommended: Yes Overall Rating: Service: 5-Excellent Ambiance: 5-Excellent Food Quality: 5-Excellent Value for Price: 4-Good Review:  I have been eating at Wish for the last five years whenever I visit Miami. It is one of the few restaurants in South Beach that successfully combines great food, great service and great ambience. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting South Beach or the Miami area in general.

Reviewer: Don from NYC Recommended: Yes Overall Rating: Service: 5-Excellent Ambiance: 5-Excellent Food Quality: 5-Excellent Value for Price: 5-Excellent Review:  At last, Sobe menu prices that are justified.  Wish is worth it.  The staff are attentive, the Todd Oldham-designed garden romantic.  The food--wonderful.  Black trumpet dusted scallops with "pumpkin pie" risotto was terrific.  The five item veggie entree was not grilled zuchinni slapped on a plate, but five distinctive and surprising dishes in one.  The chocolate cake dessert with pistachio filling was heavenly.  We'll be back.  Oh, and check out the glowing "electric" martinis!  Wish is Miami elegance so often lacking elsewhere.

Reviewer: Steve from New Jersey Recommended: Yes Overall Rating: Service: 4-Good Ambiance: 5-Excellent Food Quality: 5-Excellent Value for Price: 4-Good Review:  Great experience!  Really enjoyed the romantic mood, the food was unbelievable.... a little pricey, but worth the experience!!

Reviewer: Dan from Boston, MA Recommended: Yes Overall Rating: Service: 5-Excellent Ambiance: 5-Excellent Food Quality: 5-Excellent Value for Price: 5-Excellent Review:  Truly a unique experience. Personal attention, exquisite food, attention to detail, comfortable environment, one of the best restaurants in SoBe. Relaxing lounge also.

Reviewer: Lani from Toronto, Canada Recommended: Yes Overall Rating: Service: 5-Excellent Ambiance: 5-Excellent Food Quality: 5-Excellent Value for Price: 5-Excellent Review:  We had Valentine's Dinner at Wish and it was worth every penny.  The staff treated you like royalty and the food is indescribable.  Will definitely go back.