Joliet is a more sophisticated spot than the majority in South Beach, and their Southern-inspired menu and hospitality were delightful and fun.
The Eating House debuts its much anticipated new location in Coral Gables, it showcases a creative, tantalizing mix and interplay of brilliant dishes.
TUR was voted the best new restaurant in 2020 in the Miami New Times. I beg to differ…
After dining out at numerous restaurants in 2022, consuming all types of food from pizza to burgers to special occasion meals. I have come out with my Miami favorites, the best of the best list!
Recommend in the new Canadian Michelin Guide and recommend enthusiastically by me!
San Francisco is one of the culinary epicenters of the Americas. Some would argue, including myself, that it is THE best food region in the United States. Quince Restaurant is a perfect example.
I’m back recommending my favourite new and notable Miami restaurants along with my tried and true choices for ShaneaSavours 2021 Hit List.
One of New York’s best-rated Italian restaurants is Rezdôra at 27 East 20th Street. It got three stars in the New York Times and received a Michelin star. It is authentic, and the chef cooks his pasta to perfection, with inventive variations, so for that reason, I am recommending it.
Miami’s most anticipated restaurant, Carbone, recently opened its doors. If you are lucky enough to score a reservation, make sure to come hungry to enjoy the robust and vibrant food.
Newly opened Mila in Miami is huge, and seats about 250 indoors and 150 outdoors. Outdoors is where you want to be weather permitting. Inside the dining room is finished in earth tones, with a fabulously large teardrop lighting installation, a beautiful sculpted wooded accent wall and an open kitchen and large bar.
Dova is Toronto’s newest restaurant, located at 229 Carlton Street in Cabbagetown, near Carlton and Parliment St. Some of you may be very familiar with chef Marotta from his other established restaurant Ardo. The food here is similar to Ardo. They serve delicious artisanal pastas, woodfire pizzas, fresh caught fish and ethically sourced meats. The food is reflective of the chef’s family Sicilian heritage. The chef has a deep connection to Sicilian and Mediterranean food, thanks to the influence of his mother’s cooking.
I never thought I would be writing about a new restaurant opening during the COVID-19 pandemic since so many establishments are struggling, but I’m thrilled to announce the opening of a brand-new gem called Pompette at 597 College Street. Combining classic with contemporary, along with warm hospitality and a charming vibe, this restaurant has all the elements that people desire.
I have shared some of my favourite places in Miami open for takeout or delivery during the Covid-19 social isolation quarantine. Many of these establishments need our support now more than ever.
From the daily specials to the well-curated menu, the food at Fresa Francesa Petit Café and Bistro in Hialeah, Miami is soulful, luscious and delightful. It isn’t often when I say that I enjoyed every single thing I ordered.
There is reason Langdon Hall Dining Room in Cambridge, Ontario has garnered much acclaim, there is thought behind every dish and dining is a major event here. Definitely a culinary destination experience.
Maya’s Restaurant in St. Barths serves Creole style food made with fresh ingredients and cooked simply. It is always a highlight of our visit and continues to remain an institution.
Cheval Blanc Hotel in St. Barths is the epitome of French attitude. You also get killer beachfront views with pristine white sand and turquoise waters, ocean breezes and lush tropical gardens. The luxury oozes out of its pores in this whitewashed oasis.
The Surf Club Restaurant in Surfside, Miami is a luxurious place that respects attention to detail, and will take care of your every need. Expect impeccable service, finesse, glamour, and impeccable execution.
There is an open kitchen at the Restaurant at Pearl Morissette in Ontario where you see Chefs Daniel and Eric, work alongside their team to create a French and Canadian, inspired cuisine. All the ceramics and utensils are custom crafted by locals, and everything is hand washed by the chefs and staff.
Chef Alpala of Zazu in Quito, Ecuador works closely with farmers, grows vegetables in the restaurant’s greenhouses and selects his seafood from the nearby coast. Dining in a modern setting with quality ingredients and refined service. One of Quito’s top choices.
If you consider yourself a true foodie than Central in Lima is a must-visit destination. Each dish here is beautifully prepared with precision, intellectualism, innovation, finesse and notable highlights. Craft vs art, and the hype meets reality. Kudos!
At Astrid Y Gaston in Lima, Peru everything was well-choreographed and extremely professional. It is a great experience for foodies and I wouldn’t hesitate to highly recommend this fine dining Peruvian cuisine.
If you are looking for something a little different to do this summer I suggest a 45-minute drive from Toronto to Milton Ontario, to see Terre Bleu Lavender Farm, Ontario’s largest lavender farm.
All in all, Paris Paris in Toronto is an inviting vibe, with an original, innovative menu. It is a welcome refuge, to get together with friends or loved ones, over a glass or two of wine, and a few bites.
FK in Toronto can be your go-to place for food that is fresh, and well prepared, with service that is gracious, welcoming and attentive to detail!
Tanto Restaurant in Toronto serves dishes with Italian, Spanish and Argentinian flavours and influences. Almost every protein and vegetable spends time on the grill, reminiscent of Frances Mallmann. It was a nice change from the usual.
Palat Restaurant is an eye-catching spot, and made me do a double take as I was driving by. I hadn’t heard a thing about it, but decided to try it on a whim, for lunch. It was so good, I returned for dinner the next day.
Mendin and Friends Dinner Series at Habitat, Miami delivers inspiring, well executed and appealing dishes.
I was truly impressed with the culinary excellence, meal is opulent and rich tasting.
Under the direction of Top Chef winner, Jeremy Ford, at Stubborn Seed in Miami, the dishes are ambitious and complex, with a modern twist.
Bar Sybanne in Toronto surpassed all my expectations. The reasonably priced menu offers artfully-plated, creative dishes with a great interplay of textures and tastes.
Seta is one of Milan’s best dining destinations. It sets the bar high, with original, conceptual Italian dishes that not only look stunning, they also taste it.
Osteria Francescana in Modena, IT serves modern Italian cuisine in a sophisticated setting. It’s the ultimate stage for Chef Massimo to showcase his supreme talent.
Estia is Toronto’s new “it” restaurant of the moment. The emphasis is on fresh, simple, uncomplicated dishes, that are cooked well. And really, isn’t this just what people are looking for?
The restaurant is chic, and sophisticated with a hip vibe.
Augustine restaurant in New York is stunning. You would never know it just opened in November of 2016. It looks like it is right out of Belle Époque Paris.
The meal was indulgence – a culinary adventure that was expertly served in a magnificent art deco setting. Everything that adorned the plates was thoughtfully conceived and gorgeously executed.
All the dishes at Canis in Toronto have simple descriptions on the menu, but when you receive the food you see how complex each dish is, with many components to them.
Doug Penfold’s new Toronto restaurant, Atlas, features dishes inspired by the his travels to Morocco and the Atlas Mountains. The cuisine presents a rich tapestry of spices and herbs, textures and tastes.
Toronto’s Grey Gardens is fresh, seasonal and creative. A neighbourhood place where you can drop by for a drink and snacks, or stay for dinner.
Everything about Popina in Tel Aviv is experience driven: from the ingredients to the immaculate plating and modernist methods. Choose a variety of dishes to taste all the flavours and cooking styles. It was definitely my best meal in Israel.
Cardon y El Tirano in Miami is creative, flavourful and eclectic. It’s not all about the glitz like so many places, instead, it’s modernizing the local food scene by bringing new, interesting choices to locals and tourists alike.
Chef Cacciatori works magic at Via Emilia 9 in Miami, a little gem of a restaurant. The food is soulful and luscious. I love fresh pasta so I decided to go with a four-course pasta tasting.
Consider Barnsteiner’s in Toronto if you are in the mood for some home cooked food, but you don’t feel like cooking. People who are intimidated by trendy restaurants, or menus where they can’t find anything that they would dare try, this is your place.
At Nadege Patisserie all the pastry are like little jewels, beautifully crafted and showcased edible art. Toronto you will fall in love.
Le Coq Rico New York’s poultry taste better than your average birds. They might just serve one of the best roast chickens this side of Paris.
Everything I tried at Roselle Desserts in Toronto was outstanding. They make delicious French-inspired desserts, and as their slogan says, “desserts make you happy”. Well their desserts certainly do!
Butter Avenue in Toronto brings sweet goodness to the neighbourhood. Brother/sister owners, Calvin and Tina are a passionate and dynamic duo.
The tasting menu is always a surprise. They won’t tell you what it is in advance. They only ask if you have any allergies or aversions.
This is truly a foodie experience. Everything is well executed. Not only is it a warm and welcoming atmosphere, the food is adventurous and creative, and the servers are professional and attentive. They really catered to us and made us feel special.
Everything in the shop is made in house – you can view the kitchen through a glass window and see the work first hand. I was told it is a three-day process to make the bonbons. They are the most beautifully hand-painted chocolates I have ever seen. They are almost too pretty to eat … notice I said, “almost” …
It was cooking in its purest form and a dining experience I will never forget. The food was accessible and uncomplicated, yet cooked with precision, and a kiss of smoke. Truly a dining experience I will never forget.
The show explores the 5,000-year-old world of tattoos, inked by some of the most respected tattoo artists in the contemporary world. The show features photos, artifacts, documentary films, demonstrations and silicone reproduction of body parts that have been commissioned by some of the world’s most renowned artists.
Family-owned and operated Parrin Paris also has boutiques in Los Angeles, New York and Hong Kong. The bags are very fashion forward and structured, elegant and ladylike, perfect for the modern woman who appreciates high style and craftsmanship. Tres chic.
The food at the bar at Alo in Toronto was quite impressive and creative, with a unique medley of flavours. I enjoyed being able to eat well, in a casual but tasteful interior.
Sourced from 8 different countries for their style, craftsmanship and quality – if you are a passionate chef, a skilled cook or just demand the best equipment in your kitchen then you owe it to yourself to check out Hacher and Krain knives in Toronto.
Did you know Shanea is a contributor to SocialMiami.com? Click through to see some of her latest reviews.
I have never seen Miami with a store so beautifully designed, with such rich interiors and innovative pieces of art within. For me Christian Dior has always been a visionary and one of France’s best designers. Now he has a store in North America that befits his luxury goods.
Stubbe’s create some of Toronto’s best chocolates by pairing good chocolate with traditional and non traditional flavours. You can taste the quality and craftsmanship in every bite. Indulge or buy someone a gift, you’ll thank me later.
A very sophisticated eatery featuring both steaks and seafood, the restaurant is very beautiful and dramatic. I wish the food would live up to the decor and service. It is not that the food is terrible it just did not wow us.
Antonio Bachour, James Beard award nominee and one of the city’s most acclaimed pastry chefs (from Bal Harbour St. Regis) has teamed up with Henry Hare, the former chef of Eating House (a favourite restaurant of mine) to launch this delicious new spot. One of the perks of my job is having a little extra pull. Chef Antonio came outside to greet us and warmly invited us inside.
Marion is a restaurant with the flavours of the South of France and elements of Spain, Greece and Italy. Located in the Brickell area. It’s a little tricky to find but worth the effort.
Made in Italy Gourmet has a wine bar and a retail market with items such as oils, sauces, pasta, and Italian artisanal products. There is also an Italian wine library with over 2,000 bottles in all price ranges. And don’t forget the cheese and cured meat counter. Their motto: Taste, Live, Share. They really follow these ideals.
The meal started with toasted French bread and a divine creamy truffled cheese. I had the jumbo lump crab salad with avocado, mango jalapeno, and cashew, in a curry dressing with cilantro and toasted coconut. It was a glorious dish.The Maine lobster salad was equally good and it was set on a bed of organic quinoa tabouleh, with preserved lemon, citrus segments and fresh mint. The seafood ceviche was good but on the spicy side.
I was a fan of Zak the Baker before he opened his bakery/cafe in trendy Wynwood. I have had some of his fabulous breads in some of Miami’s top restaurants. Most recently I enjoyed his breads at Beachcraft and Cypress Tavern.
Best old favourites and new loves.
On the 23 rd floor of the Hotel Okura, is one of only 2 , two star Michelin restaurants in Amsterdam.
If you are looking for white glove service in an elegant restaurant, with gorgeous views of the city and haute cuisine, you won’t go wrong with this special occasion restaurant.
