Service was excellent and Grand Central led the way with warmth, knowledge, and genuine hospitality.
The culinary experience at Nimo was nothing short of excellent featuring an eclectic menu from Spanish, Greek, Italian, and Middle Eastern cuisines.
Pastis offers a lively, nostalgic atmosphere that offers high-quality, French Bistro-like dining options.
C Suite is an exclusive speakeasy offering a haven of relaxation within a bustling city, exquisite cocktails, and exceptional hospitality.
In no particular order, my annual favourite Miami Restaurants!
Here is my list of Restaurants I want to try this year in Miami!
Dotty’s is more than just a restaurant, it is a journey back in time, a culinary adventure, and a hidden gem waiting to be discovered
Amidst the streets of downtown Toronto in the financial district is a recently opened, French culinary gem called Lucie.
Joliet is a more sophisticated spot than the majority in South Beach, and their Southern-inspired menu and hospitality were delightful and fun.
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!
There has been a lot of hype since the opening of a new South Beach restaurant called The Drexel in the Esme Hotel and overseen by the founders of Mandolin Aegean Bistro.
I’m back recommending my favourite new and notable Miami restaurants along with my tried and true choices for ShaneaSavours 2021 Hit List.
Newly opened Atai Bistro in Toronto is a chic, stylish spot serving a contemporary Moroccan menu created with French cooking techniques.
Miami’s Leku Restaurant showcases some exceptional regional specialties, unlike anything else in Miami. This restaurant is a destination in itself. We did not experience one undesirable dish, all were exquisite, artfully plated, and delicious.
Maison T in Toronto was recently opened by a veteran chef with exceptional restaurant experience, and features French classics like mussels, poutine, duck confit, soups, and steak and frites.
Lapinou Bistro is one of Toronto’s best French restaurants. everything we ordered had dynamic and vibrant flavours. I’m usually wary of restaurants in the entertainment district because honestly there are so few that are any good, but Lapinou is an exception.
The Landmark Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong provides you with a luxury level of facilities in the heart of the city. It sets new standards in Asia and abroad for ultra-chic accommodations and customer service that’s unparalleled.
I have always longed for delivery from upscale and delicious purveyors. Unfortunately, it took a pandemic for eateries in Toronto to bring delivery and takeout to the masses. Here is my latest list of restaurants in Toronto offering takeout and or delivery.
More Toronto eateries are jumping on the takeout/delivery bandwagon offering first-rate meals and groceries direct to your home. Many of these places have very difficult reservations to snag, so now is your chance to sample their fare!
In the hope people are continuing to support local eateries and caterers by ordering takeout or delivery from participating restaurants, I’ve created a second edition of my favourite spots in Toronto for takeout / delivery.
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 lots of hype about newcomer Dreyfus Restaurant and we are happy to welcome this light and airy spot serving locally sourced French fare to Toronto.
Everything was seamless during our stay at the newly opened Mandarin Oriental in Lake Como, Italy. Almost every spacious room has magnificent views and the service is thoughtful and professional. Highly recommended!
Silverlake Bistro is our new go-to place in Miami for an insanely good meal that is moderately priced and served with a genuine smile. They use quality ingredients and flavours that had our taste buds dancing.
Core aims to prepare creative, authentic dishes with seasonal ingredients. It’s a Canadian bistro with French influences that has finally brought a neighbourhood fine dining experience to the east end of Toronto.
Voted one of the best new restaurants in America for 2018, Frenchette in NYC’s Tribeca neighborhood, showcases its talent by bringing back some nostalgic comfort as well as a mix of modern French cuisine.
Bacchanal Restaurant in Toronto offers variations of delightful and contemporary bistro fare, in a pleasant, relaxed environment.
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.
Chumley’s in New York is the resurrection of an old speakeasy under Chef Victoria Blamey. The menu mixes American gastropub standards along with some bistro style favourites – the burger is medal worthy!
Miami’s newly open Skorpios’ elevated and reimagined menu includes a selection of daily catches, grilled whole, all simply garnished.
One of the owners of Bistro Mi Casa in San Miguel is world-renowned musician, Gil Gutierrez. He has performed at the Kennedy Center as well as Carnegie Hall, and on special nights, performs at the restaurant!
Sherwood’s Bistro and Bar in the Little River district of Miami is a uniquely charming place with reasonably priced, simple food.
I may be away from Toronto this winter, but I am still keeping tabs on new restaurants. Look forward to you letting me know what you think about these about these as well as anything I should try on my return!
Toronto’s Aloette is a neighbourhood bistro that’s been packed from day one, and for good reason. The food was reasonably priced for the exceptional quality.
A restaurant that has been generating a lot of buzz in Scottsdale is Fat Ox, a mega restaurant that opened in November 2016 at 6316 North Scottsdale Road under the leadership of Chef Matt Carter, previously of Zinc Bistro and The Mission.
Since returning to Toronto from Miami, one of my most anticipated new restaurant openings has been La Banane. In a few short months it has become Toronto’s “it” restaurant.
Upland Miami is an offshoot of the New York restaurant with the same name by restauranteur Stephen Starr and his Chef Justin Smillie of Il Buco. At Upland the food showcases Smillie’s rustic/comfort food and seasonally influenced fare.
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.
With the opening of Nichi’s Sweet Confections, people in Bay Harbour, Bal Harbour, Surfside and North Miami can rejoice! There is finally a bakery serving delightful, made-from-scratch baked goods! It’s really filled a void in the area (and in my stomach …).
Chabrol Restaurant in Toronto really feels like you are in a small Parisian bistro or wine bar. I am so happy to have the addition of this new place in the Yorkville area. They are packing them in and reservations are hard to come by, so book early.
The first cold day in Toronto I immediately ran to Kinton Ramen on 396 Church Street. They have about 5-6 locations throughout Toronto and are part of the Guu and Kinka Family of restaurants. My favourite place is Ja Bistro.
Ja Bistro in Toronto has good dishes with a modern twist, served up in a beautiful but simple unpretentious manner. The fish is fresh and of high quality.
I think people visit Mina’s Mediterraneo because the staff is friendly, the garden is pretty and on Saturday’s they have live entertainment. It is cheap and cheerful, but I also need great food to return …
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.
Foxley Bistro remains as busy and beloved as ever because of the spot on execution of the dishes and the prices are moderate yet the food is so interesting. So even with all the competition on Ossington, Foxley’s is here to stay.
The restaurant offers a classic French cuisine like onion soup, bouillabaisse, mussels, steak tartare, duck confit, coquilles Saint-Jacques and herb crusted lamb. We were pleasantly surprised to have such a nice neighborhood spot that was so deliciously satisfying.
For me, the restaurant was hit and miss, and more on the miss side of things. The rolls were beautiful looking, but not at all traditional.
L’Express in Montreal is charming, lively, and, I think, the closest I’ve found to a true Parisian-style bistro in North America. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, the cuisine is well-crafted – based on creating rich flavours using simple ingredients. It’s a great option for a bite after shopping on Rue Saint-Denis.
Bachour Bakery and Bistro in Miami is great for breakfast, lunch or brunch. Be sure to leave room for one of Bachour’s breathtaking creations. He was a 2016 James Beard Awards Outstanding Pastry Chef semifinalist.
Miami’s dining scene keeps getting better. Let me introduce you to last season’s favourites, new restaurants and my most anticipated for the Fall and Winter of 2016-2017 …
I was so wowed with my experience at Toque in Montreal that I had to go to the other establishment that is overseen by Chef Normand Laprise, Brasserie T, located next door to the Place des Arts.
Bar Begonia is located at 252 Dupont in Toronto. The space was sitting empty for quite some time, and then I saw renovations taking place and a cute, smiley emoji sign going up, but with no name facing the street. Of course, this piqued my curiosity and I had to check it out. It’s a Parisian style restaurant with a special focus on cocktails, that serves lunch and dinner 7 days a week.
The Chef is Japanese but classically trained in French cooking. He worked with Jamie Kennedy as a sous chef at Crush Wine Bar, and you can tell when you eat the twice-fried French fries. This neighbourhood bistro is a French restaurant with a modern flair and some global influences.
When I return I want to try some wood fired pizza, but it did look a little too charred for my taste. Our neighbours seemed to be enjoying their veal parmesan. There is even a cheeseburger on the menu and I presume that it must be good as well.
Last weekend Shanea took over Social Miami’s Twitter to share her food and fun adventures.
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.
Here is my list of restaurants that I want to try this year, or that I have already tried and enjoyed.
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.
Whenever I am visiting Miami I try and eat lunch or dinner at Mandolin Restaurant. The food is great, but even more so there is something about this historic 1940’s restored house that I find charming. Located at 4312 NE 2nd Ave, in the Buena Vista neighbourhood just north of the Design District.
In the heart of the Wynwood district on a very interesting street at 218 Northwest 25th Street (it is worth checking out the stores and art warehouses in the area) is a industrial looking space with a wide open kitchen.
Best old favourites and new loves.
We were excited to try this new spot in Manning and Harbord formally the home of Ici Bistro. The restaurant is tiny with only 22 seats, and that includes the bar and high tops.
Miami has a beautiful new restaurant reminiscent of a Parisian Bistro, displaying bold and playful artwork that is for sale. The crowd is tres chic, but you shouldn’t go before 9pm to get the full impact.
Le Zoo restaurant by Stephen Starr finally opened at Ba Harbour Shops, replacing Le Goulue. It is a French Brasserie with Mediterranean style dishes.