The experience delivered refined, thoughtful cooking and several memorable bites. I would not be surprised if a Michelin star finds its way here in the future.
Enthusiastically recommended Emelinea!
Gramps Getaway has great food, an easygoing vibe, and warm service, perfect for a post beach hangout.
Coral Gables is lucky to welcome Daniel’s: a modern and polished steakhouse.
At To Be Determined the passion really stands out.
The Joyce is a welcome surprise: sophisticated yet cool, offering bold flavors.
Rosmary’s Miami has is set in an urban garden, reminiscent of Tuscany.
From start to finish, Ômo by Jônt was an absolute triumph.
Mimi Chinese has quickly become one of Miami’s hottest new openings.
Daniel’s A Florida Steakhouse is redefining the city’s culinary landscape with its thoughtful approach and execution.
Sunny’s Steakhouse is a shining star in Miami’s culinary scene.
Elastika serves as a culinary canvas and will make one of Miami’s hottest dining destinations
For those willing to splurge, Mastro’s Ocean Club had lovely views, excellent service, and mostly satisfying cuisine.
Kyu remains a top choice for a memorable dining experience.
The culinary experience at Nimo was nothing short of excellent featuring an eclectic menu from Spanish, Greek, Italian, and Middle Eastern cuisines.
Entre Nos is a gastronomic venture that promises to be a unique blend of flavours and artistry, showcasing a hyper seasonal selection of, predominantly sourced ingredients from Florida.
Tam Tam stands out as one of the most exciting additions to Miami’s culinary scene, blending eclectic Vietnamese dishes with local Florida ingredients.
Maty’s Miami is about celebrating Peruvian cuisine, not rethinking it. Kudos to a female chef and business owner who has pursued and realized her dream.
Neya, a new addition to Surfside is attractive, contemporary, and upscale. The Israeli non-kosher restaurant has flavourful ingredients and a modern approach to cooking.
Miami constantly has new restaurants popping up all over town, but not all are memorable or worthy of a second visit. Until now! Tambourine Room exceeded my expectations.
Vinya Table in Coral Gables, is a restaurant and market. It has an impressive and diverse wine menu, with a large collection of rare and collectible wines, as well as creative, handcrafted cocktails. The food offers something for every palate.
MaryGold’s is definitely one of my new favorite restaurants to open in Miami this year.
North Miami has been looking for a new crowd pleaser and they’ve certainly found one in AVRA…
This restaurant was just named by Infatuation and Eater as one of the best new restaurants in Miami. You can add my name to that list as well.
Asiatiko in Aventura, Florida is a kosher game changer. Who knew, a cool, tasty, kosher spot is in Aventura. I guess you must expect the unexpected. Well done.
I don’t have enough adjectives to describe the reaction I had when walking into Sexy Fish, Miami’s new import from London. Extravagant would be an understatement, but the one thing that impressed me the most was the staff.
Coral Gables seems to be getting some excellent restaurants of late, and you can add another one to my hit list. There is no better restaurant in Miami right now serving dim sum and Izakaya than Zitz Sum.
Last year I reported that Mamey was my best meal in Miami. This year Chef Niven Patel, one of my personal favourite chefs, has opened a second restaurant called Orno, serving New American wood-fired dishes that are chef-driven and ingredient-focused.
El Carajo International Tapas and Wine in the Coconut Grove area of Miami feels like your own secret culinary discovery. Come for the gas, and stay for the tapas and wine.
The dishes are quite hearty at the newly opened Casa Isola Osteria in Miami by chefs Jose Mendin and Santo Agnello. They’re serving a Brooklyn Italian menu that grandma would serve you at home.
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.
If you are looking for a charming, cozy restaurant with good home-cooked food, or prepared foods to go, then look no further than Tania’s Table in Miami.
It is not often you can find a decent restaurant at a mall. Kudos to Micheal Mina for opening a crowd-pleasing option with Ornos Estiatorio in Miami. I am sure people in the area are thrilled about this new alternative.
Dinner at Chef Niven Patel’s new restaurant Mamey in Coral Gables Florida was vibrant, bursting with flavour, and had my taste buds dancing. His food is always top-notch.
Everything we ordered at Lido Restaurant and Champagne Bar at the Surf Club in Miami’s Surfside Four Seasons was delightful. They take things seriously when it comes to creating a safe environment for guests.
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.
Chef Mendin’s menu at Rivertail Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale is large, featuring a raw bar, snacks and such, on a bun, from the grill, chef’s specialties and sides. Would I recommend people driving from Miami? No.
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.
Balloo Restaurant in Miami serves rich, unique cooking that combines flavours from the chef and his family’s diverse heritages. Every bite is exciting in a different way, and bursting with intense flavours.
The Fulton in New York is Chef Jean Georges’ sea-to-table focused restaurant in a one-of-a-kind waterfront setting, serving a wide selection of fresh and delicious wild-caught and locally-harvested East Coast seafood.
Navé Restaurant in Coconut Grove, Florida serves an excellent array of homemade pastas and a beautiful selection of the highest quality seafood.
It’s easy to see why Henrietta Red in Nashville was the most anticipated restaurant opening in 2017 and a semi-finalist for best new restaurant by the James Beard Foundation in 2018.
Our meal at Ad Lib Restaurant in Coral Gables conveyed an appreciation for perfect preparation and flavours. The restaurant has a cool, casual vibe, with sophisticated, yet approachable choices.
Wynwood’s prettiest restaurant, Doma, has recently opened, just one block south of Beaker and a Gray. They really strive for a purity of ingredients and a seasonality of the dishes.
Wabi Sabi by Shuji in Miami is an intimate eatery that’s elevated sushi and poke bowls. They had us dancing in our seats, and that doesn’t happen too often. Congratulations to the chef!
“I am in total disbelief of how my blog has organically gained traction. I am flattered when I have strangers come up to me and who recognize me from my blog. The struggle for me is, that I am not a professional writer, just a professional eater, so trying to put out a weekly newsletter is no easy task. How many adjectives can you use to describe the taste of something? It is not easy!
Sherwood’s Bistro and Bar in the Little River district of Miami is a uniquely charming place with reasonably priced, simple food.
With the opening of Etaru, people in Hallandale, Florida and surrounding areas can now dine at an upscale, Japanese, contemporary Robatayaki restaurant, with a beautiful waterfront setting.
Chef Norman Van Aken’s new restaurant, Three in Wynwood, Miami, is not only stunning, the dishes are infused with innovative flavours. They are hoping to become the first restaurant in Miami to receive a Michelin Star. They just may just get what they wish for.
The food at Habitat in Miami is delightful, and the pricing fair. The food respects the elements and honours simplicity. I was impressed with the level of service from everyone in the restaurant.
I am not exaggerating when I say that the lobster at Lobster Sea Grille in Miami is the best damn lobster I have had in eons. My table all raved about the quality and execution.
It is simply amazing what the kitchen can do with fruits, vegetables, nuts, seed, flowers and seaweed. Is it for everyone? No, but you will get an unexpected array of foods you never thought possible made with masterpiece presentations in a tranquil oasis.
Bazaar Mar by Jose Andres at SLS Brickell offers a vibrant overwhelming mix of sophisticated and whimsical cuisine, in a playful, Mediterranean interior. The emphasis is on fresh fish from local and Caribbean waters. It is a meal to remember.
Tanuki in Miami is lively, and colorful, with graffiti-covered walls, reclaimed wood and yellow leather banquets with blond wood tables and digital lights accenting a long wrap around bar. Samurai swords decorate the walls. The central focus of the room is a seven-foot statue of a Tanuki, a Japanese talisman said to bring good luck.
On January 25th, 2017 Melanie Cohen of Social Miami together with the Miami Beach Women’s Club and Creative Edge Parties, hosted an event to celebrate “A New Year in Miami PR”.
Luke’s Lobster rolls in Brickell City Centre are the real deal, with ultra-fresh wild-caught Maine lobster. An exciting new addition to the Miami food scene, if you are a lobster fan it is not to be missed. The food made me hum, I will return!
Zoo Miami is the largest and oldest zoological garden in Florida and the only tropical zoo in the US. It’s crowd pleasing for the young or old alike and a delightful way to spend a day.
Every dish at Chef Brad Kilgore’s Brava in Miami is like a work of art. The menu is unique and authentic with elevated presentations, and the design is elegant with a sophisticated ambiance.
We had dinner at the Bird and Bone, under the tutelage of Chef Richard Hales. He is the chef who also helms Blackbrick and Sakarya Kitchen. Hales’ interpretation of American cuisine takes it to another level. I prefer this restaurant to Yardbird.
Brooklyn’s Paulie Gee’s has come to Miami. The crust is thin, but not soggy, and nicely charred and tender, just the way I like it. Every month they collaborate with another restaurant to incorporate what they are known for into a pizza.
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.
Located close to the Miracle Mile, “Oh My Gosh”, is the perfect name for this Miami sweet shop because that is what you say when you will bite into your first brigadeiro.
We experienced a warm welcome from the minute we walked through the doors. Cindy’s menu features a beautiful range of ethnically diverse and seasonally driven dishes that spotlight her culinary approach to global cuisine. Still, I could detect some of her signature Island flavours in many of the descriptions on the menu.
Glass and Vine in Coconut Grove was created by Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli, a James Beard Award nominee and winner of the Food Network’s show, Chopped, and Grove Bay Hospitality Group. The indoor/outdoor 200 seat restaurant is located in the heart of Peacock Park.
The menu is quite large with unique takes on Tuscan-style cuisine, plus the waiters ramble off a number of nightly specials. The servers are polite, knowledgeable and provide great recommendations based on your preferences. Chef Angelo Elia still cooks in the kitchen and occasionally greets familiar guests.
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 …
Bal Harbour Unscripted Art Project gives you the chance to meet your neighbours over a glass of wine, while enjoying an educational evening together. Through Unscripted I’ve been able to visit exclusive, private art collections and hear fascinating talks from some of the world’s leading art experts.
The candies are quite unique. Try the champagne gummy bears made with Dom Perignon, and single malt cordials. The packaging and presentation is beautiful. I love their customized bento boxes, where you can choose the selection. They also make great personal or private gifts, and party favours.
Unscripted Bal Harbour held another interesting Art Chat on April 28th, 2016, at the St. Regis Hotel in Bal Harbour. A full house came out to hearMr. Franklin Sirmans, the director of the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), and a curator, writer and educator, interview world renown artist, Teresita Fernandez.
This is what people want – superfood ingredients, vibrant dressings, chicken that is locally-sourced and cooked well in an efficient amount of time. Presto, Cory Vitello has a hit on his hands with more locations to come.
Black Brick Midtown was one of our favourite new restaurants last year, so I thought it was worth returning again to see if the cooking and service still lived up to my expectations. I am happy to report that we had a delicious meal there.
I decided to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity and I chose to visit the private art collection of Attorney Alan Kruger and his wife Judge Amy Dean. Their collection ranges from contemporary Latin American Art from the Brazilian Neo-Concrete movement (1959-1961) to contemporary installations. The hosts were very generous to open their beautiful apartment and to curate their eclectic collection to us.
Considering it is the first year for this small show from the organizers of Art Palm Beach, it was well attended. I also thought there was a good cross-section of international galleries exhibiting modern, contemporary and emerging art from the 20th and 21st centuries. Local galleries like, The Baker Sponder Gallery and Vertu Fine Art, were also present. I was surprised to notice that Rosenbaum Gallery wasn’t there to support their city’s first art fair, as their main gallery space resides in Boca Raton.
The best part about Myumi, a charming food truck in Wynwood, Miami is the sushi, it’s so fresh tasting and the chef explains where each piece comes from. It could be Alaska, Japan, Boston, Florida , Scotland etc. The menu rotates based on availability. The meal is quite traditional, there are no gimmicky surprises.
Palm Beach Luxury footwear boutique, Stubbs and Wootton is a located at 1 Via Parigi, in a shopping alley off of Worth Avenue. They have been purveyors of handmade artisan-crafted slippers, loafers, espadrilles and sandals since 1993. They are made in Spain and have since opened stores in New York, Southhampton and Palm Beach.
I have been visiting Capri for over 25 years in a row, and one of my favourite shops is 100% Capri. It is a luxury lifestyle brand shop owned, run and designed by my friend Antonio Aiello. He is suave, charming and multi-talented. His luxe brand of stores is now becoming a worldwide chain with locations in the poshest of places including St. Bart’s, the Graff Estate in Cape Town, Dubai, Rome, Mykonos, Florence, Beverly Hills and Bal Harbour to date.
We decided to take a day trip to the upper Florida Keys. I didn’t have a lot of information on where to stop for lunch so I decided to try Marker 88 at 88000 Overseas Highway. It has been popular since the late 60’s and it is one of the few restaurants located on a natural beach with ample outdoor seating.
I am embarrassed to admit I had never heard of El Cielo although it has been open for a year. A friend who lives in Florida told me I should give it a try. I have to say our dinner has far surpassed anything I have had in Miami this year.
Driving down to Key Largo and Islamorada was not just for the scenery (which itself could take home a medal). We went with a purpose in mind, to have a Key Lime Pie tasting and to declare a winner.
Celebrating its 19th year, ArtPalmBeach is the premiere mid-winter contemporary art fair on Florida’s Gold Coast.
Are you coming here to eat gourmet food, no. But, if you are looking for great family fun, where the kids can run around in a big open space and jump in blow up slides and dine alfresco, you can’t get much better than this. The parking is free and there is a DJ spinning tunes. You can pull up by boat as well.
The Driftwood Room is the work of New York Chef Alex Guarnaschelli, the Food Network Star Chef of Butter Restaurant and the China Grill. Located in the newly renovated and restored Nautilus South Beach at 1825 Collins Avenue, the restaurant is quite attractive, but weather permitting I suggest dining on the large terrace. It has that beach inspired feel and reminded me of St. Bart’s.
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.
Bal Harbour, home to some of Miami’s most high end boutiques has now added the French luxury leather goods brand of Goyard to its roster. This store is only one of a handful of stores outside Paris. This is the first free standing boutique in the Southeastern United States.
Best old favourites and new loves.
Last year the Matador in the Edition Hotel was the THE new hot spot in Miami. This year I predict the newly remodeled One Hotel and its new restaurant Beachcraft will be wildly popular.
We enjoyed a wonderful lunch at The Grill at Bal Harbour – situated on the second floor of the mall, just up the escalators and straight to the back. I suggest making reservations now that everyone has discovered the restaurant.