mialebven's Profile
Opening Miami Downtown 2012
It looks like this thread is meant to be a look into downtown Miami's dining scene (which composes of A&E District, Central Business District, & Brickell).
Opening Miami Downtown 2012
I'm sorry - say what? Where in downtown is Crepes & Waffles opening?
On Flagler, I also saw also La Provence opened recently with Grove-style windows (open to the outdoors). And a new yogurt place next door is in the work as well as an upscale pizza place near Intercontinental Bank.
And across from the Courthouse it seems another Le Boudoir for downtown is in the works, around the corner from the Starbucks.
I'm not familiar with La Prep or Bloom.
Traditional food in Miami
If you stick with the Venezuelan choices in the menu, the best Venezuelan I've found so far is Brasero's (locations in Doral & Weston - never personally tried the Weston location). Supposedly when they have live music at night, it becomes popular. I would call in advance. But beware, I was not impressed with the non-Venezuelan choices in the menu. If you're just looking for Venezuelan arepas and standard street food arepas, my favorite is La Latina in Midtown Miami - they're also open late at night. Another late night Venezuelan spot that's popular is Doggi's & More near Brickell in Miami, but I find the arepas and prices better at La Latina.
For Latin food in general, I'd recommend either OLA in South Beach or Tuyo in Downtown Miami for noteworthy stops - and they'll be better than any other Latin-specific restaurant recommendations, including the Venezuelan ones I mentioned above. I also love Catharsis in Little Havana's Calle Ocho which is pan-Latino (with maybe a strong Argentine influence).
Where are the best burger joints in Miami (possibly South Beach)?
I'd agree with you tpigeon, but I don't think Shake Shack's atmosphere is that great either considering it's just a counter service and a quick in and out (no indoor seating). Both places' hey days are long gone, IMHO. But they both have staying power and will likely be around for a long time (like Cheeseburger Baby, since it is probably the oldest burger joint in the Beach that isn't a chain). B&BJ still has a better vibe in my opinion for this reason (makes it feel somewhat "classier" and on par with 5 Napkins or 8 oz. but with better burgers than both). For the vibe alone, I'd head to the mainland (e.g. Lokal, Filling Station).
Seeking steakhouse or Brazilian/Argentine restaurant recommendations in the area
La Rural Argentine Grill in Weston. Waterfront patio in the back.
2346 Weston Rd.
Weston, FL 33326
Where are the best burger joints in Miami (possibly South Beach)?
I'd do Burger & Beer before 5 Napkins AND Shake Shack. Seriously, who gets impressed with fast food burgers anyways that's just made up of thin patties that's meant to be cooked well-done all the time simply because... it's thin? I just don't understand how a fast food burger can be considered a great burger, when you'd be hard-pressed to judge the meat itself. And as for 5 Napkins, had it in New York even, and was far from being impressed. Burger & Beer is better than 5 Napkins, here and in New York.
But seriously, you want people-watching, walkable from the Fillmore AND good-burgers? Forget a burger joint with these criteria - just doesn't exist in South Beach. Just do The Cafe at Books & Books on Lincoln Rd. If it gets too late, then do Flame Caffe & Grill on Espanola Way (closes at 2 am). Both of these places probably would do it better than 5 Napkins & also have plenty of burger options even though they both are not true burger joints.
Where are the best burger joints in Miami (possibly South Beach)?
I would pick the Filling Station in downtown Miami. It's Burger & Beer Joint at a slightly lower price point and just about as good, IMHO. I do like Burger & Beer Joint, and if you were staying on the beach, I'll probably refer you to go to Burger & Beer Joint - especially since they also have more to offer (I love their fried string beans). For "locally-sourced" burgers, Lokal in Coconut Grove is the perfect spot. While I like the burgers there, I do find it a little bit underseasoned compared to the other burger places in Miami - but it doesn't disappoint for sure.
Shake Shack is just fast food - I wouldn't consider it as one of the best burger place around. It's just good for what it is - a fast food burger, and is better than other fast food burgers. It's a different ballgame.
Szcheuwan/Cantonese chinese restaurant 'near' Aventura
A friend of mine who lives near Beijing also touts Lung Gong for Szechuan - he recommends the place as the go-to spot for hot pot. King Palace sounds good though and I'll have to make a visit there and also to Sunrise to visit the New York Market and the Chinese restaurant in the same strip mall.
But of all these places, King Palace is the closest to Aventura. Good call and thanks for the report.
Recs for Peruvian/Ceviche Aventura/North Miami Beach/Surfside/Hallandale/Hollywood
Mixtura got good reviews in northern Miami Beach (close to Surfside actually) in the relatively picky Miami Herald today. I also have heard good things by word of mouth. I'd pick that place over El Goyo Pollo, but only because El Goyo Pollo in South Beach doesn't even serve the traditional Peruvian pisco sour (kind of odd that they don't, actually considering they have other alcoholic beverages).
teenager in Miami
Try Lokal burgers in Coconut Grove - I'm seeing good reports from them and I would think it's a good fit for your teenager too.
What Peruvian restaurant in Miami would you recommend to out of town friends?
CV.ICHE 105 has long replaced Chalan as a Peruvian institution in Miami, in the affordable range. El Chalan actually have not been liked much ever since there have been newer crops of Peruvian restaurants, even on the beach. I wouldn't be surprised if they go out of business in the next few years, with the new Beach entrants such as Cevichery, Pollo El Goyo, and Mixtura (farther north).
Meanwhile, I do know that many tourists still go to the Gables for Peruvian, particularly for Francesco. I do like La Cofriada, but it doesn't seem to be as popular outside of Miami. While Francesco is high end and supposedly "haute-Peruvian", it has a better and stronger reputation than El Chalan. Many times when I speak to Peruvians in other American cities about Peruvian restaurants in Miami, they always seem to mention Francesco.
Miami Food Trucks
Mr. Good Stuff & MeZican Gourmet are tasty as well. I was a bit underwhelmed by Gastropod because the portions are small. Churomania's churros are always great for dessert (for sharing).
Sufganiyot - Miami/Ft. Lauderdale
Sarah's Tent market at the Waterways Shoppes in Aventura have better sufganiyots than Kosher Kingdom. I would probably trust the ones from Jacob's too but I have yet to try theirs.
Christmas Tamales in Houston
There's a Venezuelan food truck on the corner of Beechnut and Hwy 6 behind the car wash place that sells the Christmas tamales called hallacas. They're stuffed with more things and I like them better. I'm also a fan of Nicaraguan nacatamales but I'm not sure where to get them in Houston. Both are wrapped in bananan leaves rather than corn husks.
Nacatamales to go in Miami?!
Depends where you'll be staying in Miami - I'm not sure where the "best" nacatamales are as I haven't tried many places (even though I do find them tasty). Try Cerro Negro in western Miami or Guayacan as they're popular places. Other popular Nicaraguan places are Yambo and Pinolandia but I'm not sure how they compare for nacatamales.
Have researched a week of good eating; looking for input and info about particular dishes to order
Oh and as far as finding food when making excursions into the Everglades or the Keys, the Keys will have better restaurants especially in Key West.
But in the Everglades, it's kind of hard to find a good restaurant. I wouldn't eat anything that's on Tamiami, but venture out to Everglades City and eat something there. For fresh & healthy eats that's good but not great but providing local flavor (alligator, etc), I recommend Camellia Street Grill. They have a kitschy coffeehouse feel even though it's a cafe/restaurant and not a coffee house. And they also have a nice water view and outdoor patio. For more typical alligator done Florida style (fried Southern way), you may have to venture out - I tried it at City Seafood and it was good, but I personally preferred Camellia's ambience, service, and health-focused menu.
And I do wholeheartedly recommend on going to the Everglades - I enjoy very much the airboat rides. :) Just don't do the ones that are closest to Miami but the ones that are farther out.
Have researched a week of good eating; looking for input and info about particular dishes to order
Regarding supermarkets in Wynwood / Design District, Frod is right. There isn't really a supermarket that would warrant the attention of locals in other parts of the county and make them drive to one in W/DD area. I normally steer clear of the Publix on 48th St because it's just chaotic compared to any other Publix I've been to. The one in Miami Shores is much better, but is much more of a drive (and if you do go up there, Little Havana Cuban restaurant is a good spot for your Cuban fix).
As for the supermarkets closer to you, I would probably do Price Choice which has been trying to upgrade itself to make itself more attractive to nearby condo dwellers (they're still nowhere near Publix, but I find their selection in stock to be somewhat interesting, with an expanded number of products from the southern cone of Latin America and Peru as well as DR/PR.
For something more gamey, exotic, or downright ridiculous (since I would have never imagined going into this one until I did so recently by "accident") - you could go to the supermarket in Little Haiti on NW 2nd Ave and 57th Street called Zubi. That market has an interesting meat display case, with pig feet (ankles, lower leg or whatever else) right there for you to see as well as other interesting parts of the cow, pig, oxtail, turkey as these meats are popular among Haitians. In this market, you'll also find a good variety of Haitian products and I thought the market felt very "neon-70s" and old-school considering that there doesn't seem to be an actual door and onions hang above the produce in the produce section as if they were also decorations.
But I'd agree with Frod, do make a visit in the daytime. And for Haitian, I think the most authentic spot recommended by local Haitians would have to be Chef Nicole, but I fear it may have closed down since I haven't been able to figure out when they're actually open (I still have not tried the place but it has been frequently recommended to me even by Haitian taxi drivers that care to speak to locals wanting to try something in Little Haiti and not in South Beach). My personal favorite in Little Haiti so far is Chez Rosie, but beware, it looks like a dive and may be more popular as a take-out spot and I think they're only open for lunch and not dinner. The two chefs that run the station graduated from Johnson & Wales university so I trust the cooking there.
Frod, just curious but have you been able to try the Bahamian Pot in Little Haiti? I noticed it being mentioned on TV and other places simply for their boiled fish (grouper) breakfast?
Hanukkah in Miami ~ Where to nosh?!?!!?
How is Harry's pizza btw? Friends of mine seem to always point to La Pizzeria di Lemoni whenever I want pizza in the Design District. Maybe they're different styles and can't compare with each other?
Hanukkah in Miami ~ Where to nosh?!?!!?
Since you're in the DD, you could go to Miami Beach's Jewish area on 41st Street. There's a deli there that I have never tried (caveat: I'm not of a Jewish background so I was never raised around delis and I don't particularly crave for them), but you could try it out as it seems to be relatively popular for the area:
Sam's Deli
740 W 41st St
Miami Beach, FL 33140
And since you seem to be minding about things Kosher (from what I can see regarding to Chinese during Christmas, Hannukah references), you may also want to explore on making day trips to Aventura where there's tons of Kosher and Israeli offerings. There are many other websites that would serve as a good point of reference (kosher miami, jewish in miami, jewish way, etc).
Also around Aventura, I liked several Israeli restaurants that may be of interest to you - with Etzel Itzik Deli being my favorite (and I would think of their food more often than pastrami on rye) :) Check it out!
As for Chinese, I think the well-known and highly-regarded Chinese places in Miami would make them Kosher during Christmas time since they're probably well aware that we have a large Jewish population here. I'd double check with them just in case, but the good Chinese places here are probably going to be more expensive than your typical LA Chinatown Chinese. Check Tropical and Hakkasan.
Need Cuban and German restaurant recommendations for visiting New Yorkers
What if Cuban is not a recommended option?
Chef headed to Miami need good eats??!
There's a general consensus that there's no "great" Cuban in Miami, but it's always okay to go to one of the Miami institutions for Cuban:
- Versailles is where every tourists go with locals for Cuban.
- Sergio's (on Coral Way) is another popular spot - I like their empanadas (they even have vaca frita empanadas) and their tortilla de platano for breakfast (big enough to share)
But for "upscale" Cuban, I think people would refer you to De Rodriguez Cuba on Ocean.
And for a healthier take on Cuban (since most places are heavy, greasy spoon type of places), I like OYE! Cuban Grill in Pinecrest.
Good espresso in Miami?
For Cuban espresso you could go to Tinta y Cafe on SW 8th Street in Brickell. They get their coffee from somewhere else, and is not the typical Bustelo / Pilon that typifies the bitter Cuban coffee throughout Miami. It's supposed to be a better class of coffee.
Arepa de huevo in So Fla?
I've seen them at both Pan de Bono bakery on SW 8th and Palmetto (826) and also in Los Balkanes bakery in Miami Lakes just south of the Palmetto on 57th Ave (Red Rd). I do not know of a restaurant offering them though, only bakeries.
Best Cuban Food in Miami?
Try Havana 1957 on Espanola Way. They seem to be getting good reviews for standard Cuban.
Vicky's Bakery or Versailles?
I have never been to Argentina or Chile - but after thinking about it, they do call them empanadas and not pasteles in Argentine/Chilean restaurants around here. I guess I should have said South America outside of the southern cone since they are probably not producers nor consumers of corn in which the empanadas are made of in the northern part. But I do know Brazil and Venezuela call them pasteles and I've seen them being referenced as such even here in Miami.
Places that specialize on "pasteles" using such term:
Casa do Pastel (House of Pasteles/Empanadas) in Pompano Beach
Pastel Gourmet in several locations in Miami (downtown, coral way, doral)
And even fast food places:
Doggi's & More - a late night fast food Venezuelan joint on Coral Way next to LifeFood and Karlo bakery (near Mykonos)
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Mykonos Restaurant
1201 Coral Way, Miami, FL 33145
Mallorcas in Miami??
Sorry, I just saw this now.
I don't think the empanadas at Moises are the best, to be honest. They have gotten some fame in the neighborhood though. The better Venezuelan empanadas are out in Doral (I haven't had better outside of Doral yet).
But I love also the golfeados that they make there (and they're a surprising bargain) - and should also be topped with cheese. The sweet bread with a bit of custard is pan dulce (Venezuelan style).
They also make good cachitos, a small closed bread stuffed with ham.
And they also make pan andino, a loaf of bread that made typically in the Venezuelan Andes - and is rare to find especially in Miami (Don Pan has it but they make a very mediocre version and Moises' version is the best pan Andino I've found to date in the area. Other Venezuelan bakeries don't seem to make it). They get dried fast, so they're usually wrapped in plastic. And they're usually needing to be ordered a day in advance - but they may have some already baked, depending on the day you go. They're good toasted with butter and topped with queso de mano cheese that they sell there (they sell it for $15 for a pack of three - but it's worth it considering Publix charges $7 for one that isn't as good). But it's just a huge loaf of bread - and I'm not sure if you'll be interested in that.
I also want to note that I haven't had these on-site since I seem to enjoy it more toasting in the pan like I mentioned above. Maybe it adds a touch of home to the meal? :)
Hope this helps!
Vicky's Bakery or Versailles?
For the sake of clarification, "pasteles" are empanadas (usually stuffed with savory fillings - and are more often used term than empanadas in South America - especially since empanadas are a more common term to reference the corn-dough variety of empanadas); "pastelitos" are sweet puff pastries you see in Latin American bakeries stuffed with guava, etc. (usually a sweet filling).
So yeah, I think Emac were thinking of pasteles, not pastelitos.
Vicky's Bakery or Versailles?
Yup! Just avoid the breakfast at Versailles and go for the bakery goods. Their tortillas are an omelette instead of a frittata/tortilla espanola, and they use American cheese instead of any of the Latin cheeses, and paltry french fries with eggs.
But regardless, the bakery is among the favorites of Cuban bakeries.
Mallorcas in Miami??
I also looooove Puerto Rican mallorcas! I'm on the hunt for them here in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale as well. But for the meanwhile, I do get my sweet tooth fix with the pan dulce from Moises bakery in Miami Beach. They also add a small piece of crema pastelera (baker's cream) or something like that but that is not overly sweet, thankfully. And while pan dulce is definitely not the same, it's nevertheless good and helps pass the tide (especially if you toast it on the foil-wrapped pan for a little bit to warm it up a little bit to make it soft - but not too much to melt the sugar that is on top). Hope this helps - at least until someone here can point us to the direction for mallorcas! :)
Best coffee roaster?
I just did - and I find the Eternity coffee to be more bitter than the one from Panther. I believe it may be because Eternity roast them darker? I'm not sure. But they both are good quality coffee shops, and it seems like the Panther brand is proving to be more popular with its expansion into Miami Culinary Institute, Harry's, and other eateries.
