#7 - Agreed. Small plates are not meant for sharing. A small plate of three bacon wrapped dates I can eat by myself. Four paper thin slices of fish drizzled with oil is not meant to be shared by a table of 6. A large plate is meant to share. Think family style Italian. The 1/2 pan of lasagna is meant to share. I hate spending $7-13 each for 4 'snacks' or 'little' plates and leaving a restaurant still hungry. And I don't want to order a regular sized entree and have to split it. If I wanted 1/2 a steak, I'd go to a nice steakhouse and get a 6 oz filet.

I've read there's a lot of vegetarian options at Lost and Found Saloon but never been there. Can anyone who has please comment and also let me know if it's appropriate at dinner time for kids, age 9 & 12.

Graziano's on Bird Road or in the Gables

Not sure if they do warm crab legs, or even if theyre still there, but there used to POC buffet at 2121 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Coral Gables that you might want to try.

The specialty pizzas at Big Cheese are better than just say, a pepperoni, or mushroom one. The one she mentioned, with the pineapple and ricotta is pretty good if you like a sweet pizza.
I think Big Cheese is so much better for some of their dishes other than pizza; baked meat tortellini, veal parmesan sub, etc.

Was there in July and didn't notice any turn for the worse. However, I typically order some of the dim-sum and other dishes that I can't get at some of the other places that are closer to me so maybe they do better on some dishes than others.

I have been very disappointed by the honey chicken at the Canton chain lately. For years I thought they were the best, but lately both chicken and breading haven't been as good.

Thanks for the help.
Love reading your reviews even if I never get to try any of the places you talk about. I feel like I eat vicariously through you.

Had a question about Bourbon Steak and their burgers. Preparing to go for the first time but I've heard they only serve the burgers at the bar/lounge.
Do I need to/can I make a reservation?
Does the bar area get crowded?
Is there enough space to eat?
Can any of the other menu items be ordered to eat at the bar in case one of us doesn't want the burger?
Sorry for all the questions, but one of four in party is coming from out of town and is huge burger fan. Figured this would be really nice treat but never been before and don't want to get there and not be able to get a burger (or a seat).

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Bourbon Steak
19999 West Country Club Drive, Aventura, FL 33180

Wow! What a response.
Hit Dukes and Smokin Pig.
Smokin Pig: Yum!
Also had yummy fried shrimp at B&J's in Darien.
Thanks for such a great list. I'm going to be heading down & up often soon and this is gonna be a great reference.

Thanks, saw website and it looks good. Heading up there next week.

Aix looks nice, maybe even a little too fancy though, after being in car for many hours.

Any thought on places along I-26 near Columbia?

I'm driving up I-95 to Columbia and then I-26 to Asheville. I need some recommendations for breakfast, lunch and dinner; not sure what times I'm going to be where.
Looking for places close to interstate (w/in a few miles), but if there's an absolute must that's further down the road, I'll make the trip.
Trying to find diner type places, no need for fancy stuff. Quick casual places? Places to grab a good pork sandwich for the road?

Thank you!

If you're in the Kendall area, I would suggest Clarabelle's Cupcakes.
Yummy! (and Kosher, too)

(305) 270-5600

Ask when they're gonna open one in Miami too. We're waiting....

Rok Bgr has very very slow service. Get there really early or you may miss the show. Was there last night; placed order at 5:45. At 6:30 when we finally got the food (no appetizers, no special orders, straight off menu) we had to ask for the check (our show was at 7). My husband's empty beer bottle sat in front of him for about 30 min.; our waiter never came by to ckeck if he wanted something more to drink.

The two people at the table next to us actually got up and walked out before their food ever showed. They left some money for the first beers they had but guess they gave up waiting. The sad thing was that when the runner brought the food (10 min after they left), he called the waiter over and the waiter hadn't even noticed they were gone and they were both standing there wondering why the people would've walked out.

Never had the Rockefeller there, but Captain's Tavern in Pinecrest has really really good Russian oysters, topped with caviar, sour cream, egg, scallion. I've never had the Rockefeller there because I can't go there and not order the Russian ones.

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Captain's Tavern Restaurant
9625 S Dixie Hwy, Miami, FL 33156

Mazzola's West in Davie is really good. Not a chain. Mom and Pop type place
12585 Orange Drive
Davie, FL 33330-4301
(954) 424-4227

Was there two weeks ago for dinner on a Wednesday night and enjoyed the food. The problem was the noise. Because the bar runs along the side of the restaurant there wasn't a place to sit where we didn't get bar noise. and there were several large parties throughout the place that added to the noise level. Would like to try more from the menu but it was hard to enjoy.

Not the most gourmet food by any means, but I always like to take out of towners to the brunch at Rusty Pelican on Key Biscayne. Never a shortage of food, it's a huge buffet including requisite seafood; oysters, peel and eat shrimp etc. The views are pretty impressive and people I've taken there always seem to have a good time. Might qualify as your good 'spot' as it's not really high-end dining.

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Rusty Pelican
Key Biscayne, FL, Key Biscayne, FL

I think part of the problem is determining what is meant by 'good' pizza. I don't like the char (*burnt) on my pizza crust. People who swear by Anthony's like it.
There's obviously the whole thick crust v. thin crust debate. And of course the toppings. I don't think pizza should have fennel or artichokes on it, but my husband wouldn't dare eat a piece when I order my pie with anchovy or bottarga.
I always remember liking the pizza at the skating rink when I was a kid. To me, that was good pizza!
And every time I eat pizza in NY, I always have to blot up all the extra grease. yuck.

MMMmmmm. Velvet Creme. Much better than Krispy Kreme. There was the one across from UM, now a Starbucks, the one on 8th Street, and there was also one on 87 Avenue, just north of Coral Way, next to where the IHop was. It's now a McDonalds.
The one on 8th was right near George's Sub Shop and my parents used to take us for subs for dinner and then we each got a donut for desert. Yum.

Okay, I need to know, what exactly is grandma's style pizza? I had one of the few grandmothers around that didn't cook and I know she certainly never made pizza!

Imlee Restaurant in strip shopping center in Pinecrest on US-1 at SW 128 street used to have a market also. Don't know if they still, but you might want to check it out.

Just realized you said you were doing Fairchild - that's actually in the Gables. You've got lots of choices in the Gables - check out some of the other posts for suggestions. You're probably better off staying nearer to the Gables/South Miami and driving down to the fruit and spice park and having just a lunch or dinner at one of the mexican places there. (And getting a milkshake at Robrt i sHere before driving back)

You might be interested in Schnebly winery. Story I heard was that in order to get a winery license they were required to use locally produced fruit. I don't even think they do a grape wine, but I've had the mango and passion fruit and both were very good. They do winery tours and tastings.

30205 SW 217 Avenue Homestead

They used to have a Sunday Brunch menu - was there almost 2 years ago, so don't remember much other than the fact that they had a really tasty special french toast. Everyone left the restaurant saying what a nice meal they had but me and the other person who had the french toast were definitely the winners. Sounds stange for Italian restaurant but that's what I remember.

Big Fish along the Miami River might be a good spot. It's been a long time (year +) since I was there, but they handled large group (12) of us really well and the food was very good, especially the whole deep fried fish.
It's underneath the Brickell Bridge, I think 5th street.
Not sure if you wanted ocean view, but river view is pretty nice.

Was on vacation there recently and went to The Hershey Pantry at 801 E. Chocolate Avenue and had one of the best breakfasts I've eaten in a long time. Yummy scrapple too. Don't go expecting chocolate chip pancakes though. Old fashioned home cooking. The omelette was huge. The coffe was nice and strong.
We had dinner at Feniccis Italian restaurant at 102 West Chocolate Avenue and really liked it. I had some pasta dish, can't remember the name, that had sausage and meatballs and bacon and was extremely good. I think it's one of the oldest places around and there seemed to be a casual room where we were with families but also a more formal area for people wh had come in wanting a little bit nicer atmosphere. same menu though.

A little bit further south, but Papichi on S. Dixie Hwy. (just past where the Hooligans used to be, near the fireplace store) is pretty good for casual Italian with the kids. Their deserts are pretty good too.