Frodnesor's Recent Activity
Chowhound Post
Joe's Stone Crab - Dress Code
Whether there's a dress code or not, I don't think I'd go to Joe's in shorts and flip-flops and I don't think you'll see many people that do. Keep in mind it is no reservations, and the maitre'd may exercise some "discretion" in how people are seated. If you look like a peasant you may be treated like one. Nice jeans and polo would be fine, dress slacks + buttondown unnecessary.
Chowhound Post
Michael's Genuine - Miami Design District
We tried the brunch for the first time last week. My kind of brunch. Not an over-the-top, stuff-yourself, all-you-can-eat fixed price deal. Rather, the format is very much like MGF&D's dinner menu, with lots of a la carte items (mostly priced under $10) and you can cobble together 2-3 or so to make a meal.
The menu is divided between "savory" and "sweet," with many of the savory items being a clever repurposing of some of the regular menu items in a more breakfasty format - i.e., the pork shoulder w cheese grits gets an egg on top. The sweets section gives a more expansive role to pastry chef Hedy Goldsmith with about a dozen or so baked items, plus a couple variations on pancakes and the like. Also a variety of breads to choose from with house-made jams, and other a la carte nibbles.
Not sure I can even recall everything we tried, but standouts included the breakfast pizza (topped with house-made bacon, fried egg, jack cheese, green onion); yuzu poptart (better than the blueberry one); red velvet cupcake. The spicy posole with a wood-oven roasted duck egg and duck cracklings was good, but could have used a little refinement.
Really a very pleasant brunch all around, and I really enjoy the ability to order what you want and try a couple different things, without the steep price tag of a typical AYCE brunch.
Also several nice "eye-openers" on the drinks menu. I thoroughly enjoyed the "Sonny Rollins," with Basil Hayden bourbon, tea, honey, lemon and a splash of soda.
www.foodforthoughtmiami.com
Chowhound Post
Anything new or coming to Dade late '09?
Dacra owns much of the property in the Design District (or at least did at one time). What was the location?
Chowhound Post
Miami - Restaurants open on Christmas?
OpenTable is a very good starting point but I always take a "trust but verify" approach with them when it comes to holidays. I think there are sometimes communications issues between OT and restaurants that are closing for holidays but don't let them know to take them off the reservation system.
Chowhound Post
TOP STEAK IN FLA
haven't heard yet about Forge reopening date. Will see what I can find out.
Chowhound Post
Looking for a new and great Restaurant in Miami
A few newer places you didn't mention ->
Sra. Martinez - Michelle Bernstein's "new" tapas place in the Design District (actually almost exactly a year old now).
Por Fin - a little more than a year old now in Coral Gables, Spanish food (broadly speaking), nice place, good service.
Scarpetta - in the Fontainebleau, I've only been there once but it was quite good. Most other reports have been consistent.
Area 31 - in the Epic Hotel downtown. Menu focuses on sustainable, mostly local seafood.
Eos - from NY team Michael Psilakis and Donatella Arpaia. Very pretty space, I've had some great dishes there (risotto w sea urchin) but others a tad hit-or-miss.
Solea - newly opened in the W on South Beach; just poached chef Marc Vidal from Por Fin, don't know if his menu is in place yet. Initial reviews [edited to add: before Vidal arrived] were a bit tepid.
Hakkasan - also in the Fontainebleau. High quality, often interesting upscale Chinese; my own visit had its high and low points but enough was good for me to go back.
Mr. Chow / Philippe (the original and the imposter) - if you go for that kind of thing. Not my style.
Meat Market - (Lincoln Road) - I went very early on when they first opened and thought it was inconsistent but showed promise. Lately getting pretty good feedback. Not exclusively a steakhouse.
Bourbon Steak - Aventura. Speaking of steakhouses. Really high quality.
BLT Steak (South Beach). Speaking some more of steakhouses. Also pretty good, and the daily specials veer a bit away from the steakhouse theme. Gratis popovers and warm chicken liver mousse to start are awesome.
Talavera - just opened in Coral Gables. Semi-upscale Mexican place from the owners of Jaguar in Coconut Grove. I paid my second visit for lunch today, pretty good. Probably not a knock-your-socks-off meal, but good.
Casale - pizza place plus more from the owners of Sardinia right across the street. My first visit there the pizzas were excellent, second time only OK.
Burger & Beer Joint - right across the street as well. I've not been yet but have been hearing good things about it. Perhaps not a "special dinner" place.
Eater Miami just announced that Jonathan Eismann (Pacific TIme) will be opening a couple new places next month, "Q" (a bbq place) and "Fin" (seafood, New England style). Probably about a month away from opening, don't know how that fits in your time frame.
Charlotte Bistro is an interesting new place in the Gables with a chef who did some stints with some pretty big-shot French chefs. The Venezuelan chocolate soup dessert was delicious.
Is that enough to start?
www.foodforthoughtmiami.com
Chowhound Post
Anything new or coming to Dade late '09?
Jonathan Eismann will be opening two new places in the Design District: "Q" - a bbq place; and "Fin" a New England style seafood place. Probably about a month away from opening.
http://miami.eater.com/archives/2009/...
Chowhound Post
Looking for a new and great Restaurant in Miami
Would probably help if you said what "hot spots" you've been to so that folks don't make recommendations of places you've already tried.
Chowhound Post
Need Help Picking a dinner for Friday night Palm Beach to Miami????????
The Paradigm dinners at the Trump are on indefinite hiatus, but you may find the chefs doing things out and about town out of the restaurant.
Up north I think the place most likely to meet that bar would be Cafe Boulud. If you're willing to come down to Miami, Michael's Genuine and Michy's are still at the top of their game; though none of these places works with contemporary techniques in the same way as the Paradigm dinners.
www.foodforthoughtmiami.com
Chowhound Post
Iron (or Sodium) and Wine?
No, not a spin-off alt folk band. A couple weeks ago there was a good bit of publicity over a study indicating that iron compounds in red wine are responsible for contributing to "fishy" flavors when red wine is paired with seafood. Here's one example ->
http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/...
Then a couple days ago I was reading the "Sake" volume of the Oishinbo books (a fantastic series of Japanese manga comics revolving around Japanese food), which suggested that sodium compounds in wines (including white wines) have the same effect (and ergo, arguing that sake generally makes a better pairing than wine, even white wine, with fish and seafood).
Which prompted a couple questions ->
- are there white wines with high iron content that would have the same effect as indicated in the recent study?
- is there anything to the sodium theory? Yes, I know it's a comic book, which is generally not exactly a definitive source of information, but for the subjects I know something about, the books seem pretty well-researched.
Chowhound Post
Miami area top Italian
There's an existing "Top Italian in Fla" thread which includes several Miami/FTL suggestions ->
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/318973
Currently, in Miami I would probably go with Scarpetta and Sardinia as my top 2. There are folks who like Il Gabbiano but I find it rather pricey for what you get (though this is not necessarily speaking of quantity - some love the way they stuff you with fried zucchini and hunks of parmigiano reggiano before you even order).
www.foodforthoughtmiami.com
Chowhound Post
Sunday Lunch near Port of Miami
A few more ideas ->
Latin Cafe 2000 (Biscayne Blvd. & 25th St.) does serviceable if unexceptional Cuban food and is open Sundays.
http://www.latincafe2000.com/
Michael's Genuine Food & Drink in the Design District (40th St) in one of the best restaurants in town and recently started doing an a la carte Sunday brunch.
http://www.michaelsgenuine.com/
I have never been, but there's a place in the Brickell area (downtown extended south) called Dolores But You Can Call Me Lolita (don't ask me) that is open Sundays at noon.
http://www.doloreslolita.com/
Chowhound Post
Racks-best pizza in So. Fla??
The award-winning truffle pizza was on the specials board when I visited some time ago for $30+.
Chowhound Post
Florida Culinary Vacation
Florida is quite big and you may get more useful responses if you have a better idea of where you'll be.
In Miami area Chef Allen Susser (of Chef Allen's in the Aventura area) regularly does cooking programs at the restaurant, more information on the website ->
http://www.chefallens.com/cooking_exp...
Chowhound Post
Sunday Lunch near Port of Miami
Just FYI I have never had anything better than a mediocre meal at Perricone's. It is a charming space though.
Chowhound Post
Anything new or coming to Dade late '09?
The menus at the restaurant are in English and Spanish.
Chowhound Post
Anything new or coming to Dade late '09?
Here's a new one: Patagonia Home Made Products - Argentinian place on Miracle Mile in Coral Gables (same block as Ortanique, Charlotte Bistro, relocated Le Provencal). Empanadas, sandwiches, steaks, lots of wines.
Chowhound Post
Need recommendations - Aventura area of Florida
Lots of Thanksgiving options if you're willing to head to South Beach ->
http://www.foodforthoughtmiami.com/20...
Chowhound Post
Miami - South of Airport Zip 33126
That's right across from the airport. Coral Gables is about 10 minutes' drive away.
Chowhound Post
Miami - South of Airport Zip 33126
7th Street and 836 run parallel to each other so it's a bit hard to tell exactly where you're going to be. Assuming it's close to Coral Gables, there's decent Italian to be had at Bugatti or Anacapri, or for more Southern Italian red-sauce style, Randazzos (new location on the corner of Miracle Mile and LeJeune Road). There are also several chain steakhouses (Morton's, Flemings, Ruth Chris, Houstons). For something with more of a local flair, Graziano's is a very good Argentine steakhouse.
Can't think of much barbecue around there. We used to go to Uncle Tom's BBQ on 8th Street ages ago but I think it's changed ownership and taken a severe decline (not that it was fantastic to start).
If you follow this search you'll see a couple threads on places near the airport ->
http://search.chow.com/search?query=M...
www.foodforthoughtmiami.com
Chowhound Post
Sunday Lunch near Port of Miami
Here are more good reasons not to eat at Bayside ->
http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/shorto...
Chowhound Post
Sunday Lunch near Port of Miami
The options at Bayside are mostly chains and not very good, though it is one of the few places you might find a good view. Many of the places in downtown are closed on the weekend.
A few places you might want to check out ->
Botequim Carioca, a new Brazilian place on Biscayne Blvd at 9th St.
http://botequim-carioca.de/
Bin 18, Biscayne Blvd. & 18th St.; closed Sunday.
http://www.bin18miami.com
Urbanite Bistro on 14th St. between Biscayne Blvd. and Miami Avenue - dodgy neighborhood, I wouldn't walk it; and closed Sunday.
http://urbanitebistro.com/
The only one I've been to is Bin 18, which made a decent sandwich, had good wines and beers, and was a pleasantly funky place.
www.foodforthoughtmiami.com
Chowhound Post
Best of SoBe?
Icebox has done lots of stuffed pancake variations and yes, they're good. As for reservations - Miami is generally a late dining town, so 9pm is often prime-time. There are some places that will be tough to get into without a reservation - Michael's Genuine, Michy's, Sra. Martinez, and (so I've heard) Hakkasan, Mr. Chow, Casa Tua, for instance - but others you should be able to walk in mid-week.
Chowhound Post
Best of SoBe?
Washington Ave. and Espanola Way is no dicier than GTA Vice City, so you should be fine, won't even need your AK. ;) - seriously, though, that end of South Beach can sometimes be just slightly skeevy, but it's nowhere near "taking your life in your hands" material. I think netmover was referring to the quality of the bakeries rather than the neighborhood.
I have yet to find a truly good bakery anywhere in Miami since Biga closed years ago. I have tasted some good things at Moises Bakery, a Venezuelan bakery in North Beach, though that is about 50 blocks away from where you'll be.
If you have a sweet tooth you should check out Icebox Cafe on Lincoln Road. Also good for late breakfast.
You are generally right that most of the interesting eating in Miami these days is not on South Beach. Talula is definitely my favorite on South Beach and indeed one of my favorites period. Sardinia is good - not particularly "Miami", but good food and the regional (i.e. Sardinian) Italian take is different. Indomania (Dutch-Indonesian) is also very good, though again not particularly "Miami". Tap Tap is a good suggestion. Joe's Stone Crab is a local institution that still has great food, but if you don't want seafood it may not be the right place for you (though you could get the 1/2 fried chicken and a slice of key lime pie and be pretty happy).
Puerta Sagua and David's Cafe are the 2 longest-standing Cuban options on South Beach. Neither is particularly exceptional. For some of Miami's other Latin American options, you could try Chalan on the Beach (Peruvian) or Parilla Liberty (Argentinian - is this still open?). For more upscale, Neuvo Latino, there's Douglas Rodrguez's Ola restaurant.
www.foodforthoughtmiami.com
Chowhound Post
New or coming soon '09 edition (Miami)
already noted in this "late '09" thread, which is a little less bloated than this one (290 posts!) - >
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/639922
Chowhound Post
Anything new or coming to Dade late '09?
Some more:
Ole Tapas in the Four Seasons Brickell
http://www.foodforthoughtmiami.com/20...
Also, Lemon Twist on Normandy Circle (North Beach) recently (re)opened. I use the odd parenthetical because years ago there was a place here called Lemon Twist. It closed, something else went into the spot for a couple years (a sports bar?), now Lemon Twist is back. I will try it soon.
Chowhound Post
Anything new or coming to Dade late '09?
Here's one: Danny Meyer's Shake Shack coming to Lincoln Road, supposedly spring/summer 2010.
http://www.foodforthoughtmiami.com/20...
Chowhound Post
Anything new or coming to Dade late '09?
Seems like everything is coming up Peruvian along that stretch of Biscayne Boulevard these days.
Chowhound Post
TOP MEXICAN IN FLA
short rib with mole coloradito. pic came from the restaurant, not my own. I've not tried the dish but I am interested in their moles.
Chowhound Post
TOP MEXICAN IN FLA
I also tried Talavera for lunch when they opened last week. It's a good menu and shows promise, and because of the Jaguar folks' track record I'm confident it'll get better, but I also wasn't blown away ->
http://www.foodforthoughtmiami.com/20...
The "vuelve de la vida" ceviche was probably the best thing we tried. The chicken huarache was good though the chicken itself was a little bland, which was a bit of an issue across the board. The chicken tacos were also a somewhat ungenerous portion without any sides. There is a lot on that menu.
Again, this was just first day impressions and I am pretty confident the place will improve and do well.
