86°
35 NE 40th St., Miami; 786-391-1818, oaktavernmiami.com
Mandolin Aegean Bistro
Festooned with hanging lanterns, white canvas umbrellas and Mediterranean pottery, the courtyard at Mandolin is a dream for folks of any age. Little ones will be focused on the wedges of warm Turkish bread that hit the table as soon as you’re seated. And you’ll come here for bright dishes of Aegean home cooking like tomato walnut dip and fava bean purée, grilled octopus and lamb burgers.
4312 NE Second Ave., Miami; 305-576-6066, mandolinmiami.com
Wynwood Kitchen & Bar
The look of this place, centered in Miami’s gritty gallery district, is art world elite. But the reasonably priced menu and casual, come-as-you-are atmosphere lend a family-friendly vibe. The patio, outfitted in Crayola-colored plastic chairs, overlooks the garden with murals by street artist Shepard Fairey. It’s loud and there’s plenty to look at: two things that ought to entice tots to try chef Miguel Aguilar’s ropa vieja empanadas and bacon-wrapped dates.
2550 NW Second Ave., Miami; 305-722-8959, wynwoodkitchenandbar.com
La Cote
There are plenty of excellent dining options at the Fontainebleau, but this open-air brasserie, with its glorious beachfront location and St. Tropez feel, is probably the best bet for a breezy lunch or early dinner (they close by 9 p.m. on weekends). There’s a refined Mediterranean menu with dishes like fava bean agnolotti and foie gras with poached pears and carrot foam. And if the youngsters get antsy, there’s always a walk around the hotel’s five pools to work off some of the energy.
Fontainebleau Miami Beach, 4441 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 305-674-4710, fontainebleau.com/lacote
Sara Liss is the Miami editor of UrbanDaddy and a restaurant contributor to Miami.com. Email her at srliss1@aol.com.
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