The experts tell you where to eat during Miami Spice
Don’t try to do this alone.
There are 243 restaurants participating in Miami Spice this year. You can’t get to them all. And you can’t spend six hours of your work day on www.ilovemiamispice.com culling through the list, hiding from your boss, until the tech department blocks access to the website. Fortunately, we’re here to help.
The Miami Herald food critics and some of our friends in the culinary world gave us the top five restaurants they’re eager to visit and the dishes they want to try during Miami Spice, when restaurants offer fixed-price lunches at $23 a person, dinner at $39, through August and September.
Now go forth and eat. Your IT guy will thank you.
Carlos Frías
Miami Herald Food & Dining Editor
cfrias@miamiherald.com
33 Kitchen. 3195 Commodore Plaza, Miami
Peruvian-inspired cooking with modern techniques and only the freshest ingredients. Having: crispy chicken steamed buns with aji de gallina sauce, “pescado a lo macho” seafood medley and tres leches with berries.
Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann at the Faena Hotel. 3201 Collins Ave., Miami Beach
The Argentine grilling savant displays his skills in an opulent setting. Having: almond soup with watermelon and sherry vinegar, skirt steak a la parrilla and dulce de leche flan.
Palme d’Or at The Biltmore Hotel. 1200 Anastasia Ave., Coral Gables
Classic, elegant French fare with impeccable service. #TreatYoSelf. Having: Octopus and escargot in a spring onion emulsion, roasted duck breast with kumquats, eclair pastry with coffee cream.
27 Restaurant and Bar. 2727 Indian Creek Drive, Miami Beach
The flavors of multiple Miami cuisines, from Haitian to Jewish to Cuban, are given gourmet treatment with ingredients as fresh as its on-site garden. Having: Haitian griot and pikliz (pork shoulder and slaw), shwarma chicken with tzatziki and hot fudge brownie sundae with salted caramel sauce and “filthy” cherries.
Pinch Kitchen. 8601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami
Quality ingredients, presented creatively in a homey atmosphere. Having: Ceviche of corvina, shrimp, white corn and aji limo, pork secreto with pearl onions, homemade baba rum cake.
Victoria Pesce Elliott
Food writer and Miami Herald Dining Critic
vpevpe@gmail.com
Byblos. 1545 Collins Ave., Miami Beach
Haute and hot! Byblos offers a ton of choices, so it makes it fun to go with three or four friends and not all eat the same thing. Having: eggplant kibbeh and zesty harissa shrimp finished with the incredible texture bomb of pizzelle with baklava ice cream with salted caramel.
O’Lima. 1052 Kane Concourse, Bay Harbor Islands
I am always game for a new high-end Peruvian experience. And in Bal Harbour no less. How perfect. Having: yucca croquettes stuffed with gouda cheese and huancaina sauce, aji de mariscos con tacu tacu de garbanzo and lucuma mousse.
Cypress Tavern. 3620 NE Second Ave., Miami
Because everything Michael Schwartz touches is gastronomic gold. Having: tuna crudo with fresno chili, avocado and lime followed by wood grilled leg of lamb and the cheese plate with chutney, spiced nuts and local honey.
Corsair Kitchen and Bar at Turnberry Isle. 19999 W. Country Club Drive, Aventura
A little bit country (club). Because I have been wanting to try this spot for a long time now. Having: arugula and duck confit, blackened salmon with sweet summer corn and tomato and salted caramel pudding.
Beachcraft at the 1 Hotel South Beach. 2395 Collins Ave., Miami Beach
Despite a rocky start, I believe Tom Colicchio can make this beachy spot a hit. Having: chicken liver toast with mustard seeds mizuna and shallot caraway jam, roasted local fish with braised greens and a puffy doughnut with key lime curd.
Kendall Hamersly
Miami Herald Features Editor and dining critic
khamersly@miamiherald.com
Michael’s Genuine Food and Drink. 130 NE 40th St., Miami
The original playground of one of Miami’s best chefs, back to Spice after a long layoff. Having: grilled peaches with stracciatella, arugula pesto, saba; wood oven roasted snapper with chorizo, crushed tomato, chickpeas, saffron aioli, sourdough crostini; vanilla kulfi with mango, rosewater ginger syrup, pistachios.
Bulla Gastrobar. 2500 Ponce De Leon Blvd., Coral Gables
Casual and lively Spanish tapas hangout. Having: huevos Bulla — eggs, homemade potato chips, serrano ham, potato foam, truffle oil; rabo de toro — braised oxtail, shishito peppers, bomba rice; copa Bulla — strawberries, green apples, Greek yogurt, toffee foam.
Seaspice. 422 NW North River Drive, Miami
Elegant, nautical-themed riverfront bistro where you can arrive by land or by sea. Having: cauliflower panna cotta with salmon gravlox; grouper escabeche with petite vegetables, purple sweet potato, warm vinaigrette; mango scone with rosewater, mango and cardamom chantily mango lassi ice cream.
Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill. 3252 NE First Ave., Miami
Chef Timon Balloo’s place and the best restaurant in Midtown. Having: fried cauliflower with sweet chili & peanuts; snapper pozole with shaved cabbage, charred sofrito and crema fresca; grilled summer peaches with honey almond cake, sweet corn ice cream.
PB Station. 121 SE First St., Miami
Pubbelly Group goes downtown and goes more upscale with this train-station themed steakhouse. Having: broiled oysters with grana padano, roasted cabbage and oregano; pork tenderloin with country ham, grilled red onion, braised collard greens and carrot marmalade; chef’s choice for dessert but hope for the Fudge My Life chocolate-peanut butter extravaganza or apple pie bread pudding.
Jodi Mailander Farrell
Miami Herald Dining Critic
jmailander@gmail.com
Mignonette. 210 NE 18th St, Miami
Miami native chef Daniel Serfer keeps it fresh and briny, the only way to spend summer in the city. I still have dreams about the clams “casino” appetizer with bacon and white wine, but for Miami Spice, having: oysters Frank with smoked bacon and sherry, pan-roasted grouper with czarina sauce, and butterscotch Heath bar bread pudding with cayenne whipped cream (love that kick in the sweet cream).
Alter. 223 NW 23rd St., Miami
The best excuse for a two-hour lunch in Wynwood. Chef Bradley Kilgore prepares fuel for the imagination. From his lunch-only Spice menu, having: Soft egg with sea scallop espuma, potato puree charred white fish with smoked buratta, puffed potato and onion jam, and chevre panna cotta with olive oil cake, pickled peaches and bay leaf marshmallow.
The Forge. 432 W. 41st St., Miami Beach
The summer promo is an affordable excuse to catch up on history at the landmark Miami Beach steakhouse. Its kitchen is run by a woman, executive chef Julia Doyne, for the first time in 47 years. Having: yellowfin tuna tartare with daikon radish, shiso, scallion pancakes and miso sake dressing; petite filet mignon with barbecue rub, collard greens, smashed red bliss potatoes and smoky jus; blood orange meringue tart with vanilla walnuts and berry coulis.
Ariete. 3540 Main Highway, Coconut Grove
Up-and-coming chef Michael Beltran has a creative Spice menu. Having: Ariete nuggets — oxtail, venison and tamarind ketchup; local fish with charred broccoli rabe, greens, bacon, almond, buerre blanc with sour orange; seasonal pie with vanilla ice cream.
Cypress Tavern. 3620 NE Second Ave., Miami
Stop drooling over its Instagram posts and get yourself to Michael Schwartz’s natty hideaway in the Design District. Consistent, classy excellence. Having: tuna crudo, grilled hanger steak with corn, grilled leeks and potato confit, and chocolate pot de crème with whipped cream and toasted brioche.
Evan S. Benn
Editor in Chief, INDULGE magazine
editor@miamiindulge.com
Quinto La Huella at Brickell City Center. 788 Brickell Plaza, Miami
White-hot Uruguayan steakhouse in the new East Miami hotel. Having: grilled sweetbreads, grass-fed flap steak and passion fruit pie.
Azul at the Mandarin Oriental. 500 Brickell Key Drive, Miami
Go big or go home, right? If you haven’t been to Azul under chef Benjamin Murray’s watch, now is the time. Having: scallop crudo, branzino and lemon financier.
db Bistro Moderne in the JW Marriott Marquis. 255 Biscayne Boulevard Way, Miami
Doesn’t get better than Boulud. Having: country pate, coq au vin and gianduja chocolate bar.
Zuma at the Epic Hotel. 270 Biscayne Boulevard Way, Miami
Brunch is amazing, so can you imagine how good dinner is? Having: maki, grilled octopus, sea bass with shiso and matcha tres leches.
Timo. 17624 Collins Ave., Sunny Isles Beach
Still stunning after all these years. Having: Chef Tim Andriola’s menu changes throughout Spice, and that’s cool with me.
Sara Liss
First Look columnist
Miami.com
Hakkasan. 4441 Collins Ave., Miami Beach
I live for those perfect dumplings. Going for lunch (which you can only get on the weekend). Having: dim sum basket with dumplings, jasmine tea-smoked chicken with soy sauce and mango custard for dessert.
Ariete. 3540 Main Highway, Coconut Grove
Chef Michael Beltran is making a name for himself with his farm-driven dishes at this handsome Coconut Grove spot. Having: tuna conserva, gnocchi with hunter sausage and house-made doughnuts for dessert.
Market at Edition. 2901 Collins Ave., Miami Beach
Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s global cafe/patisserie/salumeria inspired by Spain’s food markets is great for a casually elegant dinner. Having: fresh ricotta strawberry compote, extra virgin olive oil and black pepper; charred summer corn ravioli with heirloom tomatoes and basil; salted caramel ice cream sundae with candied peanuts, popcorn, whipped cream and chocolate sauce.
The Restaurant at the Raleigh. 1775 Collins Ave., Miami Beach
Executive chef Jose Icardi is at the helm now and that courtyard is still one of the most romantic spots on the beach. Having: wagyu and foie slider with pickled shallots, herb aioli; branzino a la planca with chimichurri, smoked paprika aioli; and strawberry cheesecake.
Fooq’s. 1035 N. Miami Ave., Miami
The only restaurant in town where you can get Persian home cooking and a really great bowl of buccatini. This hipster haven continues to evolve in interesting ways. Having: crispy honey glazed Brussels sprouts served over shaved summer vegetables and green garlic Greek yogurt; khoresh of the day: traditional Persian stew (changes daily); and date cake: pistachio gelato, toffee, creme fraiche.
Cassie Glenn
Senior Community Manager, Yelp Miami
cglenn@yelp.com
The Sarsaparilla Club at the Shelborne Wyndham Grand. 1801 Collins Ave., Miami Beach
Chefs Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth bring American dim sum to the Shelborne. That’s one combo I can get behind. Having: braised short rib dumplings, sarsaparilla fried chicken and seasonal dessert.
The Forge. 432 W. 41st St., Miami Beach
With history dating back to the Roaring ’20s, the Forge is an oldie but a goodie. Having: French onion soup, rigatoni Bolognese and grasshopper chocolate lava cake.
Bourbon Steak Miami at Turnberry Isle. 19999 W. Country Club Drive, Aventura
A longstanding Miami Spice favorite, any meal that starts with complimentary duck fat fries is sure to be a winner. Having: summer corn chowder, Angus New York strip and pastelito y cafe.
Byblos. 1545 Collins Ave., Miami Beach
Each person gets to order five different items, so I’m definitely bringing friends along for this one. Having: lamb kibbeh, organic house labneh, short rib kebab, hand rolled couscous and chocolate mousse whipped labneh, date molasses, pomegranate.
Scarpetta at the Fontainebleau. 4441 Collins Ave., Miami Beach
Chef Scott Conant’s acclaimed spaghetti was off the Spice menu last year, but is back this time around. That’s reason enough to go. Having: creamy polenta, spaghetti and warm berry crostata.
This story was originally published July 28, 2016 at 8:55 PM with the headline "The experts tell you where to eat during Miami Spice."