South Florida foodie

Danny Devito, part owner of the new DeVito South Beach, has his own South Florida favs.

What’s your favorite restaurant?

“It’s gotta be Joe’s Stone Crabs. Even though I don’t spend that much time in Miami, I’m a pretty big crab guy. Years ago, no one did overnight FedExing so you had to get the real thing. Now you go, “I’m gonna watch the such and such game and fly in some Joe’s crabs.”’

What was your best Miami meal?

“There was a little stand we’d go to every day during that trip [in the 50s]. This guy would make these hamburgers with diced raw onions. You’d eat this whole thing with ketchup, the lettuce, the sauce. I’ll never forget it.”

What is your first Miami memory?

“When I was 10 years old my father bought us a train ticket to Miami. We stayed in a little place on Collins Avenue. It was fantastic – you have to understand I’m from Asbury Park [NJ]. We didn’t see palm trees on the beach!”

Final thoughts?

“Miami is a very relaxing, romantic, hip place.”

This story was originally published November 2, 2007 at 5:11 AM.