Forgot to make dinner reservations? OpenTable’s ‘matchmaker’ can help find a spot
Did you forget to make a reservation for Valentines Day dinner with your honey?
Luckily, your date will never have to know. More than a dozen romantic Miami restaurants still have reservations available. But you’ll have to act fast; most are almost booked.
OpenTable, a restaurant reservation website, has created a “Valentine’s 101” page dedicated to the “Season of Love in Miami.” It’s filled with random Valentine’s Day “Fun Facts,” like how Miami and Southeast Florida’s most popular cuisine on Valentine’s Day is Italian and how South Beach — no surprise — is the place to be for the celebrations.
The page includes a “Restaurant Matchmaker” quiz that will help narrow restaurant choices based on your answers, along with a Top 100 list of Miami’s most popular Valentine’s Day restaurants based on last year’s reservations. It also has a list of highly-rated “romantic” restaurants that are still accepting reservations. Some of them won’t break the bank.
Time availability ranges from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., depending on which restaurant you choose. (Tip: Plan for other activities like a movie or dancing.)
Here are some of the restaurant’s that made the list, broken down by price range. Remember that availability may change; fir the most up-to-date information contact the restaurant or check its OpenTable listing.
Valentine’s Day Dinner (Prices: $30 and under)
94th Aero Squadron, 1395 N.W. 57th Avenue — American
▪ A casual aviation-themed restaurant that overlooks Miami International Airport.
▪ Phone: (305) 261-4220
To see the menu or to make reservations visit www.94miami.com
BRIO Tuscan Grille at The Falls, 8888 SW 136 St. — Italian
▪ A “polished casual” restaurant serving Tuscan-inspired cuisine.
▪ Phone: (305) 234 - 0012
To see the menu or make reservations visit www.brioitalian.com.
Orange Blossom, 2000 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach — New American
▪ Rustic-chic restaurant that has an “Old Florida” feel with New American cuisine made from local ingredients.
▪ Phone: (305) 763-8983
To see the menu or make reservations visit orangeblossommiami.com
Dragonfly Izakaya and Fish Market, 5241 NW 87th Ave, Doral — Japanese
▪ Contemporary Japanese pub with fish flown in from Japan and an “assortment of saki,” according to its Google review page.
▪ Phone: (305) 222-7447
To see the menu or make reservations visit dragonflyrestaurants.com
Valentine’s Day Dinner (Prices: $31-$50)
Novecento, 18831 Biscayne Boulevard, Aventura — Argentinian
▪ A comfort food restaurant that serves Argentinean signature dishes, including grilled steaks.
▪ Phone: (305) 466-0900
To see the menu or make reservations, visit www.novecento.com
Essensia Restaurant and Lounge at The Palms Hotel & Spa, 3025 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach — New American
▪ An organic restaurant with a Caribbean-style covered terrace, a poolside terrace and an indoor dining room.
▪ Phone: (305) 908-5458
To see the menu or make reservations, visit www.thepalmshotel.com/dining/essensia-restaurant
Big Easy Winebar & Grill at Brickell City Centre, 701 S Miami Avenue — Southern African
▪ Chic restaurant that evokes the textures and colors of South Africa. Its cuisine is inspired by the Western Cape region of South Africa along with an influence of Dutch, Indian and English cultures.
▪ Phone: (786) 814-5955
To see the menu or to make reservations, visit www.bigeasy.miami
Valentine’s Day Dinner (Prices: $50 and over)
Quality Meats Miami Beach, 1501 Collins Avenue — Steakhouse
▪ Located inside the Art Deco space that once housed The Bancroft hotel, executive chef/partner Craig Koketsu’s menu is a blend of industrial New York with Art Deco Miami. Its menu “enhances elements of a classic butchery with large cuts of beef that are cured, smoked or aged in-house,” according to the restaurant’s About page.
▪ Phone: (305) 340 - 3333
To see the menu or make reservations, visit www.qualitymeatsmiami.com
Azabu Miami Beach, 161 Ocean Drive — Japanese
▪ Michelin-starred Sushi Azabu New York’s Miami offshoot has a hidden sushi den that serves omakase “chef’s choice” sushi, using local and imported seafood flown directly from Japanese fish markets. Its head sushi chef is Yasu Tanaka, according to its website.
▪ Phone: (786) 276-0520
To see the menu or to make reservations, visit www.azabuglobal.com
Prime Fish, 100 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach — Seafood
▪ Under the direction of Corporate Chef Tood Zimmer, Prime Fish’s flavors are “as big and bold as an action hero,” according to a 2014 Miami.com article.
▪ Phone: (305) 532-4550
To see the menu or to make reservations, visit www.mylesrestaurantgroup.com/prime-fish/
Anything else I should know?
If you made a reservation, you should always call to confirm that the restaurant has it in their system along with the correct date and time. If a restaurant isn’t letting you make a reservation through OpenTable or their website, always call to see if there are any cancellations or additional tables available.
This story was originally published February 14, 2020 at 11:40 AM.
