This kosher spot hidden in a downtown food court is a favorite for Central Asian eats
Food courts seem so retro but one worth seeking out despite having few vendors is on the second floor of an arcade building on Flagler. Shirin Glatt Restaurant & Grill is named after the owners’ granddaughter and means “sweet” in Persian. Glatt refers to meat and fish that is prepared strictly kosher. Dishes here include Israeli, Russian and Uzbek Bukarian specialties from the Jews of Central Asia.
Owner Estelle “Stella” Eli Shayer grew up in Samarkand in southeast Uzbekistan when it was part of the former Soviet Union. She left for Israel with her two babies when 22. She worked in restaurants and came to Miami 20 years ago and opened several kosher eateries. Lunch time, it fills with customers from the Seybold building and gold district plus a rabbi or two.
Start With These Dishes
There’s mushroom blintzes, baked samosas filled with lamb and onion, hummus with minced jalapeno and olive oil for mixing together and falafel balls with tahini. Or get Russian-style borscht with beets, beef and cabbage. Dushbere is an Azerbaijani soup based on turmeric broth with chickpeas, beef chunks and small dumplings filled with tiny lamb balls garnished with cilantro. Bukharian-style lagman is a noodle soup with soft handmade egg noodles in a rich beef broth enriched with tomato paste seasoned with garlic, cumin and black pepper. It is topped with chunks of top round beef, potatoes, carrots and bell pepper.
Share These Dishes
Manti are steamed dumplings with supple dough enclosing chopped lamb and beef served with a salsa-like hot sauce. They originated in the territories of the Mongol Empire and were carried along the Silk Route.
Plov is the national dish of Uzbekistan representing identity and hospitality. It is a lamb, carrot and rice pilaf infused with ground coriander seeds and other spices. Bakhsh is green rice pilaf with chicken and fresh parsley and dill.
Or get the giant chicken meatball in tomato sauce with bits of bell pepper. Fish cutlets are made from a grind of salmon, flounder and snapper served in a mildly spiced sauce with mashed potato and mushrooms.
Try the oven roasted chicken quarter with vegetables. Items from the grill come with a choice of two sides. There’s chicken, turkey and lamb shish kebabs, crispy sweetbreads, lamb chops and a 24-ounce rib eye steak. It is a no frills place with very good home cooked fare.
Save Room For Dessert
Try mini walnut rugalach cookies or a slice of apricot jam cake, served with green tea and rock sugar.
If You Go:
Place: Shirin Glatt Restaurant & Grill
Address: 48 E Flagler St., Downtown Miami, Flagler Station Food Court, 2-FL
Contact: 786-615-5610,
Hours: Monday-Thursday noon-5 p.m., Friday noon-3 p.m.
Prices: Appetizers $2-$12, soups/salads $5-$13, sandwiches $11-$18, mains $11-$32