Pizza empanadas and PB&J burgers: Former food truck owners open new Little Havana bar
Alex Valle is so thankful to be from Miami he opened a restaurant and bar with his gratitude in the title.
Valle (a Kendall native, actually), known for his quirky Mr. PB&J food truck, has opened Thank You Miami Cocina and Beerhouse in Little Havana. There he serves the sandwiches that made him popular at food truck rallies, monster burgers to sink your teeth into and more than 40 kinds of craft beer.
“I always wanted something very unique right in the middle of the city and this was a great spot,” Valle said.
Valle and his wife, Johanna Caserta, sold their Mr. PB&J food truck just before the start of the pandemic, in December of 2019, and were managing Strange Beast brewery in Kendall throughout 2020. The couple had been looking to open a similar watering hole, serving craft beer and Miami-centric bar food, but closer to the heart of Miami.
They found a spot near Marlins Park, in the heart of the original Little Havana, hoping to bring post-game fans and locals back to the city center. It is decorated in throwback Miami memorabilia, from the owners’ original Orange Bowl stadium seats to artwork of Don Shula. Valle is a former Miami tour guide, so maintaining the history of Miami is important to him.
The menu is a little bit of both their backgrounds, including a “pizza empanada” in the style of Caserta’s native Venezuela, a version of a croqueta preparada with peanut butter and guava jelly, and burgers like the Don’t Be Jelly, with bacon and pepper jelly — and yes, peanut butter. Craft beers stay local, ranging from MIA Beer Co to J. Wakefield.
Their restaurant is covered in graffiti from local artists, including the big orange from Atomik and one by Miami artist Rendawriter that features one phrase repeated over and over: Thank You.
Thank You Miami Cocina and Beerhouse
Address: 1701 W Flagler St., Miami
Hours: 5 p.m. to midnight, Monday and Wednesday; until 11 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; 5 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday-Saturday.
More info: Instagram.com/thankyoumiami305
This story was originally published December 20, 2021 at 6:00 AM.
