South Beach Restaurant Recommendations
Jan 6th, 2003, 11:08 AM
#2
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I used to live there and was there again this past June. I would highly recommend Joe Allen. Off the beaten path and away from tourist area but great food. Smith & Wollensky in South Point Park (at end of Ocean Drive). Its the best place to sit by the water and have a drink, watch the cruise ships and vessels leave the port. Great service and good food as well. (Tell Paul I sent you!) Joe's Stone crab is great but unless you go very early to dinner, you will have a long wait to accompany a hefty tab. They do have a to-go window if you want to try that. Go to Lincoln Road Mall one evening. They have numerous restaurants but lately they've tended to change ownership frequently. There's a small inexpensive German restaurant called the Dab House that I went to several times a month on Alton Road. All in all, for just really good food, probably Joe Allen, Joe's Stone Crab, or Smith Wollensky. The Bed and Tantra are talked a lot about but I think its the atmosphere.
Theresa
Theresa
Jan 7th, 2003, 03:55 PM
#3
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Theresa, you are right they are all good restaurants, but I will add ones that will give you a Miami feel.
Firstly you are right about Bed, it is all hype and I know of no one who has ever had a good meal there. Even as a club it generaly sucks! Most locals avoid it.
Tantra the food is good and is based on aphrodisiacs. It is MOST defiantely worth a visit...but....only if you have no problem spending $200 - 300 a couple.
Amazing experience, the floor is rolled out fresh grass. If you don't want to spend that kind of cash, at least go for a drink at night, but go early otherwise you will not get in.
OK now for my favorite places:
$ = cheap
$$ = moderate
$$$ = expensive
$$$$ = hope your on an expense account
China Grill = $$$ but well worth it
Pacific Times = $$$
Joie = $$$
Samba Room = $$
Big Pink = $
Prima Pasta = $$ (favorite of mine)
Tony Sushi = $$
Van Dyck's = $$
Davids Cafe II = $$ (favorite for cuban)
If you want a steak type place as Theresa mentioned...I will add another Capital Grill.
I'm a no believer in greasing the sweaty palm of the Joe's stone crab shake down artist. Instead of being insulted by their rude staff, go to the take out section instead if you really want stone crabs.
Firstly you are right about Bed, it is all hype and I know of no one who has ever had a good meal there. Even as a club it generaly sucks! Most locals avoid it.
Tantra the food is good and is based on aphrodisiacs. It is MOST defiantely worth a visit...but....only if you have no problem spending $200 - 300 a couple.
Amazing experience, the floor is rolled out fresh grass. If you don't want to spend that kind of cash, at least go for a drink at night, but go early otherwise you will not get in.
OK now for my favorite places:
$ = cheap
$$ = moderate
$$$ = expensive
$$$$ = hope your on an expense account
China Grill = $$$ but well worth it
Pacific Times = $$$
Joie = $$$
Samba Room = $$
Big Pink = $
Prima Pasta = $$ (favorite of mine)
Tony Sushi = $$
Van Dyck's = $$
Davids Cafe II = $$ (favorite for cuban)
If you want a steak type place as Theresa mentioned...I will add another Capital Grill.
I'm a no believer in greasing the sweaty palm of the Joe's stone crab shake down artist. Instead of being insulted by their rude staff, go to the take out section instead if you really want stone crabs.
Jan 7th, 2003, 04:47 PM
#4
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Glad to hear someone else berate Joe's Stone Crabs. I've never understood it. The big thing is crab claws which are not even prepared there. They are brought off boats and you can buy the exact same things anywhere -- or in any other restaurants that serve them. I've never understood the idea of tuxedoed waiters bringing you a plate of fingerlicking crab claws and charging you the equivalent of a major mortgage payment, while having to endure their incredibly horrible attitude. It's sort of like going to New England and ordering whole lobster in an elegantly formal restaurant with a lot of attitude.
By the way, I haven't been for a couple years now, but Yucca on Lincoln Road was always one of my favorites for wonderful food. Wish, the Todd Oldham place is a delightful garden atmosphere with normally great service and good food. And for "over the top" old fashioned elegance and wine list go to The Forge. There isn't a "trendy" thing about it, but it still stands out as an exceptional dining experience.
By the way, I haven't been for a couple years now, but Yucca on Lincoln Road was always one of my favorites for wonderful food. Wish, the Todd Oldham place is a delightful garden atmosphere with normally great service and good food. And for "over the top" old fashioned elegance and wine list go to The Forge. There isn't a "trendy" thing about it, but it still stands out as an exceptional dining experience.
Jan 7th, 2003, 04:55 PM
#5
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I will second Smith and Wollensky. The location is spectacular but not necessarily South Beachy. This steakhouse is located on the Government Cut (the channel for the cruise ships, etc to get into the Port of Miami). It is wonderful to watch the cruise ships set out at sunset. I recommend the chilled lobster appetizer with your favorite steak. This is heaven for those on the Atkins Diet.
My solution to the Joe's dilema is, go have a glass of champagne or your favorite martini at the bar and watch the silliness of desparate people trying to bribe the maitre'd. It is like a Seinfeld skit., You can then go to the aformentioned carryout, get your food, walk across the street to the park and have your meal al fresco.
We also love Nemos. It reminds me of The Ivy in Beverly Hills. Great Sunday Brunch, sit outside on the patio.
The trendy goings on on Ocean Drive are more for show and not for go, at least as far as food goes. It is worth paying money however to watch the young and shallow strut their stuff. If you want to join this parade you had better be at the very least buff and chic,or... if not, old and rich. LilMsFoodie
My solution to the Joe's dilema is, go have a glass of champagne or your favorite martini at the bar and watch the silliness of desparate people trying to bribe the maitre'd. It is like a Seinfeld skit., You can then go to the aformentioned carryout, get your food, walk across the street to the park and have your meal al fresco.
We also love Nemos. It reminds me of The Ivy in Beverly Hills. Great Sunday Brunch, sit outside on the patio.
The trendy goings on on Ocean Drive are more for show and not for go, at least as far as food goes. It is worth paying money however to watch the young and shallow strut their stuff. If you want to join this parade you had better be at the very least buff and chic,or... if not, old and rich. LilMsFoodie
Jan 7th, 2003, 07:14 PM
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Lupa di roma on Lincoln Road is outstanding, reasonable italian.
Larios on ocean drive has reasonable cuban, with cheap prices for the locations.
Skip Joes - its beyond overrated. You can have stone crabs anywhere, and they are just as good. I also found Tantra to be merely ok, but did like the indoor grass.
I haven't eaten at either, but both the Delano and Nobu at the Shore Club are good for trendy drinks
Larios on ocean drive has reasonable cuban, with cheap prices for the locations.
Skip Joes - its beyond overrated. You can have stone crabs anywhere, and they are just as good. I also found Tantra to be merely ok, but did like the indoor grass.
I haven't eaten at either, but both the Delano and Nobu at the Shore Club are good for trendy drinks
Jan 7th, 2003, 08:04 PM
#7
Guest
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All good suggestions above, also if you want a nice, relaxing (and not crowded) dinner outside, go to le deux fontaines. Great lobster and seafood, and no attitude whatsoever. Very cute courtyard or balcony dining facing the ocean, dinner for 2 around $100.
Jan 7th, 2003, 09:17 PM
#8
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Excellent posts tonight from people who are obviously in the know!
I laughed at the other comment on Joes, so let me tell you my funny story. A friend was "desparate" to get his business client in one day. I had been at the bar doing exactly what MsFoodie suggested (which is dead right)
I saw my friend in the cattle line and I asked him how long he had been waiting for his "reservation".
He complained it was nearly an hour past his reservation time and yet he saw all these people going up and past him after shaking the the maitredi's hand (ie miami speak for shoving money in palm)
I told my friend if he really wanted to get seated soon, fold up a $ 20 and place it in the maitredi's hand! I said that was what I usually do and it works.
The lady standing in front of my friend, turns around looking shocked and says to me "my God, I've always been giving him $40.00 I was told that was the going rate!"
Ha... and all for alacarte mediocre service!!! Only in Miami!
As for the other mentionings I agree, especially with the bars at the Delano (the rose bar) and the bar at the Shore Club...excellent!
I have long given up eating at the Blue Door at the Delano (not so good) and the Shore Club I think is a highly pretentious dining experience where the food is "teensy tiny works of art" that will cost you Picasso prices, and you will still need to bring even a waif like date for a pizza afterwards addding insult to injury!
If you go to either of these, if your female you better dress Sobe sexy or your going to feel awful intimidated!
Ohh if you go to the Delano ask for Sean the bartender.
I laughed at the other comment on Joes, so let me tell you my funny story. A friend was "desparate" to get his business client in one day. I had been at the bar doing exactly what MsFoodie suggested (which is dead right)
I saw my friend in the cattle line and I asked him how long he had been waiting for his "reservation".
He complained it was nearly an hour past his reservation time and yet he saw all these people going up and past him after shaking the the maitredi's hand (ie miami speak for shoving money in palm)
I told my friend if he really wanted to get seated soon, fold up a $ 20 and place it in the maitredi's hand! I said that was what I usually do and it works.
The lady standing in front of my friend, turns around looking shocked and says to me "my God, I've always been giving him $40.00 I was told that was the going rate!"
Ha... and all for alacarte mediocre service!!! Only in Miami!
As for the other mentionings I agree, especially with the bars at the Delano (the rose bar) and the bar at the Shore Club...excellent!
I have long given up eating at the Blue Door at the Delano (not so good) and the Shore Club I think is a highly pretentious dining experience where the food is "teensy tiny works of art" that will cost you Picasso prices, and you will still need to bring even a waif like date for a pizza afterwards addding insult to injury!
If you go to either of these, if your female you better dress Sobe sexy or your going to feel awful intimidated!
Ohh if you go to the Delano ask for Sean the bartender.
