Any great restaurant recommendations for a Monday night in South Beach? We wanted to go to Wish, but they are closed Mondays.

Our plans have finally come together with a few changes. We'll have only one night actually on South Beach (staying elsewhere in Miami the other nights, and friends have booked the other nights of dining). I was hoping to go to Wish on that free Monday night, but they will be closed.

Don't really want to go to the one with the bed... Have read some bad reviews. What about Talula? Crystal Cafe? Any other suggestions for someplace quintessential Sobe? Or alternatively, something authentically Cuban - maybe with a Salsa club?

Thanks in advance for your help!

A Fish Called Avalon is supposed to be very good. For us, it was a toss-up between Wish and A Fish -- the location and ambiance at Wish was more what we were looking for but A Fish was also highly recommended. It's at the Avalon Hotel which is oceanfront. As it is the restaurant for the hotel I'd venture to guess that it will be open 7 days/wk.

For authentic cuban, Puerto Saguo and David's in Sobe and Versailles, not in Sobe. Neither of these is upscale but are very latin. There was a place called Yuca on Lincoln Road that was cuban/nouveau cuisine. I think it's still there and that they have salsa/latin music but you'll need to check for sure.

Yuca reviews:

http://miami.citysearch.com/profile/2504720

It mentions a salsa band upstairs w/$8 cover.

I think the easiest thing to do is go on www.opentable.com, click on florida, then the south beach area choice; plug in your date and time and every restaurant with an opening for that time will pop up as well as if they don't have that time open, the closest to it before and after. also can view menus of most.

What about Azul in the Mandarin Oriental?

My favorite is The Forge in Mid Beach. It has been one of Miami's top restaurants since the 1920s and has the largest wine cellar in the southeast.

It has a very South Beach vibe especially with JimmyZs next door.

Thanks everyone for the tips!

TG, I love your ideas but agree that A Fish doesn't have the location/ambiance. Yes, looking for a Wish-like experience! Yuca sounded great until I read the reviews you suggested...

GT, we are staying at the MO the first 3 nights, and friends have made dining reservations there, and I really don't want to leave South Beach that last night.

We're staying at the National for our last night, and I thought drinks at Delano around 8m, dinner elsewhere nearby, and hopefully into a club for about an hour around midnight.

I'm not sure of the locations for these, but how about: Mark's So Beach, Tangerine, Nemo?

Okay, after further research, it does seem that A Fish is in the downtown SoBe area. Correct? Can we "dress up" to go? I had in my head a more "eat in the rough" atmosphere, but I now think that was incorrect. I also just read they have live music every night; that would be a plus! I think seafood for the last night would be great - as long as it's trendy! (We are already booked for Asian, Steak, and Spanish. Would still be interested in Cuban, as well.)

Any preference for those who have been to both A Fish Called Avalon vs Nemo? I have confirmed that both are open Monday nights. Which would offer more people-watching? Better food? Atmosphere?

Thanks again in advance!

Setai is a good place to eat; ditto Joe's Stone Crab

Last year when we visited South Beach we went to Wish and Quinn's (at the Park Central) and found the food to be every bit as good at Quinn's. The chef at Quinn's, if I am not mistaken, is the one who got The Fish Called Avalon their good reputation when he was chef their. Quinn's, like Fish, is a sidewalk restaurant across the street from the ocean 9they are within a block of each other). If you go, try the Bam Bam Shrimp as an appetizer, it is wonderful.

In response to your second post, A Fish Called Avalon (as well as Quinn's) are located in a couple of the art deco hotels across the beach on Ocean Drive. You will find people both dressed up and in casual attire at either. As far as Nemo goes, I have never been, but was considering it when we go next year in February for our anniversary. So I am looking forward to people's replies about it. But we will also definitely be going back to Quinn's for a dinner. As well as the shrimp, the Caribean Snapper was a fantastic entree.