I'll be in Miami beach for just a few days. Looking for restaurant recommendations for the family in the South Beach area. Four of us; Mom/dad + 2 adventuresome teenagers. Not looking for anything fancy or over-the-top high end, but rather good, unique, local flavor & local atmosphere. Willing to spend $$ ($20-30/entree range) but also very happy to spend less for a good dinner.

ttt - whatever a restatuaurant is...

There are dozens of streetside bistros on South Beach... just walk down and pick any of them after browsing the menus... anything worth recommending is beyond your guidelines in price...

An excellent, unique, local flavor, local atmosphere restaurant is Versailles Cuban Restaurant in Little Havana. No, it is not South Beach but since the entrees average just $10-12 and there are four of you, your meal savings will more than cover the taxi to get there.

Barton G's is fun and the presentations are great. The kids will really get a kikc out of them. A little costly.

J62,

This South Beach joint is foodie heaven - and dirt cheap to boot.

Great service
Great atmosphere
Great drinks
GREAT food!

http://www.southbeach-usa.com/restau...ap/tap-tap.htm

Great info. We will have a car, so stopping by Little Havana for lunch as we head west to Naples is definitely an option.

Are the News Cafe restaurants still there? If so, they had excellent mussels. It has been awhile since we've been to MB. Emeril's was wonderful when we were there. They used to have Sunday brunches, but I'm not sure if they still do.

I disagree to walk down the street and just pick a restaurant.

Great inexpensive dining:

Tap Tap (Haitian)
Davids (Cuban)
Puerto Saga (Cuban)
Big Pink (American)
News Cafe (American some other)
Van Dyke (ditto)
Jerry's Deli

There really are too many good restaurants in Miami that are $$$$$ but if I had to pick, I'd say Nobu.

I find the beach to be pricey, however,here the best for local flavor on South Beach that won't break the bank are :
Front Porch
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...h_Florida.html
Tap Tap - I agree with this one!
Joe Allen
http://www.yelp.com/biz/joe-allen-re...nt-miami-beach
Puerto Sagua - Best Cuban Food on the beach and inexpensive too!
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...h_Florida.html
Big Pink - The kids might think this one cool. Big servings.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...h_Florida.html
a La Folie French Bistro on Espanola way - Very good for Breakfast or early lunch. Good crepes.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/a-la-folie-cafe-miami-beach
Tapas y Tintos - Spanish with Flamenco show. Fun atmosphere.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/tapas-y-tintos-miami-beach
La Parilla Liberty - Great prices for very good Argentine food!
http://www.yelp.com/biz/la-parilla-liberty-miami-beach

There are dozens of good Italian restaurants around too.

Sinceyou have a car, here are a couple of places around town:

Garcia's Seafood Grille - fresh seafood, authentic right on the river ambiance and seating.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...i_Florida.html
Le Bouchon in Coconut Grove- great for Saturday or Sunday Brunch
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...e_Florida.html

Not a fan of News Cafe and VanDykes or Big Pink. I do love Front Porch though - great for breakfast!!!
This is what I also recommend.
1. Joe's Stone Crabs (if who are here in stone crab season.)- most famous restaurant on Miami Beach!
http://www.joesstonecrab.com/

2. Scarpetta in the Fountainbleau resort- Amazingly delicious!!
http://www.fontainebleau.com/gcm/nar.../scarpetta.htm

3. My sons favorite sandwich shop (he is 9) is La Sandwicherie - its just a take out counter - french and fresh!!
http://www.lasandwicherie.com/

4. Prime 112 - Steak and other deliciousness!! - the beet & argula salad is divine!!
http://www.mylesrestaurantgroup.com/

5. I really like Canyon Ranch -very innovative menu
http://www.canyonranchmiamibeach.com/restaurants/

6. Adriana's - Peruvian Fusion - its great and not as expensive as some of the others.
http://www.adrianarestaurant.com/

I could go on all night - let me know if you need more. Now through the end of September is Miami Spice
http://www.ilovemiamispice.com/
3 course Dinners 35, lunches 22.
menus are posted on the website above.

We went to a fun Greek place called Taverna Opa in Hollywood but we noticed that there's one in South Beach too. http://www.tavernaoparestaurant.com

If you're willing to drive north a bit, also in Hollywood is a fun place called Le Tub -- great hamburgers, fries, chili, salads, etc. in a rather unique place. Then after dinner go across to the Hollywood Broadwalk for a walk and an ice cream. http://www.theletub.com/

Both are inexpensive and fun places for teens.

OMG I LOVE Le Tub! Nastiest restaurant on the planet with the best burgers ever made! Fun and stunning views of the Intracoastal Waterway.

I gotta say, we weren't over the moon with the actual food at Tap Tap. We had a bit of everything from the menu, LOVED the atomosphere, had great conversations with staff, fantastic mojitos, amazing live music -- just didn't love the food. It was a bit boring. We knew it was a local "joint" going in and that is fine. But everything just seemed to lack real spark or exciting flavors like I had expected from reading raves all over the Net. Don't get me wrong....I'd go again, but would have lower expectations reagarding the menu.