Happy Easter From The Light Group! Here Are Some Of Our Favorite Coconut Grove Easter Brunch Locations Posted on March 29, 2024 by Sarah Elles Boggs Happy Easter from The Light Group! Whether you are religious or not, Easter is a lovely season that represents rebirth and joy. It ushers in the springtime brightness and what better way to bask in the springtime sunshine than with a decadent brunch. Here in Coconut Grove, we have the good fortune of such a rich culinary environment with gorgeous and award-winning restaurants from practically type of cuisine. Here is a list of some of the best spots in Coconut Grove to enjoy your Easter Brunch. Level 6 Miami – 3480 Main Highway, 6th Floor For a brunch with a view, you’ll find an Easter egg on the rooftop of the boutique office building at 3480 Main Highway. With impeccable scenery and an inspired menu, guests will enjoy an elevated brunch experience with perfected cocktails and Spanish fusion dishes. Some of the standout dishes for Easter Brunch include yellow gazpacho, caviar eggs benedict and dulce de leche custard. There is also a range of traditional Spanish tortillas with ham, smoked salmon or meatless options. The Key Club – 3015 Grand Avenue Groot Hospitality’s The Key Club is no stranger to our list of suggested places in Coconut Grove, having made their debut in the Spring of 2022. With a cozy terrace or inviting indoor space, The Key Club is key to celebrations of togetherness and culinary prowess. For Easter this year, The Key Club is offering not only a brunch, but a dinner service as well. Easter Brunch runs from 11am-4pm with Easter Dinner from 4pm until late. Some of the standout dishes include Bourbon Sticky Buns with candied pecans, lobster benedicts, or Cinnamon Toast Crunch french toast. For refreshment, The Key Club has put a spin on the traditional brunch cocktails with Watermelon Spritz and Jah-Mama Mary. The Watermelon Spritz is a mixture of Aperol, watermelon, orange and prosecco with the Jah-Mama Mary mixing Grey Goose, Miso and celery. Groups can also try pitchers of Lychee Sangria or Rosé Sangria. Reservations are available for either on the Key Club website. Bellini Coconut Grove – 2988 McFarlane Road Brought to you by the Cipriani Family, a name that is synonymous with Italian sophistication and elegance, Bellini is perched atop the iconic Mr. C Hotel at 2988 McFarlane. With expansive views of the Biscayne Bay and exquisite dishes, this is the perfect spot for an elevated brunch in a casual yet sophisticated setting. The Bellini Easter Brunch menu is full of traditional Italian favorites with modern surprises, twists and locally-sourced ingredients. The Italian Charcuterie and Cheese is a great way to start the celebration off with Piadina Bread and a selection of cured Italian meats and cheeses. This pairs well with the selection of Crudo options. These include dressed lobster, langoustine carpaccio or smoked salmon to enjoy while choosing from a full list of elegant benedicts and traditional brunch options. After enjoying the level of service and opulence at Bellini, you may also want to explore the idea of embracing the lifestyle on a full-time basis as the Cipriani group is expanding their brand into residences. You will find their style and service at both Mr. C Residences in Coconut Grove as well as Cipriani Residences that will soon rise in the nearby Brickell neighborhood. Both of these towers have elegant culinary concepts blended throughout, making Cipriani a true lifestyle. Jaguar Restaurant – 3067 Grand Avenue If you have lived or visited Coconut Grove anytime in the last 20 years, you have likely become acquainted with Jaguar Restaurant. This is a lively Latin American experience that offers fun and flavors in a vibrant setting. For Easter Brunch, Chef Oscar is preparing his traditional Jaguar favorites that include the spicy Huevos Rancheros and Migas con Huevo. The Huevos Rancheros include fried eggs covered in salsa ranchera and tortillas with black beans and the Migas con Huevo is another traditional Mexican dish that offers crispy tortilla bits and soft scrambled eggs. Those who have a sweet tooth will want to choose the Cachapancakes that are made of sweet corn cachapas with maple syrup and bananas or the Pan con Maduros that are exactly as described. They are crispy custard-soaked toast with leche quemada, cream and sweet maduros. If you are thirsty, the bottomless Tropical Sangria is the perfect touch for this laid-back Easter brunch to bring in the Coconut Grove spring vibes. Amal Miami – 3480 Main Highway, Suite 100 If you find joy in elegant Lebanese cuisine, you should not miss the Easter Brunch at Amal Miami. Located on the ground level of 3480 Main Highway, Amal Miami is another restaurant concept that makes frequent appearances on our “best of ___” lists for Coconut Grove. With over 20 hospitality venues in operation, Amal Miami came to Coconut Grove in the spring of 2022 and has been celebrated for style, service and cuisine. The cuisine at Amal offers a new perspective on long held traditions, where you can find the vibrancy of spring in the elegance of high Lebanese cuisine. The exquisite cocktail program offers the finest ingredients including orange blossom water, rosewater, citrus and the highest quality spirits. Dishes at Amal are perfect for family-style dining with shareable options that include decadent varieties of hummus, flatbreads, meats and a list of egg options. Red Farm NYC – 3131 Commodore Plaza Red Farm NYC is one of the newer additions to our list, and what an entrance they are making! Kicking off their new Dim Sum Brunch, they are rolling out a special Easter-themed menu complete with carrot-shaped sweet custard buns and Easter Bunny-inspired shrimp dumplings (pictured above). The fun creations are going to be available for Easter Brunch seatings on both Saturday and Sunday in addition to their comprehensive Modern Chinese menu designed by Chef Joe Ng and food expert Ed Schoenfeld. Sadelle’s Coconut Grove – 3321 Mary Street Beginning in SoHo in 2016, Major Food Group’s Sadelle’s brings a modern twist to New York’s tradition of all-day dining. Now that this concept has expanded into Coconut Grove, diners are able to show up for Easter Brunch starting at 9am. In addition to local accolades, Sadelle’s has earned such honors as Harper’s Bazaar and Cosmopolitan Magazines’ lists of Essential Brunch Destinations and the sticky buns were ranked as one of the New York Times’ Best Dishes of 2015. This year’s Easter Brunch in Coconut Grove will bring a theme of Easter Blooms in the Heart. Diners will enjoy traditional New York-style fare such as Easter Egg Bagels with a variety of fish on tiered stands with fresh, zesty toppings, Sweet Bunny Buns and Fluffy Challah French Toast. Major Food Group has established itself as a new Miami staple over recent months/years with several different restaurant concepts throughout the Downtown Miami/Miami Beach/Coconut Grove area. The hospitality group is even rolling out a residential condo tower dedicated to culinary enthusiasts called Villa Miami in the Edgewater district of Miami. Greenstreet Cafe – 3468 Main Highway When it comes to brunch in Coconut Grove, you cannot be considered a true Groveite until you have brunched at Greenstreet. These are the rules. It is the go-to spot for locals, their visitors and even their furry friends to visit the patio, enjoy an inspired menu of traditional gourmet dishes and to bask in the ambiance that Coconut Grove offers. Of course, these are not the only amazing restaurant choices in Coconut Grove. We have been blessed with such a boundless culinary scene. Make sure to try out these restaurants, but also stay tuned as we make additional suggestions from our experience as Coconut Grove residents and real estate specialists. Featured Image Credit: Red Farm NYC
Miami Beach Introduces New Security Measures To Encourage Peaceful Celebrations Posted on February 19, 2024March 7, 2024 by Sarah Elles Boggs March is historically a wild month in Miami Beach, where barrages of young folks descend upon the magic city and party hard for Spring Break. While we are fully aware of our city’s footloose reputation, things have gotten out of hand in recent years and this year’s partygoers are going to experience a new, grown-up version of South Beach. In an effort to quell the lawless behavior, preparations are being made by law enforcement and city officials for the 2024 Spring Break season. The changes are in effect during the entire month of March, with special restrictions being introduced on “high impact” weekends (March 7-10 and March 14-17). New Miami Beach Spring Break Regulations – March On Thursdays through Fridays during the entirety of March, visitors will notice increased staffing of Miami Beach Police, Fire Rescue, Ocean Rescue, Code Compliance, Park Rangers, Parking and Sanitation as well as “Goodwill Ambassadors” to assist visitors. The “Goodwill Ambassadors” are not unlike the Downtown Miami “Outstanding Angels,” who stroll the streets of Downtown Miami, offering directions and other advice to visitors who may have lost their way. Parking rates will be increased to $30 for visitors in all city parking garages and surface lots in the Entertainment District. These new rates do not apply to Miami Beach Residents, access card holders or authorized employees. The non-resident towing rate is increased to $516. This is roughly twice the normal rate, so please be mindful of your parking space or be prepared to meet the local celebrities/fine residents at South Beach Tow (spoiler alert: they are not fun to deal with at the regular rate, so watch your parking). Liquor stores in the Entertainment District will close at 8pm. Beach entrances along Ocean Drive will be limited to 5th, 10th and 12th Streets. At those locations, expect security checkpoints to ensure prohibited items are not brought onto the sand. Prohibited items include but are not limited to coolers, rafts/inflatables, tables and tents, firearms, fireworks and glass. The beach is also an alcohol and smoke-free environment. The beach entrances will close at 6pm sharp. Amplified music is prohibited without a city-issued permit. Miami Beach Spring Break Map High Impact Weekends (March 7-10 and March 14-17) The Miami Beach Police Department will implement a License Plate Reader (LPR) on the eastbound lanes of the MacArthur Causeway and the Julia Tuttle Causeway starting at 5pm. This will reduce the number of lanes available for use, so expect delays. These License Plate Readers will identify the vehicles in the event of any serious or violent offenders and assist with the recovery of stolen vehicles. The License Plate Readers will also be implemented on March 22-24th along 5th Street. Parking rates will be raised to $100 for city parking garages and surface lots in the Entertainment District (see map). The entry to these garages will be restricted from 6pm until 7am and Miami Beach Police Department officers will be posted at each city-owned garage all weekend. These rates and closures do not affect residents, access card holders or authorized employees. All sidewalk seating on Ocean Drive will be closed during these weekends. This also affects sidewalk cafes along the main drag. DUI sobriety checkpoints are to be introduced. There will be no use of golf carts, low-speed vehicles, slingshots, motorized scooters, mopeds, small motorcycles or motorized bicycles during this time. Barricades will be added to Ocean Drive in order to reduce pedestrians coming into contact with vehicles. Ocean Drive will be accessible only via 13th Street as an entry and 5th Street as an exit. There is no parking on Ocean Drive. Parking In order to reduce the impact of Miami Beach and South Beach residents during this time, enhanced parking enforcement and towing are to be expected. Be sure to check the signage for your parking spot if you find one and remember: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. South Beach Tow does not play. Miami Beach Trolley Service To help visitors get around despite the new regulations, the Miami Beach citywide trolley service will be available for augmented hours. They will have additional trolleys for the South Beach Loops A and B as well as two additional trolleys for the Collins Avenue Express route. These services are available free of charge from 8am to 1am. Additional information can be found on the City of Miami Beach’s “Break Up with Spring Break” page. While we understand that these regulations are not fun at all, they will help to alleviate some of the past problems that Spring Break has brought. In 2023 alone, there were two fatal shootings and almost 500 arrests. We hope that Miami Beach’s visitors have a lovely time this year with our city and please party responsibly. Image Credit: World RedEye
The Coconut Grove Arts Festival 2024 Celebrates Its 60th Anniversary Posted on February 15, 2024March 7, 2024 by Sarah Elles Boggs Presidents’ Weekend is one of the biggest weekends of the year in Coconut Grove. For the last 60 years, this is the weekend of the annual Coconut Grove Arts Festival, the three-day festival that celebrates world class art. Over the years, it has expanded to recognize culinary displays, live performances and other forms of art that add additional color and flavor to South Florida. This year’s celebration kicks off on Friday, February 17th and runs through Monday, the 19th throughout our charming waterfront village. Here is a summary of what to expect… The Annual Commemorative Poster One of the top traditions with the Coconut Grove Arts Festival is the annual choosing of the commemorative poster. Each year, a contest is held for the design of the official poster with the winner typically paying homage to something in Coconut Grove’s rich history. This year is no different. Signe & Genna Grushovenko’s entry was chosen, with its midcentury-based feel and honoring the original location of Monty’s, which is an institution here in The Grove. Coconut Grove Art Festival 60th Anniversary Commemorative Poster 2024 The Festival’s Art What started as a small community event is now heralded as one of the nation’s premier art festivals. Over 280 jury-selected artists that are internationally recognized will display their works along the Biscayne Bay waterfront with special events and culinary experiences peppered throughout for the whole family. Booths are set up along the streets throughout the waterfront parks in Coconut Grove, making for a leisurely stroll as you peruse a variety of types of art. You are able to interact with the artists themselves and choose pieces to purchase. A list of the chosen artists can be found here, along with their chosen media. You can also find links to their websites in order to preview the offerings. Coconut Grove Art Festival 2024 Map Additional Experiences In addition to the art, the festival offers many other immersive opportunities for patrons to enjoy themselves. This year, the Arts and Drafts Beer Garden is being brought to you by La Rubia Pale Ale. You can visit this area to enjoy a craft beer while watching local artists create live works of art inside Peacock Park. For those with an empty stomach, Flavors of the Grove is convening 10 top-tier restaurants to present a signature dish. Guests will cast a vote based upon taste, creativity, presentation and overall appeal, ultimately choosing the standout dish of the festival. Immersive experiences are not limited to adults either. The interactive Inner Artists Space encourages kids of all ages to unleash their creativity through a host of events. They will have giveaways, coloring, and Color Boom’s face painting. For future artists and collectors, there is the Young Collector’s Club. For $5, your child can choose their first work of art to begin their own collection. A rainbow of supplies will be on hand for young artists to experiment with the core principles of art in the Creative Corner. Coconut Grove Art Festival Young Collectors Club 2024 Coconut Grove Art Festival 2024 Creative Corner Tickets can be purchased online at the Coconut Grove Arts Festival’s website, or at the entry. They start at $25 for general admission (ages 13+) up to $165 for VIP admission. VIP tickets include a commemorative poster as well as an open bar with hors d’oeuvres, private lounge with air conditioning and restrooms, lounge seating and a VIP collectable badge. Kids under 12 receive complimentary entry. The Coconut Grove Arts Festival is produced by the nonprofit, Coconut Grove Arts and Historical Association. Proceeds help fund year-round arts programs. Since 1963, the association has awarded hundreds of scholarships to students who attend fine arts programs in local schools. Image Credit: Coconut Grove Arts Festival
Discover Boating’s 2024 Miami International Boat Show Kicks Off This Week Posted on February 12, 2024February 17, 2024 by Sarah Elles Boggs Kicking off Miami’s thriving Spring event season is this week’s Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show. With four marinas full of boats on display and two dry-ground exhibit centers, the annual boat show is one of the largest events of the season. For the last 55 years, mariners from around the world flock to the Magic City to shop for new vessels, explore new developments in the nautical world and network in the sunshine every year on Valentine’s Day week/President’s Day weekend. Miami International Boat Show Banner 2024 Over 100,000 attendees can browse everything from kayaks to super yachts at Herald Plaza, the Venetian Marina, Museum Park Marina and Superyacht Miami at Yacht Haven Grande Miami. There are over 1,000 vessels anticipated to be on display for the 2024 show, which is considered to be the largest boat and yacht event in the world. For those shopping for marine accessories and taking part in pop-up activations, additional event centers will be located at the Miami Beach Convention Center and Pride Park with convenient water taxi services tying the locations together. Paul Flannery, COO of the International Yacht Brokers Association told the NY Post, “The show offers something for everyone whether it is a new pair of boat shoes or a 300-plus-foot yacht. Each year the producers of the show, along with the support of the entire boating industry, strive to bring a better consumer experience to the boating public.” Miami International Boat Show 2024 Windward VIP Club Windward VIP Club Speaking of 300-foot yachts, the Windward VIP Club and Superyacht Miami offers the exclusive opportunity to climb aboard a superyacht and meet with some of the world-renowned yacht builders who can design your next vessel. The Windward VIP Club is an exclusive VIP retreat within the larger show, offering premium open bars, gourmet food, private restrooms and complimentary golf cart transportation between events. Tickets Please keep in mind that there is no box office for the Miami International Boat Show. Digital tickets are available on the Discover Boating website. Tickets are $43 per adult for general admission, $16.50 for children 6-12 years old. Superyacht Miami tickets are $135 per day and Windward VIP tickets are $350 per day per tent, or $550 per day for all-access. The show is expected to have a $1.34 billion economic impact and compliments Art Wynwood as well as the Coconut Grove Arts Festival, which take place consecutively on this beautiful and busy week. Image Credit: FB/Miami International Boat Show
The South Beach Seafood Festival 2023 Is Almost Here! Posted on September 25, 2023 by Sarah Elles Boggs Calling all pescatarians!! This is your moment! We may make light of this upcoming week, but it is quite a big deal. I also have my moments as a pescatarian, so I am here to rejoice in the week, not to make any trouble. I just want to eat some delicious and fresh ceviche and scallops and be happy. We are all kind of in that space, I think. Stone crab season is looming upon us again and we are not complaining. In order to properly welcome the season, Miami Beach has their yearly South Beach Seafood Week that is finalized by a weekend-long festival that celebrates everything that comes out of the sea… and whoa! What a menu the sea offers to a place like Miami Beach! South Beach Seafood Festival 2023 Scallops Hosted by Herradura and the City of Miami Beach, the festival carries on for four blocks along the sand. There will be over 30 restaurant and bar stations where you can get anything from a sample of ceviche to a mojito or pisco sour. Milam’s Market is planning a live demonstration that is sure to entice foodies under the cover of a tent to shield them from the Miami Beach sun. I have a feeling that when this is over, there will be a lot more at-home ceviche attempts. I have tried already and will try again (haha). But within the festival, professionals are available to let you know what to do and what not to do with your seafood cooking. They are also available to let you know where to go in order to get a fresh fish meal that you do not have to go cook. South Beach Seafood Festival 2023 Lobster Pasta The Seafood Festival To kick off the week, South Beach’s iconic Joe’s Stone Crab will host “An Evening at Joe’s.” Chef Andre Bienvenue has prepared a 5-course meal that highlights stone crabs. This is a ticketed event with very limited availability. Tickets are $500 and will be among the first to sell out. On Thursday, October 19, Goya is hosting “Cabs, Slabs and Crabs” at the Kimpton Surfcomber. Six of Miami Beach’s best chefs are all preparing their version of traditional Surf and Turf dishes, paired with wines and spirits and each chef bringing an international flare to the traditional meal. Tickets are $250. October 20 is going to bring the VIP Chef Showdown at Lummus Park. Sixteen chefs are going to battle through 8 competitions in what the Travel Channel calls the best seafood competition in the United States. The champion is chosen by event guests. Tickets are $160 for this competition. Saturday is the main event, with over 15,000 “seafoodies” descending upon Lummus Park to try bites from some of South Florida’s best restaurants. Expect to see Ella’s Oyster Bar, A Fish Called Avalon, RED South Beach, Pubbelly Susi and more. General admission tickets are $60 and VIP starts at $160. Multi-day passes and additional VIP options are also available via the SoBe Seafood Festival 2023 Eventbrite ticketing page. Photo Credit: Facebook/South Beach Seafood Festival
The Miami New Times Honors Four Coconut Grove Eateries In This Year’s Top 100 Miami Restaurants List Posted on September 21, 2023 by Sarah Elles Boggs It is that time of year again. The Miami New Times has released it’s list of “Required Eating, The Top 100 Restaurants In Miami.” Choosing where to go out to eat is never easy, especially in a city as culinary-rich as Miami. We were named the “Food City of the Year” by Bon Apetit, after all. It seems like there is a new restaurant to try every week, especially in a neighborhood as culturally diverse and in the midst of a renaissance like Coconut Grove. As Coconut Grove residents and real estate specialists, we were elated to see four local favorites on this year’s Top 100. Here are the ones who made this year’s list. If you click on the restaurant’s name, you will be directed to their website: Ariete Coconut Grove | Photo Credit: Ariete Ariete – 3540 Main Highway This Coconut Grove restaurant is no stranger to being featured on our local lists. One of the more notable places it has shown up is on our list of this year’s local restaurants that were honored with a Michelin Star. Bringing a sense of refinement into Coconut Grove, this Michael Beltran-founded establishment offers artfully crafted dishes that blend a hint of French-style cuisine with Cuban flare. Although the menu is quite elegant, in proper Coconut Grove form the attire can flex between chic and casual, or casually chic as the case may be. There is a welcoming patio or a trendy indoor dining area that are both highly recommended. The menu rotates depending upon what is seasonally available, so you will want to check the website often to browse what’s offered. Some of my favorites from the current menu are the Fluke Crudo for an appetizer, which is seasoned and dressed with coconut, pickled green papaya, lychee leche de tigre. It is very refreshing on a hot day. For an entree, I am a fan of the Pastrami-Style Short Rib with red pepper-beef jus, gem and fennel caesar, oyster & short rib croquette and it is hard for me to leave without ending with the Mango and Passionfruit Sherbet to reset my palate. Bombay Darbar Coconut Grove | Photo Credit: Bombay Darbar Bombay Darbar – 2901 Florida Avenue Another repeat feature on our lists is Bombay Darbar, as they were included in the 2019 Miami Times ‘Best Of Miami’ List. In the beginning, they were a small eatery that held only 30 seats but have since expanded to an all-encompassing Indian adventure. The Vegetable Samosas are suggested as an appetizer, but my favorite is the Tandoori Chicken Wings. Anything Tandoori is something I will be a fan of. Both the Mango Chutney and Dal Soup (lentil soup) are sure to be winners, and for the entrees the Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Chop Masala (pictured above) with Basmanti rice the soft homemade Naan and Tandoori breads are sure to hit the spot. The dishes are shareable and they offer many different levels of heat from mild to super-spicy hot. To cool down afterward, the Pistachio Kulfi (pistachio ice cream) hits the spot. Chug’s Diner | Photo Credit: Facebook/ChugsDiner Chug’s Diner – 3444 Main Highway Next up, we have yet another multi-featured Coconut Grove restaurant. Chug’s Diner is the recipient of a Michelin Bib Gourmand award this year and was also took a spot on our list of featured Miami Spice restaurants. With just over a week left in September, the special Miami Spice menu is still available and is highly recommended. Chug’s is another creation from Chef Michael Beltran and is named after a nickname he received as a teen because of his love of chocolate milk. The restaurant is a combination of a modern Cuban Ventanita combined with an American Diner, and the menu reflects that. The restaurant is open early for breakfast until late night, just as a diner would be. The menu is extensive with both Cuban favorites and traditional American diner food, but also has some of Chef Beltran’s inspired creations such as the Short Rib Boliche that is so rich and savory. The Quiche with maduros, carmelized onions and mixed greens tends to sell out every day and of course there is an extensive list of milkshakes to honor his love of chocolate milk. If you are in a hurry, you can swipe some pastelitos, croquetas, or Cuban sandwiches from Chug’s Express and be on your way in a flash. There’s no reason to starve on a busy day. Krüs Kitchen Coconut Grove | Photo Credit: Vanessa Diaz Krüs Kitchen – 3413 Main Highway Krüs Kitchen is making its debut on our features of Coconut Grove restaurants lists, and they certainly deserve it! It is the sister restaurant, located in an airy spot above the Michelin-Starred Los Felix in Cocowalk. Krüs also has a Michelin pedigree, with Chef Stephen Vargas earned his chops at two Michelin-Starred restaurants, one in Italy and one in New York. The restaurant and attached wine market and offers a revolving and evolving menu for both dinner service and weekly brunch. For brunch, the Grass-Fed Vintage Burger (pictured above) is a standout, and for dinner it has been said that you have not lived until you have tried the Grilled Prawn that is served with saffron sabayon, lime caviar and sumac. Of course, these are not the only amazing restaurant choices in Coconut Grove. We have been blessed with such an amazing culinary scene. Make sure to try out these four restaurants, but also stay tuned as we make additional suggestions from our experience as Coconut Grove residents and real estate specialists.
Miami Spice 2023 | Participating Michelin-Recommended Restaurants Part 2 Posted on August 28, 2023 by Sarah Elles Boggs Here we are. This is the grand finale of the Miami Luxury Homes-featured lists of Miami Spice 2023 menus. Yesterday, we went through the Miami Spice 2023 menus of some of Miami’s historic and iconic restaurants that also received a Michelin-recommended rating across Miami. These are restaurants that have been around for awhile and also have been recognized by the Michelin inspectors as offering an exceptional experience and a really good meal. As Michael Ellis, the International Director of Michelin Guide books, puts it: “A restaurant in the Recommended selection is ths sign of a chef using quality ingredients that are well-cooked; simply a good meal. It means that the inspectors have found the food to be above average, but not quite at star or Bib level.” For our grand finale, we are doing a second list of Michelin-Recommended restaurants however these are all based in the Coral Gables area. By clicking on the name of any of these restaurants, you will be directed to their Miami Spice page, which details their prix-fixe menu with options, prices, days available as well as their website and a link to their OpenTable account in order to make reservations. Havana Harry’s Coral Gables For Miami Spice 2023 Havana Harry’s – 4612 S. LeJeune Road Starting off with something that Miami is known for. Top-notch authentic Cuban cuisine. Tampa may try to say they have the best, but it is just not the truth. Miami is the second home to authentic Cuban cuisine with Havana being the first, of course. Making their debut on the Miami Spice list this year is Havana Harry’s on LeJeune Road. Havana Harry’s is offering a lunch option during the week for $30 and dinner any night of the week for $45. Now, here’s where things get dicey. What to order?! My recommendation is to get an array of the appetizers. If each person in your party chooses one thing, everyone can try some of it all. You could also just order more appetizers but I’m trying to stick to the Miami Spice program for my suggestions. My top favorites from this section would be the croquetas basket, fried yuca and chicharrones explosion, anything with tostones and the ceviche. For the main dishes, I am so weak when it comes to vaca frita. It is not something I cook well at home and so I gravitate to it at the restaurant. any of the vaca fritas are amazing. The churrasco is also perfectly seared with a citrus marinade and beautiful chimichurri. I know full well that I sound like Bob Ross with my happy little description of Cuban food but it’s likely because I haven’t been to Havana Harry’s in awhile. I’m overdue. For the desserts, you’ll have to share again because they are all so good. Being that this is a Cuban restaurant, I would go traditional and get the flan, tres leches or cuatro leches and guava cheesecake. You should also be aware that on top of being Michelin-recommended, Havana Harry’s mojito was voted “Best in Miami.” So if you or a guest from out of town has never tried Cuban food, this is the place to start. Orno Miami Coral Gables For Miami Spice 2023 Orno Miami – 1350 S. Dixie Highway Steps from UM’s main campus in the THēsis Hotel is a New American restaurant called Orno Miami. Helmed by Chef Niven Patel, his main focus is to provide a menu of locally sourced vegetables, the highest quality meats and sustainably caught seafood in a casual yet upscale environment. Chef Patel has succeeded at his mission. Orno Miami was chosen by Timeout as one of the “30 Best Brunches in Miami” for 2021. He was also voted by Food and Wine Magazine as one of the “Best New Chefs of 2020” and here he is today, already with Michelin Recognition. For Miami Spice 2023, the famous Sunday Brunch is offered for $35 and dinner is offered each night for $60. Since the appetizers are served family-style, ordering is easy. The chilaquiles (pictured) are available at brunch as well as green chickpea hummus with pickled beets, which sounds pretty amazing to me. At dinner, the pork confit seems most interesting to me because of my love of mixing peaches in unexpected places, but the buffalo mozzarella and roasted eggplant tartine also sound divine. When it comes to the main course, the brunch menu is also served family-style. This way nobody has to choose between the bacon potato pave with cave aged gruyere and chives, or the ricotta pancakes with strawberries and Vermont syrup. Afterward, everyone gets banana bread with salted honey butter, making this a well-rounded tasting menu for brunch. At dinner, the entrees are plated. The first thing that catches my eye is the grilled Skull Island prawns with thai mango salad, but the braised short rib with peperonata, onion gratin and jus looks to have a very deep flavor. For dessert everyone gets smores with dark chocolate, marshmallow and mezcal. Fiola Miami Coral Gables For Miami Spice 2023 Fiola Miami – 1500 San Ignacio Avenue Closer to Red Road on San Ignacio Avenue, you can enjoy authentic Italian cuisine in a beautifully appointed restaurant or take in a Miami sunset on the nearby rooftop terraza at Fiola Miami. Chef Fabio Trabocchi is no stranger to the Michelin list, as his DC location of Fiola has already earned its star. The Miami location is well on its way with a Recommended rating. Chef Trabocchi’s Miami Spice 2023 menu is a beautifully plated brunch, lunch or dinner that will entice you to share to Instagram. The lunch and brunch are $35, available Sunday for brunch or Tuesday through Friday for Lunch. The $60 dinner is available Sunday through Thursday. Pictured is the elegant Georgia Peach Gazpacho that is available for dinner, with a similar offering available for brunch or lunch. Other fresh appetizers include cobia ceviche, East Coast oysters, Wagyu Steak tartare, Watermelon salad, and Ora King Salmon crudo. The entrees include fresh fish, meats and homemade pastas. The Spanish octopus with heirloom tomatoes looks beautiful as does the roasted airline chicken and pan roasted branzino. There are many different options for the entrees, it is difficult to choose. For dessert, the coppetta of sorbetto and gelato allows you to choose two flavors from chocolate, fior di latte, pistachio or mango, coconut panna cotta, and basque cheesecake with caramel and valrhona pearls. This is truly an elegant meal. Beauty And The Butcher Coral Gables For Miami Spice 2023 Beauty and the Butcher – 6915 Red Road You will recognize Chef Jeremy Ford from our list of Michelin-Starred restaurants in the Miami area this year where he earned the honor for Stubborn Seed on Washington Avenue in Miami Beach’s South of Fifth neighborhood. In Coral Gables he is getting carniverous with Beauty and the Butcher, where they offer a rotating menu of seasonal small plates and a variety of the highest quality meats. As the restaurant is open only for happy hour and dinner service, they are offering a $60 prix fixe menu for Miami Spice 2023 Sunday through Thursday evenings. Before enjoying a protein-rich meal, I always like to start with a salad and the Ceasar salad with little gem lettuce and sourdough croutons sounds amazing. The entrees offer three choices. There is a chicken, fish and beef option. The truffle organic chicken is plated with pomme purée, baby turnips and natural jus. Thyme-crusted roasted halibut sounds divine with Colombian chorizo, white bean cassoulet and shaved celery salad. For a small upcharge, they are offering the beef tenderloin with crispy polenta, sour cherry mustard and creamy peppercorn. Either of these would be a beautiful choice. The Gibson Room Coral Gables For Miami Spice 2023 The Gibson Room – 2224 SW 22nd Street At last, we head over to Coral Way to visit The Gibson Room, which is part of the Ariete Hospitality family that includes Coconut Grove’s Ariete and Chug’s Diner, both of which have been featured here before for their Michelin stars. Under the dim lights and elegant atmosphere, you will find a dinner option any day of the week at The Gibson Room for $60. On this menu, there are several options for shareable appetizers including chicken truffle croquetas, Raviolo, which has poached shrimp and snapper and a caesar salad. The dinner portion offers a snapper with oyster and mussel enchilado or a double smash burger with pickles, special sauce, American cheese and shaved lettuce or the Tantan Raman, which is filled with wild boar, sesame, soy egg and peanuts. Any of these look amazing, so there’s no way you can go wrong. To finish up, you can choose between flan with rum drunken figs or stickly toffee pudding that comes with vanilla ice cream, date sponge cake and toffee caramel. Chef Beltran has outdone himself again with these bold flavors and creative combinations. The Gibson Room is a must-try. So, this does it for our Miami Spice 2023 feature. We really hope you try as many of these restaurants as possible. It is one of the most anticipated Miami promotions of the year each year and is something the locals look forward to. The restaurants depend upon in order to keep their staff happy and busy and the Miami economy turning during low season so we hope you use it as an opportunity to broaden your horizons and try something new in our beautiful city. Featured Image Credit: Orno Miami
Miami Spice 2023 | Participating Michelin-Recommended Restaurants Part 1 Posted on August 21, 2023 by Sarah Elles Boggs Now that we have devoured the Michelin Starred and Michelin Bib Gourmet restaurants who are participating in Miami Spice 2023, we are moving on to another delectable category. The Michelin-Recommended restaurants. There are twenty of these restaurants in the Greater Miami area this year, so we chose our top favorites to begin the feature. These restaurants are not only delicious and offer impeccable service with well-thought out menus, but they also are sort of staples in our community. Next week, we will delve into some of the newcomers who have both made the Michelin-Recommended list and are participating in Miami Spice 2023. But what does it mean to be Michelin Recommended? – Many may ask. According to the Michelin Guide, to be Michelin Recommended is this: “A restaurant in the Recommended selection is ths sign of a chef using quality ingredients that are well-cooked; simply a good meal. It means that the inspectors have found the food to be above average, but not quite at star or Bib level,” said Michael Ellis, who is the International Director of the Michelin Guide Books. So, by visiting any of these locations, you are pretty much guaranteed an amazing meal. Here we go! By clicking on the name of any of these restaurants, you will be directed to their Miami Spice page, which details their prix-fixe menu with options, prices, days available as well as their website and a link to their OpenTable account in order to make reservations. Image credit: Joe’s Stone Crab Joe’s Stone Crab – 11 Washington Avenue (South of Fifth) To start off the list, we have to respect Joe’s Stone Crab. It is an iconic Miami Beach staple. It was established in 1913, before Miami Beach even had paved roads. Located on the corner of South Pointe Drive and Washington Avenue, what started as a small, beachy eatery now takes up much of the block. The menu features the requisite fresh stone crabs, but also amazing steaks that are Florida-sourced as well as more affordable options. If you’re in a hurry, you can also stop off at Joe’s Takeaway next door. Joes Stone Crab has also been a staple on the Miami Spice list since its inception. For Miami Spice 2023, they have a $35 lunch menu Friday through Sunday as well as both price tiers ($45 and $60) for dinner every Wednesday through Sunday evenings. Since their menu is so vast, I’ll touch on some of my personal favorites. For starters, you could upgrade any meal with a $20 Joe’s Mule, their take on a Moscow Mule cocktail that is served in a commemorative Joe’s Stone Crab copper mug. On the starters, I tend to choose the copped salad. It has so many ingredients and a rich depth in flavor with an array of textures. Plus it is not overly heavy, so you can be prepared for something rich and/or heavy for your main course. For the main course, you have to remember that the fried chicken was endorsed by the “Queen of Southern Cooking” herself, Paula Deen. It is to die for. There are also stone crabs for a slight upgrade and you obviously can’t go wrong with that. In the fish selections, the Jumbo Crab Cakes are always delicious and the 8oz Miso Cod has a very rich taste. The desserts are classics for Joe’s. The key lime pie tends to be the most popular, as it matches well with Florida things like stone crab, but the apple pie is a southern classic and is layered with warm spiced apples that match well with the fried chicken. Image Credit: Los Fuegos Los Fuegos at Faena Miami Beach – 3201 Collins Avenue Next we’ll head up to 32nd and Collins in the Faena District to visit Los Fuegos where Chef Francis Mallman is passionate about South American live-fire cooking. Set to the backdrop of the lush Faena Hotel or poolside, you’ll enjoy a meal that the Michelin inspectors described as “Theatrical”. From Monday through Friday, they are offering a $35 lunch menu and Sunday through Thursday there is a $60 dinner menu at Los Fuegos. The appetizers are served in a way that everyone at the table could order one, then share so that everyone tries a bit. The braised lamb empanadas have a deep flavor, wild salmon tartare is served with potato skins, roasted garlic and anchovy oil and, yes. This man even wood-fired romaine lettuce for a very interesting thing to try and write home about! On the lunch menu, the Organic Airline Chicken Breast is refreshing with a lemon butter caper sauce, or the Wood Fired Wild Salmon. For dinner, it is difficult to go to an Argentine restaurant and not have a steak, so the Milanesa Napoltana would be hard to pass over but the Mediterranean Branzino also looks to have a deep flavor with a refreshing lemon butter caper sauce. If you are vegetarian, the Spinach, Ricotta and Mascarpone Crepe is definitely worthwhile. The desserts are a selection of thoughtfully paired sorbets or ice cream. The Chocolate Crumble incorporates pineapple, which is something I’ve never thought to do but would be interested to try. The Pie De Limon and Strawberry Passion Fruit Gratin are both exotically paired and feel refreshing. Image Credit: Mignonette Downtown Miami Mignonette Seafood and Oyster Bar – 210 NE 18th Street Downtown Miami In Downtown Miami, Mignonette has been a staple for many years now. It is located in a 1930’s gas station that is now a chic eatery where you can pull up in a dinner jacket or flip flops and fit in just fine. It is very popular with the locals from all the surrounding neighborhoods. Their Miami Spice 2023 menu is a $60 dinner any night of the week and is as simple as their dress code. You can choose from any one of their appetizers, entrees and desserts from the menu. There are a few exceptions such as seafood towers, caviar and whole fish, but it is very straight forward. I love raw oysters, so that is my obvious go-to on their appetizer menu but there are other options such as Casino Clams that are served in bacon broth, Charred Octopus and Lobster Deviled Eggs that are all winners. The list of options is really more extensive at Mignonette than at most any restaurant we’ve seen so far. On the dinner menu, the Crispy Skin Snapper is amazing as are the Diver Scallops. I’ve found that many restaurants don’t do scallops any justice but this is not the case at Mignonette. For dessert, there are four options. The key lime pie is topped with berries and whipped cream, an obvious staple for Florida. They also have a fudgy chocolate cake served with a glass of cold milk, a rich carrot cake smothered in caramel pomegranate molasses or heath bar butterscotch bread pudding that interestingly comes with cayenne whipped cream. Any of these would be something to try and enjoy. Image Credit: Hakkasan Miami Beach Hakkasan – 4441 Collins Avenue Miami Beach Existing on the Michelin lists since 2003 and located within the famed Fontainebleau Hotel at 4441 Collins Avenue, Hakkasan features Chef Loo’s inspired and innovative Cantonese selections. Visiting the Fontainebleau for any reason is another activity that all Miamians do at some point during their tenure in the 305, and Hakkasan is a great reason to do so. For Miami Spice 2023, Chef Kenny Loo (his real name is Chef Jian Heng Loo, but everyone calls him Kenny so we will here as well) is offering Sunday brunch for $35 or a $60 dinner service Sunday through Thursday. This is a very popular brunch spot, by the way for tourists and locals alike. Dim sum baskets are offered on the appetizer menu, and I don’t know many people who dislike dim sum but even those people would likely enjoy these. They have a complex flavor that is very savory and delicious. On the dinner menu he also offers Jasmine Tea Beef Short Ribs, which are amazing as well and stays straight on the theme of innovative Cantonese classics. Of the main courses, you choose one protein and one side or vegetable. Sticking to theme, I really enjoy the Sweet and Sour Prawn with a side of Baby Pak Choi or the Peking Duck. Other stars of the show are the Crispy Orange Chicken and the Charcoal Grilled Honey Chilean Sea Bass. Getting to dessert you have Mandarin and Vanilla, which is an interesting and refreshing gelato that has lemongrass and vanilla with orange segments. Alternatively there is the Yuzu Smore, an interesting raspberry marshmallow, yuzu ice cream, raspberry gel, cashew crumble and hot milk chocolate sauce. Image Credit: Le Zoo Bal Harbour Shops Le Zoo Restaurant – 9700 Collins Avenue Bal Harbour Shops After a long afternoon of shopping at Bal Harbour Shops at 9700 Collins Avenue, you can stop by space #135 at the main entrance and enjoy a beautiful French Brasserie overseen by Chef Stephen Starr. This is Le Zoo Restaurant. The menu is reminiscent of the cafes in Paris and the shores of St. Tropez, nestled under the trees and in an alfresco atmosphere. It is a great place to meet the girls to catch up, or to impress a date. There are both lunch and dinner options, for $30 and $60 respectively. The Cucumber Soup is a refreshing choice as an appetizer either for lunch or dinner. Alternatively at lunch, you are offered Salmon Tartare and at dinner, Steak Tartare. They also have Escargot or Pate de Campagna which are both very rich. For lunch, you could choose between the white wine Moules Frites, St. Tropez-styled Grilled Salmon or a Steak Tartare. At dinner, the Trout Amadene would be my choice, followed by the Coq Au Vin, which is red wine braised chicken. There is also Pates a L’Encre de Calmar, which is squid ink pasta with fresh crab and calamari. On the dessert menu, there is a classic Creme Brulee, ice cream or Pot du Creme au Chocolate (chocolate mousse). Image Credit: MILA Restaurant South Beach MILA Restaurant – 1636 Meridian Rooftop South Beach The only rooftop option on our list is MILA Restaurant on South Beach. Still a relative newcomer to Miami Beach, the combination of MILA’s flamboyant venue, propensity of attracting celebrities (JBalvin, Jared Leto, Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly to name a few), and their inspired Japanese/Mediterranean fusion fare has jetted it to the top of the Miami Beach food chain. It is important to note that MILA does not accept walk-ins. You must call them at 786-706-0744 to reserve your spot. Now, on with what they have for their $60 Miami Spice 2023 dinner. I have mentioned before that I am a slave to a Mediterranean Greek Salad, so I will make a beeline to their Mila Greek Salad for my starter. Other offerings that also look appetizing are the Hirame Crudo, which would be amazing and refreshing on a rooftop while you feel the Miami Beach air, or the Fried Eggplant and Zucchini Chips that come with a very interesting tzatziki shiso. The entrees start with a vegetarian option, the Mushroom Hotpot with sticky rice. They also have Mediterrasian Whole Roasted Young Chicken, which seems interesting. My choice would likely be the Seared Salmon or Lobster Dynamite glazed in sake soy. They also have a beef tenderloin option. To wrap it up, there are three options that are difficult to choose from, so I recommend all three to share. The Molten Chocolate Lava Cake is always a good choice, Tropical Fruit Salad with Coconut Sorbet is refreshing and cool, but they have another offering. It is called a Coconut Sphere with mango-vanilla, passion fruit coulis and purple shiso. I do not know what it is, but it seems very delightful so I would order it just to be adventurous. Miami Spice is one of the most anticipated Miami promotions of the year each year. It is something the locals look forward to and the restaurants depend upon in order to keep their staff happy and busy and the Miami economy turning during low season. We hope that you will make it out to try at least one of these options this year. Featured Image Credit: Faena Hotel Miami Beach