People often ask me to recommend restaurants with a water view, especially when they have friends coming to Miami from out of town. Alas, in many cases you have to settle in the food department to get the view. And then there's the choice of going for a "buzzy" place or one that's serene, so you can contemplate the beauty of nature. The terrace of La Mar by Gaston Acurio is a lovely spot, and the food is very good, especially if you order well. Il Gabbiano is also a good bet, though be sure to ask the price of daily specials. You can also eat well at Seaspice and Modern Garden on the River which I put in the "scenester" (as is see and be seen) category. The River is a also good bet for visitors who have done the South Beach thing. Then there are the places for the happy hour crowd that are all about the mingling and are mostly singles. I went to a few places in Sunny Isles and South Beach, but let’s just say they weren’t memorable. A prime water viewing spot that I've been to over the years has been the restaurant at the Grove Isle Resort, almost like an island off of Coconut Grove. It has had numerous changes in chef and management in the past 20 years or so, and recently I went to the newest iteration, called Palmeiras Beach Club, 4 Grove Isle Drive (T.305-858-8300) .