At lunch the line was out the door with people waiting to get into Grown Miami, the hot new organic, fast casual restaurant by basketball star Ray Allen. Why the crowd? As I described to Shannon Allen, his wife, if I took away the sustainable paper plate my food came in and plated the perfectly cooked, moist grilled wild salmon, quinoa salad and garlic brussel sprouts at home, dinner guests would think I had prepared it in one of my better culinary moments. The credo at this South Miami eatery is “Real Food, Cooked Slow for Fast People”. And it is real – organic, quality ingredients, super fresh, and gluten free. It even smells fresh.

Grown is the kind of restaurant you’d find in Northern California or Portland – maybe Vermont. Though it’s fast casual, it’s not drab like some of those places. It’s bathed in light so colorful, decorative large pots filled with tomato plants and fresh herbs, along with a vertical garden wall thrive. Then there are the bistro chairs, a vase of white orchids on each table, and an open kitchen that’s a hive of activity. A nice touch, too, is the cooler of water with cucumber slices.

The menu is very versatile, allowing for any number of combinations. Choose a salad, sandwich or wrap with greens like kale or spinach, five different breads, and wraps that include lettuce for the calorie counter. Add to that chicken, shrimp, wild caught salmon, slow cooked grassfed brisket or oven roasted turkey for $5 to $7. If salad is your thing, you can make your own or choose from appealing options such as “Havana” with greens, corn and black bean salsa, white cheddar chese, avocado, tortilla strips, salsa fresca and a cilantro lime vinaigrette. Selections of small batch soups are offered as well.

I chose the entrée as mentioned, the salmon, but there’s a vegan choice of grilled marinated Portobello mushroom, free range rotisserie chicken, sautéed shrimp and brisket. For the price ranging from $15 to $17 you choose a vegetable (onions and toasted almonds, farmers market vegetables, and more); your grain (roasted sweet mashed potatoes, black beans) and sauce (roasted chicken demi glace, homemade oven roasted tomato sauce).

Breakfast is also offered from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. including omelettes with combo fillings, breakfast salad, oatmeal, Acai bowl and a delicious looking gluten free blueberry pancakes with real maple syrup and whipped butter ($7).

Healthy choices are offered too in a special kids meu at $5 for breakfast and $7 all day. And who could forget the fresh juices like carpe diem – carrots, cucumber, apple, ginger and lemon, the berry good or jalapina with jalapeno, pineapple, cilantro, fresh greens, celery, and lime. Nifty options for smoothies too.

And finally the service is friendly and helpful. When I asked Shannon about this, she said they pay more than the minimum wage and give good benefits. Happy employees.

Grow is a gem. If they’re able to maintain the quality, I can foresee a very successful future.

Grown, 8211 South Dixie Highway (67^th Avenue) (T.305-663-GROW).