Here’s Miami eating news, uncovered in my comings and goings over the holidays. There are new eating discoveries and restaurant news ranging from budget stretchers and gourmet finds to restaurant openings you may have missed in the holiday rush:
- Ever go to the New World Symphony concert and wondering where to grab dinner or a light bite nearby? Oolite, recently named by the Miami Herald one of the best restaurants of 2014, and in the same building as the NWS, has a prix fixe before concert dinner, three courses at $34.99. And if it’s something light you want, their happy hour is a good deal with $5 cocktails, $4 wine, $3 draft beer and half off selected tapas from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- A recent addition to my list of top spots for Happy Hour around town is Obba Sushi, 200 Southeast 15th Road (T.305-856-9016) .Quite the deal, you order any roll for $11.99 and get a second one at the same or greater value. Rolls I can vouch for are the South Beach, Ceviche and Obba Roll . In the Brickell area, when I want a reasonably priced lunch (they have specials) and dinner, and good quality, I go there (usually ordering the salmon avocado tartare with tempura flakes). Glasses of wine are well priced at $7 or $8. Check out an earlier review.
- Restaurant spotting: Harry’s Pizzeria is opening a new outpost in the Grove, 2996-98 McFarlane Road, sometime this year. And opposite Harry’s will be a branch of the ever expanding empire of Panther Coffee. Welcome!
- New recent restaurant openings on my “watch” list and plan to check out are Jean-George’s Matador in Ian Schrager’s Edition Hotel, 2901 Collins Avenue, and 27 Restaurant, 2727 Indian Creek Drive, by the folks behind The Broken Shaker.
- Are you like me and love Costco? I usually go to the one at Flagler and have also gone to the Kendall branch, but far and away the best is the one on 14585 Biscayne Boulevard. Find gourmet items you can’t find at any of the others, Maple Leaf Farm duck legs already cooked and ready to be warmed and crisped; Spanish label Manchego cheese (better than the Kirkland one); Acme smoked salmon from Brooklyn, and different Russian delicacies.
- Looking for a well priced, non touristy place to have a tasty breakfast (until 2 p.m.), grab a sandwich or salad, crepe, fresh fruit juices, and a conoisseur’s cup of cappuccino near Lincoln Road? Check out Crema Gourmet Espresso Bar on 16th and Washington. The newest venture of Yiannis Sotiropoulos who owns a successful 700 seat coffee bar in Athens, he takes his coffee very seriously to the tune of a $50,000 coffee machine. In fact, he earned Illy’s designation of artista del gusto which means the best trained baristas. I tried several sandwiches – the salmon, chicken club and caprese. Caprese was my hands down fave though next time it’ll be the roast chicken sandwich (the real thing).
And how about you? Any new “finds” in Miami eating news?
2 Responses
word on the street::
skip the new michelle Bernstein place ” seagrape”….depressing atmosphere and very very ordinary food….
cibo at the continuum at the tip of south beach is a stone winner
matador qualifies as very good
vintro is empty at lunch, and quite attractive…a lovely , quiet place that aims to please….order the shrimp w orzo and the smoked tomato garnish
best place for lunch on the beach is hidden behind kane concourse in bay harbor islands….the bay harbor market, one block south of the main drag and just behind it…….outstanding fresh, sustainable food that will not rock your plastic….they expertly cater as well….a gem!
I’ve heard very good things about Cibo as well and look forward to checking it out. Matador is on my list for Thursday and I’m very intrigued about the Bay Harbor Market. Thanks for the tips. Speaking about empty restaurants, it seems a lot of them are empty at lunch these days. Maybe it’s the first half of January, after the holidays and before the peak season really kicks in. And also, went to Bistro BE today, a new Belgian bistro. The food was delicious. We only ordered two dishes so I plan to go back and sample more before a review. Stay tuned.