Where to have a delicious light bite before going to the Arsht Center or the Arena? It has been a challenge, but now there’s a new find, Mazeh Miami in downtown. The casual, new and upbeat spot with a different menu is from, GPG Hospitality, a successful New York restaurant group known for its modern take on Middle Eastern food. Its first Miami outpost is conveniently located, across from the First Street Metromover station, a five minute walk to the Arena and ten minute walk to the Arsht Center. And more, it’s in the Yotel, an affordable (yes, affordable hotel) for your out of town visitors.
First, Mazeh Miami. The small restaurant is an extension of the lobby area and bar with seating for 45, comfy chairs and tables for four. The bar, with its backlit bottles of liquor and dozens of sparkling lights, is a visual center of the area.
The menu selections are limited, but well chosen. It’s divided into starters, skewers and desserts. We went for lunch, starting with a specialty, four falafel “cigars” wrapped in crispy brick pastry that come atop creamy and piquant tahini layered with a kind of tomato salsa and Green Schug,a Middle Eastern hot sauce. It’s now my favorite way to eat falafel, and not to be missed ($19).
Next up, an unusual Middle Eastern salad with greens, Syrian cheese marinated in sesame seeds, caramelized almonds, stone fruits and stone fruit vinaigrette ($18) . The attractively presented and novel roasted green cabbage on a skewer was presented on a wooden board with roasted grape tomatoes and an herb gremolata and green tahini dip ($23).
Our other favorite dish was fish Arayes, two kinds of white fish chopped, mixed with spices and grilled inside a pita, topped with amba and served with seasonal grilled vegetables,and white tahini sauce ($21). My friend and I loved it. Next time I’d like to try the grilled octopus with labneh bread and za’atar, the tiffin box with Middle Eastern dips and spreads ($32) and the halva parfait with tahini toffee, halva floss and dark chocolate ($12).
Also intriguing are their themed breakfast boards – Greek, English, Continental and Middle Eastern. Breakfast is served from 7 a.m. until 10:30 a.m daily.
The drinks at Mazeh are crafted to further enhance the experience and elevate the flavors of the tapas. Cocktails include the You Oughta Know, a mix of vodka, Lillet Rouge, grapefruit, dill and honey; Doo Wop, made with silver rum, kaffir lime, passion fruit, lemongrass and lavender; and the Hypnotize, a vodka-based drink mixed with bergamot, smoked pineapple and grapefruit. The signature cocktails priced at $17. A glass of wine starts at $15 and bottles at $58.
Mazeh Miami is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. 227 NE 2nd Street. There’s a municipal parking garage two blocks away where I parked for four hours for $10.
The Yotel Miami is part of a large hotel management group. I stayed in their hotel in Istanbul airport, and thought it was excellent value. I checked out the rooms of the one here which are very similar. Standard rooms are not large, but cleverly designed, so you feel as they’re spacious enough, plus they’re colorful, bright and cheerful. The Yotel also has a swimming pool, fitness center, community area and soon to come Float, a pool restaurant and bar. Rates start at under $150 per night for the standard room and more spacious rooms are over $200.
