We tried the Miami Spice menus at these local restaurants. Here’s what we liked
The best distraction from the sweltering grind of summer is finally here.
Miami Spice, the annual promotion from the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, begins Aug. 1 and runs through Sept. 30. Local restaurants put together three-course menus (apps, entrees and desserts) at a discount to try to lure locals in during what is generally their slow season. Almost 300 restaurants are participating this year, including Michelin-starred spots, Ariete, Cote, Le Jardinier, Los Felix and Stubborn Seed.
Even Miami Beach icon Joe’s Stone Crab is getting in on the action this year, and yes, you can order stone crab as part of one of the dinner menus (although the crab is flash frozen – the season doesn’t start until October).
Prices remain the same as last year, with lunch and brunch options at $30-$35 and dinner menus at $45 or $60. Signature Dining Experiences are available, too, including Fiola’s dazzling (and filling) pasta omakase and a four-course lunch menu from L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Florida’s only two-star Michelin restaurant.
More casual restaurants are participating, too, like Miss Crispy Rice in Wynwood, which is offering a steal of a Spice deal, a 13-course omakase-style dinner for $60.
Restaurants offer Miami Spice menus on specific days so make sure to check the schedule on the Miami Spice website. Some may only have dinner menus while others offer all three meals. The menus may also change throughout the promotion.
Here are the restaurants we visited during Miami Spice previews and what it was like to eat at them. For a full list of participating restaurants visit www.miamiandbeaches.com/deals/spice-restaurant-months
Ahumar
What we liked: Ahumar replaced Fi’lia in what’s now the Dua Hotel. Puerto Rican chef Victor Rosado offers a dinner menu that includes a choice of two “bites” out of four options, and all are tasty and fun. Alcapurrias two ways include tiny yuca fish shapes baked into crackers and covered with your choice of stewed crab, coconut and cilantro or spicy salmon and black sesame. Or try oysters, one baked with zabaglione and bacon, the other with lemon “air.” Starters include Stracciatella with truffled honey and wood-fired bread. Grilled watermelon is juicy and sweet, pairing with arugula, feta and pistachios. Entrees feature seafood asopao, rice in a lobster sofrito stock with mixed seafood. Chillo frito, fried red snapper, is juicy fish sliced into chunks with mojito and aioli for dipping. Rosado’s cool, creamy cheesecake has no bottom crust; Graham crackers are crumbled on the side for dusting each bite. Berries and white chocolate whip round it out. Strawberries in the Field is a plate layered with chocolate mousse and dotted with sliced strawberries.
Who should go: Those who remember and miss Fi’lia and are open-minded about trying Fi’lia Part Deux.
1300 S. Miami Ave. in the Dua Hotel; 305-239-1300, @ahumarmiami on Instagram
Kendall Hamersly
Amal
What we liked: This glamorous Lebanese restaurant in Coconut Grove is offering lunch and dinner Spice options as well as weekend brunch. For starters, the truffle rakakat is an absolute must. These Lebanese cheese sticks, so far from the humble mozzarella sticks of every bar in town, are soaked in honey and served with grapes, mint and pistachio. They come five to a serving, and trust us, you will fight over the fifth. Other solid shareable appetizers are the hummus, which comes with Lebanese bread, or, for a refreshing lightness, the fattoush salad. The dinner standout is the black cod served with tahini, cilantro and pine nuts, topped with crispy leaks. The other entrees also lend themselves to sharing: the pistachio kebab, with minced beef and lamb; beef tenderloin or chicken tawok. But we don’t blame you if you both order the cod. For dessert try the unusual mastika ice cream, made from the resin of mastika trees native to the Mediterranean. Amal’s chic sister Level 6 Rooftop Restaurant, which offers views of the bay, is also offering a separate dinner and weekend brunch menu.
Who should go: Fans of upscale Lebanese cuisine; anyone who wants to see what all the fuss is about.
3480 Main Hwy., Suite 100, Coconut Grove; 786-369-0846, www.amalmiami.com
Connie Ogle
Amalfi Llama
What we liked: This Patagonian-Italian restaurant at the Esplanade at Aventura, which just opened in January, is known for its wood-fired meats, and happily there are a few such options on the Spice dinner menu. Let your cravings be your guide with the appetizers: three small short rib empanadas with chimichurri if you want meat, tuna tartare with avocado and ponzu if something lighter is to your liking. You will be satisfied either way. The Milamessi is a no-brainer for the entree, a super crispy panko crusted beef filet with pomodoro sauce, melted brie and a giant pile of hot, crunchy, seasoned french fries. Urge your dining companion to order the creamy black truffle tagliatelle — The Amalfi Llama also prides itself on its pasta — and share. Want something a little more straightforward? There’s an 8-ounce center cut filet on offer as well as branzino and wood-fire grilled chicken. Dessert is a choice between a fire-roasted cheesecake with berry compote and and a flourless chocolate cake, both of which are even better than you think they will be.
Who should go: Diners in north Miami-Dade who don’t want to drive downtown or beyond; shoppers who want a more upscale dinner than they’ll find at The Cheesecake Factory.
19505 Biscayne Blvd., Aventura; 305-726-0226, www.amalfillama.com
Connie Ogle
Amara at Paraiso
What we liked: Amara at Paraiso is one of Miami’s sweetest waterfront spots, with a patio overlooking tranquil Biscayne Bay. It’s part of Michael Schwartz’s restaurant empire, and his restaurants use Miami Spice as kind of a staging ground to mix new dishes in with old favorites. As a starter on chef Ivan Barros’ menu, you might see braised lamb empanadas, tasty diamonds of dough stuffed to bulging with juicy shredded and braised lamb, a rich green goddess dressing for dipping. Or you might see the octopus causita, a Peruvian-inspired plate with tender coins of octopus resting atop a wafer-thin layer of Yukon Gold potato, daubed with kalamata olive aioli. Or if you’re even luckier, you’ll get the morcilla-stuffed squid, a tender baby squid stuffed with blood sausage, not a combination you’ll either recognize or forget. Entree-wise, there’s the fascinating arollado de huaso, a roll of pork belly slow cooked for several hours to start, then finished under ultra-high heat to crisp the skin. Canary beans, herb salad and a guac-like avocado salsa complete the plate. A fat fillet of grilled cobia shares the plate with roasted potatoes and peperonata, a tomato, onion and pepper hash. Dessert options might include a dulce de leche flan, ice cream sandwich or coconut cream puff with lychee pastry cream.
Who should go: Diners who want to try a variety of Spice meals at the same space.
3101 NE Seventh Ave., Miami; 305-676-9495, amaraatparaiso.com
Kendall Hamersly
Casadonna
What we liked: This is the first year the new Edgewater spot has participated in Miami Spice, as it Patagonian-Italian restaurant They are offering a dinner option Sunday through Thursday at $60 per person with an optional $30 wine pairing. We recommend opting in for that. Start out with the summer salad, which was just as beautiful as it was delicious and innovative. You can also try the tuna tartare. It’s $15 extra, but was likely the most memorable dish we tried. If you’re not feeling too hungry you can try the corn caramelle, which are ricotta and corn-filled ravioli shaped like candy and topped with truffle butter. We also tried the more filling filet mignon with delicious porcini mushrooms. For desert you have the option of chocolate budino (pudding) or a peach tart with amaretto ice cream.
Who should go: Couples who want to impress with a flashy clubby vibe, anyone who wants to try the new splashy spot on a budget.
1737 N Bayshore Dr., Miami; 305-475-2272, casadonnamiami.com
Ana Claudia Chacin
Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard Restaurant and Bar
What we liked: Chef Adrianne’s is Kendall’s big night out restaurant, offering thoughtful cuisine by chef Adrianne Calvo, who has an effusive and loyal following (she won the Miami Herald’s ‘Favorite Chef’ poll last year). Her Miami Spice menu will give you a chance to try some of her classic dishes, but before we get to that, do yourself a favor and save room for dessert. Not enough can be said about her White Chocolate Tres Leches Croissant Bread Pudding. We like all of those words, and you will be fighting over the last bite. But first, dinner! We tried the poached pear salad — crispy arugula, goat cheese and candied pears — which paired perfectly with the heavier entree, the 24-hour braised prime beef short rib, accompanied by sweet potato puree and spinach. The sweet corn tomalito appetizer was delicious, spicy black tiger shrimp piled on a cornmeal mash. The other entree we tried was the handcrafted burrata stuffed ravioli, three huge pockets of delicious cheese in a sauce of spicy garlic and parm. Chef Adrianne gives generous portions. Box some of that up so you can eat the tres leches.
Who should go: Chef Adrianne’s is an always-packed neighborhood restaurant full of joyful Kendallites. The restaurant doesn’t seat young children in the main dining room for dinner, so keep that in mind.
11715 Sherri Ln., Miami; chefadriannes.com; 305-408-8386
Amy Reyes
Cote
What we liked: When you’re jotting down your list of musts, be sure to add Cote. The Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse in the Design District is offering a $35 lunch menu, and it’s one of the best Spice deals (one of the most popular, too — make sure you have a reservation). The black truffle shrimp salad is a terrific starter, and if you aim to be extra, you can spend $8 more to have two ounces of black truffle shaved on to your salad. You don’t need it, though. For the entrées, Cote offers such a powerful mix-and-match selection knowing what to order is hard, but remember: everything is shareable. The Optimus Prime prime rib sandwich on a baguette with creamy horseradish is cut in half, and the portion of crispy Korean fried chicken served with spicy gochujang sauce is easy to split up. So is the delicious bibimbap with vegetables, soft poached egg and gochujang served in a sizzling stone pot. You will keep eating long after you’re full. And while we normally don’t encourage upgrades, because Spice is supposed to be all about bargains, the $25 upgrade for the Butcher’s Feast is worth it. The feast includes USDA prime hanger steak, dry aged ribeye and marinated galbi (short rib), all of which are grilled at your table and come with lettuce, scallion salad and ssamjang so you can make lettuce wraps. The simple, sweet dessert — vanilla soft serve ice cream with soy sauce caramel — is the perfect conclusion to a perfect meal.
Cote will also be offering a special sommelier’s Spice collection of wine by the glass (or bottle). Do yourself a favor and try the crisp Hillock & Hobbs dry Riesling from Seneca Lake, New York. It’s a revelation with the salty, spicy Asian flavors.
Who should go: Lovers of meat — and all their friends
3900 NE Second Ave., Miami; 305-434-4668, www.cotekoreansteakhouse.com
Connie Ogle
Delilah
What we liked: Impeccable service and tasty, accessible cuisine make for a rewarding experience all around. But it’s not high-falutin; it’s fun. Take our first and favorite starter, chicken tenders. Four crispy logs of juicy chicken are served with a trio of dipping sauces: dill-infused ranch, hot honey and BBQ. It’s as if Le Bernardin had a kids’ menu. Worthy, too, and more sophisticated is the Wagyu beef carpaccio, redolent of black truffle, with crispy shallots, lemon aioli and fresh sorrel as the green. More fun food: A macaroni gratinee, tender bucatini arranged in kind of a platform and covered with a salty plank of cheese charred as you’d treat a creme brulee, the plate swirled with a truffle bechamel (this is a $20 add-on as a side dish). Roasted scallops, three big beauties to an order, are served with a fennel salad and clementine sauce, brightened with more citrus. Branzino (+$45) is a giant fillet, simply grilled, tender and delicate. More fun at the dessert course: Kendall’s Slutty Brownie, named for Kendall Jenner, a friend of the owners’. It’s an unfinishable bowl of chocolate chip cookies, a big brownie, a full scoop of vanilla ice cream and two Oreos arranged on top like Mickey Mouse ears. There’s a quality homemade Key lime pie as well, dotted with macadamia nuts.
Who should go: Jet-setters who want a scene (a sultry dancer performed on a platform adjoining our table; no photos allowed in case celebrities are on hand; locations in Las Vegas and L.A.) but one with excellent food.
301 Brickell Key Dr., Miami; 305-400-4657, delilahrestaurants.com
Kendall Hamersly
Doya
What we liked: Once again, this beautiful Aegean restaurant in Wynwood, helmed by former Mandolin chef Erhan Kostepen, proves itself a reliable option for a Miami Spice lunch. Named a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand for three straight years, a designation that means the restaurant offers good food for a reasonable price, Doya puts its crowd pleasers front and center. Because the menu is built of small plates, it’s a great spot to share as well as combine flavors. One of the most popular items is the muhammara, a hummus-like dip of roasted red peppers, pomegranate, walnuts, garlic and breadcrumbs, with an earthy depth of flavor. But combine it with another first course, the haydari, with yogurt, mint, garlic and butter, and it gets even better. The third choice for an appetizer is a simple salad of greens with dill, scallion, lemon and olive oil, which may seem too humble to order, but paired with the kofte (meatballs with rice and orzo and a garlic yogurt sauce), it offers a perfect bright contrast. That green salad also pairs nicely with the pide with truffle, a Turkish flatbread topped with Kasseri cheese and black truffles. For dessert, look no further than the flaky baklava with pistachio.
Who should go: Lunch with friends, parents and co-workers; business lunches.
347 NW 24th St., Miami; 305-501-2848, doyarestaurant.com
Connie Ogle
Fiola
What we liked: The best thing about eating dinner at the ever-elegant Fiola, which is also serving a Spice menu for brunch and lunch, is that there are no bad choices. There aren’t even any slightly mediocre choices. The hard part is deciding what to order. We don’t normally recommend choosing the salad option for the first course, but at Fiola, we make an exception for the bright, lemony basil Caesar salad. It’s a refreshing starter, but so is the outstanding Georgia peach gazpacho with red pepper, cucumber, pico de gallo, basil oil and aged balsamico di modena. You won’t want to leave here without tasting it. The Georgia peaches make another welcome appearance in the entrees, under a wood-roasted pork chop with spinach and pepperonata that may be the best thing on the menu. But don’t sleep on the braised wagyu beef cheeks served with polenta, parmigiano, caramelized cippolini onion and osso buco sauce, a rich and fulfilling dish. If pasta is what your heart craves —and how could it not? — order the mezze rigatoni alla vodka, with Grey Goose, Calabrian chilis and basil. Your best bet is ordering one meat dish and the rigatoni and sharing them. The Marchesi Valrhona chocolate cake terrine is the standout dessert, but if chocolate doesn’t appeal, the raspberry panna cotta is a fine substitute.
Who should go: Everyone who enjoys traditional fine dining, spectacular service and unforgettable Italian cuisine.
1500 San Ignacio Ave., Coral Gables; www.fiolamiami.com, 305-912-2639
Connie Ogle
Jaya at The Setai
What we liked: Located inside The Setai, a luxury hotel, Jaya is an Asian-inspired restaurant where guests sit next to a picturesque reflecting pool underneath palm trees and misting fans. But Jaya isn’t just pretty, for the quality of food the $45 dinner menu is a steal, especially compared to the cocktail menu advertising a $48 martini. For appetizers, the Japanese leaf salad was well-balanced and the shrimp-stuffed dumplings came with some generous truffle shavings. For mains, we enjoyed the stir-fried Thai beef served with crisp lettuce leaves, but the showstopper was Jaya’s signature Peking duck with pillowy steamed pancakes, cucumbers and bean sauce for an extra $18. Chocolate lovers will appreciate the chocolate puff for dessert, but if you’re itching to go on a trip to Southeast Asia, get the tropical fruit mochi and the coconut sticky rice with mango.
Fair warning: It can get pretty humid since the restaurant is technically outdoors. Wear light clothes with an expandable waistband.
Who should go: Singles who really want to impress their date. Anyone celebrating a birthday during Leo season.
2001 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 855-923-7899, www.thesetaihotel.com
Amanda Rosa
Joe’s Stone Crab
What we liked: This is only the second year Miami Beach’s iconic restaurant is participating in Miami Spice, and it’s offering lunch and two dinner options. We’d recommend the $60 option. Start with the stone crab bisque or tangy cole slaw, then move on to an entree of the ginger salmon. If you’re craving meat, the surf and turf skewers — one Florida lobster, the other tenderloin marinated in pineapple soy ginger — are also a great choice. And yes: Even though they’re out of season, you can get your hands on (flash frozen) stone crabs, either three with an order of the restaurant’s famous fried chicken or at an additional $20 or $45, depending on the size of the claws. You have three choices of dessert, but don’t even think of choosing anything but Joe’s famous Key lime pie.
Who should go: Fans desperate for stone crab, anyone interested in what Joe’s has to offer beyond stone crabs.
11 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; 305-673-0365, joesstonecrab.com
Connie Ogle
LPM Restaurant & Bar
What we liked: This French Mediterranean restaurant is sure to impress and please any palate. To warm up try the mind-blowing tomatini, a tomato martini that gets topped with black pepper cracked as soon as it’s delivered with an over-the-top pepper mill. It is not a part of their extensive cocktail menu and is as weird as it sounds. For dinner, you’ll have two menus to choose from, a $60 menu or a $90 “experience” menu. We tried the delicious calamar frits (crispy squids with paprika and green chili) and the carpaccio de seriole du Japon, a yellowtail carpaccio that is melt-in-your-mouth fresh. For the entrees we had the poisson en croute, a salt baked striped sea bass, and the filet mignon — both great options. We also tried the potatoes au gratin, available for a $9 upcharge as a side, which we can’t stop thinking about. But if you opted for the $90 “elevated” experience, the mousse au chocolat with malt ice cream is worth the extra bucks. But the regular menu’s vanilla cheesecake with berry compote is possibly the best cheesecake in Miami.
Who should go: Couples looking for an elevated meal in Miami; Families celebrating an intimate special event.
1300 Brickell Bay Dr, Miami; 305-403-9133, lpmrestaurants.com
Ana Claudia Chacin
Le Jardinier
What we liked: This marks the second year this Michelin-starred restaurant has participated in Miami Spice, which makes it another good year to try lunch or dinner here. For dinner, the meal starts with two fine options: a refreshing golden beet salad with herbed whipped goat cheese and beet coulis or salmon tartare with yogurt dressing, pickled cucumber, radishes and lotus root chips. We cannot stress how much that pickled cucumber elevates this dish. Adding Royal Kaluga Caviar costs $35, but the salmon stands tall on its own. Of the entrees, we gravitated toward the Pacifico striped bass, a white fish served with white bean puree and sautéed kale (other choices are papardelle with zucchini pesto and confit heirloom tomato and suckling pig porchetta with honey-dijon glaze and spiced sweet potato). You’ll be tempted to fill up on the bread course, baked at sister restaurant L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, but Le Jardinier saves the best for last with a resplendent dessert called Summer Flower, with coconut crumble, almond cream, raspberry cherry confit and coconut Chantilly. Whatever you do, don’t be too full to eat this.
Le Jardinier is also offering an intriguing selection of spritzes and other cocktails for the summer at $15 and will offer guests a free glass of rosé on Mondays.
Who should go: Diners eager to try a Michelin-starred restaurant at an approachable price point
151 NE 41st St., Suite 135, Miami; 305-402-9060, lejardinier-miami.com
Connie Ogle
Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann
What we liked: The flagship restaurant of the ever-glitzy Faena is on the Michelin Guide for a reason. Inside the flamboyantly decorated dining room, awash in cheetah print, red leather and gold accents galore, is an Argentinean steakhouse concept that translates well to the truncated Miami Spice menu. For starters, don’t miss the snapper crudo, which elevates the fresh fish with an almond cream drizzled in basil oil — a mesmerizing (and delicious) dish. Or go with the blistered cherry tomatoes and burrata atop a slice of crispy polenta, if you want the flame-grilled theme in every course. This menu has multiple add-ons, so for a little extra, you can go with the wood-fired artichokes over sesame yogurt or the grilled Mediterranean octopus. The entrees range from decadent — braised beef cheeks over a dangerously buttery potato puree — to wholesome, with crisp-skinned branzino over a flavorful (and Instagrammable) beet-yogurt. Dessert is the same way. Between the chocolate crostata, rich ganache with a side of tangy mascarpone, and the pionono, a dulce du leche pastry with sugared fruit and sorbet, we preferred the fruitier option.
Who should go: Couples looking for a romantic evening complete with a lounge singer; anyone looking to soak in Faena vibes without shelling out for a hotel room.
3201 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 786-655-5600, Faena.com
Alex Harris
Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink
What we liked: It seems impossible, but it’s been 17 years since Michael’s Genuine helped launch Miami’s farm-to-table restaurant scene and, years before its over-the-top heyday began, the Design District. It remains a go-to for power lunches, celebration dinners and casual weeknight dining. For Miami Spice, chef Bradley Herron’s menu will rotate, with a mix of Michael’s favorites and new dishes that eventually could make their way onto the menu. For starters, you might get a smoky eggplant puree with warmed toasty pita bread, beef tartare or French onion soup with Gruyere. For entrees, vegetarians will die for the rainbow chard lasagnette, the tender leaves building a casserole that is redolent of truffle bechamel, with currants and pine nuts adding interest. Wood roasted cobia Meuniere is an ample fillet sauced with brown butter and lemon, resting on a bed of delicate potato puree, with arugula adding sharpness. To finish, there’s an espresso flan with a warm donut and crema and a banana upside down cake with rum caramel, crema and a plantain chip.
Who should go: Longtime fans of Michael’s and those who’ve heard about it but still haven’t been.
130 NE 40th St., Miami; 305-676-0894, michaelsgenuine.com
Kendall Hamersly
Miss Crispy Rice
What we liked: This friendly counter at Wynwood’s Inside Oasis is offering one of the best bang-for-your-buck Spice menus in a laid-back atmosphere. For dinner, you get a 13-course omakase-style meal that shows off the best of what founder Andrew Mayer and his team has to offer (Mayer is also the founder of Mr. Omakase, which is also offering a Miami Spice menu). Here’s what you get: dumplings from the neighboring Oise, Brad Kilgore’s fast-casual Japanese spot; two servings of sashimi; three pieces of crispy rice (our favorite was the citrusy scallop with uni); a couple of pieces of nigiri (the torched salmon was a show stopper). There’s also a chef’s choice hand roll (ours was fresh, tasty hamachi) as well as a Donburi bowl of Australian wagyu and a palate-cleansing miso soup. Dessert is also a winner from Kilgore’s Oise (which is also offering a Spice menu): Kakigori, dark cherry shaved ice over pistachio gelato with yuzu whipped cream and sprinkles. It’ll make you forget just how hot it is outside. Miss Crispy Rice also offers a 10-course Miami Spice lunch for $35.
Who should go: Anyone who loves sushi and omakase-style dining but would rather pay $60 than $250 for it.
2335 North Miami Ave., Miami; misscrispyrice.com
Connie Ogle
Pao by Paul Qui
What we liked: This is the first time Pao by Paul Qui has been on the Miami Spice list, and it’s a must-visit for lifelong Miamians and newcomers alike. For $60 a person, you can get a taste of the seafood-forward menu at a place that might be out of budget for the rest of the year. Appetizer choices include two types of raw fish, yellowtail in a grapefruit ponzu or bluefin tuna in a tomatillo aguachile, but we’ll nudge you to the fried chicken, served with a housemade and classically pinoy banana ketchup, which lands more savory than sweet. The entrees, however, are the star. Go with friends so you can try it all: the tender branzino over a smear of black garlic miso labneh and showered in kaffir-brown butter breadcrumbs, or the quiet star, the greens braised in coconut milk and crab fat. For us, the hands-down winner was the tobanyaki, a bed of rice served in a clay dish hot enough to give the bottom half that perfect Tahdig-style crispy crunch, flecked with bites of wagyu short rib, pickled chilies, pools of creamy cheese and an egg yolk. The waiter mixes it tableside. Save room for dessert: either a perfect rendition of a multi-layered mille crepe cake with a tangy passionfruit syrup or an unexpected fave, a corn ice cream sandwich covered in shavings of a Spanish hard goat cheese, leading to an irresistible savory-sweet combo.
Who should go: Fans of high-brow takes on classic Filipino dishes; art lovers who want to lay eyes on the other Damien Hirst statues on the premises (why should the mammoth get all the glory?)
3201 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 786-655-5600, Faena.com
Alex Harris
Papi Steak
What we liked: Deep in the sultry heart of South Beach, just a stone throw’s away from Joe’s Stone Crab, Papi Steak is a windowless, clubstaurant best known for its $1,000 steak presented to ballers like Bad Bunny in a mysterious metal briefcase. For the rest of us peasants, it’s where you could get the $60 Miami Spice dinner, no briefcase included. We took the seafood route for appetizers with the refreshing tuna tartare and the decadent jumbo lump crab cake. It felt wrong to not choose the steak entrees, and we especially enjoyed the filet mignon served medium rare, because we’re not children. But maybe we are a little childish because we managed to save room for dessert. The caramelized banana profiterole was our favorite. Papi Steak’s vibe perpetually feels like the moment in an action movie right before an intense fight scene breaks out in a swanky venue. The loud music, busy dining area and moody lighting is a bit of an assault on the senses. And you’re either rubbing elbows with influencers or business executives. But sometimes it’s fun to pretend like you’re a tourist, especially when the food tastes good.
Who should go: Those interested in balling on a budget. Once again, anyone celebrating a birthday during Leo season.
736 First St., Miami Beach; 305-800-7274, papisteak.com
Amanda Rosa
Pastis
What we liked: Summer may be the best time to visit this busy import, which is located in Wynwood and designed to look just like its New York counterpart. Come winter, it’ll be packed with nostalgic diners sighing over the subway tiles and red leather banquettes. Pastis is also offering a great Spice dinner option: $45 for a menu that features some of its best items, like the rich and delectable French onion soup. Just know if you choose this as an appetizer, you may be too full to finish your dinner. A lighter choice is the steak tartare or even the escargot in garlic-parsley butter. For an entree, try the citrusy spaghetti limone or the chicken paillard with almonds and olives, both regular menu favorites.
Who should go: New Yorkers, people with friends and family from New York, diners who want to get a table before the season starts.
380 NW 26th St., Miami; 305-686-3050, pastismiami.com
Connie Ogle
Sereia
What we liked: This Portuguese gem in Coconut Grove from chef Henrique Sá Pessoa, best known for his two-Michelin-starred restaurant Alma in Lisbon, just opened in March, but it’s offering a dinner-only Spice menu you won’t want to miss. In fact, we’d go so far as to say you’d be foolish to skip it. Start with the refreshing wahoo curado, with sweet potato puree, lime and salicornia. We’ve had many excellent crudo dishes around Miami, but this is one of the best. All three of the entrees are spectacular, too. The bacalhau a bras is one of Sá Pessoa’s signature dishes, with salted cod, fried string potatoes, confit egg and black olives. It’s a hit, but you won’t be disappointed with the other choices. The arroz de cogumelos features a risotto-like serving of mixed mushroom rice, sherry vinegar glaze and Azores Island cheese. It’s a perfect choice for vegetarians, but its savory, rich flavor will be satisfying to any diner. The real surprise was the piri piri chicken. Chicken is one of the entrees we tend to avoid on Spice menus (and often when we’re eating out anywhere), but this perfectly charboiled breast with grilled chickpeas is startling in its tenderness. For dessert, the caramel and port custard, tangerine sorbet and almond crumble was our favorite, but the rest of the table favored the sweet rice custard with orange sorbet, candied crispy rice and calamansi caramel.
Who should go: Diners who love or want to explore fine Portuguese cuisine
3540 Main Highway, Coconut Grove; 305-967-8152, www.sereia.miami
Connie Ogle
