Miami Beach Restaurants

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Whilst researching dining options for our trip, I came across several mentions of a must-do Sunday brunch at the Delano Hotel...it sounded fabulous, so I booked a table, not wanting to miss out. And what a brunch it was!!

The Delano is a gorgeous, renovated Deco hotel on Collins Avenue. The large white hotel looks great from the front, and just gets better as you enter the lobby. The dimmed, moody atmosphere is lightened by the billowing white sheets that lead you to the Blue Door Restaurant and terrace.

It was a magical day, warm and sunny, and brunch was served on the terrace. We were lucky to get one of the best seats in the house, on the edge of the terrace, which gave us front row seats to the continual stream of 'beautiful' people walking past on their way to/from the pool area.

There was a 2 piece Brazilian band playing and we relaxed with our glass of champagne and looked at the long menu. There was a lot of food to choose from...but this was a (very classy) buffet, so we could take our pick.

Favorite Dish: We started with seafood, which was displayed on a 2 level ice-sculpture in the centre of the room, and some sushi, caviar and blini, and some other tasty bits and pieces. Followed this with hot food, including Suckling Pig and then hot, sweet food in the form of French Toast and pancakes.

Luckily we still had a bit more room in our bellies, so we indulged in Key Lime Pie, Chocolate Coconut Cheesecake and Chocolate Mousse to name a few. Needless to say, once we finally stopped eating we were in pain!

All in all, it was a fabulous experience and I would highly recommend a Sunday Brunch at the Delano if your budget allows.

Cost was 57USD per person, which also included one glass of champagne or a Bloody Mary, Fruit juice and coffee or tea.
Sunday Brunch: 10:30am-2:30pm
The restaurant also open for normal meals throughout the week.

Having lived in Munich I know a thing or two about German beer and the Hofbräuhaus that is one of the city's famous beery landmarks. When I heard that the brewery opened a location in Vegas I shrugged that it would be a poor incarnation with too much glitter but secretly coveted their good fortune in being able to enjoy big liter mugs of beer and munch on large soft pretzels. So, you can imagine my delight when my wife (who happens to be German and read about it in a German tourist magazine!) told me they had opened another location in Miami. I read up on it and not only did they bring over the menu, big mugs and beer but they were trying to bring over the ambiance as well. I didn't know what to expect but wanted to surprise my wife who hadn't been home in a few months. Set on the pedestrian mall of Lincoln Road on Miami's trendy South Beach it was set up well as we approached it on foot and soon saw the familiar HB umbrella's heralding the Munich brewery's trademark logo. Though the interior of the restaurant in no way compares to the Munich institution, they did a nice job of creating a biergarten atmosphere in the outside sitting area. They even have the exact wooden chairs and tables as in Munich!

Favorite Dish: They have a full German menu and the prizes while a bit higher than in Germany are certainly quite reasonable for South Beach. We wanted the Obatzn, a cheese spread renowned in Munich but they were out of it that day so opted for a plate of assorted cold meats and cheeses. It was $16 but more than ample for two people. The quality of the meats was good though not truly representative of what you would get in Germany. Still, with a large soft pretzel ($6.95) and a liter mug of beer ($11-12.95 depending on the beer), it was pure heaven sitting under the trees and enjoying the cool breeze. The best thing was they even had Hofbräu's fantastic maibock on tap! The deep copper brew with creamy head is one of Munich's finest and it was in great form and perfectly poured into the huge mug. At 7.2% alcohol it is a dangerous mix of malt and hops that is all too dangerously drinkable. After a few sips we both felt transported back "home" and even felt "jet lagged" the next day. It was more expensive than doing the same thing in Munich but considering the price of flight and it only being 45 minutes by car from home, it really was a bargain. We truly felt we got away for the day and know we'll be back soon. Looking for the typical Miami experience? Well, this isn't it. Want an idea of what Munich is like then head over, it is damn close to the real thing.

AMAZING fish at the only reasonable rates the city has for quality raw fish~
Imported choices like the coveted Toro (part of the tuna)~ and local choices like Yellowtail (never frozen!)
Great, concise sake list~ Cool atmosphere~ Low-key yet a true M.B. establishment, as if they're trying to keep wandering yokel-dokel tourists from turning it into a theme park~
Hands down the best japanese in Miami beach, even better than the competing places I've spent twice the price for half the meal~
and one of the better japanese restaurants I've visited outside of Japan~ and I live in New York!!~
Highly recommended!

Favorite Dish: Sashimi specials!!

The restaurant is in a pedestrian-only zone on Lincoln street in Miami Beach. This location is two blocks south of the convention center, so very convenient for convention-goers.

The restaurant is owned by a family from Rome itself - the Nisti family. One of the daughters was born in Borgo Pio - the area immediately east of the Vatican. That is, they are not from Rome from a hundred years ago - they came here and opened the restaurant in 1997(!).

So not only do you have a realistic Mediterranean atmosphere - what is more authentic than eating outdoors in a noisy, lively pedestrian zone? - but the food is what you would find in Italy, not on a bastardized American-Italian menu.

Favorite Dish: I obviously haven't tried everything, but I found the Penne Lupa a great example of what they do. This is one of the simplest dishes, but it shows why they are good at what they do.

First, I ordered the half plate of Penne Lupa. This is not an option on the menu, but any real Italian restaurant will let you order a half plate of pasta if you follow it with a main course.

The Penne Lupa is very simple: penne, chopped tomatos, lightly cooked arugula, olive oil, and mozzarella cheese. The cheese is in small chunks on the bottom, not smothered over the top like an American restaurant would do. This "less is more" approach is exactly how they do it in Rome, and it was delightful.

Zooz just opened up on Lincoln Road: it's a nice cafe with a lovely terrace that serves fast yet healthy food such as sandwiches and salads made fresh right in front of you. Nicely priced too.

Perfect for a quick lunch!

Zooz has unfortunately now closed down....

Favorite Dish: The sandwiches and the salads that you create yourself. Apparently their desserts are delicious too...

A very Good place to just hang out in and have a cold beer and some thing to eat, there are tv's to catch up on sport and news.
The bar is a great place to just sitt and chill an a hot summer day.
Great salads and late breakfast's

Favorite Dish: The News Cafe Chicken Salad

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Pizza Rustica is one of the best spots to grab a late night slice of pie after a night of partying on Washington Avenue. $5 will get you a slice and a drink- perhaps the cheapest meal in South Beach!

Favorite Dish: I had the supreme with a Coke.

I ate here only because of the cable television shows I had seen with the Chef Emeril always cooking up some fantastic dish. The service was awesome, though the menu was a bit to Creole for me, and when you pay alot for what you really don't like, well, its just not fair. The shrimp appetizer was awesome as was the banana dessert, but all in all it was a one time deal for me. The good thing about this place is that it was next to my hotel, Lowes, so that made for a short walk back to the room.

Favorite Dish: I liked the barbecue shrimp appetizer.