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Miami restaurants
Miami's celebrity chef–heavy culinary contingent, pricey seafood restaurants, and passion for New World cuisine fusing Latin American, Caribbean, and European influences have led more than one foodie purist to cry style over substance in the past. And yes, there are lots of flashy eateries, especially in South Beach, that are overpriced and underwhelming. But there are also serious chefs exploring the city's culinary traditions, both native and imported. You can see both sides of the coin at the annual South Beach Food & Wine Festival every February (www.sobewineandfoodfest.com).
The city's Latino and Caribbean roots shine brightest, and "Floribbean" ingredients like Scotch bonnet peppers, yucca, hearts of palm, and fresh seafood are prevalent. The greatest concentration of authentic Cuban food and culture is in Little Havana, where men in guayaberas hawk jewel tone fruit from their pickup trucks and the walk-up counter at the legendary Versailles restaurant on Calle Ocho does brisk business in espressos and Cuban sandwiches. Other island cuisines include Haitian at Tap Tap and the beachfront OLA, which offers fantastic seviche as well as modern Latin-fusion dishes.
But it's hardly all plantains and mango sauce in Miami. A local food movement is gaining ground, evidenced by spots like Buena Vista Bistro and Michael's Genuine. For a classic Miami experience, head to Joe's Stone Crab, an institution where the chilled claws are revered like steaks are in Chicago, or the authentic waterfront fish house Garcia's for Miami's best mahimahi sandwiches.
Claude Postel, a seventh-generation chef originally from Paris, ran restaurants in Montreal and South Beach before opening this stamp-size foodie haven in May...more
Brothers Zack and Brian Lieberman—the duo behind popular Ola restaurant in Miami Beach—were looking to bring something with a more local vibe to...more
Ask your hotel concierge where to go for authentic Cuban food in Miami and you'll be sent to the venerable (and worthy) Versailles. Ask a local, however, and...more
Fratelli Lyon lures Design District denizens, European expats, and members of the Latin American art world for some of the best Italian food in town. Dapper...more
Located on an out-of-the-way stretch of the Miami River (the reason even some longtime residents have never heard of this place), this very basic restaurant...more
What started as a lunch counter in 1913 is now a block-long institution with a who's-who history—everyone from J. Edgar Hoover to the Duke and Duchess of...more
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