News Cafe - South Beach

By Tamara Lush

Affordable comfort food and international newsstand on Ocean Drive, the hippest and most beautiful stretch of Miami Beach.

Pros

•24-hour breakfast

•Decadent desserts (think strawberries and champagne)

•Great oceanfront atmosphere

•Wide selection of national and international periodicals

Cons

•Crowded during tourist season

•Service can be lackluster

Description

•Large menu

•Less expensive than other places on Ocean Drive

•Great place to people-watch

Guide Review - News Cafe

If you want a laid-back, yet trendy spot on South Beach, the News Café is the place. Opened in 1988, the owner (who has since opened several other successful restaurants around Miami) started with a few tables, a couple of bookshelves and a newspaper kiosk. Today, the restaurant boasts a sprawling sidewalk café and an interesting newsstand/gift shop. Check out the shop’s wide selection of beautiful, Miami-themed coffee-table books.

The restaurant is located at 800 Ocean Drive, at the corner of Ocean and 8th Street. On-street parking is nearly nonexistent, but there are several nearby parking garages that are reasonably priced – but may fill up on weekends or during special events. This is one reason why the restaurant does not earn a full five stars; on some busy weekends, it’s nearby impossible to park – and then the wait for a table at the News Café can be long.

While the News Café is a perfect place for a burger and fries, many enjoy the round-the-clock breakfast. Eggs Florentine, buttermilk pancakes and smoked salmon on a bagel are welcome noshes after dancing all night at the clubs. Or, if you’re not in the breakfast mode, don’t miss out on the Middle Eastern Combo, a platter with hummous, tabouli salad and grape leaves. You can’t go wrong with whatever you order on the extensive menu – and you will love watching the international (and often beautiful) crowds pass by on their way to and from the beach, which is right across the street! Click here to SAVE on Dining!

News Cafe
Open 24 Hours
800 Ocean Drive
Miami Beach, Florida  33139
http://www.newscafe.com/

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Porcão Steakhouse "Churrascaria"

From Christina Wooley, By Renee Chapple, About Miami Guide

Porcão Steakhouse "Churrascaria"

You can taste the care and attention given to each piece of meat at Porcão Steakhouse. Meat lovers will have a perfect opportunity to experience many different types of meat. The service is attentive and interactive without being overwhelming. The wine menu is extensive and well rounded. The views are spectacular. The dessert menu is exotic and delicious. One fixed price provides limitless food options.

Pros

•Unique and different experience

•Attentive staff

•Beautiful views of the Intercoastal waterway and pool

•Relaxed ambience

•Unlimited food

Cons

•Many of the staff does not speak English

•Pricey for a simple night out

•Noisy and not conducive to conversation
•Need reservation as not a lot of space

Description

•Relaxed yet upscale atmosphere with terrific views of the Intercoastal Waterway
•Wide variety of different and delicious foods with emphasis on the different meats
•Friendly and attentive wait staff
•Convenient downtown location close to Miami nightlife
•Interactive dining experience

Guide Review - Porcão Steakhouse

Located on Brickell Bay Drive inside the Four Ambassadors Hotel, the views of the pool and Intercoastal waterway are spectacular. Their house red wine, Caliterra, is a succulent Chilean specialty.

Dinner at Porcão Steakhouse is a fixed rate buffet and rodizio service. The price is $41.90 per person. Buffet stations include such items as Caesar salad, sushi, pasta, and various vegetables and cheeses. Once you have finished the buffet portion, you sit back and let the roaming waiters present you with various types of meat carved for you at your table (rodizio service). You do not have one set waiter but a variety of waiters that work in perfect synergy to make sure you have everything that you need, despite the language barrier with many of them. Though all the meat was exceptional, I would especially recommend the Filet Mignon wrapped in bacon and the Beef Ribs.

You should not leave Porcão without tasting one of their delicious desserts. The specialty is the Crème De Papaya. This is a very soft dessert that is so delicious you can't help but finish it!

Brazilian Fútbol (soccer) games are often celebrated in the bar area.

If you cannot make it to Porcão for dinner, you can try lunch on weekdays before 5pm. This includes a buffet with salads and sides and choice beef, chicken, or fish served tableside.

Porcão Steakhouse is located inside the Four Ambassadors Hotel at 801 Brickell Bay Drive in Miami. Reservations may be made by calling (305) 373-2777.

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Emeril's Miami Beach

By Emeril Lagasse, Emeril's.com

Emeril's Miami Beach. . . the third outpost of Emeril Lagasse’s flagship restaurant, experience the irresistible style of Creole cooking known as “new” New Orleans cuisine. This high-energy atmosphere blends the soulful flavors of Louisiana with the Latin-tinged rhythms of South Florida and the bold tastes of the Caribbean. 

Emeril’s of Miami Beach, located in the lobby of the Loews hotel, captures both the essence of Emeril and the essence of a fine dining experience. The decor is grand, polished, and posh with an inviting and comforting feel, reminiscent of a ballroom in an old southern plantation, yet modernized and chic. The menu combines common southern dishes with wild cards of unconventional flavors that keeps your taste buds awakened and awaiting the next dish.

Lunch Hours:  Mon-Sat, 11:30a-2:30p

Brunch Hours:  Sun, 11:00a-2:30p

Dinner Hours:  Sun-Thu, 6:00p-10:30p, Fri & Sat, 6:00p-11:00p

Executive Chef/Proprietor:  Emeril Lagasse

Chef de Cuisine:  Brian Cantrell

General Manager:  Sebastien Tribout

Reservations: Recommended, although walk-ins are accepted

Private Parties: Fine dining for parties of 20-300 guests is available, or a buy-out of the entire restaurant. In addition to our lunch and dinner menus and specials, Emeril’s Miami will offer a nightly tasting menu, with optional wine pairing. See Special Events & Buyouts

Attire: We recommend business casual attire. However, smart-casual attire is completely acceptable. We ask that the gentleman not wear sleeveless shirts.

Parking: Loews valet parking available without validation. See Directions & Info


Emeril's Cards: Available for purchase on-line. See emerilstore

Emeril's Miami Beach
1601 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, FL, 33139
(305)695-4550
Pictures by Emeril Lagasse
http://www.emerils.com/

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Joe's Stone Crab

By Renee Chapple, About.com Guide

For 98 years, no visit to Miami has been complete without stopping in at Joe's Stone Crab. From the beginning, it has always been the love of food, family, and friends that has brought in customers and kept them coming.

Today, Joe's Stone Crab banks upon its reputation as a Miami landmark and an outstanding knack for preparing stone crabs to make it a success. They rely upon this so heavily, however, that they're not afraid to irritate customers with excessively long wait times, no reservations and somewhat surly service. If you want the taste without the wait, get no-wait takeout from Joe's Takeaway, located right next to the restaurant.

•Dine at a Miami landmark

•Fabulous stone crabs served with Joe's famous mustard sauce

Cons

•Very long waiting time at peak hours

•No reservations available

Description

•Joe's Stone Crab offers a full menu of stone crab claws, other seafood, steaks, ribs and chicken.
•Side items include Joe's famous hash browns and cole slaw, creamed spinach, grilled tomatoes and fresh salads.
•If you're looking for this taste of Miami but live far away, Joe's Direct ships stone crab claws in season.

Guide Review - Joe's Stone Crab

From its humble origins in 1913 as a beachside seafood stand, Joe's Stone Crab has grown to become a Miami institution. Located on the end of South Beach at 11 Washington Avenue, Joe's serves up some of the tastiest seafood in Miami.

Joe's, of course, is famous for stone crab claws and, in fact, claims to be the place where this tasty treat was first discovered. If you plan to dine on their signature dish, be sure to bring your credit card. Stone crab claws range in price up to $50 per serving, depending upon the size of the claws. If you're looking for something different, there are plenty of other seafood and meat entrees on the menu in the $20-$30 price range. I heartedly recommend their seafood bisque as an excellent start to any meal at Joe's.

In addition to being famous for seafood, Joe's is also famous for providing mediocre (at best!) customer service. If you plan to dine in the restaurant, you'll be well served to time your arrival for an early or late meal. At peak hours, the wait for a table at Joe's can exceed two hours. And wait you must -- Joe's does not take reservations. The only way to avoid the wait is to earn yourself a spot on Joe's VIP list.

One other very important note -- Joe's is only open during stone crab season. You'll find the doors shuttered if you arrive between May and mid-October.
 
By Phone: (800)-780-CRAB (2722)
Weekdays: 9:00am to 6:00pm
(9:00am to 5:00pm - Summer)
Weekends: SAT 10:00am to 3:00pm Sunday Closed
(Closed during Summer)

11 Washington Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
http://www.joesstonecrab.com/

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Azul Restaurant

Chef Clay Conley is at the helm of Azul. His diverse cuisine is a blend of Mediterranean flavors with Asian influences. The rising star chef honed his culinary reputation at Todd English’s acclaimed Olives restaurant, where he served as executive chef and culinary director.

At the focus of Azul, a magnificent white marble open kitchen and raw bar vie for your attention with the floor to ceiling windows that showcase the picturesque bay views. Once the food arrives however, your attention is sure to be captured by the dishes themselves – like Grilled Chop and Loin of Colorado Lamb with Harrisa, Charred Eggplant, Braised Shank Bastila and Feta and "A Study in Tuna Roll," Raw Tuna, Tempura Avocado, Asian Sauces with Ossetra Caviar.

Azul's wine program, designed by sommelier Cynthia Betancourt, features more than 700 world-class wines. The award-winning wine list encompasses a mix of current releases, to classicvintages from the finest producers, with the latest boutique wineries worldwide.

www.mandarinoriental.com/miami

Mandarin Oriental, Miami

500 Brickell Key Dr

Miami, FL 33131
(305) 913-8254

Hours:

Dinner:
7pm - 11pm, Monday - Saturday

Bar:
6:30pm - 11pm, Monday - Saturday

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Caffe Abbracci

True to his Venetian roots, owner Nino Pernetti continues his time-honored tradition of bringing the enjoyment of quintessential classic Italian dishes to the palates of discerning patrons. Extraordinary accolades, such as the Dirona, Mobil Awards, are a testimony to the dedication and commitment to perfection made at this exceptional restaurant.

 

The combination of a stunning burl wood ceiling blooms and green marble accents, await you inside and offer a uniqueambiance of Italian art and romance. Step into the intimate Bar-Lounge and you instantly become part of the nightly soiree of South Florida's "Beautiful People" under the breath-taking stainglass ceiling.

The menu is full of delicious specialties, antipasti, pastas, fish and seafoon and for meat lovers veal chops, New York strip, cowboy-steak, filet mignon and ribeye steaks.

Attire: Elegantly casual. A jacket or sport shirt is fine, as long as you bring your appetite!

Caffe Abbracci Hours

LUNCH:
Monday - Friday  11:30 am to 3:3o pm
Closed for Lunch Saturday and Sunday

DINNER:
Monday - Sunday   6 pm to Midnight

Valet Parking for lunch and dinner or self parking.
318 Aragon Ave

Coral Gables, FL 33134
(305) 441-0700
www.caffeabbracci.com/

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GreenStreet Cafe & Lounge

Urban Spoon (Miami, Florida), Likes it - Greenstreet Café has to be one of the most incredible places to wine, dine, and enjoy many memorable moments amongst friends, family and a loved one. Their ambience is relaxed but incredible soundtrack that transports you to Morocco, Ibiza, Germany and France at any given moment.

GreenStreet Cafe - Coconut Grove

The furnishings and decorations bring an air of mystery and distinction which makes Green Street Café stand far above the rest and their Mediterranean menu will delight even the pickiest of palates. With flair of extravaganza and a dash of VIP seating, Greenstreet Café is simply the place to be. Situated in the heart of Coconut Grove, there is never a dull moment as Greenstreets pleasant and friendly staff make sure you receive the most impeccable of services and the best meal in town.

GreenStreet Outdoor Lounge and Restaurant, Coconut Grove's premier "seen and be seen" restaurant, was founded 19 years ago, by husband and wife team, Sylvano and Maida Bignon. Throughout the years, their European background has influenced them to create the GreenStreet "Philosophy", making their place evolve into a "Lifestyle".

It is a rare day not to encounter local politicians, artists, athletes, or simply thousands of locals enjoying breakfast, lunch or dinner, just sitting for a glass of wine, taking a break from their dog walk, having a business meeting, a baby shower... or simply relaxing on a sofa, for a late night amongst friends.

Some might invent reasons to come here... just to be there, several times a day... Breakfast is a must, especially on Sundays, as lines may form, while patrons sip on a glass of champagne, laughing and socializing while waiting for their table. For a complete online menu click here.

3468 Main Hwy

Miami, FL 33133
(305) 444-0244
http://www.greenstreetcafe.net/

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