Miami Fun Guide » Dining

Shake Shack in Miami Beach

Mary Tuttle — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 22:33:15 +0000

A new craze in burgers and shakes has hit Lincoln Road, but this MFG food critic isn’t going to join the bandwagon too quickly. The food tastes good, but the prices range a bit high for a “fast food” place.

Speaking of fast, don’t go if you have a 30-minute lunch break or need a quick bite, because you’ll easily wait 15 minutes to get your food. They hand out pagers and wheedle you to ‘grab a seat…. relax’.

If you don’t mind the wait, you’ll find the ShackBurgers small, the fries average, and the custard Concretes (thick frozen custard shakes) too rich. I shared a Shark Attack Concrete with my daughter and we both felt bloated afterward. I will say they get points for originality; they feature some interesting flavors for their shakes. When I visited, they were offering free samples of basil-flavored frozen custard. It tasted cool and refreshing, but my 10-year old daughter protested that it was too weird to put herbs in a shake . It’s a SoBe thing…

Shake Shack is located at 1111 Lincoln Road, just around the corner from the movies at Lincoln Center. Five Guys, on the other hand, is clear across the beach on Washington and 15th Street, but better worth the trek for burger fare.

Kyojin Japanese Seafood Buffet

Mary Tuttle — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 20:01:30 +0000

Moderately priced Asian cuisine in South Miami (6212 S. Dixie Hwy). Vegan and meat-lovers alike will enjoy the selections here.

Menu includes sushi, hibachi, teriyaki, tempura, salads, raw oysters (seasonal) and more! Desserts are average, but try the yummy sesame balls and red bean ice cream– the latter sounds strange but it’s actually quite good.

For more info visit www.kyojinbuffet.com

Joe’s Stone Crab on the Cheap

Mary Tuttle — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:21:47 +0000

Believe it or not, you can enjoy the circuses of the famous South Beach landmark, without having to break the bank. Granted, you won’t be able to dine on a bucket of the signature stone crabs, but you can have very tasty fried chicken and a side for less than $15 per person. But if you can, do splurge on dessert! Either the chocolate pecan pie or the key lime pie will do! Oh, and come early or you won’t get in. For those who can’t make in time to get on the list (there are no advance reservations, unless you’re the President of the United States or some other VIP!), there’s always the option of takeout. Now that South Point Park has it’s re-do, it’s the perfect place to sit down, enjoy some good food and take in the wonderful scenery that’s unique to this part of the country. Bon appetit!

Morton’s Steakhouse in Miami Beach

Mary Tuttle — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:36:27 +0000

Last October, Morton’s Steakhouse opened in Miami Beach. While their steak is not bad, it is definitely not worth the $15 valet parking, even if their motto is “the best steak anywhere.” The famous “onion bread” wasn’t bad either, but it isn’t anything to write home about. Do I sound like I ‘m complaining? In honesty I expected more. It’s hard for this restaurant chain to compete here when the public can get just as good for less or the same at other restaurants. Our server was great– prompt, friendly and knowledgeable; Morton’s gets high marks for training their staff well. The presentation of the menu was too cool; especially the live lobster on a platter! We were also entertained by the unexpected fire from the oven in the open kitchen. The black leather seats were comfortable, but I thought it odd that they provided no butter knife (and expected us to use the steak knife to butter our bread?!).

Overall, the food was not necessarily better than the high-end competition. Smith & Wollensky, The Forge, Joe’s Stone Crab, Houston’s– these places don’t have anything to worry about. We tried some other things on Morton’s menu. The steamed asparagus were a bit stringy, and the broiled sea scallops wrapped in bacon were acceptable. The culinary highlight of the evening was the sauteed button mushrooms which were absolutely fabulous. The baked five-onion soup tasted all right, again nothing spectacular. The raspberry souffle was a letdown, baked well on top but slightly undercooked in the middle. So this restaurant gets a mixed review.

Balans in Brickell

Mary Tuttle — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 17:27:11 +0000

For those who like the outdoor café atmosphere without the crowds of South Beach, checkout Balans Restaurant in Brickell. A quick walk from the Miami Metromover, the Brickell area has recently expanded to include many quaint stores, art galleries and a number of yummy eateries. The cuisine at Balans is international modern, including luscious breakfast selections served until 5pm and fresh eclectic entrees for every palate. For lunch I ate a colorful African chicken salad that was full of curry flavor paired with light and fluffy taboule. My kids loved the burgers and fries, but careful: the portions are substantial. Newcomers will get a kick out of the bathrooms with glass walls that transform from clear to opaque when in use. Afterward, you can enjoy strolling around to see some beautiful sculptures, including a gigantic depiction of Samson Agonistes.

Epicure Market

Rick Tuttle, Publisher — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:09:50 +0000

Many South Florida natives have been mourning the passing of landmark Wolfie Cohen’s Rascal House on Sunny Isles—the old-fashioned, New York-style deli restaurant with big mouth-watering sandwiches and lots of kitsch from bygone years. Well, in its place has emerged an all new, gourmet Epicure Market. Serving up top-quality groceries and ready-made meals, this place does it with the same personal attention of the long-established market by the same name on South Beach. But there’s more, so much more! You can experience fresh mouth-watering deli delights, made to order and accompanied with a greater selection of salads, soups, drinks and healthy sides. You can also choose several hot food selections available daily, lunch and dinner.

There’s plenty of food choices, including lots of yummy baked goods, desserts, and a coffee bar. Patrons can take-out, eat “al fresco”, or sit indoors in the roomy dining area. Complete hearty dinners range about $15 per person, with durable take home containers for leftovers. There’s something for every epicure—check out Epicure Market in Sunny Isles…

and tell them you read about it on Miami Fun Guide.

Carrabba’s Italian Grill

Rick Tuttle, Publisher — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:48:36 +0000

One of the few ocean side restaurants on Miami Beach is Carrabba’s Italian Grill at the Courtyard by Marriott. You can take a walk on the Miami Beach boardwalk and stroll along the beach until you get to to 39th St. (on Collins Ave. if you are driving).

The Miami Beach Carrabba’s features the same tasty Italian home cooking that you can find at locations. But here you’ll get to enjoy your food and drink while you listen to cool rhythms and feel the ocean breeze.

Our family favorites include the Calamari appetizer, Mama Mandola’s Sicilian Chicken Soup, the Pizza Margherita, Angel Hair Picchi Pacchiu and the Manicotti. Of course you may have your own favorites.

Cerione’s Italian Cafe

Rick Tuttle, Publisher — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:53:19 +0000

Located in the heart of the the North Beach Resort District, Cerione’s is a perfect stop for quick, delicious Italian cuisine. Choose from fresh-air sidewalk or cozy indoor seating. Don’t let the small storefront ambience fool you.

The rustic food is delicious and the service is friendly, attentive and prompt. The pristine surroundings (including clean bathrooms) and soft eclectic music make up for the aesthetic shortcomings. And don’t leave without tasting the homemade tiramisu– it’s the creamiest we’ve tasted on Miami Beach.

La Provence French Cafe & Bakery

Rick Tuttle, Publisher — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 03:13:04 +0000

La Provence French Artisanal Cafe & Bakery makes the bread, some would say the best bread in South Florida. Hey, many of the finer restaurants and hotels get their bread from La Provence so you should go to the source if you want the best.

La Provence has three locations in South Florida: South Beach, Mid Beach and Coral Gables. The location featured in our video is on 41st Street in Miami Beach (Mid Beach) just a few blocks west of the hotels in that area (Fontainebleau, Eden Roc, Days Inn, Holiday Inn).