South Florida’s sizzling summer may be rolling into Fall, but come August, Greater Miami really jacks up the heat with some buzz-worthy foodie events you won’t want to miss.
It all starts with Miami’s most notorious neighborhood foodie fest: Miami Spice Restaurant Months. Now through September 30, you can indulge in a curated, prix fixe lunch and dinner menus from some of Greater Miami’s top eateries – without breaking the bank. Most Miami Spice menus are priced around $30 per person for lunch/brunch and around $65 per person for dinner.
With over 250 participating restaurants, the event showcases Miami’s culinary diversity with an eclectic collection of innovative cuisines from around the world.
Restaurants from Homestead, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, and Wynwood, to Downtown Miami, the Miami Beaches, Bal Harbour, Adventurer, and beyond, are offering special three-course menus at a fraction of the regular price.
For a full list of participating restaurants and a peek at their special Miami Spice offerings, hit up miamispice.com.
In the meantime, here are a few highlights:
COCONUT GROVE
Located on the top floor of the posh Mr. C Hotel, Bellini Italian Bistro (bellinirestaurant.com/coconut-grove/) dishes up excellent rustic Italian fare with a contemporary edge. The Bistro offers a special $35 three-course prix fixe Lunch Menu and a $60 Dinner Menu Monday – Friday. Indulge in classic pasta like Spaghetti al Vongole, Lasagna alla Bolognese, and Cavatelli Pomodoro. Secondi options feature dishes like Skirt Steak Tagliata and a terrific Veal Chop. Dinner here is truly a “cause célèbres.”
For an authentic taste of India, head on over to Bombay Darbar (bombaydarbar.com). With a dining room that falls somewhere between “red-velvet regal and Slum Dog casual,” Bombay Darbar focuses on signature dishes from northern India. During Miami Spice, their special lunch and dinner appetizers include a Lentil Doughnut with yogurt, tamarind chutney, and flour crisps; Fried Cod Fillet with coconut curry aioli; and Crispy Fried Chicken with yogurt and soy sauce. For entrees, you can choose Bone-in Tandoori Malai Chicken with white makhani gravy; Tandoori Lamb Chops with yogurt and garlic; Tandoori Wild Tiger Prawn with garlic and hung curd; or Baby Eggplant with coconut and peanut sauce. FYI: Entrees come with Naan and rice.
Celebrity Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli’s Mayfair Grill (mayfair-grill.com) is another Miami Spice Top Pick. Rapicavoli’s steps out of the box with a wood-fired grilled menu that never ceases to amaze. His special Miami Spice Appetizer Menu includes Gandules Hummus with malanga chips; Hamachi Crudo with yuzu ponzu vinaigrette, jalapeños, and toasted pine nuts; and Local Burrata with dried tomatoes, aged balsamic, olive oil, and flatbread. Entrees feature Pork Churrasco with umami butter; Grilled Chicken with cilantro salsa verde; Branzino with lemongrass beurre blanc; and Grilled Pecanha with Florida citrus herb sauce. All options include a choice of broccolini, French fries, or tostones.
CORAL GABLES
Americana Kitchen (americanakitchen.com), a sleek, modern restaurant tucked within Coral Gables’ plush Loews Hotel, gets high fives for its inviting American-forward dinner menu. During Miami Spice, you can score prix-fixe pricing for both lunch and dinner. Appetizers feature Cantaloupe Gazpacho, Heirloom Tomato Salad, and Sweet Plantain Mandocas with truffle guava coulis, creme fraiche, and chives. Entrees run the gamut from Pan Seared Mahi, Pork Loin Milanese, and Canestri Pasta Arrabbiata, to a Malt Braised Short Rib, Tomato Risotto, and Local Snapper.
As one of Coral Gables’ oldest restaurants, Bugatti Bistro is a neighborhood favorite, regaled for the fresh, handcrafted pasta. During Miami Spice, they’re offering special pricing for Lunch and Dinner. Appetizers include house-made Meatballs, Caesar Salad, Bugatti Salad and a variety of Soups. For the Main Course, you get a choice of several different pasta dishes, as well as some terrific Italian specialties. Topping the list: Tagliatelle Alla Bolognese; Ravioli Pomodoro, Chicken Saltimbocca, and a Fillet of Roasted Salmon.
Renowned for its insanely great food, The Eating House (eatinghousemiami.com), never disappoints. The Miami Spice Menu from Celebrity Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli showcases imaginative appetizers like Yellowfin Crudo; Lacinato Kale Salad withn crispy shallots and ginger dressings; and Sand Cauliflower “Elote” with lima crème, Cotija cheese, crispy corn, and cilantro. Entrees include Pasta Carbonara with smoked applewood bacon; Grilled Beef Short Ribs with smoky bordelaise sauce; and Caramelized Seabass with mango-miso jalapeño creamed corn and black lime tajin.
MIKA (mikacoralgables.com), Michelin-starred chef Michael White’s coastal Mediterranean restaurant at the Plaza Coral Gables, is also amazing. His special Miami Spice menu includes show-stopping appetizers like Wagyu Beef Carpaccio, Hamachi and Lobster Burrata. For entrees, you can choose a Filet of Branzino, Prime Skirt Steak, Roast Chicken, or Mezzi Rigatoni. Delish!
WYNWOOD
And let’s not forget Wynwood. Not only is this hip hang one of Miami’s trendiest art destinations, it’s also emerged as one of Miami’s hottest dining destinations.
Topping the list of Miami Spice participants is doma (domawynwood.com), a solid neighborhood favorite, heralded for its Mediterranean-Inspired, Southern Italian Cuisine. This year’s chef-driven Miami-Spice menu offers a choice of three appetizers: Grilled Octopus, Veal Tonnato, or doma Salad. Entree options include Yellowfin Tuna Steak Scapece, Risotto Scallops and New Zealand Lamb Chops Confit.
DOYA (doyarestaurant.com), Wynwood’s modern award-winning Aegean Bistro, is renowned for its creative fusion of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors. Here, you can choose not one, but two appetizers, which include Tomato Salad, Fresh Artichoke Bottoms, Branzino Carpaccio, Avocado Feta and more. Lunch and dinner entrees include Roasted Cauliflower, a Wood Fired Chicken Thigh and Shrimp Ouzo, as well as Mini Ribeye Skewers, Truffle Orzo, and Grilled Octopus.
For Outstanding Japanese-Inspired Izakaya, head on over to the heralded Double Knot (doubleknotmiami.com). You’ll be blown away by their expansive Miami Spice menu, which is deliciously bold and offers more options than any other restaurant. Appetizers include Tuna Tartare, Yellowtail Carpaccio, Edamame, Pork Gyoza, Baked Scallops & Crab, Japanese Fried Chicken, and a whole lot more. You also get to pick one item from each of three entree options, which include Robatayaki, Meat and Fish, and several Sides. It’s the deal of the century!
FYI: This is just a snippet of participating restaurants, and please note that all Miami Spice Menus also include dessert. For a complete list of restaurants and menus, hit up miamiandbeaches.com.
Now let’s eat!
