Karina
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
It's one of our favorite questions, and one of the reasons why I read your newsletters. Although we haven't been to restaurants forever, my oldest really likes Los Ranchos at the Falls. Also Sapore Di Mare in the Grove. It's a tiny restaurant, and sometime we'll pick it up and bring it home. We've been very cautious and avoiding crowds. So, we go a lot to outside places. We go to Matheson Hammock and Fairchild, and Coral Reef Park a lot.
Oscar
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Tako Krew - in the back area of Lincoln's Beard Brewery. The mushroom or tofu tacos are the way to go!
Nicolas
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
27 is one of my favorites in Miami. Their roasted cauliflower with pesto is knock your socks off delicious. The sous chef is a young Cuban American like me and he's always embracing South Florida flavors and ingredients that we have here. They actually have their own garden there. The house smoked lamb ribs with pomegranate molasses are delicious. Also, Madruga Bakery. They feel like a farm to table a bakery. They have this amazing guava and cream cheese croissant. But - Babes Meat and Counter is my number one go to spot here in South Florida. My favorite thing on their menu right now is the Italian roast pork sandwich which features some callaloo greens from Margie (at Bee Heaven). It’s like a French dip sandwich, but with fantastic, roasted pork, shaved super thin. It’s served with a provolone cheese and on Sullivan Street bread.
David
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Aromas de Peru, Coral Gables – ceviche.
Richard
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
We've been going to Fairchild Tropical Garden, especially during quarantine, it's really an incredible escape. The landscape there may not change, but it's different every time you go. It's a great place to just explore and for the kids to run around. You feel like you have the whole place to yourself, even if there's a lot of other people there. One place we love for take out it Fratellino on Miracle Mile. It's a very small Italian restaurant, two doors down from the Playhouse. The owner is this guy Beto, you will love him. My wife grew up on Miami Beach, and Beto had a restaurant in Bay Harbor that she and her family would go to at least once a week. When we went to his new place, it was as if no time had passed. He knows everybody in there, he's a sweetheart. My wife who had a crush on him openly when she was 10, I think still has a crush on him.
Austin
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
We do a little bit of takeout. We've done a lot of cooking at home. I think Milam's has done an incredible job with the whole COVID situation. From the beginning, their store always feels like super clean. We've ordered from some of our regulars like Lime and PF Changs. But mostly, it's home cooked meals.
Kevens (round 2)
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
If you are in Fort Lauderdale, there is a place called Green Bar. They have great vegan food. I am vegan, but once a year I have poke in Hawaii. For a good bottle of wine, go to Happy Wine in Coconut Grove. You are surrounded by wine and can sit in the middle and order some food. If you eat seafood – they have a great grilled octopus.
Leticia
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
I still find myself at the Bar at Michael’s Genuine occasionally. When they have it, I like the wood-oven roasted eggplant with tahini. When they have simple vegetable soups at lunch, I really enjoy it too- broth and veggies. Whisk Gourmet when I’m craving a 3-D, satisfying sandwich. Chef Brendan makes the best ones in town. He and his sister Kirsten are really special people, and that makes everything taste even better.
Maria
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
I used to be a restaurant critic at age 19. I'm serious. I had a food blog when nobody was doing it, but that was 20 years ago. I really don't do a lot of restaurants here. If we want to go out in Weston, we go to two places. Pizza Lovers - he's Italian and makes very thin crust pizza. And there's a sushi place called KEUH. In Miami, I love Mandolin, the Greek restaurant. And, Motek, which serves Israeli food. In Little Havana there's a place called El Sanguich, for Cuban sandwiches. I love it.
Al
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Some of our favorite haunts – Green Gables Café on Alhambra. They are open for lunch and have a diversified menu. There’s never a bad dish – I usually get one of the specials. Café Vialetto – off of Bird and Le June – The chef/owner is the most endearing, loving man and makes you feel like you’re at your brother’s house. Normally we get the pasta of the day – which he makes fresh. He makes great salads. I’ll order without opening the menu just by talking with him about what I am in the mood for. Izakaya for Japanese, and Blue Collar for old fashion comfort food -they have a great veggie plate.