Galia
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
We're so spoiled in Coral Gables and South Miami. The Ritz Carlton in Coconut Grove just opened up a new restaurant called Isabelle's - It's fantastic. Doc B's is a new restaurant, sort of like Hillstone's, that is good and close by. They have an angry meatball that is delicious. And, Bombay Darbar or Strada in the Grove. I've recently started going back to Christie's steakhouse, which is ironic because of course that's where I grew up going for special occasions. It's so special to walk in there and it's so familiar. The service is great. The food is great.
Michael
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
When Sarah and I arrived in Miami, and we didn't have anything in the house but an air mattress, we found the Asian Fusion Cafe in Palmetto Bay. They're very unpretentious with very good Asian food. They're not very expensive and super friendly.
John
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
We are going out to restaurants typically in the Gables area that are open air. Bachour was a recent opening and we typically do a breakfast there either Saturday or Sunday. We do quite a bit on Giralda. We very much like Miss Saigon, Coyo Taco, and the Peruvian restaurant that's there as well.
Anthony
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
I'll give some shout outs. My friend Josh from Premium Meats is in the wagyu business. He's gone from being an incredible host where you would get meat from his house. And now, he's in the Bird Road Arts District. He started by ordering wagyu beef for himself, and then thought his friends would like some too. He's got a real passion for it and he's happy to talk any cut of cow. I want to frequent places where the passion is coming from the owner like that because it's gonna bleed into the bite or the sip that you have.
Dan
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
My wife’s favorites are Zuma and Petite Mason. Also, we love Bazaar Seafood at the SLS. Sakura on Le June always has high quality sushi and the chef has been there for 35 years. For Valentines dinner, I blind folded my wife and drove her around the city and then came back home. As she opened her eyes, our boys were the host, waiter and cooks. They had the table set for two with a menu they prepared. She cried all night and said it was the best dinner ever.
David
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
That list is supremely long. Do we go geographically...alphabetically? My buddy Niven, just opened up (Mamey) a new spot in Coral Gables. The food looks great, but I haven't been yet. The guys that Bar Lab cocktails opened up their natural wine popup on South beach, and it looks amazing. I still haven't gotten my hands on one of those pizzas that Brad and Old Greg's are doing in the Design District. I really miss the eating the ceviche at Itamae on an everyday basis. I still get my share of my EL Bagels - that's like my essential breakfast and brunch item. I still eat a ton of Stanzione's pizzas. I had an amazing lobster roll from Justin Flit and Mike Beltran at Nave. They're doing a New England style clam shack menu on the weekends. Aaron Brooks is doing a pop up at Stanzione 87. It's like a Turkish inspired pide and lahmacun. Aaron is supremely underrated. His food is incredible. One of the silver linings of the pandemic is all the creativity that's coming out of it. I've also had some random homemade things. There's a nice girl, that I met through the Miami food community, that's making homemade Armenian food every weekend. People are signing up and she's selling out every weekend. Her name is The Spicy Dolma. The guys from Kyu, Chef Raheem and his crew, are doing amazing barbecue right out of their front yard. It's impossible to list everyone. Jaguar Sun is doing amazing things right now in Little River. People are finding ways to survive. They're finding ways to thrive. They're finding ways to support their teams and to support their families. All of that is really amazing.
Greg
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
For Indian, we love both Bombay Darbar and Saffron that's down here in Pinecrest. We get any number of curry or Tandoori dishes depending on what our mood is that night. I like Grazianos steakhouse, on Bird and 92nd. Caffe Abbracci in the Gables is also beautiful place for a special occasion.
Allison
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Love Mandolin and their Greek Village (salad), catch of the day. Milo’s lunch special is the best in town! www.annam-miami.com does a weekly tiffin on Monday’s which abides to meatless Monday and is the best Indian ever - made with love, check out their pop up dinners around town…they’re doing a Shabbat dinner in Wynwood in March. Everything at Surf Club Restaurant by Thomas Keller. Veggie pita at The Last Carrot in Coconut Grove. Cheeseburgers at LoKal in the Grove. Happy hour at Town in South Miami.
Stephen
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
I like a place called Fratelli La Bufala. It's the most authentic Italian food I've found in Miami. I get the pizza napolitana and just a bowl of homemade pasta. If you haven't been, you've got to try it.
Vanessa
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
For clothing, there's a small boutique near Pinecrest that's wonderful, called Indigo Republic. I love going there with Aly and just getting a few things. As far as restaurants, Guadalajara is a Mexican spot that's family owned that we enjoy. We also like Anacapri, the Italian spot. Those are our go-to places.