Alex And Danielle
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Alex: We like Asian and Japanese in particular, Matsuri is our go to for sushi. Also, Wabi Sabi, which is a little bit more north, closer to my office, is not very well known but has great Japanese. Danielle: For Italian, I like Sapore Di Mare in Coconut grove and Kyu in Wynwood for Asian, and Mandolin for Greek.
Tora
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
I'm always looking through your newsletters for places. I've found a bunch of restaurants, that I didn't know about, that were really interesting, and I've tried everybody's suggestions!
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.
Sam And Sabrina
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Mandolin! We love to order the octopus. They marinate it overnight and it is super tender and flavorful. For those looking for a good place to get a drink after a dinner at Mandolin, check out Lagniappe down the street.
Andy
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
That's tricky for me. I cook my own food. That was a decision I made about five years ago. That way, I know what I'm putting in my body. You can go somewhere and they'll say something on the menu and then all of the sudden it's something else. When I eat out, maybe I'll have lunch at the Last Carrot in Coconut Grove. I trust the food there.
Georgette
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Right now, the only place we’re ordering from is Local Pie for pizza. It's delicious and we get to freeze it as well. I've been cooking a lot at home. In terms of restaurants before this situation, we used to go to Tacos and Tatoos a lot with the kids and Mi'talia in South Miami. Also, I love Pub Belly.
Lucy
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
I pretty much try to stay in Coconut Grove. I really like the curry at Atchana, it's so delicious. And, Atchana herself is just a spitfire. And then, I really like Last Carrot for lunch and then either Lokal or Spillover. Jeffrey Kushner knows what he's doing - His food is delicious. And their happy hour - $1 oysters. Are you kidding me?
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.
Joann
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
For like a quick lunch or coffee, we love Joanna's marketplace in South Miami. Also in South Miami, Whisk is a good spot for dinner. It's like Southern comfort food. We also like Raw South.
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.