While many South Beach visitors seek a see-and-be-seen steakhouse, hungry locals are drawn to restaurants that stand some distance away from Ocean Drive’s neon buzz. For diners who want to get away from it all, Colette Little French Bistro provides an oasis of calm just steps away from Lincoln Road’s busy pedestrian mall. This quiet stretch of the popular avenue, half a block west of Alton Road, is home to Haven GastroLounge, HuaHua’s Taqueria and now a perfectly chic spot to stage a romantic rendezvous with someone special. The candlelit dining room is decked out in warm woods, traditional cane-backed bistro chairs and French-style wine racks that give the place a little extra Ooh La La! On cooler evenings, breezy sidewalk seating is highly prized.
Located near the mall’s 18-screen movie theater, Colette works best as an après cinéma meal with bistro classics like French onion soup, mussels steamed in white wine and a traditional rib-eye steak with crispy frites. Chef de Cuisine Frederic Boldron keeps the menu simple with a short list of classic salads (frisee aux lardons, chèvre, Nicoise), tartares of beef, tuna or salmon and unique regional pizzas like “The Colette,” topped with swiss cheese, goat cheese, honey and fresh cream. Pair your meal or a platter of French cheeses with a selection of wines by the glass (under $10) and your evening isn’t just affordable, it’s also délicieux!
Colette Little French Bistro
1223 Lincoln Road
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 534-7888