The focal point of the dining room is a massive island of gleaming beer taps circled all the way around with comfortable bar seating. Food and drink service is available at the bar and at large high top tables lining the front of the restaurant with great views of all the high definition TVs. The back of the house feels cooler and more intimate with cozy booths and plenty of table space. As evening approaches, a shaded patio facing a quiet patch of Lenox Avenue comes alive with alfresco diners surrounded by their happy kids and leashed dogs.

Menu highlights include a variety of bar-friendly snacks like flavored fries and dips plus crispy flatbreads and tacos. Lunch specials offered from 11am-5pm feature a choice of half-sandwiches or pizzas to pair with soup or salad for under $10. The kitchen prepares vegetarian options, a meatless gardein patty to substitute on any entree as well as a number of dishes for gluten-free diets. Entrees range from sandwiches and large salads to steaks and seafood. Monday through Friday from 3pm-6pm and also Sunday through Wednesday from 10pm -1am, the happy hour menu boasts off-price cocktails, half-priced beer and an ample selection of popular appetizers, pizzas and sliders at half off.

Yard House 1681 Lenox Avenue, Miami Beach 305.535.5660 (just north of Lincoln Road Mall).

Once fortified at the bar, the kitchen’s special roast chicken in Cuban gravy and the slow roasted pork leg marinated in Cuban mojo are deeply satisfying. Served with rich black beans and sweet plantains, most entrees capture the hearty traditions of old school Cuban cooking. While a full meal is infinitely filling, be sure to leave room for the chef’s tres leches cake, a sweet treat that comprises rum soaked yellow cake topped with cinnamon, vanilla and mixed cream. Havana 1957 brings the best of Cuba to the heart of South Beach.

Name:	Havana 1957
Rating:	/ 4.0 stars based on 363 reviews across the Web
Address:	405 Espanola Way & 819 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Phone:	(305) 503-3828
Cuisine:	Latin
Price:	$$
Attire:	Casual
Payment:	Cash, All Major Credit Cards
Reservations:	Yes
Parking:	On-street parking
Chef:	N/A
Website:	www.havana1957.com

With a large selection of food, fast service, and salsa music booming over the Spanish / English conversations lingering nearby, it’s a great place for vacationers or the native south Floridians who find entertainment in the spectrum of Miami’s culture.

Go for such staples as the gooey media noche, a traditional snack sandwich of ham, pulled pork and cheese, or world class roast chicken, served traditionally aside black beans, rice and “plantanos”. Finish with creamy tres leches, a cloyingly sweet Cuban trifle topped with meringue. Remarkably easy on the wallet, it’s easy to see why Puerto Sagua remains so jammed, year after year.

The best kept secret on tourist-trapped Ocean Drive, the Pelican is truly the last frontier of hip on this world famous street. For a menu that we consider to be beachy Italian, the proprietors of the Pelican have coined the term “world basic.”

Far be it from us to impose our opinions about image to the master image makers themselves, but it is a predominantly Italian menu. And the Italian dishes are the best of the (Italian) chef’s repertoire. Such eccentric salads as the Mediterranean are chock full of delicate exotic vegetables and seafood, dressed in citrusy vinaigrette. Wood fired pizzas are authentically tender crusted specialties. Go for the Prosciutto pizza, topped with fresh mozzarella, sliced Roma tomato, aruguala, Parma prosciutto ham and a dash of white truffle oil. House focaccia, doused in extra virgin olive oil, is addictive.

Nexxt proprietor Bo Onur showed vision and courage when he opened his bustling 130-table European-style sidewalk cafe at the intersection of Euclid Avenue, opposite Euclid Circle, where Roller-bladers and skateboarders seem almost as commonplace as pedestrians. At Nexxt Cafe, a retro coffee shop ambience meets cool postmodern architecture in a sleek, savvy monument to people-watching and leisurely discourse. And the passersby here are not just any people — we’re talking models, media moguls and movie stars.

When it comes to food, Nexxt Cafe offers a vast array of reasonably-priced choices in a menu that reads like a magazine. Asian-influenced dishes co-mingle happily with hefty salads, fresh seafood and good old American favorites including scrumptious sandwiches. But no matter what you eat, save room for one of the delectable fresh French pastries Nexxt concocts daily.

As for now, just enjoy the setting and the great view. Eleven o’clock in the a.m. is a great time to be selecting your seat, but if all the good spots are taken, don’t despair, it’s a 24 and 7 operation – eleven o’clock in the p.m. is just as good!

Due to the Front Porch’s popularity the wait is sometimes excessive, but the food is definitely worth it, as are the conversations you might overhear in the ritzy cafe setting.

Best bets on the menu include a hearty order of granola pancakes, the fresh fruit salad and any of the just-squeezed juices. Later in the day, smart locals gather to enjoy home-style cooking in a laid back atmosphere at this quiet end of Ocean Drive. This might be the most impressive option for reliable dining on this tourist-driven strip.

Fontainebleau Master Sushi Chef Deden “Benny” Bandi creates sushi for all of the restaurants at the resort and credits his creative flourishes to his prior experience at Nobu Miami Beach. Chef Aki started out at Nobu in New York City before moving south to Shoji Sushi and Sushi Samba Dromo on Lincoln Road Mall and Chef Diego Ng was part of the grand opening of Masaharu Morimoto’s acclaimed restaurant at the Boca Raton Resort. Working together to craft the Blade Sushi menu, the chefs have combined a number of traditional recipes with modern riffs on classic maki rolls.

Appetizers at Blade Sushi include octopus carpaccio with sweet pepper, tomato and red onion, and a delicate yellowtail tartare with Asian pear, avocado and a yuzu miso sauce. Sushi rolls take pride of place with the house special Blade roll featuring marinated salmon, fresh mozzarella cheese, spicy mayonnaise and fried garlic. An asparagus-filled chopped hamachi roll gets a kick of spice from wasabi tobiko and serrano chili while the lobster roll takes a crunchy turn with the addition of crisp tempura flakes, cucumber, masago and eel sauce. A well-curated list of sakes are available by the bottle or the glass as well as a number of Japanese beers that pair perfectly with the sushi menu.

Blade Sushi is located in the Fontainebleau’s Chateau Building Main Lobby serving daily starting at 11am.

Nosh on voluptuous burgers, main-course salads and a variety of blue plate specials, from meatloaf and mashed potatoes to jumbo slices of banana cream pie.

Tourists, small groups of production teams on-break, and Miami mainlanders though there’s rarely a wait for a table. Most locals thank Pink for their abundance of umbrella covered outdoor seating in a quiet neighborhood, affordability and ease of parking—not to mention their swift-as-lightning delivery service.

Shrubbed and contemporary, Balans is Lincoln Road’s most prestigious patio spot for watching Miami’s real people. The evenings find Balans packed to the rafters with those in search of an interesting light meal, a bottle of wine and interesting, light conversation. The exotically concocted salads are a favorite here, but their mile-high lobster club sandwich beats all the items on the menu combined. Balans is proof that simple, high-end food and a youthful environment don’t have to mean exorbitant prices.

1022 Lincoln Road
Miami Beach, FL
(305) 534-9191
Price: $$
Attire: Casual

Friday evenings, A la Folie has a magnificent Champagne party, offering vintages straight out of the Champagne region in France. The quaint restaurant is the perfect place to come and enjoy a leisurely glass of wine on the patio or in the rustic interior at a price that is friendly enough to encourage you to come back again and again.

The superior atmosphere, service, food and low prices are responsible for making A la Folie a neighborhood favorite for over five years.

South Florida waters offer an abundance of grouper, mahi mahi and red snapper year round and the local lobster season adds another level of culinary excitement to Chef Kal Abdalla’s summertime menu. He notes, “I like to keep the cuisine simple and fresh, yet provide a wide range of styles, ingredients and cooking techniques.” Winter menus feature local stone crabs, fresh oysters and shrimp to start. Entrees highlight the best of the day’s catch plus baby back ribs and prime steaks for heartier appetites.

For a romantic evening on South Beach, stop in for off-price happy hour bar bites like seared ahi tuna, lump crab cakes or Asian style calamari for just $6 each and pair them with a house special Absolut martini ($7), a glass of wine or beer before dinner. A Latin-Caribbean duo performs on the patio, adding that extra island charm to your special night. Don’t miss this dazzling Art Deco delight!

Built by the Paramount Dining Car Company of Haledon, New Jersey, the original diner started out in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania for its first 44 years before being carefully shipped to the vacant lot at 11 Street and Washington Avenue in the heart of South Beach’s Art Deco nightclub district. Originally opened in 1992, the diner now incorporates a full liquor lounge and a small alfresco patio where breakfast is available all day. Popular menu items also include juicy burgers, Thanksgiving-style turkey dinners, healthy salads and decadent desserts.

Weekends at the 11th Street Diner are particularly popular because the special brunch menu offers hearty classics like eggs benedict, sausage biscuits & gravy and fresh fruit-topped Belgian waffles until 3pm. Lunchtime treats like authentic Carolina style pulled pork BBQ sandwiches, toasted Croque Monsieur and over-stuffed roast beef French dip hoagies provide the deep satisfaction that only a true diner’s comfort food menu can offer. With friendly servers, quirky customers and round the clock feel-good food, it’s no wonder this diner is one of the most popular hang outs on South Beach!

The chef’s open kitchen lends the rustic dining room a welcoming vibe and offers a glimpse at the hard-working team crafting creamy gazpacho, crisp patatas bravas and the Chef’s favorite Huevos Bulla – a combination of eggs, potato chips, ham, potato foam and a hint of truffle oil. A selection of larger platters is served family style so guests can sample and share all the best flavors of Spain including tender suckling pig, arroz a banda (rice with fresh seafood) and braised short ribs in a rich red wine sauce. Serving lunch and dinner daily, Bulla offers a weekend brunch menu, a full bar and a variety of regional wines, craft beers and house-made sangrias.

Name:	Bulla Gastrobar
Rating:	/ 4.1 stars based on 299 reviews across the Web
Address:	2500 Ponce De Leon Blvd, Coral Gables, FL 33134
Phone:	(305) 441-0107
Cuisine:	Spanish
Price:	$$
Attire:	Casual
Payment:	Cash, All Major Credit Cards
Reservations:	Yes
Parking:	On-street parking
Chef:	–
Website:	www.bullamiami.com
Hours:	Mo-Tu 12:00pm-10pm, We-Th 12:00pm-11pm, Fr-Sa 12:00pm-12am, Su 12:00pm-10pm

Currently serving lunch and dinner, Chef Jacob’s tiny buns are best at happy hour weeknights from 5:30-6:30pm which features half-priced wine and craft beer plus $2 bar bites. Because the multi-tasking chef also spends his days feeding considerably larger patrons (who just happen to play for the Miami HEAT), he likes to invite sports fans to join him for gameday drink deals whenever the HEAT, the Dolphins or the University of Miami games play on the restaurant’s two flat screen TVs. Weekend mornings from 11am to 4pm the kitchen serves a cozy brunch including crisp potato latkes topped with smoked salmon & poached eggs, duck confit mini waffles and gooey Monte Cristo sandwiches on eggy challah bread.

Name:	The Hidden Kitchen
Rating:	/ 4.5 stars based on 14 reviews across the Web
Address:	5255 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140
Phone:	(305) 868-7442
Cuisine:	American
Price:	$$
Attire:	Casual
Payment:	Cash, All Major Credit Cards
Reservations:	Yes
Parking:	Municipal parking lot
Chef:	Michael B. Jacobs
Website:	www.strategichospitality.net
Hours:	Mo-Fr 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30pm–11:00pm, Sa-Su 11:00am-4:00pm

Miami is decidedly behind the culinary curve when it comes to dedicated noodle parlors, but for devotees of authentic artisanal fare, Momi Ramen more than makes up for the wait. This fusion of noodle and broth gets a choice of toppings which the chef often varies. Most popular is the roast pork belly sliced and draped over the slippery noodles with a just-poached egg and a tangy dice of green onions. Chen also offers steamed greens, kelp and mushrooms atop the ramen which may make the dish a little lighter than roast meat but still offers an appealing taste and texture. Truly destination dining, Momi Ramen delivers a singular dish made nowhere else in town.

Name:	Momi Ramen
Rating:	/ 4.0 stars based on 258 reviews across the Web
Address:	5 SW 11th St, Miami, FL 33130
Phone:	(786) 391-2392
Cuisine:	Japanese
Price:	$$
Attire:	Casual
Payment:	Cash, All Major Credit Cards
Reservations:	Yes
Parking:	On-street parking
Chef:	Jeffrey Chen
Website:	www.momiramen.com
Hours:	Mo-Su 11:00am-5am

Mandolin Aegean Bistro is an ideal destination for a romantic date or a gathering of hungry friends who might enjoy sharing an evening of wine, music and conversation under the stars. Start with a bottle of wine and a variety of “mezze” small plate appetizers including traditional Greek or Turkish dips of eggplant, pureed chickpeas and yogurt or choose a number of seafood starters like fried calamari, steamed mussels or tender marinated octopus fresh from the grill. Entrees of grilled whole fish, lamb or chicken kebab are also designed to share which adds to the sense of fellowship that makes this such an inviting atmosphere. Built from a historic 1940’s house, the restaurant’s charming atmosphere and candle lit tables provide the perfect backdrop for a quiet lunch or genial supper seven nights a week.

Name:	Mandolin Aegean Bistro
Rating:	/ 4.4 stars based on 1,027 reviews across the Web
Address:	4312 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33137
Phone:	(305) 576-6066
Cuisine:	Greek & Turkish
Price:	$$
Attire:	Casual
Payment:	Cash, All Major Credit Cards
Reservations:	Yes
Parking:	On-street parking
Chef:	N/A
Website:	www.mandolinmiami.com
Hours:	Mo-Su 12:00pm-11pm

Service is prompt and professional at this popular bistro where house made bread and a silky sundried tomato dip are presented while guests peruse the daily specials. Known for pressed panini sandwiches, seasonal salads and northern Italian entrees, the brothers hand-crafted pasta filled with cheese and pear is a best seller. Chef Roberto stirs up a soulful soup each day and a gleaming glass pastry case is filled with tiny fruit tarts, airy cream puffs and Chef Emanuele’s signature bombolone doughnuts filled with nutella and cream. Dine in, take out or call for delivery but be sure to make reservations to score a table at dinner time.

Name:	Ristorante Fratelli Milano
Rating:	/ 4.5 stars based on 537 reviews across the Web
Address:	213 SE 1st St, Miami, FL 33131
Phone:	(305) 373-2300
Cuisine:	Italian
Price:	$$
Attire:	Casual
Payment:	Cash, All Major Credit Cards
Reservations:	Yes
Parking:	On-street parking
Chef:	Roberto & Emanuele Bearzi
Website:	www.ristorantefratellimilano.com
Hours:	Mo-Th 11:00am-10pm, Fr-Sa 11:00am-11pm, Su Closed

Chef Sandoval amps up the fun at both the taco bar and the main dining room on Tuesdays when Taco Tuesday features a choice of any two gourmet tacos for just $5.50 including crispy beer battered fish, rosemary-marinated steak and chili-spiced pork. Pair a few of these tasty tacos with fresh seafood ceviche, a bowl of guacamole and a tangy margarita to turn any night into a party! Spice up your weekend at Mercadito Midtown’s Saturday or Sunday brunch when the kitchen kicks up a stack of pancakes with a swirl of cinnamon butter, fresh berries and maple syrup and updates eggs benedict by serving them on just-baked corn bread topped with a chipotle hollandaise sauce.

Name:	Mercadito Midtown
Rating:	/ 4.0 stars based on 1,825 reviews across the Web
Address:	3252 NE 1st Ave, Miami, FL 33137
Phone:	(786) 369-0430
Cuisine:	Mexican
Price:	$$
Attire:	Casual
Payment:	Cash, All Major Credit Cards
Reservations:	Yes
Parking:	On-street parking
Chef:	Patricio Sandoval
Website:	www.mercaditorestaurants.com/midtown/‎
Hours:	Mo-We 4:00pm-11pm, Th-Fr 4:00pm-1am, Sa 11:30am-1am, Su 11:30am-11pm