[ Azul | Chef
Allen's | China Grill | Chispa
| Emeril's Miami Beach |
The Forge ]
[ Joe's Stone Crab | Pacific Time
| Palme d'Or
| Prime 112 | Tantra | Timo Restaurant and Bar ]
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for meetings in Miami
Azul
Azul, the signature restaurant in Miami's Mandarin Oriental
and repeated recipient of dining accolades including four AAA Five-Diamond
Awards, blends Mediterranean flavors and Asian influences with fabulous
outcomes. Favorites would include appetizers of seared scallop and
foie gras, rainbow of oysters wrapped in beef or tuna and salmon
carpaccios along with entrees of grilled chop and loin of lamb with
harrisa, eggplant and feta or halibut with corn. Choose the vanilla
souffle with chocolate, creme Anglaise or raspberry sauce for dessert.
The award-winning wine list, waterside setting and decor are all
outstanding.
Azul
Mandarin Oriental Hotel
500 Brickell Key Dr.
(305) 913-8254
www.mandarinoriental.com/hotel/526000039.asp
Chef Allen's
Rated #1 for food by the Zagat guide, Chef Allen's
attracts lovers of creative fine cuisine to its unusual location.
This sleek restaurant in a strip mall offers one of the best meals
to be found anywhere. Allen Susser wrote the book on New World style
cuisine and creates Caribbean and Latin-infused dishes that showcase
his skill in executing the most complicated recipes. Start with
the tuna tartare or the terrific ceviche taster, then follow with
an entrŽe from such selections as pistachio crusted black grouper,
pan roasted lobster paella, or charred yellowtail snapper with mango-papaya
salsa and sweet potato fritters. Entrees are priced from $28.95.
For a truly memorable dining experience, make a date at the Chef's
Table, which features grand tasting menus matched with wines as
well as a personalized lead-in from the chef himself!
Chef Allen's
19088 NE 29th Ave.
N. Miami Beach
(305) 935-2900
www.chefallen.com
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China Grill
China Grill, the trendy
sister of the New York restaurant of the same name, helped pioneer
the popularity of fusing Asian methods and ingredients with continental
favorites. Asian decor blends well with artfully presented cuisine
wrought of immense portions meant to be shared family-style or for
group dining. Meander over to "The Dragon," their symbolic
copper-topped sushi bar for a preliminary to the main course. Their
"World in a Plate" entrees can be had for $26 to $59 and
may consist of sizzling whole fish with Chinese black bean sauce,
lobster pancakes stir-fried with red chili, coconut milk and scallions,
grilled garlic shrimp with black fettucine and red curry coconut
sauce, or barbecued salmon. Desserts include ying-yang of chocolates,
chocolate seduction and their coconut rum flan. This menu is an
instant cure for jaded palates.
China Grill
404 Washington Ave.
Miami Beach
(305) 534-2211
www.chinagrillmgt.com
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Chispa
Well-respected chef Robin Haas, in his
wonderful new restaurant, Chispa, turns out world-class Latin
contemporary dishes. Haas' exciting choices include mahi mahi and
tuna ceviches, pulled Lechon pork or roasted shrimp flatbreads,
appetizers of roasted sweet peppers and goat cheese, chicharones
of conch, and yuca and lamb picadillo relleno. Main courses might
be tenderloin churrasco with mushroom mash and avocado salsa, roasted
guaujillo and soy-glazed short ribs and grilled tuna with black
bean vinaigrette.
Chispa
225 Altara Ave.
Coral Gables
(305) 648-2600
www.chisparestaurant.com
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Emeril's Miami Beach
Emeril's Miami Beach brings
a Cajun-style kick to Miami's South Beach, successfully stamping
itself as another area hot spot. The sleek design of the interior
showcases a chef's counter, demonstration area and elegant glass-sided
wine storage cubes. The menu is a combination of Emeril Lagasse's
signature Creole dishes and creative items reflecting local ingredients.
Appetizers include homemade andouille sausage, blue cheese crusted
oysters and the surprising lobster cheesecake, while entrees might
consist of Creole bouillabaisse, garlic and cilantro poached grouper,
oyster-dressed quail, or roasted veal chop. While desserts include
New Orleans specialties like bread pudding and deep-dish pecan pie,
Florida favorites like Cuban coffee flan and strawberry-guava cheesecake
also appear. Call ahead for dinner reservations.
Emeril's Miami Beach
St. Moritz at Loews Hotel
1601 Collins Ave.
South Beach
(305) 695-4550
www.emerils.com/restaurants/miamibeach_emerils
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The Forge
Don't let The Forge restaurant's
decades long reputation for the finest steak fool you. Diners will
find seafood, lamb, veal, or just about any entree to be expertly
prepared and served in ornate and elegant surroundings, which are
highlighted by antique brick walls and stained glass windows. Of course,
this is the place to enjoy the "super steak"--16 ounces of a special
cut, perfectly aged on the premises--or the 40-ounce prime steak served
on the T-bone. It's hard to choose among the hearty desserts, but
if you're craving chocolate, go for a Grand Marnier or marble soufflé,
and be sure to order one when you place your dinner order or you'll
be doomed to disappointment.
The Forge
432 41st St.
Miami Beach
(305) 538-8533
www.theforge.com
Joe's Stone Crab
Joe's Stone Crab, established in 1913, is an old favorite that's
lost none of its charm and popularity throughout the years. In fact,
regulars probably wish Joe's were a little less popular since the
wait during dinnertime is often counted by the hour. Among the freshest
and best-prepared meals in town, however, dinner is worth the wait.
Otherwise, try lunch or off-peak dining, as reservations are not accepted.
The stone crabs with Joe's special sauce are superb, as expected,
but don't ignore the other local seafood including grouper, pompano,
yellowtail, and Florida lobster. Creamed spinach, another favorite,
comes with or without garlic, the hash browned potatoes and fried
green tomatoes are crisp and authentic. Choose the classic key lime
pie for dessert. And diners can also choose their claws to go from
Joe's Takeaway service.
Joe's Stone Crab
11 Washington Ave.
Miami Beach
(305) 673-0365
www.joesstonecrab.com
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Pacific Time
The aesthetic and the food at Pacific
Time are Asian-chic with Indian influences and overtones
of healthy eating to assuage the conscience. Along the pedestrian-lined
roadway, housed in a loft-like space with a high ceiling and spacious
seating, east and west are blended seamlessly both in decor and
dishes such as tamarind grilled salmon and warm curried pacific
hama hama oysters with chili puree-and those are just for starters.
Entrees may include sweet sake pan roasted sea bass, Szechwan grilled
Florida Keys' black grouper or dry aged Colorado beef filet with
Indonesian flavors. Unusual desserts include chilled red plum soup,
warm bittersweet chocolate bomb, baked Alaska Key West, and homemade
ice cream in black sesame tuille.
Pacific Time
915 Lincoln Rd.
South Beach
(305) 534-5979
www.pacifictimerestaurant.com
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Palme d'Or
This gorgeous room is the signature restaurant of the famed Biltmore Hotel, built in 1926 and a Miami icon. At Palme d'Or you can expect a top-notch menu featuring French cuisine that shines as small plates entice and the three- and four-course dinners enthrall. This luxury hotel is a new hot spot, and Palme d'Or is the place to be. Along with the great wine selection, enjoy the Mediterranean fish soup to start and move on to grilled wild striped bass with fingerling potatoes or the seven-hour braised beef effilochee among the many great choices on the creative menu. Be aware that the restaurant is closed on Sundays and Monday, and reservations are recommended
Palme d'Or
1200 Anastasia Ave.
Coral Gables
(305)913-3201
www.biltmorehotel.com
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Prime 112
Perhaps the most difficult reservation to snag in town is for Prime
112. Filled with celebrities and a variety of colorful people,
it's worth the effort for the food alone. In a city with several
outstanding steak houses, Prime 112 stands out among them. The quality
of the seafood is also top notch. Start with the huge house salad,
which is among the best in town. When considering steak, there are
a variety of cuts and sizes to choose, from an eight-ounce filet
mignon to a three-pound porterhouse for two. Don't forget to leave
room for a delicious side dish to "accessorize" your meal, such
as the sauteed forest mushrooms, creamed spinach with crispy shallots
or the rum baked sweet plantains. An interesting option is the opportunity
to order one of several sauces, some classic, some unusual, and/or
several flavored butters, for a few dollars more--all designed to
maximize your beef experience.
Prime 112
The Browns Hotel
112 Ocean Dr.
Miami Beach
(305) 532-8112
www.prime112.com
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Tantra
For a unique and exotic dining experience, try an evening at Tantra.
The floor is fresh grass, vanilla candles are everywhere and a soothing
waterfall accentuates the Indian-inspired ambience. The cuisine is
a multi-cultural experience. Starters may include stone crab waffle
with beluga caviar, caramelized Sonoma foie gras or Thai lobster soup,
while the imaginative entrees may feature Moroccan spiced lamb with
mint and mango, rare seared tuna with foie gras, lobster Napoleon,
and the Saigon saffron seafood stew. This is also the place to try
an exotic martini where one might go for a sumptuous "Blissful Chocolate,"
flavorful "In the Buff" or the bombastic "Tantra Classic."
Tantra
1445 Pennsylvania Ave.
Miami Beach
(305) 672-4765
www.tantrarestaurant.com
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Timo Restaurant and Bar
Timo Restaurant and Bar is a neighborhood place with a devout following, including visitors to Miami Beach on business or pleasure who flock to this four-star Mediterranean bistro. Executive chef and co-owner Tim Andriolo prepares a feast of Italian dishes that include rich Mediterranean flavors. Wood-roasted meats and homemade pastas are served in an elegant, yet casual setting. Favorites are the Parmesan dumplings in truffle sauce and the artisanal pizzas. The trendy bar seats 40 and has an upbeat buzz, which spills into the dining room. Expect exceptional Italian fare a short drive from Miami Beach and worth the trip
Timo Restaurant and Bar
17624 Collins Ave.
Sunny Isles
(305) 936-1008
www.timorestaurant.com
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