When it comes to eating in South Florida, Clarissa Buch explains it all—writing about Miami’s food and culture for local and national publications. You can find her inside various restaurants where she asks, photographs and eats way too much (in that order). Follow her on Twitter at @clarissaibuch.
Get ready for five days of hip-shaking, arm-swaying programming during the annual dance extravaganza. The Latin music festival, one of the largest of its kind, features a grouping of the world’s top salsa talent, including musicians, dancers, DJs and bands. The international showcase touts a variety of pool parties, evening galas, dance workshops and live concerts. It all kicks off with an opening party on July 17 at Copper Blues Miami in Doral.
Before Paulie Gee’s, authentic New York-style pizza was hard to come by. Now that the acclaimed Brooklyn pizzeria made its way south, it's attracting hoards of pizza-hungry locals. The restaurant’s Neapolitan wood-burning oven is best known for the Hellboy, a house favorite topped with soppressata, fresh mozzarella and Mike’s Hot Honey. The Miami location, unlike others up north, features the Jewbano too, a Cuban sandwich pizza packed with Bodega swiss, French's yellow mustard, Canadian bacon, slow-roasted pulled pork and kosher dill pickles.
Transport yourself from the banks of the Miami River to the coast of the French Riviera with a meal at Seaspice. The seafood brasserie and lounge offers chef-driven plates and curated wine pairings in one of the most luxurious locations of Downtown. As you nibble, watch yachts navigate Miami’s shoreline and occasionally see one dock at the restaurant, which welcomes diners from both land and sea. Seaspice is known for its pasta, so make sure to snag an order of risotto or pappardelle.
Everything you need to know about visiting Pinch (8601 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138). Nestled inside a small white house on Biscayne Boulevard, Pinch Kitchen is a neighborhood gem. The home-style eatery specializes in new American cuisine with a twist, serving up skirt steak with spicy Brussel sprouts, roasted beets topped with herbed goat cheese and rose water golden raisins and a vibrant ceviche mixed with fresh corvina, shrimp, white corn, red onion and aji limo. If you’re into dessert, try its orange chocolate soufflé, which stuffs a fluffy chocolate cake inside a petite orange; or homemade baba au rhum, a buttery dark rum cake drizzled in a sweet sauce with a scoop of thyme gelato. The best brunch in Miami Hidden chef’s table notwithstanding, every seat at Pinch seems like the best in the house. Noise never rises above a murmur and you’ll always find the right amount of natural light peeking through the large windows overlooking the street. Sharing is the way to go: Start with the Egg in a Basket; featuring crispy potato covered in espuma and served alongside whole-wheat toast and crispy speck, then move on to stuffed brioche French toast with guava and whipped cream cheese. Willing to go halfsies on either dish? This relationship will go the distance.
Todo lo que necesita saber acerca de del restaurante Pinch (8601 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138). Ubicado dentro de una pequeña casa blanca en Biscayne Boulevard, Pinch Kitchen es una joya del vecindario. El restaurante casero se especializa en la nueva cocina estadounidense con un toque especial, sirviendo churrasco con coles de bruselas picantes, remolachas asadas cubiertas con queso de cabra y pasas doradas de rosas y un vibrante ceviche de corvina fresca, camarones, maíz blanco, cebolla roja y ají. Si usted es dulcero, pruebe el soufflé de chocolate y naranja, que consiste en un pastel de chocolate esponjoso servido dentro de una naranja pequeña; o el baba au rhum casero, una torta de ron oscura y mantecosa rociada con una salsa dulce y una bola de helado de tomillo. El mejor brunch de Miami A pesar de la mesa escondida del chef, cada asiento en Pinch parece ser el mejor de la casa. El ruido nunca se eleva por encima de un murmullo y siempre encontrará la cantidad perfecta de luz natural que se asoma a través de los grandes ventanales que dan a la calle. Compartir es el camino que debe seguir: comience con el huevo en canasta con papa crujiente cubierta de espuma y servida con tostadas de trigo integral y mote crujiente. Continúe con tostadas francesas de brioche rellenas con guayaba y queso crema batido. Si usted está dispuesto a compartir alguno de estos platos con su pareja, no dude que esta relación llegará muy lejos.
Tucked away in Miami’s historic Upper Eastside neighborhood, Ironside Pizza whips up traditional Neapolitan pies and a variety of other classic Italian dishes. Cooked in a wood-fire oven, pizza at Ironside is doused in San Marzano tomato sauce, drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil and garnished with Italian staples such as Parmigiano-Reggiano, basil and black olives. There’s gluten-free and vegan varieties too, as well as pastas, calzones and salads. Owned by the folks at Toscana Divino in Mary Brickell Village, Ironside Pizza marks the first expansion for the TD Hospitality Group.
In 2016, the historic Miami River Inn transformed into swanky co-living space called Roam. The concept is designed for the modern traveler, providing guests with a place to sleep, eat, exercise, work and relax, all in an upscale, shared environment. Roam offers flexible leases ranging from one-night visits to month- or year-long stays. Since its opening, the co-living space has reignited life inside the pastel-colored, wood-frame houses situated in one of Miami’s oldest neighborhoods.
George’s is one of Coconut Grove’s most popular restaurants, and for good reason. The bistro is perfect for a casual and affordable alfresco meal. Highlights include escargots, salmon tartare and steak frites. George’s is also home to one of the best brunches around, pairing brightly-colored cocktails, loud music and all the decadent favorites brunch addicts have come to crave — think slices of Nutella-infused French toast and English muffins topped with steak, eggs and creamy hollandaise, to name a few.
Strada in the Grove, a modern Italian bistro, brings house-made pastas and a wide selection of wine to Coconut Grove’s flourishing dining district. With dozens of bottles of vino lining the eatery’s walls, this intimate restaurant has been a Grove staple since 2013. Its menu features a mixture of traditional and classic Italian dishes, including black mussels sautéed in lobster sauce, gorgonzola-stuffed olives and beef carpaccio with baby arugula.
This mom-and-pop wine shop is tucked away on West Miami’s Calle Ocho. Happy Wine is charming and perfect for lunch, happy hour or a date night. You can stop by to drink wine and indulge in a variety of small tapas-style plates such as camarones al ajillo, shrimp in garlic sauce, or the addicting little meat nuggets known as chorizo al vino (Spanish sausage braised in red wine). If you’re in a hurry, take a few bottles to go. With more than 1,000 international wines for sale, even the pickiest customer will find something.
Serving as the East Miami hotel’s signature restaurant, Quinto features South American classics cooked over an open flame. Many of its offerings are made using a parrilla, a Latin American grill traditionally used to cook meat, fish and vegetables. As for the restaurant’s signature plates, expect delicious options like grilled provolone cheese, sweetbreads, steak milanese and squid ink rice.
Pincho Factory is home to the most Miami burger in the 305: A beef patty hugged by two thick slices of crispy plantains. In fact, the locally-grown franchise is known for its inventive meat-centric creations. Burgers, hot dogs and chicken all get their own Miami spin over at Pincho. With six locations and more on the way, Pincho Factory is a restaurant built off decades-old family recipes, responsibly-sourced ingredients and a whole lot of creativity.
For years, the Miami International Boat Show has billed itself as the local event with something for everyone—“whether you’re a boat buyer or a dreamer,” says show manager Ben Wold. The 76th installment, which takes place at Miami Marine Stadium for the second year in a row, is adding a new type of guest to the list: gastronome. Unlike years past, the 2017 affair includes an enhanced food and beverage program, giving those who aren’t in the market for a multimillion-dollar water cruiser a tasty alternative to the usual nautical activities. The Taste of Miami Boat Show, a weekend-long, festival-wide culinary program, features more than 150 different dining options—ranging from high-priced, chef-driven fare to casual, homestyle grub—across food trucks, kiosks and carts. First-year partners Great Performances (caterer to the Miami Open and New York City Wine & Food Festival) are tasked with ensuring that guests are never too far from a quick bite. The team will set up a variety of stations serving burgers, sandwiches and American fare in and around the show’s main food hall, the Center Courtyard. Local restaurants will also have a presence in the showcase with boat-show–inspired dishes. Participants include the likes of Sushi Maki, which will debut a Surfside Rose Roll, and HipPOPs, which will dole out the Chocolate Overboard dessert. Miami Marine Stadium Park & Basin, 3501 Rickenbacker Cswy, Key Biscayne (954-441-3220). Feb 16–20 10am–6pm; $25–$100. Want more? Sign up her
