Alexandra
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Going Bananas. If you're a farmer down here, you know them. I went there in the middle of the pandemic. They weren't actually open, but I ended up getting a hold of them and it was only a tiny order of three plants. I ended up chatting with her and the level of which she interacted with me and shared her knowledge and her passion for what they do was a stoke, the same as you guys.
Al
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Some of our favorite haunts – Green Gables Café on Alhambra. They are open for lunch and have a diversified menu. There’s never a bad dish – I usually get one of the specials. Café Vialetto – off of Bird and Le June – The chef/owner is the most endearing, loving man and makes you feel like you’re at your brother’s house. Normally we get the pasta of the day – which he makes fresh. He makes great salads. I’ll order without opening the menu just by talking with him about what I am in the mood for. Izakaya for Japanese, and Blue Collar for old fashion comfort food -they have a great veggie plate.
Lorin
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Food related - We don't go as often as we wish, but we love Le Bouchon in the Grove. And, A Pizza Brooklyn, the original location, not the one on Bird. And, we go to the farmer's market on Saturdays in Coral Reef park. Non food related: We like Casa Viera which is a small business owned by a husband and wife and they create one of a kind pieces out of wood.
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.
Alina
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
We love Hillstone for everything. Naiyara for Thai food. Branko and I love Izakaya and Matsuri.
Daniel
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
I am a big fan of vegetarian and vegan cuisines. There's Vegan Cuban bakery in Kendall. It sounds like an oxymoron, but their vegan croquetas are a magical thing. I love Indian food. They probably get plenty of publicity already, but Bombay Darbar in Coconut Grove. There's a really great Thai spot off eighth street in Little Havana, called Lung Yai. It's a tiny little spot, it's always packed, and they have quality food.
Joel
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
I can speak about breweries. When I first moved to Miami, Lincoln's Beard had this thing called recess, which was meant for parents of young children to come and hang out and have beers. It's a super good vibe, really mellow place. After that, Unseen Creatures, which is in the same area. They're focused on almost terroir level yeasts and other things to produce their beers. It's just spectacular and I totally love their stuff. The other one would be Tripping Animals. It's a little further afield. I will take a pilgrimage, at least once a week to one of these, to buy our stock of beer.
Barbara & Steven
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Michael Schwartz is our most serious chef. We like what Michael does because he is really committed to local ingredients – and for me especially, he is really committed to live fire. All his restaurants have wood burning grills, and I think he has been very successful in delivering wood grilled flavor in his food. When you eat his food you really know that someone was burning logs in a grill. We like Fi'lia his new Amara. We also like, The Petit Mason – Barbara especially likes it because it is so ‘adult’ and has white tablecloths. And, there are no television sets in the dining room – which is hard to find in Miami. They serve a baby chicken marinated in preserved lemons and garlic and grilled over a charcoal burning grill that’s fantastic. You’ll also find us at Stubborn Seed, Plant + Food, and Kyu in Wynwood.
Toma
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
My favorite Mexican place – anywhere I’ve ever been! It’s down in Florida City, across from the Cracker Barrel. It’s a taco stand called Rosita’s. It’s the best Mexican, hands down, you will ever eat. There are only a few things on the menu. I just point to order and you can’t go wrong. I also love the Asian Thai Kitchen inside the Quickie Mart on Grand Avenue in the Grove. $11 for Pad Thai – no question. So good.
Gretchen
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
I love Ghee. I think Niven is doing Indian food like nobody else in this country. And the fact that he's growing much of it is just so special. We went to the opening of Salumeria 104's second location. They've had one in Midtown for a few years. It's very Italian, and it's reasonable. You can get three different kinds of prosciutto. It's just terrific.