Muriel
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
We don't go out that much. We like to cook at home for the most part, mainly because it's healthier – also affordable. I love Thai food, so we like to go to Cake Thai. I always get the same thing - crispy tofu that's cooked in a basil sauce. There's so much basil it’s like spinach. I have a bit of a tradition for my birthday. I like to go to 27 Restaurant. They have specials that are different all the time, which is part of why I like it. They cook vegetables really, really well.
Broken Shaker / 27, Cake Thai, Little River Cooperative, Urban Oasis Project
Karina
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
It's one of our favorite questions, and one of the reasons why I read your newsletters. Although we haven't been to restaurants forever, my oldest really likes Los Ranchos at the Falls. Also Sapore Di Mare in the Grove. It's a tiny restaurant, and sometime we'll pick it up and bring it home. We've been very cautious and avoiding crowds. So, we go a lot to outside places. We go to Matheson Hammock and Fairchild, and Coral Reef Park a lot.
Austin
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
We do a little bit of takeout. We've done a lot of cooking at home. I think Milam's has done an incredible job with the whole COVID situation. From the beginning, their store always feels like super clean. We've ordered from some of our regulars like Lime and PF Changs. But mostly, it's home cooked meals.
Jane
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Anything that chef Niven Patel does. Ghee is our all-time favorite and he just opened Mamey in South Miami. Then, we go every week to Babes Meat and Counter. We just ride our bikes there. Darren toggles between the Bahn Mi and the Cuban sandwich. I toggle between the BLT and the burger and Scout always gets the BLT.
Robbie
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
People always ask us and it's a tough one. Boia De for sure. It's such a memorable experience because they actually care. The servers take time to know you and they're not trying to just pump you through. That was the last restaurant we ate at. We like getting takeout from Lobster Shack, south of fifth. One of our perfect afternoons is getting lobster roll takeouts, bringing a bottle of wine, and going to sit in the park with the kids. And, Michael's Genuine is always a crowd pleaser for us.
Sam And Sabrina
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Mandolin! We love to order the octopus. They marinate it overnight and it is super tender and flavorful. For those looking for a good place to get a drink after a dinner at Mandolin, check out Lagniappe down the street.
Kate
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
Right now, my favorite restaurant and the only restaurant we've been going to right now, is La Natural. They have a sourdough made with a really old starter and they make amazing pizza. When I first started going, they had this grilled pineapple, and it was so good. It was seasonal, but now they have these mushrooms with green sauce. My husband and I are both very particular about food and there's certain places where it might taste good, but you don't feel good afterwards, so you don't end up going back. But I feel great after I eat at La Natural. There's another little place that I really love that my husband has been going to since he was a teenager, called Tarragon Middle East Market. It's owned by two Lebanese brothers who are twins and they're just so kind and so nice. The dates they sell are like no other date I have ever tasted in my life. They just melt in your mouth. All their food is really good.
Sebastian
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
I'm an American steak and potatoes guy and I like Italian too. Hillstone never disappoints - I still call it Houstons, and probably always will. The best sandwich is in Broward at Laspadas. It's worth the drive. They put all the ingredients first and then the meat goes on top.
Isabel
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
I really like Stubborn Seed, south of fifth. I like Lilikoi, also south of fifth. Everything's organic, I really appreciate that. We do like to try new restaurants. My husband used to have a restaurant, so he loves going out to dinner and trying new things and he's in real estate and brokers restaurant and retail deals. He's always in the know and has to check out new places that pop up. I'm usually his sidekick. Also, Plant Food and Wine at the Sacred Space- I Love, love, love what they're doing over there.
Laurie
What local restaurants or businesses do you recommend?
I prefer to just get something and bring it to my house. I'm with people all day long, having conversations, and I love going home to be by myself at night. When I do go out – I like Miyako. I get the Yaki Soba or Udon.